Books like 'The Virgins'
Readers who enjoyed The Virgins by Pamela Erens also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance coming-of-age literary-fiction boarding-school historical-fiction dark-academia steamy realistic friendship
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Get Me by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom USA Today, bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the seventh book in the addictive Keatyn Chronicles series. Discover a breathless fairy-tale romance with swoon-worthy characters, suspense, and a glittering celebrity world...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school steamy audiobook book contemporary -
![This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers]()
This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSubtitled The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn this is the story of Cordelia from the time she is 15 until she is 20. She is pregnant and plans to give this account to her daughter on her 16th birthday so that they can share their youth together...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age high-school realistic book contemporary drama epistolary -
![Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest]()
Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhere You See Yourself combines an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, a swoon-worthy romance, and much-needed disability representation in this story about a girl who's determined to follow her dreams...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship high-school romance young-adult disability contemporary -
![Heart the Lover by Lily King]()
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Lily King has written another masterpiece. This book overflows with her brilliance and her heart. We are so lucky.” —Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time TomorrowFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Writers & Lovers comes a magnificent and intimate new novel of desire, friendship, and the lasting impact of first loveYou knew I’d write a book about you someday... -
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![Aiden by Jillian Dodd]()
Aiden by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe God of all Hotties, with his dreamy green eyes and abs to die for. When Keatyn goes to Eastbrooke, their attraction is intense. He gives her a four-leaf clover, kisses her atop the Ferris wheel, and turns her brain to cotton candy.But . .Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school book contemporary fiction new-adult -
![the truth about fragile things by Regina Sirois]()
the truth about fragile things by Regina Sirois
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBryon died fifty years before his time. Charlotte grew up angry. I grew up scared. And Phillip- well, he never grew up. And now we are all bound together into one painful heap of humanity. Broken, but bound. And maybe it is only the fact that we are tangled in one terrible knot that will hold us together until we heal. This is unfortunately, and miraculously, my story...Categorized as:
coming-of-age literary-fiction realistic book contemporary female-author fiction young-adult -
![Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford]()
Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“One of those books you just want to hug to your chest. I loved it so much... -
![Carter's Unfocused, One-Track Mind by Brent Crawford]()
Carter's Unfocused, One-Track Mind by Brent Crawford
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter an eventful freshman year and disastrous summer, fifteen-year-old Will Carter returns to Merrian High none the wiser. His sophomore year will present a host of new problems: the return of Scary Terry from juvie, the pregnant presence of Amber Lee, friends-with-benefits negotiations with Abby, prom night expectations, and the ever-constant harassment from his boys... -
![Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSeventh grader Amy Flowers is finally making her mark at ultra-exclusive Allington Academy, but there's always one thing standing in her way: the League. They rule the school, and their queen is oh-so-mean Fiona, who doesn't exactly appreciate a new girl invading her turf. This time, Amy's stuck working on a service project with Fiona and preppie know-it-all Preston... -
![Ethan Between Us by Anna Myers, Julia Laserna]()
Ethan Between Us by Anna Myers, Julia Laserna
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEthan is different. He is gorgeous, easy to talk to, and a uniquely gifted pianist. But his musical talent is both a gift and a curse. The doctors label him a schizophrenic, as he claims to have been taught by a long-dead, 19th-century composer... -
![Enlightened by J.P. Barnaby]()
Enlightened by J.P. Barnaby
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLittle Boy Lost is the story of Brian McAllister, the boy next door. Brian goes to school, does his homework, and helps his foster parents around the house. Brian also has a secret: he is in love with his best friend, Jamie. But in Crayford, Alabama, being in love with another boy is the worst kind of sin. Brian and Jamie will discover just how deep their emotional bond runs, and at what cost... -
![Her Lover by Albert Cohen]()
Her Lover by Albert Cohen
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHandsome, worldly, and intelligent, Solal holds a position of enviable power in 1930s Geneva. But as Under-Secretary-General of the League of Nations, he has become bitterly disillusioned by international affairs and the self-serving people who surround him...Categorized as:
dark-academia historical-fiction literary-fiction steamy 20th-century adult book classics -
![Paradise Lost by Kate Brian]()
Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsParadise awaits.... Now that Cheyenne's murderer has been revealed and Reed knows the truth about who's been stalking her, she's ready to leave the heartache and turmoil of last semester behind. And what better way to recover than a five-star Caribbean vacation? Reed is reunited with former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor, and she and her friends take over the exclusive island...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary drama -
![Doctors by Erich Segal]()
Doctors by Erich Segal
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWriting with all the passion of "Love Story" and power of "The Class," Erich Segal sweeps us into the lives of the Harvard Medical School's class of 1962. His stunning novel reveals the making of doctors--what makes them tick, scheme, hurt . . . and love... -
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![Sealed with a Kiss by Sarra Manning]()
Sealed with a Kiss by Sarra Manning
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWill a lengthy road trip test Edie and Dylan's hard-won couplehood to the breaking point?Edie and Dylan have been dreaming about their road trip across America forever, but nine weeks in a car together is going to be a huge test for them...Categorized as:
friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction womens-fiction young-adult -
![Almost Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Almost Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIs it possible to be too good a friend -- too understanding, too always there, too much like a doormat? Alice has always been a good friend to Pamela and Liz, a best friend to Pamela and Liz...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary female-author fiction -
![Pulled Under by Michelle Dalton]()
Pulled Under by Michelle Dalton
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA shy teen befriends an attractive beach town tourist in this refreshing summertime romance, in the tradition of Sixteenth Summer and Seventeenth Summer . In the small town of Pearl Beach, Florida, Izzy Lucas needs only her surfboard and the water to be completely happy. She wants nothing to do with parties, popularity contests, or showing her face around the clichéd touristy hangouts... -
![Between Two Skies by Joanne O'Sullivan]()
Between Two Skies by Joanne O'Sullivan
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHurricane Katrina sets a teenage girl adrift. But a new life and the promise of love emerges in this rich, highly readable debut.Bayou Perdu, a tiny fishing town way, way down in Louisiana, is home to sixteen-year-old Evangeline Riley. She has her best friends, Kendra and Danielle; her wise, beloved Mamere; and back-to-back titles in the under-sixteen fishing rodeo...Categorized as:
historical-fiction realistic high-school friendship coming-of-age romance young-adult contemporary -
![My Heart Went Walking by Sally Hanan]()
My Heart Went Walking by Sally Hanan
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe only man she’s ever loved is seeing her sister.And now they have to save her together.Sally Hanan’s sublime debut mixes the prose of Sue Monk Kidd with the dialogue of Maeve Binchy. With captivating warmth, she pulls us in to how it felt to live in Ireland’s changing culture of the ‘80s, and how it often made a woman’s decisions for her.“I can’t bear to keep walking... -
![Access Denied: And Other Eighth Grade Error Messages by Denise Vega]()
Access Denied: And Other Eighth Grade Error Messages by Denise Vega
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsComputer whiz Erin Swift is ready to start eighth grade. The Year of Humiliating Events (aka, seventh grade) is behind her and she's ready to rule the school. But eight grade comes with its own set of problems for Erin to navigate, including her first boyfriend, her first break-up, and the fact that her mom has been treating her more like an eight year old than an eighth grader...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship high-school romance young-adult middle-grade contemporary -
![Pride High : Book 2 - Orange by Jay Bell]()
Pride High : Book 2 - Orange by Jay Bell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWelcome back to Pride High, where the delicious drama continues! Ricky tries to sort through his feelings for Diego—the hot guy who has been bullying him—and ends up in the middle of a feud. Anthony and Cameron, now a couple, have to navigate first times and coming out. Silvia finds herself questioning her feelings for Omar when someone else catches her eye… and it’s a girl...Categorized as:
friendship coming-of-age high-school literary-fiction romance young-adult lgbtq fiction -
![The Comeback by Marlene Perez]()
The Comeback by Marlene Perez
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA novel about ruling high school, being exiled, and fighting your way back to your rightful throne.Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie's starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction womens-fiction -
![The Girl Behind the Mask by Stella Knightley]()
The Girl Behind the Mask by Stella Knightley
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLeaving the heartache of sexual betrayal behind her in London, historian Sarah Thomson intends to make the most of her research trip to Venice. But she soon finds her attention consumed by mysterious millionaire Marco Donato. Despite their deepening relationship, however, the handsome playboy persists in playing a secretive game... -
![Suspicion by Kate Brian]()
Suspicion by Kate Brian
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsForbidden fruit... Reed, Noelle, and former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor have been living it up on St. Barths over winter break. The tropical sun has melted away all the tensions of last semester, and for the first time in months, Reed is happy. She's got her best friends by her side, she has a palatial suite with an ocean view, and she's landed Upton, the most sought-after guy on the island...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary drama -
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![Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin]()
Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsOwen is seventeen and smart. He knows what he wants to do with his life. But then he meets Natalie and he realizes he doesn't know anything much at all. A slender, realistic story of a young man's coming of age, Very Far Away from Anywhere Else is one of the most inspiring novels Ursula K. Le Guin has ever published...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school literary-fiction realistic 20th-century book children -
![Star-Crossed by Mimi McCoy]()
Star-Crossed by Mimi McCoy
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA sweet new addition to the hit Candy Apple line! Will Abby's horoscope make her superstitious, or will she take fate into her own hands?A fabulous new title from Mimi McCoy, author of Candy Apple's debut title!Abby has it all together: she gets straight A's, she's a star on her junior high track team, and she's 7th grade class vice president... -
