Heartfelt and romantic, this YA novel from author Kelly Quindlen is about first love, quiet rebellion, and the courage to choose yourself—even when it means breaking all the rules.
Hannah has big plans for senior year: football games, Mardi Gras parties, and spring break on the beach with her tight-knit group of friends. No drama, no detours. Just a year to remember.
Falling for another girl—her best friend, Baker—was not part of the plan.
Hannah knows she should date Wally, the earnest, dependable boy her sister is always teasing her about. She should be happy when Clay, the golden boy of their group, asks Baker to be his girlfriend. She should follow the rules of her traditional Louisiana town—especially those she hears from the pulpit—and bury the feelings that don’t fit.
But how can she, when Baker makes boxed mac and cheese feel like a love language, when they share dog-eared books and secrets that crack something open inside her, and when being close to Baker feels less like a mistake and more like coming home?
Hannah must decide if she’s willing to risk everything for the one girl who sees her clearly—and who might just feel the same way. If she and Baker are brave enough, this could be the start of everything.
