Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things

Aldredge, Betsy and DuBois-Shaw, Carrie. Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things
August 8th 2017 by Simon Pulse
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Samantha  Berger isn't thrilled that her father has managed to get the family accepted for competition on the Myth Gnomers reality show, but when she finds out that the prize money will help her go to college, as well as reduce other family debts, she is willing to leave Ohio and travel to the Pacific Northwest. Her sister Lyssa treats this opportunity like one of the pageants she entered, and shows off her short shorts and highlighted hair to the best advantage. Sophie just tries to do what she can to help her family while trying to ignore her interest in a boy who is on the other team. Samantha also finds herself drawn to Devan, who is a member of the elite prep school team that gets to stay in a posh cabin while the Bergers hunker down in a tent. The Bergers do fairly well in the competition, even though everything seems stacked against them. When Sophie gets a bad case of the flu and has to stay in better house with the competition, Samantha worries that things will get out of hand, but also is glad that having to visit her sister gets her closer to Devan. Is there a Bigfoot in the woods in the Pacific Northwest, and can the Bergers manage to prove so and improve their lot in life?
Strengths: This reminds me a bit of Bears, Boys, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Books (2010) or the 2007 Black Sheep. It was fun, fast paced, and had some great romance in it. I liked Samantha-- she was irritated with her parents, but loved them and understood why they were showcasing their family and interest in cryptozoology. The father being a middle school science teacher and explaining things to the film crews the same way he would to his classes was a hoot!
Weaknesses: I was just thinking about getting rid of Black Sheep. I love the paint-by-number inspired cover, but it's not a great look for a romance book.
What I really think: I haven't found a lot of good, middle school appropriate romances lately, so I may buy this one and hand sell it.