When Taj Patel and Mondo Diaz are evicted from their crummy apartment, they're left with no money, no plan, and no place to crash. Desperate, Mondo suggests a last-ditch attempt to get rich: enter the infamous "Gold Rush Challenge," a viral scavenger hunt contest across the city with a massive cash prize. The competition is fierce, and the clues are cryptic, but Mondo is convinced they've got a "cosmic destiny" to win this.
As the duo sets out, they quickly find themselves entangled in bizarre situations: accidentally crossing paths with a celebrity, stumbling into an underground gambling ring, accidentally joining a protest, and even getting mistaken for detectives by a local crime boss. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters-some allies, others enemies-all with their own stakes in the hunt.
Through a series of hilarious missteps and sheer luck, Taj and Mondo make progress in the challenge, with Taj's sharp thinking balancing out Mondo's boundless energy and luck. Despite countless close calls, misunderstandings, and moments where they're ready to give up, they push forward-motivated by the unlikely chance at a new life and by their oddly perfect friendship.
In the end, it's not just the prize but the thrill of the adventure that gives Taj and Mondo a new outlook, with each learning to embrace life's unpredictability in their own way. And while they might not win the contest, they find themselves on a different kind of journey-one that brings them closer together as they become the ultimate duo of "accidental heroes."
How To Be The Best Third Wheel is now published as a Paperback & E-book by Wattpad Books!
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It's the last year of high school, and everything has changed . . .
*****
After a summer spent in the Philippines, Lara Dela Cruz is eager to start her senior year and, most importantly, reunite with her three besties. But what she did not expect was to show up on the first day of school to all three of her friends now in relationships. Fighting for their attention, catching some new and confusing feelings for long-time frenemy James, and wading through the pressures of post-high-school plans all have Lara reeling. And to make matters worse, Lara's beautiful and untrustworthy cousin conveniently appears and wiggles her way right between her and James' budding relationship. Feeling like a third wheel in more ways than one, Lara must learn to accept that change is inevitable, love is complicated, and being the odd one out is sometimes where inner power is found.
[[Word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]
Cover design by Jill Caldwell
Wattys 2020 YA fiction Winner
Wattpad Books Prize Winner