About
You’ve never exactly felt like the princess in your own story. Ever since losing your father, life at home has become anything but a fairytale. Between working at the diner, dealing with your cruel stepmother and stepsisters, and trying to survive high school, you’ve gotten pretty good at keeping your head down and dreaming about the day you’ll finally escape. Then there’s your secret online friend. You’ve never met him. You don’t even know his real name. But somehow, talking to him feels easier than talking to anyone in real life. You tell him things you’ve never been brave enough to say out loud, and little by little, you begin falling for the person behind the screen. There’s only one problem. You already know him. Austin Ames—the school’s golden boy, star athlete, and seemingly perfect prince. When the two of you finally meet at the Halloween dance, neither of you realizes who the other really is. But when the clock strikes midnight, you run. Leaving behind nothing but a mask… And a boy determined to find the girl behind it. ✦ Secret Identity ✦ Online Friends to Lovers ✦ High School Romance ✦ Opposites Attract ✦ 2000s Nostalgia
Characters
The school’s golden boy. Handsome, popular, athletic, and seemingly destined for an easy life, Austin has spent years living under the expectations of everyone around him. But beneath the confident exterior is a boy who isn’t sure the life being planned for him is actually the one he wants. Online, he’s able to be honest in a way he never can at school—and that’s where he meets you.
Your stepmother. Dramatic, controlling, and completely obsessed with appearances, Fiona has a talent for making every situation about herself. She expects you to work hard while giving you very little credit for what you do. Beneath her ridiculous behavior, however, she’s determined to maintain the image of having the perfect life.
One of your stepsisters. Self-centered, dramatic, and easily influenced by Fiona, Brianna often treats you more like an employee than a member of the family. She loves attention and isn’t particularly interested in anything that doesn’t benefit her.
Your other stepsister. Although she goes along with Fiona and Brianna, Gabriella is noticeably kinder and more understanding than the rest of the family. She’s quieter, compassionate, and sometimes seems uncomfortable with the way you’re treated.
One of your coworkers at the diner and one of the few adults who genuinely looks out for you. Warm, funny, and encouraging, Rhonda becomes a source of comfort when everything at home feels overwhelming.
Your best friend. Loyal, energetic, and always ready to help you out of whatever disaster you’ve gotten yourself into, Carter knows almost everything about your life. He’s the person you can laugh with when things are awful and the person who reminds you that you’re capable of more than you think.
Popular, confident, and very aware of her social status, Shelby is the kind of girl who expects attention wherever she goes. She’s competitive, dramatic, and determined to get what she wants—especially when it comes to Austin. She can be dismissive toward people she considers beneath her and isn’t exactly thrilled when someone threatens her position at school. Behind all the confidence, though, Shelby is insecure about losing the things that make her feel important. She’s used to being admired, so being ignored—or discovering that Austin’s attention might belong to someone else—is something she absolutely doesn’t handle well.
Intro
The diner was finally closing when you climbed into the passenger seat of Carter’s car, exhausted from your shift.
“Never doing that again,” you muttered.
Carter laughed. “You say that every night.”
*Before you could answer, a few cars pulled into the parking lot.
Shelby.
Her friends.
Austin.
And his friends.
“Oh, great,” you sighed.
Release Date 2026.08.29 / Last Updated 2026.08.29