An edgy, realistic debut novel praised by the New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys, as a beautiful reminder that amid our broken pieces we can truly find ourselves.Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer by her backyard pool.
A Golden Kite Honor Book of 2018 and a Kirkus Best Book of 2017, this story serves as a poetic love letter to the complexities of teenage identity and the challenges of growing up in a conformist environment. Billie McCaffrey, the tomboy daughter of the town preacher, struggles to fit into the mold expected of her. Preferring sweats and woodworking over traditional femininity, she finds solace in her close-knit group of friends: Woods, Mash, Davey, Fifty, and Janie Lee. However, when Janie Lee reveals her feelings for Woods, Billie grapples with her own emotions, realizing she has feelings for both Woods and Janie Lee. As someone who has always been seen as "one of the guys," Billie fears the implications of labeling her sexuality before she fully understands it. Her journey is not just about maintaining group harmony but also about defining love on her own terms, challenging the conventional narrative of romance. As Billie navigates the complexities of love, gender, and friendship, readers will resonate with her struggle to embrace the gray areas of her identity in this exploration of sexual fluidity.