At the end of last year, my fellow litbrarian, Jag, put this series on her favorites list. Like I do with all recommendations from friends, I immediately put it on my TBR. Believe it or not, it took me this long to get to it but, of course, I'm glad I made the time to read it! This is one of those books that, from the very first page, transports you back in time to those days in your life where every little thing was so important...every look, every word, every action from your friends and, more importantly, from the person you liked, brought overwhelming emotions. 
 Even though it's been a while since high school, I definitely related to Layla and everything that was going on with her. She stands at the precipice of her adult life and has lots to look forward to ahead of her. But, as we always do in our youth, she focuses on the present and, most importantly, on a certain boy. But, throughout this book, we see her grow and start to better understand the world around her. I really enjoyed that! 
 Trip is dreamy! He's the perfect book boyfriend...smart, sweet, talented, and gorgeous. As the new guy in school, he has a lot to face and fitting in is very important. His natural charisma is helpful and the fact that he's moved around a lot in his life helps him find a group of friends quickly and, most importantly, leads him to Layla. And, as these two battle their emotions, deal with the inevitable communication mix-ups and sort through the expectations they have for themselves (and those others have for them as well), the angst was palpable! This book really reminds you of how much there is to go through in those years...facing the future, dealing with friends and non-friends alike, deciding what's important to you and whether you're brave enough to embrace it, and falling in love for the first time. 
 I've read many high school friends-to-more books but I really have to admit that this one brought all the emotions. These characters were getting to know each other, discovering themselves and dealing with situations that, at that age, seem overwhelming. This book brought many smiles to my lips and flutters to my heart. I found myself remembering those days in my life rather fondly and, of course, rooting for these two great characters. And, the best part?!? This is just the beginning of Layla and Trip's story and I'm pretty sure this series will get better and better! I can't wait to see what happens next!!