A breezy and straightforward rom-com.
Two heartbroken teens find mutual solace as they try to salvage what might be their last summer at the lake together.
Last year, Andie Weaver’s first kiss with longtime crush Patrick Ling ended in disaster. This summer, her first time back at Big Bear Lake since her parents’ divorce, the 17-year-old Angeleno is determined to rekindle their relationship. Unfortunately, her flirting attempt is more sext than text—and even worse, it turns out Patrick’s girlfriend, Bekah, is there for the summer too. Desperate to delete the message before Patrick sees it, Andie receives a surprising assist from Tommy, Patrick’s quiet older brother whose own summer was recently ruined when his girlfriend dumped him. Eighteen-year-old Tommy, who’s cued Chinese American, plans to drown his heartbreak by working on his novel. But with all their friends paired up, Andie, who reads Black, needs a distraction from Patrick and Bekah’s excessive PDA. She and Tommy strike a deal to stick together and support each other emotionally as they work to move on. As they spend time together, they unexpectedly find they have much in common. But should Andie really go for Patrick’s brother, especially when it looks like he may reconcile with his ex? Ariel’s YA debut hits all the classic rom-com beats with little deviation. The characters are relatable, and the prose is easy to read, although some pacing inconsistencies detract from the relationship development. Still, fans of the genre should find the story enjoyable.
A breezy and straightforward rom-com. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9798347106882
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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