A compelling portrait of the intimacies of close girl friendships …and a romance as hot as the midsummer Orlando sun” — Kirkus Reviews
“Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change.” — Booklist
“A thrilling, intense read...this book will hook readers.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“[A] fast-paced drama about the significance of authentic friendship and romance.” — School Library Journal
Praise for 99 DAYS: “This book will appeal to fans of E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks (Hyperion, 2008), offering complex characters, plot twists, and an insightful look at society’s double standards.” — School Library Journal
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A thought-provoking story...[that] explores the powerful bonds that arise between childhood friends who grow up to discover romance” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for 99 DAYS: “Molly’s a totally engaging, multi-faceted character…A fascinating story of adolescent love and betrayal.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “There are those novels, once in a spectacular blue moon, that just feel perfect. HOW TO LOVE is that book. Perfect.” — Carolyn Mackler, winner of the Printz Honor and bestselling author of THE FUTURE OF US
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “HOW TO LOVE is epic. I crushed so hard on this book. A roller coaster ride with all the euphoric highs and the stomach-dropping lows of falling in love. The writing is as beautiful as the love story. I adored it!” — Siobhan Vivian, author of THE LIST
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “A vibrant, sparkling narrative of first love and second chances - will remind you that love isn’t ever easy, but falling for a great story is.” — Entertainment Weekly
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “[In this] confident debut...it’s impossible not to root for the two of them to beat the odds.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “Cotugno’s debut ambitiously, and intriguingly, follows a couple who fall in love twice, over two different time periods.” — Booklist
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “Readers looking for a story of whirlwind passion…and a happily-ever-after drive into the sunset will not be disappointed.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
2016-12-21
Dana—poor, white, and from a troubled home—knows she has no real prospects for a life outside of her small Georgia town. Dana doesn't mind living in the shadow of her best friend, Olivia, also white. Olivia is the special one, and Dana happily plays the role of supporter and caregiver, talking Olivia out of stage fright and monitoring her eating. When Dana accompanies Olivia to try out for Guy Monroe's new girl group, neither takes it seriously when the white pop mogul himself asks Dana to perform. Both are shocked when they are each offered a place in the four-piece ensemble. When the girls of Daisy Chain move in together in Orlando, tensions quickly mount. Dana, untrained, struggles to keep up with the others, who have been performing since childhood. She tries to avoid the undeniable chemistry igniting between her and Olivia's crush, a member of Guy's boy-band project. Set in the late 1990s, the narrative is well-paced, with authentic dialogue among the racially diverse supporting characters and all-white leads. Dana's honest, self-aware, past-tense narration recounts her navigation of her changing friendship with Olivia, the harsh realities of the music business, and a romance as hot as the midsummer Orlando sun, ultimately finding her own path to success. A compelling portrait of the intimacies of close girl friendships and young love. (Historical fiction. 14-17)
