Saving Francesca is still my favorite Marchetta book to date, but Looking for Alibrandi comes in a very strong second. Regardless of how drastically different Marchetta’s heroines are described, I always identify with them. They are so wonderfully complex, yet simply described. I want to befriend them, at times I wish I was them. I love reading their stories as they go along their respective journeys, which are always emotional and strife with life lessons on love, fate and family. I may even be a wee bit envious of them as they are extraordinarily clever, especially given their age.

I’m not nearly gifted enough to pay Marchetta her due praise, so I won’t try to summarize this glory of a story. But if you’ve read and loved Marchetta, this will only inspire further fangirl worship, and if not, you really need to get on it.