The Night When No One Had Sex

by Kalena Miller

Overview

A sex-positive all-in-one-night romp told from four different perspectives.

It's the night of senior prom, and eighteen-year-old Julia has made a pact with her friends. (Yes, that kind of pact.) They have secured a secluded cabin in the woods, one night without parental supervision, and plenty of condoms.

But as soon as they leave the dance, the pact begins to unravel. Alex’s grandmother is undergoing emergency surgery, and he and his date rush to the hospital. Zoe’s trying to figure out how she feels about getting off the waitlist at Yale—and how to tell her girlfriend. Madison’s chronic illness flares, holding her back once again from being a normal teenager. And Julia’s fantasy-themed role play gets her locked in a closet.

Alternating between each character’s perspective and their ridiculous group chat, The Night When No One Had Sex finds a group of friends navigating the tenuous transition into adulthood and embracing the uncertainty of life after high school.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807556276
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kalena Miller is a teacher, editor, and writer of books for children and young adults. She studied Religion and Gender Studies at Carleton College before receiving a Masters in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She currently lives in Hopkins, Minnesota with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog.

Editorial Reviews

"Told via multiple points of view and a hilarious group chat, thisatypical prom tale is humorous and dramatic in equal parts. A fun read, perfect for anyone who is (or has ever been) a teen."—Booklist

"A witty, honest debut that shines a light on some very real issues."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

08/01/2021

Gr 10 Up—Four couples, a prom, a secluded cabin outside of Euguene, Oregon, and a sex pact—what could go wrong? For Zoe, it's acceptance into Yale accompanied by the nagging question of whether that is still her dream school compounded by her girlfriend's twin drama. For Morgan, it's the debilitating effects of lupus and a hot boyfriend who—despite all of the bro vibes—is equal parts intelligent, clueless, sensitive, and self-absorbed. For Julia it's the excruciating pain accompanying her attempts at sex with her boyfriend followed by being locked in a closet during their last ditch attempt to spice up the act by role playing. For Alex, it's introducing his conservative Korean mother to his prom date in the waiting room of a hospital. In the span of 24 hours, what was supposed to be a memorable prom turns into a truly unforgettable night. Reminiscent of the comedic hijinks of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Miller creates a diverse cast of likable characters who are immediately relatable and who possess all of the awkwardness that ensue when the best laid plans run wildly amok. Frank discussion of sexuality is an integral part of the plot, and the author emphasizes safety, consent, and commitment. VERDICT Mature teen readers will be charmed by this coming-of-age story that explores relationships and personal growth as much as the mechanics of sexuality.—Jodeana Kruse, R.A. Long H.S., Longview, WA

School Library Journal

2021-07-27
A group of friends in Eugene, Oregon, make a pact to have sex with their respective partners after prom in this comedic novel.

Featuring revolving first-person narration shared by four of the characters and interspersed with a group chat that includes the whole group, this engaging, madcap comedy is refreshingly frank in its discussion of sex and the problems that can arise as couples prepare to make good on their plans at the fancy vacation house they’ve borrowed from Zoe’s uncle for the occasion. Only Alex, who rushes to be with his grandmother when she is taken to the hospital, and Leah, the prom date he met only hours earlier after they were set up by a mutual friend, are not part of the pact. Zoe and her girlfriend, Morgan, who’ve had sex before, struggle with discussing changes in their college plans. Morgan’s twin sister, Madison, and her boyfriend, Jake, arrive with condoms in hand but find that a flare of her autoimmune disorder, lupus, and his good-natured but clueless response to it complicate their plans. Finally, Julia’s disappointment that she experiences extreme pain when she and her boyfriend, Kevin, attempt to have intercourse leads them to try out a role-play scenario that ends in situational hilarity. Alex is Korean American; Kevin is Chinese American; and the rest of the characters are White.

A witty, honest debut that shines a light on some very real issues. (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews