Author: Nina LaCour

Series: n/a

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Published: May 15th 2014 by Dutton Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: “Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.”

This book has a lot to offer. It’s about a recently graduated girl named Emi, whose older brother leaves her and her best friend Charlotte his LA apartment for the summer. His one condition is that something epic happens there while he is away. Emi is an aspiring set designer, and while at an estate sale for a recently deceased famous actor, she finds a letter in an old record and a mystery unfolds.

I enjoyed that this was a contemporary YA book with a lesbian main character that did not focus on her coming out/her sexual orientation, or even the romance itself.

The best parts of the story were the friendships developed/seen between Emi and Charlotte, the healing of heartbreak, and the “solving” of the mystery that began with the letter.

There was a lot of personal growth with Emi herself, and it was great to see her get over her ex girlfriend, and grow as a set designer as well.

Of course there is still some sweet romance, which i loved, but it did not overshadow the main story.

The characters that LaCour brought to life in this novel were dynamic and incredibly interesting. By the end, I felt like i knew each one intimately. LaCour has an eye for detail, and brings to life the story of Emi, Charlotte, and Ava as they explore southern California, the film industry, and the possibility of new love.

I would definitely recommend this fans of YA contemporary romance. Especially for someone looking for a book with great LGBTQ characters.