Synopses & Reviews
From the author of the multimillion-copy, #1 bestselling series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants comes a heartbreaking first adult novel.
Ann Brashares's series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, has made her one of the most successful contemporary authors, shipping more than 8 million copies over the last five years and winning even more millions of passionate fans. Now, like Judy Blume (Summer Sisters) before her, Brashares turns her spectacular gifts to adult readers. In The Last Summer (of You and Me), Brashares uses her remarkable storytelling, emotional insights, and talent for capturing relationships to weave a rich, textured, mature novel that will resonate as clearly with readers in their forties as in their twenties.
Set on Long Island's Fire Island, The Last Summer (of You and Me) is an enchanting, heartrending page- turner about sisterhood, friendship, love, loss, and growing up. It is the story of a beach community friendship triangle-Riley and Alice, two sisters in their twenties, and Paul, the young man they've grown up with-and what happens one summer when budding love, sexual curiosity, a sudden serious illness, and a deep secret all collide, launching the friends into an adult world from which their summer haven can no longer protect them.
As wise, compelling, and endearing as her Traveling Pants series, and as lyrical, thoughtful, and moving as the best literary women's fiction, this novel is sure to win an entire new generation of adult fans.
Review
"Fitzpatrick's excellent first novel movingly captures the intensity of first love [and] the corrupting forces of power....As the lines between villains and heroes shift, readers will be reminded how "right" and "wrong" choices are rarely crystal clear."
Review
"An almost perfect summer romance...[that] will have every girl who reads the novel wishing for a Jase of her own."
Review
A
Booklist Best Book of the Year
An SLJ Best Book of the Year
A VOYA Best Book of the Year
“Greens prose is astounding — from hilarious, hyperintellectual trash talk and shtick, to complex philosophizing, to devastating observation and truths.” -SLJ, starred review
“[Greens] a superb stylist, with a voice perfectly matched to his amusing, illuminating material.” -Booklist, starred review
“Laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt poignancy.” -Kliatt, starred review
“Green delivers once again with this satisfying, crowd-pleasing look at a complex, smart boy and the way he loves. Genuine—and genuinely funny—dialogue, a satisfyingly tangled but not unbelievable mystery and delightful secondary characters.”
-Kirkus
"Stellar, with deliciously intelligent dialogue and plenty of mind-twisting insights…a powerfully great read." --VOYA
"Compelling." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
PRAISE FOR
MY LIFE NEXT DOOR:
- "Fitzpatrick's excellent first novel movingly captures the intensity of first love [and] the corrupting forces of power..." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
- "Samantha and Jase have chemistry that crackles: it's the novel's tender, awkward, sexy, dizzy-happy portrayal of first love that really makes it soar." (Horn Book)
- "The characters are dynamic and realistic. Strong narrative pacing adds to the whole sun-kissed package, which is on par with authors such as Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti." (School Library Journal)
- "An almost perfect summer romance...[that] will have every girl who reads the novel wishing for a Jase of her own." (Kirkus Reviews)
- "Fitzpatrick perfectly captures the heady joys of first love while still dealing with everyday realities" (VOYA)
- "Jase and Samantha have a heart-warming romance every girl will envy." (Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series)
- "A wonderful read that will connect with your heart -- guaranteed!" (Lurlene McDaniel, bestselling author of Heart to Heart)
- "One of the best books I read this past year. . . . Wonderful, uplifting and beautifully written." (Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author)
- "A summer romance with depth." (The Boston Sunday Globe)
- Best First Book Finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards
Review
* "Fitzpatrick (My Life Next Door) once again evokes the dizzying heights of adolescent passion while remaining down-to-earth."--
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Girls looking for a Sarah Dessen-esque romance that is a cut above the usual . . . will be delighted with Fitzpatrick's fast-paced What I Thought Was True."--VOYA
"A steamy and very believable account of how it feels to discover how important it is to take responsibility for oneself and the decisions that shape one's life. A must for collections that can't keep Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, or YA summer romance titles on the shelves."--Booklist
"Much deeper than the pretty cover lets on."--Kirkus Reviews
"A beautiful story of first love."--School Library Journal
Review
Praise for What I Thought Was True “Fitzpatrick once again evokes the dizzying heights of adolescent passion while remaining down-to-earth.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A beautiful story of first love . . . Gwens character has the kind of depth and voice that will enchant teens. Those with regrets of their own will find hope in this coming-of-age romance that will appeal to fans of Deb Caletti and Sara Zarr.” —School Library Journal
