Gr 8 Up—One might think that Ally had become accustomed to things not going her way. Her dad is, after all, the one responsible for her friends' parents' hedge funds plummeting and the tension with said friends. This sequel to She's So Dead to Us (S & S, 2010) starts with her father looking to reconcile, but that's not looking easy with his new gig: working at the local coffee shop. And that's before Ally learns that Jake, the guy who just broke her heart, will be working alongside him. She can't even keep an eye on things, since her mom's new boyfriend insists that they spend the summer at his beach house, so her friend Annie keeps tabs on the home front. Chapters alternate between Jake, Ally, and Annie's "field journal." Some of Ally's challenges are hard to get too worked up over: being stuck in a fancy beach house, dealing with "mean girl" friends, and figuring out her feelings for Jake. However, many readers will relate to her concern for her parents' relationship and longing for the way things used to be. Unfortunately, Jake comes off as completely self-involved and downright mean at many points. Still, teens seeking a quick, escapist read set at the Jersey Shore will find one here. A worthwhile purchase for libraries that have gotten mileage out of the first book.—Jennifer Barnes, Malden Public Library, MA
This sequel to She's So Dead to Us is told from three perspectives: Ally and Jake (who are in love but hardly speaking) narrate while outcast Annie's "field journal" observes their town's richest social circle. The soap operastyle web of love, cliques, hookups, and deceit--of both teens and grownups--is entertaining, but convoluted; a cliffhanger ending indicates another installment.
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