Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet

March 25, 2024
As the winner of small-town Lennon, Calif.’s decennial contest, Wilson Moss brings her deceased former best friend Annie LeBlanc back from the dead. But there’s a catch: those resurrected only have 30 days in the mortal realm before returning to their eternal rest. Wil struggles to reconcile buried hurt feelings regarding the abrupt end of their friendship pre-Annie’s death. As Wil endeavors to gain closure, romance blooms and secrets emerge surrounding the truth about Annie’s final days. So, when she discovers a loophole that might let Annie stay alive for good—and that the key is to restore the relationship she and Annie had with sardonic, acid-tongued Ryan Morton—Wil sets out in a race against the clock. Abundant pop culture references often overshadow emotional plot beats, and a lack of urgency despite the novel’s ticking clock premise—depicted via a countdown at the beginning of each chapter—results in a too-convenient conclusion. Nevertheless, British author Morris’s deft handling of the teens’ intertwining histories and the little mythologies that make up the language of adolescent friendships imbues this speculative rom-com with well-timed comedy and plenty of angst. Protagonists read as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary.