A story about creating one’s own identity is as common as a cup of joe but this is a bolder brew than most. The natural sweetener: Love is on the horizon for Sadie.
In a comedic and candid first-person narrative, Sadie recounts how she has been “madly, hopelessly, tragically in love with Garrett,” her BFF, for two years believing that, eventually, the Gods of Unrequited Crushes would smile on her. But Garrett’s confession of love never comes, and Sadie is shaken by the taunt of one of Garett’s exes: “you’re his own personal groupie.” Heartbroken, Sadie takes a job as a barista and comes up with a 12-step program, which cleverly punctuates the book, to wean herself from Garrett. But withdrawal is realistically tough, and Sadie hits rock-bottom when, in a hilariously manic scene, she sprawls face-down on the floor at work just to take a call from him. Sadie needs a support group. Enter the Totally Wired crew, a colorful cast worthy of the big screen, to help. The book is chock-full of high- and low-brow references, and a new world opens up to Sadie as she explores unfamiliar ideas and activities.
Plain Janes and lovelorn teens will appreciate the sound self-help tips and be inspired by the stronger, deserves-better Sadie who emerges, ready to give love another chance. (Fiction. 12 & up)
