I see you everywhere I go and everywhere I go: LATE TO THE PARTY.

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Codi knows she's never had the "typical" teen experience. At seventeen, she spends most of her time watching movies and hanging out with her best friends, Maritza and JaKory. So when they suggest crashing a party, she refuses. She's happy in her little world. However, when they need someone to come get them at said party, Codi stumbles across one of the popular kids, Ricky, kissing another boy in the shadows. In return for keeping his secret, Ricky and Codi form an unlikely friendship--one she keeps from her other friends. She finds herself in a world of parties and new experiences, and she meets a really great girl, Lydia. It's all well and good, but what will happen when JaKory and Maritza find out?

I enjoyed this book a lot. I found myself smiling while reading it; Quindlen perfectly captures all that awkwardness and hope of falling in love as a teen. There's plenty of teen and YA melodrama, yet it's just so classic in its portrayal of the teen experience of being in love and wanting to enjoy what you think is the quintessential teen life.

I really liked Codi; she was a wonderful and engaging character. JaKory and Maritza? Eh. Ricky was excellent, and the book is filled with a diverse and representative cast--so refreshing. Watching Codi come out of her shell and the beauty of her and Lydia finding each other was just lovely. This is a coming of age story, but also a great look into queer relationships and friendships in general. It's about finding yourself and then learning to like that self. A really touching read. 4+ stars.

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