From the Publisher
At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents' unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa's ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school's ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?
In this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to "be in the Now" and realizes that the love she's been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.
Publishers Weekly
Though Marisa struggles with an anxiety disorder and depression, she starts the school year wanting "everyone at school to know I am not a freak anymore." Her life becomes more exciting when Derek, the popular boy she has a crush on, asks her out. But when Marisa begins suspecting Derek's relationship with his ex, her obsessive negative thinking returns. Colasanti (Take Me There) expertly handles the plot, keeping it ambiguous whether Derek is cheating on Marisa, or if he is being honest when he tells her, "You're accusing me of something I didn't do." The author also nicely contrasts Marisa's exciting but shallow relationship with Derek with her much deeper connection to nerdy Nash, to whom she opens up about her problems. There is no doubt who Marisa will eventually be with (and readers will easily ID the mysterious Dirty Dirk, a DJ who provides advice and hope to students via podcasts). Colasanti presents an authentic picture of how complicated it is to be a teenager, especially one in love. Ages 12-up. (May)
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
Author Colasanti has a knack of sustaining the heart-pounding suspense of young love for the length of a novel while managing to make it read, charmingly, like a conversation.
Children's Literature
Marisa is a fifteen-year-old girl living in a small Connecticut town who finally seems to be getting the life she has always wanted. Derek, her longtime crush, finally asks her out and Marisa is ecstatic. The anxiety disorder that wreaked havoc on her freshman year is well under control. She is lucky enough to have a happy, secure family. She has a fantastic best friend who is always there for her; but when Marisa makes the discovery that her father's side of the closet is suspiciously empty, things begin to fall apart. Her parents are divorcing. Her family, always her rock, is breaking up. Her best friend is resentful of her relationship with Derek, and she can feel herself sinking into the pit of despair she thought she had crawled out of forever. The only person who seems to understand her is Nash. Nash has been Marisa's friend for years, her sounding board, her brainy, geeky, totally fun friend. As they get closer and closer, Marisa faces some tough decisions about the life she always thought she wanted and the possibility of an even better life. Which is better: someone who fits society's image of the perfect boyfriend or someone who might just be the perfect boyfriend for you? This young adult novel starts out slowly, with characters that seem a little too young for their age; but as it continues and the characters face tougher challenges, they begin to mature and deepen right before readers' eyes. The relationships between Marisa and Nash, Sterling, and her parents are real, sometimes painfully so, but they are handled in a tasteful and straightforward manner. Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers alike will find the characters and the issues they face realistic. Reviewer:Stephanie Dawley
VOYA
Fifteen year-old Marisa had a rough time last year, plagued by an anxiety disorder that kept her paralyzed with depression for weeks at a time. But as sophomore year begins, Marisa and her best friend, Sterling, are psyched to reinvent themselves and find boyfriends. Marisa has her sights set on Derek, who is super cute and seems like he might be interested— if he did not already have a girlfriend. Then there is Nash, Marisa's childhood pal, who is a bit too dweebish to be considered boyfriend material, even after he confesses that he has feelings for Marisa. As the school year progresses, Marisa finds herself struggling to remain on an even keel as her family falls apart, Sterling drifts into the world of Internet dating, and Derek becomes a less-than- perfect boyfriend. The book is strong on snappy teen dialogue, although the teens' individual personalities get blurred in their conversations. In general, it is difficult to get consistent impressions of the characters. Even narrator Marisa seems a step away from her own passions. This flaw could be related to the loosely jointed writing style of the author, who jumps quickly from moment to moment, covering a lot of emotional territory with a minimum of transitional fuss. Many teen readers will like this style, while others will wish for a bit more Sarah Dessen-like depth. The plot also twists in turns that are predictable for savvy readers. The book is a "clean" read, though, hitting on tough issues in a glancing way that may appeal to sensitive readers. Reviewer: Diane Colson
VOYA
Overall Waiting for You is a good and enjoyable book. It has a mildly entertaining, although predictable, plot and sections that are very amusing. Unfortunately these features are countered by ones equally unentertaining. The characters, however, are the best part of this novel. They are relatable, likeable enough, and the author does a nice job of describing them so that they seem almost real. It was a good read, but to claim it is anymore than "good" would be an overstatement. Reviewer: Molly Teague, Teen Reviewer
School Library Journal
Gr 7–10—With summer camp over, Marissa and her best friend, Sterling, eagerly await the beginning of sophomore year. Reality kicks in the first day of school though, and, according to Marissa, "it majorly sucks." Sure, Derek is at least smiling at her, but her history of anxiety and depression still haunts her, even though she is determined to put it behind her. Nash, her old friend and next-door neighbor who has not spoken to her in several years, is assigned as her lab partner. She enjoys talking with him but thinks he is much too nerdy for her. As the school year progresses, Derek breaks up with his girlfriend and he and Marissa begin to date. Everything is going well until she realizes that Nash has fallen for her, her parents are splitting up because her mother has had an affair, Derek and his ex are spending a lot of time together, Sterling is about to hook up with a guy she met online who is at least six years older than she is, and her depression is returning. Marissa can become a bit tiresome and the story's pacing is uneven—parts of it seem to go on forever—but the teen and her friends are realistic as they struggle to make sense of high school, romance, and families and as they realize that not one of them has a perfect life and that they all need each other's friendship and love.—Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas, Denton
Kirkus Reviews
Marisa spent freshman year grappling with anxiety disorder and depression. Now the amateur photographer is heading into sophomore year with some coping skills and waiting for love to find her. While her best friend is IMing older guys and her once-"normal" parents are separated, Marisa thinks she's finally found romance with popular Derek, her first boyfriend. Why, then, would she rather hang out and discuss her problems, especially her relapsing depression, with her "totally geeked out" chemistry partner, Nash? Maybe while Marisa's been waiting for love, it's been in front of her all along. The story isn't new, but Colasanti keeps it fresh by speaking to teens in their own language. Marisa's realistic, first-person narration ably captures the importance of typical adolescent problems. The author also offers a hint of mystery (although readers will soon figure it out) with a late-night radio show featuring Dirty Dirk, an anonymous student who reaches out to Marisa. Chick lit for girls who think. (Fiction. YA)
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