It's the summer that Summer Everett will turn 16, so it has to be pivotal, right? Her artist father has invited her to visit him in Provence, but the Queen of Indecisiveness cannot decide whether to go to France or stay in New York with her BFF and secret crush. When her phone rings as she is boarding the plane, Summer's future literally splits. Like a freaky episode of The Twilight Zone, the rest of the story follows two story arcs e where Summer goes to France to meet her estranged dad and crush on Jacques, and another where she stays in New York. The dual plots appear in alternating chapters and parallel important events in Summer's life, including the revelation of a family secret. This quirky, inventive novel is perfect for those who love romance and want to consider all of life's options. Though attentive readers will spot the secret long before Summer, the novel is a satisfying read, perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch's Love and Gelato (2016).

Gr 7 Up-Summer Everett is boarding a plane headed to Marseilles for a summer of culture, food, and reconnection with her distant fatheruntil her cell phone rings with a drastic change of plans. In this Sliding Doors -style story, readers see two possibilities for Summer's vacation and the ripple effects that follow. Parallel time lines explore Summer's attempts at first love; her loving but claustrophobic relationship with her best friend, Ruby; and a bombshell that further disrupts Summer's fractured family. Both time lines challenge the teen and her previously held beliefs about her life, and she evolves from a timid 15-year-old to a self-possessed 16-year-old who is a confident artist. Friedman maintains an optimistic tone throughout the book, without glossing over Summer's internal struggles. VERDICT This sunny and quick read will appeal to fans of Jennifer E. Smith, and its gentle portrayal of first crushes and high school parties make this suitable for all YA readers. Susannah Goldstein, Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, NY

Can one choice change a life, or are some things fated to happen no matter what? These are two of the main questions readers ponder as they follow one girl's two very different, yet parallel, summer vacations leading up to her sixteenth birthday. In both time lines, Summer is about to embark on a trip to visit her mysterious artist father in France. Then, Ó la Sliding Doors, one choice splits her two summers. In one time line, she ignores an incoming phone call right before she boards the plane. In the other, she answers the phone call. What happens next shows how one choice, albeit seemingly small, can change the course of your lifebut only maybe so much. In both time lines, Summer experiences romance, grows apart from her best friend, and discovers the secret her parents have been hiding from her her whole life. She also grows as a person through her very different-than-normal summer choices. Summer has been a creature of routine her whole life, and she finds herself very changed by the end of her vacation.The book is readable and engaging, and Summer is a relatable and likeable character. There are no offensive language or sexual situations, but there are emotionally mature issues involved. Fans of Jennifer Smith's novels, Rachel Cohen and David Levithan's Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, and other similar fun romances will enjoy this book.Kate Neff.