Lola at Last

Upcoming high school senior Lola Barnes is forced to reckon with the consequences of a public scandal in this witty Pride and Prejudice–inspired jaunt by Peterson (Being Mary Bennet). Californian Lola is a stereotypical party girl who’s willing to do anything to keep herself in the spotlight. But when she accidentally sets fire to her brother-in-law Will’s brand-new yacht, her quest for attention leaves her with limited choices. Lola must attend Will’s sister’s rigorous all-girl hiking boot camp, where Lola is expected to learn “self-reliance, confidence, and cooperation,” or he’ll press criminal charges for the incident. Though Lola despises hiking, she agrees to attend, and immediately butts heads with the other teens and their no-nonsense camp leader. Lola realizes she’ll have to adjust her attitude to avoid expulsion from the program, but even as she reexamines her past behavior and self-destructive tendencies, she fears she’ll never be able to truly change. The insight and self-reflection Lola gains into herself and her peers while learning to manage her impulsivity is worthwhile, and her gradual embracing of her natural surroundings, highlighted by evocative scenes of wilderness beauty, is artfully portrayed through a series of comical triumphs and missteps. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret. (Feb.)