Effortless by Marie Socray

Elias Richardson needs to be the best.

After skipping the second grade and maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout his school years, the next check off his list is to become class president. After that? Valedictorian. The only thing standing in his way is the one he could never seem to beat: his insufferably perfect rival.
Javier Cortez is everything Eli envied. He’s a people magnet with natural smarts, captivating good looks, and maddening charm. Javier has had the school wrapped around his finger from the moment he waltzed through its double doors.
It being the rivals’ senior year means it is Eli’s last chance to finally beat Javier like he has been trying, and failing, to do for the past three years. However, when what started as a tense rivalry filled with jealousy and resentment begins to shift into something neither of them could have ever predicted, Eli’s calculated life takes a huge turn.

Falling for the school’s golden boy that he had sworn to hate was not part of Eli’s plan. Then again, neither was relying on the alcohol to quiet the thoughts he couldn’t outrun.