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Pet Shop Girl
Seventeen-year-old Grey Evans loves her job cleaning cages each morning at the pet shop before the parakeets hanging upside down from her hair, the mice with pinto pony patches and especially a baby guinea pig who trills and purrs when she’s nearby.
Even though she’s convinced she’ll forget to change after work one day and get to school with feathers in her hair and bird crap on her back.
Grey doesn’t love when her recently divorced mother has a panic attack that sends her to the emergency room or the pills her mom is prescribed, making her ricochet from controlling to raging to zombified in minutes.
Grey walks the tightrope between following her mom’s ever more isolating rules and having a senior year with friends, college applications, and a cute co-worker named Will, in this Willamette High series novel about family and friendship, addiction and dating by the author of Alice in Black.
Even though she’s convinced she’ll forget to change after work one day and get to school with feathers in her hair and bird crap on her back.
Grey doesn’t love when her recently divorced mother has a panic attack that sends her to the emergency room or the pills her mom is prescribed, making her ricochet from controlling to raging to zombified in minutes.
Grey walks the tightrope between following her mom’s ever more isolating rules and having a senior year with friends, college applications, and a cute co-worker named Will, in this Willamette High series novel about family and friendship, addiction and dating by the author of Alice in Black.
291 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2025
690 people want to read
About the author
Bebe Duncan
3 books11 followersBebe Duncan is the author of contemporary young adult novels in the Willamette High series, Alice in Black, Pet Shop Girl, and Everybody's Haven, set in Portland, Oregon.
Her realistic fiction focuses on social and family issues that teens face, from a first-person perspective, and on developing characters with challenges that resonate with readers.
Long a writer of narrative nonfiction, she was reintroduced to YA by her daughter, and the sense of immediacy, the emotions portrayed, and the action in that genre inspired her to start noveling stat.
She lives in Portland with her family and two humongous goldfish named Richard and Blanche.
When she’s not immersed in nouns and verbs or reading aloud as she edits, she revels in crime shows, YA fiction, WNBA games on TV, and walking a zillion miles a day.
Her realistic fiction focuses on social and family issues that teens face, from a first-person perspective, and on developing characters with challenges that resonate with readers.
Long a writer of narrative nonfiction, she was reintroduced to YA by her daughter, and the sense of immediacy, the emotions portrayed, and the action in that genre inspired her to start noveling stat.
She lives in Portland with her family and two humongous goldfish named Richard and Blanche.
When she’s not immersed in nouns and verbs or reading aloud as she edits, she revels in crime shows, YA fiction, WNBA games on TV, and walking a zillion miles a day.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 17, 2026
It was a good fast read for me. I would absolutely recommend it to middle school and high school kids.
October 20, 2025
Bebe Duncan’s Pet Shop Girl is one of those rare YA novels that manages to be both gentle and gut-wrenching, humorous and heartbreaking all at once. Grey Evans’ voice shines with authenticity; she’s not just a character, but a young woman readers will see themselves in. From the early mornings cleaning cages at the pet shop to navigating her mother’s spiraling behavior at home, Grey’s journey feels deeply lived-in and emotionally resonant.
Duncan doesn’t shy away from difficult themes mental illness, codependency, and the uncertainty of growing up but she handles them with compassion and honesty. Every page brims with raw emotion and quiet beauty. The romance between Grey and Will is sweetly understated, offering hope without overshadowing the book’s deeper message: that healing begins with self-acceptance.
The author’s prose is lyrical without being heavy, her pacing steady and immersive. By the end, Pet Shop Girl feels less like a story you’ve read and more like an experience you’ve shared. It’s a reminder that even in the most chaotic moments, love whether it’s for family, friends, or a tiny guinea pig who purrs when you’re near can keep us grounded.
Pet Shop Girl is compassionate, deeply moving, and impossible to forget. Bebe Duncan has written a story that deserves to be read, shared, and remembered.
Duncan doesn’t shy away from difficult themes mental illness, codependency, and the uncertainty of growing up but she handles them with compassion and honesty. Every page brims with raw emotion and quiet beauty. The romance between Grey and Will is sweetly understated, offering hope without overshadowing the book’s deeper message: that healing begins with self-acceptance.
The author’s prose is lyrical without being heavy, her pacing steady and immersive. By the end, Pet Shop Girl feels less like a story you’ve read and more like an experience you’ve shared. It’s a reminder that even in the most chaotic moments, love whether it’s for family, friends, or a tiny guinea pig who purrs when you’re near can keep us grounded.
