Not Exactly a Love Story

"A fifteen-year-old creates an alter ego to woo his dream girl. Compulsively readable." -The New York Times

This quirky, flirty, and smart story will appeal to fans of Frank Portman's King Dork, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, and Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park. It's not exactly a love story . . . but it's pretty close.

It's 1977. Fifteen-year-old Vinnie is recovering from the worst case of acne his dermatologist's ever seen. His girl moved to California without saying good-bye. And the ink on his parents' divorce papers is barely dry when his mom announces they're moving from Queens to Long Island. The silver lining? Moving next door to Patsy, everyone's dream girl. Not that she'd ever notice him. But when Vinnie calls Patsy one night, it leads to a chain of anonymous midnight conversations, and the two develop a surprisingly strong connection despite the lies it's built on. But as Vinnie gets to know Patsy in real life, it's clear that both identities can't survive. . . .

AUDREY COULOUMBIS's first book for children, Getting Near to Baby, won the Newbery Honor in 2000.

Publisher: Ember

Published: United States, 1 July 2014

Format: Paperback / softback, 276 pages

Age Range: 10-14

Dimensions: 20.6 x 13.7 x 1.8 centimeters (0.37 kg)

Writer: Couloumbis, Audrey

About the AuthorAUDREY COULOUMBIS's first book for children, Getting Near to Baby, won the Newbery Honor in 2000.

ReviewsFifteen-year-old Vinnie is not excited to move from Queens to Long Island with his newly remarried mother, but his attitude softens a bit after he glimpses the beautiful girl next door from his bedroom window. Unfortunately, when he calls Patsy, he loses his nerve and his voice, and Patsy pegs him as a "breather." Rather than explain himself, Vinnie impulsively plays the role of a mystery man/obscene caller, piquing Patsy's interest during the series of calls that follow. Soon, midnight phone conversations with Patsy are part of Vinnie's regular routine; the two establish an intimate relationship of sorts, speaking openly about matters they'd never discuss in public. When Patsy expresses her desire to meet in person, Vinnie, fearing rejection, is at a loss. Set in the 1970s, this offbeat love story humorously portrays the moments of vulnerability and bravado that change the course of these two teenagers' fates. Couloumbis (Lexie) steadily builds tension (the romance between Patsy and Vinnie never feels like a foregone conclusion) in a story with superb comedic repartees and a twisty-turvy plot. Ages 12-up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Grinberg Literary Management. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 9 Up-A story set on Long Island, New York, in 1977. Vinnie Gold has just turned 15, his dog dies soon thereafter, his crush moves away, and his parents announce they are getting a divorce. A good deal of this book is spent exploring with family dynamics after the breakup. Vinnie's mom ends up marrying Mr. Buonofuco, Vinnie's gym teacher. His dad, on the other hand, never wanted a divorce, but eventually begins to create a new life for himself. While Vinnie's family life is changing, so is his personal life. He moves to the suburbs with his mom and Mr. B and develops a crush on his next-door neighbor, Patsy, who, as luck would have it, is incredibly attractive and goes to his school. He accidentally acquires her unlisted phone number and decides to call her-night after night after night. At first she is angry, but as time goes by, they develop a relationship. A third of the way through the book readers may become tired of Vinnie's calls and disturbed at his stalkerish behavior. However, if they continue, they will find that he grows up and turns out to be a decent guy. This novel deals with many hard topics surrounding divorce, insecurity, and relationhips.-Jesse L. Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2012: "Not exactly a perfect story. But it comes pretty close."