Think Sarah Dessen minus the kiss at the end. Despite these dreams, the ending is good and it feels right. In one, I dreamed about Cameron and Jenna all grown up. The night I finished the book, I even dreamed alternate endings! All night long - five different endings. But, it wasn't the ending that I wanted the first time I read it. In fact, the beginning of Chapter 27 has some great quotes about the many ways in which people shape our lives. It's a perfect ending and completely fits with the story. The thing that stands out most for me was the ending. He's not the evil stepparent figure that most authors write about. He is kind, loving, and genuinely cares about what Jenna is feeling. Sara Zarr breaks the mold with Jenna's stepfather, however. Her mom explains that she did it to protect Jenna, but how could you do that to a kid? Don't get me wrong, it's believable in the 's just heartbreaking to read about. I couldn't believe that Jenna's mom lied to her. This was a very bittersweet book for me to read. When Cameron returns, Jenna's world is thrown upside down. Outwardly, she has made friends yet she never completely trusts them. She's remade herself into a cute, popular girl but she's afraid that at any moment someone will discover who she used to be and she'll be alone and friendless just as she was after Cameron left. Jenna is a painful character to read about at the beginning of Sweethearts. Jenna is doing fine, living on cruise control, until Cameron reappears on her 17th birthday.

Chubby, shy Jennifer becomes popular, beautiful Jenna. Lost, grieving, and alone, Jennifer does the only thing she knows how to do to survive. Then one day Cameron disappears and Jennifer's mom tells her that he died.

In fact, they were each other's only friend. Jennifer and Cameron were best friends when they were little kids.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr