We Deserve Monuments is a fantastic YA romance/mystery. It tells the story of Avery a biracial seventeen-year-old and her family. It is full of both love and family trauma. As she and her mother go to live with her grandma, Mama Letty, things get tense and you get the universal problem of people refusing to talk about what is going on. That can be tough for a teen to deal with on top of new faces and even newer feelings. Throughout the story, Avery learns more about her family’s history and her southern roots. The book deals with a lot of topics including racism, homophobia, murder, and cancer. The mystery was not a huge deal but keeps you guessing. The romance was sweet and you can't help but root for it. What I liked the most were the characters. They are so beautifully written, Avery is such a special person. Yes, this book will make you cry, but it is well worth it.