Julie Halpern

Recent high school graduates Lil and Josh leave Illinois for Oregon seeking Lil's sort-of friend Penny, who faked her own kidnapping to escape problems at home and an abusive boyfriend, but Lil also wants to find out if she and Josh are meant to be more than friends.

Don't Stop Now

Jeannette Ordas

A road trip and a pretty cover. Meh, I didn't buy the story (really, some teens decide to go on an impromptu road trip one afternoon and just take off without packing or talking it over with their parents) or the characters. Totally disappointing because I loved Halpern's Into the Wild Nerd Yonder so so much.

Jessica Nottingham

I'm still giggling, and slightly swooning over Don't Stop Now. For those of you who are looking for that quintessential summer read, something light, fun and fantastic, pick this one up! I think I had more fun reading this than I have any other book in a long time. 

First of all, it's the chemistry between the characters. Lillian and Josh are like night and day, but the two of them mesh together perfectly. There's a "not romance" here that just adds to it all, and I liked how the focus was on their relationship with one another and what is was, or was not, to be. See, the two of them have just finished high school and each has a very different idea of what is to come next. Lillian, the one who has had all the summer jobs to save up, is off to college. Josh, who lives off his father's money, is wanting to start a band. Unfortunately his father wants him to get a "real job" and he's annoyed. Both of them are on a mission to find their missing friend who has staged her own kidnapping. Cue witty banter, debates on the future, and a road trip for the ages.

I can't say enough about the easy banter, and the voice with which this story is written. Don't Stop Now could be a story about any two friends who are confused about their relationship status. I liked that Lillian and Josh didn't have any annoying sexual tension, or fight a lot. They argued, of course, like all friends do. However all Josh would need to do was throw out his signature grin, and it was back to pals for the two of them. I thoroughly enjoyed their visits to random landmarks, and loved the kitchy souvenirs they picked up. Oh! This book was just so much fun!

As far as summer books go, Don't Stop Now just screams a last hurrah at a teen summer. I loved the voice, the characters, the random interjections from Penny, all of it. I wish I could say more, but this is really one that you need to enjoy for yourself. It's delicious.

Don't Stop Now

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