A lesson in trusting oneself when doubts (and stakes) are high.
One anxious teen’s attempt at winning a scholarship becomes a test of will and endurance.
Nineteen-year-old theater major Natalie Hart, who’s from Kentucky, signs up for the adventure of a lifetime when she decides to compete in Wild Adventures, a reality television show offering a grand prize of a $100,000 college scholarship. In order to win, Natalie will need to hike the Appalachian Trail while completing wilderness challenges in partnership with a complete stranger. Natalie’s partner is Finn, a boy from Vermont who’s a closed-off pessimist who seems to think Natalie won’t take the competition seriously. But Natalie’s college education is on the line, and she’s determined to win. When her anxiety disorder becomes a roadblock, however, she realizes that she may find comfort in the most unexpected places—and she’s not the only contestant facing challenges on the trail. Endearing relationship-building between the main characters will charm readers, while some humor feels a bit corny. Ultimately, the themes of overcoming grief, understanding mental health challenges, and believing in one’s self-worth propel the story forward beyond any minor awkwardness in the text. This novel will be a comforting read for fans of the outdoors and romance. The leads are white.
A lesson in trusting oneself when doubts (and stakes) are high. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: May 21, 2024
ISBN: 9780593650950
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
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
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