You Say It First

Description: "Meg has her entire life set up perfectly: she and her best friend, Emily, plan to head to Cornell together in the fall, she has a sweet boyfriend, and she works at a voter registration call center in her Philadelphia suburb. But everything changes when one of those calls connects her to a stranger from small-town Ohio. Colby is stuck in a rut, reeling from a family tragedy and working a dead-end job. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. So he says the worst thing he can think of and hangs up. But things don't end there ... That night on the phone winds up being the first in a series of candid, sometimes heated, always surprising conversations that lead to a long-distance friendship and then--slowly--to something more. Across state lines and phone lines, Meg and Colby form a once-in-a-lifetime connection. But in the end, are they just too different to make it work?"--Provided by publisher.

Brief description:

Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California and Meet the Benedettos as well as eight novels for young adults. She is also the coauthor (with Candace Bushnell) of Rules for Being a Girl. She lives in Boston with her family.

Review Quotes:

Praise for HOW TO LOVE: "A vibrant, sparkling narrative of first love and second chances - will remind you that love isn't ever easy, but falling for a great story is." - Entertainment Weekly

"Cotugno's debut ambitiously, and intriguingly, follows a couple who fall in love twice, over two different time periods." - ALA Booklist

"In You Say It First, Katie Cotugno explores the messy victories and sweet imperfections of falling in love across party lines. Meg and Colby are brave and scared, flawed yet true to themselves, and as their relationship grows, we see how the wrong person can come along at exactly the right time. Katie's writing is always full of empathy, humor, and hope, and this book is no different. I absolutely loved it." - Robin Benway, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Far From the Tree

"A realistic and captivating story that speaks to the issues relevant to teens today....Romance, politics, family drama, and more--this one has it all." - Kirkus Reviews

"Cotugno writes with equal sympathy about opinionated characters with differing life experiences and worldviews. For collections where the smart-girl romances of Miranda Kenneally, Jenny Han, and Nandini Bajpai do well." - School Library Journal

"Cotugno's latest slow-burn romance digs deep.... Thoughtful and thought-provoking, this is a must-read for teens questioning their futures or their own hearts." - ALA Booklist (starred review)

"A sequel that's just as compulsively readable as the first." - ALA Booklist

Praise for 99 DAYS: "This book will appeal to fans of E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks (Hyperion, 2008), offering complex characters, plot twists, and an insightful look at society's double standards." - School Library Journal

"A thought-provoking story...[that] explores the powerful bonds that arise between childhood friends who grow up to discover romance" - Publishers Weekly

"A complicated, compelling summer romance...and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for FIREWORKS: "Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change." - ALA Booklist

"A thrilling, intense read...this book will hook readers." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Praise for 9 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS: "With realistic depictions of complicated, imperfect personalities, this book will be enjoyed by fans of ... Sarah Dessen and E. Lockhart." - School Library Journal