Tom Leveen

She's not what he thinks. He's not what she needs.

In stunningly raw, relatable prose that upends the idea of the "manic pixie dream girl" trope coined by journalist Nathan Rabin, Tom Leveen does more than just talk: he tells the story of a less-than-perfect "dream girl" and the equally flawed boy who worships her.

Tyler has been crushing on Becky since he started high school, but didn't get the guts to talk to her until long after he already found himself dating Sydney, a quintessential good girl whose patience for Tyler's unrequited love is thinning. After publishing a story about Becky in a prestigious magazine, Tyler decides tonight -- halfway through their senior year -- he's going to come clean to Becky, with whom he has become good friends. 

But "Open For Business Becca" has some not-so-secret secrets Tyler's been denying, and there's no way Tyler's dream girl can ever be what he needs her to be. Instead, he just might discover how far he's willing to go to break his own heart.

This a great book for anyone who has once (or twice?) wished for someone we just couldn't have. It is a brutally and beautifully authentic look at navigating our first relationships.