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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Stayton Public Library | TEEN SPALDING | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Independence Public Library | YA FICTION - SPALDING | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Sneak out. Make out. Rock out.
Riley and her best guy friend, Reid, have made a pact: they'll help each other pursue their respective crushes, make something happen, and document the details in a shared notebook.
While Reid struggles with the moral dilemma of adopting a dog to win over a girl's heart, Riley tries to make progress with Ted Callahan, the guy she's been obsessed with forever. His floppy hair! His undeniable intelligence! But between a chance meeting with a fellow musician in a record store and a brief tryst with a science-geek-turned-stud-not to mention Ted's own tentative attentions-cute guys are suddenly popping up everywhere. How did she never notice them before?! As their love lives go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, Riley and Reid's pact may prove to be more than they bargained for.
Filled with cute dogs, cute boys, and a few awkward hookups, this hilarious tale from Amy Spalding chronicles the soaring highs and embarrassing lows of dating in high school.
Author Notes
Amy Spalding grew up in St. Louis, but now lives in the better weather of Los Angeles. She received a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications from Webster University, an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School, and currently manages digital media planning for an advertising agency specializing in indie film. Amy studied longform improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and can be seen performing around L.A. Amy is also the author of Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) , The New Guy (And Other Senior Year Distractions) , The Reece Malcolm List , and Ink Is Thicker than Water .
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Sixteen-year-old Riley is pretty happy with her life so far. She has her best friends Lucy and Reid; their band, the Gold Diggers, is getting better; and school is not horrible. After walking in on Lucy and their other bandmate Nathan, Riley and Reid decide they need to do something to bring a bit of romance into their own lives. They make a pact: help each other with their respective crushes and document everything in a notebook. Reid tries to overcome his insecurity and anxiety; Riley gets in over her head with three different guys-Garrick, Milo, and her crush, Ted. While trying to figure out what to do about the men in her life, Riley also avoids Lucy, feeling like they no longer know each other. The band starts to take off but everything gets jumbled as emotions escalate and things get complicated. Then the notebook disappears and Riley and Reid must tell the people closest to them the truth. Character-driven enough to keep the story moving, this book will appeal most to teenagers questioning and exploring romantic relationships. Sex does happen in this story, more than once, along with a small amount of drinking. Most readers will find the notebook entries (done in a handwriting-like font) humorous and relate to the confusing feelings that come from acting on a crush or trying to date in high school. VERDICT Recommended for teens looking for realistic stories without a hefty amount of drama.-Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Sixteen-year-olds Riley and Reid play in a band together, but nothing's quite the same after they catch their band mates hooking up. Thus, they decide to create a shared notebook, in which they will "document our journeys in search of true love and/or sex." Riley has long obsessed over classmate Ted Callahan, and just when he shows some interest in her, Riley kisses another boy and is soon juggling three crushes. Meanwhile, Reid tries to attract a girl named Jane, and when that doesn't work out, he moves on to someone new. Spalding (The Reece Malcolm List) devotes the bulk of the narrative to Riley's first-person account of her romantic pursuits and her friendship with Reid; alternating chapters offer short excerpts from their notebook, which give a taste of Reid's perspective on things. It's refreshing to see a boy-girl friendship built on mutual support that doesn't drift into romance, but while Riley's voice is irreverent and funny, Reid remains on the story's periphery. Ages 15-up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
When Riley (girl) and Reid (guy) find out that their two bandmates are dating, the sixteen-year-olds team up to help each other search for "true love and/or sex" and document their journeys in a shared notebook. Chapters alternate between prose and handwritten-style journal entries, both solid platforms for the protagonists' distinct, humorous voices. Many teenagers will relate to their romantic trials and tribulations. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
So many boys, so little time; what's a rock girl to do? Music-obsessed Riley and Reid, a writer, are shocked to find out that their fellow band mates, Lucy (Riley's once-best friend and former confidante) and Nathan, have not only been secretly dating, they've also been doing it. Feeling glaringly inexperienced, Riley and Reid decide to keep a handwritten notebooknicknamed the Passenger Manifest from the TV show Lostchronicling all of their experiences with love, dating and sex. To Riley's surprise, she becomes involved with three guys: science-loving Garrick, who once dated a celebrity; Ted Callahan, her longtime, irresistibly floppy-haired crush; and Milo, a fellow band geek and tuba player. Riley and Reid carefully record every detail of their dating foibles, but when the Passenger Manifest turns up missing, what are they to do? Narrated mainly by Riley, the story provides small snippets of Reid's dating lifeand, regrettably, little else about himin the entries from the Passenger Manifest that appear between prose chapters. Riley's approach to sex is a long way from Forever; losing her virginity seems to be more an item on her to-do list than a milestone moment. A not-so-fluffy chick-lit offering rife with angst, rock 'n' roll and lots of kissing. (Romance. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Riley and Reid are stunned to discover their two bandmates are getting it on, especially when they themselves have so little experience dating. Determined to change things, they begin the Passenger Manifest, a journal of their crushes, successes (and failures), and advice for each other. While insecure Reid creates elaborate plans to garner Jane's attention, drummer Riley is actively looking for ways to get Ted Callahan's attention, gathering looks (and kisses) from lab partner Garrick and band boy Milo along the way. Reid and Riley continue to make music with their band and navigate the sometimes choppy waters of friendship. A nicely developed story line laced with humor by Riley is broken at important moments by Reid's voice in the journal, giving the novel appeal to both genders. Initial sexual encounters are treated somewhat lightly, though faithfully to many teens' experiences. Perfect for fans of Rachel Cohn's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006), this novel is full of indie music references and the struggles of two terrifically imperfect teens who everyone will want to know.--Moore, Melissa Copyright 2015 Booklist