A relatable story in which rivals become friends—and more—against the backdrop of a spectacular setting.
A mathlete and a jock find common ground in Alaska.
Savannah likes routine and predictability, and she thought her boyfriend, Caleb, did as well. Which is why it comes as a horrible surprise when he dumps her, saying that she’s boring and stuck in her ways. Their breakup happens right before a trip to Alaska—a cruise with the company that employs her parents as well as the mother of Tanner, the attention-seeking classmate who beat her in the election for Astronomy Club president. After they’re thrown together, Tanner agrees to help Savannah with her plan to use the vacation as an opportunity to try new things. He volunteers to join her, taking photos she can share on social media to show Caleb what he’s missing; in exchange, Savannah will help Tanner figure out his college major. During the two-week trip, as she experiments with zip lining, karaoke, and whitewater rafting, Savannah comes to see that there’s more to Tanner than she’d realized—and that his kindness and sense of fun make him a good match for her. Savannah’s aversion to risk will resonate with many teens, while Tanner’s goofiness and easy charm will be familiar to others. The relationship develops at a natural pace (albeit with the requisite bumps along the way) and will have readers rooting for a happy ending. Savannah and Tanner are cued white.
A relatable story in which rivals become friends—and more—against the backdrop of a spectacular setting. (map) (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: July 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780593647844
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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