In the Role of Brie Hutchens...

Written by Nicole Melleby

Narrated by Lori Gardner

Introducing BRIE HUTCHENS so-so student, aspiring actor, soap opera superfan.

BRIE HAS BIG PLANS FOR EIGHTH GRADE. Her first goal is to be the star of the school play. But when
Brie’s mom walks in on her accidentally viewing inappropriate photos of her favorite actress, Brie
panics and blurts out that she’s been chosen for a very important event at school. It works: Brie’s mom
is distracted with pride—but Brie’s in big trouble, because she has not been chosen. No one has. Worse,
Brie has almost no chance, because the honor always goes to a top student.

Desperate to make her lie become truth, Brie turns to a girl named Kennedy for help. But
sometimes just looking at Kennedy gives Brie butterflies. Juggling her new feelings with the pressure
to keep her mom proud of her—not to mention her hilarious non-star turn in the school play—Brie
navigates truth and lies, expectations and identity, and searches for a way to finally get her mother to
see her as she is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980080923

Reviews for In the Role of Brie Hutchens...

[hester · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was soooo cute!! (and queer omg, living for this)

[Ewa P · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Breaking news! Nicole Melleby did it again: made me cry my eyes out.

[lflareads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brie loves acting and soap operas, as watching soaps is a time with her mom. Mom is a devote Catholic and Brie attends Catholic school. She wants to connect to her faith the way her mom does, but feels lost right now. She questions everything, but struggles with opening up with her parents. As an 8th grader, her world seems so confusing. How does she question her faith and tell her mom and dad she likes girls? Will they still love her or even like her?

Excellent read of love, acceptance, open communication, and voice. YA read

[edgoldberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brie Hutchens has a crush on Kennedy Bishop. Kennedy who is perfect, the daughter Brie thinks her mother wanted, not the one she has. Brie's not a great student. She can be over the top. The only thing Brie and her mother have in common is their love of soap operas which they watch on a daily basis. Brie wants to be a soap star one day.When her mother accidentally finds out Brie likes girls, their cozy relationship falls apart. In the Role of Brie Hutchens is about repairing that relationship and Brie coming out. It is also the classic girl gets girl, girl loses girl, girl gets girl back again.This middle grade novel is adorable. Brie and her friends are great characters and the situation Brie finds herself in is real enough...doing anything to please her mother. It's a great middle grade read.