When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

In the first chapter, readers find out that Sara is entering her senior year hoping that she'll find true love. She is ecstatic when Dave asks her out. He is part of the in crowd, and she begins to hang out with his friends, at the expense of her relationships with her friends. Next, readers hear from Tobey. He has had short flings with a couple of girls, but is uncomfortable with that kind of relationship. He thinks Sara is his real thing, and he asks her friend Laila to help him win her over. Tobey and Sara become partners in music class and find they have much in common. Dave, on the other hand, is a disappointment to her. When he pressures Sara, she finally realizes that she confused her attraction to his good looks and connections with honest feelings. Through alternating chapters, readers get the perspectives of Tobey and Sara about their developing relationship. Owing a lot to (and even referencing) the 80's movie Say Anything..., this is a good romance with a lot of promise. This is Colasanti's debut novel and, reading her other novels, you can see the improvement.