Review Detail

'The Boy Next Story' by Tiffany Schmidt follows main character Aurora, who goes by Rory, as she tries to figure out how to deal with her crush on friend and neighbor Toby, all while he is crushing on her sister, Merrilee. Throughout all of these romantic issues, Rory is assigned 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Little Women' to read in school, and she finds that much of each of the storylines resonates with her. While finding a bit of herself in each of the books, she tries her best to come to terms with how the metaphorical value of each book fits into her own life and relationships.

Of course, complications ensue, and Rory finds herself in the midst of friendships with Huck from her art class, along with Toby, who begins to tutor her when she needs help in math. She also deals with her sisters and trouble at school when, as one of the only freshmen in her art class, her classmates don't take well to her talent.

For those who enjoy symbolism and finding truth in unlikely places, this book will resonate with you. It captures Rory's trepidation about how much she likes Toby, yet doesn't know what to do about it, and it focuses on more than just her crush by showing her friendships and relationships with her sisters and others. It is a bit lengthy for those who like a quicker read, but the story doesn't go off course. For those who haven't read the first one in the series, this installment can certainly be read as a standalone.