My Second Impression of You

by Michelle I. Mason

Overview

Perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and Instant Karma, this YA romcom is a heartfelt story about a girl who thinks she knows everything about love — until she relives a day and discovers she had it all wrong.

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Scott is a little dramatic. Both in the over-the-top sense and in the involved-in-every-possible-performing-arts-activity sense. Life is just more fun when you're always putting on a show! But apparently her boyfriend, Theo, disagrees, because he unexpectedly dumps her. She's so distressed she breaks her foot, has to be rescued by the most obnoxious boy in school, Carson, and can no longer star in the school play.

Now everything is terrible and Maggie doesn't understand where it all went wrong. So when she gets a mysterious text from an unknown number offering her a chance to relive the day when she and Theo met, Maggie can't help clicking (even though she knows what they say about suspicious links and clicking). Suddenly, she finds herself transported from her worst day ever to her best day ever-but on second review, Maggie realizes there are some details she overlooked. Maybe she was so focused on starring in the Maggie show that she didn't pay enough attention. Maybe Maggie doesn't know the people around her as well as she thought-particularly Carson. And maybe her worst day ever isn't quite as terrible as it seems.

In this funny and relatable YA romcom, Michelle I. Mason explores how there's always another way of looking at the situations we find ourselves in . . . and sometimes the people we overlook end up being the best ones of all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547604128
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/20/2022
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Michelle I. Mason lives in St. Louis with her family. She spent ten years as a PR manager before shifting her focus to fictional stories. When she isn't writing novels, she enjoys reading, baking amazing brownies, playing the violin, watching her kids perform, and stockpiling best days with her family

michelleimason.com

@MichelleIMason

Editorial Reviews

10/10/2022

On the worst day of her life, high school sophomore Maggie Scott is given the opportunity to relive her best day via a magical smartphone app in this whirlwind rom-com by Mason (Your Life Has Been Delayed). First, Maggie thinks she is meeting up with her boyfriend, Theo, so he can finally prompose; instead, he dumps her, citing “too much drama.” Then, she falls and breaks her foot, causing her to miss out on auditions for her school’s Footloose production. Even worse, her now-ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Carson, witnessed the fall. When she receives a mysterious text that links to the Best Day app, which customizes itself to the user (“Since you’re involved in theater, the app follows a theater theme,” it tells Maggie), she’s transported via simulation to the day she met Theo and discovers that, through the app, she can hear others’ inner thoughts. While experiencing this day from a new perspective, she discovers things about her friends and family that she never knew. Mason cleverly layers the cast’s interior monologues with Maggie’s effusive narration to fluidly carry this innovative escapade to its meditative conclusion. Ages 12–up. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Mason cleverly layers the cast's interior monologues with Maggie's effusive narration to fluidly carry this innovative escapade to its meditative conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly

“A sweet and swoony story about first love, second chances, and the choices we make, MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU captured my theater-loving heart from the first page and will stay with me long after the last. I loved it!” —Meredith Tate, author of Shipped and The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly

“Full of wit and warmth, this sweetly romantic tale is a guaranteed charmer!” —Abigail Johnson, author of Girl on the Run and Every Other Weekend

“Readers will cheer for Maggie as she figures out who she wants to be-and who she wants to be with-in this heartfelt story with a clever premise.” —Kara McDowell, author of This Might Get Awkward

“My Second Impression Of You is inventive, thought-provoking, and totally swoony. It's everything I love in YA romance!” —Kristy Boyce, author of Hot British Boyfriend

“This romance mixed with family dynamics and self-discovery will resonate with readers who want a fun and unusual love story.” —Booklist

“A whimsical coming-of-age story that plays with the concept of second impressions.” —SLJ Reviews

“Equal parts sweet romance and thought-provoking story of self-discovery.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/01/2022

Gr 8 Up—Maggie's life implodes in one day: she's dumped by Theo, her nemesis Carson finds her clutching a broken ankle, and the subsequent doctor's visit ends with her scheduling surgery while calling in her play's understudy. Stuck at home, Maggie receives an anonymous text asking if she'd like to relive her "Best Day." Clicking "yes" downloads a mysterious app on her phone that lets her revisit the first day she met Theo, but there's a catch. The app's "backstage pass" allows Maggie to hear others' thoughts, bringing forth some surprising truths that have Maggie reevaluating more than one relationship in her life. With a hint of magical realism and a nod to theater nerds, Mason's sophomore novel ventures into the "what ifs" everyone experiences in their relationships. A bit dramatic and selfish at times, Maggie embodies a realistic teen whose dive into the Best Day app gives her a reality check on how perspective can change everything. At some moments, the relationships within Maggie's family feel unbalanced, but eventually stabilize as Maggie learns to make a more conscious effort within the family dynamic. What truly shines in this story is how Maggie works through her flaws and feelings, showing it's okay to get things wrong, as long as you're willing to learn and grow. This point is strongly driven home as Maggie grapples with a huge secret her best friend has been hiding. Maggie and Carson are white, and Theo's background is Greek. VERDICT A whimsical coming-of-age story that plays with the concept of second impressions.—Emily Walker

School Library Journal

2022-06-22
A magical app gives Maggie insight into the hearts and minds of her friends and family.

Maggie Scott thinks she’s meeting her boyfriend, Theo Kallis, for a promposal only to be dumped because he’s tired of all the drama in their relationship. Leaving the coffee shop, she falls and breaks her foot. The injury sidelines her from her current and upcoming dance and stage performances, a fact that’s devastating to Maggie, who’s working toward a career in musical theater. Almost as bad is that her accident is witnessed by Theo’s best friend, Carson Lockwood, whom she can’t stand. Maggie decides to try to get Theo back—she hopes to glean ideas to rekindle his interest by remembering what originally brought them together the previous summer. A mysterious text takes her to the Best Day app, which, through simulations that follow the structure of a play, transport Maggie back in time. It also grants her access to people’s inner thoughts, including those of her parents, brother, and best friend as well as Carson and Theo. As a result, Maggie uncovers uncomfortable truths, including about her own behavior. Maggie is a well-developed character whose journey to self-knowledge is believable and earned. Her relationships with her family members are given equal weight as those with friends and romantic partners. Main characters are cued as White; Maggie’s best friend is Dominican and Irish American.

Equal parts sweet romance and thought-provoking story of self-discovery. (Romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews