What do you think?
Rate this book
Making Out #28
Zoey Comes Home
Zoey comes home. And "home" for Zoey is Lucas. They've always loved each other - even through the bad times - but sometimes love means forgiving the unforgivable.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 1998
3 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Applegate
271 books6,282 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 26, 2016
I'm just going to rate this book but the stars are really for the entire series. These books were my life when I was a child; the characters are as real to me now at the age of 25 as they were to me well over a decade ago.
October 13, 2018
I've finally reached the end of the series. Spoilers ahead!
THOUGHT ON THIS BOOK:
This instalment was quite unusual. Reading Claire's adventure (adventure is the appropriate word to describe it) was like watching a 'meet-the-family' romcom! The uptight girlfriend is introduced to the wacky family and everything that could go wrong for her, does. Lol I never thought that this would happen to Claire 😂 .
Then there was the somewhat comedic battle between Zoey and Nina at driving school; Aisha's paranoia; and the obsessive little genius boy from school who wanted Nina's number. This was like stepping into a different universe. There was so much going on that I felt the end was rushed and I would have liked to know about what everyone's plans were for their future since 3 of them weren't even in college and had no idea when they'd be able to go. Everything was just left up in the air.
Zoey worked everything out with Lucas in the last few pages but I think more time should have been dedicated to their reconciliation as the whole cheating debacle was the big plot line for like the past 8 books. And I didn't get the point of Adam being introduced either. Poor Jake didn't even get a mention in this one, they just lifted him right out of the book. Holly (his sister) on the other had, is actually mentioned by Lucas even though her existence was wiped out since book 7.
OVERALL THOUGHTS FOR THE SERIES:
After binge reading the entire series in a couple of weeks (excluding book 11 which I didn't have) I have a fresh perspective. The events in the books take place in the space of just over a year (the summer before senior year in high school till a few months into freshman year of college. As good as the series is, I think the fact that there were different writers from book 9-28 had an effect on the quality of the series because there were continuity issues but mostly the shift in atmosphere and some of the characters behaviours was what I wasn't a fan of.
I think the series started to decline from book 19. That's when I started skipping large chunks because I either was disinterested or it was annoying to read. The series just changed from then. For example, Lucas went from being completely obsessed with Zoey in book 1-18, to completely shutting her out (plus being horrible to her) and all of a sudden being best friends with Nina in book 19-23 (those were the most painful books to get through) even though they barely communicated in the first 18 books. I also went from loving Nina to loathing her (I believe I referred to her and Lucas as snakes a few times 🐍🐍).
I was going to list a bunch of continuity issues, character changes and plot flaws (e.g. Benjamin was the only character to have a birthday in this entire series) but then I'd be here all day and this is already turning into a dissertation. I will mention, however, that a few of the descriptions and titles for the books have nothing to do with what actually happens.
I noticed that none of the teenage characters that were added later on in the series, except Paolo who appears in the final 3, made it to the end (which I'm so grateful for). Lara was psycho, Kate was boring and Aaron aka A-Aron was the worst, but Paolo actually became my favourite!
FAVOURITE MOMENTS: Ben getting his sight back, Zoey's hilarious story being leaked to the school newspaper by Lucas, the demise of Lara (very intense scene), Aisha listening to the recording where Christopher finally reveals his past, the showdown with the stalker, everything about Paolo.
WORST MOMENTS: Lucas and Nina's big betrayal (this probably ruined the series for me), all the cheating (lol which is basically what most of the series is about 😩) everything about Kate, everything about A-aron, I'm just going to go ahead and say books 19 to 23!
As mush as there is to complain about, it was very entertaining for the most part! I'm just a stickler for details. I don't read books like this anymore and it started off as a joke with my sister but I had to complete it because I never got to back when I was in school.
THOUGHT ON THIS BOOK:
This instalment was quite unusual. Reading Claire's adventure (adventure is the appropriate word to describe it) was like watching a 'meet-the-family' romcom! The uptight girlfriend is introduced to the wacky family and everything that could go wrong for her, does. Lol I never thought that this would happen to Claire 😂 .
Then there was the somewhat comedic battle between Zoey and Nina at driving school; Aisha's paranoia; and the obsessive little genius boy from school who wanted Nina's number. This was like stepping into a different universe. There was so much going on that I felt the end was rushed and I would have liked to know about what everyone's plans were for their future since 3 of them weren't even in college and had no idea when they'd be able to go. Everything was just left up in the air.
Zoey worked everything out with Lucas in the last few pages but I think more time should have been dedicated to their reconciliation as the whole cheating debacle was the big plot line for like the past 8 books. And I didn't get the point of Adam being introduced either. Poor Jake didn't even get a mention in this one, they just lifted him right out of the book. Holly (his sister) on the other had, is actually mentioned by Lucas even though her existence was wiped out since book 7.
OVERALL THOUGHTS FOR THE SERIES:
After binge reading the entire series in a couple of weeks (excluding book 11 which I didn't have) I have a fresh perspective. The events in the books take place in the space of just over a year (the summer before senior year in high school till a few months into freshman year of college. As good as the series is, I think the fact that there were different writers from book 9-28 had an effect on the quality of the series because there were continuity issues but mostly the shift in atmosphere and some of the characters behaviours was what I wasn't a fan of.
