The Last Best Kiss

In ninth grade, Anna and Finn had a sweet, secret romance. Finn, an awkward and scrawny science geek, wooed Anna with his unselfconscious enthusiasm and unusual charm. After Anna's friends ostracized Finn, Anna distanced herself from him, only to be heartbroken when Finn moved away. Three years later a buff, handsome Finn returns to town, and Anna's friends are drooling over him. Meanwhile, Finn gives Anna the cold shoulder, so she turns to her distant cousin Wade as a possible romantic interest. In her latest update of an Austen novel (following Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting), LaZebnik uses Persuasion as the framework for a story of love forsaken, then found again. While romantic entanglements between cousins may have passed during Austen's time, Anna interest in Wade%E2%80%94however distantly related%E2%80%94may sit awkwardly with some contemporary readers. In keeping with Austen's plot, Finn spends the better part of the novel acting coldly toward Anna, which does little to recommend him as a romantic interest for her in the here and now of the story. Ages 13%E2%80%93up. Agent: Alexis Hurley, Inkwell Management. (Apr.)