Pet Shop Girl is compassionate, deeply moving, and impossible to forget. Bebe Duncan has written a story that deserves to be read, shared, and remembered.
October 20, 2025
Pet Shop Girl by Bebe Duncan is a quiet triumph a heartfelt exploration of adolescence, family bonds, and the fragile balance between caring for others and caring for yourself. Set against the charming, slightly chaotic backdrop of a neighborhood pet shop, the story draws readers into Grey Evans’ world with a warmth that’s instantly disarming.
Duncan captures teenage life with stunning authenticity. Grey’s struggles dealing with a mother whose mental health fluctuates between control and collapse, managing school and friendships, and falling for her gentle, understanding coworker Will feel entirely real. The pet shop setting isn’t just cute ambiance; it becomes a metaphor for the care, patience, and small joys that sustain us even in difficult times.
The writing is elegant yet unpretentious, filled with sensory detail and emotional clarity. Duncan’s gift lies in her ability to find light in the ordinary to show how compassion, humor, and a bit of teenage awkwardness can coexist with heartache. By the final chapter, readers will be cheering for Grey not because she’s perfect, but because she’s brave enough to keep going. Pet Shop Girl is poignant, relatable, and ultimately uplifting a gem of contemporary YA fiction.
Duncan captures teenage life with stunning authenticity. Grey’s struggles dealing with a mother whose mental health fluctuates between control and collapse, managing school and friendships, and falling for her gentle, understanding coworker Will feel entirely real. The pet shop setting isn’t just cute ambiance; it becomes a metaphor for the care, patience, and small joys that sustain us even in difficult times.
The writing is elegant yet unpretentious, filled with sensory detail and emotional clarity. Duncan’s gift lies in her ability to find light in the ordinary to show how compassion, humor, and a bit of teenage awkwardness can coexist with heartache. By the final chapter, readers will be cheering for Grey not because she’s perfect, but because she’s brave enough to keep going. Pet Shop Girl is poignant, relatable, and ultimately uplifting a gem of contemporary YA fiction.
October 20, 2025
Bebe Duncan’s Pet Shop Girl is a tender, beautifully written coming-of-age novel that captures the quiet heroism of simply holding life together when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Seventeen-year-old Grey Evans is an unforgettable protagonist smart, compassionate, and struggling to balance the chaos at home with her dreams for the future. Her mornings at the pet shop, surrounded by chirping parakeets and tiny mice with pinto patches, become a sanctuary where she can breathe, love, and heal.
Duncan writes with such empathy and precision that even the smallest moments a guinea pig’s purr, a shared laugh with Will, a hesitant step toward freedom carry profound emotional weight. The relationship between Grey and her mother is heartbreaking yet honest, offering a raw look at the ripple effects of mental health and addiction within a family.
What truly stands out is how Pet Shop Girl never resorts to melodrama. Instead, Duncan crafts a story that feels real messy, hopeful, and deeply human. It’s a novel that reminds readers that love isn’t always easy, that healing is never linear, and that sometimes, courage looks like simply showing up for yourself. This book will stay with you long after the last page.
Duncan writes with such empathy and precision that even the smallest moments a guinea pig’s purr, a shared laugh with Will, a hesitant step toward freedom carry profound emotional weight. The relationship between Grey and her mother is heartbreaking yet honest, offering a raw look at the ripple effects of mental health and addiction within a family.
What truly stands out is how Pet Shop Girl never resorts to melodrama. Instead, Duncan crafts a story that feels real messy, hopeful, and deeply human. It’s a novel that reminds readers that love isn’t always easy, that healing is never linear, and that sometimes, courage looks like simply showing up for yourself. This book will stay with you long after the last page.
January 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thoughtful, Emotional, and Mostly Well-Done
I really enjoyed Pet Shop Girl. It’s a solid, engaging read, especially for teens, and it doesn’t shy away from real-life issues. The pacing is fast but smooth, and the story flows well without any major plot holes. Emotionally, it hits a lot of notes: first love, growing up too fast, parental addiction, guilt, and the messy reality of figuring yourself out. Those themes were handled with care and felt authentic, and I found myself pulled through a wide range of emotions as I read.
That said, I did have one sticking point. The storyline involving Joey felt forced and unnecessary to me. It didn’t feel organically woven into Grey’s journey and wasn’t developed enough to justify its inclusion. Instead, it came across as something added to appeal to a specific audience or trend, rather than something that naturally belonged in the story. Unfortunately, that element pulled me out of the narrative a bit and detracted from my overall enjoyment.
Still, aside from that issue, this is a good and unique story that tackles heavy topics in an accessible, thoughtful way. Overall, a strong read that I’d still recommen, especially for teen readers, just not without a small reservation.
Sonya Bookbound and Blushed
I really enjoyed Pet Shop Girl. It’s a solid, engaging read, especially for teens, and it doesn’t shy away from real-life issues. The pacing is fast but smooth, and the story flows well without any major plot holes. Emotionally, it hits a lot of notes: first love, growing up too fast, parental addiction, guilt, and the messy reality of figuring yourself out. Those themes were handled with care and felt authentic, and I found myself pulled through a wide range of emotions as I read.
That said, I did have one sticking point. The storyline involving Joey felt forced and unnecessary to me. It didn’t feel organically woven into Grey’s journey and wasn’t developed enough to justify its inclusion. Instead, it came across as something added to appeal to a specific audience or trend, rather than something that naturally belonged in the story. Unfortunately, that element pulled me out of the narrative a bit and detracted from my overall enjoyment.
Still, aside from that issue, this is a good and unique story that tackles heavy topics in an accessible, thoughtful way. Overall, a strong read that I’d still recommen, especially for teen readers, just not without a small reservation.
Sonya Bookbound and Blushed
October 15, 2025
Pet Shop Girl is one of those rare coming-of-age novels that captures the quiet heartbreak of adolescence with honesty, humor, and hope. Bebe Duncan writes with a tenderness that makes Grey Evans’ world feel achingly real the smell of sawdust and animal feed, the tiny pulse of a baby guinea pig in her hand, and the crushing weight of a mother unraveling under the fog of prescription pills.
At its core, this novel is about love in impossible places: between a daughter and a mother whose mind can no longer be trusted, between a girl and the creatures who soothe her, and between two teens trying to find their footing amid chaos. Grey’s voice awkward, compassionate, resilient rings true from the very first page.
Duncan’s ability to balance the small joys of teenage life with the devastating realism of addiction makes this a poignant and unforgettable read. It’s not a story about being broken it’s a story about surviving the cracks and finding light through them. Fans of Eleanor & Park, All the Bright Places, and We Are Okay will find Pet Shop Girl deeply moving and impossible to forget.
At its core, this novel is about love in impossible places: between a daughter and a mother whose mind can no longer be trusted, between a girl and the creatures who soothe her, and between two teens trying to find their footing amid chaos. Grey’s voice awkward, compassionate, resilient rings true from the very first page.
Duncan’s ability to balance the small joys of teenage life with the devastating realism of addiction makes this a poignant and unforgettable read. It’s not a story about being broken it’s a story about surviving the cracks and finding light through them. Fans of Eleanor & Park, All the Bright Places, and We Are Okay will find Pet Shop Girl deeply moving and impossible to forget.
October 30, 2025
One of my favorite things to do with my grandkids is read the same book they are reading, providing us with a shared experience and something we can talk about. I was delighted with a recent publication by Bebe Duncan, Pet Shop Girl. It took me back to those poignant years in highschool when all you want to do is fit in, yet also stand out for who you are. The pet shop girl, Grey, presents a realistic and positive character, conscientious and compassionate, gingerly becoming her own person. Five stars and we can't wait to start on Alice in Black!
January 29, 2026
This was a quiet, tender read that really sneaks up on you. Her love for the pet shop animals (especially the baby guinea pig 🐹) adds warmth and charm, but it also highlights how much stability and comfort she’s missing elsewhere. The contrast between those peaceful mornings and the chaos of her home life with a recently divorced mother struggling with anxiety and medication felt painfully real.
January 15, 2026
Wow this story is so good and you really feel for Grey and her life. The pet shop sounds adorable but what a shift with her home life. Definafely a fantastic read and a realistic insight to a life that many live.
February 22, 2026
Pet Shop Girl is a wonderful sequel to Alice in Black. Grey is going going through the threshold of childhood to adulthood. It brought me back to gritty parts of high school that I had forgotten about. Bebe Duncan has light moments of humor with the joys of working in a Pet Shop.
September 1, 2025
ALICE IN BLACK and PET SHOP GIRL are the perfect Young Adult novels. Both have flawed but lovable characters, realistic situations, and so much heart! I recommend them both.
September 28, 2025
This book really hit home with me in regards to how heavy the responsibility of taking care of a parent can be. A real look at the struggles of balancing the stresses of being a teenager while having a parent at home struggling with addiction. Another thoughtful book by Bebe Duncan.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews