One of Publishers Weekly’s “Best Books of 2025”
Reasons to Hate Me
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Candlewick Press | September 2, 2025 | Ages 14-18
ISBN 978-1536240351
A hilarious and heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent theater nerd that tackles slut-shaming, what it means to be a friend, and the power of forgiving others—and yourself.
There are countless good reasons to hate seventeen-year-old Jess Lanza, Stone Bridge High’s premier autistic theater nerd and Champion of Questionable Life Choices. Unfortunately, the cyberbullies that hounded her all summer are stuck on last year’s life-ruining mistake, the one that earned Jess the title “Boyfriend Stealing Slutbag.”
To relieve the bullies of their stale content, Jess vows to dazzle them with online posts about her own ridiculous fails and embarrassing character traits. But somehow, all of Jess’s posts circle back to her friendship with Chloe—the friendship her alleged sluttiness pulverized—and the gaping hole she left in Jess’s life. As Jess chases Chloe’s forgiveness, she must confront some of her darkest weaknesses—and darker still, the truth of what happened with Chloe’s boyfriend, a story neither of them wants to hear.
Told through a series of blog posts and short scripts, this cleverly staged and structured debut novel crackles with spot-on dialogue, features a range of fully developed neurodiverse characters, and sharply evokes high school in all its hilarious and agonizing complexity.
Available in Hardcover, E-Book, & Audio
(Paperback Release: 9/22/26)
or purchase from a bookseller below
Praise for Reasons to Hate Me
★ “Metallo balances acerbic comedy with insightful prose to present an intimate character study, told via blog posts, that follows an autistic theater kid’s attempts to navigate the aftermath of a friendship-ending error. [. . .] Characterization is a standout feature of this aching and self-aware novel; through Jess’s appealing first-person perspective, Metallo crafts interesting and realistic teens and adults, and offers a unique and nuanced view of an autistic teen experiencing high school.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Sympathetic readers will find many reasons to love this book, including Jess and Cam’s genuinely sweet relationship, Jess’s borderline-obsessive passion for musical theater, and the diverse cast of drama kids who come to her aid just when she needs it most. Jess’s sardonic, self-deprecating blog posts, bursting with humor and heartbreak, gradually clue readers in to the truth about Noah. They also make clear that Jess still has time to turn her senior year around, if she can only learn to tap into her waiting support system. Top notch.” —The Horn Book, starred review
“Metallo’s creative debut offers an amusing POV as Jess addresses all of her posts to the trio of popular girls Chloe unceremoniously dumped her for, with plenty of deepcut theater references… An introspective, amusing, thought-driven narrative.” —Booklist
“Susan Metallo has the best YA voice I’ve read in years—sharp, hilarious, and heartbreakingly honest. I couldn’t put this book down.”
—Rachael Allen, author of A Taxonomy of Love and Harley Quinn: Redemption
“Smart, neurodivergent and so so funny, this voice is simultaneously unique and familiar to anyone who lived outside the social structure of high school (including my fellow theater nerds). Taking on the themes of fractured friendship, slut-shaming, masking, bullying and trauma is no small feat, but Metallo writes so deftly and personally, Jess comes to life and we can’t help but cheer for her through the ups and downs of senior year.”
—Mara Luther, Chapter One Books Store, Hamilton, MT
“A hilariously relatable confession blog from an autistic theater kid after she’s accused of cheating with her best friend’s partner. An unflinchingly honest, uproarious, and sometimes gut-wrenching fictional account of surviving high school rumor mills and learning to trust yourself.”
—Lauren Pronger, Chapterhouse Books, Amarillo, TX
“Fierce, funny, and ferociously honest, Reasons to Hate Me is one of the most refreshing debuts I’ve read in years. Jess Lanza is chaotic, brilliant, and unforgettable—a neurodivergent theater kid trying to reclaim her narrative from slut-shaming and social exile, one raw and unhinged blog post at a time. With a sharp script-style format and whip-smart voice, this book cuts through the noise of high school drama and goes straight for the heart. A perfect read for fans of Eliza and Her Monsters and Turtles All the Way Down.”
—Julia Young, Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown, WV
“This is such an excellent theater kid book! It reminded me of all the best and worst parts of high school, and reminded me that, for teenagers, so many things can be the end of the world and it can be so hard to remember that those things can be the beginnings of the world, too. Susan has the kind of writing that kids will respond to with joy. Every adult with kids in their lives should read this.”
—Grace Lane, Linden Tree Books, Los Altos, CA
“A masterclass in wholly authentic character development, sharp, revealing dialogue, and pitch-perfect voice-driven storytelling.”
—Book Pipeline