

Fresh out of juvie, he's down to his last chance to make changes and turn his life around for the better. Guillermo Lozano is a 17-year-old Mexican American high school junior. Opposites attract when a rebellious boy meets a rule-following girl.

Though the story's center drags a bit, Guillermo and Regan's alternating voices stand solidly on their own as the characters create an accepting, endearing romance built on respect between partners. Through a magnetic BIPOC cast, the novel explores a range of situations that come with feeling lost, meeting expectations, and experiencing pressure from peers and loved ones. The two are warned to stay away from each other, but as Troy becomes more disrespectful toward Regan, and Guillermo slowly finds his calling in mentoring others, the pull between them becomes unavoidable. Sixteen-year-old Regan is dating her school's football star, Troy, and isn't interested in her father's set view of her future as an accountant, but she's immediately drawn to Guillermo. While doing community service at Briar Park Community Center, he meets Regan London, his supervisor's daughter. In her sophomore novel, Grandison (A Love Hate Thing) writes a second-chance story for 17-year-old Guillermo Lozano, whose family moves to a new neighborhood, "quiet and clean" Briar Pointe, after he is granted probation following time in juvenile detention for simple assault. "An accepting, endearing romance built on respect between partners." -Publishers Weekly But when it comes to the heart, sometimes you have to break the rules and be a little bit reckless. Being together might just get Guillermo sent away.

But when the walls start to cave in and she finds unexpected understanding from the boy her parents warned about, she can't ignore her feelings anymore.

The pressure to stay in her "perfect" relationship and be the good girl all the time has worn her down. But when his work at the local community center throws him into the path of the one girl who is off-limits, friendship sparks.and maybe more. He's done his time, and now he needs to right his wrongs. New town, new school, and no more reckless behavior. Guillermo Lozano is getting a fresh start. They were supposed to ignore each other and respect that fine line between them. When they meet, one golden rule is established: stay away.