![Carter's Big Break by Brent Crawford]()
Carter's Big Break by Brent Crawford
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAfter surviving freshman year (just barely), Carter is craving his summer break. Unfortunately, when he and his girlfriend, Abby, part ways, it looks as though summer just might break him. Things start to look up when he's unexpectedly cast in an independent film opposite the world's biggest tween sensation, Hilary Idaho. With Hollywood knocking on his door, Carter gets a taste of the good life...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic audiobook book contemporary -
![Zoey Fools Around by Katherine Applegate]()
Zoey Fools Around by Katherine Applegate
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThey've all grown up together on a tiny island. They think they know everything about one another. . .but they're only just beginning to find out the truth,and it turns their world upside down. New couples are formed, friends become enemies, and secrets and unearthed. . . Katherine Applegate is the author of the hugely popular series as well as many other books for young readers...Categorized as:
friendship high-school realistic book contemporary female-author fiction young-adult -
![In 9 Days by Red Phoenix]()
In 9 Days by Red Phoenix
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer friends call him The Freak, but Tessa has an instant crush on the new boy in school. While others turn away in disgust, she is irresistibly drawn to Kevin Reese. The boy’s face is covered in burn scars and his right hand is missing two fingers. She knows Kevin has a tragic story behind his injuries and she is desperate to find out his past. However, it is his kisses Tessa longs for most... -
![A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy]()
A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Will make your heart pound — anxiously, joyfully, triumphantly.” — New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle Readers will happily dive into this emotionally grounded, contemporary young adult novel about the sudden end of one girl’s Olympic swimming dreams and the struggles she endures before realizing there are many things that express who we are...Categorized as:
realistic high-school coming-of-age friendship romance young-adult sports contemporary -
![The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian]()
The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the Stonewall Honor–winning author of Like a Love Story comes a revelatory novel about the enclosed world of privilege and silence at an elite boarding school and the unlikely group of friends who dare challenge the status quo through their writing.Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of judgment from her roommate, Sarah... -
![Just Our Luck by Julia Walton]()
Just Our Luck by Julia Walton
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the author of Words on Bathroom Walls— now a major motion picture—comes a romance in the spirit of Dear Evan Hansen about overcoming anxiety—and about finding love and friendship in unlikely places.★ "A masterpiece" —Kirkus, starred review"Bad luck follows lies." That was the first rule for life that Leo's Greek grandmother, Yia Yia, gave him before she died...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship high-school literary-fiction romance young-adult contemporary -
![I'll Tell You Mine by Pip Harry]()
I'll Tell You Mine by Pip Harry
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKate Elliot isn't trying to fit in – that's the whole point of being a goth, isn't it?Everything about her – from her hair to her clothes – screams different and the girls at her school give her a wide berth. How can Kate be herself, really herself, when she's hiding her big secret? The one that landed her in boarding school in the first place...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction -
![Pwned by Shannen Crane Camp]()
Pwned by Shannen Crane Camp
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReagan West has a perfect life. She’s at the top of the high school food chain as co-captain of the cheerleading squad and she’s best friends with the most evil girl in Albany, Tawny Perez, which means she’s never on the receiving end of her wrath... -
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![The Fifth Rule by Don Aker]()
The Fifth Rule by Don Aker
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFormer young offender Reef Kennedy is back in Halifax for the funeral of his mentor, Frank Colville. He has no intention of staying long -- memories of Frank compete with memories of Leeza and the terrible way their relationship ended. And then there's the restraining order against him, which Leeza's mother has renewed.... Leeza, in the meantime, id feeling stifled by her mother's "concern... -
![Two Moons In August by Martha Brooks]()
Two Moons In August by Martha Brooks
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere were two moons last August: one almost full at the beginning when Mom was alive and our lives were normal - and then a full cheater moon at the end, that looked down so beautifully on the world when everything was awful and changed and never would be the same again". A year after her mother's death, 16-year-old Sidonie spends sleepless nights playing cards with her cat, Bogey...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school historical-fiction realistic book contemporary death -
![The Infinite Pieces of Us by Rebekah Crane]()
The Infinite Pieces of Us by Rebekah Crane
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the author of The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland comes a hilarious and heartbreaking novel about coming apart, getting it together--and moving on. It's just a two-hour drive--Pondering math problems is Esther Ainsworth's obsession. If only life's puzzles required logic. Her stepfather's solution? Avoidance...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school literary-fiction realistic action-adventure audiobook book -
![The Year of Ice by Brian Malloy]()
The Year of Ice by Brian Malloy
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt is 1978 in the Twin Cities, and Kevin Doyle, a high school senior, is a marginal student in love with keggers, rock and roll, and--unbeknownst to anyone else--a boy in his class with thick eyelashes and a bad attitude... -
