Dating Disasters of Emma Nash

Gr 10 Up—British teen Emma has a melodramatic meltdown when she learns that her boyfriend Leon (who seems to have been completely avoiding her for months) is now publicly dating pretty, athletic Anna. Emma takes to her bed in despair, stops bathing, and wallows in her own misery. Attempts by mom and friends to help Emma move on are for naught. Emma tries dating tech geek Laurence, but his silence puzzles her. Dates with overly amorous Greg are unsatisfying but serve to temporarily reignite Leon's interest. It's only when Emma starts looking outside of herself that she begins to see what is really important and focus on personal growth beyond hormonal attachment. The novel is written entirely in blog format, which some readers might find tedious. The British colloquialisms might also be distracting for some others. References to a marathon masturbation session ring true to young adult experience and makes this more appropriate for older teens.