Falling in '96

Juanita "Jay" Flores is ready for it all.

After saying goodbye to a childhood love, she's leaving home and moving across the country for college–and for so much more. Sure, she wants to pursue her interest in computers, but she could do that in her sleep. What she really wants is to live. As the daughter of immigrants, that's what her parents want for her, too. Jay isn't naive, she knows the 90s are a tumultuous time for women like her. But she also knows there is also beauty in life: friendship, adventure, self-discovery, and love. What she doesn't realize is that some discoveries are harder than others.

Michaela Johnson is done being scared.

She's done hiding and done pretending to be anyone other than the woman she has finally realized she is. Taking a leap of faith, Michaela decides she can no longer put off living authentically. Otherwise, what was the point of surviving everything she has survived? What was the point of losing so much if she never allows herself the chance to live? Answering a roommate ad on the internet feels like a risk, but it's a decision that will change her life in ways she never could have imagined. To embrace the future she deserves, Michaela will have to find her voice.

As Jay and Michaela's lives intertwine, they find themselves navigating a changing world. As the challenges around them grow louder, they will learn how to hold onto joy, build community, and discover that love is essential.

Contains mature themes.