According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking - er, focusing on-Sean Griswold...all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own. 
 The moment I opened this book, I knew I would have a soft spot for it. Why? Because Payton has just blown a ton of money on a deluxe day planner and it's most definitely something I can relate to. What's the point in organization if you don't have something to show for it? I know, I'm weird, but there's just something about the feel of a brand new planner, yes? 
 But on to business! Sean Griswold's Head is a delightful read. You might think it's one of those mindless YA chick lit but it's not. In Sean Griswold's Head, Payton is undergoing major changes in her life; the biggest of which is her finding out about her father's MS. She goes through the usual stages of anger, disbelief; a sense of betrayal from her family and more. What I liked about Payton is that her character is relatable and real. She sounds exactly like the girl next door and the sense of realism is powerful here. 
 I also quite like her "voice" in the novel. She's not the sweet, goody-two-shoes people think she is. She sometimes has mean thoughts about the people she cares about but you can't feel mad at her, because what she's feeling is real and you can't fault her for that. 
 Other characters in the novel include Payton's family, her best friend Jac and vampire boy (you need to read this). I found the portrayal of Payton's family to be a nice touch. They're very real, rooted in their pain of her father's MS diagnosis but at the same time, struggling to understand and reconnect with Payton in her own anger towards her family. I didn't quite like Jac, mostly because I found her too pushy when it came to Payton and Sean but I did like some of the assessments she made and I suppose, overall, she's not too bad of a person. 
 Of course, this review wouldn't be complete without mentioning Sean Griswold. What I like about their interaction is that it starts of as a crush on Payton's part. It's not an epic sweeping romance when Payton lays eyes on Sean and they suddenly and inexplicably fall in love. No, it's genuine teenage romance and Sean's a cool guy to hang out with. The ending of course is a happy one but one I liked because it shows Payton's growth as a character as well as her acceptance towards the situation her life is in. 4.5 stars from me.