Wade Phillips shattered Lisa McGinty’s heart in Year 10 for no known reason. One minute he was the perfect boy-next-door boyfriend, star goalie on the soccer team, and future head prefect. The next he was like a different person altogether, dumping Lisa and systematically making his way through every girl in our year.
By Year 12, he’d made it through most of them and was on to the year below. He’d miraculously made Head Prefect and was somehow still on the Soccer team, even though he put more effort into partying.
Lisa and I were used to his sarcastic teasing, his shallow taunting, and his insincere flirting. My best friend put on a brave face in front of him, but she still felt the sting. I knew she still loved him. At least, she thought she did. I kept waiting for her to see he wasn’t worth it.
No one knew what happened to Wade and no one got close to him anymore. Not until a life-altering incident throws me unavoidably into his path.
For one single second, I see through the armour he’s built. It takes just one single second for him to see through mine. Something connects us. It turns out, Wade Phillips might be the only one who understands me. It turns out, I might be the only one who understands him.
Wade Phillips might be the guy to teach me the art of breaking up, but will my heart – and Lisa’s – break in the process?
For those Keeping Up Appearances and Accidentally Perfect fans, here's a return to that style and vein. You’ll find this story is a bit of a combination of the two – there’s a bit more swearing than KUA, but it’s a little cleaner than AP. Like both, it’s about growing up, finding and accepting yourself, being with people who bring out the best in you, and getting the guy that you might not think you want but that you need and, more importantly, needs you. Hope you enjoy.
Please be aware that this story is set in Australia and therefore uses Australian English spelling and syntax.
Not recommended for younger readers due to mature content.
Do you believe in girl code? Could you date a best friends ex? What if you fall for or start falling for a best friends ex no matter how hard you try? Elizabeth Stevens mastered the art of breaking up and I loved every second of this book. Wade and Norah have been enemies ever since Wade broke up with Norahs best friend two years ago. Ever sense then Wade has been dating his way through the school and Norah can't stand him. But are her feelings for him really hate or is there something more to it? As things in her life are falling apart Norah finds herself reaching out to the last person she ever expected to reach out to. This book not only deals with teenage romance and relationship but it has so much more. Mental health is a big topic in this book and you dive into what are healthy and unhealthy coping practices are. There are a few more things that are discussed but I don't want to give too much away, just know there are some pretty big changes happening in the Norah's and Wade's lives! Do you love enemies to lovers? Second chances? Forbidden dating? Well make sure to read this! You will fall in love with Norah and Wade. This was such a cute, fun and fast read.
This book is all about first love, mental health, best friends, and being a high school senior. In this story, our teenagers live in Australia and it's not that different from American high school seniors. I loved Lisa and Norah's relationship. Their friendship is mature and honest despite the big secret between them. The hate banter/arguing between Wade and Norah was surprisingly enjoyable and full of fun banter. I honestly wasn't expecting them to have such a deep connection or for Wade to be such a complex character. I hate everything he went through, but he was so self-aware and that is all too rare in YA books. I enjoyed reading The Art of Breaking Up, and need to check out more of Elizabeth Stevens books.
“There went that look in his eyes again. The one that was a little dark. A little sad.” (Quote from ARC) A sweet story of young love and friendship,“The Art of Breaking Up”, by Elizabeth Stevens (Sleeping Dragon Books), features a charmer with a lot of baggage and a strong heroine going through family trouble. Wade was so intriguing in the beginning; he has an aura that makes him an enticing hero. The fact this incorrigible flirt is dealing with some serious issues is interesting and gives the character an attractive dark side. I really enjoyed reading about Norah’s dilemma between the lover and the close friend - it’s such a wonderful portrayal about what can happen at this age. I also liked the romance development in general, the secondary characters and how the author depicted the young people’s feelings and emotions
