Arthur is an intern at a NYC law firm where his mother is
working for the summer. Ben is a recently heartbroken New York native who is
struggling through summer school in order to finish high school on time. The
two connect through a chance encounter at the post office and each of them regrets
not exchanging phone numbers, but through the magic of internet stalking
research, they find each other and believe that the universe is pulling them
together. Their time together has expiration date- as Arthur will return to Georgia
at the end of the summer, but after a series of “do-over” first dates, they
finally start to let their guard down and fall for each other just as their
deadline creeps up on them.
This is a charming coming of age romance with plenty to
love. Written by two popular YA novelists, each author writes one boy’s
perspective, giving them unique voices, and the story unfolds in chapters that
alternate between the two character’s viewpoints. I enjoyed the pop culture
references, Arthur’s obsession with Broadway musicals, and total dorkiness. Ben’s
fantasy writing, SIMS playing, well-meaning but underachieving personality make
him feel familiar as well, and either could stand in for kids from many high
schools across the country. This book’s portrayal of the power of friendship, the butterflies and nervousness when exploring a new relationship, and trumps and tribulations when finding your way in the world is timeless and
uplifting, while leaving room for unexpected magic to unfold.
RC
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