When Lily scribbles obscure song lyrics on her desk in chemistry, she doesn't expect a response. But Lily and her mysterious desk pen pal begin writing regularly and find that perhaps there's some (romantic) chemistry there as well. Despite its predictable plot, Lily's snarky voice is engaging, and it's satisfying to see this growing relationship lend maturity to her hectic high-school life.

What happens when your intriguing pen pal and the thorn in your side are the same person?An aspiring songwriter, Lily is always jotting down ideas for songs—even in chemistry class. One day, she ends up writing the lyrics to one of her favorites on her desk. The next day, she sees that someone has responded to her, and as might be expected, a conversation in letters begins. Not only does the white teen start falling for her pen pal, but she finds that his revelations about his family fuel her songwriting. But then two different catastrophes strike: her guitar is damaged beyond repair, wrecking her chance of entering a songwriting contest, and Lily discovers the letter writer is preppy, white Cade Jennings, the guy she can't stand—the guy who stuck her with the nickname "Magnet," which persists two years later. Even with what she's learned about him from his letters, Lily can't get past her own immature reactions to Cade. Will her prejudices against Cade keep Lily from happiness? The answer is predictable but still satisfying. A perfectly pleasant novel, this work seems to want to be Pride and Prejudice lite.Readers after an enjoyable beach romance won't go wrong with this. (Romance. 12-16)

In a You've Got Mail type of set-up, Lily inadvertently starts an anonymous correspondence with a student who sits in the same desk in another period of Chemistry class. A wannabe songwriter, Lily obsessively writes ideas and lines for lyrics in a notebook she carries with her everywhere until her frustrated Chemistry teacher bans it from his classroom. Bored out of her skull, Lily starts writing on her desk. When her scribbles are answered by another student with similar indie music tastes, a full-blown correspondence is born, with actual hand-written letters. Both teens reveal secrets and dreams they have never told anyone else. As secret identities are revealed, Lily discovers that there is more than one perspective to every situation.This is the perfect romantic comedy, which means it is a tad predictable but sweet and charming in its light-handed execution. There are enough quirks with Lily's indie music, self-designed wardrobe, and large, crazy family to keep it fun and not cloying. Lily's family-centered life and the slow-growing romance based on written confidences rather than physical attraction makes this a great pick for younger and more conservative readers, as well as any other hopelessly romantic teen. The romantic storyline is also nicely balanced with Lily's songwriting ambitions. Her secret correspondence gives her songwriting a shot in the arm as she takes the plunge to finally finish a song and enter a contest. Lily grows into a stronger, more confident person through her relationship missteps, making for a very satisfying read.Elizabeth Matson.