Under the Neon Lights

by Arriel Vinson

In this sparkling and heartfelt debut YA novel in verse, a young Black girl discovers first love, self-worth, and the power of a good skate. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Joya Goffney.

Sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman lives for Saturdays at WestSide Roll, the iconic neighborhood roller rink. On these magical nights, Jae can lose herself in the music of DJ Sunny, the smell of nachos from the concession, and the crowd of some of her favorite people—old heads, dance crews, and other regulars like herself. Here, Jae and other Black teens can fully be themselves.

One Saturday, as Jae skates away her worries, she crashes into the cutest boy she’s ever seen. Trey’s dimples, rich brown skin, and warm smile make it impossible for her to be mad at him though. Best of all, he can’t stop finding excuses to be around her. A nice change for once, in contrast with her best friend’s cold distance of late or her estranged father creeping back into her life.

Just as Jae thinks her summer might change for the better, devastating news hits: Westside Roll is shutting down. The gentrification rapidly taking over her predominantly Black Indianapolis neighborhood, filling it with luxury apartments and fancy boutiques, has come for her safe-haven. And this is just one trouble Jae can’t skate away from.

Debut author Arriel Vinson’s lyrical and contemplative story of young Black love and coming of age in Indianapolis ushers in an exciting new voice in YA literature.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Poetry, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Family

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Arriel Vinson is a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow and Midwesterner who writes about being young, Black, and in search of freedom. She earned her MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in Kweli Journal, Catapult, The Rumpus, Waxwing, and others. Arriel is also a Tin House YA Scholar, Highlights Foundation scholarship recipient, and 2020 Walter Grant recipient. Under the Neon Lights, a YA novel-in-verse, is her debut. You can connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky @arriwrites.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Neon Lights is such a wonderful throwback to roller skating rinks and their mark on the Black community. It's also a lesson in friendship, love, and family. For some reason, I'm drawn to books (regardless of target audience) that discuss the impact of gentrification. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a part of a marginalized community that it impacts or if it's because I've seen it happen in real time. Either way, Arriel Vinson did a wonderful job addressing how these major changes impact families and the livelihood on the most fundamental levels all while allowing the main character to experience changes to her friendships, community, and love life. This isn't a book that's gotten much promotion or shine; however, I think it's a great coming of age YA realistic fiction title. If you want to know more about my thoughts, check out this reading vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlZSI...

[Arriel Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone,

Under the Neon Lights publishes in three months and I can’t wait! Thank you so much for reading, pulling quotes, and entering the giveaways. I’m forever grateful. I’ve worked on this novel for years (way too long, honestly) and it feels surreal that readers like you are able to experience the joy, love, and journey of Jaelyn Coleman.

I hope Under the Neon Lights encourages you to love your people, build community despite the stakes, and use your voice. I hope it emboldens you to seek third spaces and fight for them. And I hope it makes you more open to a swoon-worthy romance.

Happy reading, everyone, and happy rolling 🛼🪩!

[Cece🍂🧸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
my opinion: pretty cute but way too many pop culture references (over 50 mentions). I love how big of a part community plays in this story. The in-verse writing style took some getting used to, but also made for a quick read.

genre: romance, poetry
pov: first person, present tense
trope: he falls first (literally)

Age rating: 12+
Violence: mention of a fight between two girls at the roller skating rink (they both get arrested), mention of a character having been in possession of two knives at school (not for violent purposes)
Drinking/drugs/smoking: mention of someone smoking a cigar, mention of people vaping, mention of adults buying Seagrams and cigars, mention of an adult character with an empty wine glass
Romance: hugging, hand-holding, a few non descriptive kisses
Language: 1 a$$, 1 d@mn, 5 f***, 4 sh!t, 1 use of the Lord’s name taken in vain
Other: mention of fmc and best friend watching an R-rated movie (they’re 16)

Trigger warnings:
- divorce of parents
- absent father
- mention of miscarriage

Publish date: 3-June-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review

[Brandi Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent debut! I really enjoyed this sweet, coming-of-age romance. I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book. It was definitely more than a romance. It was a story about community and culture and gentrification and how it affected Jaelyn.

I liked how the story was centered around the WestSide Roll, a skating rink that was the center of the community where Jaelyn lived. I had no idea that these rinks were even around anymore and it brought back memories of being young and skating as a girl.

