This charming and funny young adult novel asks the question: Can a boy and a girl really be just friends? In Better Off Friends, the boy and the girl are Levi and Macallan, and over the five years since they first meet in 7th grade, the two develop a best friendship that's strong and devoted. But as they move through their high school years, the friendship is put to the test as they each develop new interests and start moving in different directions -- while also wondering if what they feel might be something more. 
 Told in alternating voices, the writing is fresh and engaging. The author doesn't shy away from the more serious and even painful elements of the characters' lives, but at the same time manages to bring the characters to life with humor, lots of banter, and more than a few awkward moments that feel true and real. 
 I really enjoyed the author's previous novel, Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality, and Better Off Friends is every bit as good. 
 Review copy courtesy of Scholastic via NetGalley. A full review is posted at Bookshelf Fantasies.