Lauren's Beach Crush

April 1, 2013
Things don't work out as intended when an overorganized, fiercely determined girl tries to get a handsome boy to like her by following a rigidly detailed "Love Plan." "Just act like yourself," Chrissy tells her friend Lauren. But Lauren, who is nothing if not prepared, has been observing Charlie for some time and is absolutely determined to be the kind of girl who will knock his socks off. That's if she can ever get his attention, though naturally she has a plot for that as well. Even before Lauren pulls out the flow chart, savvy readers will know that her scheme is doomed to failure. Many cringe-worthy moments follow as this initially rather emotionally tone-deaf rising seventh-grader learns to trust her instincts, be a more genuine person and also how to be a friend. This G-rated, nascent, not-quite-romance novel, which takes place during a three-week beach vacation, is squarely aimed at preteen girls and ends on a feel-good note that should please and satisfy them. Although the material never transcends its genre and the characters are somewhat generic, Lauren's personal evolution is welcome and feels earned. The story has a lesson worth learning: If a girl has to change "the way she looks and acts" to interest a guy, then maybe that guy isn't worth interesting. (Fiction. 8-12)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-Lauren Silver has liked Charlie Anderson for two years-admiring him from a distance every summer at her family's beach house. She's led all of her friends at school to believe that he's her actual boyfriend. By the end of summer, it just might be a reality, if her Love Plan-or Operation Cell Phone-works. This year, Chrissy gets to join the Silvers for their vacation at the beach. The classmate thinks Lauren is already dating Charlie, so Lauren tells Chrissy the truth about their lack of relationship and about her plan. Luckily, she's onboard. Once they arrive at the Silver's beach house, the two girls to hit it off and become BFFs. They spend time at the beach, at the library, and fill out magazine quizzes. Chrissy is not impressed by Charlie and does not hide her feelings about him. The Operation is not quite as easy to pull off as anticipated, but Lauren refuses to give up. With evenly paced plot twists, light drama, and crushes galore, Darling clearly remembers what being in middle school feels like. This first book in a series is a pitch-perfect tween read that belongs in most libraries.-Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA

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