If You're Out There

“Funny, engrossing, and one-of-a-kind. If You’re Out There completely swept me away.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Leah on the Offbeat

Part whip-smart suspense tale, part touching story of friendship, this is an extraordinary debut about a determined teen trying to solve a mystery no one else believes in.

After Zan’s best friend moves to California, she is baffled and crushed when Priya suddenly ghosts. Worse, Priya’s social media has turned into a stream of ungrammatical posts chronicling a sunny, vapid new life that doesn’t sound like her at all.

Everyone tells Zan not to be an idiot: Let Priya do her reinvention thing and move on. But until Zan hears Priya say it, she won’t be able to admit that their friendship is finished.

It’s only when she meets Logan, the compelling new guy in Spanish class, that Zan begins to open up about her sadness, her insecurity, her sense of total betrayal. And he’s just as willing as she is to throw himself into the investigation when everyone else thinks her suspicions are crazy.

Then a clue hidden in Priya’s latest selfie introduces a new, deeply disturbing possibility:

Maybe Priya isn’t just not answering Zan’s emails.

Maybe she can’t.

• Social Media Mystery: Zan is sure the ungrammatical, vapid posts from her best friend are a lie. But to prove it, she’ll have to decipher the clues everyone else has missed.
• Long-Distance Friendship: When Priya ghosts her after moving across the country, Zan refuses to believe their friendship is over. She’s determined to find out the truth, even if it hurts.
• Contemporary YA Romance: Logan is the only person who believes Zan’s suspicions aren’t crazy. As they team up to investigate, their connection grows into something more.
• Coded Messages: A hidden clue in a selfie is the first sign that Priya might be in real trouble. Zan realizes her friend isn’t just ignoring her—she might be sending a cry for help.

“Funny, engrossing, and one-of-a-kind. If You’re Out There completely swept me away.” - Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leah on the Offbeat

“Part Holmesian mystery, part love story, and funny as hell, If You’re Out There is a true exploration of deep-rooted friendship that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing. It’s my new obsession.” - David Arnold, bestselling author of The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik

“This fast-paced debut features a smart, deeply insecure heroine and is as much an examination of friendship as it is a light thriller. A mystery for the digital age.” - ALA Booklist

“Loutzenhiser’s debut is an engaging puzzler anchored by well-realized and endearing characters with diverse family structures. A light, charming mystery and a heartfelt ode to female friendship.” - Kirkus Reviews