Sofie wonders why she isn't feeling it when she's with her shallow but attentive boyfriend, Paul. Then, embarrassingly, she's paired off in English with classmate Clea, who is not only an overachiever in sports and academics but the school's only out lesbian. The two hit it off right away rst as study partners; then friends; then, nerving themselves to take the plunge, a couple. Bach charts the relationship's origins and growth in simple language and clear stages, limits the physical contact to kisses, eases Sofie's coming out by giving her a stricken but loving single mom, and steers these two high-school seniors through an episode of cyberbullying that ends with the bully's expulsion. A show of support d by Paul, who turns out to be not quite the cardboard boyfriend he had seemed in earlier chapters curs at the graduation party. A warm tale of first love, with emotional rapids quickly and deftly negotiated.