Seventeen-year-old Amber Winters hides behind her cityscape sketches, her confidence eroded by her mother’s critiques and a cruel high school rumor. When a new seating chart pairs her with Charles Chen, a quiet artist with a dancer’s grace, their shared table becomes a canvas for trust. As they navigate the Spring Arts Showcase—a chance at a life-changing scholarship—Amber’s precise lines and Charles’s hidden dance moves reveal truths they’ve buried.
But the art room’s critique wall, scarred with anonymous barbs, whispers of betrayal. A stolen sketch, a rival’s sabotage, and a friend’s duplicity threaten to unravel their fragile bond. As Amber fights to protect Charles’s dreams, she discovers her own courage, painting a future where love and art intertwine. Charles, haunted by his parents’ unraveling, finds strength in Amber’s belief, his dance a defiant reclaiming of self.
In a world where art demands truth, Amber and Charles must confront their fears, expose their enemies, and choose to be seen—together. The Art Between Us is a heartfelt YA contemporary novel about creativity, connection, and the bravery to claim your own masterpiece.