SOLVED. YA book takes place in Australia, narrated by a girl whose family takes in the most popular boy in school and allows him to live in their house for the year after something happens to his family home (maybe a fire?). Read 2005-2007. [s]

[Brigid Logan]

I read this book between 2005-2007.

A notable part of this book was that the girl and her father played a game called "Best Free Feeling," when they listed activities or feelings that made them feel the most free or relieved.

[Becca]

The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay by Rebecca Sparrow

[Denis]

The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay for the link.

[Becca]

Just to add that I found The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay by searching "best free feeling" on Google Books - there were only two hits, and this one seems like a match. Here's the Google Books preview:
https://www.google.co.uk/books/editio...

[Brigid Logan]

Becca wrote: "The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay by Rebecca Sparrow"

Thank you so much! This has been driving me crazy for years.

[Brigid Logan]

Denis wrote: "The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay for the link."

Thank you!