You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan

To be published on June 7, 2016 by St. Martins Griffin

Source: eARC for review

Synopsis from Goodreads: Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. 

For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed. 

That is until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way. 

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other -- and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

Review of You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan

You Know Me Well is a treat to read -- a story about both friendship and unrequited love. 

While another Levithan collaboration -- Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- was a boy-meets-girl love story set in one night and told in alternating chapters, You Know Me Well is narrated by two soon-to-be-friends: both gay, one male and one female. 

Katie has been pining for a girl she hasn't yet met, while Mark is secretly in love with his best friend Ryan. Then Katie and Mark meet, and each supports the other as they panic and retreat from love (Katie) and risk rejection (Mark). The San Francisco setting (during Pride Week, no less) is perfect and well-used.

David Levithan has co-authored a bunch of books. My favorite of his collaborations thus far has been Will Grayson, Will Grayson. In that book, I could feel the shift between the greater energy and edginess of a Green chapter and the more thoughtful, emotional Levithan writing. But Levithan's and LaCour's styles merged so beautifully that I have no idea whether each took alternate chapters.

You Know Me Well made me smile. It's a charming, heartwarming story about first love and first heartbreak, about self-discovery and having the courage to love someone. 

Highly recommended!