The Start of Me and You

Last year, Paige Hancock’s boyfriend died, and although she and Aaron had only dated for a short time, everyone still thinks of her as “the Girl Whose Boyfriend Drowned.” As Paige begins her junior year of high school, she is ready to move on, romantically speaking, and she makes a list of all the things that will help her start over—including dating Ryan Chase, “my ultimate, since-middle-school pipe dream of a crush.” Then Paige surprises herself and joins the school’s competitive quiz game team, where she gets to know Ryan’s cousin Max. Soon, she is falling hard for Max while trying to convince herself she’s better off with Ryan. Lord (Open Road Summer) offers a sweet story of love and loss (in addition to Aaron’s increasingly distant demise, Paige is facing the imminent death of her ailing grandmother). The author is gentle with Paige as she struggles to redefine herself both in school and at home, as well as figure out who understands her best as she stumbles toward new romance. Ages 12–up. Agent: Taylor Martindale, Full Circle Literary. (Mar.)