Each member of the Roth family is uniquely eccentric, yet you can see how much they all love each other through their interactions.

And then I read the first 20 pages and cringed unbearably and put it to the side for, presumably, ever. The internal war Bailey wages between her perfectly-crafted fantasy of a relationship with Alex and the messy, exhilarating reality of a relationship with Porter would hold a lot more weight, for example, if we didn’t know they were the same person. This breath of fresh air keeps the story from focusing on will-they-won’t-they angst and lets the characters’ relationship grow. But finding someone based on online conversations alone proves harder than Bailey thought, and with her irritating but charismatic (and potentially attractive? A couple of yards before we hit the ground, he speaks up in a voice so quiet, I can barely hear him.

This’ll only last for a short while till I’m back to my cynical old-me, this-world-sucks-no-men-will-ever-live-up-to-fictional-men-like-ever self). Alex, Approximately picks up after their friendship has already begun, and Bailey is going through a major change in her life: she's leaving behind her mother and pretentious stepfather behind in DC and moving to California to live with her father. Why would they discuss their locations and where they live to each other openly, but get uncomfortable about telling the other their first name? Let's be honest here: Not many girls would miss the obvious signs that Porter Roth was, in fact, online Alex. Unlike other couples in contemporary young adult novels, Porter and Bailey actually communicate with each other!

Though this “survival tactic” is her way with coping with her PTSD, she aims to tackle this flaw as she grows closer to Porter and her new friend Grace. Classic movie buff Bailey "Mink" Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by "Alex. From Porter’s overblown acts of machismo in Bailey’s ‘honour’ to Bailey’s unnecessary evasiveness causing friction, Bennett doesn’t shy away from making this teen relationship as true to life as possible, with plenty of mistakes being made, wires being crossed and self-doubt colouring each of their opinions and actions. I’d bet you a hundred thousand million dollars you didn’t think it’d be this: “‘I like your brows,’ she finally says. star while you are saying that we should put it in trash because you don't want to give even one star.

A modern-day YA reminiscent of You've Got Mail, Alex, Approximately, is a story of summer, first love, and hidden identity. Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult books, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and SERIOUS MOONLIGHT.