I'm Gonna Get You Back: Ein prestigeträchtiges Stipendium, eine zweite Chance auf die Liebe und eine Intrige, die alles zerstören könnte. Eine berührende ... ab 14

by Eva Des Lauriers, Christina Neiske (Translator)

OUT FOR REVENGE. IN IT FOR LOVE.

Small-town scandals, explosive secrets and friendship fallouts threaten to tear Clara and Reid apart - all over again . . .

Reid Rousseau was always a winner. Now, he's a former state champion runner with an injury no one can know about and a college scholarship on the line. When he's invited as the guest of honor for Legacy Weekend, a competitive tradition that welcomes high school alumni back to his small mountain town, Reid would rather run away than face his crumbling future-and the girl who broke his heart.

Clara Suarez's legacy can't be failure. A year out of high school and aimless, she has one last shot at getting into her dream film school shooting a Legacy Weekend video interviewing her former classmates-including her ex, Reid-about their explosive senior year and the scandal that capped it off. But any time people return to the mountain, drama follows... especially when an anonymous social media account starts airing everyone's dirty laundry.

Reid isn't the only one hiding something, and Clara isn't the only one with regrets. Their spark is still strong enough to set off a wildfire, but their secrets might just tear them apart for good.

A second-chance love story from Eva des Lauriers, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter, Tillie Cole, and Jenny Han.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Second Chance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary Romance

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2026

About the author

Eva Des Lauriers is a California girl who became a diehard romantic when she married her best friend, the boy she sat next to in eleventh grade Calculus. She holds both an MSW and BA in Psychology. As a clinical social worker, she had the privilege of working with the vibrant and complicated teens for whom she now writes. When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering through the redwoods, staring at the sea, or pretending she’s in a music video. She lives with her husband, their two children, and her collection of kissing books in Northern California.
Visit her at evadeslauriers.com.

Reviews

[jae ⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ꗃ ͘ .

⊹ “cover me with all the vines that haunt your mind so i can grow with you.”

this book ended up being nothing like i expected… in a good way! i’m usually pretty wary of dual timelines but i loved how intentional every flashback was in this. i went in expecting lots of angst and yearning too, and safe to say it definitely delivered. i was genuinely so giddy reading about clara and reid reuniting and pining over each other, and the little poems 🥹

clara’s dream of working in film was the biggest highlight for me. i really enjoyed following her process of putting together her documentary, and her monologues about why she loves it hit even harder since i worked on one myself last year. i could really feel and understand her passion for it.

the legacy lore account subplot was also a fun addition, but i did find it hard to stay invested especially with so many characters to keep track of. still, the emotional core of the story made this such a worthwhile read and i’m really glad i did 💌

ⓘ thank you to netgalley and macmillan for the arc!

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore a dual narrative. I love a parallel timeline. I’m a sucker for two flawed, pained characters, and Eva Des Lauriers has outdone herself.

When you’re in high school, your whole life is still in front of you. But you’re also expected to make choices. Some of us have no clue what to choose. Others have the future mapped out in their minds. Clara and Reid belong to that last category. They’re terrified of making the wrong choices, afraid that failure will keep them from the dreams they’ve held onto for so long. They don’t want to make mistakes, even though all of us inevitably do. That’s how we learn. We fall, and we stand up again: stronger, more confident, carrying our baggage with us. And sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we’re not okay. And we got to tell other people. Got to get help. But that voice in our head keeps telling us we can do it on our own.

Sure, I guessed the whodunnit pretty early on. But I didn’t mind. Because even though I’m Gonna Get You Back reads like a simple YA romance on the surface, it’s really a character-driven story about resilience. About asking for help. About fighting back. About choosing your own path. And I think we need stories like this in the world right now.

Also, Clara is such a steady force, and Reid is such a cinnamon roll.

Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this beautiful ARC!

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[Belle₊˚⊹♡ (for keeps ∞♡) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(Spoiler~free)

‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯,
𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵.’]

Such a lovely book!! 🥹💗
I’m so obsessed with thissss.
The poetry, the yearning, the second chance, the setting!!

All of it I adored and it’s everything I need in a summer book 🙂‍↕️👌🏻
Eva Des Lauriers’s books are so underrated and so beautifully written she’s definitely an auto-buy author for me!!🫡

AND REID..I know I’m saying this like a million times by now but his yearning is unmatchedddd I was so obsessed with being in his perspective and the poetry??? 👀 iykyk.

