The Art of Feeling

For fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places and Meg Wolitzer's Belzhar comes an emotionally thrilling tale of a friendship between a girl who feels too much and a boy who feels too little, as they discover that maybe pain can bring people together and not just tear them apart.

Samantha Herring has been in constant pain ever since the car accident that injured her leg and killed her mother. After pushing her friends away, Sam has receded into a fog of depression until she meets Eliot, a carefree, impulsive loner who, is unable to feel any pain at all. At first, Sam is jealous. She would give anything to not feel the pain she's felt for the past year. But the more she learns about Eliot's medical condition, the more she notices his self-destructive tendencies.

In fact, Eliot doesn't seem to care about anything—except Sam. And as they grow closer, they begin to confront Sam's painful memories of the accident, memories that hold a startling truth about what really happened that day.

• Opposites Attract: She feels everything; he feels nothing. Sam would give anything to escape her pain, but she soon learns Eliot’s invulnerability is more of a curse than a gift.
• Rare Medical Condition: Eliot’s inability to feel pain makes him reckless and self-destructive. He doesn’t seem to care if he lives or dies—until he meets Sam.
• Mystery and Suspense: The closer Sam gets to Eliot, the closer she gets to the truth about the car accident that killed her mother. But some secrets are best left buried.
• Emotional Fiction for Teens: A heart-wrenching story about two loners navigating trauma, finding solace in their unlikely friendship, and discovering what it truly means to feel.

“As real as it gets, not only with its believable dialogue and diverse cast of characters but also its reflection of the world...teens will find this story easily relatable...mature themes are handled tastefully and appropriately...an excellent debut that will leave readers hungry for more.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“The twins’ drama accelerates quickly, taking readers down shocking rabbit holes. High-octane drama that thrills.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Suspenseful debut. A compelling mystery. Tims expertly depicts the awkward uncertainties of teen life and the sometimes-blurry line between right and wrong.” - Publishers Weekly

“Addresses classic coming-of-age questions and touches on many important contemporary issues” - School Library Journal

Praise for PLEASE DON’T TELL - Kirkus Reviews

“Tims weaves a taut YA thriller...Readers of Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why (2007) will find this to be a perfect complement.” - Booklist

“Funny and absorbing. Wry and engrossing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Tims’ sophomore book captures the emotions of young characters dealing with loss, pain, and depression. A heartfelt package that many will enjoy.” - Booklist