Dylan may have survived cancer, but surviving his mom is another matter. With a run-down home, his mother bored after taking advantage of his time sick, and unable to register for school, Dylan starts to drive. He finds himself at the home of Arden, the girl he’s been playing World of Warcraft with for years but never met in person. He proposes an epic, real-life quest, and before they know it, they’re on the road. But running away from problems doesn’t erase them, and as something blooms between Dylan and Arden, they both must face what they left behind if they want a future.

What I Loved:

Though the writing style may not work for some, I enjoyed the short, quick paragraphs and chapters. The page count is on the longer side, but the style made it all too easy to say “Just one more chapter,” and end up reading at least 5 more.

My favorite part of LOOKING FOR GROUP is the relationship between Arden and Dylan. Both are discovering new sides of themselves, the good and the not so good. Neither character lets the other get away with mistakes, and I love the way they stand up to each other while still showing how much they care. This is one couple with high ship-ability.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While the writing style is great and I love the relationship between Arden and Dylan, the plot fell a bit flat for me. I wasn’t particularly invested in the storyline, and even though there was a clear goal in mind for their quest, it lacked strong enough tension to make me eager to keep reading.

Final Verdict:

Though the plot didn’t keep me fully engaged, readers who love road trip stories and slow-building romances will likely find LOOKING FOR A GROUP a solid choice.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/21292-looking-for-group

Paula Stokes's latest contemporary examines what it means to be highly connected to social media, what happens when your worst mistake is heard by millions, and facing your past. I love the complex layers to this story, particularly the inclusion of Zion National Park. Stokes masterfully shows how people, especially teens, are connected to nature and the internet (and the pros and cons of both). Genevieve is an excellent protagonist, relatable and realistically flawed. You'll find yourself captured by her story and eager to discover how (and if) Genevieve realizes and owns her mistakes.

3.5/5 stars

2.5/5
Nice narrator, and I love the central friendship. I just wasn't really wowed by anything.