Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Extroverted athlete Ryan and wry, socially anxious Gabby do not have much in common, except their intense, special friendship. The night before graduation, the pals count down the "top ten moments of high school." Issues such as Gabby's bisexuality and Ryan's concussions are timely, complex, and naturally integrated into this smart coming-of-age story told in dual nonlinear narratives.

ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Ryan's popular, a hockey star, the only child of a struggling single mom, and a serial dater. Gabby's got a big, well-off family, but her intense social anxiety keeps her housebound, and she's only had one serious relationship. Despite this, the two of them have been best friends since freshman year of high school. When graduation comes, something happens between them that has the two questioning their friendship and its future. In 10 chapters, structured as a list of their friendship's 10 greatest hits, the nonlinear narrative follows Ryan and Gabby through all their big moments: the tentative early steps, heartaches, and family issues. It explores bisexual Gabby's first long-term relationship with a girl named Shay, and the days when Ryan's refusal to deal with side effects of his hockey-related head injuries almost ended their friendship for good. Cotugno (Fireworks, 2017) does it again, offering up a realistic depiction of teen friendship and romance that doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties of teen years. A winning, highly readable exploration of different kinds of love.

Kirkus Reviews

Cotugno's newest follows a seemingly mismatched duo over the first four years of their friendship. White high schoolers Gabby and Ryan make an unlikely pair. Gabby's intense and untreated social anxiety makes her relatively reclusive, sticking to her family's weekly Friday night Monopoly games and spending time with her one close friend. Ryan is an extroverted hockey player, effortlessly popular with a string of short-term girlfriends. Their chance meeting in ninth grade at Gabby's sister's party leads them to become best friends almost instantly, much to everyone's surprise. With some persistence, Ryan becomes one of the few people who can distract Gabby from her "panickers" and draw her out of her shell, while Gabby becomes one of the few people who's deeply honest with Ryan and looks out for his health after multiple concussions. While both characters find themselves attracted to each other, missed signals and poor timing (including when both bisexual Gabby and straight Ryan have girlfriends at the same time) complicate the potential for a romantic relationship. Their prioritization of their interpersonal relationship, person-to-person and regardless of romance, is endearing and refreshing. The third-person narration, which alternates between Ryan and Gabby, at times feels distant, but the nonlinear narrative structure (divided into 10 interconnected moments in their relationship and beginning with their consummation after graduation) makes a compelling balance. Whether or not Gabby and Ryan make it into readers' own top tens, readers will root for them. (Fiction. 14-17)

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gabby and Ryan have been best friends since freshman year, even though they could not be more different: Gabby is an introverted, studious girl who suffers from anxiety, whereas Ryan is an outgoing, party-loving hockey star. In spite of their differences, they love spending time together, whether they are engaged in deep conversations about their lives or just enjoying a game of Monopoly or bowling. There have been times when they both wondered if they might be more than just friends, but it is not until the night of graduation, when sparks fly, that they have to decide what their relationship really means to each of them. Told from the alternating perspectives of Gabby and Ryan and following a non-linear timeline, Top Ten is a sweet portrayal of friendship and the challenges of growing up. Ryan and Gabby are both relatable characters, and the relationship between them is believable and well developed. The secondary characters are also well crafted, especially Gabby’s supportive parents and Ryan’s assertive girlfriend, Chelsea. The structure of the novel, flashing back and forth between moments in Gabby and Ryan’s friendship, builds tension and keeps the reader invested in the characters. The novel deals with a variety of real life topics—anxiety, concussions, bisexuality, class differences—in ways that are sensitive and honest. Although the coming-of-age romance is common, Cotugno avoids clichés and manages to keep this story feeling fresh. This is a solid purchase for high school libraries. It will appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell and Sophie Kinsella’s Finding Audrey (Random House, 2015/VOYA June 2015).—Jennifer Staller.

School Library Journal (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 9 Up-old in alternating viewpoints between Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart, this novel presents their high school friendship and the transition between graduation and college. The two are not likely friends; but somehow their relationship works. He is a hockey player, while she is a bisexual introvert who deals with social anxiety. The ups and downs of their friendship will resonate with readers. Will they end up together despite Gabby's previous relationship with a girl named Shay? Some teens will be drawn to the style of the bookit takes the form of a countdown of the top 10 moments of their relationship starting in present day and told in flashbacks, allowing teens to understand how the pair ended up where they are. Gabby's social anxiety is well-portrayed; her difficulty doing things alone may prove therapeutic for some. This novel will appeal to older fans of YA romance. VERDICT A good choice for most YA shelves, especially where the author is popular.Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI