WE'VE HIT TURBULENCE

Two former sweethearts are thrown together under awkward circumstances that may give them another shot at love.

High school senior Olive Austin has always had her life perfectly planned, but when her boyfriend, Jack Cameron, starts acting distant, she impulsively leaves New York one week early for her spring break trip to Honolulu, where she’s joining Jack, a freshman at the University of Hawai‘i. She didn’t expect to end up spending the 11-hour flight sitting next to Tyler Ferris, the ex-boyfriend whose heart she broke. Ignoring intuitive, easygoing Tyler becomes impossible, and Olive ends up facing her role in the complex ending of their relationship. Despite this bumpy start to her vacation, Olive makes the most of her stay in Hawai‘i. Although the setting is superficially developed, the narrative is strong in its exploration of the characters and their interactions: Olive and Tyler have a deep connection and they’re interesting together and compelling as individuals. Flashbacks gradually and effectively add details as the story progresses, supporting the characters’ growth, particularly in the case of Olive, who ultimately learns to embrace her strengths and weaknesses. In her debut novel, Cozzi shows how forgiveness can be as beneficial for us as it is for others. Olive and Jack are cued white. Tyler’s father is from Boston, and his mother is from Maui; it’s unclear whether she’s Native Hawaiian.

A second-chance romance that’s elevated by strong character development.