The first book in the 'Flynn' series. River's all-girls' school and the local boys' school have teamed up for a performance of the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet. When River auditions for a part she finds herself smitten by moody Flynn, the boy who is to play Romeo.

Carried away by an ideal of romantic love, River believes she could find it with Flynn. He, however, comes from a very different background and has issues that impinge on their relationship, and so River's expectations of a movie type romance seem unrealistic.

River's two best friends are having different experiences as well. One has been having sex for a while and the other has just started. River feels pressured to follow, is she strong enough to stand up for what she wants and not be pushed into it before she is ready? ( )