Synopses & Reviews
A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
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.
"A summer romance with depth." The Boston Sunday Globe
"Fitzpatrick's excellent first novel movingly captures the intensity of first love." Publishers Weekly, starred review
"An almost perfect summer romance." Kirkus Reviews
"On par with authors such as Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti." SLJ
Review
"Entertaining, atmospheric...Jordan's authentic teenage voice...will hold readers, as will the emotional issues...." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Booklistandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Debut YA novelist Caletti peoples Jordan's world with fascinating characters...Jordan's magnetic voice marks Caletti as a writer to watch." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Publishers Weekly,andlt;/iandgt; starred review
Review
"The book unfolds the drama slowly and suspensefully, creating an everyday teen world that's perceptive, funny, and nuanced in its own right..." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,andlt;/iandgt; starred review
Review
"Debut YA novelist Caletti peoples Jordan's world with fascinating characters...Jordan's magnetic voice marks Caletti as a writer to watch."
-- Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"Gothic with an edge...The characters leap to life...Caletti expertly succeeds in capturing the way a smart teen can grasp and skewer her world..." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Captivating details make this scandalous story seem all too real." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Publishers Weekly,andlt;/iandgt; starred review
Review
“Will connect with your heart—guaranteed!”—Lurlene McDaniel, bestselling author of
Heart to Heart
“An almost perfect summer romance.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Serious swoonsville.”—iHeartDaily.com
“Perfectly captures the heady joys of first love.”—VOYA
“A summer romance with depth.”—The Boston Sunday Globe
Synopsis
andlt;iandgt;andlt;bandgt;People ask me all the time what having Vince MacKenzie for a father was like. What they mean is, was he always crazy?andlt;/bandgt;andlt;/iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; High school junior Jordan MacKenzie's life was pretty typical: fractured family, new boyfriend, dead-end job. She'd been living with her father (the predictable optometrist) since her mother (the hippie holdover) had become too embarrassing to be around. Jordan felt that she finally had as normal a life as she could. Then came Gayle D'Angelo. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Jordan knew her father was dating Gayle and that Gayle was married. Jordan knew it was wrong and that her father was becoming someone she didn't recognize anymore, but what could she do about it? And how could she -- how could anyone -- have possibly guessed that this illicit love affair would implode in such a violent and disturbing way?
Synopsis
Jordan MacKenzie had a typical teenage life until her father's affair with a married woman threatens to implode her entire world in this searing and poignant novel from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti. People ask me all the time what having Vince MacKenzie for a father was like. What they mean is, was he always crazy?
High school junior Jordan MacKenzie's life was pretty typical: fractured family, new boyfriend, dead-end job. She'd been living with her father, the predictable optometrist, since her mother, the hippie holdover, had become too embarrassing to be around. Jordan felt that she finally had as normal a life as she could. Then came Gayle D'Angelo.
Jordan knew her father was dating Gayle and that Gayle was married. Jordan knew it was wrong and that her father was becoming someone she didn't recognize anymore, but what could she do about it? And how could she--how could anyone--have possibly guessed that this illicit love affair would implode in such a violent and disturbing way?
Synopsis
People ask me all the time what having Vince MacKenzie for a father was like. What they mean is, was he always crazy?
High school junior Jordan MacKenzie's life was pretty typical: fractured family, new boyfriend, dead-end job. She'd been living with her father (the predictable optometrist) since her mother (the hippie holdover) had become too embarrassing to be around. Jordan felt that she finally had as normal a life as she could. Then came Gayle D'Angelo.
Jordan knew her father was dating Gayle and that Gayle was married. Jordan knew it was wrong and that her father was becoming someone she didn't recognize anymore, but what could she do about it? And how could she -- how could anyone -- have possibly guessed that this illicit love affair would implode in such a violent and disturbing way?
About the Author
Deb Caletti is the award-winning author of The Queen of Everything; Honey, Baby, Sweetheart; Wild Roses; The Nature of Jade; The Fortunes of Indigo Skye; The Secret Life of Prince Charming; The Six Rules of Maybe; Stay; and The Story of Us, among others. In addition to being a National Book Award finalist, Deb’s work has gained other distinguished recognition, including the PNBA Best Book Award, the Washington State Book Award, and School Library Journal’s Best Book award, as well as finalist citations for the California Young Reader Medal and the PEN USA Literary Award. She lives with her family in Seattle. You can visit her at DebCaletti.com and become a fan on Facebook.