About the Book
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Author:
- Adi Alsaid
- Genres:
- Boy-Girl Romance
- Contemporary
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Respectable
BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
Talky Talk: Wanderlust Inducing
Bonus Factors: Road Trips, The Kindness of Strangers
Relationship Status: I’ll Get Lost with You
Cover Story: Respectable
Related to the story? Check. Absence of overused and unimaginative cover trends? Check. This has all the hallmarks of Things I Like On YA Covers, and I’d understand if it’s a Montell Jordan for someone else. But it’s missing the something that makes me fall for a cover. In dating terms, we’re a good match in theory but we lack chemistry IRL.
The Deal:
Scattered across the United States, Hudson, Bree, Elliot, and Sonia’s only connection to each other is the nomadic traveler, Leila. As meaningful as they are brief, these chance encounters leave lasting impressions on the lives they touch. And maybe, just maybe, getting lost is the only way for Leila to find what she’s looking for.
BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
Wow, my feelings towards these characters are (oh yes, I’m going there) all over the map.
Hudson’s a bright guy with a ticket out of his small town within his grasp. When he’s around his more outgoing and boisterous friends, my overprotective big sister instincts kick in, out of fear of that he’d be relegated to being the doormat of his social circle. Fortch, Hudson’s a better judge of character than that, so inviting myself into his family only just benefits me because of his car whisperer skillz.
Bree, ohhh Bree. She’s suffered so much loss at such a young age, but I’ll have to Roger Murtaugh her running away from and lashing out at what little family she has remaining: I’m too old for that self-destructive shizz, although I do sympathize. Bree’s acting out and disregard for other people’s feelings is also painfully similar to Young Me’s M.O., so a potential BFF-dom between us might suffer from having one jerk too many.
Elliot’s a hopeless romantic who’s obsessed with ’80s movies. While I applaud his courage in admitting his love to his best friend, I didn’t really connect with him for reasons that will become v. clear in the next section.
Meanwhile, Sonia isn’t fully ready to move on after the recent death of her first love. She also doesn’t want to cut ties with his family—which is what she’s scared will happen if they discover she’s already dating someone else on the DL. Sonia def. needs a friend to talk to—and a hug, too.
And finally, the enigmatic Leila. I was initially concerned that she’d be too much of a manic pixie–sage-girl catalyst in everyone else’s life, so I savored every morsel I learned about her. But even before the whole picture was pieced together, Leila seemed extremely cool, brave and BFFable. A teenager who travels across a continent by herself!? I’m always drawn to adventurous spirits, even if I’m still not-so-secretly worrying about their safety the whole time.
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Sparks fly when Hudson meets Leila. But rest assured, this relationship favors insta-attraction more than the dreaded insta-love, since these two actually make an effort to get to know each other.
As for the others, Sonia’s love life is riddled with angst—albeit heavy and understandable angst, served with a side of hot secret romance. Bree’s story isn’t swoony, and Elliot’s…well, one of his romantic heroes is (ugh) Lloyd Dobler. ‘Nuff said.
Talky Talk: Wanderlust Inducing
Each main character is the focus of their own section of the book, with only Leila’s story and Adi Alsaid’s dreamy narrative to link them together. Particularly through Hudson’s eyes, Alsaid has a knack for finding beauty in ordinary places. Just try to resist the urge to travel after reading this book, I DARE YOU.
Bonus Factor: Road Trips
Leila’s many adventures make me realize that I don’t go on nearly enough road trips. But then I remember how easily I fall asleep on long car rides and what poor company I’d be on actual road trips, so it’s probs best that I only vicariously experience them.
Bonus Factor: The Kindness of Strangers
Everybody that Leila meets during her travels is basically a decent person, and she reciprocates that kindness as well. I personally err more on the side of STRANGER DANGER, but I totally get the appeal of confiding your secrets to a stranger, too.
Casting Call:
Isabelle Fuhrman as Leila
Relationship Status: I’ll Get Lost with You
For a journey like ours that involved so much grief, this story ultimately navigated us to a more hopeful place. So, book, in the words of the Gilmore Girls theme song, where you lead, I will follow. Now, where should we go next?
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Harlequin Teen. This review was originally posted on Kirkus Reviews in exchange for monetary compensation, which did not affect or influence my opinions. Let’s Get Lost is available now.