A delicious and nerdy romance.
Stella Greene needs to be valedictorian.
She’s been working toward it for what seems like forever. The scholarship money that comes along with the title would allow her to be the first person in her family ever to attend college. Stella would have it in the bag already if it weren’t for Wesley Clarke, her rich, insufferable classmate who, despite being terrible in AP Biology, seems to be neck and neck with her the whole way. When Stella isn’t color-coding her to-do list, engaging in (many) extracurricular activities, or working at an ice cream parlor, she finds solace in rewatching her favorite TV show, Warship Seven, which was canceled after one season, and writing fan fiction. When user CERanger11 sends her a direct message on the Warship Seven forum, Stella, who has encountered her share of sexist jerks in the fandom, hesitates but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt. Wesley Clarke is also a Warshipper. And when he DMs CaptainJillsBFF22, he has no idea that she’s his real-life rival, Stella. Through their online conversations, with their true identities safely hidden, the two open up about personal challenges—Stella’s family’s grinding poverty and the toxic environment in Wesley’s home. Full of pranks, intrigue, angst, and romance, this is a quick and delightful read that will have nerds across all fandoms turning pages—and shipping Wesley/Stella from the start. Main characters are White.
A delicious and nerdy romance. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-984813-52-7
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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
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