You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Liz Lighty doesn't care who becomes prom king and queen at her high school. She's more focused on getting into Pennington College, playing in their world-famous orchestra, and becoming a doctor. But when her financial aid package falls through, she has only one option left: her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. So, she begins a crazy candidacy for prom queen and ends up falling for Mack, the new girl also running for prom queen. Liz will have to decide between winning the crown or winning Mack's heart.
Review from Booklist:
It’s senior year and Liz Lighty is headed for her late mother’s alma mater, Pennington University. At the top of her small-town Indiana class, Liz has the grades, the extracurriculars, and even the acceptance letter she needs to make her dreams a reality—never mind that she exists on the outskirts of her school’s social hierarchy. But when the final piece of her puzzle, a scholarship from the university band, falls through, Liz knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to get to college, even if that means running for prom queen. With the help of friends and family, Liz finds herself fighting for more than a plastic tiara—she fights to be herself. Though elements of high-school clichés are present, Johnson puts a fresh spin on this novel with an unlikely romance, heartwarming friendships, and the tension of being Black, poor, and queer in a small town. Readers will revel in the growth of the entire cast, as their high-school years come to an exciting and wildly unanticipated close. A feel-good title for sure.