Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can’t breathe, can’t walk, can’t anything—and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J.
But it turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie’s beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J.’s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She’s had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best.
It’s all good. Well, almost all. She’s trying.
Funny and tender, Well, That Was Awkward goes deep into the heart of middle school, and finds that even with all the heartbreak, there can be explosions of hope and moments of perfect happiness.
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"Vail has always had her finger solidly on the pulse of middle-school social dynamics, with an uncanny ear for young teen dialogue and a real empathy for the wide and awkward range of social and physical development that characterize this age . . . Vail’s considerable fan base alone would justify multiple-copy purchase plans, but the hot-button topic of cyberbullying will further increase requests."
— Booklist
★ "Through her protagonist’s rollicking commentary, Vail captures the anguish and hilarity at the heart of middle school.
— The Horn Book, starred review★ "Vail may be disguised as an adult, but somewhere inside she is hiding a sensitive, confused, hormonal, loving, and intelligent adolescent. Using Cyrano de Bergerac as a model, Vail has created a fast-paced comedy characterizing a teen girl’s growing pains on the journey toward womanhood. Bring a tissue (or a pack), and enjoy.
— VOYA, starred review★ "As per her usual blend of energy, wit, and genuine emotion, Vail has created a story that is at once delightfully gossipy, playfully ironic, and deeply moving.
— BCCB, starred reviewHeartwarming, funny, and tender . . . Call it cute, call it clever—Vail fluently captures the spirit of today’s American middle-schoolers.
— BooklistHilarious and heartfelt.
— Kirkus Reviews"This tween romance proves that some stories stand the test of time.
— School Library JournalVail skillfully details the politics of middle school, mean girls, first dates, and best friends in this sensitive and funny coming-of-age story.
— Publishers WeeklyAnother winner by Rachel Vail. At times laugh-out-loud funny, and other times heartbreaking., Unfriended is the kind of book I wish there were more of: emotionally complex, beautifully written, and impossble to put down. I never wanted it to end.
— Meg CabotRachel Vail should be required reading for all middle-schoolers. Deft and funny, this tale of the doom and drama of friendships played out in a digital universe is pitch-perfect and sheer fun.
— Judy Blundell, author of What I Saw and How I LiedRachel Vail's ingenious, humorous, and compassionate storytelling brings her six narrators so fully alive that by the end of her book you cannot imagine ever 'unfriending' any of them.
— Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Treehouse booksWith keen insight, Vail reveals the internal struggles with uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless of popularity status. . . With a resolution that is both realistic and hopeful, Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity.
— Publishers WeeklyVail has a great ear for dialogue, and her characters. . . are well differentiated and realistic.
— VOYAA realistic portrayal of middle school life . . . A solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion.
— School Library JournalVail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity.
— Kirkus ReviewsBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Rachel Vail is the award-winning author of more than forty books, including the critically acclaimed novels If We Kiss and Kiss Me Again, as well as You, Maybe; Unfriended; Well, That Was Awkward; and Bad Best Friend. She has also written popular series including the Avery Sisters and the Friendship Ring for teens, and both the Justin Case and A Is for Elizabeth series for kids. Her beloved picture books include Piggy Bunny and Sometimes I’m Bombaloo. Rachel lives in New York City with her husband, their two sons, and one tortoise. You can visit her online at RachelVail.com.