The Off Season

The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't leave this sitting on my nightstand any longer. I read it today in almost one sitting. (I did have to collect my kids from school at one point!)

I've never seen an author pull off a second book in a trilogy quite like this. The Off Season is the sequel to The Dairy Queen and picks up mere days after The Dairy Queen leaves off. DJ Schwenk starts the school year off well. She's playing on the football team and getting decent grades. She's repaired the relationship she has with her best friend (who has just come out of the closet), she's getting along better with her family, and she has a cute quarterback sort-of-boyfriend...and then it all falls apart.

I laughed out loud and I cried (also out loud). I don't know if I can wait a whole year until the conclusion of this series, but alas I must.

You don't have to take just my word for it. The Off Season was one of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults in 2008. They also reviewed it:

• Becky's Book Reviews
• The Book Nut
• Alisonwonderland @ So Many Books, So Little Time
  

If you did also, please let me know!