Almost Impossible

April 1, 2018
A challenge unlike any she has experienced before awaits Jade this summer--staying in one place long enough to possibly fall in love. Jade is the quintessential contemporary white hipster--vegan, independent, and just the right amount of nerdy. Her 17 years have been spent on the road while her mom's successful rock band tours the globe. Rather than going to the same school with the same people, Jade has been home-schooled, exploring new cities and constantly making new friends. All that changes when Jade decides to stay in California with her aunt for a summer. To her mother she frames the decision as an opportunity to experience normal teen life, but her ulterior motive is to track down the father she's never met. She is responsible, quietly confident, and accustomed to freedom; meeting gorgeous and slightly mysterious Quentin, who is also white, leaves the typically unflappable Jade flustered. As the two enjoy a protracted and playful summer flirtation, Jade can't shake the feeling that there is something that Quentin isn't telling her. Ancillary to the love drama are several subplots about family relationships, particularly fathers and daughters. Jade and Quentin are empathetic and enjoyable characters. Though their burgeoning relationship is the central story, Jade's close connection with her unwaveringly supportive mother is perhaps the more interesting. Potentially weighty explorations of relationships and responsibility are managed with a light touch in this pleasant romance. (Fiction. 14-17)

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April 23, 2018
After her single mother’s rock band hits it big and goes on tour, Jade stays put for the summer in California with her extremely overprotective aunt. Jade has moved from place to place with her mother’s band since she was a baby and she wants to know what a stable life is like. Soon, she has a pink bedroom, a job at the neighborhood pool, and a sort-of boyfriend, Quentin. Williams (Trusting You & Other Lies) adds many layers to Jade’s life: Jade wants to know the father she’s never met, she’s struggling with her aunt’s rules, she misses her mother, and she knows that the seemingly perfect Quentin has secrets. The narrative stays squarely on the emotional surface, saving the unfolding events—especially the reveals about Quentin—from falling into melodrama, but readers may wish that Williams devoted a little more time and space to exploring Jade’s feelings about all of her recent life changes. Still, Quentin shows himself to be a worthy partner, and their ultimately satisfying romance makes for a breezy summer read. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

May 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Seventeen-year-old Jade has spent her life traveling the globe with her mom and her famous band, but this summer all she wants is a chance at a normal, suburban, teenage life. This yearning for normalcy is what brings her to sunny California to stay with her overprotective aunt and her family for the summer. Jade's years on the road have taught her everything from how to take down stage sets to navigating a new city completely on her own, and they have also taught her to be fiercely independent and resourceful. Jade was content to spend her summer solo, reading the classics and writing under a shady tree in a quiet park. Her plans are turned upside down when she lands a job at the town pool and meets the charming and annoyingly handsome head lifeguard, Quentin, who has other summer plans for her. The author of Trusting You & Other Lies is back with another charming summer romance. Jade is a free spirit-fiercely independent and content being an outsider. Quentin is responsible; he helps out with his family, and he is the object of every girl's eye. Williams explores the depth and fragility of Jade and Quentin's budding teen relationship and leaves readers wanting more. VERDICT A fun and relatable summer read for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.-Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
Grades 8-11 Working the neighborhood pool concession stand and living at home would be an ordinary summer for most high-school kids. For Jade, it's an entirely new adventure since she has always toured with her rock-star mom, Meg, seldom staying in one place long enough to make lasting friendships. Meg and Jade are exceptionally close, and Jade is none the worse for her unconventional childhood, but both agree it would be a welcome change of pace for Jade to live with her aunt Julie the summer before her senior year. Savvy readers will know, of course, not to expect a conventional summer. Jade secretly plans to confront her real dad, another musician, who abandoned her pregnant teen mom. Then there's Quentin, heartthrob pool lifeguard. The two spar until they begin to break down each other's guards. Readers will enjoy this unique, well-plotted summer romance with its strongly drawn lead characters, mean-girl drama, unfolding secrets, and poignant rendering of teen parenthood that fills out the satisfying girl-meets-boy story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)