We Don’t Have Time for This

by Brianna Craft

“A necessary and inspirational read.” —Booklist

Lemonade Mouth meets climate change activism in this enemies-to-lovers YA romance. A tied election throws two rival teen activists together to lead their school’s environmental justice club, and they are taken by surprise when their clashes reveal deeper feelings hidden beneath their antagonism.

What’s more romantic than saving the earth?

Two presidents. One club. A sizzling connection.

Isa Brown wishes her life would slow down. She doesn’t want to leave for college. Not now that her dad finally gets to spend some time at home. Not now that she’s finally been in one place for longer than a year. But nothing lasts forever. With wildfires ravaging her community and a new natural gas pipeline threatening her dad’s job, the last thing Isa can do is relax. The school’s environmental justice club seems like a promising way to make real change. If only her annoying co-president Darius would stop being such a control freak.

Darius Freeman can’t stop hustling. If he does, how will he beat the other honors kids to be valedictorian? How will he get into the top schools in the country? How will he launch his political career? No. Darius can’t stop, and the next step in his plan is leading the environmental justice club this year—putting on a policy summit and rounding out his college applications with a leadership role. But then Isa joins the club and becomes co-president. Is she the stumbling block on his road to success?

As Isa and Darius clash over the best way to lead the environmental justice club, deeper feelings emerge. About what’s at stake for their communities if they can’t figure out how to work together. And about the sparks they feel between them.

Will Darius and Isa figure out how to burn brightly together? Or will their flames leave nothing but ashes behind?

Ages 12 And Up

Hardcover | 272 pages | Disney Hyperion | 2024

Brianna Craft is a senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Craft works to further equity in the UN climate change negotiations for the world’s poorest countries, which have done the least to cause the climate crisis but are the most vulnerable to its impacts. Based in London, she researches climate diplomacy, taking a specific interest in the Paris Agreement and provisions to develop and transfer technology. Craft holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from Brown University in addition to a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies with minors in urban design and planning, and environmental studies from the University of Washington.