![Dance on My Grave (The Dance Sequence) by Aidan Chambers]()
Dance on My Grave (The Dance Sequence) by Aidan Chambers
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn this revelatory, groundbreaking novel, the love of sixteen-year-old Hal Robinson for self-confident Barry Gorman is revealed through Hal’s own observations, press clippings, and the scattered notes of a social worker. These various perspectives contribute to an extraordinarily sensitive portrait of the intensity of first love...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age high-school literary-fiction realistic 20th-century book contemporary -
![Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGet ready to start your own incredible, amazing life…right? Alice McKinley is standing on the edge of something new—and half afraid she might fall off. Graduation is a big deal—that gauntlet of growing up that requires everyone she’s known since forever to make huge decisions that will fling them here and there and far from home... -
![The Language Inside by Holly Thompson]()
The Language Inside by Holly Thompson
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA nuanced novel in verse that explores identity in a multicultural world. Emma Karas was raised in Japan; it's the country she calls home. But when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, Emma's family moves to a town outside Lowell, Massachusetts, to stay with Emma's grandmother while her mom undergoes treatment. Emma feels out of place in the United States...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school historical-fiction realistic 21st-century book contemporary -
![The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman by Louise Plummer]()
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman by Louise Plummer
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI’m Kate Bjorkman. I don’t like romance novels. They’re full of three-paragraph kisses describing people’s tongues and spittle. But what do you do if you’ve lived a real romance with a great-looking guy (Richard) and he loves you as much as you love him? I know what I did. I wrote this romance novel about myself, using the Romance Writer’s Phrase Book...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction -
![Class Reunion: A Novel by Rona Jaffe]()
Class Reunion: A Novel by Rona Jaffe
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTwenty years after their college graduation, four Radcliffe girls return to their Harvard class reunion with mixed emotions and curiosity. It is the first time they have met since their hopeful student years, when each of them had wonderful dreams of becoming wives, mothers, and successful career women...Categorized as:
friendship historical-fiction literary-fiction adult book contemporary fiction womens-fiction -
![The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig by Don Zolidis]()
The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig by Don Zolidis
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJanesville, Wisconsin (cold in the sense that there is no God)1994The worst thing that's ever happened to Craig is also the best: Amy. Amy and Craig never should've gotten together. Craig is an awkward, Dungeons & Dragons-playing geek, and Amy is the beautiful, fiercely intelligent student-body president of their high school.Yet somehow they did. Until Amy dumped him...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school historical-fiction realistic audiobook book contemporary -
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![Rock On by Denise Vega]()
Rock On by Denise Vega
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOri Taylor is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the Band To Be Named Later, a garage band he started with his friends. After years of being known only as the kid brother of sports star Del, Ori is looking forward to stepping out of his older brother's shadow, learning to perform in public, and rocking the Battle of the Bands contest... -
![The Secret to Lying by Todd Mitchell]()
The Secret to Lying by Todd Mitchell
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJames was the guy no one noticed—another fifteen-year-old living in a small town. So when he gets into the American Science and Mathematics Academy (or ASMA), a public boarding school, James decides that it’s time to leave the past behind. In a student body made up of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless lies to invent the new James: rebel, punk, street fighter...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction -
![Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman]()
Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGet your drama on as the girls from New York Times bestseller SOUTH BEACH and its sexy sequel, FRENCH KISS, strut back into the limelight in another sizzling tale of romance, friendship, and crushes.Celebrity sightings. Sizzling nightlife. Endless shopping.Hollywood, here they come...Alexa: She's stopped believing in love at first sight... -
![Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja]()
Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSenior year is flying by, the prom is approaching, and Dana, her best friend, Avra, and Avra's boyfriend, Emil, are about to encounter the pains and pleasures of that intricate beehive called adult life. While Dana plans on college, Avra plots escape once school is over—and plans to take Emil along for the ride. What does Emil want? He's not saying... -
![The New Girl by Cathy Cole]()
The New Girl by Cathy Cole
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to Heartside Bay - for life, love and everything in between...Lila Murray is desperate for a fresh start after her family moved from London to Heartside Bay. It's the perfect chance to leave her past mistakes behind. But nothing is ever that easy. Day one at Heartside High School brings a whole new set of problems, and one very big new crush...Categorized as:
friendship high-school realistic book contemporary fiction love-triangle young-adult -
![Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal]()
Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Rated: 3.81 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school historical-fiction realistic book contemporary domestic-drama
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