What to Say Next

Two high school students form an unexpected connection when Kit Lowell decides to sit at David Drucker's lunch table following her father's death. David, who is on the autism spectrum, approaches their interactions with logic and directness, while Kit finds herself drawn to his unique perspective and honesty. The story alternates between Kit and David's viewpoints as they work together to investigate the car accident that killed Kit's father. Their partnership leads them to uncover details about the crash while also navigating the complexities of high school social dynamics and their growing feelings for each other. David faces bullying and misunderstandings from his peers, while Kit struggles with grief and changing friendships. Their relationship evolves as they help each other confront their individual challenges and learn to be authentic despite social pressures. This contemporary young adult novel explores themes of neurodiversity, grief, and the courage to be oneself. Through Kit and David's perspectives, the narrative examines how people connect across differences and find strength in unexpected places.

Readers describe this YA contemporary novel as a realistic portrayal of grief, autism, and high school social dynamics. Many note the authentic voice of David, the autistic main character, and appreciate how his perspective helps Kit process her father's death. Readers liked: - Natural dialogue between the main characters - Accurate representation of being on the autism spectrum - Balance of heavy themes with lighter moments - Dual POV narrative structure Common criticisms: - Plot becomes predictable in second half - Some found the romance rushed - Side characters lack development - Several readers wanted more resolution for certain storylines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "The author clearly did her research on autism without making David's character feel like a stereotype or checked boxes from a medical textbook." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎯 Author Julie Buxbaum wrote this novel after observing her own children's encounters with neurodivergent classmates, wanting to explore how these relationships develop. 🌟 The book delves into a specific form of grief known as "complicated grief," where the loss is made more complex by unresolved feelings or traumatic circumstances. 🎭 The main character David's experience with autism was partially inspired by conversations with teens on the spectrum who shared their perspectives on high school social dynamics. 📚 "What to Say Next" was selected as an Amazon Best Book of the Month when it was released in July 2017. 🤝 The novel has been praised by autism advocacy groups for its authentic portrayal of a character on the spectrum without making autism the central focus of the story.