I think the series started to decline from book 19. That's when I started skipping large chunks because I either was disinterested or it was annoying to read. The series just changed from then. For example, Lucas went from being completely obsessed with Zoey in book 1-18, to completely shutting her out (plus being horrible to her) and all of a sudden being best friends with Nina in book 19-23 (those were the most painful books to get through) even though they barely communicated in the first 18 books. I also went from loving Nina to loathing her (I believe I referred to her and Lucas as snakes a few times 🐍🐍).
I was going to list a bunch of continuity issues, character changes and plot flaws (e.g. Benjamin was the only character to have a birthday in this entire series) but then I'd be here all day and this is already turning into a dissertation. I will mention, however, that a few of the descriptions and titles for the books have nothing to do with what actually happens.
I noticed that none of the teenage characters that were added later on in the series, except Paolo who appears in the final 3, made it to the end (which I'm so grateful for). Lara was psycho, Kate was boring and Aaron aka A-Aron was the worst, but Paolo actually became my favourite!
FAVOURITE MOMENTS: Ben getting his sight back, Zoey's hilarious story being leaked to the school newspaper by Lucas, the demise of Lara (very intense scene), Aisha listening to the recording where Christopher finally reveals his past, the showdown with the stalker, everything about Paolo.
WORST MOMENTS: Lucas and Nina's big betrayal (this probably ruined the series for me), all the cheating (lol which is basically what most of the series is about 😩) everything about Kate, everything about A-aron, I'm just going to go ahead and say books 19 to 23!
As mush as there is to complain about, it was very entertaining for the most part! I'm just a stickler for details. I don't read books like this anymore and it started off as a joke with my sister but I had to complete it because I never got to back when I was in school.
November 26, 2014
Aha....... just went to the library today after a long time and I saw these books in order on a bookshelf. I was reminded of myself as a young girl can't even say as a teenager since I always loved reading books that were much older than my age. So many memories from this series. This was my childhood, reminded of innocent me waiting in anticipating to read the next book of the series. Zoey, Aaron, Laura etc they were part of my reading memories as a young girl. The colorful words written in the cover, the trials and love of Zoey and the gang, great series even after a decade or so I read these books I can still remember them.
January 20, 2025
I give the series overall 3.75 stars as it's generally good (plus NOSTALGIA) but there are quite a lot of filler books. However, this was a really, really terrible ending to the series. So many loose ends. The series somehow manages to be both too long and also need another 2 or so books to properly wrap everything up.
Paolo is completely insufferable and really quite creepy.
What was the point of the whole Aisha/Felicia storyline? There was no real ending or resolution to it.
They forgot Jake even existed - he literally wasn't even mentioned in this book.
Likewise, his younger sister Holly was eliminated from the series somewhere around book 10 (she existed, then it said Jake was the only child in his family after his brother died, then she was suddenly mentioned in this last book out of nowhere). Also I'm fairly sure she was like 12 at the start of the series so maximum 13/14 by the end and yet she's on Lucas's list tallying the number of times builders wolf whistled at her 🤮
Claire apparently had a personality transplant at some point in the last couple of books - what happened to her whole ice queen thing?
How did the Passmores' house burn down?
Did Nina and Benjamin get back together?
Do Zoey and Benjamin both get to return to college eventually?
Benjamin was devastated about Lara's death in the previous book then she was barely mentioned once in this one
Did Benjamin keep his vision permanently?
Did Sean get convicted for stalking Claire?
Did Claire get into any trouble for smashing Sean's head with a hammer?
Why was Adam there at all? He didn't even turn up until like 2 days before Mr Passmore left the hospital
Why was Zoey kissing HER COUSIN???!!!
Paolo is completely insufferable and really quite creepy.
What was the point of the whole Aisha/Felicia storyline? There was no real ending or resolution to it.
They forgot Jake even existed - he literally wasn't even mentioned in this book.
Likewise, his younger sister Holly was eliminated from the series somewhere around book 10 (she existed, then it said Jake was the only child in his family after his brother died, then she was suddenly mentioned in this last book out of nowhere). Also I'm fairly sure she was like 12 at the start of the series so maximum 13/14 by the end and yet she's on Lucas's list tallying the number of times builders wolf whistled at her 🤮
Claire apparently had a personality transplant at some point in the last couple of books - what happened to her whole ice queen thing?
How did the Passmores' house burn down?
Did Nina and Benjamin get back together?
Do Zoey and Benjamin both get to return to college eventually?
Benjamin was devastated about Lara's death in the previous book then she was barely mentioned once in this one
Did Benjamin keep his vision permanently?
Did Sean get convicted for stalking Claire?
Did Claire get into any trouble for smashing Sean's head with a hammer?
