Synopsis
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Having held out on having sex with her boyfriend in order to avoid making the same mistakes as her mother, Lauren's feelings on her relationship with Dave and her moral beliefs become even more complicated with the a
KLIATT
Lauren's boyfriend Dave is one of the most popular boys in their high school. He plays football and baseball, gets great grades, is gorgeous and liked by everyone. While Lauren is the envy of the younger girls in school, the popular girls in Dave's circle never make her feel welcome. They can't figure out why Dave is dating her, and frankly, neither can Lauren. Dave thinks Lauren is the perfect girlfriend and that their relationship is wonderful. The reality is that they have little to talk about, almost never go out on dates, and hardly even kiss. Lauren wishes Dave would be more physical, but Dave's strong religious beliefs prohibit that. When Evan, someone from Lauren's past, starts at their school, Lauren knows she's in for trouble. She starts lying to Dave, her best friend, and her father so no one will know that she's spending time with Evan. She can be open and honest with Evan in a way she never has been with anyone else. For the first time in her life, she feels genuinely happy. But as her past begins to get in the way of her present, Lauren worries that she's becoming reckless. She'll have to decide if she's strong enough to let herself give into the feelings she's having. Lauren knows what she wants, but letting go of what she has may prove to be harder than she thought. Lauren is a refreshingly complex character. Her narrative voice is authentic, as is her struggle to find herself among everyone's expectations. Initially, Lauren comes off as distant, but as her story progresses and she slowly reveals more of herself to the reader, she quickly grows compelling and likable. Scott has created a pitch-perfect look at the life of one teenager just trying to figure out how to beherself.