ALL ALONE WITH YOU

A misanthropic loner’s community service starts off motivated by self-interest but ends up changing her life.

Seventeen-year-old gamer Eloise Deane’s dream is to attend the University of Southern California’s computer science program. But since her father was recently laid off, Eloise needs to both apply for admission and try to get a generous scholarship, forcing her to pad her impressive academic resume with community service. She begrudgingly agrees to volunteer with LifeCare, a nonprofit that matches volunteers with older people in need of regular conversation and companionship. Friendless after ghosting her best friends during a difficult episode with anxiety and depression the previous year, sarcastic and introverted Eloise is taken aback by Austin Yang, LifeCare’s smiley, outgoing star teen volunteer who’s assigned to train her. Eloise joins Austin for his regular house visits to Marianne Landis, a lonely 73-year-old who’s no stereotypical senior; she’s the former lead singer of The Laundromats, a famous 1970s and ’80s rock band. As Eloise and Austin, who is an open and kind musician with surprising layers, begin regularly visiting Marianne together, Eloise grows unnervingly attached to both her new friends. The slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine romance develops organically, as does Eloise’s strengthening sense of self-worth. The author convincingly details Eloise’s family dynamics (unemployed dad, self-employed mom, pesky 11-year-old sister) as well as the MMORPG game she’s mastered. Austin is Korean American in a main cast that otherwise presents White.

A delightfully compelling coming-of-age romance.