Keys to the City

Schroeder, Lisa. Keys to the City
May 30th 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Lindy's summer assignment is to "find her passion" for her school's HAT program (Heart. Abilities. Talent.). She's jealous of her friends who know what they want, and doesn't even know where to begin to find her interests. Her parents are very busy setting up a Bed and Breakfast in a brownstone, so Lindy and her brother Davis have a nanny to take them on the subway, and Lindy's mother hires a neighbor, Vivian, to show Lindy various options. Vivian's grandson, Taylor, is staying with her for the summer, and the three have adventures flipping pizzas, going to plays, working in a local garden, and exploring the zoo. The B&B business is going slowly, creating some stress for Lindy's family, but she eventually finds a couple of things that she likes, including Taylor's dog, and is able to complete her summer project and help the family business.
Strengths: I adore the other books in this series of stand alone titles; Sealed with a Secret, My Secret Guide to Paris, and this author's other titles. It's nice to see a supportive family deal with some minor struggles. This has a nice light romance, a good friend, and a tween dealing with realistic issues. The cover is great.
Weaknesses: Lindy has a very privileged life (Nannies? Chinese  food every Sunday? Going to a Broadway play? Wow.), and her mother just annoyed me with how she was dealing with the B&B's financial problems. Tweens will probably like this view into someone else's life, but all of the luxury made it hard for me to feel sorry that Lindy didn't have a passion.
What I really think: Will probably purchase, since the other books are very popular, but it just wasn't my favorite.