The Secrets of Attraction

February 2, 2015
Madison Pryce, 17, has not one but two boys fighting over her: Jesse, the sexy barista who works at the coffee shop next to her yoga studio, and Zach, her friend with benefits who is now claiming that he has fallen in love with her. But Madison has family problems on her mind, too: her mother has just revealed the identity of Madison’s father, someone Madison has known all her life. Meanwhile, Jesse is on the rebound after being dumped for his band’s drummer, and Madison seems like the perfect antidote to his broken heart, as he tries to put the pieces of his band back together. Alternating between Jesse’s and Madison’s points of view, Constantine (The Promise of Amazing) offers a straightforward romance shot through with music and yoga, as well as the expected missed connections and misunderstandings. There isn’t much here to distinguish the book from many similar offerings, but the blend of romantic and familial angst should please fans of Constantine’s previous book. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Laura Dail Literary Agency.

January 15, 2015
When relationships get complicated, Madison faces two choices: keep everything the same or risk everything for a chance at greater happiness.Madison is good at keeping her life compartmentalized. She's got her mom, her friends, the hot guy, Zach, she chooses to hang out with, her mom's friend, Paul, who brings doughnuts whenever he visits-all these parts coexist in an orderly and satisfying way. But when pieces of her life overlap, things get crazy and amazing. She discovers that opening up to new experiences is worth doing, even if it is scary. The biggest risk is when the barista who makes her usual after-yoga chai drink becomes something more than a friend. Constantine returns to the scene of her first novel, The Promise of Amazing (2013), to explore the lives of different characters, all of whom fit into similar molds: cute, smart teenage girls with well-honed fashion senses and cute, smart teenage boys who shift easily between broody and romantic. She has a knack for believable romantic scenes with enough heat to stay interesting, but her characters rely too much on stereotypes and convenience to steer them down the well-worn paths of new love, love lost and family drama. Romantic school dances, crooning live bands and plenty of cozy cafe time await those readers who crave easy familiarity. (Romance. 15-18)

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February 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-In this companion novel to the author's The Promise of Amazing (HarperCollins, 2013), Madison dreams of going to design school and becoming an architect. She's hopeful that with her grades and portfolio she will get a scholarship. Madison lives with her mom and they make a great team. She also has two close friends and a hot, athletic boyfriend. The teen has her life in order. Then along comes broody barista Jesse. He is coping with a recent breakup; his ex is now dating the drummer of his band. With his heart and his band broken, Jesse feels a bit lost. When the protagonists meet at a coffee shop, it isn't love at first sight, but eventually they warm up to each other. Madison and Jesse's story unfolds in alternating points of view, giving readers a look at both perspectives, sprinkled with gushy hormone-infused moments and driven by teen angst. VERDICT With underdeveloped characters, and a predictable plot, this title doesn't stand out from most books in the genre.-Mindy Whipple, West Jordan Library, UT

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