Book Review: ‘Every Other Weekend’ Is A Great New Novel From Abigail Johnson

Adam Moyihan is fifteen almost sixteen years old and his life use to be great. It was him, his parents and his two older brothers. He really idolized the oldest Gregg. Then he died in a car accident. It shattered his family. Two years later and his parents are separated and everyone is still grieving the loss. He now has to spend every other weekend with his father at his apartment with his brother Jeremy and he hates it. He feels disloyal to his mother and just wants his family back together.

Jolene Timber is fifteen about to turn sixteen and her parents are divorced and don’t get on very good. His father has a young 6 year old girlfriend Shelley who Jolene use to think of as a friend. Now she must spend every other weekend with her dad and with Shelley. And she hates it. Her father is barely ever around and she can’t stand her.

Then she meets Adam and things become a bit more bearable. They instantly bond as friends as both has issues. They spend all their time together and it causes friction with Adam’s dad and his brother. As they compare lives and what is going on they soon find themselves having more than friendship feelings. Adam keeps trying to bring his family back together and Jolene has to deal with issues beyond her control. But the one thing they can count on is each other, at least they hope so.

Told in alternating chapters from Adam and Jolene’s point of view. It’s a story of young love, of loss and not dealing with the grief that comes along with it. The story is very well-written and you root for the characters to hopefully overcome their problems and find closure they desperately need. One of the first really good books of the new year.

You can pick up Every Other Weekend in stores on Tuesday, January 7th from MIRA.