Cara Barry

My standard issued lab badge reads "Simon", but it really should say "unexciting nerd with no social life". Don't get me wrong - I love what I do with a passion, but it doesn't leave a lot of time for much else. Especially romance. While chipping away at my work, I'm suddenly the person between hired cartel muscle and the fossil that will define my career. Which isn't the most insane part of the story. My savior is a chaotic, bat-wielding punk with a bubble-gum pink mohawk and a killer smile.

Living a lie, Matthew 'Mattie' Alexander is exhausted. It's not easy to keep up the pretense, the deceit, but it's safer. Coming out to a world that so easily hates takes a courage he's yet to find, so he pretends - pretends to be into women - pretends to love being a part of the university's football team. It keeps him safe, hidden. Until he meets Julian. From the moment they first meet, Mattie knows life is about to change. He's yet to determine if it is for the better or worse.

It鈥檚 a classic story: Boy meets girl, girl breaks boy鈥檚 heart, boy pretends to be gay to get back at girl, girl outs boy to everyone on Facebook鈥kay, maybe it鈥檚 not that classic. But it鈥檚 what happened to me. When I bump into my cheating ex and catch sight of the moon-sized rock on her finger, there鈥檚 only one option to save face: pretend to be dating my gay best friend, Declan. And when she outs me on Facebook and everyone I know sees it, there鈥檚 still only one option: keep pretending to be dating Declan.

Theo Briggs is a rule follower. He's a decent student in his junior year, an appeasing son, and a lifelong Christian, just trying to make it through high school unscathed. Caleb Raynard is a romantic. One of the few out-and-proud kids at Specter High School, Caleb's dating life has been hellish, to say the least鈥攆raught with misread social cues and embarrassing situations鈥攁nd Caleb is about ready to call the whole thing off. When Theo and Caleb meet in the basement of an old Catholic church that's rumored to be haunted, an instant and electric connection forms between them.

Five years ago, I walked away from Sunbury, Oregon, and left my best friend behind. The move was supposed to get my life on track. I even had a list: Life changing epilepsy surgery. Check. See the world. Check. Get over my straight best friend... Not exactly. No matter where I go or who I meet, I can't let Tanner go. I'm back to tell him how I feel. To get the closure I need once and for all. Only now I'm here and falling for him all over again, it's getting harder to say the words. Because once I have my closure, I'll be gone. And this time it will be for good.

At long last Lottie and Daniel are an official couple and everything seems to be going super well (except for Amber being increasingly mean and jealous, but what's new there?). Amber decides it's ludicrous that Lottie has a boyfriend and she doesn't so she decides to hand out applications forms at school and audition the most eligible Bachelors for the role. Jess also decides to reveal to the rest of the group that she might be gay, and that she might also have a crush on someone at school.

Eight years ago I fell into a secret summer fling with my best friend鈥檚 little sister before our lives went in different directions. Now, I鈥檓 the grumpy to Juliet鈥檚 sunshine on a popular dating podcast we host, and when a wealthy fan gives us a charming coastal cottage as the biggest thank you ever, we head to the town where I grew up to give it a makeover. And find the house has only one bed. Located under a mirrored ceiling.

After a summer of meeting handsome French boys and getting a tiny bit sunburnt. OK, fine - a lot sunburnt, Lottie's heading off on a week-long residential school trip. A whole week away from embarrassing parents and Toby's tasty air biscuits! But the trip soon turns into a total disaster. The other girls staying at the camp are MEGA-MEAN, best friend Jess is spending all her time with new girl Isha, and Lottie's diary gets stolen! Who knew a school trip could cause so much DRAMA?!

Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and Emily are friends at school and have their own Alphabet Club (just look at their initials!). Daisy is the newest member and is desperate to fit in, even though Chloe is distinctly unfriendly to her at times. Throughout Daisy鈥檚 first year at the school, the girls plan ever-more elaborate sleepover parties for their birthdays. Daisy is dreading the time when her birthday comes round as she doesn鈥檛 know what her friends will make of sleeping over at her home, with her rather special older sister.

Meet Cassidy. With her embarrassing dad, pregnant mum, loser brother and knicker-chewing dog, she's almost invisible in her family. So she's hoping year seven is her time to shine, especially since a test proved she's Gifted & Talented. The only problem is she picked her answers at random. But surely the school wouldn't make a mistake about her genius.