The Last Best Kiss

Jane Austen comes to modern-day Los Angeles in Claire LaZebnik's imaginative take on Persuasion, where seventeen-year-old Anna Eliot finds out whether there's such a thing as a second chance when it comes to first love. Fans of Polly Shulman, Maureen Johnson, Elizabeth Eulberg, Stephanie Perkins, and, of course, Jane Austen will love this irresistibly funny and romantic contemporary tale.

Anna is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked, Finn Westbrook. Now, three years after she broke his heart, the one who got away is back in her life—and he wants nothing to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn't care about Finn either, but even though they've both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he's the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too . . .

• Second Chance Romance: Three years ago, she broke his heart. Now the one who got away is back, and Anna has to convince Finn—and herself—that this time will be different.
• Persuasion Retelling: A fresh, modern take on a classic Jane Austen story of love and regret, set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles high school.
• From Nerd to Popular: The nerdy boy she once dismissed is now the hot, confident guy everyone wants. But does his new life have room for the girl who left him behind?
• Funny and Heartfelt: Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Elizabeth Eulberg, this coming of age story is packed with witty banter, relatable angst, and swoon-worthy moments.

When it comes to love, is there such a thing as a second chance?

Anna Eliot is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked. Back in freshman year she was too embarrassed to admit to her friends that she liked skinny, nerdy Finn Westbrook. Then his family moved away, and all Anna had left was regret.

Now it's senior year, and Finn is back. Anna can't believe her luck—maybe now she'll get the chance to relive their last kiss again (and again and again). But he obviously hasn't forgotten how she treated him, and while this newly confident, adorable Finn is happy to flirt with all of Anna's friends, he makes it clear he has no interest in having anything to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn't care about Finn either, but even though they've both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he's the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too . . .

Jane Austen fans will have fun finding the clever parallels in this contemporary take on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, while Austen innocents can just sit back and enjoy the romance. - Polly Shulman, author of ENTHUSIASM, on EPIC FAIL

I thoroughly enjoyed this charming tale about the joys and perils of going to school and navigating relationships with the celebrity set and their complicated offspring. Claire LaZebnik has done anything but fail. - Jen Calonita, author of SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE, on EPIC FAIL

LaZebnik’s delightful coming-of-age romance cleverly retells Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a story about bowing to social pressure and letting the good guy get away. The intense social wrangling, wry humor, razor-sharp depictions of the social scene, and fashion commentary serve up a fun Austen tableau, but the lively narrative and believable characters also provide a poignant story of high-school pressures, families that don’t support their teens, risky behavior, and the search for identity and acceptance. - Booklist