With doses of humor, Hoffmann (The Good Girl
) lightens this story of heartbreak and obsession, which follows the first 31 days of teenage Zoë's breakup with Henry, her musician boyfriend of six months. On day one, Zoë suspects she is about to be dumped, and on day two, her inkling is confirmed. But Zoë vows to “fight to get him back.” From sneaking into Henry's house with the excuse of retrieving some fungus cream to upstaging a singing performance by a girl she thinks Henry likes, Zoë's attempts to win back what she's lost are as (mortifyingly) funny as they are futile. Hoffmann has created a well-developed supporting cast: Zoë's mother, who shares some of her daughter's obsessive tendencies; nerdy Sam, who has nursed a crush on Zoë; and Zoë's loyal but concerned buddies, Julia and Shannon, who believe she has “crossed over into psycho” and who help her realize that she, like her ex, needs to move on. Despite offering moments of levity, Hoffmann gives plenty of weight and attention to Zoë's darker feelings—her broad spectrum of emotions and gradual recovery ring true. Ages 12–up. (June)
