Horn Book

Lauren is the new girl in school hiding a painful past; Colby is a (humble) star football player. In alternating chapters (Lauren's written in free verse), they describe their mutual attraction and the tough situations--such as a friend's near-fatal accident--that they overcome. This is an earnest, uplifting novel with big-hearted protagonists who learn that "believing is more important than anything."

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

When 17-year-old Lauren moves to small-town Willow, Ore., from Seattle to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, she feels grateful but out of place. Lauren and her mother have had an unspecified falling out-one that Lauren would rather not talk about-and she is having nightmares about her younger brother. Colby is a local celebrity as a football player, but while he loves his team, he dreams of escaping the pressure of his father-s plans for him-after graduating, Colby would like to quit sports for good and study civil engineering, specifically bridges. Lauren and Colby hit it off immediately, but a relationship proves difficult. Writing in alternating viewpoints, with Lauren-s chapters unfolding in free verse and Colby-s in prose, Schroeder (Falling for You) offers a thoughtful, straightforward, and fairly chaste romance between two kind, generous teens-one burdened by her past, one burdened by his future. Romance fans will find a familiar mix of tragedies, obstacles, and misunderstandings to surmount as Lauren and Colby try to do right by themselves and each other. Ages 12-up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger. (Aug.)

School Library Journal (Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 7-10 Lauren's unstable mother has sent her to a tiny Oregon town to live with her aunt, uncle, and three young cousins. Sensitive Colby is the local football hero, who secretly longs to confront his overbearing dad and give up the game all together. When these two high school seniors meet, they feel an undeniable connection. Getting to know each other by sharing their fascinations with birds and bridges, snack foods, and second chances, they begin to navigate a new relationship by supporting each other while tackling their own struggles and secrets. This romantic story, set in a modern-day football-obsessed town, starts out feeling very familiar, especially when Colby's best friend Benny is critically injured and the team must get to the state playoffs. However, the alternating chapters of Lauren's poetry and Colby's conversational prose are well written and help reveal the characters refreshingly unique perspectives, as well as their growth in positive ways. The secondary characters are also thoughtfully developed and cleverly incorporated. Although the general plotline is nothing new and the drama at the end is shifted and then tidied up a bit too quickly, this light, fast-paced story will delight romance fans looking for a fun, hopeful read. Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY

Voice of Youth Advocates

Lauren is the new girl in a small town that revolves around its high school football team. It is unclear at first why her mother has abandoned her, forcing her to live with her uncle and his family, and whether or not she deserves it. She has found a loving family with them but she is afraid it will not last and that nothing will work out for her. Colby is the high school football star being recruited by top ivy league schools who secretly wants to stop playing football and study bridges. To stop playing football would disappoint his father, so he keeps his wishes hidden and tries to do right by everybody else. When Lauren and Colby meet, they both sense a kindred spirit and a chance at happiness.The Bridge from Me to You is classified as a romance but it is so much more. Lauren and Colby's romance is sweet and slow, but it takes a backseat to larger themes of family and strength and finding one's self. Lauren must deal with her issues with her mother before she can truly commit to a relationship with Colby; likewise, Colby has to face his father. The author lets them work out these issues and develop a friendship instead of jumping into insta-love. The novel is written in alternating chapters of poetry (Lauren) and prose (Colby) that serve the story well. It is a very quick, engrossing read that Sarah Dessen fans will appreciate.Jen MacIntosh.