A thought-provoking examination of how character can be tested.
A high school girl agonizes over the consequences of a mistake that she and her friends made in Christie’s YA series entry.
Seventeen-year-old Piper Rose, a senior at Millington Valley High School in Pennsylvania, is a talented ballet dancer with a promising future. She’s also the manager for the school’s soccer team, which counts her two brothers, Noah and Cooper, as members. They’re under enormous pressure from Coach Christopher O’Connell and many other town residents to finally beat their rival, Concord; success would mean athletics scholarships like the one that Ethan Horn, the older brother of the Roses’ teammate Jacob, won. The Horn and Rose families are connected through friendship and business, but that connection is complicated by Piper’s crush on Ethan and Jacob’s crush on her. She jumps at a chance to attend Noah’s 18th birthday drinking/hunting party at a quarry, even though she has to serve as designated driver, as it might finally give her a chance to tell Ethan how she feels. But a terrible accident and a subsequent coverup throw all their lives into turmoil; Piper even starts committing acts of self-harm. Can they—and should they—avoid a final reckoning? In her second Millington Valley novel, Christie offers a setup that’s somewhat reminiscent of Lois Duncan’s classic I Know What You Did Last Summer (1973), minus some of the thriller aspects. This allows the story to focus on Piper’s monthslong struggle with her conscience, which the author describes in an authentic voice; the teen’s feelings of loyalty and her fears for the future come to the fore, while she also deals with romantic difficulties, her former best friend’s jealousy, and other issues. Other characters’ personalities are also well rounded and enhance the book as a whole. Readers who lack an interest in sports may not feel engaged by the soccer drama, and the characters’ back-and-forth decisions on whether to confess also eventually become repetitive. For the most part, though, the tale makes for compelling reading.
A thought-provoking examination of how character can be tested.Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68433-755-2
Page Count: 278
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Review Posted Online: Sept. 2, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A classic rags-to-riches romantic comedy with irresistible chemistry and heart.
A surprise inheritance thrusts a small-town Nebraska teen into Manhattan’s elite society—and the orbit of a boy who’s determined to prove she doesn’t belong.
Julia Lowell’s life changes overnight when the 80-something man they know as Lou leaves his fortune to her family instead of his New York City relatives. Lou, who lived in a fishing cabin, was a regular customer of the Lowells’ small grocery store and became a family friend. To inherit, they must live in his Upper West Side home for at least six months, and Julia and her twin brother must attend Gardenwood Academy, a Gossip Girl–esque private school. Julia struggles to navigate her rude, privileged classmates—like Damion Rutledge. Unbeknownst to her, Lou—whose real name was Remington—was Damion’s beloved great-uncle. When a teacher assigns Damion to be Julia’s math tutor, he seizes the opportunity to search Uncle Remi’s house, which he believes is his by right, for evidence of the Lowells’ deceit. But as suspicion gives way to genuine feelings, Julia and Damion, who are cued white, question their assumptions about one another. Painter delivers her signature blend of banter, slow-burn chemistry, and emotionally grounded characters. Told in the leads’ alternating points of view, the familiar enemies-to-lovers setup is complicated by Damion’s secret and Julia’s past heartbreak. While the story follows a predictable path and resolution, the central relationship feels earned and heartfelt.
A classic rags-to-riches romantic comedy with irresistible chemistry and heart. (soundtrack) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9798347100217
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization.
Ellis Mitchell has her whole life planned out.
Heading into senior year, Ellis plans to study hard and crush it at the journalism internship her media executive dad got her, paving the way for her acceptance to Columbia University. But then Ellis’ parents announce they’re separating—and that Ellis and her mom will be heading to Bramble Falls to stay with her aunt and cousin. Furious that her careful plans have been upended, Ellis struggles to settle into the small, charming Connecticut town even as everyone around her gears up for the annual Falling Leaves Festival. Ellis runs into Cooper Barnett—her long-ago summer friend from visits to Aunt Naomi and cousin Sloane—who’s grown up to be very handsome. But Cooper isn’t pleased to see Ellis; he’s cold and curt, and she has no idea why. Wilson’s YA debut is chock-full of charm. Readers will swoon at Cooper’s and Ellis’ developing feelings following their frosty reunion and sympathize with Ellis’ difficulties even as Bramble Falls grows on her. She must choose between small-town community ties and big-city ambitions—between what her dad wants for her and what she really wants. Ellis’ relationships with her mom, aunt, and cousin are lovely and aspirational. The depiction of Bramble Falls is evocative, and the book contains enough seasonal delights to satisfy even the most devoted pumpkin spice latte lover. Main characters are cued white.
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781665975209
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
