I See London, I See France

May 22, 2017
Nineteen-year-old Sydney has never traveled far from home: she’s felt compelled to watch over her agoraphobic mother ever since her father left years
earlier. Sydney is ready for a respite from family responsibilities, so when her best friend Leela breaks up with her boyfriend and needs another summer travel companion in Europe, Sydney hesitantly agrees to accompany her. What follows is Mlynowski’s (Don’t Even Think About It) hilarious if predictable recounting of two girls’ mishaps, adventures, romantic escapades, and heartbreaks while traveling from country to country. There are reflective moments, too, as Sydney battles with guilt for leaving her younger sister in charge at home and worries (after a couple of minor panic attacks) that she may have inherited her mother’s disorder. Then there’s the matter of Leela’s ex, who shows up in Europe wanting to make amends and whose own travel companion steals Sydney’s heart. Witty with a serious edge, this book encapsulates the wonder, joy, and anxieties that accompany any journey. Ages 14–up. Agent: Laura Dail, Laura Dail Literary.

This story of two childhood BFFs who reconnect after freshman year at different colleges by spending four weeks traveling in Europe is told mostly through Sydney's thoughts and feelings. Saskia Maarleveld gives voice to Syd, who is trying to balance her excitement about the trip with best friend Leela with her worry about leaving her agoraphobic mother in the care of her younger sister. Also concerning her are her mounting frustration with Leela's selfishness and a budding romance that brings its own complications. Maarleveld's dialogue has the tone and pace of contemporary teenage girls', although her singsong intonation quickly becomes tiresome. While the style of this audiobook seems aimed at young teens, the story's themes are more appropriate to late teens. N.E.M. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

June 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-A monthlong trek across Europe with your BFF sounds like the perfect way to spend your first summer after freshman year of college. Sydney wants to take the perfect selfie and scope out attractive guys, but she also hopes the trip will help newly single Leela get over her cheating ex. Although leaving her mother, who has agoraphobia, in the hands of her younger sister weighs heavily on Sydney's mind, she is determined to make this the trip of a lifetime. The girls' romp hits a roadblock when Leela's ex, Matt, shows up. Sydney tries to support her friend, but it's kind of hard to focus with Matt's hot friend Jackson around. While Leela and Matt heat up and then cool off again, Sydney and Jackson find themselves falling hard for each other. Sydney's physical journey across Europe mirrors a personal one in which she must weigh her role as a friend against her own happiness. Mlynowski weaves an adventure suited to older readers: in Amsterdam, Sydney and her friends explore marijuana bars and even a candidly described sex show. Peppered with fresh, funny dialogue, this is an upbeat country-hopping trek. Sydney's struggle to balance new and old friends, romance, and family obligations will resonate with teens. Fans of E. Lockhart's "Ruby Oliver" series will enjoy graduating to this more mature option. VERDICT An entertaining journey, complete with the Eiffel Tower, gelato, and cute boys, that is perfect for summer reads displays and shelves.-Carrie Finberg, South Park High School, PA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2017
When two college-age best friends take a backpacking trip across Europe, their relationship with each other--and men both familiar and new--is put to the test.Mlynowski is known for infusing her tales of teen friendship and romance with comedy and banter, and this latest is no exception. When Matt cheats on Leela right before they're supposed to go to Europe for the summer, Leela, who's Indian, begs her BFF, Sydney, who's white and Jewish, to take his place. Sydney reluctantly agrees--she's terrified to leave her agoraphobic mother behind with her younger sister--and soon, the two are off on the adventure of a lifetime. But when they run into Matt, who is white, and his hot, olive-skinned friend Jackson at baggage "reclaim," as the British delightfully call it, it's clear this trip is going to be far different than expected--and not just for Leela. While the novel has a lively, light nature--thick doses of witty repartee, a rotating cast of international heartthrobs, and fun "travel tips" relayed before each new destination--it incorporates serious themes in a natural, delicate way, including assuming responsibility for a sick parent, the difficulties of traveling with friends, and the realities of a long-distance relationships. The ending, shockingly abrupt, feels out of place given the good-natured fizz that's gone before. A fine escape for teens who like their Belgian waffles with ice cream and their chips with vinegar. (Fiction. 14-18)

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May 15, 2017
Grades 10-1 What could go wrong when you've mapped out a four-and-a-half-week backpack trip through Europe with your best friend? Plenty, it turns out. Nineteen-year-old Sydney and Leela planned to trek around Europe, see the sights, kiss hot boys, and have a summer they'd never forget. But when Leela's ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, even the best-laid plans fall apart. Meanwhile, Sydney has her own issues, continually having to check in with her sister, who's caring for their agoraphobic mother. From London to Amsterdam, Bruges to Paris, Interlaken and the South of France, the girls navigate not only unfamiliar geography but also unfamiliar emotions, situations, and an abundance of drama. Mlynowski's latest is best suited to older teens and new adult readers due to an overload of drinking, lusting, and getting high, plus a running narrative involving a sex show. That said, who wouldn't want to have a European adventure and fall in and out of love on a dime? The abrupt ending of this rambunctious summer romp signals there's likely a sequel in the works.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)