Mascots, summer crushes, and amusement park chaos—ARC signups are open for this heartfelt, hilarious middle-grade rom-com by Julia DeVillers. Don’t miss the ride of the summer!
Some summers are meant to be forgettable.
This one’s about to be unforgettable.
If you’ve ever had a summer job that changed everything—whether it was your first crush, your first real responsibility, or the first time you felt like you were part of something bigger—then Meet Me at Wonderland is going to hit home in the best way.
From bestselling author Julia DeVillers, Meet Me at Wonderland (out May 20, 2025) is a heartfelt, hilarious middle grade rom-com set in a quirky lakeside amusement park. It’s a love letter to first jobs, first kisses, and the wild, ride-it-out magic of being fourteen.
Whether you’re here for the summer vibes, the swoony awkwardness of a first crush, or the secrets hiding behind theme park walls—this one’s for you.
Dive into Meet Me at Wonderland:
A girl with a summer job at her family’s amusement park crushes on a coworker who’d rather be working anywhere else in this fun and flirty middle grade rom-com.
Fourteen-year-old Coco is Morty the Moose for the summer—the official mascot for her family’s business, Wonderland Adventure Park. Her first shift in the claustrophobic and stinky moose costume comes in the middle of a heatwave, and of course it’s when she emerges a sweaty mess that her manager introduces her to the new hire, Henry…the cutest boy Coco has ever seen.
Henry can’t believe his parents are forcing him to work at this dorky theme park. He’d much rather be hanging with his friends and working on his soccer game, but recovery from a bad injury would have kept him sidelined anyway. Being deathly afraid of heights, Henry hopes he can at least do his job without going on any of the rides.
After their first awkward meeting, Coco and Henry start to warm up to each other, and Coco confides in him about the park’s financial struggles. Soon, she thinks she like likes Henry…a lot. As the weeks go on, Henry’s dad starts asking oddly specific questions about his job, and Henry starts to suspect there’s more to his parents insisting on him working at the park than he thought. When a malfunctioning new ride leaves Henry and Coco stranded at the top, Henry’s worst nightmare comes true and secrets get revealed.
Book Details:
📅 Release Date: May 20, 2025
📖 Format: NetGalley (eBook)
📏 Length: 304 pages
👧 Audience: Ages 10–99 / Grades 5 and up
Tropes You’ll Love:
🎡 Theme park summer job
🧢 Mascot costume shenanigans
💘 First crush
🍦 Small town / tourist town vibes
🤝 Coworkers to friends to more
☀️ One magical summer
📚 Middle grade rom-com
⚽ Sports subplot (soccer injury)
😳 Awkward first meetings
🎢 Stuck at the top of a ride
👨👩👦 Family drama
🔍 Hidden agendas
About Julia DeVillers
Julia DeVillers knows what it’s like to turn a private journal into a bestselling book—literally. Her hit novel How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller was adapted into the Disney Channel Original Movie Read It and Weep. She’s also the author of the Liberty Porter, First Daughter series and coauthor of the Trading Faces series with her twin sister, Jennifer Roy. With her signature warmth, humor, and honesty, Julia continues to write stories that connect, charm, and celebrate the messy beauty of growing up.
Connect with Julia
📚 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julia-DeVillers/author/B001IGO8V2
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Juliadevillers/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliadevillers/
📖 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/117917.Julia_DeVillers
You never forget your first summer job—or your first real crush.
Ready to fall in like with Meet Me at Wonderland?
