Sex, alcohol and grief mix with gentle humor to drive Strasnick’s first novel. Holly Hirsh, a senior, has not cried since her mother died six months ago. Holly feels nothing except a slight physical pain when she loses her virginity to classmate Paul Bennett in his car. Their unemotional affair is kept secret because Paul is already dating willowy beauty Saskia. The one positive thing Holly has going for her is Nils, the boy next door and her BFF, but his overtures for romance are not enough to stop Holly from making an unfortunate decision. Suddenly, Holly stands to lose more than she realized she had. The plot is predictable, yet the writing is tight and avoids melodrama. Secondary characters are strong, and Holly’s emotional growth is believable. Some readers may grumble that Paul gets off scot-free while classmates ostracize Holly and label her “whore” after their affair becomes public, but this is Holly’s journey, not Paul’s. The fast-paced story will appeal to fans of Meg Cabot and Sarah Dessen. (Fiction. 14 & up)
