A cute Shakespearean inspired YA contemporary with a neurodivergent female protagonist, Serena Kaylor's Long Story Short is a light and fun debut. There is some distinct hyperbole in the plot that creates a bit of over-the-top drama on occasion, but it leads to a quirky and entertaining read.

The characters are well-written and the story arc moves well, with a good slow burn teen romance. The only character I didn't care for was Shelby. She felt a bit overly flat and caricatured, turning her into a villain with little substance. The relationships that develop for Beatrice over the course of the book are lovely and I particularly enjoyed how welcoming and encouraging Nolan and Mia were for her. There may be a few small missteps in how Bea is encouraged to grow and change (by both her parents and her friends), but the story overall is a good in its demonstration of coming-of-age and the adjustments of preparing to leave the nest, so to speak.

This will likely read better for the younger YA set, but is an enjoyable read regardless of age. A well-written and lovely debut.