Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor (2022)
As obvious as this book is from beginning to end, in its characterizations and storyline, I couldn't help falling for it. (And as a former theater kid and forever theater buff, "Long Story Short" had me at hello.)
I'd defy anyone not to warmly embrace Beatrice Quinn, the 16 year old, homeschooled gifted genius who's had about as much contact with the outside world as The Boy In The Plastic Bubble. She's brilliant. funny, adorable. ( possibly on the spectrum with Asperger's syndrome)......and in her almost total lack of social skills and little to no experience interacting with anyone her own age, she's achingly vulnerable.
Bea's major dilemma........her parents won't allow their 16 year old daughter to fly off to Oxford, her dream college that recently accepted her for the fall. Not until she plunges into a series of challenges they've devised for her to prove she can learn to successfully cope with the great big outside world at large........and socially interact with her peers.
And ground zero for these challenges - a summer at an exclusive Shakespearian theater camp. It's the perfect place where Bea will not only find herself thrust among a host of quirky, talented, outgoing and ambitious theater kids, but will no doubt be compelled to take to the stage herself. Yikes.
Sure it's easy to predict the cast of characters Bea encounters at the camp........the few who become fast friends, dedicated to bringing her out of her shell, the inevitable Mean Girl Diva who instantly despises her, and most important of course,, the camp's premiere leading man heartthrob Bea clashes with........ and whom you know she'll fall head-over-heels for. (and vice versa.).
While there's nothing here we haven't read before, every page of it was lively, witty, sweet and entertaining.......the kind of book where you can't help thinking up your own imaginary casting for a potential film version. And that's the very definition of a fun 4 star read. (****)
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