The Year We Fell Apart

October 5, 2015
Seventeen-year-old Harper Sloan made a lot of mistakes during the past year, and she keeps making them now that summer has started. Word has gotten around that Harper likes to hook up with boys, and she keeps getting entangled with guys who are bad for her self-esteem and her reputation. Then Declan, Harper’s ex and first love, returns home from boarding school for the summer. Harper still longs for him, but life has been hard (she got kicked off the swim team, her mother has breast cancer), and she can’t seem to make the decisions that will get her back to where she wants to be. In a story about forgiveness and survival, debut author Martin takes on tough issues like the fragility of girls’ reputations and the fear of potentially losing a parent. Martin gives Harper a lifeline in Declan, who shows himself to be smart, supportive, and loyal. As these two teens find their way back to each other, readers will hope they can also find something resembling a happy ending. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.