I thought the writing was beautiful and loved how it was in prose. This is the first book that I've read like it, so it was a new and fun experience for me.

I think both young adult and adult readers alike will enjoy this sweet story.

Thank you to both GoodReads and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for this copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read many novels in verse before, because I feared they would be difficult to review. But Under the Neon Lights was just perfect and beautifully written. I have recently become obsessed with Broadway musicals and reading this gave me that same feeling of observing actors on stage in a musical, everything was so vividly brought to life and it immersed me in similar lyrical rhythms of the roller skating life.

This was so creative and original for a YA novel, and got at both the hearts of the teen and Black experiences through the lens of a beloved roller skating rink that is shutting down. Against the backdrop of gentrification, Black communities getting shut out of their spaces, and heavy family moments, Black joy poured from the pages. It never felt heavy or traumatic even though it wasn't cozy; it just felt joyful.

Jae learned to skate from her father, from whom she also learned her abandonment issues after her parents got divorced and he wasn't there for her. Skating at the Westside Roll becomes her passion and the only constant in her life as she goes through upheaval in her closest friendship and learns to trust a boy she coaches in skating. She doesn't want a relationship because she's afraid every man will leave like her father did. Then the rink is closing, shattering her one therapeutic outlet.

So she organizes a goodbye party in a viral moment to properly show the rink how much it has meant to her and the skate community.

I didn't know how important roller rinks were to Black culture; in white communities they are being slowly abandoned aside from roller derby. You could really tell their love for skating and I could feel the clink of wheels on wood as they performed tricks and forged love and friendships at a rink where they could be loud and Black.

I loved all the layers of abandonment in this: how gentrification was woven in with the loss of the rink, Jae's daddy issues and her tension with her first romance. I cried when everyone came out to support them at the goodbye party. It was a tender and joyful moment.

A beautiful, heartwarming and moving read. I really want to learn to roller skate now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and unique YA coming of age romance told entirely in verse. This fast read focused on Jaelyn, a Black teenager in Indiana dealing with young love and the fear and vulnerability that comes with it. The story also examines changing friendships, the relationship with her absentee father, and the gentrification of her beloved neighborhood. It’s all set against the backdrop of her small-town roller rink, the heartbeat of her community, that is closing down.

Through her beautiful poetry, we feel Jaelyn’s hopes, fears, anxiety, love, and growth. Her mother‘s words resonated with me deeply and is advice we could all use during these challenging times: “You can either let everything steal your joy or realize the only thing in your control is your joy.”

I highly recommend this for both YA and adult readers.

[Alecia (aleciareadsitall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely debut novel!! I adore novels in verse, and this one was so beautifully done.

Jaelyn, a sixteen year old Black girl in Indianapolis spends much of her free time with her best friend Noe and/or at the roller skating rink. Throughout Under the Neon Lights, Jaelyn deals with first love, friendship fractures, the closing of the rink, and the overall pressure that gentrification puts on her community.

The lights, smells, sounds, are all so vivid in this story, and Vinson does an incredible job writing with the purpose of immersing the reader in the story. The verses do not feel performative or repetitive, and the writing style makes the story easy to follow. Trey, our male protagonist is an absolute sweetheart and it makes you reflect on your own experiences with young love.

This one is super cute, and the poetry/writing is beautiful. Don’t miss it!

[olivia ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

”You can either let everything steal your joy, or realize the only thing in control is your joy.”

i’ve never read an arc before… yet somehow netgalley seemed to know i’d like this one and recommended it to me! this story was so so adorable and i really enjoyed reading it.

being a teen myself (disclaimer: i am very white… definitely not the target audience for this book), jaelyn was unbelievably well written. in some books i read, the main character behaves like an adult and i surprise myself when i remember they’re 16-17. jaelyn, however, acted exactly like a 16 year old should. at least imo 😆 every aspect of her felt so real and raw - her fading friendship with noe, her relationship with trey, her interactions with the adults. not every author can pull off a well-written teen mc but vinson did it well. plus, jaelyn’s personality was so lovely to read about - her undying love for westside roll and the skating community was just beautiful.

one aspect i particularly adored was jaelyn’s relationship with trey. full disclosure, i was motivated to pick this up when i read the description that mentioned these two meeting. lol. once again, not every YA romance feels very… YA? yk? it’s so romanticised to the point you forget teenagers aren’t mature enough to be talking like that. however, vinson does this romance wonderfully. trey and jaelyn were written as two teenagers falling in love - including the arguments, including the learning to trust each other, including the not-so-nice moments that come with teen love. and i was SAT for it.

”Zero dollars and zero cents. Every ride.
How do you profit?
I get your time. I think that’s good enough.”

i will make a BIG WARNING ⚠️ that this book is tagged as poetry for a reason. don’t be like me - read the tags!! that’s the only reason i gave this 4 stars and not 5. i personally didn’t vibe with the poetry style of writing but i’m sure other readers will enjoy this.

quotes *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

”I also love skating alone,
Just me. Eyes closed,
(little) hips swinging,
mouth wide, singing loudly.”

”There was this move you did
at the rink the other night. I liked it.
You were watching me?”

”Would you do it again?
Me and her?
No, a girlfriend in general.
If the other person in the car wanted that.”

”Even when the rink is gone,
we have to keep this going,
‘cause I don’t plan on failing you.”

”They can snatch our neighbourhood,
steal our livelihood,
but they can never
take us away from
each other.”

conclusion *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
if you want an adorable YA romance mixed with a heartwarming story about fighting for what you love, this book is for you. hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

Under the Neon Lights publishes on june 3, 2025. thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

pre-read ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
got the arc!!! this looks like such an adorable book that will 100% be up my alley (i hope…)

[Jay Guillory · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I wanna grab some skates and head out to the nearest rink is nasty work! 😂 But, friend, you did that! Under the Neon Lights by @arriwrites was everything I expected and more. The way she highlights the importance of third spaces and the harm caused by gentrification to community traditions and culture is evident and impactful with every page turned. My love for R&B kept me fully engaged; any time a song was mentioned, I found myself singing the lyrics. But the romance between Jaelyn and Trey had me rooting for them the moment Trey ran into her at the rink. Trey, in my opinion, is like many young Black boys navigating the fallout of trusting someone they shouldn’t and the loss of community that some face due to these fallouts. I enjoyed seeing Trey find his community in Jaelyn’s life and with the community at the rink. I also appreciated the commentary around friendship and how often we get jealous when our best friend finds new friends, even when it doesn’t mean that we are losing each other. We just can’t always be everything to each other. Different life problems call for different friends.

I think this was an amazing debut, and I look forward to reading so much more by Arriel! If y’all haven’t preordered, get to it right now. If you are in the Dallas area, meet us at Whose Books on June 25 at 7pm and come together in community with this amazing author! Under the Neon Lights is out next Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025! Thank you to  Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Neon Lights is a YA debut novel by Arriel Vinson written in verse. Jaelyn goes to the skating rink every Saturday night. She has the time of her life there every week. All her problems are nonexistent when she’s skating around her favorite rink, Westside Roll. She even meets a boy there that she really likes and really likes her. Everything is looking up until her best friend seems to be distant, the neighborhood experiences changes by developers and her home every Saturday night, Westside Rink, announces it will be closing. It feels like her world is crumbling. This story really captured the feeling of being a teenager and how scary and daunting changes can be. It’s a coming of age novel that had me reminiscing about being a teenager at the skating rink. The verse format was new to me but I really enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the eARC.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up Under the Neon Lights on June 3, 2025.

This book resonated with me in more ways than one. Firstly, I loved the emphasis on a place representing community and culture. WestSide Roll raised Jaelyn as much as her parents did, and it's the home away from home where she can be herself completely without worrying about anything else in her life. She has memories of her and her best friend, Noe. Her parents meeting there and teaching her how to skate. Her neighbors and community members meeting up for Thursday and Saturday Skate every week. This place is as much a part of Jae as her arms or legs, and that's why it's so devastating to hear that it's going to close down.

And as Jae's losing WestSide Roll, she's also struggling with the relationships she's built there. Her best friend is becoming distant, her dad's trying to get back in touch with her post-divorce, and the cute new boy she (literally) ran into is becoming more than just a crush. I love how seamlessly Arriel Vinson rolls all of these conflicts into one neat, concise, beautiful package via verse. The verse lends a specific voice to Jae and helps us see so much emotion and turmoil through her eyes. We see beautiful celebrations of Black culture, and also the harsh realities of living in a place where the majority of people don't look or sound like you (but want to disrupt your neighborhood).

