Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

March 10, 2014
Sixteen-year-old Gemma Tucker’s summer plans are upended after her longtime boyfriend dumps her; now she’s off to the Hamptons to live with her screenwriter father, and she isn’t happy about it. When Gemma meets a cute boy named Josh on the train, things start looking up, until she realizes his sister is Hallie Bridges. Gemma betrayed the Bridges five years earlier with disastrous repercussions for both families. Before Gemma can think otherwise, she lets the siblings believe she’s someone else, hoping to make amends and sure that Hallie doesn’t recognize her. Hallie knows more than Gemma thinks, however, and she tries to settle the score as Gemma starts dating Josh. Finn (who also writes for teens as Morgan Matson) presents a mostly lighthearted and playful story of mistaken identity and revenge. There’s a good amount of physical humor (primarily at Gemma’s expense), and what generally reads as a romantic comedy takes a dark turn as it sets up the next installment in this series. Ages 13–up. Agent: Emily Van Beek, Folio Literary Management.

April 1, 2014
In this first book of a series, a 16-year-old tries to repair a friendship she destroyed five years before. Gemma's summer begins with her sweet, steady boyfriend's sudden decision to break up. Then circumstances require Gemma to leave her BFF and stay with her dad--in the Hamptons, a place that holds awful memories. It was here that 11-year-old Gemma, devastated by the possibility of her parents' divorce, broke up her father and his new girlfriend, Karen, by doing horrendously mean things to her and her daughter, Hallie. Karen and her family return for vacation, and Gemma first runs into Josh, Hallie's handsome brother, but due to her massive makeover, she goes unrecognized. It is then she decides to make it up to Hallie by doing a multitude of kind things for her. But soon Gemma's falling for Josh, and the complex plot thickens. There is much for teen readers to like here: snappy and snippy dialogue, embarrassing situations, blossoming romance, pool parties and the constant tension of maintaining a secret. But the plot threads strain the moorings of credibility, and readers will have to be willing to suspend truckloads of disbelief to stay engaged. And due to the hefty infusion of mean-girl morality, it's a challenge to stick by the main characters. Here's hoping the second volume will prove a lighter hand and a truer heart. (Fiction. 13-16)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-Gemma Tucker, 16, seems to have it all together. She has a gorgeous boyfriend in Teddy, a trusted best friend in Sophie, and excellent grades. As a child of divorced parents, Gemma has dealt with tough issues in the past, but they have been mostly resolved. At the start of the novel, however, the sophomore's life begins to fall apart. Teddy suddenly ends their relationship and her mother "surprises" her with the proposition that she spend the summer with her father in the Hamptons. For most teens, this would be a dream come true, but not for Gemma. Five summers ago, after her parents had separated, she made a much-needed friend in Hallie. All was going well until Gemma made it her mission to break up her father and Hallie's mother's budding relationship, and lost her good friend in the process. The protagonist knows that going back to the Hamptons will drag up her evil past, but armed with a new makeover, she goes and attempts to win back her old friend. In this first installment of the series, Finn introduces readers to these frenemies, and the intriguing premise of revenge on a longtime foe. The novel reads more like an entry in Sara Shepard's "Pretty Little Liars" series (Little, Brown) than a book running on its own plot course. While there's a large audience of teens looking for light dramas, readers looking for more character-driven fare would be wise to look elsewhere.-Colleen S. Banick, Westport Public Schools, CT

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