{"product_id":"since-we-last-spoke","title":"Since We Last Spoke","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA YALSA 2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“A powerful story about grief, loss, and the restorative nature of love, \u003ci\u003eSince We Last Spoke \u003c\/i\u003ewill stay with you long after you’ve finished.” —Amber Smith, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Way I Used to Be\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Last to Let Go\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Rufener handles topics such as love, loss, and grief with a deft and steady hand, intermingling moments of humor and warmth as two families learn to navigate the tragedy that’s intertwined them forever.” —Miranda Asebedo, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Deepest Roots\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Rufener ambitiously tackles many topics in a single novel: manslaughter, suicide, bullying, sex, drugs, mental health, family violence, parental neglect, and abuse. Rufener successfully weaves all of these difficult subjects into a real and relatable narrative without platitudes or apologies. This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story that stands on its own.\" \u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, this heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of teen love in the face of unimaginable grief and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness. From breakout author Brenda Rufener (\u003ci\u003eWhere I Live\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless . . . until it wasn’t.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStill, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party and break the ice after a year of silence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens, leading them to confront each other and their families in the hope of mending the broken pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Rufener's treatment of grief is nuanced and deeply felt, and Aggi's and Max's complex feelings about themselves, their families, and their aborted romance drive the skillfully crafted narrative. A compelling story about grief told through the voices of two expertly drawn protagonists.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTorn apart by tragedy and forbidden to speak, can two teens find their way back to each other when their families are determined to keep them apart?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Modern Romeo and Juliet:\u003c\/b\u003e With a restraining order in place and their families locked in a bitter feud, their love is the one thing that could either heal them or break them for good.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSecond Chance Romance:\u003c\/b\u003e After a year of forced silence, a lake-house party brings Aggi and Max face-to-face again, giving them one last chance to rebuild what their families destroyed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDual POV:\u003c\/b\u003e Told from the perspectives of both Aggi and Max, this emotional story explores two sides of a tragedy that shattered two families.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSmall Town Setting:\u003c\/b\u003e In the tiny town of Plum Lake, Aggi and Max share a driveway but are worlds apart, making every secret meeting a risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Brenda Rufener","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":53138953273635,"sku":"9780062571083","price":14.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/2258\/5123\/files\/9780062571083.jpg?v=1741112035","url":"https:\/\/epicreads.com\/products\/since-we-last-spoke","provider":"Epic Reads","version":"1.0","type":"link"}