Description
Product Description
Sneak out. Make out. Rock out.
Riley and her best guy friend, Reid, have made a pact: they'll help each other pursue their respective crushes, make something happen, and document the details in a shared notebook.
While Reid struggles with the moral dilemma of adopting a dog to win over a girl's heart, Riley tries to make progress with Ted Callahan, the guy she's been obsessed with forever. His floppy hair! His undeniable intelligence! But between a chance meeting with a fellow musician in a record store and a brief tryst with a science-geek-turned-stud-not to mention Ted's own tentative attentions-cute guys are suddenly popping up everywhere. How did she never notice them before?! As their love lives go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, Riley and Reid's pact may prove to be more than they bargained for.
Filled with cute dogs, cute boys, and a few awkward hookups, this hilarious tale from Amy Spalding chronicles the soaring highs and embarrassing lows of dating in high school.
From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—Sixteen-year-old Riley is pretty happy with her life so far. She has her best friends Lucy and Reid; their band, the Gold Diggers, is getting better; and school is not horrible. After walking in on Lucy and their other bandmate Nathan, Riley and Reid decide they need to do something to bring a bit of romance into their own lives. They make a pact: help each other with their respective crushes and document everything in a notebook. Reid tries to overcome his insecurity and anxiety; Riley gets in over her head with three different guys—Garrick, Milo, and her crush, Ted. While trying to figure out what to do about the men in her life, Riley also avoids Lucy, feeling like they no longer know each other. The band starts to take off but everything gets jumbled as emotions escalate and things get complicated. Then the notebook disappears and Riley and Reid must tell the people closest to them the truth. Character-driven enough to keep the story moving, this book will appeal most to teenagers questioning and exploring romantic relationships. Sex does happen in this story, more than once, along with a small amount of drinking. Most readers will find the notebook entries (done in a handwriting-like font) humorous and relate to the confusing feelings that come from acting on a crush or trying to date in high school. VERDICT Recommended for teens looking for realistic stories without a hefty amount of drama.—Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL
Review
Praise for Kissing Ted Callahan:
A 2016 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection
"A not-so-fluffy chick-lit offering rife with angst, rock 'n' roll and lots of kissing."
―
Kirkus Reviews
"It's refreshing to see a boy-girl friendship built on mutual support that doesn't drift into romance...Riley's voice is irreverent and funny."―
Publishers Weekly
"Riley and Reid are witty and believable, and Spalding's story has tons of teen appeal."―
VOYA
"Character driven... this book will appeal most to teenagers questioning and exploring romantic relationships....Most readers will find the notebook entries (done in a handwriting-like font) humorous and relate to the confusing feelings that come from acting on a crush or trying to date in high school. Recommended for teens looking for realistic stories without a hefty amount of drama."―
SLJ
"Riley and I became besties immediately...I cackled (and maybe even snorted) my way through this novel in one afternoon, but don't let that fool you. There's plenty of substance in Riley's story, and her trials and tribulations strike an authentic chord that can still be heard over the din of laughter."―
Sarah Pitre, Forever Young Adult
"I laughed so hard I cried. Twice. I have a major crush on Ted Callahan."―
Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door
"
Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) is hugely fun and full of our fa