Horn Book

After a long downward spiral into substance abuse, Sydney's brother Peyton--still a golden boy in their mother's eyes--is in jail. Starting at a new school, Sydney is befriended by kind, free-spirited Layla; Layla's handsome brother Mac; and their ragtag group of friends, whose support helps Sydney confront feelings of guilt and betrayal. Dessen creates complex, three-dimensional characters, especially secondary ones.

School Library Journal (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Gr 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Sydney has always felt overshadowed by her handsome, popular, and troubled older brother Peyton. Now, he is in prison for a drunk driving accident that paralyzed another teen boy, and despite his incarceration, Sydney finds her mother's only focus is Peyton and that her dad has pretty much checked out of any decision making. When Sydney decides to leave her expensive private school and go to the local public school, her parents agree to allow the change. After her first day of school, she stops by a pizza shop where she meets brother and sister Layla and Mac, whose father owns the shop. In the duo, Sydney finds much needed acceptance. In their mother, she discovers a person she can talk to who will listen and give her the advice she craves. Dessen delves deeply into family relationships and roles. Because of Peyton's actions, Sydney's family is unable to handle what has happened. Layla and Mac's family also has its problems with a wayward daughter and an ill mother, but instead of being torn apart, they have drawn closer together. The contrast between the two familieseconomically and in their ability to functionprovides added tension. Although this work is darker than her other romances, the light and joy of first love, friendship, and self-discovery remain important aspects of the book. VERDICT Taut, tightly structured with well-rounded characters, this novel is sure to please Dessen's many fans and attract new ones. Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas

Voice of Youth Advocates

Sydney has always lived in the shadow of her older brother. Popular, charming, with movie star good looks, Peyton has always been the center of their parents' world. Even after a series of arrests for drugs, theft, and the most recent, drunk driving that resulted in paralyzing a boy, Sydney's mother still sees her son as a victim. Because her parents spent so much on Peyton's unsuccessful defense, Sydney decides to leave her fancy, expensive prep school and attend the local public school. It is more than a financial escape; she wants to attend a school where no one knows who she is and what her brother did. Avoiding the after-school quiet of her house, Sydney tries out a pizza place that is close to school. At first she thinks she has made a mistake, but what she finds is life-changingnot only the best pizza she has ever tasted, but the Chatham family: Layla, who seems to always choose the wrong guy and who has a system for rating French fries; Mac, a gifted tinkerer who wants to go to college but is expected to take over the family pizza business; Rosie, a former Olympic-bound skater who had drug problems following an injury; their mom, who, even with MS, rules the family; and their dad who runs the pizza business and loves bluegrass music. They have problems, but they support each other and do the same for Sydney. With them, she can be honest and not feel invisible.In typical Dessen fashion there are setbacks and stumbling blocks but the ending is hopeful. Have several copies as there will be a high demand, as there always is for her novels.Suanne B. Roush.

ALA Booklist (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

When Sydney's brother, Peyton, was sentenced to prison after paralyzing a 15-year-old while driving drunk, it was the culmination of an escalating stream of lawless behavior. Sydney coped by closing in on herself, drawing away from her charming brother's popularity w infamy d spending most of her time at home alone watching reality TV. After transferring to public school, she has a chance meeting with Layla, a whimsical and opinionated girl who works at her family's pizzeria with her handsome brother, Mac. Sydney finds herself inexplicably drawn to Layla, who becomes exactly the kind of fiercely supportive friend she needs as she struggles to carve out a space for herself in her mother's Peyton-centric orbit. As Sydney grows closer to Layla (and deliciously closer to Mac), her sense of agency and determination grows, too. In classic Dessen style, the book plumbs the depths of Sydney's interior life, lightening the mood with well-timed moments of witty banter, often between Layla and Sydney, whose friendship is the emotional centerpiece of the novel. Another incisive and sensitive character-driven story sure to please her many, many fans. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Dessen's hordes of fans probably already know about this novel and are lying in wait, lurking behind the corner of your circulation desk as we speak.