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It Sounded Better in My Head

Nina Kenwood

Flatiron Books

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ISBN10: 1250219280
ISBN13: 9781250219282

Trade Paperback

272 Pages

$11.99

CA$15.99

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Finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Book Award
Nominated to YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers List

When her parents announce their impending divorce, Natalie can’t understand why no one is fighting, or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. She’d always imagined she would end up with Zach one day—in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining, and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed, and nothing is quite making sense. Until an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further.

It Sounded Better in My Head is a compulsively readable love letter to teenage romance in all of its awkward glory, perfect for fans To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Emergency Contact.

Reviews

Praise for It Sounded Better in My Head

“This not-so-light-hearted romance will pull on the heartstrings.”Seattle Book Review

“An extraordinary coming-of-age story. Kenwood manages to capture the intensity of disagreement between friends, the unavoidable self-doubts that most teenagers can’t help, and the annoying yet silly family banter. A compelling, genuine coming of age story that does not hold back from representing multiple issues that teenagers face.”—The Nerd Daily

“Nina Kenwood has created nuanced and authentic characters, each caught up in their trajectory toward adulthood. A gorgeous and funny coming-of-age novel that perfectly captures the awkward, liminal nature of adolescence.”Books + Publishing (starred review)

“A deeply tender coming-of-age story about first love, friendship, and all of the horrifying awkwardness of navigating young adulthood. Thrumming with wonderfully nuanced and vividly depicted emotion, this book will make your heart soar, while also making you laugh.”Booktopia

“With candor and affection, It Sounded Better in My Head captures a teenager navigating the final moments of one stage of life and the first moments of the next.”BookPage

“I am all-caps OBSESSED with this achingly insightful, utterly charming, beautiful heart-punch of a book. Instant favorite.”—Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“A cute romance featuring a heroine who never before got to feel cute.”Kirkus Reviews

“An authentic coming of-age story that perfectly captures the awkwardness and self-doubt many young adults feel. Teens will see aspects of themselves mirrored in Kenwood’s debut.”School Library Journal

“Natalie conveys the difficulties not only of puberty but of moving past internalized negativity in a voice that’s sharp, funny, and self-aware, making it even more satisfying for readers to see her realize that she can be the star of her life, not just the sidekick.”Publishers Weekly

Reviews from Goodreads

BOOK EXCERPTS

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1

THERE IS NO ONE TO BLAME HERE


It’s Christmas Day, we’ve just finished playing our annual post-lunch game of Scrabble (bonus points if you play a word with a Christmas theme), and Dad says we need to talk....

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