I devoured this book in one sitting, and I'm sure you will too. It's an insightful look into building community, dealing with gentrification, and finding yourself when all the recognizable parts of you begin to fray. Plus, it's set in my LITERAL hometown (the Plainfield, IN shoutout was crazy) so I recognized several places and situations Jaelyn brought up.

All in all, I'd highly recommend picking up this quick, poignant, powerful coming of age story when it's out in June!

[Evy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una novela juvenil escrita en verso que destila ternura. La historia fue tan adorable que me dieron ganas de ponerme los patines 🛼 y dejarme llevar. Las referencias a la cultura pop son muchas, y los capítulos finales… fueron lo mejor, cargados de emoción y cierre.

Más allá del romance, esta historia toca fibras profundas sobre la relación con los padres y el poder de sanar. Sin embargo, me quedó la sensación de que tenía un potencial mayor, como si no se atreviera a brillar del todo. Aun así, es una lectura linda, rápida y reconfortante. Ideal para quienes buscan algo ligero pero con corazón.

Y para ser la novela debut de la autora, estuvo muy bien.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA novel in verse about first love, gentrification and the power of a good skate.
🛼
Jaelyn Coleman practically lives at WestSide Roll, the local roller rink, but when they announce they’re closing due to rapid growth pushing out local businesses in their predominantly Black neighborhood she wants to fight it. Having just literally crashed into the cutest boy ever and her estranged father coming back into her life, she’s already dealing with trust issues of her own on top of fighting for the skatepark and the community she loves so much.
🪩
This was a fantastic debut. It brought back such feelings of nostalgia for me because I grew up skating in a rink too and I feel like they’re dying out. While the setting for this was fantastic, the book also deals with important topics that teens will relate to. Can’t wait for more from Vinson!

CW: parental abandonment, divorce, gentrification, racism, miscarriage (mentioned), police brutality (mentioned)

Dragged in some places 3.75 ⭐️

[Grace Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you so much to the team at penguin random house and netgalley for giving me this ARC!

arriel vinson's debut novel in verse is so sweet. her characters love, grieve, heal, and never give up.

it made me miss skating. i couldn't help thinking about when we used to go every week growing up. i'm so excited to get back out there and skate again, and i'm so happy that vinson is giving readers the experience of being back in that moment, under the neon lights, hand in hand of someone who conquers all of your what ifs.

so cute!!!!

[KayReads__ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC COPY! Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for allowing me to get the e-book copy.

WOW! To say this is Arriel's first book. I was truly blown away!! I'm loved the novel in verse are one of my favorite books to read. I love the storyline of the community and how strong they chose to be when it came to trying to keep a staple in the neighborhood. I truly feel like this book needs to be in a creative writing class or English for sure. Great debut and I will be getting this book on my shelf. The only thing is I wish it was a little bit shorter.

[Gabby Sequeira Lucero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the sweetest non-spice teenage summer romance! It’s written in prose and brings back allllll the nostalgia of first-kiss butterflies and the difficulty of forgiving your parents as you grow up. It’s set in a Black neighborhood that’s experiencing gentrification, specifically around a roller rink that’s closing down.

Super easy read (almost too easy at times, but to be fair it is written from the POV of a high schooler). Would recommend if you’re looking for something light and sweet that will still take you through all the stages of grief and celebration.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: racism, miscarriage (mentioned, off-page), parental abandonment, police brutality (mentioned)

I would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a really good debut and I think Vinson has a bright future ahead of her. From the very first page, I could hear Jaelynn's voice as she talks about her love for WestSide Roll and the community she's found there as a result, as well as addressing the ongoing concerns of gentrification in Black neighborhoods. Captivating yet relatable, I feel like a lot of readers can connect with Jaelynn. Vinson's world-building with describing WestSide Roll really help bring this story to life, and she also does a great job with building up the relationship between Jaelynn and Trey.

