YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.

Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.

But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.

She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.

In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.

Up to chapter 14

(view spoiler)[ Charlie is a tad annoying. What is up with her? Why is she so insecure? And her mom aaaaaaagh!! Also, Lila is the worst friend ever! (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 18 - where is this going, exactly?

Chapter 23 - (view spoiler)[ her dad does have a point. Her reaction to her parents' trip was a bit nasty. Their lives as a couple does not revolve around her. (hide spoiler)]

up to chapter 27 - this is oh so sloooooooow

chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ Lila and Charlie are both so obtuse!! (hide spoiler)]

Sorry Tati, I am starting right now.

August (Chapters 1-2): (view spoiler)[ Charlie is a bit annoying. I wonder what happened to her. Did she get bullied? I do not like Lila. I think she is a brat. I already do not like her mother. She seems really abusive (maybe more verbally than physically). (hide spoiler)]

September (Chapters 3-9): (view spoiler)[ Oh so this is a student-teacher relationship book. Charlie is an alright character right now. Lila is like the worst best friend ever. I think Mr. Drummond is intriguing. I want to know more about him. Charlie's mother is not very likeable, and her father is adorable. (hide spoiler)]

October (Chapters 10-12): (view spoiler)[ I really do not like Lila. She treats Charlie like trash. I do not think it is cool if my best friend tried to force me to go somewhere I did not want to go. I like Asha. She seems to be a nice person and I think Charlie should give her a chance. Mr. Drummond must really like Charlie. I wonder what will happen now. (hide spoiler)]

November (Chapters 13-21): (view spoiler)[ It is really interesting to see how Mr. Drummond interacts with the class. OMG! Pride & Prejudice, one of my favourite classics! This is more like a friendship than a relationship. I wonder if anything happens in the later months of the year. Way to embarrass someone Lila! Why the heck would you ask if he wore a speedo when he swims? Must be awkward when the man you are crushing on is meeting your mother. (hide spoiler)]

December (Chapters 22-24): (view spoiler)[ Charlie is becoming a little bit stalkerish. I do not think it is okay for you to behave like that with your teacher. I don't think it's helpful that he is very flirty in class. We will see what happens in the story. (hide spoiler)]

January (Chapters 25-26): (view spoiler)[ So does he have feelings for her too? Is that why he asked her to read the poem? I am a bit confused at what is happening right now. (hide spoiler)]

February (Chapters 27-29): (view spoiler)[ This is definitely slower than I thought. It is a more of a student obsessed with her teacher book rather than a student/teacher relationship. I think it is creepy that she was stalking him at the pool. I do not think he should have tolerated her behaviour even if they were not on school property, unless he loved her back and was in a relationship with her of course. (hide spoiler)]

March (Chapters 30-34): (view spoiler)[ I really dislike Lila. I am wondering what to make of Charlie's characters. Sometimes she's a good character and other times, she is not a good character. I think the only thing I like is Mr. Drummond. He seems to act appropriately in these situations with the two of them. At least most of the time. I liked how he defended Katie from Sean. That was awesome. (hide spoiler)]

April (Chapters 35-38): (view spoiler)[ Damn...she said wet dreams during a class discussion. Did she just stand up to Lila and told her to never talk to her again? Alright this is a moment when she is a good character. Oh snap! Did she and Mr. Drummond just have sex at his plac? OMG! What if the school finds out? That would not be good! He came to his senses, so it did not happen. (hide spoiler)]

May (Chapters 39-41): (view spoiler)[ He left the school? Why did he leave before making an issue of the paper? That is dumb to run away from your problems like that. I can't believe how she and Lila are acting about her almost having sex with a teacher? That's just not cool. (hide spoiler)]

June (Chapter 42): (view spoiler)[ That's it. That's the ending. He comes back to see her graduate and then they make up a story of if they were married and then the end? Really? That's the dumb way to end the book if I can be honest with you. (hide spoiler)]

Yep... The book never really takes off, does it? And then it ends like that.