Author: Tiffany Pitcock
Publication: Swoon Reads (August 1, 2017)
Description: A new spin on the classic smart-girl-and-bad-boy setup, this witty contemporary romance shows how easily a friendship – even one built on an elaborate lie – can become so much more.
Jenny meets Chance for the very first time when she is assigned as his partner in their Junior Oral Communications class. But after they rescue a doomed assignment with one clever lie, the whole school is suddenly convinced that Little-Miss-Really-Likes-Having-A’s and the most scandalous heartbreaker in school have been best friends forever. It’s amazing how quickly a lie can grow―especially when you really, really want it to be the truth.
With Jenny, Chance can live the normal life he’s always kind of wanted. And with Chance, Jenny can have the exciting teen experiences that TV shows and movies have always promised. Through it all, they hold on to the fact that they are “just friends.” But that might be the biggest lie of all.
Debut author Tiffany Pitcock delivers a spot-on depiction of first love and the high school rumor mill in Just Friends, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads.
My Thoughts: JUST FRIENDS was a fun contemporary romance about two teens who really had nothing in common who start a relationship with a lie. Jenny is a quiet, reserved girl who concentrates on her schoolwork. Chance is the popular heartthrob who leaves a trail of girls behind him. The meet in Junior Oral Communications when they are assigned as partners to write and perform a dialog. Chance urges Jenny to go with the flow and the two of them build a story about being best friends since childhood.
From there the story just keeps growing until they actually become best friends. Their new friendship gives Chance a way to get away from his constantly fighting parents and spend time with a normal family while Jenny gets a chance to get out of her room and interact more with what "normal" high school kids do.
Through it all Jenny and Chance learn more about each other but try to remain "just friends" which isn't easy because each of them is developing feelings beyond friendship for the others. Naturally, it couldn't be that easy or there wouldn't be a novel. Jenny overhears something that Chance says to a girl who is hitting on him and decides that she needs to explore dating and romance with someone else which leads to interesting new experiences and major heartbreak. Meanwhile, Chance's home situation disintegrates even more when his father leaves, and then his mother leaves, and the older brother who ran from the family situation reappears and wants to reconnect with him.
This was an engaging story about a friendship that begins with a lie growing into a romance that looks to have staying power. The characters are well rounded and interesting people.
Favorite Quote:
Jenny looked incredulous. "What do you mean, 'it just kind of happened'? Suddenly neither of you could bear it, so you jumped each other in the hallway?"I received this one for review from Macmillan. You can buy your copy here.
Chance gestured to himself. "Have you met me?"
She shoved him playfully. "Chance! Be serious!"
"I'm trying," he told her. "But you're kind of hot when you're annoyed."
Great review! I hope to read this really soon. I love the idea of the book, and it seems as if the book is well loved! I also really like the quote you shared as well.
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