She’s the Worst

In her newest YA novel, Spieller (Your Destination Is on the Left) explores complicated family issues between two sisters and their respective relationships with their always arguing parents. Dependable, older Jenn is planning to follow her longtime boyfriend to Stanford in the fall but hasn’t told her family—she’s afraid of the fallout since she keeps both parents and their failing antique business afloat. Younger, neglected April, a soccer star, has a reputation for being self-centered, which she resents; she’s just trying to avoid the family’s difficult dynamics. Set over a single day of special L.A. experiences that April has planned for Jenn in an attempt to repair their once-close relationship, this sister-centric story unleashes a roller coaster of resurfaced memories, revealed secrets, and painful family reckonings. Spieller builds narrative tension through the tight time framework, using it to layer emotion into relationships, including the sisters’ romantic entanglements. For readers looking for a solidly constructed family drama, April and Jenn’s story is sure to satisfy. Ages 14–up. [em](Sept.) [/em]