Fresh and compelling.
Adventure, destiny, and romance intermingle in a stormy fantasy.
Domenic Barrow and Ellery Caldwell (both cued white) are students at Alderland’s prestigious magic academy, where they’re training to defeat a once-in-a-century cataclysm. At first, it seems the two teens couldn’t be more different: Ellery is a model student, favored to become Alderland’s next Chosen One, the powerful magician bestowed with unique abilities to defend the nation. By contrast, Domenic is a flaky bad boy better known for sleeping around than for serious study. When unprecedented magic anoints them both as Chosen Ones, the two struggle to reconcile private insecurities with performative public personas. Domenic and Ellery are an appealing duo, each striving to live up to the impossible expectations of heroism while grappling with past traumas. Their growing connection gets a boost from sharp dialogue that pivots adroitly between flirty banter and soul-baring. When, after much yearning, a romance blossoms between the two, it’s tender and believable. The novel is strongest in the first half, where a taut balance of worldbuilding, action, and character growth creates irresistible stakes. The second half is less effective due to a series of plot switchbacks and reveals that some readers may find disjointed. Most, however, will remain heartily invested, rooting for the heroes’ romantic and magical triumphs all the way through to the heart-pounding conclusion. The supporting cast includes diversity in race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Fresh and compelling. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781250873156
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Tor Teen
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
