Mitchell S. Elrick

“This story is jam-packed with humor and surprises. A tale of college antics, the characters will have you laughing and looking for polka dots! A fun read about youth, friendship, and connection, in all its forms.”

In Polka Dots, two roommates-slash-best friends set out to help one get a date with the girl of his dreams on New Year's Eve.

Stan, an education major, has had a crush on one of his classmates, Olivia, all semester. He knows little about her, though, except that she has a very specific design on her JanSport backpack: Dark purple. Hot pink outlining. White background. They've never spoken, but he's very familiar with that backpack. He'd know it anywhere. Because where that backpack is, Olivia is.

As the semester draws to a close and holiday break approaches, Stan receives encouragement—and confusing advice—from Henry, his best friend, and gathers his courage to speak to Olivia, hoping to ask her out. The tables turn during their first conversation, though. Olivia invites Stan to a fundraiser she's organizing on New Year's Eve that includes an auction, and she wants a date with him to be one of the prizes.

With the ever-supportive, though sometimes majorly embarrassing Henry at his side, Stan anxiously but eagerly agrees to be part of Olivia's New Year's Eve event, hopeful that when the night comes to an end, Olivia will have placed the highest bid on a night out with him—and also fearful that perhaps no one will bid on him at all.

Henry would never let him live that down.