Carla was definitely a relatable character I saw myself in at times 🥲 which is why I loved her story as well<33
As well as their growth and reconnecting 🥲💗💗

I got through this book so fast it’s not even funny, so if you need a quick summer read PICK THIS UP. 🫵🏼☺️

💘read if you like:
•second-chance ♾️
•dual-pov ✍️
•dual-timeline ⏰
•poetry 🙂‍↕️
•summer setting 🌞

🌟Rating: 5/5
🔥Spice: 0/5 (closed~door)
📚Age Rating: 14+

[Veronica ☽◯☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➵ 4.75 ⭐️

If love means chasing
fading light, I'll run, chest burning
into your night

Eva's debut was fantastic and I love I Wish You Would so muchhh but her sophomore book is even better 😩🤌🏻

There's just something about the way Eva writes coming of age stories that just hits differently.

I've been impatiently awaiting another book by Eva ever since I read her debut, and boy, was this worth the wait.
It's not very often that a second book is better than a debut but this so was.

"When his eyes go a little softer, my throat threatens to close on a sob. I swallow hard, forcing down every word that wants to spill out of my mouth. Every memory that wants to come back. Every hurt that ripped open the second he said my name."

There's something so real and relatable about Eva's stories—the way she writes raw vulnerability and what it feels like to be 18 feels so true (at least to my high school experience)—it's something I've encountered only a handful of times.
I'm Gonna Get You Back was beautiful and gut wrenching and funny and real.

"It's the shittiest thing about a breakup. The only other person who actually understands it from the inside out is the one you can't ever see again."

I'm absolutely obsessed with Reid, Clara and the whole gang, I can't even 😭😭😭😭😭
Clara's my queen, I wanted to beat all those punks for her. I loved her soooooo much, she was an extremely relatable character for me.
And Reid??? I'm sorry but my tortured baby can do no wrong, I'll forgive him just about anything.
Mitchell was my fav side character, he was hilarious and I absolutely loved his dynamic with both Reid and Clara, actually I loved his dynamic with Kenji best 😏

"How could you do that? I never wanted you to hold yourself back for me. Ever."
I don't like the way she says that. Like she's someone who isn't worth bending—even breaking—for.

The romance was, unsurprisingly, my fav part and I absolutely loved the dual POV and the chapters in the past (that hot springs chapter is gonna live rent free in my head forever 🫠)

"I'm so delirious, so gone for her, nothing exists but this. No one exists but us.
She may not be engraved on my skin, but she's under it in a way that's just as permanent."

With all of the small (lake) town drama and Gossip girl-esque secrets plotline and the all consuming way you fall in love for the first time—I literally could not put this book down.

This is a story that shows you that it's okay if you don't have everything figured out by 18, many people don't. That sometimes, or oftentimes, life doesn't go the way you plan it and that can be scary but it can turn out even better. A detour doesn't mean a dead-end.

I'm so excited for Eva's next book. I'll read anything she writes.

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
all quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in the final publication

[Laurensliterarylair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!! I loved the second chance romance which I find can be really hard to do correctly!! I thought the author did this really well and the second chance story made a lot of sense to the story.

I really liked Reid and Clara’s characters. I think they were both really likeable and I felt like the story really dove into some deeper elements. As someone who works in the mental health field it was cool to see mental health representation in the book.

I also felt like both characters experienced some trauma and the book incorporated that trauma in a way that really showed how multidimensional the characters were. It really added a sense of depth to their stories and their character arcs.

I also loved the air of mystery throughout the book. I was able to predict some of what wss going to happen but as someone who reads a lot of books that not unexpected!!! I would definitely read more of Eva’s books. I really enjoyed her writing and read this book in a single day!!

Would definitely recommend this book to all the lovely second chance romance lovers out there looking for a bingeworthy story to dive into!

[eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRZYSIĘGAM, ŻE TA KSIĄŻKA DOSTAJE NOMINACJĘ DO MOICH ULUBIONYCH ROMANSÓW WSZECHCZASÓW!!!!
ta książka jest niesamowita 🥹🥹

“Clara . . . This is something.”
[…]“I know it is,”
“But it isn’t everything.”

- jest ból i łzy,
- jest friends to lovers i second chance (ofc w cudownym wykonaniu)
- kindaa zagadka do rozwiązania!!
- małomiasteczkowy klimat (+góry!!!)

strasznie czekam na jej premierę (ponad pół roku czekania XD), ale nie jestem w stanie przestać o niej myśleć <3

„The hairs on my neck rose, and my response tumbled over a ner-
vous laugh. “That is such a cheesy line.”
He frowned. “It wasn’t a line. You look beautiful.”

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites.

[Julie Burdick · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️’s.. This was a cute YA romance. I liked the message the story portrayed. The love story was good. A lot of angst, yearning and a second chance.

