Gr 7 Up-Aspiring screenwriter Paige Hancock is determined to redefine herself one year after her boyfriend, Aaron, drowned. Paige creates a checklist of tasks that she intends to accomplish during her junior year to finally shake off the label of "the girl whose boyfriend drowned" in small-town Oakhurst, Indiana. With the support of a solid core of best friends, Paige succeeds in her "plan to become normal again." The crew also helps her recover from the devastating loss of her beloved and supportive grandmother and to cope with her divorced parents dating each other. She also finds a budding romance in an unexpected place—with Max Watson, nerdy cousin of heartthrob Ryan Chase. The positive and healthy relationships in the novel—between Paige and her friends, Paige and her parents, and Paige and Max—provide subtle modeling for young adults, while still remaining believable and not coming off as preachy. In sharp contrast to darker, more issue-driven YA books, this title keeps truer to the problems that most teens face. The protagonist's upbeat attitude will inspire readers to persevere even during the low points in life.— Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, CT

In that small-town way, Paige is known as the girl whose boyfriend drowned. A year of therapy has passed, and Paige, who was Aaron's girlfriend for a scant two months, is ready to look ahead but unsure how to proceed. If only her Oakhurst, Indiana, high school and community would cooperate. Complicating her life are divorced parents who are dating each other; an annoying little sister who thinks that is perfectly OK; and dreamboat Ryan's nerdy cousin Max, who exudes bookish confidence without a tad of insecurity about who he is or what he is about. Enriching her life, for the most part, are Paige's posse of best friends ssa, Morgan, and Kayleigh d Paige's passion for scriptwriting. Lord is gentle with Paige, allowing her the space and understanding to progress at her own speed: two steps forward, one nightmare back. The care that Lord takes with Paige's developing relationship with her grandmother reads like an ode to unconditional love that will keep readers firmly believing in believing.

"The Girl Whose Boyfriend Drowned"that is how Paige is known to just about everyone in town. Paige had only been dating Aaron for two weeks when he died, and it has been over a year since his death; however, she still gets a look of pity from classmates and adults alike. She decides to make some changes in her life. She vows to do new things, date someone, and conquer her fears. She joins QuizBowl at school and becomes friends with a teammate named Max. It just so happens that Max's cousin, Ryan, is the boy she has set her sights on to date. Paige ultimately learns that the person that she thinks she wants is nopt best for her and that the person she has overlooked is someone special.The story of Paige and Max's budding romance is sweet and wholesome. The story spans a school year, and the pace of the story is often slow. As Paige is pulled between Ryan and Max, other conflicts in Paige's life distract from the love story. For instance, Paige is trying to get accepted into a screenwriter's program, she has nightmares of drowning, her grandmother has dementia, her divorced parents start dating each other, and her three best friends have their own dramas. The story is very likeable, but some readers may find it hard to stay engaged. This title is recommended as an additional purchase where romance novels are popular.Lynndy Hurdle.