“Fitzpatrick beautifully portrays a teenagers wobbly foray into sex as well as her dawning awareness of the power that actions and incautiously chosen words have to hurt others. . . . Natural dialogue and authentic characters abound. Much deeper than the pretty cover lets on.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[Fitzpatrick] has smart storytelling abilities, and her novels have a yearned-for richness and depth . . . Watching Cass and Gwen fall in love is a true delight.” —Romantic Times
“A sometimes steamy and very believable account of how it feels to discover how important it is to take responsibility for oneself and the decisions that shape ones life. A must for collections that cant keep Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, or YA summer romance titles on the shelves.” —Booklist
“These are flawed people who battle their own self-conceptions and strive to discover themselves anew. Gwen learns much about her town, her family, and her future all in one summer . . . There is a tomorrow that these characters must confront, and while their tomorrow is brighter, their lives are not complete—just better." —VOYA
“Utterly luminous . . . deftly balances the shimmering promise of summer, first, love, and yearning in an emotionally charged, beautifully written book.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
“Hauntingly raw, romantic, and beautiful.”—Katie McGarry, author of Crash Into You
“An exquisitely drawn portrait of what it means to be balanced on the line between what was and what may come. I was entranced.” —Katja Millay, author of The Sea of Tranquility
Praise for My Life Next Door
"Fitzpatrick's excellent first novel movingly captures the intensity of first love [and] the corrupting forces of power..." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Chemistry that crackles: it's the novel's tender, awkward, sexy, dizzy-happy portrayal of first love that really makes it soar." —Horn Book
"The characters are dynamic and realistic. Strong narrative pacing adds to the whole sun-kissed package, which is on par with authors such as Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti." —School Library Journal
"An almost perfect summer romance...[that] will have every girl who reads the novel wishing for a Jase of her own." —Kirkus Reviews
"Fitzpatrick perfectly captures the heady joys of first love while still dealing with everyday realities." —VOYA "A heart-warming romance every girl will envy." —Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series
"A wonderful read that will connect with your heart—guaranteed!" —Lurlene McDaniel, bestselling author of Heart to Heart
"One of the best books I read this past year. . . . Wonderful, uplifting and beautifully written." —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
"A summer romance with depth." —The Boston Sunday Globe
Best First Book Finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title
Synopsis
Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development.
But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or…Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at allso why does she feel so comfortable with him? So…happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before?
Synopsis
A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Synopsis
A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Synopsis
From the #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars
Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
New York Times bestseller
USA Today bestseller
Publishers Weekly bestseller
Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back in the middle of the nightdressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revengehe follows.
After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues--and theyre for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.
Bestselling author and Printz Medalist John Green's brilliant wit and searing emotional honesty have inspired a new generation of readers.
Synopsis
This special edition includes all-new bonus material, including: ¥ Sarah Dessen's recollections of her own summers at the beach ¥ A playlist of the songs that inspired her as she wrote Along for the Ride ¥ A map of the town of Colby, where the book takes place
Synopsis
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to
My Life Next Door is a magnetic, push-me-pull-me summer romance for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her idyllic Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past--or the island--Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true--about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself--with what really is.
Huntley Fitzpatrick delivers another enticing summer read full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions, and a romance that will make every reader swoon.
Synopsis
A New York Times bestseller Up all night.
Nights have always been Audens time, her chance to escape everything thats going on around her.
Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.
Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen. . . .
As with all Dessens books, [this] is a must-have” VOYA, starred review
Also by Sarah Dessen:
Dreamland
Just Listen
Keeping the Moon
Lock and Key
The Moon and More
Someone Like You
That Summer
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
What Happened to Goodbye
About the Author
"I was born in 1970 in Illinois, but all the life I remember Ive spent in Chapel Hill, NC. My parents were both professors at the University of North Carolina: my mom is a classicist (which means she knows everything you could ever imagine about myths, Latin, and words) and my dad teaches Shakespeare (which means Id seen
As You Like It about five times by the age of 18.) I have one brother, who is a musician and lives in California with his son and his wife, an artist who designed my personal website. (Thanks, Mariangeles!)
"Ive been writing, in one way or another, for as long as I can remember. I was always a big reader, mostly because my parents were. I used to get frustrated with my mom because she bought me books for Christmas when what I really wanted were the gifts my friends got, things like sweaters and jewelry. But I did love to read. When I was eight or nine my parents gave me an old manual typewriter and a little desk in the corner of our den, and Id sit there and type up my stories. I was the kind of kid that people always sighed over and said, "She has such a wild imagination," which usually meant "I wish Sarah would try to stick to the truth." I have a tendency to embellish: I think its just a weakness of fiction writers. Once you learn how to make a story better, its hard not to do it all the time.
"In high school, I was lucky enough to have a big group of girlfriends that have really inspired a lot of the stories in my books. Im still close with my friends from that time, so its never very hard to put myself back into that place, that voice. Also it doesnt hurt to still be living in my hometown, where its a given that Ill bump into people I had homeroom with, or guys I had big crushes on, while Im pumping gas or buying stamps. It makes it hard to leave high school behind entirely, which is a good or bad thing depending on what day you ask me. I attended college at UNC, where I studied creative writing and graduated with a degree in English. (Which means I can quote small parts of many Great Works. Comes in handy occasionally, like at cocktail parties.) Id been on the five-and-a-half year college plan, and when I graduated my parents were hoping Id settle down and get a Real Job so they could stop worrying about me. But instead of doing the whole resume/pantyhose thing, I decided to stick to my job waiting tables at the world famous Flying Burrito Restaurant and try to publish a novel. At the time, I had only one very bad book Id written my senior year of college and the beginnings of another one. Luckily, my family was supportive and I spent a few years living in a ramshackle little house where I wrote during the day and did the restaurant thing at night.
"Three years after graduating, I sold my first book, That Summer, but it wasnt until a year after that that I got offered a teaching job and left waitressing for good. I still miss it sometimes, though. It was a great job for a writer. Endless conversations to eavesdrop, tons of material, and fast money without ever taking work home. Plus, free Mexican food, the best perk of all. Now, Ive published four books, all for young adults. I never really intended to be YA writer, but the second book I showed my agent she thought had a strong teenage voice, so she sent it off to an editor at Orchard Books, who bought it. Even though it was in a way accidental, Ive found that writing for teens suits me. I do short stories, and other novels, that are for an older audience, but again and again I am brought back to the stories of high school. Maybe its because so much happened to me then that Im not finished yet telling everything. My senior quote was from Pink Floyd (okay, I was a bit of a burnout---I spent a lot of time in the parking lot, whatever, lets move on) and it pretty much summed up my future, although I didnt know it at the time. It was: "The time is gone, the song is over, thought Id something more to say." It turns out that I did.
"The books I read when I was teenager, the good ones anyway, have stuck more in my mind than anything since. I still love books, but while I couldnt tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowrys A Summer to Die or Judy Blumes Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them: I think its the best thing to which any writer can aspire. Now, I teach writing at UNC-Chapel Hill, where Im lucky enough to see my students find their own voice, the way I did in the same program there not so long ago. Teaching is great for me, because I get to show people how writing can really change the way you see not only yourself but the world. Ive found in my own life that if my writing isnt going well, not much else will. It is the one constant, the key to everything else.
"As far as my other life, my non-writing life, I live in the country with my husband, some lizards, and two dogs who are completely spoiled and rule me completely. I like to work in my garden---although I have not yet perfected the art of keeping everything alive----and, in my weaker moments, shop. I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) What else can I tell you? I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and thats a good thing. Its always more fun to make stuff up anyway."