The Last Time We Were Us

by Leah Konen

Overview

A passionate summer love story about a girl, her childhood best friend, and the small town lies that have kept them apart. Leah Konen’s The Last Time We Were Us is perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Sara Zarr, and Gayle Forman.

Liz Grant is about to have the summer of her life. She and her friend MacKenzie are finally getting invited to all the best parties, and, with any luck, Innis Taylor, the most gorgeous guy in Bonneville, will be her boyfriend before the Fourth of July.

Then Jason Sullivan comes back to town. A million years ago, he was her best friend, but that was before he ditched her for a different crowd . . . and before he attacked Innis’s older brother and got sent away to juvie. All of Bonneville still thinks he’s dangerous, but Liz finds it hard to believe what people say about her childhood friend. If word gets out she’s seeing him, she could lose everything.

But what if there’s more to that horrible night than she knows? And how many more people will get hurt when the truth finally comes out? Liz will have to decide if she can trust herself—and her heart—before it’s too late.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062402479
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/10/2016
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Leah Konen is the author of The Last Time We Were Us, Love and Other Train Wrecks, and The Romantics. She grew up in a two-stoplight farming town in Washington State before moving to suburban North Carolina, where there were many more stoplights and lots of sweet tea. After studying journalism at the University of North Carolina, she headed to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not working on novels and articles or writing for fashion brands, she enjoys devouring new books; spoiling her dog, Farley; biking around Brooklyn; checking out live music, and binge-watching TV. Find her online at www.leahkonen.com.

Editorial Reviews

She describes alcohol, sex, love, and loss frankly and realistically…an easy, intelligent coming-of-age tale.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A thoughtful coming-of-age novel about trusting yourself.” — Booklist Online

“Leah Konen beautifully captures the complexity of friendship, love, loyalty, and trust, and reminds us that sometimes things that seem so simple are anything but.” — Jennifer Brown, award-winning author of the Hate List

“Totally absorbing! The perfect summer read!” — Leila Howland, author of Nantucket Blue

“This book is brimming with intrigue, romance, betrayal and redemption. In short, a very satisfying read.” — Melissa Walker, author of Unbreak My Heart

“Reading Leah Konen’s southern debut reminded me that every time we seek out answers, we are amazed by what we find within ourselves. A sexy, intriguing novel about inner strength and following your own arrow.” — Alecia Whitaker, author of the Wallflower series

From the Publisher

A thoughtful coming-of-age novel about trusting yourself.

Booklist Online

This book is brimming with intrigue, romance, betrayal and redemption. In short, a very satisfying read.

Melissa Walker

Reading Leah Konen’s southern debut reminded me that every time we seek out answers, we are amazed by what we find within ourselves. A sexy, intriguing novel about inner strength and following your own arrow.

Alecia Whitaker

Leah Konen beautifully captures the complexity of friendship, love, loyalty, and trust, and reminds us that sometimes things that seem so simple are anything but.

Jennifer Brown

Totally absorbing! The perfect summer read!

Leila Howland

2016-02-17
All teens want to be popular in high school…but not all are. Konen combines humor and pathos for a realistic novel about the conflict between peer pressure and personal strength. It's been years since Liz and Jason were best friends. He left her behind when he joined the "in" crowd, before going to juvie for a horrible crime. Now it's Liz's turn to be "in," sitting at the best table, having the most popular girl as her new best friend, and dating the most handsome boy in school. But then Jason returns, and he wants to be friends again. If she says no, she can be in her sister's wedding and keep her friends and new, carefree lifestyle. If she says yes, she loses everything she was so sure she wanted. Everyone is telling her what to do, what to think, and what to be. But it's time for Liz to make her own decisions, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Konen lets Liz's struggle with her conscience play out in the present tense first person, her clear eyes seeing what's behind the veneer of white Southern gentility. She describes alcohol, sex, love, and loss frankly and realistically, though her examination does not extend to a substantive examination of race relations. An easy, intelligent coming-of-age tale. (Romance. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews