Never Vacation with Your Ex

February 15, 2023
A serial dater is forced to go on vacation with her latest ex-boyfriend because their parents are best friends. Seventeen-year-old Kaylee Jordan is a nationally ranked athlete determined to follow in her mother's footsteps to Olympic beach volleyball glory. But as committed as Kaylee is to volleyball, the same can't be said about boyfriends. Her romantic relationships never last, so it's no surprise when she dumps aspiring filmmaker Dean Freeman-Yu after only two months. But Dean isn't just a random classmate; he's her lifelong friend and the son of her parents' college besties. They're also about to go on their annual joint summer trip to the Jordans' Malibu beach house for three weeks. Since it has been less than a month since the breakup, Kaylee decides to coach Dean through the heartbreak she caused using her usual survival guide tips, like investing in a hobby, saying yes to invitations, and taking fun daytrips. Usually, second-chance romances take place much longer after a couple breaks up, but this story works thanks to Kaylee and Dean's strong family connection. Kaylee's family is White; the Freeman-Yus are Jewish and Taiwanese, and Dean is bisexual. A moving subplot about how Kaylee lives in her three-time Olympic gold-medalist mother's shadow adds depth to her development, and it's refreshing to read a romance in which it's the girl who's the elite jock. A breezy, beachy teen love story. (Romance. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 13, 2023
Living in the shadow of her beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist mother, 17-year-old Kaylee Jordan strives to make a name for herself in the same sport. Thanks to her drive, a grueling training schedule, and supportive rivals and mentors in the form of boyfriend Dean Freeman-Yu’s younger sister, another up-and-coming volleyball star, and Dean’s mother, Kaylee’s mother’s former volleyball partner, she becomes a nationally ranked athlete, successfully cultivating a reputation beyond her mother’s influence. When the competition season is over, Kaylee is usually excited to spend the summer at her parents’ Malibu beach house with Dean’s family. But after Kaylee dumps Dean, this year’s respite simmers with tension. Keen to remain friends, Kaylee endeavors to teach brokenhearted Dean how to get over her. In between practicing volleyball drills, she offers him dating tips and encourages him to find someone new, but when Dean starts pursuing someone else, Kaylee finds her feelings for him reigniting. Developing rifts between Kaylee’s and Dean’s mothers and dilemmas confronting Dean’s younger sister add further emotional depth to this frothy, sports-forward beach read by married creators Wibberly and Siegemund-Broka (With and Without You). Kaylee’s family is white; Dean’s family is Jewish and Taiwanese. Ages 12–up. Agent: Katie Shea Boutillier, Donald Maass Literary.

April 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 As a rising volleyball star with a "perfect" social media presence, Kaylee Jordan is under an immense amount of pressure. Every year, she looks forward to her vacation with her best friend Dean and both their families. But this year, the vacation is less relaxing--because Dean is now her ex. After a tumultuous start, Kaylee offers to teach Dean her rules for how to get over an ex (based off her vast experience in this area). Dean agrees, but as they spend more time together, it becomes more and more clear that maybe breaking up was the real mistake. Real-life couple Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's YA romance is a fluffy beach read with heart; Kaylee's struggles as a student athlete and living up to her former Olympian mother's image are relatable. While the conflict preventing the main couple from getting back together drags a little, it doesn't detract from the fun of this vacation rom-com. Overall, this will appeal to readers who enjoy second-chance romances, vacation settings, and a peek into elite athletics.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-There's only one thing threatening to ruin Kaylee's beach vacation in Malibu: her ex-boyfriend, Dean. Chronic perfectionist and volleyball superstar Kaylee is looking forward to the three-week trip her family takes every summer because it's the only time each year that she lets herself relax. In the pictures she posts to her almost half-million followers on Instagram, Kaylee with her dark blonde hair, tan skin, and muscular build appears to live a perfect life. In reality, Kaylee puts so much pressure on herself to live up to everyone's expectations that she suffers from debilitating migraines due to the stress. Her mother is an Olympic Gold Medalist in beach volleyball, and Kaylee can't escape comparison. She also can't escape Dean, whose parents are college friends of her parents and a fixture of their annual Malibu vacation. Taiwanese American Dean, with his long dark hair in a bun and his hipster style, has loved Kaylee since childhood, but is struggling to digest their recent breakup. What follows is a steamy, banter-filled attempt at getting over an ex while falling in love again. High school sweethearts themselves, Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka craft a second-chance romance with plenty of forced proximity set on the dreamy beaches of Southern California. Kaylee and Dean's dialogue radiates with sexual tension and their heat is balanced with a thoughtful exploration of friendships, perfectionism, and passions versus professions. Secondary characters are fully developed, and the summer beach setting is lushly described. VERDICT Highly recommended. Fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen's summer romances will devour this book.-Samantha Lumetta

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.