THE LOWDOWN:
There’s more than one way to get the girl in this fun and fast-paced novel about one epic party and a kiss that could change everything.

Tonight’s the night: Simon’s big chance to finally get with Cassie. Cassie, who he’s loved for ages. Cassie, who is newly boyfriend-free. Cassie, who just happens to be throwing the biggest party of the year. Simon’s plan is simple: He’ll go to the party, she’ll fall in love with him, they’ll make out like crazy, and the night will be a complete success.

But things don’t ever go as planned…especially when it comes to Cassie.

In two alternating plotlines, Simon goes after the girl of his dreams and stumbles toward his destiny. It’s one night, one party, and a thousand ways for things to go wrong…but a million ways for them to go right.

FIRST IMPRESSION:
I decided for about the hundredth time tonight that I’m not going to Cassandra Castillo’s spring break barter party. Then I changed my mind, because, fuck it: I’m seventeen, lonely, and horny. If I bailed on the party, not only would Coop and Ben never forgive me, but I’d have nothing else to do tonight that didn’t involve a bottle of hand lotion and a crusty sock of Catholic shame.

—Hardcover edition

SNAPSHOT:
Seventeen-year-old Simon Cross narrates this tale of lust, missed chances, and fate. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Simon Cross tells his own tale of lust, missed chances, and fate. Confused? Don’t be! This is the tale of the same boy, the same party, and the same obsession for a girl—but told twice, with a few minor changes that have a big impact on how Simon will get to the girl that he is meant to be with.

Simon’s lovestruck obsession with “girl of his dreams” Cassandra borders on unhealthy, but he’s so unsure of himself that it never quite hits creepy. Instead, he mostly wants to figure out what really matters in his life.

His friends Ben and Coop meanwhile help Simon by being

The plot of boy-wants-girl and will-boy-get-girl is really very simple, but the steady pace and strong writing will have readers quickly losing themselves to Simon’s plight, either through curiosity or concern over the outcome! In the end, readers will be left guessing which way Simon’s night really went down. The fun characters, especially Simon’s friends Ben and Coop, will more than make up for the open-endedness.

Appropriate for ages 16+. Strong language, strong sexual situations, intense situations, substance use and abuse.

Deals with sex and sexuality, substance abuse, obsession, love, and longing.

GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:
 If you… 

• Love dual perspectives

• Are a fan of romance from the boy’s side

• Enjoy rooting for a character’s happiness

• Have ever been stuck on a “what if I had just…” in your own life 
   

THE ESSENTIALS:
YA Contemporary
Hardcover & Ebook, 304 pages
Published June 25th 2013 by Simon Pulse (ISBN 1442483180)

http://books.simonandschuster.com/fml/Shaun-David-Hutchinson/9781442432871 

(Review copy provided by Simon Pulse.)