I remember reading the Friendship Ring when I was in middle school and LOVED it. I had the tiny book versions and they were the cutest, plus Vail perfectly captured middle school awkwardness. Yet still made her characters cooler than I could ever be. Anyway, I saw this in the YA section at the library and needed it! I was so happy to still get sucked into Vail’s awkward yet witty world. The characters were in middle school though, so I think it’s more middle grade than young adult. I read it in a day, loving the witty banter and the sweet twist at the end.

Beyond that, though, Vail absolutely killed the family vibes with this story. The dead older sister wasn’t too heavy for the book (I know, that sentence alone makes it seem like it would be!); it was handled well and came up at the right moments. I was absolutely bawling at the end, for both the parents and Gracie. SO well written.