Lennie is grieving the loss of her vibrant, loving, carefree, older sister Bailey. When Lennie returns to school, trying to avoid all the sympathetic stares, she returns to band practice with her best friend Sarah. There’s a new boy at school called Joe Fontaine and he too attends the practice. He’s already caused a stir around school with his good looks and mystery, but he’s also a brilliant musician.

Lennie wonders how she can be so awestruck by Joe, experiencing feelings she’s never felt before, when she’s supposed to be grieving. And then there’s Toby – Bailey’s boyfriend. He too is grieving, trying to find a way to cope without Bailey in his life. When Lennie is with Toby they both feel closer to Bailey. But are they getting too close themselves?

Joe begins to seek out Lennie, at school and at home, until he becomes a regular visitor. Lennie slowly falls for Joe, all the while a tumult of grief, guilt, love, and happiness she’s never felt before. But then there’s Toby too…..

This novel with its love ‘triangle’ is beautifully written, with realistic, believable, quirky characters and emotions. It’s a complicated love story interspered with Lennie’s poetry, and sub-plot about her mother who left them when she was only one. Jandy Nelson is nothing short of brilliant!

Author – Jandy Nelson

Age – 16+

(Love triangle, Siblings, Sisters, Music, Guilt, Grief)