These characters are just plain likable. They're complex and interesting, and earned sympathy goes a long way toward making the book such an enjoyable read . . . Big on charm, Fiore's sophomore novel is a solid entry in the genre it clearly loves.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A lot of fun, and Fiore (Taste Test) also works in some girl-power advice about not letting a boy become one's whole life.” —Publishers Weekly
“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.” —School Library Journal
“This novel will appeal most to girls looking for a sweet and uncomplicated teen romance. It will find a ready audience in most school and public libraries.” —VOYA
“Fiore engagingly promotes female self-respect and personal growth . . . Cute boys and plentiful kisses will appeal, and teen readers, particularly of the female variety, will likely relate to the belief that with just the right orchestration and execution of an interaction, undeniable mutual love will reveal itself.” —BCCB
“Has enough spice to keep readers feasting all the way through. . . . contestants may lose, but readers won't.” —Kirkus Reviews, on Taste Test
“The perfect recipe for love!” —Fabio Viviani, Top Chef Season 5 favorite and Top Chef All Star, on Taste Test
06/01/2014
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
2014-03-31
When Marijke the jock and Lily the nerd join forces to fix their love lives, Fiore lets her fangirl flag fly. Marijke's relationship with rocker Tommy is about to implode, and Lily's liaison with motocross biker Joe has barely gotten off the ground. A twist of fate brings the two girls together at a screening of Titanic, and the duo are inspired to mend their romances with moves taken out of the chick-flick playbook. The ensuing stunts and grand gestures act as markers toward a Better Understanding of Love, a lesson Fiore doesn't oversell. Sure, the lesson's important, but the author is much more interested in giving readers a good time, at which she succeeds. Strong characterization and smart, sarcastic quips move the novel along. The author exhibits her knowledge of the teen-movie genre without getting too reference-heavy or inside-baseball. Most importantly, these characters are just plain likable. They're complex and interesting, and earned sympathy goes a long way toward making the book such an enjoyable read. A sugary romance light on depth but big on charm, Fiore's sophomore novel is a solid entry in the genre it clearly loves. (Romance. 13-17)
