17 First Kisses

In this incandescent page-turner, sixteen-year-old Claire learns the unfortunate truth that sometimes a girl has to kiss a lot of frogs. . . . Brilliantly capturing the complexities of friendship, the struggles of self-discovery, and the difficulties of trying to find love in high school, Rachael Allen has crafted a rich debut that's impossible to put down.

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can't seem to find a decent boyfriend—someone who isn't afraid of her family's tragic past or her own aspirations for the future . . . until she meets Luke. But Megan, Claire's closest friend, is falling for Luke, too, and if there's one thing Claire knows for sure, it's that Megan is pretty much irresistible. With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.

When your best friend becomes your rival, who do you fight for?

• Best Friends to Rivals: Claire and Megan have been through everything together. But when Luke arrives, their lifelong friendship is put to the test for the first time.
• The New Guy: Luke isn’t like the other guys in Pine Bluff. He’s charming, he’s traveled the world, and he might just be the one—if Claire can keep him.
• A Secret-Filled Past: Claire’s family has a tragic history she keeps hidden. Can she find a guy who isn’t scared away by the secrets she can’t share?
• A Kissing Pact: After a string of bad kisses, Claire is determined to make her next one count. But the perfect boy might just cost her the perfect friendship.

Sometimes a girl has to kiss a lot of frogs. . . .

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can't seem to find a decent boyfriend. Someone who wouldn't rather date her gorgeous best friend, Megan. Someone who won't freak out when he learns about the tragedy her family still hasn't recovered from. Someone whose kisses can carry her away from her backwoods town for one fleeting moment.

Until Claire meets Luke.

Luke is adorable and he's lived all over the world. But Megan is falling for Luke too, and if there's one thing Claire knows for sure, it's that Megan is pretty much irresistible.

With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.

Hilarious and heartbreaking with a pitch-perfect voice, 17 FIRST KISSES is completely crush-worthy. - Kara Taylor, author of Prep School Confidential