Now, there were some issues that I had with this book. First, there was a bit too many side characters to keep track of. Between the WestSide Roll regulars and employees as well as people from Jaelynn's community, I had a bit of a hard time remembering who some of these characters were and their relationship to the plot. Secondly, I don't know if Jaelynn's character development was really given the time it needed in this book and it seemed almost rushed through. Finally, the ending didn't necessarily feel complete to me (which I don't know if that was Vinson's intention) and I think she could have done more with wrapping things up in the end.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book and you should check this one out if you're looking for a YA novel in verse with strong community themes and excellent world-building.

[Kere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. YA novel written in prose about the importance of community, centered around the skate community

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

if reading a coming of age story about a black girl trying to fall back in love with life (and for real!) after her neighborhood’s roller skating rink gets shut down due to gentrification sounds even the least bit interesting, i promise this book is for you.

the lack of quotation marks for the dialogue was bothering me, so i switched over to the audiobook and started listening to it, and i’m 100% certain that it enhanced my reading experience with this book. if it’s available to you, i highly recommend that’s the format you experience this book in.

i absolutely adored this. at its core, this novel is simple and lighthearted yet also compelling and emotional. this was exactly what i needed when i needed it. i’m certain arriel vinson has a very bright future as an author.

(also, at the very end of the audiobook, the narrator tells the listener that this was not made with AI and forbids any AI companies to use it. good on whoever decided that! i hope this is what all publishing companies have started doing.)

[Muhammad Qamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot flow of soon moon

[Gemini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vibe

This felt like a tribute to skate culture. Vinson did a great job of capturing the essence of an old school skate party. I loved how it was generational for Jaelyn and her family. While there were lots of feel good moments, there was enough angst thrown in to make it interesting. Jaelyn was dealing with the pains of having an absent father, a shift in her friendship, gentrification, and the uncertainty of new love. She managed to navigate her way through all of it. Her courtship with Trey so sweet. He was the super lovable boy that I hope for when I read YA fiction. This whole book just made me feel good.

[🍀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every minute of this book!! The beauty of poetry throughout leaves you feeling hopeful of all things love, vulnerability, and passion.

This was my first novel in verse and I think I have a new found love for novels of such.

Vinson’s words really sat with me reminding me of the beauty of letting go, trying again, and following through!

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book! I couldn’t get a copy of the physical book fast enough. I loved how the author intertwined the skating rink + its history into the story, the way it healed the characters and helped to mold their relationships. It was beautiful.

*arc review

[Najee Rashad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Under the Neon Lights felt like being transported—not just through story, but through memory. It took me back to the skating rink, to the aches of adolescence, to the weight I didn’t yet have language for as a teen. The innocent kind of weight that sits in your chest when something you love starts to slip away—home, friendships, connection, safety.

While there is loss, through the verses, Arriel reminds us to cherish what remains, and hope for what can still be found when everything familiar begins to fade.

Jae mourns the closing of the skating rink—the heart of her community and a sacred place of belonging. Gentrification quietly erases the physical markers of home, turning them into memories. She grieves her best friend, who has grown cold, and her father who became more absent than present. And she holds her heart tightly, afraid to give herself fully to love, uncertain if it will stay.

What moved me was how honest the story is about that fear—how tenderness can rise up in us and have no place to go, how being seen can be stifled by the fear of judgment or rejection. I know these fears.

Beneath the surface of the verses is a girl trying to navigate all of it at once. Different kinds of loss. Different kinds of love. And, beautifully, she grows. She lets go. She creates something new. She opens her hands to the unknown.

Under the Neon Lights reminded me that grief and beauty can share the same breath. That sometimes what’s broken isn’t gone—it’s just waiting to be seen with softer eyes.

This book is a lyrical, tender reminder: we may not always get back what we’ve lost—but in surrendering the past, we often make space for a new kind of beauty to emerge.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

This is a beautifully written novel in verse about teen romance, family ties, friendships growing and changing, and the effects of gentrification all set around the MC, Jaelyn's, favorite place: WestSide Roll.

If Vinson isn't a roller skater, she sure did her research, because just like the romance and the teen characters, the rink felt very authentic. As a white woman in my 30s, my skate experience is very different from Jaelyn's, but the regulars, favorite skate songs, and everybody's signature moves rang so true. I can't imagine Jaelyn's pain, if my rink were to close. I thought Vinson handles it well, bringing Jaelyn through the grief of that while also dealing with so many interpersonal relationships in flux. In Jaelyn she's made a strong, charismatic, young woman coming of age as she loses the place where so much of her childhood happened.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounding up! Adorable quick YA read

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Arriel Vinson for the opportunity to read Under the Neon Lights in exchange for an honest review.
Under the Neon Lights is a HiLo novel-in-verse capturing the fun beat of rollerblading while exploring the complications of family dynamics, friendship, and teen romance in the Black community.

