MAYBE WE’RE ELECTRIC is a standalone YA romance by Val Emmich. There was some romantic tension in MAYBE WE’RE ELECTRIC, but this story seems like an intimate two character play. Tegan Everly and Mac Durant are both in high school, and both find themselves hiding out at the tiny Thomas Edison Museum, where Teagan works, on a wintry night. Over the course of the book, their reasons for hiding out are revealed. The characters expose themselves to the reader and each other bit by bit. Some of the story is told using flashbacks, to explain who the characters are and what led them up to this moment together.

Teagan and Mac are both realistically flawed characters. Since the story is told strictly from Teagan’s perspective, you can’t help but find her slightly more sympathetic and invested in her journey. There are a few ethical conundrums for the main characters in this story. The main one being something Teagan did in her past that she deeply regrets. One day, she stumbles upon a way to anonymously vent her frustrations with the world in general, and a few specific people. Other people connect with the way Teagan vents her dissatisfaction. What could be something therapeutic takes a dark turn when things get posted to social media that are super negative, one-sided, and offering no solutions to problems – only humiliation and shaming. Teagan eventually stops her part in the big ball of negativity, but it takes on a life of its own and the guilt she carries is immense. This story between Teagan and Mac would be a charming romance with a heartwarming glow if not for the fact that Mac was touched by the meanspirited posts. This majorly impacts how things proceed between these teens. I think readers can relate to both characters. A lot of people might have done something foolish or spiteful when they have been hurt themselves and later regret their actions. The dramatic tension increases as Teagan and Mac get to know each other better, and the romantic feelings war with Teagan’s feelings of guilt and desire to come clean and ask for forgiveness.

MAYBE WE’RE ELECTRIC is a riveting character-driven drama about family, forgiveness, and hope, with a dash of romance thrown in. The comparisons and contrasts between Teagan’s relationship with her dad and Mac and his father add another interesting layer to an already engrossing story. Despite any angst toward the latter end of the book, things do end on a hopeful note. I look forward to reading more YA stories from Val Emmich.