Gia is ready to spend the greatest summer ever in New York with her best-friend-turned-hottie, Ricky, while attending Columbia’s summer enrichment program. But Ricky puts the kibosh on their budding romance out of respect, leaving Gia more than a little confused and definitely heated. She is quickly distracted when she meets Rashad, a gorgeous and well-traveled fellow writer, on the plane. Before long she finds herself in drama central with two boys fighting over her—what’s a girl to do? This is the fourth title in the So for Real series, which focuses on contemporary African American teens, but the book easily stands alone. Readers will feel as if they’ve known the characters for ages, and the playful, conspiratorial tone will keep them engaged. Gia is a conflicted, spirited, and charming main character, and Carter’s development of the group dynamic among Gia’s friends makes the secondary characters realistic. Although briskly paced, the plot skips around and fumbles a bit toward the end, but this is easy to forgive when the rest is so much fun. Grades 7-10. --Courtney Jones
Product Description
Let the fireworks begin…Now that she's been accepted into a summer enrichment program in New York City, Gia knows she's going to have the flyest summer ever. Especially since her mom and her annoying stepsister won't be around. And best of all? Her best friend, Ricky, is joining her so they're going to spend the entire summer together. Gia hopes Ricky's finally going to make a move on her, but it seems like Ricky's bent on playing it safe—too safe, as far as Gia's concerned. So when Rashad, a cutie from the summer program, starts to get his flirt on with Gia, she's got a new crush—and Ricky's so not cool with that.
"Gia makes me want to holler out loud—she knows how to think for herself and she definitely has enough drama to fill a thousand pages!"—Michelle Stimpson, Essence© bestselling author on the So For Real series
"Nikki Carter is a fresh, new voice." -- ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Essence bestselling author
