Just Like the Movies

Gr 7 Up—High school senior Marijke Monti is beautiful, popular, and an all-star track athlete dating Tommy Lawson, the most swoon-worthy boy in school. Lily Spencer is an extraordinary event planner and wallflower who is rarely recognized for her hard work let alone noticed by her forever crush, motocross-god Joe Lombardi. After a series of unfortunate events, the girls accidentally meet at The Coffee Grind and, after sharing their pain, form a pact: With Marijke's impulsiveness and Lily's impeccable organization, the girls will secure both boys as boyfriends and prom dates in the next three weeks. Parallel with the girls' failed and successful schemes is the breakdown of parental role models. Lily's mom is in love with love and cannot keep a man and is probably to blame for her daughter's fear of relationships; while Marijke's parents were high school sweethearts who seem the epitome of true love until Marijke witnesses a series of arguments and finally the shock of divorce. Love isn't always eternal, and that harsh truth is cleverly juxtaposed with the girls' humorous schemes for the perfect '80s movie love story. Fiore's latest novel is sweet enough to make readers want to revisit Lloyd Dobler's iconic romance in the seminal teen film, Say Anything, and plan their own grand gestures of love.—Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City