by Tim Tharp
First published 2010
Sutter Keely rules every party in town. He gets people dancing and jumping into pools. School means nothing to him. College plans don't exist. His future looks like retail work folding clothes. But Dean Martin music and whiskey make everything feel perfect. Then Sutter wakes up drunk on someone's front yard. That's where he finds Aimee Finicky reading a book. Aimee stumbles through conversations. She eats lunch alone. She needs someone to show her how life works. Sutter decides he's the perfect teacher. He'll give Aimee some fun experiences and send her on her way. The plan seems simple enough. But Aimee changes everything. She doesn't follow the script other girls follow. Sutter discovers he can actually matter in someone's life. He can help Aimee become confident and happy. Or he can destroy her completely. For once, his choices carry real weight.
Genres: fiction, romance, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
294 pages · Paperback · Random House Children's Books