Where It All Lands: A Novel

by Jennie Wexler

Overview

A Spring/Summer Pick by: Goodreads * PopSugar * Frolic * SheReads * Culturess* The Nerd Daily * Alma * J-14

"For fans of Sarah Dessen and Rainbow Rowell, a moving story about loss and love and finding out who you really are.” - Paige McKenzie, New York Times Best Selling author of The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

A sob-worthy yet hopeful novel that reveals how our choices define us and how no matter the road, love finds a way.

Stevie Rosenstein has never fallen in love. Constantly moving from city to city for her father's job, she can’t allow herself to grow truly close to someone. The pain of leaving hurts too much.

Until she meets Drew…

And Shane.

Drew and Shane have been best friends through everything. The death of Shane's dad. The separation of Drew's parents. No matter what happens, they always have each others' backs.

But when Stevie moves to town, a simple coin toss alters the course of their year in profound and unexpected ways – a ripple effect that also produces devastating consequences.

Told in dual timelines, debut author Jennie Wexler's Where It All Lands delivers a heartbreaking, Sliding Doors-esque novel about missed opportunities, second chances, and all the paths that lead us to where we are.

"This book succeeds in creating all the feels." - Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250750044
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/06/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	675,393
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jennie Wexler spent the first part of her career producing television shows appearing on VH1, Bravo, and The Travel Channel. She has a BA in literature/rhetoric from Binghamton University and an MA in television/radio/film from The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Jennie’s debut young adult contemporary novel is Where It All Lands. She is a member of SCBWI and lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and Havanese puppy.

Editorial Reviews

"A moving story about loss and love and finding out who you really are, this debut novel by Jennie Wexler is refreshing and deep. For fans of Sarah Dessen and Rainbow Rowell this novel is heartfelt and honest with a touch of mystery. You won’t regret adding this to you TBR pile!"- Paige McKenzie, New York Times Best Selling author of The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

“Heartfelt and surprising. Stevie, Shane, and Drew are endearing, memorable characters, and their story illustrates how even the smallest twist of fate can have an enormous impact—but somehow love always knows exactly where to land.” —Alyssa Sheinmel, New York Times bestselling author of A Danger to Herself and Others and What Kind of Girl

"If your book club likes to indulge in good young adult novel, Where It All Lands is the perfect pick...heart wrenching [about] how both choices and chance can change an outcome in the blink of an eye." - She Reads

"This book succeeds in creating all the feels." - Kirkus

"Wexler explores how there is more to relationships than instant attraction... it’s about landing in love, not falling...an enjoyable read, especially for fans of Nicola Yoon." - Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2021

Gr 7 Up—When sophomore Stevie Rosenstein moves to yet another new town for her father's job as an NFL coach, she is over having no control over her destiny. She only wants to focus on acing a band competition that may help her get into college. But when best friends Drew Mason and Shane Murphy both think they have fallen in love with her at first sight, they choose to resolve this love triangle with a twist. They flip a coin to decide who gets to ask Stevie out. This is a contemporary romance novel told through Stevie, Shane, and Drew's perspectives, which explore what could have happened if the coin landed on heads or tails. The wealthy white high schoolers in the fictional suburban town of Millbrook, NJ find themselves drawn to music and each other through solid friendships and growing romantic feelings. Short chapters keep the pace quick, even when some events are repeated from a different perspective. The story also includes a bit of mystery, with the first chapter beginning at a funeral and foreshadowing tragic events to come. Overall, readers will enjoy the depth of the characters and their relationships. Wexler also explores how there is more to relationships than instant attraction, or as noted in the book, it's about landing in love, not falling. Wexler also delves into absent parents, changing friendships, bullying, and self-discovery. Music references are dotted throughout the book, though these may feel dated for current readers. VERDICT An enjoyable read, especially for fans of Nicola Yoon or romance in general. A recommended purchase for libraries.—Monisha Blair, formerly at Rutgers Univ., NJ

School Library Journal

2021-04-30
A coin flip creates two different timelines in this emotional, romantic tale.

Stevie is once again the new girl. Her father’s football coaching job has led to their family’s being repeatedly uprooted. Passionate about music, Stevie joins the marching band at her new high school, where she meets best friends Drew and Shane. Drew is popular because his dad is famous; incredible drummer Shane is bullied. The two have been tight since they were young and refuse to let anything get in between them. When Drew and Shane are both immediately attracted to Stevie, they default to their usual method of solving problems: flipping a coin. The winner gets to ask her out. The first section of the book follows one result of the coin toss; the second goes back in time and presents the other outcome. Although the story is often melodramatic, the moony musings on new romance are charming, and through each path, the trio experiences love, desire, drama, and grief. Stevie is no passive object; the boys are aware they ultimately have no control over her choices, and both narratives reinforce that critical point. While the writing is repetitive in places and the pacing uneven, this book succeeds in creating all the feels with well-developed, believable characters who make readers become invested. The exploration of choices and their consequences is thoughtfully done. Main characters are implied White; Stevie is Jewish.

An emotionally driven teen drama made more intriguing by its dual timeline. (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews