
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a changing friendship or the social pressures of a new, competitive environment. It explores the painful realization that the people we love can change when they are desperate to fit in. While it centers on a lesbian couple, the core emotional journey is about maintaining one's integrity and self-worth when a partner or best friend starts choosing 'cool' over 'kind.' Set at an elite boarding school, the story follows Josie as she watches her girlfriend, Annette, transform into someone unrecognizable under the influence of toxic social hierarchies. It is a realistic and sometimes heavy look at peer pressure, substance use, and the difficult process of outgrowing a relationship that no longer serves you. It is best suited for mature teens who are navigating the complexities of high school social dynamics.
Focuses on a crumbling romantic relationship; includes some kissing and social pressure from a boy.
Themes of emotional betrayal, isolation, and references to an abusive parent.
Frequent depictions of underage drinking at parties and school events.
Emotional and verbal abuse (parental), underage drinking, and toxic social dynamics involving bullying and gaslighting.
A high schooler who feels they are losing themselves in a relationship or a social circle. This is for the teen who is starting to realize that loyalty to others should not come at the cost of their own values.
This book can be read cold by most teens, but parents may want to discuss the depictions of underage drinking and the toxic mother-daughter dynamic Annette leaves behind, as these are the primary catalysts for her behavior. A child expresses that their best friend or partner is acting like a completely different person around others, or a teen who feels like they are being pressured to participate in drinking to fit in.
Younger teens will focus on the drama of the boarding school setting and the pain of being excluded. Older teens will better grasp the nuance of the codependent relationship and the complex psychological toll of social elitism.
Unlike many boarding school novels that focus on mystery or glamour, this book is a grounded, unflinching look at the way class and social status can erode personal character and romantic bonds.
Josie and her girlfriend Annette move from their Midwestern hometown to Brookwood Academy, an elite boarding school in Connecticut. While Josie hopes the move will provide a fresh start and an escape from Annette's difficult home life, the school's high-pressure social hierarchy quickly creates a rift. Annette becomes desperate for acceptance from the popular, wealthy crowd, leading her into a cycle of drinking and social climbing. Josie must decide whether to stay loyal to a version of Annette that no longer exists or prioritize her own well-being and integrity.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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