A parent might reach for this book when their teen is navigating a fiercely competitive friendship, where ambition seems to be overshadowing loyalty. The story follows best friends and aspiring journalists, Alex and Maddie, whose bond is tested when they become finalists for the same prestigious internship and fall for the same boy. This book delves deeply into themes of jealousy, the pressure to succeed, and how to maintain one's identity amidst intense rivalry. Appropriate for older teens, it provides a realistic, engaging narrative for exploring the difficult emotions that arise when personal goals clash with deep friendships, opening the door for conversations about ethics, ambition, and forgiveness.
Focuses on the painful breakdown of a deep friendship.
Sensitive Topics
The book's core conflict is emotional, dealing directly with jealousy, betrayal, friendship breakups, and moral ambiguity (lying, sabotaging a friend). The approach is realistic and secular, grounded in the high-pressure environment of competitive high school academics. The resolution is not a simple return to normal; it is realistic and hopeful, acknowledging that relationships are irrevocably changed by such events but that healing and understanding are possible.
Ideal Reader
An ambitious, high-achieving 15 to 17-year-old who feels immense pressure to succeed and may be experiencing a competitive strain in a close friendship. This reader is likely grappling with how to balance personal goals with loyalty and may feel isolated by their own drive or hurt by a friend's actions.
Parent Prep
No specific pages require previewing, as the content is emotionally driven rather than graphic. A parent should be prepared to discuss the complexities of ambition and ethics. The book does not present a clear villain, so conversations can focus on empathy for both characters' perspectives and the gray areas of competition. The romance involves kissing and strong feelings but is not sexually explicit. A parent notices their teen is suddenly treating a best friend like a rival or vice versa. They might hear comments like, "She's trying to one-up me for everything," or see their child become uncharacteristically secretive, anxious, or cutthroat about school or extracurriculars.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) might focus on the romantic triangle and the drama of the friend-on-friend conflict. An older teen (16-18), especially one looking ahead to college and career choices, will likely connect more with the themes of defining oneself outside of achievements and the difficult, real-world choices that arise when ambition and loyalty collide.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA novels that feature a clear protagonist versus a 'mean girl' antagonist, this book presents a nuanced, two-sided rivalry between two genuinely close friends. It excels at showing how good people, under pressure, can make hurtful choices. This mutual culpability makes the conflict feel more authentic and thought-provoking than a simpler good versus evil narrative.
Read plot summary
Alex and Maddie are inseparable best friends and co-editors of their high school's TV news show. Their relationship is the bedrock of their lives until they are both named finalists for a single, coveted summer internship at a major news network. Their professional competition is complicated when they both develop feelings for a charming new student, Dennis. The narrative charts the escalating rivalry as jealousy and ambition lead to calculated sabotage and betrayal, forcing both girls to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for success and whether their friendship can be salvaged.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Alex and Maddie both do things to hurt each other in their competition. Did you feel one of them was more 'in the wrong' than the other, or were they equally at fault? Explain your reasoning.
2
Dennis's arrival intensifies the conflict. Do you think the rivalry would have been as severe without the romantic element? How did his presence change the girls' dynamic with each other?
3
At the end of the book, Alex and Maddie's friendship is permanently changed. Do you think a friendship can fully recover from that level of betrayal? What would it take for them to truly trust each other again?
4
The book explores the intense pressure to succeed in high school. In your opinion, was the internship worth what it cost Alex and Maddie's friendship? When does ambition go too far?
