But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.Īutumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart their mothers are still best friends.

While lessons are offered, they are deliciously coated in readable prose and a compelling plot. That recognition, presented in an authentic first-person voice, gradually paves the way for believable changes as Ann re-evaluates failed friendships, her own role in consuming secretly spiked drinks at a party, and the potential for a relationship with a nice-and attractive-guy. But when Ann sees her 4-year-old stepsister telling her teddy bear he’s too fat, she realizes both she and her mom have serious food issues that threaten her sister’s well-being. She and her thin, driven mother don’t, at first glance, seem to have much in common. Her account of suffering horrendous exercise videos and bad food is both funny and sad, and she falls off the wagon several times. Unwisely determined to lose 45 pounds in two months in order to look good in a bridesmaid’s dress when her aunt marries her girlfriend, Ann buys a diet program from an infomercial. She clearly has a dysfunctional relationship with food, eating way too much whenever she’s troubled-which is to say quite often-and blithely rationalizing her behavior.

Getting hilariously stuck in a too-small dress she tries on at the mall surely proves it. Ann has a weight problem and a mother problem-and the two issues are likely connected.Ī rising high school junior, Ann has fought (and lost) the weight battle since early childhood.

45 pounds by ka barson