The Art of Lainey

by Paula Stokes

Overview

Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Dessen, and Susane Colasanti, The Art of Lainey tells the story of how, with the help of The Art of War, Lainey plots the perfect plan to get her boyfriend back. But is getting him back really what she wants?

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warnings, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that's when Lainey and Bianca stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, the girls are sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey's arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous.

After a few "dates," it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game. Can fighting for what she wants help Lainey figure out what she really needs?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062238429
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/20/2014
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 5.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Paula Stokes is the author of Hidden Pieces; This Is How It Happened; Girl Against the Universe; Liars, Inc.; and The Art of Lainey. Paula lives in Portland, Oregon. You can find her online at www.authorpaulastokes.com or on Twitter and Instagram @pstokesbooks.

Editorial Reviews

03/31/2014
While working at her parents’ coffee shop, Lainey Mitchell is publicly dumped by her gorgeous long-term boyfriend, Jason, and she’s devastated. But her best friend Bianca has a plan: Lainey needs to let Sun Tzu’s The Art of War guide her efforts to win Jason back. When Lainey learns Jason that has already moved on with another girl, in an effort to “exploit enemy weaknesses” (namely jealousy) and put herself “in a position of power,” Lainey enlists the help of Micah, her mohawked, punk rocker, chocolate chip muffin–baking coworker. Micah has also been dumped recently, and getting his ex back is part of the plan, too. Stokes (who also writes YA as Fiona Paul) offers a summer romance between two people who couldn’t be more different and who, therefore, have plenty that’s new and exciting to offer each other. It’s a familiar rom-com setup that follows an expected trajectory (Lainey and Micah naturally begin to fall for each other) but a satisfying and sweet story, too. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly