Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

From the author of The Art of Lainey and Liars, Inc. comes a fresh, contemporary story about a girl coping with PTSD and the boy who wants to help her move on from the past. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han.

Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she's around. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash--and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch. Despite what her therapist tells her, Maguire thinks it's best to hide out in her room, far away from anyone she might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away, but it turns out staying away may be harder than she thought.

• Mental Health Journey: Convinced she's a walking disaster, Maguire's only goal is to keep everyone safe by staying alone. But her therapist--and her heart--have other plans for her recovery.
• Teen Sports Romance: He's a rising tennis star with his own pressures; she's terrified of getting close to anyone. When they meet, staying away is harder than either of them expected.
• Coping with PTSD: As the sole survivor of the accident that took her family, Maguire is haunted by the past. This heartfelt story navigates the path from grief to hope.
• Facing Your Fears: From roller coasters to romance, Maguire must confront the trauma she's been running from if she ever wants a chance at a normal life.

Hidden Pieces, This Is How It Happened, Girl Against the Universe, Liars, Inc., and The Art of Lainey are all written by Paula Stokes. Paula is a resident of Portland, Oregon. Her website is www.authorpaulastokes.com, and she can be found on Twitter and Instagram as @pstokesbooks.