Layover

The Barlow-Abernathys are headed toward divorce, and 15-year-old Flynn Barlow, her older stepbrother Amos, and their nine-year-old half-sister Poppy aren’t sure what this means for them. Things are even more complicated for Flynn and Amos, who once shared a romantic moment that neither can forget but both refuse to confront. During a layover at LAX, they decide to ditch their family Christmas vacation in Bora Bora and have a final hurrah as siblings. Relying on Flynn’s crush Neel to provide room and board, the three run around L.A. having a great time until real life intervenes: Poppy stops taking her anti-anxiety medication, Amos reconnects with his now-sober father, Flynn faces her debilitating stage fright, and their parents are coming to get them. In their first book for teens, the screenwriting duo of Andelson and Meyer look at the complexities of blended families and the relationships that can develop. Unfortunately, the quasi-romance between Flynn and Amos overshadows this story of siblings on the run. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lacy Lynch and Dabney Rice, Dupree Miller & Associates. (Feb.)