This Adventure Ends

When Sloane Finch, 17, and her family move to a small Florida beach town from her childhood home in New York City, she expects to trudge through her last year of high school as a loner. That’s before she comes to the defense of cute-but-awkward Gabe Fuller at a party and is quickly befriended by his gorgeous, Instagram-famous twin sister, Vera. Sloane, whose father, Everett, writes tragic romance novels, quickly becomes entangled with the twins and their best friends Remy and Aubrey. The foursome is drawn to Sloane’s quick wit and sharp tongue, and Sloane is drawn to the intricacies, secrets, and complications of their lifelong friendships. Having never really had friends, Sloane misses a lot of social cues from her new friends and turns to her father for help. Through the skillful weaving of Everett’s authoritative advice, Mills (First & Then) seamlessly creates art imitating life imitating art while bringing freshness to the familiar romantic conventions she invokes. With taut, realistic dialogue, she expertly crafts blossoming friendships and nascent romances. Ages 14–up. Agent: Bridget Smith, Dunham Literary. (Oct.)