It got a little annoying when the FMC would purposely be mean to the MMC to push him away because she thought it was “in his best interest” to not be held back when he went off to college, but whatever.

The mystery part of it was interesting. I also enjoyed the growth of the group and the ending. It was a solid read.

[Kasee Baldwin]

Okay, as someone who spent Y E A R S as an avid watcher of "Pretty Little Liars" and a fierce theorist on who "A" was, I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK by Eva Des Lauriers gave such a delicious bit of that PLL energy.

This story follows wannabe-filmmaker Clara Suarez, her back-in-town ex, and a small town with loooots of secrets. There's an anonymous social media account sharing secrets of the elusive alumni Legacies, mega-complicated friend and family relationships, and a swoony second-chance rekindling of Clara and Reid's sparkling connection.

A fun read with a lil' mystery!

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK is out 5/19/26.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book it was so good Eva knows how to make me swoon for her characters this my second read of hers while in Ghana I fell in love with her debut I wish you would ever since then I wanted more from her we follow two students called Reid and Clara who were known as friends but when messages started going round about them it made Clara left Reid because she was hurt by the things she found out about him I love how Eva made drama and tension flow through the book without overdoing it that you feel the angst and the sexiness of the story between them I also adored the relationship Reid and Mitchell had too along with Kenji he was one of the nicest characters too

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Current rating: 3.25 stars

A cute second-chance romance story! I found the dual timeline to be done well, and their lingering feelings toward each other made sense. Pacing was pretty good, although it did start to drag a bit towards the end. The mystery element was a nice touch, even if I was able to guess the reveals. Overall, this was a nice, quick read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaitlin Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva is a true mastermind at writing angsty YA books and this is no exception. Thank you to Fierce Reads, Henry Holt and Co, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advanced reading copy.

I read Eva’s debut in only a day or two, and I devoured this one just as fast. This story is told in a dual narrative in a parallel timeline building up the anticipation and the angst in a way that you CANNOT look away from. I was clamoring to learn more about these characters and their stories. Eva’s does some amazing work with the development of Clara and Reid’s relationship and the undeniable pull between them. Their chemistry and tension and yearning were top tier. Absolutely adding Reid to my list of “men who yearn.”

I got big Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl vibes from the “whodunnit” aspect of the story and the anonymous blog posts. This mysterious person ruined Clara’s scholarship opportunity and they come back to terrorize the past winner when they visit their hometown for the weekend. I had a pretty good idea of who it was, but there were several curveballs that caught me off guard. I loved how the plot had quite a few different storylines that converged so wonderfully at the end.

Lastly, I just loved the friendships in this book. Reid and Clara are very compelling, but they have an amazing group of friends around them who all have their own nuances. The friendships felt so genuine. Not everything is perfect all the time, but friends who stick together make all the difference. Eva portrayed the high school experience and how toxic the competition can be for scholarships and the unfair expectations to succeed and have everything figured out. I loved this book and I will always be locked in on what Eva writes!

[Abena · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.***

I was debating between giving this two or three stars, but I ultimately landed on three because even though I’m not the intended audience, I can see this story connecting with a lot of readers. It’s very much a young adult second-chance romance, and I think people in a younger demographic would probably relate to it more than I did. I felt like it dragged a bit toward the end of the book and found myself thinking, “okay, can we get to it already?”, but overall it’s an easy read.

There were several things I genuinely liked. The haikus in the beginning of each chapter from Reid’s perspective were a nice touch and gave his voice something special. I also truly believed in the connection between the two main characters. Since there wasn’t a huge time gap between when their relationship/connection ended and when they reconnected, it felt realistic that their feelings hadn’t faded.

The mystery element around who sabotaged Clara’s opportunity for a scholarship kept me interested for a good portion of the story, even if the reveal wasn’t particularly shocking.

I think the book did a great job capturing how challenging that time of your life (shortly after high school) can be and the pressures of growing up in a small town. And, I appreciated that the characters were fully developed and had personalities outside of their feelings for one another.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book — just not completely for me. But I do think a lot of readers, especially those who enjoy YA romances with a bit of mystery, will find it engaging.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck. There are so many authors who can’t write angsty teens without making them insufferable assholes.

EDL is not one of them.

She not only perfectly captures every single feeling of an age where you’re supposed to be figuring it all out, she captures the extremely realistic possibilities of shit not working out at all.

The gossip girl stuff was a nice break from the intense emotions, but she has such a gift for reminding you (at least this reader in her thirties) about how awful being young was but also the great parts of it in between. The chemistry and tension was off the charts from the first page and I was rooting for them to be together no question, but to also individually grow themselves. And they do, in the most beautiful, imperfect ways.