Why was Adam there at all? He didn't even turn up until like 2 days before Mr Passmore left the hospital
Why was Zoey kissing HER COUSIN???!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2021
Oh Mann, was für eine Enttäuschung. Ursprünglich war das der letzte Band der Reihe, aber in Deutschland ist noch ein zusätzlicher erschienen. Das glaub ich gern, denn die Serie ist offensichtlich einfach abgebrochen worden. NICHTS ist gelöst: Zoey und Lucas haben sich immer noch nicht versöhnt, diese dumme Story mit Aishas Mitbewohnerin zieht sich, auf die letzten Meter wurden noch zwei neue Charaktere eingeführt... Ninas Zukunft liegt noch völlig im Dunkeln. Hoffentlich entwickelt sich im Extraband da noch was.
Hitliste der Ungereimtheiten:
- Claire, die früher mit Lucas & Wade hart gefeiert hat, kotzt nach zwei Gläschen Sherry (!!) & wird quasi ohnmächtig.
- Nina & Zoey fahren nach zahlreichen früheren unspektakulären Roadtrips auf einmal furchtbar schlecht Auto.
- Jake hat sich praktisch in Luft aufgelöst.
- Paolos irische Verwandtschaft trägt SCHOTTENröcke. Wtf.
Hitliste guter Entwicklungen:
- Nina
- Nina & Benjamin nähern sich wieder an
- Paolos Familie
Alles ziemlich wild und widersprüchlich.
Hitliste der Ungereimtheiten:
- Claire, die früher mit Lucas & Wade hart gefeiert hat, kotzt nach zwei Gläschen Sherry (!!) & wird quasi ohnmächtig.
- Nina & Zoey fahren nach zahlreichen früheren unspektakulären Roadtrips auf einmal furchtbar schlecht Auto.
- Jake hat sich praktisch in Luft aufgelöst.
- Paolos irische Verwandtschaft trägt SCHOTTENröcke. Wtf.
Hitliste guter Entwicklungen:
- Nina
- Nina & Benjamin nähern sich wieder an
- Paolos Familie
Alles ziemlich wild und widersprüchlich.
August 17, 2017
I used to love these books in my teenage years, and still do. I have almost all of them (apart from about 5) and saw this at a great price online, so decided to buy it.
In this, the last book of the series, the Chatham Island kids are at Uni (well, all apart from Lucas). Zoe, who has always fancied herself a writer, sees an ad for a writer/ interviewer type job, and Adam persudes her to apply. She ends up interviewing retired sailors.
Lucas is on Chatham Island looking after his father's boat while everyone else is at Uni. There's some tension between Alisha, her roommate Felicia and Christopher, Alisha's long-time boyfriend from Chatham Island, and we get an update as to the health of Zoey and Ben's parents after the fire in book #25.
Although much of this book focuses on the island friends' university (college) life, it was kind of a sad read for me. Very climactic and so nostalgic. I've grown up with this series, and the books were a staple on my bookshelf during my teen years. Then, I'd read them in a couple of days. Now, I read each book in just over an hour.
After finishing this book, I wanted to go right back and read it again, as well as the whole series. I'm glad I kept all my books from the Making Out series, and I'm looking forward to completing the series and filling in the gaps in the story of the Chatham Island friends.
In this, the last book of the series, the Chatham Island kids are at Uni (well, all apart from Lucas). Zoe, who has always fancied herself a writer, sees an ad for a writer/ interviewer type job, and Adam persudes her to apply. She ends up interviewing retired sailors.
Lucas is on Chatham Island looking after his father's boat while everyone else is at Uni. There's some tension between Alisha, her roommate Felicia and Christopher, Alisha's long-time boyfriend from Chatham Island, and we get an update as to the health of Zoey and Ben's parents after the fire in book #25.
Although much of this book focuses on the island friends' university (college) life, it was kind of a sad read for me. Very climactic and so nostalgic. I've grown up with this series, and the books were a staple on my bookshelf during my teen years. Then, I'd read them in a couple of days. Now, I read each book in just over an hour.
After finishing this book, I wanted to go right back and read it again, as well as the whole series. I'm glad I kept all my books from the Making Out series, and I'm looking forward to completing the series and filling in the gaps in the story of the Chatham Island friends.
May 20, 2020
Will Zoey finally make peace with Lucas and Nina?
Claire falls in love but she doesn't know how to handle it.
Aisha must deal with her jealousy or could she lose Christopher?
Nina just wants her friend back.
A nice ending to the series but I wanted more.
Claire falls in love but she doesn't know how to handle it.
Aisha must deal with her jealousy or could she lose Christopher?
Nina just wants her friend back.
A nice ending to the series but I wanted more.
February 28, 2017
Feeling nostalgic for the books of my youth, I revisited Katherine Applegate and her Islanders omnibus editions (first released as the Making Out series way back in 1993. Yes, I am that old...).
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
May 17, 2023
This was good, but I'm kinda sad that it's over.
December 6, 2023
I remember being obsessed with this series when I was 14! I made my mom buy me all 29 books (in Germany a 29th book was published, there is no English translation) after borrowing the first one from my then-best friend.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
August 4, 2015
It feels weird finishing the book but I'm glad I did. Wished there was more, it's a great series!
January 9, 2017
diese Buchreihe hat mich während meiner Teeniezeit begleitet. ich habe sie so geliebt...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews