Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

Gr 8 Up—Gemma Tucker, 16, seems to have it all together. She has a gorgeous boyfriend in Teddy, a trusted best friend in Sophie, and excellent grades. As a child of divorced parents, Gemma has dealt with tough issues in the past, but they have been mostly resolved. At the start of the novel, however, the sophomore's life begins to fall apart. Teddy suddenly ends their relationship and her mother "surprises" her with the proposition that she spend the summer with her father in the Hamptons. For most teens, this would be a dream come true, but not for Gemma. Five summers ago, after her parents had separated, she made a much-needed friend in Hallie. All was going well until Gemma made it her mission to break up her father and Hallie's mother's budding relationship, and lost her good friend in the process. The protagonist knows that going back to the Hamptons will drag up her evil past, but armed with a new makeover, she goes and attempts to win back her old friend. In this first installment of the series, Finn introduces readers to these frenemies, and the intriguing premise of revenge on a longtime foe. The novel reads more like an entry in Sara Shepard's "Pretty Little Liars" series (Little, Brown) than a book running on its own plot course. While there's a large audience of teens looking for light dramas, readers looking for more character-driven fare would be wise to look elsewhere.—Colleen S. Banick, Westport Public Schools, CT