The Authentics

Daria Esfandyar is Iranian-American and proud of her heritage, unlike some of the “Nose Jobs” in the clique led by her former best friend, Heidi Javadi. Daria and her friends call themselves the Authentics, because they pride themselves on always keeping it real.

But in the course of researching a school project, Daria learns something shocking about her past, which launches her on a journey of self-discovery. It seems everyone is keeping secrets. And it’s getting harder to know who she even is any longer.

With infighting among the Authentics, her mother planning an over-the-top sweet sixteen party, and a romance that should be totally off limits, Daria doesn’t have time for this identity crisis. As everything in her life is spinning out of control—can she figure out how to stay true to herself?

• An Unexpected Adoption Story: Daria has always been proud of her heritage. One school project and a mail-in DNA test later, she’s not even sure what that heritage is.
• High School Fiction: Navigating the halls of Beverly Hills High means staying loyal to her friends, the Authentics, and avoiding her former best friend’s clique of "Nose Jobs."
• A Totally Off-Limits Romance: The one person who might have all the answers is the guy she’s definitely not supposed to fall for.
• YA Coming of Age: Between a mother planning the Sweet Sixteen of the century and a secret that changes everything, Daria has to decide what "keeping it real" truly means.