Samantha will only call him X cause he has finally been x-ed out of her life. But she still must tell her story of forbidden love. X is the proverbial bad boy: older, experienced, and popular with many who come to Café Hex, where he waits tables. Sam is swept off her feet by his charm and wit and drawn to the reckless life he leads. Her father is running for state senator, and her family is struggling to keep it together in spite of her stepmother's headaches and her father's insistent demands on appearance. Regardless of the pleas of her father's publicist and her close friends who see X for the druggie he is, Sam finds it nearly impossible to break free. Told in musical, poignant verse, Sam's story is lyrical and heart-wrenching, exploring the emotional vicissitudes of love, sex, and drugs. While readers may wonder at some of Sam's choices, they will cheer when she discovers the will to find herself again and be strong for her own sake. Lyons' debut novel is reminiscent of Sonya Sones' books in verse and will appeal to a similar audience.

Gr 9 Up-Contemporary fiction set in a small town near Chicago, IL. Written in prose, and reminiscent of Ellen Hopkins's popular book Crank (S. &; S., 2013), this story chronicles Samantha's relationship with a boy she refers to only as "X." As Samantha and X's relationship progresses, the angst escalates in her relationships with friends and family. When her friends warn her that she is dating someone whose morals and values do not match her own, Samantha chooses to ignore these words of wisdom because of her initial infatuation with X. Ironically, what each of her best friends fails to see is that they, too, are "dating down." This theme is rampant throughout the book and will speak to a wide variety of teens who have either dated a similar type of person or know someone who has. The pacing is a bit choppy at first, but as the story advances, the book becomes more fluid. The characters are well developed and rather typical of many love-struck teens today. The mood reflects the actions of the main character, Samantha. It's light and playful when she first develops feelings for a new boy, then it gradually evolves into something a bit darker when she finds out he is into drugs, and it becomes darker still when she decides to join him by taking drugs herself. Samantha finally evaluates her life and decisions and struggles to turn her life around. VERDICT The prose format and dramatic plotline make this ideal for reluctant teen readers. Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

Samantha calls him "X" for the reasons she crossed him out of her life. Back when she did her homework in the coffee shop, X was the handsome new employee who walked her home after work. He was older, his attentiveness to her was exciting, and soon Sam was swept into his Bohemian lifestyle. It seemed a refreshing change from the confining public primness required by her senatorial candidate father. So why did X's parties and friends make her uneasy?This novel-in-verse fulfills the promise of poetry while creating a memorable story. The author crafts various poetic forms, including free verse, rhyme, an alliterative list, even a rap about high school boys: "They [boys] play with toys it gives them joy, but girls don't see the fun. It's not fun, no longer fun. It's dumb." Lyons uses white space and line breaks in original ways to encourage reflection. Word play is lighthearted and witty, as when a chemistry teacher "rambles on about matter. And what matters is our chemistry." Through it all, Sam's lyrical, authentic voice draws the reader in. Her rocky road from the first flush of blind love through wanting to believe X and try his lifestyle to her final awakening may be a familiar plot, but the originality of the storytelling makes this a book that is hard to put down.Marla Unruh.This is a story that has been done before. Young readers are ready for something new. The characters are clichÚthe girl who falls in love with the bad boy. The message is about a girl who is trying to figure herself out; however, the story can be hard to follow because of its format and lack of character development. A better message might be for young girls to focus on their goals and not on risky guys. 2Q, 3P.MacKenzie Dexter, Teen Reviewer.