August and Everything After

Gr 9 Up—After the death of her best friend August (for which she blames herself) and a humiliating and very public error in judgment involving a young, male teacher at her school, Quinn ends up fleeing to her rock and roller aunt's beachside home. Ostensibly there to work, reflect, and make a "life plan" for the fall, the teen instead teaches herself to play drums and falls in love with a recovering addict who shares her understanding of what it's like to lose someone. Malcolm is picking up the pieces after his former band members died in a car accident, and he enlists Quinn and their friend Liam to record an album of new, soulful songs that he hopes will relaunch his career. Through their shared love for music, and as they both try to come to terms with their grief and guilt, Quinn and Malcolm form an intense bond that transcends fairy-tale romance. It's not an easy or straightforward relationship, and Quinn does end up reflecting deeply on who she is and what she needs as she makes decisions for her post-August future. Readers will be glad to know that Quinn emerges from this back-and-forth stronger, wiser, and more herself than ever. Fans of Leila Sales's This Song Will Save Your Life and Sarah Dessen's Just Listen will likely enjoy this romance.