Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

At the start of senior year of high school, brainy Sara wants to find the perfect boy. She believes Dave, the new jock in town, is the embodiment of perfection, and has the potential to be her dream guy. Meanwhile, slacker rocker Tobey cannot stop thinking about Sara. He's been sought after by plenty of girls, but his feelings for Sara are radically different. There's just something about her that makes him unable to look away or think of anything else.

To everyone's surprise, Dave asks Sara out, and the two of them are soon together. However, Tobey is determined to get to know Sara. From minimal contact, the two find themselves inexplicably attracted to each other. It's the little things that matter to Sara, and Tobeys got it in spades: they share similar interests, quirks, and preferences. However, he is a huge slacker; he doesn't even want to go to college!

Perhaps love can change these star-crossed lovers for the better by the end of the year.

WHEN IT HAPPENS is a cute love story about high school students. Colasanti's dialogue is witty and fast-paced, almost guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. That being said, Sara and Tobey's relationship is not, unfortunately, really something to shout about. At first Tobey's sentiments are sweet, but then they turn cliche. And the whole brainy-girl-lusts-after-jock is overplayed and not at all interesting anymore. Colasanti's attempt to create unique and likable characters is not, in the end, successful.