Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

“On the last day of her junior year, Hannah’s boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah’s side…until it’s time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava’s boyfriend, Noah, who’s such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah’s good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think…”

Typically whenever I read a book about a character that obviously cheats or has intentions to cheat on their boyfriend/girlfriend I get very annoyed. Cheating is one of those things I usually cannot overlook. At the same time, I love Lauren Barnholdt, she’s one of my “immediate buy” authors, you know the ones you don’t even look to see what the book is about? Her quirky and sometimes snarky characters and fun contemporary storylines always keep me amused and happily entertained.

I love how the book is told over the course of one day with chapters alternating between current day and the summer’s events. To be honest, I didn’t blame Hannah at all for her actions over the summer. I won’t say that Ava deserved to be cheated on, because I don’t think anyone deserves that, but Ava is definitely not a very great friend. Lacey, Hannah and Noah’s co-worker, on the other hand is amusing and a great friend to Hannah. Noah and Hannah’s friendship starts innocently enough and gradually turns into something more. Meanwhile, Ava is just being a nasty person. As always, I don’t want to spoil the events that make me dislike her, but it’s a number of things.

I am very surprised that this book opened my eyes a bit to see why and how it would be easy for someone to cheat on their girlfriend or fall for their best friend’s boyfriend. Since this is one of those topics I’m pretty adamantly against. It’s a fast and addicting read, I sat down to read it shortly after lunch and managed to finish it in three hours I was that hooked on it.

It is being released on July 12.