Better Off Friends

December 16, 2013
Reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally, Eulberg’s (Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality) account of an evolving relationship offers witty banter interspersed with pangs of unrequited love. It all begins when seventh-grader Levi, a California native, moves to Wisconsin with hopes of fitting in with Midwestern “dudes” and maybe joining a sports team. Instead he finds Macallan, the pretty girl assigned to show him around school. After the two discover a common passion for British comedy, the camaraderie between them—and their families—is sealed. Macallan’s sharp tongue and quick temper humorously complement Levi’s mellowness, but their platonic friendship isn’t always smooth sailing. As the years pass, petty arguments, traumas, and incidents of deceit test their loyalties, all of which are complicated by their mutual attraction. Neither wants to ruin a good thing by initiating romance, but jealousy rears its head as Levi and Macallan date other people. Flirty present-day exchanges between chapters leave little doubt that the two will eventually drop the pretenses, but their roller-coaster relationship provides plenty of entertainment and romantic thrills along the way. Ages 12–up. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

December 1, 2013
Best friends Levi and Macallan struggle with their close relationship in this lighthearted and at times too sweet romantic comedy. When they meet as new seventh graders, Macallan is grieving her mother's recent death and finds support in Levi and his loving mother, who've just moved to Wisconsin from California due to his father's job. In dialogue-driven vignettes, the two swap turns as first-person protagonist over the next five years as they date various others, declare themselves just friends and discover they have romantic feelings for one another--but seemingly never at the same time. Punctuating the narrative are short, present-day conversations in which they playfully rib each other about their past missteps. While it's not revealed until the end whether or not they do so as a couple or just as friends, it's clear that whatever the outcome, they are still a pair in some form, which somewhat lessens the dramatic tension. Some readers will appreciate the lack of swearing throughout, though others may find it unrealistic for a teen among friends to use a phrase like "[a] pain in the rear." Secondary characters in Macallan's family, including grandparents who live in Ireland and an uncle who is developmentally disabled, add dimension but are not especially developed. A fun if lightweight read that will appeal widely to romance fans. (Fiction. 12-18)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 6-10-Levi and Macallan meet the first day of seventh grade and quickly become devoted friends. Told in chapters that alternate between their voices, this contemporary novel follows the teens for five years. During that time, Macallan grieves over her mother's recent death, Levi strives to fit in with the athletes, and they both struggle to figure out romantic relationships while keeping their friendship intact. The protagonists are interesting characters, facing the usual barrage of middle- and high-school challenges in inventive ways, as when Macallan teaches herself to be an expert chef. When Macallan and Levi begin to realize they are in love, the awareness triggers one misunderstanding and romantic misfire after another- which becomes repetitious; the pacing suffers as a result. The book does, however, have some compelling moments, as when Macallan deals singlehandedly with a bully's taunts. With the premise of friends becoming something more, the innocence of the romance, and the age of the protagonists over the course of the narrative, this will be appeal to younger teen readers.-Martha Baden, Prescott Public Library, AZ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Grades 7-10 Can guys and girls really be just friends? Levi and Macallan met in seventh grade and bonded over their shared love of a British TV show. Throughout the years, they've seen themselves as buddies and nothing more, even if everyone else has seen them as a couple. Sure, Levi might spend more time with Macallan than his girlfriend, and, yes, Macallan might share more jokes with Levi than her boyfriendbut they're better off this way, right? Or is there something more that they just don't see? While the ending may be predictable, the journey here allows for a pitch-perfect rom-com. With a nod to When Harry Met Sally, rising YA romance writer Eulberg (Prom & Prejudice, 2011) situates relatable characters in realistic situations. There's depth, too, as Macallan grieves over the loss of her mother and Levi struggles to remain one of the guys. A humorous and cozy story about friendships and relationships, and the oh-so-fine line between them.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)