Worldwide Crush: A Novel [Paperback]

Rory Calhoun is a teen popstar with perfect teeth and messy hair who’s inspiring first crushes all over the globe. Millie Jackson is just one of themillionsof fans who love him—but that doesn't mean her heart doesn't break for him every single day in this laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story.

How many of Rory’s fans collect “data” about him in a special notebook hidden in their underwear drawer? Or have faked a fascination with whale migration for a chance to visit his hometown? Millie may not be Rory’s only fan at Susan B. Anthony Middle School, but she's convinced she's the biggest—and the best.

Rory’s new song “Worldwide Crush” is climbing the charts, and his lyrics are clear: he’s looking for love—and he’s looking in the audience. Meaning Millie’s secret fantasies of running in the surf and eating waffles with him may not be crazy after all . . . she could be that girl! But first she has to get to his concert—his completely sold-out concert in a city nowhere near her home for which she does not have tickets or a ride. She just has to figure out how.Kristin Nilsenis a bookseller, a youth services librarian, and the author ofWorldwide Crush, a finalist in the Humor/Comedy category of the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She is also a self-proclaimed “pro crushologist” and cohost of the popularPop Culture Preservation Societypodcast, celebrating the cultural nuggets of the Gen X childhood (and often sharing stories of awkward, preteen heartthrobs of yore). Kristin lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her Gen X husband, her Gen Z son, and their rock-and-roll goldendoodle, Axl Rose Nilsen.2025 American Legacy Book Awards Winner in Coming of Age
2025 Story Monster Award Winner in Tween Novel
2024 Reader's Choice Award Gold Winner in Best Children's Book 8-12

“A delightful, nostl“/