LOVE AND OTHER TRAIN WRECKS

Two teens dissect their issues over the course of an eventful journey.

Noah is the hopeless romantic, traveling toward his ex in an effort to win her back. Ammy is the cynic, grudgingly heading toward her father’s second marriage ceremony. The two white teenagers meet on the train and swap some barbs before it breaks down. Desperate to reach their destination, Ammy and Noah head out into the snowstorm for a bus station that’s a mile away from their location. As their travels get complicated Ammy and Noah swap stories and slowly fall for each other. Most of these meet-cute-in-transit stories woefully neglect the exterior, but not so here. The author perfectly balances the internal, emotional journey the couple goes through against their physical pilgrimage. The adventure is just as exciting and funny and heartening as the sparks of attraction that flame into fire. Bonus points are due for the author not teasing readers too long with the inevitable smooching. There’s an entire third-act complication afterward that even eagle-eyed readers won’t see coming, one that’s delightfully organic to the story and dealt with smartly by the characters. Noah and Ammy are both fetchingly crafted protagonists, filled with hopes, fears, flaws, and strengths.

An absurdly charming, funny, and romantic odyssey.