And the tattoo?! Fuck you (respectfully, you’re a genius).

I can’t believe this is only her second book but you better believe I’m following her til the ends of the earth so she can inject her words straight into my veins.

[CoolReadHaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a cute romance story between the main characters Clara and Reid. This book is dual POV. They live in this small town that boast about their legacy program which is a program to help fund college for 5 lucky seniors but there are strict rules to staying in the program. There are secrets, mystery, and betrayals. I thought the story was well paced and kept me interested. The ending was not predictable. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the constant going back and forth in time (this is just a personal preference) overall the writing style was easy to read and understand. There were some things like when they used words like helluva that I just don’t personally like to read. The characters felt real and I enjoyed getting to see how they changed throughout the story. I also really liked the haikus at the start of Reid’s chapters. Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 stars, I enjoyed it but it didn’t stand out to me. If you like suspense, betrayal among friends, and small town romance then this would be a good book for you.

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot]

Just like Natalia and Ethan from I Wish You Would, Reid and Clara absolutely stole my heart. Reid obviously studied at the Conrad Fisher School of Yearning and I was HERE FOR IT. I loved the dual POVs and timelines which weaved everything together so perfectly. I also really loved the Legacy plotline and how programs like that can open doors, but also bring so much pressure to be perfect and peak in high school. I truly wasn’t sure who would be behind the anonymous account spilling everyone’s secrets so that was a fun surprise for me! I’m so excited to read whatever Eva Des Lauriers writes next! She’s definitely becoming an auto read author for me!

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the digital reader’s copy!

[Melissa Cantarow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely geared toward a YA audience as the plot centers around the experience of recent high school grads. I loved Clara and Reid, and while the push/pull of their relationship was frustrating, they were so sweet and tender with each other. The plot dragged a bit by the end but overall I really enjoyed it and found myself thinking about it during the day.

Thank you NetGalley for baby’s first ARC!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting Nothing Like The Movies vibes and I got so much more. I loved the drama, the yearning, the haikus, the side characters' personalities, and of course, how Reid and Clara loved one another. YA Romances can be at times repetive or toxic, but this one was neither; it explored diversity, mental/physical health, creativity, and most of all, a passionate love that survived even the most vengeful of plots.

[Amber Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on such an emotional journey! While it took a while to get invested in it, once I got there I was IN. This is a beautiful representation of young love and how sweet it can be. But also how heartbreaking it is. I love how many different demographics are seamlessly represented in this book. Will absolutely be reading more from this author!

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 31%.

I debated this DNF for a long time but I realized as I started a different book with a friend group that this one just kinda sucks. These friends are just too antagonistic for me and the implication that her bff slept with the guy she likes… that’s too much for me. (I haven’t gotten to the confirmation yet but it’s heavily implied so far.)

This book just feels like too much drama over substance. I am rooting for none of these characters. The FMC even fooled around with one of her friend’s on+off again bf bc she was BORED. 😑

So I’m out because I just know this will be three stars and I don’t want to continue to waste my time.

[Kaelyn Hassey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Reid and Clara, they had great chemistry and felt genuine, with a dynamic that kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot was entertaining and well-paced, and I loved the mix of humor and heart. My only small wish is that the story had them actually date back in high school and then reconnect a few years later, rather than just a few months. Still, it was a charming and enjoyable second-chance romance that I’d absolutely recommend! ty Net Galley for the ARC read!!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @henryholtbooks for the digital copy to review!

Y’all know how I feel about @evadeslaurbooks and I’m here to tell you this sophomore book does not disappoint!!!! Eva writes yearning teens like no one else and my man Reid is a *yearner* in every sense of the word. He’s been in love with his Clara for a long time and woooooo boy does Legacy weekend come for him.

Speaking of Clara - I loved her so much. She had so much pressure internally and externally, and is it any wonder she reacted the way she did? No… and that’s on *trauma* - my sweet girl just wanted to be happy and successful and she was thrown some pretty rude curveball.

Their romance was lovely. That first kiss? Stunning. Their reunion? Even more stunning.

I love a dual timeline and this one did not let me down. I solved the mystery pretty early BUT I was also led astray (in the best way) so I was super pleased with how it turned out. Supporting characters were fantastic, I loved all of the storylines and how they converged.

Also I cried several times but Reid talking to his dad at the end made me weep. And also I love Mitchell. What a great friend and brother.

Anyways this is out on May 19 so you know what to dooooo. I loved it I love them I love YA romance I love books.

[justclayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bro this was like a mix of Maury x Gossip Girl x Mean Girls. I was LIVING for all the mess. Might be the most fun I’ve ever had with a YA novel.
Also I don’t typically read YA romance just because I’m old as hell, but I actually didn’t mind this one. It’s second chance, of course, and Reid was quite literally down for whatever when it came down to Clara and/or helping her.

[Gwenyth Reitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun! I love how Eva builds her relationships so authentically. It was easy to root for Clara and Reid and their second chance romance. Plus, throw in a good “Gossip Girl in the mountains” mystery and I’m there. If you're a fan of characters with complicated pasts (who will steal your heart) then you'll want to dive into this one! It’s the perfect weekend binge!

[Lauren Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed. So worth the wait.

[Eva Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute 5 star YA book. A rare occurrence these days!

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl her first year out of high school who was supposed to be in college but couldn’t because she’s surrounded by scandal after a video of her with the principals son ends up in her high school year-end documentary that she made and she loses her scholarship and her life is derailed. She teams up with her friends when they return for Legacy weekend and they scooby doo this mystery, all while our girl is reuniting with her high school boyfriend. Way more One Tree Hill angst and romance, while also focusing on the burnout and fall out of overachieving high schoolers when pressured by their overbearing parents and their crash outs freshman year of college.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Janne Janssens · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the high-tension, secret-filled atmosphere of a Karen McManus mystery but wish it had a deeply moving, second-chance romance at its center, Eva Des Lauriers’ I'm Gonna Get You Back is exactly the book you’ve been searching for.

Des Lauriers has a brilliant gift for pulling at your heartstrings. She completely nails the raw reality of being a teenager, reminding us that it’s not always the "best time of your life." Instead, she vividly captures what it feels like to navigate massive, overwhelming emotions, often for the very first time in your life: the sting of friend betrayals, the crushing weight of parental and university pressure, and the all-consuming feeling of a love so deep you're convinced it’s "the one." Reading it made me feel like a teenager all over again, as it all felt to incredibly real.

I'm also a massive sucker for multiple POVs, and the dual narration works beautifully here. While knowing both Clara and Reid's perspectives means there are fewer secrets hidden from the reader, it actually heightens the drama. Watching their communication fail in past and real-time hurts even more because you desperately want them to just figure it out.

The ultimate proof of how good this book is? It made me cry. I almost never cry at romance or mystery novels (I usually save those tears for books centered on devastating, tragic losses). But the ending of this story moved me so deeply that the tears just caught me completely off guard.
So if you're looking of your next romance read, look no further.

[Atlanta Colling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got under my skin in a way I wasn’t entirely prepared for.

I’m Gonna Get You Back is a story about revenge, yes—but more than that, it’s about what happens when hurt turns inward, when love curdles into resentment, and when teenagers are left to navigate emotional landmines without the tools to defuse them. Eva Des Lauriers captures that space with impressive clarity and restraint.

The protagonist is not always likeable, but she is understandable, which I value far more. Her choices are impulsive, emotionally driven, and sometimes frustrating—but they feel real. The book doesn’t frame revenge as empowering or glamorous; instead, it shows how it can become a coping mechanism when communication fails and vulnerability feels too risky.

The writing is clean and expressive, especially in moments of emotional stillness. There are scenes where very little happens externally, yet the internal stakes are enormous. I also appreciated how relationships—romantic and platonic—are treated with equal weight. The friendships, in particular, felt painfully authentic in their misunderstandings and quiet betrayals.

My only real hesitation lies in the pacing. The novel occasionally circles the same emotional beats more than necessary, and I found myself wishing certain turning points arrived just a bit sooner. Additionally, while the ending is emotionally satisfying, it felt slightly too neat compared to the messiness that preceded it.

Even so, this is a strong, thoughtful read that handles teenage anger and vulnerability with care. It trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and doesn’t rush its characters toward easy resolutions.

A solid 4 stars—raw, reflective, and emotionally resonant.

[Elly Valdes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just average to me. I requested an advanced copy back in October (?) and just got around to reading it, so you can see where it was on my list of priorities. Nothing really stuck out to me, I thought the characters were typical of a YA and dealt with YA problems, and the whole “Legacy Lore” was super topical. I liked seeing the poems (haiku representation!) and the invisible string between Reid and Clara throughout the story.

What I most enjoyed about this is that it got the “transitional period between high school and college” right and how confusing it can be, especially for those whose path/idea of who they are and what they want to do might have changed. I think the author did a great job showing different avenues and how one is not better or worse than the other, it truly just leads to different destinations.