Small Town Hearts

by Lillie Vale

Overview

Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad.

And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had - to never fall for a summer boy?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250192356
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	03/19/2019
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lillie Vale, upon discovering she could not be one of Santa’s elves or attend Hogwarts, decided to become a writer to create a little magic of her own. Enjoying the romantic and eerie in equal measure, she’s probably always writing a book where the main characters kiss or kill. Born in Mumbai, she has lived in many U.S. states, and now resides in an Indiana college town where the corn whispers and no one has a clue that she is actually the long-lost caps lock queen. Small Town Hearts is her debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Small Town Hearts

"Just the right amount of drama, at just the right pace. Vale manages to honor small town life, while deftly navigating the often rough relationship waters experienced by older teens. She tells an emotionally compelling story, stays true to her complicated characters, and somehow manages to tie it all up in sweet-yet-realistic bow. A charming and satisfying read."
—NPR

"Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale is a queer small-town romance that will give you major butterflies."
—Bustle

“A cozy, delectable debut about letting go, holding on, and how where we’re from shapes who we are.”
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone

“Lillie Vale will make you fall in love with small town life . . . I definitely would recommend this book for anyone wanting to ditch rain-soaked fall days for the romantic (and warm) adventures of summer.”
—Rebecca Sky, author of Arrowheart

“This book was like a warm hug, a love letter to small towns, complicated friendships, and finding love in unexpected places.”
—Sonia Hartl, author of Have a Little Faith in Me

“Charming, sweet, and earnest. A lovely debut ideal for both teens and crossover readers, this novel is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.”
—Hannah Capin, author of The Dead Queens Club

From the Publisher

04/01/2019

Gr 9 Up-Recent high school graduate and Oar's Rest local Barbara "Babe" Vogel's dating rule of "no summer boys" is tested with the arrival of Levi Keller, an attractive artist renting her mother's house for the season. Babe isn't looking for romance, she just wants to move on from her ex-girlfriend Elodie and have one last golden summer with her best friends Penny and Chad. When break-up drama obliterates her friendship group, Babe, who is bisexual, finds herself spending more and more time with Levi, slowly falling for the one type of person she swore she never would. Readers looking for a quick, realistic read will enjoy this seasonal snapshot of small-town life. Though packaged as a love story, this character-driven narrative focuses on how people grow in and out of relationships both romantic and platonic. Vale interweaves the three different plotlines that make up Babe's emotional journey, infusing the story with convincing doses of miscommunication and indecision. While many will enjoy watching Babe's summer unfold, some readers may get frustrated by toxic elements of her relationship with Penny, a character who feels superficially developed. Likewise, perfunctory descriptions of the picturesque Maine community leave something to be desired. VERDICT Give this to teens interested in small-town drama and summer love. Recommended for most YA collections.-Pearl Derlaga, York County Public Library, VA

School Library Journal