Finding Mr. Brightside

January 12, 2015
High school seniors and neighbors Abram Morgan and Juliette Flynn have each been hiding in their own ways since his father and her mother died in a car accident while having a secret affair. Abram takes too much Paxil, which has caused him to be lethargic, drop tennis, overeat, and avoid thinking about college. Juliette is hooked on Adderall, runs compulsively, and barely eats. One night in a CVS, they stop avoiding one another and are surprised by their easy chemistry. Bonding over late-night TV marathons and Taco Bell runs, they take a trip to Abram’s beach house, but their insecurities and disappointment in their parents (including the ones who are still alive) keep their romance slow-burning. Clark (The Edumacation of Jay Baker) crafts a believably tentative relationship between these two damaged teens, their sharp-edged humor masking the pain that they can’t quite shake. Supporting characters don’t make much of a showing or impact—Baker keeps the focus on Abram and Juliette as they prove to be just what the other needed. Ages 14–up. Agent: Alex Glass, Trident Media Group.

January 1, 2015
Two teens embark on a romantic relationship in the wake of their parents' deaths.Even though they live across the street from each other, Abram and Juliette have never been close. But their parents were, particularly Abram's dad and Juliette's mom. The pair indulged in an affair that ended with a bloody car wreck and two broken homes. Months later, the teens are still coping in the best ways they can, but an unexpected encounter at the local CVS and the ensuing romance jump-starts their recoveries. It's a high-concept premise that the author fumbles by leaning on frequent false starts in lieu of actual drama. Just when the heat's about to kick in, something happens to derail the young couple's journey, an effect that will surely infuriate readers that just want these two kids to get together already. This is, after all, a tale of star-crossed lovers that actually has the temerity to name the female lead Juliette, and these sorts of stories come with certain expectations. Unfortunately, all the drama here is internal, as there are no external forces keeping these kids apart. Abram's mom is a stereotypical supportive suburbanite. She fares better than Juliette's father, who might as well be a ghost. Neither of these characters says or does anything that affects the narrative, nor does anyone else but the two leads. Deeply unsatisfying. (Romance. 12-16)

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May 1, 2015

Gr 7-10-Juliette, whose mother was killed in a car accident, has struggled with an addiction to Adderall and a cluster of syndromes that plague her mental well-being. Enter Abram, whose father was having an affair with Juliette's mother at the time of the fateful accident, which provides the backdrop for this teen romance. The "will-they or won't-they" conundrum slows the pace of the early chapters to a glacial rate, though it catches its rhythm in the second act when the two explore their shared neuroses. The clear virtue of this book is Clark's airy sarcasm, which flavors the dialogue with a wry dryness that fits the tone of the dysfunctional characters well. With the trappings of forbidden love between people who by tragic circumstance should not be together and significant energy expended in the buildup, the story still ends with a shocking lack of payoff. The prose is polished but often stagnates under an aimless plot and sentiment that will feel too sugary-sweet for more mature teens. VERDICT The author's sardonic sense of humor can be endearing, but the erratic pacing and lack of plot development make this a title suitable for only the most devout YA romance fans.-Brian Hoff, Elmwood Park High School, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 A love story that begins at a pharmacy and then moves to a Taco Bell before settling into a beachfront vacation condo? Sounds implausible, but no more so than the romance that develops between Abram and Juliette. Abram's father and Juliette's mother were having an affair before the accident that took their lives. Now the two teens are inexplicably drawn to each other. Clark makes this thorny story work by creating dynamic and complex teens who help each other face their demons. Those demons include prescription drug abuseAbram with antidepressants, and Juliette in regards to ADHD medication she does not really need. Though the problems the teens face are myriad, the story never bogs down. Instead, the uncomfortable silences, the awkward conversations, and the slow but gradual trust that connects both the teens and their surviving parents ground the novel in the stark reality that sometimes life is full of genuine surprises.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)