The Significance of WestSide Roll:
Se in Indianapolis, the world of sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman revolves around Saturdays at WestSide Roll. This is what every week leads up to, providing an escape from the complexities of adolescence. The roller rink, a vibrant hub within her predominantly Black neighborhood, offers a space where Jaelyn and her peers can fully embrace their identities. Surrounded by the rhythmic beats of DJ Sunny, the tempting scent of concessions, and a familiar community of old heads, dance crews, and regulars, Jaelyn finds comfort and belonging. WestSide roll is the place she can truly feel like herself, expressing her freedom through her skate moves. These moments of pure joy and expression allow her to momentarily forget the other not-so-fun aspects of her life, particularly the strained relationship with her father and the growing distance from her best friend.

The Looming Threat of Gentrification:
Gentrification is a topic we briefly discuss in my 10th Grade English class. It is something that seems good, but upends the worlds of many lives. Jaelyn’s world is thrown into turmoil when the inevitable forces of gentrification threaten to dismantle her safe haven. This means the wealthier families and businesses are aiming to buy out the neighborhoods of the working class or low income to make them more for the rich. The news that WestSide Roll is shutting down comes as a devastating blow, signaling the oncoming wave of luxury developments and upscale businesses into her community. For Jaelyn, this is not just the loss of a beloved rink, but the destruction of a space where Black teens like herself can thrive and exist authentically. The physical transformation of her neighborhood, once a vibrant reflection of its residents, serves as a harsh metaphor for the challenges Jaelyn faces—personal, familial, and now, socio-economic. In this way, the rink’s closure symbolizes of the broader, often invisible forces at work in her life, forces from which she cannot escape, no matter how fast she skates. Forces that many people can relate to.

The Driving Force:
Westside Roll is where Jaelyn spends time with he best friend, Noe, and where she meets Trey, a potential boyfriend. Jaelyn's best friend is going down a path she doesn't really want to follow. Many parties, lots of boys, and a lot less rollerblading. Jaelyn needs to have a heart-to-heart if she is to maintain her best friendship. Trey, on the other hand, is kind of like a new best friend, a love interest, and a source of inspiration for Jaelyn as everything else seems to be tumbling down around her.

Final Thoughts:
I love any novel-in-verse. They have a beat and are always a joy to read. I was expecting something crazy or devastating to happen, but this is one of those novels that focuses more on contemporary issues and how to work through them. Jaelyn has separated parents and lives with her mom. She hardly ever hears from her father, so this novel is relatable to those in a similar experience. She learns that it is her choice to forgive her father or give him more chances. Through her friendships, she also learns how to let go or move on. She may have looked forward to Saturday's at WestSide Roll, but eventually, there are other joys she will find in life. Nothing lasts forever.

I find this novel both an easy and complex read simultaneously. It's a great book for a high school audience, especially those seeking a story about the Black experience, family dynamics, and the journey of friendship.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss/RandomHouse Box

