Overview

Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unforgettable thriller that explores the psyche of a young woman struggling inside the darkness of depression, addiction, and suicidality in the most romantic city in the world. Eighteen-year-old American Summer Barnes just moved to Paris to repeat her senior year of high school and live with her mom. After being kicked out of four boarding schools for flunking, or drinking, or both, she has to get on the right track or she risks losing a hefty inheritance. Mom is usually on another continent and Paris is as beautiful as advertised, but the city's seamy side most people don't see confronts Summer at every turn. In her tangled thinking, she's convinced that meeting the right guy and falling in love will solve her problems and give her life meaning. She meets two. Munir, a.k.a Moony, a charismatic classmate, is recovering against all odds from a serious childhood car accident, and he convinces her to help him hunt for props for the school musical. He and Summer form an unexpected connection and Summer is amazed to realize that Moony's got her back and wants what's best for her. He tutors her in French and math so she won't flunk out again, and he even persuades her to attend and then accompanies her to an AA meeting. Her feelings for him quickly grow stronger. And scarier. She knows she doesn't deserve him. But Summer also meets Kurt, a hot, mysterious, and sophisticated older guy who has a knack for showing up when she's at her weakest. He leads her through the creepy underbelly of the city and way out of her depth. Never mind, Kurt accepts her for how she knows she really is-worthless-and more and more often, drunk. When Summer's volatile behavior manages to alienate everyone else, even Moony, she's finally forced to decide if a life so empty and painful is worth living. Then muster the energy to take action. Haunting, wry, and beautifully written with a sharp, distinctive voice that could belong only to this character, the ending will surprise even seasoned readers. Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an utterly compelling novel about a young woman stuck in a lopsided love triangle as she battles despair and discovers deliverance.

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Reviews

"""Jacobus creates a full picture of wild and wonderful Paris in her novel, tinted with an exotic magic realism that adds an extra layer of atmosphere. Recommend to teens who are interested in exploring serious issues, such as suicide and teen alcoholism, or those who prefer their fiction moody and thought-provoking."" --Booklist ""In her debut novel, Jacobus explores difficult topics including depression, alcoholism, death, and the reckless behavior that can accompany them. As Summer struggles with alcohol dependency and contemplates suicide, readers will grit their teeth in the hope that Moony will win the romantic tug-of-war with Kurt in time to help Summer see the light at the end of the tunnel."" --Publishers Weekly ""...A powerful glimpse into the world of darkness and the love that can pull one from its depths. A creepy, haunting read that will surprise readers at the end."" --YA Books Central ""Jacobus nailed the struggle with addiction, she nailed physical limitations, she nailed alcoholic and disability-related depression, she nailed the chaos of the active alcoholic, and she nailed the hopelessness and despair that can come from all of it."" --Disability in Kidlit ""The complexity of the story is a reflection of the complexity of life, and Jacobus handles it with a gentleness and care that is to be applauded."" --Hypable ""The intelligent and thoughtful quality of Jacobus's writing and the uniqueness of Summer's character make the novel worthwhile for all readers who are looking for a more serious, darker read."" --Teenreads ""In this realistic fiction title, Jacobus has created three strong characters. Summer and Moony are believable, flawed, and well-crafted teen protagonists. They each have their own complications and struggles. Many young adults will be able to relate to one or both of these characters. Verdict: The seamless pacing makes this book hard to put down.""--School Library Journal"

Author Information

Ann Jacobus is the author of YA novel The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent, and Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, winner of the Housatonic Book Award for Young Adult Literature. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has published essays, articles, poetry, and short fiction; teaches YA novel writing; and is a former suicide crisis line counselor and always a mental health advocate. When she's not reading, she enjoys swimming, sailing, dogs and kids, and binge-watching TV series. Find her at annjacobus.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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