Not Exactly a Love Story

by Audrey Couloumbis

After his parents divorce, high school junior Vinnie Gold moves to Long Island with his mother and new stepfather and must negotiate a secret crush and a rather complicated connection with the popular girl next door.

• ISBN10: 037586783X
• ISBN13: 9780375867835
• Publish Date: 11 December 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Out of Print: 30 September 2016
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 276
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Things are not quite going Vinnie's way these days - problems with the family pet, his skin, his grades, his parents' divorce, his mother's remarriage, moving out to the island, starting in a new school, he has a lot on his plate. However, he finds a bright spot in the form of his neighbor, Patsy. She is beautiful and popular and the object of the football star's desire. Fate drops Patsy's phone number into Vinnie's hands and he begins a ritual of anonymous midnight calls with Patsy, and unknowingly, a relationship.

This book really highlights the ups and downs of Vinnie's life. We find out that Vinnie's character is not defined by what happens to him, but rather, how he reacts. He is actually quite a tender heart, who loves and cares for the people around him. Then there is Patsy, who is struggling with her own home life issues and other people's expectations of her. The characters were interesting and believable. I know I like the characters when I find myself wanting the best for them and I was rooting for Vinnie the whole time.