For teens navigating complex emotions around first loves and second chances, this story offers a relatable journey of self-discovery and rekindled romance.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is navigating the lingering, complicated feelings of a first breakup and the idea of second chances. This story follows exes Kaylee and Dean, who are forced to go on a resort vacation together with their new blended family (her mom is dating his dad) and their new partners. It's a funny, heartfelt exploration of why they broke up, who they've become since, and whether their old feelings can be rekindled. Perfect for teens 14 and up, it’s a lighthearted but emotionally intelligent read that normalizes the awkwardness of breakups and changing family dynamics, offering a hopeful look at forgiveness, communication, and rediscovering love.
The book deals directly with parental separation and the formation of a blended family. This is presented as a normal, albeit awkward, life event. The approach is secular and realistic. The resolution for both the family dynamic and the central romance is hopeful and positive.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a teen, aged 14 to 17, who loves contemporary second-chance romances with plenty of banter and humor. It's particularly well-suited for a reader grappling with a recent breakup, wondering about 'the one that got away,' or navigating the complexities of a new blended family structure.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. Parents should be aware it contains some underage social drinking, kissing and make-out scenes, and fade-to-black implications of sex, all of which are standard for the upper YA romance genre. No specific context is needed before reading. A parent has heard their teen lamenting a breakup, talking about how they still have feelings for an ex, or expressing anxiety and frustration about a family vacation with a new step-parent or step-sibling figure.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will likely enjoy the cinematic vacation setting, the humor of the awkward situations, and the core romantic plot. An older teen (15-18) will connect more deeply with the themes of miscommunication in relationships, personal growth after a breakup, and the emotional maturity required to forgive and try again.
What Makes It Special
While second-chance romance is a popular trope, this book's unique premise of the exes' parents dating creates a high-stakes, inescapable forced-proximity scenario. The use of a dual point of view is also key, allowing the reader to fully understand both characters' motivations and regrets, which adds depth and prevents one-sided blame for the initial breakup.
Read plot summary
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee is horrified to learn that her summer vacation plans involve sharing a luxury resort suite with her ex-boyfriend, Dean. A year after their messy breakup, their single parents are now seriously dating, forcing them into a blended-family holiday. To make things more awkward, they’ve both brought their new significant others along. Through forced proximity, water park hijinks, and dual perspectives that reveal their past misunderstandings, Kaylee and Dean are forced to confront their lingering feelings and what really went wrong between them.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Kaylee and Dean's original breakup was caused by a major miscommunication about their futures. What steps could they have taken to understand each other better back then?
2
Both characters bring new partners, Tate and Aniston, on the vacation. Do you think it was fair to them for Kaylee and Dean to explore their old feelings? How did you feel about how those relationships ended?
3
How does the setting of the resort, a place designed for fun and escape, influence the characters' decisions and their willingness to reconnect?
4
Throughout the vacation, Kaylee and Dean have to balance their own feelings with their parents' happiness. How do you think their parents' new relationship affected their choices?
