Again, but Better

May 27, 2019
Tired of being a friendless, never-been-kissed parent-pleaser, Shane, a premed student, is ready for a change. After telling her parents that she’s headed to a premed course, she instead attends a writing program in London. There, she finds the new start and adventures she’d hoped for: she bonds with her roommates; hangs out with Pilot, a cute boy who seems to return her affection; excels in her creative writing class; and finds a more suitable niche for herself as an intern with a travel magazine. Everything comes crashing down, though, when she discovers that Pilot has a girlfriend, and her parents figure out that she’s been lying to them. Unable to stand up for herself, she returns home defeated, but six years later, she’s given a magical opportunity to redo the past. A slushy mixture of romance and contemporary fantasy, this first novel by a popular booktuber personality succeeds in conveying how an older, wiser Shane is able to make better decisions. Unfortunately, the clichéd plot and underdeveloped characters lessen the book’s impact. Shane seems younger than her years, and her undying affection for her verbally abusive father strikes an odd note. What rings truest here is the awe she feels when exploring new territory and falling in love for the first time. Ages 12–up. Agent: JL Stermer, New Leaf Literary.

Popular YouTuber Christine Riccio's author's note describes the real-life reason for her story--her feelings of timidity and of being overwhelmed in college. Brittany Pressley narrates the first-person account of Shane Primaveri, an only child who has been so concerned with pleasing her parents that she's done little to fulfill her own dreams. Pressley enacts Shane's conflicting shyness and wish to take a risk, which drives her to sign up for the writing course of her dreams in London for a semester. She fails to fully realize her intentions--in love or in writing--falling prey to her parents' power. In a quirky twist, Shane and Pilot, her 2011 crush, are transported back in time for a do-over. Pressley deftly reflects Shane's growing confidence and self-discoveries. S.W. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine