Susan dreams of being an artist. Malcolm wants to move him and his sister out of a bad living situation. Sparks fly when the two teens meet at a fundraiser for Syrian refugees. A Canadian YA romance for fans of The Sun is Also a Star.

Susan is the new girl -- she's sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents' expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy -- he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.
Susan hasn't told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn't know what he wants -- until he meets her.
Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.

Tanaz Bhathena's profile page

• Nominated, White Pine Award

TANAZ BHATHENA writes books for young adults. Her latest book, Hunted by the Sky, is the first of a YA fantasy duology set in a world inspired by medieval India, with the sequel Rising like a Storm releasing on June 22, 2021. Her novel, The Beauty of the Moment, won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction and has also been nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Visit her at tanazbhathena.com or follow her on Instagram: @bhathenatanaz.

One of Buzzfeed’s Best YA Books Winter 2019
One of Globe and Mail’s Winter 2019 Preview List
One of CBC’s 29 Canadian Kids Books & YA to Look For in Spring 2019
One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens 2019
PRAISE FOR The Beauty of the Moment:

“A diverse, entertaining love story.” ―Kirkus Reviews
"[T]his dramatic romance . . . authentically traces the teens’ gradual changes as they come to terms with mistakes they’ve made and who they want to be.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fans of Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star will enjoy this bicultural romance. A strong purchase for most YA collections, especially where contemporary romance is in demand.” ―School Library Journal
“Bhathena peels back the layers of her characters in a way that draws readers to them.” ―Quill & Quire

“[Susan and Malcolm's] struggles with expectations and traditions born in a faraway land will ring true for any reader with immigrant parents. . . . A good recommendation for readers interested in romance.” ―Booklist

"Bhathena masterfully discusses a host of those themes including cultural differences, complex family dynamics and self-discovery. The characters are strong, and their development is realistic and well paced; the tone and flow of dialogue go a long way to creating a lasting connection with the story. Best of all, no one theme overtakes the other, which allows readers to develop their own take on the story.” ―Globe and Mail

“[A] superbly crafted work of young adult fiction, one filled with authentic and multifaceted characters and multicultural perspectives. . . . [It’s] likely to be of great relevance to readers in the target audience [and] would be a valuable addition to any classroom, school, or home library.” ―Highly Recommended, CM Magazine
“Told in alternating perspectives, The Beauty of the Moment is a very honest and realistic look at teen relationships, culture shock and finding your own voice.” ―BookRiot
"Bhathena has crafted a masterfully complex story filled with flawed characters and a titanium-strength love story. In The Beauty of the Moment, readers will fall in love, experience the heartbreak, and chase burgeoning hope to the end. A brilliant follow up to A Girl Like That.” ―Nisha Sharma, author of My So-Called Bollywood Life
“A brave big-hearted book, Tanaz Bhathena’s sophomore stunner is a complex, nuanced, and gracefully layered tale of love and longing, duty and desire, friends and family, fighting for what you believe in — and finding home (sometimes by doing so).” ―Tanuja Desai Hidier, author of Born Confused and Bombay Blues