The Next Whatever

by Rebecca Phillips

Avery is used to saying goodbye to people. When your father builds bridges all over the country, frequent moves are a requirement. While her parents love the “adventure” of it all, Avery is counting down the days until she can head off to college and finally stay put for a while.

But first she has to survive a year in Granesville, where the residents aren’t exactly welcoming. Avery is determined to get through senior year without any attachments or distractions…until she accidentally crashes into Liam, breaking his ankle and ruining his plans to work and save money for a trip to Ireland that has some secret, personal meaning to him.

Avery’s solution? Take over Liam’s position in the town sandwich shop while he heals.

Adjusting to the job and small town life isn’t easy, but soon she finds something worth fighting for. Real friends. A sense of place. Or…she could close off her heart again before she has a chance to make a real connection. And maybe fall in love.

Genres: Young Adult

ebook

First published May 16, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Phillips is a copyeditor by day and a TV series binger by night. Oh, and sometimes she writes novels. Rebecca lives in beautiful Atlantic Canada with her family, which includes a spoiled senior-citizen cat.

Learn more about Rebecca's books by visiting her website: www.rebeccawritesya.com

Reviews

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

To avoid a head on collision, Avery swerves into the next car lane, accidentally plowing into Liam, causing him to break his ankle.



Surgery and a cast means that Liam can no longer work at his job in a local sub shop. This also means that he won't be able to raise the money to pay for the upcoming school trip to Ireland and Scotland. Feeling guilty for causing the accident in the first place, Avery volunteers to take over Liam's summer job so that he can take the school trip and visit his parents' homeland.



Avery is the new girl in town. Her father is an engineer and Avery has promised herself that Granesville will be the last town she moves to with her parents before heading off for college. Her parents love to travel and discover new places. Avery, on the other hand, is tired of losing good friends to the "long distance relationship statistics."



Liam is a decent, sweet guy. He and his small circle of friends welcome Avery into the high school fold. Things heat up between Liam and Avery, but she tries to keep things light between them, and even insists on adding an expiration date to their budding romance. After all, come September, she will be leaving for the college of her choice, and Liam will be joining the military. To her mind, this is just another doomed relationship - and Avery is just recovering from one of those already! She has resolved to stay away from all emotional attachments until she is safely in her college dorm next year.



Avery has to learn to stand up for what she wants - which is NOT another move to Europe, as her parents are planning to do once her father's current contract is completed. Can Liam convince Avery to take the gamble that theirs won't be yet another "long distance relationship statistic?"

This is a clean YA story, dealing with attachment and trust issues. A really enjoyable read with plenty of "awww" moments, by one of my favourite authors! Highly recommended.

[RitaSkeeter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soo boring. No tension.