Overview

Fans of Sarah Dessen will love this heartbreaking story about family, loss, and the joys and disappointments of first love. Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when star basketball player Brady Cullen convinces her strict father to let them date. That summer, Bettina falls in love with Brady and the freedom that comes along with him. But when school starts up again, Brady unexpectedly changes for the worse. Unable to give up on her first love just yet, she finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship. Then she meets """"Cowboy,"""" a smoldering older guy and the last guy her father would approve. Yet he is everything Brady is not--gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina. When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth--and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.

Full Product Details

9781483020075

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A girl who can't find her way out of an abusive relationship finds herself longing for an impossible one. Unforgettable with moments I wanted to reach in and hug sweet Bettina. An unforgettable book every girl should read. "" -- ""Jen Bigheart, outreach supervisor, Westbank Community Libraries"" ""A shy, overprotected girl is the focus of this character study of a victim of physical abuse...The book's examination of abusive relationships is cleareyed and instructive. Romance fans who happen upon this will find an absorbing portrait of abuse and recovery."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"" ""Beautifully capturing the intensity of first love, Connor draws readers into a world filled with Greek culture and punctuated by upsetting moments of abuse."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Charmingly written, Connor's book delves deep into the minds of its characters: the abused heroine, the abusive boyfriend, her overprotective Greek parents, and the game-changing new guy."" -- ""RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"" ""Compulsively readable...satisfying."" -- ""School Library Journal"" ""This is a significant book that deserves a wide readership. I love the way Connor shows the very small steps that lead to love, but what makes this an exceptionally fine read is our growing awareness that these very same steps also lead to a much darker places. Bettina learns that love is not simple--not for her, not for her family, and not even for the star high school basketball player that everyone loves."" -- ""Ed Spicer, librarian"" ""Watching Bettina push against the boundaries of her strict home life to venture into relationships is like watching a lengthening crack in your windshield. You know that it won't end well, but you want to see how far it goes. This book is definitely worth the heartbreak."" -- ""Collette Morgan, owner of Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers"" ""With compassion and respect, author Connor explores the ways in which loving relationships can get twisted into cycles of misery."" -- ""Booklist""

Author Information

Leslie Connor is the author of several award-winning books for children, including two ALA Schneider Family Book Award winners, Waiting for Normal and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, which was also selected as a National Book Award finalist. Her other books include All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Crunch, and The Things You Kiss Goodbye. She lives in the Connecticut woods with her family and three rescue dogs. You can visit her online at www.leslieconnor.com. Lauren Fortgang, a graduate of Fordham University's Theater Program, is an actress, costume designer, and narrator. She has recorded everything from video games to textbooks. Her audiobook narrations have earned AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed her as a finalist for an Audie Award in 2014.

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