About this item
Highlights
- In this contemporary coming-of-age YA novel, a teenage girl navigates a romance with an older boy when they're cast as the leading roles in their drama group's production of Romeo and Juliet.When Brooke and Matt are cast as romantic leads in their drama group's performance of Romeo and Juliet, they don't mean to actually fall in love.
- 432 Pages
- Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes
Description
Book Synopsis
In this contemporary coming-of-age YA novel, a teenage girl navigates a romance with an older boy when they're cast as the leading roles in their drama group's production of Romeo and Juliet.
When Brooke and Matt are cast as romantic leads in their drama group's performance of Romeo and Juliet, they don't mean to actually fall in love. Secrets and lies seem a small price for Brooke to pay for an older boyfriend, until they take their relationship to the next level one night in an empty auditorium. After she learns of the illegality of Matt's actions, Brooke's anxiety reaches breaking point and she makes a decision that changes her life forever. Years later, Matt is reunited with Brooke, desperately seeking redemption. But what sense can they make now of a love that never did run smoothly?
Exploring mental health, co-dependency, and the blurred lines of sexual consent, this captivating debut recounts a young woman's journey to independence as she strays beyond all she has ever known to confront her traumatic past.
Previously published as Can I Stray.
Review Quotes
"As much a lesson on the importance of consent education as it is an engrossing, bittersweet narrative" -- Booklist
"A portrait of codependency and consent." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A nuanced reflection on relationships, both with others and ourselves. This book is a stark reminder of the need for high quality, non-judgemental Relationships and Sex Education for all young people."--Brook Sexual Health & Wellbeing Charity
"A testament to the importance of comprehensive and inclusive Relationships and Sex Education" -- Sexpression charity UK
"Love, confusion, hurt, heartbreak, darkness, growth, compassion, loneliness...this story weaves in so much and I quickly became invested in each character and what the future might hold for them (...) should be in every school library." -- Grace Alice O'Shea, sex & intimacy specialist and author of Sex Educated
"Thought-provoking, harrowing, and ultimately uplifting, this explores culpability, co-dependency, and coming to a state of independence in the wake of a traumatic teenage relationship." -- LoveReading
About the Author
Jenna Adams is a London-based author. She began writing at the age of fourteen and now writes from her third-floor flat, which is full of houseplants. She has written for a variety of publications including The Book Network, Brook Charity, and The Content Wolf, and is passionate about exploring mental health, consent, and codependency in her writing.