by Nancy Werlin
Jo and Lije share whispered conversations across the narrow alley between their bedroom windows. Their friendship remains small and secret, something that brings quiet joy to their nights. The three feet separating their windows might as well be miles during the day, but in darkness they find connection. Then the war game starts. What begins as play transforms into something far more dangerous. The rules shift. Alliances form and break. Violence creeps into what was once innocent. Jo and Lije discover that games can become real, that children can turn cruel, and that the safety they once knew can vanish overnight. Their secret friendship faces its greatest test as the game spirals beyond anyone's control. The alley between their windows becomes a chasm they may never cross again.
Genres: fiction, adventure, contemporary, action
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
15 pages · Kindle Edition
Content warnings: violence