AustLit

'When your bestie is marrying a guy she barely knows, can you save her from the cult before it's too late?

'Natalie is living proof that love is a scam.

'She's traumatised by her parents' failed marriage and overwhelmed by her grandmother's expectations of good Lebanese girls — marriage, motherhood and exceptional tabouli-making skills.

'When her best friend decides to get hitched to a guy in the motherland, Nat's not exactly thrilled by the mammoth task before her: juggling cultural traditions, extra bridesmaid dresses and super-judgemental relatives.

'And to top it off there's the annoyingly good-looking best man and his constant need to mansplain all of the things.

'Natalie is in for the trip of her life. But can she save her friend from the cult of romance, without falling in love herself?'  (Publication summary)

'Five teenagers. Five lives. One final year.

'The school captain: Ryan has it all ... or at least he did. But when the one thing that his future hinged on is snatched away from him, how will he start to rebuild his life and who will he decide to be?

'The newcomer: Charlie's just moved to Sydney from Melbourne, and she's determined not to fit in. She's just biding her time till Year 12 is over and she can head back to her real life and her real friends ...

'The loner: Nobody really notices Matty. He's just another guy in a hoodie. But at home Matty is everything: he's been holding things together ever since he can remember, and since his mum's latest breakdown, he's never been so alone.

'The popular girl: Well, the popular girl's best friend ... cool by association. Tammi has always done what's expected of her, but when her boyfriend pressures her to do something she's really not ready for, will she finally stand up for herself?

'The politician's daughter: Gillian's the good girl. She's careful not to do anything that will reflect badly on her dad, but this comes at a price: she's never really had fun. Now that her one friend has moved overseas, Gill is pinning all hopes of a social life on one thing: the yearbook committee. ' (Publication summary)