The Start of Me and You

Paige Hancock creates a plan to help herself move forward one year after her boyfriend died in a swimming accident. Her plan includes joining new clubs, dating someone new, and finally learning to swim. As she begins her junior year of high school, she focuses on checking items off her list while spending time with her close group of friends. The story centers on Paige's evolving relationships - with her family, her three best friends, and Max Watson, a competitive Quiz Bowl teammate. Through Quiz Bowl competitions and group movie nights, Paige gradually opens herself up to new experiences and connections. Her grandmother's declining health adds another layer of complexity to her journey. Paige must confront her fears and grief while navigating the social dynamics of high school life. Her personal growth intertwines with academic pressures, family responsibilities, and the uncertain territory of new romance. The novel explores themes of resilience and the different ways people process loss. Through Paige's story, readers witness how healing often comes through unexpected channels and how moving forward doesn't mean leaving the past behind entirely.

Readers describe this as a thoughtful YA contemporary romance that focuses on grief, friendship, and personal growth. Many note it avoids common teen romance cliches. Readers appreciated: - Complex female friendships - Realistic portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks - Integration of Pride & Prejudice references - Character development beyond the romance - Family dynamics and grandparent relationships Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Some found main character initially unlikeable - Romance takes time to develop Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The friendship between the four girls felt authentic and supportive" - Goodreads reviewer "Not just another YA romance - deals with real issues of loss and healing" - Amazon reviewer "Takes a while to get invested but worth pushing through" - Barnes & Noble review

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✧ The author, Emery Lord, was inspired to write young adult fiction while working as a teen programming coordinator at a public library ✧ Like protagonist Paige, Lord herself struggled with anxiety and has been open about incorporating mental health themes into her work ✧ The novel's Quiz Bowl storyline reflects the author's own high school experience as a competitive academic team member ✧ Many readers have noted that Max's character subverts the typical "popular jock" trope common in YA literature by being both athletic and deeply intellectual ✧ The book's main character shares her name with actress Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast - another story featuring a bookish heroine who finds unexpected love