Not Exactly a Love Story - by Audrey Couloumbis (Paperback)

About the Book

After his parents divorce, high school junior Vinnie Gold moves to Long Island with his mother and new stepfather and must negotiate a secret crush and a rather complicated connection with the popular girl next door.

Book Synopsis

"A fifteen-year-old creates an alter ego to woo his dream girl. Compulsively readable." --The New York Times

This quirky, flirty, and smart story will appeal to fans of Frank Portman's King Dork, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, and Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park. It's not exactly a love story . . . but it's pretty close.

It's 1977. Fifteen-year-old Vinnie is recovering from the worst case of acne his dermatologist's ever seen. His girl moved to California without saying good-bye. And the ink on his parents' divorce papers is barely dry when his mom announces they're moving from Queens to Long Island. The silver lining? Moving next door to Patsy, everyone's dream girl. Not that she'd ever notice him. But when Vinnie calls Patsy one night, it leads to a chain of anonymous midnight conversations, and the two develop a surprisingly strong connection despite the lies it's built on. But as Vinnie gets to know Patsy in real life, it's clear that both identities can't survive. . . .

Review Quotes

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2012:
"Not exactly a perfect story. But it comes pretty close."

About the Author

AUDREY COULOUMBIS's first book for children, Getting Near to Baby, won the Newbery Honor in 2000.