The Free Verse Society

A tender hate-to-love YA romance about two teens who connect through their high school poetry club, where the power of the written word tears down the walls they've built around their hearts.

No one in Delray knows Jae Aƒenyo's story--that she's a teen mom who placed her baby for adoption--and she intends to keep it that way. After moving in with her uncle, Jae is looking for a fresh start. But an accidental run-in with the school's delinquent, Derek Patel, is not exactly what she had in mind. She soon finds a haven in the poetry club--at least, until Derek joins.

Derek Patel is desperately clinging to his old life--where his dad was alive, his mom was healthy, and they lived in an oceanfront estate instead of a run-down pink bungalow. He'll do anything to hide his problems from his friends, including breaking into his old house to keep up the charade that he still lives there. But the house now belongs to the school's lit teacher, who offers him the chance to join the poetry club as a penance.

As the newest members of the club, Jae and Derek are tasked with planning the end-of-semester poetry reading. While Derek is hell-bent on keeping his broken family a secret, Jae is desperate to prove to her uncle that she's more than a walking statistic--which means guarding her heart against Derek, who her uncle thinks is no good.

A poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of words to draw people together, The Free Verse Society announces the arrival of an important new voice in YA romance.

Perfect for readers who love Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love, Opposites Attract, Hate to Love, the Misunderstood Bad Boy, Opposite Sides of the Tracks, and Reading/Literature Club Bonding!

Author: Delali Adjoa
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Published: 03/24/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 8.33h x 5.41w x 0.86d
ISBN: 9781682638408
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 02/01/2026
School Library Journal 10/31/2025 pg. 1
Publishers Weekly 12/08/2025

About the Author
Delali Adjoa was born in Togo to Ghanaian parents but grew up in Canada, where she traded sunny cottons for wool tuques and snowsuits. She has been chasing warmer weather ever since. Delali writes fiction centered on identity, freedom, and family, and loves the American South for the stories it has buried. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Georgetown University. Instagram: @DelaliWrites.