Late to the Party [Paperback]

From author Kelly Quindlen comes a poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship, self-acceptance, and what it means to be a Real Teenager.Late to the Partyis an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere.

Seventeen is nothing like Codi Teller imagined.

Shes never crashed a party, never stayed out too late. Shes never even been kissed. And its not just because shes gay. Its because she and her two best friends, Maritza and JaKory, spend more time in her basement watching Netflix than engaging with the outside world.

So when Maritza and JaKory suggest crashing a party, Codi is highly skeptical. Those parties arent for kids like them. Theyre for cool kids.Straightkids.

But then Codi stumbles upon one of those cool kids, Ricky, kissing another boy in the dark, and an unexpected friendship is formed. In return fornevertalking about that kiss, Ricky takes Codi under his wing and draws her into a wild summer filled with late nights, new experiences, and one really cute girl named Lydia. The only problem? Codi never tells Maritza or JaKory about any of it.

A poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship and self-acceptance, and an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere.Kelly Quindlenis the author of the young adult novelHer Name in the Sky. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and a former teacher, Kelly has had the joy of speaking to PFLAG groups and high school GSAs. She currently serves on the leadership board of a non-profit for Catholic parents with LGBT children. Kelly lives in Atlanta.

Anabsolutely stunning, but also incredibly important novel about best friends and discovering who you are. Mason Deaver, bestselling author ofI Wish You All the Best

Perfectly captures the joys and hopes and thrills of being a real, authentic teenager . . .A fantastic read for queer teens today. Kacen Callender, Stonewall and Lambda AwardwilC%