What Happens Now? by Jennifer Castle

Ari Logan is battling to win her war against depression and the dark night she hurt herself on purpose. It's not easy: her best friend is drifting away, her mom's emotionally checked out, and she spends her days playing caregiver to her handful of a half-sister, Danielle. But it's summer,and anything is possible...

That's when Camden Armstrong steps onto the beach of Ari's local swimming lake.

At first, Ari quietly longs for Camden from afar, seeing in him everything she wants to be. When the two discover a true connection the following summer, Ari lets herself fall not just for the quirky and self-assured Camden but also his friends, tumbling into their world of independence,adventure, and shared sci-fi fandom. As Ari's romantic dreams come true, she must unlock the mysteries of the very real and troubled boy behind her infatuation, while also struggling with her own demons, obligations, and loyalties.

What Happens Now is a touching, insightful novel about learning to heal, learning to love,and what happens when fantasy becomes reality. (from inside cover)

I've been reading a lot of great content lately and this book was no exception. Jennifer Castle tells an incredible story about a group of friends, each searching for acceptance in their own way. Ari is intriguing, lovable, and relatable in her struggle to stay afloat when her family is divided and her world is spinning. Not your ordinary summer romance novel, What Happens Now? was a lighter read (I'm taking a class on forensic psychology right now so anything other than articles about serial killers is "light") with enough intensity to keep me in my seat. I'll definitely be looking for Castle's other novels and any new ones to come!

Happy reading!

Hannah

nitty gritty:
some swearing, mentions of sex, descriptions of self-harm, mentions of teen drinking