Synopses & Reviews
Sam and Charlie used to be best friends. But then Sam cut Charlie out of his life—no explanation, no discussion, nothing.
Fast-forward one year, and both Sam's and Charlie's lives are spiraling out of control. Sam has a secret he's finding harder and harder to hide, and Charlie is dealing with an increasingly absent dad and a dealer whose threats are anything but empty. Now, during the sticky Florida summer before their senior year, the ex-best friends are thrown together once again when they have no one else to turn to.
A year had passed like smoke in a breeze. Suddenly, later was now.
Review
"Ryan offers complex views of family lives, realistic language and convincing characters in Sam and Charlie." Booklist (starred review)
Review
"Teens will find both boys' storylines thoroughly compelling right through to the end, which leaves many ends rightfully untied, underscoring the lingering effects of life's messier moments." Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
"Poignant. An exploration of a deep friendship where friends truly support and encourage one another to do the right things." KLIATT
Review
"P.E. Ryan has created not one, but two complex, genuine main characters. One of the best books of the year." Young Adult Books Central
Review
"[This] tightly wrought YA debut moves fast, and each boy's voice is ragged, distinct and desperate enough to wrangle the hearts of most teen readers, both guys and girls." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
P. E. Ryan also writes under the name of Patrick Ryan and is the author of the teen novel Saints of Augustineand the adult novel Send Me. He lives in New York City.