In this novel in verse, we meet Jaelyn, who lives with her mother in Indianapolis. The two have moved there from Plainfield after the parents divorced. Jaelyn and her friend Noelle love to spend time at the local roller rink, WestSide Roll, where they can be as loud and exuberant as they want. There's a colorful cast of characters, including the owner, Mr. Mike. The neighborhood is gentrifying, and Jaelyn has increasing problems with her job at the local movie theater, where the manager, Beth, is hostile towards her. There is also fear of rents increasing as more and more upscale businesses open. When the news comes that WestSide Roll is closing in five weeks, Jaelyn is devastated. This is especially hard since Noelle has started to hang out with different friends, and the one bright spot in her life is Trey, a boy she met at the rink and whom she is teaching to skate. Jaelyn has a difficult relationship with her father, who hasn't spent much time with her, but the two reconnect over their love of roller skating. After the rink closes, Jaelyn tries the nearby Avon Roller Rink, but is appalled by all of the rules. She loves her job at the theater, and Noelle's grandmother's health starts to fail. Desperate to find some joy in life, she tries to arrange a skating reunion at a nearby tennis court, or the parking lot of WestSide Roll, only to be told those locations aren't available. Will the skating community be able to band together for one last free skate?
Strengths: We recently took groups of middle school students to the Sequoia Lanes in Columbus, Ohio. It is a bowling alley built in the early 1960s smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you stand at the front door and look across the street, there is a split level home right there. I was enthralled by the idea of having a local bowling alley, but also knew that the neighborhood had changed and that many other businesses had gone out, so the alley's days might well be numbered. A pool right next door closed a few years ago. The feeling of longing for a way of life that is gone was so palpable, and I completely understood how Jaelyn felt. The topic of gentrification has been addressed in many middle grade and young adult books, but this one packed a gut punch. The verse format makes it read quickly. It was definitely set in current times, given some of the references to music and popular culture, but also had a bit of a throwback feel to it, mainly because of the roller skating and the "old heads" who hang out. The romance was very sweet, and will appeal to readers even if they (foolishly) aren't interested in roller skating. This was quite a fun book, despite the sadness, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Weaknesses: This was definitely young adult in language (there are multiple f words) and also in the longing for the past. Middle School students generally aren't quite as nostalgic as high school students.
What I really think: Watson's This Side of Home (2015) or Nye's Going, Going (2005). I would buy this for a high school library but will pass for middle school.

https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...

[Will Alvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Neon Lights is a delight. The story centers around a midwestern 16-year-old Black girl named Jaelyn, who finds community and comfort in her local roller-skating rink. Part coming-of-age romance, part social commentary on gentrification, policing and Blackness, Black masculinity, and fatherhood - this novel in verse offers emotional punches in a short amount of time. It is a story about the strength of community and the power of working hard (even if it is not in the way that you remember) to keep what you love doing alive.

There are many highlights. The pop referencing, brilliant display of Black culture, and it’s main character are the books high points. Jaelyn is a strong black girl that knows what she wants, how she wants things. Arriel Vinson does a phenomenal job of really quickly bringing us into the character’s vibe. The relationship between the women of the story (Jaelyn’s best friend Noe, Noe’s grandma, and Jealyn’s mom) are truly at the heart of the novel, and the commentary that interactions between the “oldheads” and the youth of the story contain very heartfelt moments of reflection on how culture changes over time (just like in the story itself, the rink is a symbol of the culture that is passed between older Black people and younger Black youth). It is fitting that Arriel Lawson cites Elizabeth Acevedo as inspiration, because this novel deserves to be put on a similar level as Poet X. While the content of these writer’s works may vary, I believe that Vinson has crafted a debut that has a similar important place in the genre. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys the work of Elizabeth Acevedo and those that want to branch out of their usual genres of choice. Give a novel-in-verse a try with this one!

P.S. This is the FIRST EVER ARC I have read... EVER! AHH! I am already so thankful to work in the field that I work in.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

Oh my goodness, I loved this. It was long enough between when I requested it and when I read it that I'd forgotten the blurb, so it ended up being a bit of a surprise. I knew there would be a romance element (which was SOOOO shippable, Trey was a great love interest, please someone invite me on a date with the nerdiest possible Canva graphic), but this ended up being a lot more than a love story.

At the outset, this book addresses a lot of the things I expect from contemporary YA: a teenage narrator who's trying to navigate the changes in her life. Jaelyn and her best friend are drifting apart. Her relationship with her dad is complicated at best. On top of all that, her favorite place--the heart of her social life, and a fixture in the community--is about to close. But the story doesn't stop there. Other, more complex problems make their way into the narrative, many of which are outside of Jaelyn's control. The story touches on issues of rent hikes and gentrification, aging elders, and bigotry in the workplace.

The main focus of the book ends in a beautiful resolution that wraps up the character arcs, but Vinson leaves some of the larger problems open-ended. There's no magical cure-all to Jaelyn's problems, which continue to play out in the background. There are some fantastic lines, and I loved watching Jaelyn lean to speak up for herself!

There were a few elements that I wished had been more developed (I often feel this ways about novels in verse), but overall this was a solid, enjoyable read about making new avenues to joy when beloved spaces and people change in ways beyond our control.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I highly recommend this one for young adult readers.