The Darlings in Love

Gr 8–10—In this sequel to The Darlings Are Forever (Hyperion, 2011), three close friends with appealing and distinctive personalities support one another through the ups and downs of romance during their first year in high school. Victoria's boyfriend, Jack, has more in common with his friends than with her. Natalya has a crush on her chess partner, Collin. He seems to share her feelings even though he has a girlfriend who Natalya knows and likes. And drama queen Jane falls for the handsome boy who acts opposite her in Medea, but he isn't sure he's straight. The girls' stories are well defined, and they develop on parallel tracks. But until readers realize that the protagonists go to different schools, interactions among them can be slightly confusing. Realistically, they meet up and connect through texting, and it's their warm and lighthearted banter that makes this novel stand out. At the same time, these are strong characters, each of whom has developed a life away from the others. Secondary characters, too, feel worth knowing. In fact, Jane's classmate, Michael, the sometimes-irritating director of Medea, may be waiting in the wings for her. None of the stories ends predictably, and enough loose ends are left for readers to want to spend more time with such pleasant company.—Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA