Played (Harlequin Teen)
Gr 9 Up—Riley Berenger and Sam Tracy could not be more different. Sam is a brooding Native American teen from the rez, while Riley is a rich girl whose biggest concern is getting asked to prom. They cannot stand each other—until one weekend retreat changes everything. When Riley falls off a mountain, Sam is the one who rescues her. After a night spent stranded in the wilderness, Riley makes up her mind about two things: she is going to live life by her own rules and she is going to help Sam get the girl of his dreams. So what if that girl is her brother's girlfriend, right? The novel has all the ingredients of a typical romance: star-crossed lovers, an anti-hero, a dash of danger, and a cute boy on a motorcycle. It could be trite, but the plot is a perfect mix of real-life scenarios and swoon-worthy romance, while the issues of race and class that Fichera interweaves into Sam and Riley's story add substance. In an alternating first-person narration style similar to Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park (St. Martin's, 2013), readers are given insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. The tale sticks to the formula, but the captivating ways in which the sequence of events plays out keep this take fresh and exciting.—Sarah Lorraine, Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park , IL