Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt
This teen novel focuses on a young man in rural West Virginia. Remy (short for Remington) has finished high school and it is just dawning on him that his long time girlfriend Lisa will be leaving for college at the end of the summer. Remy has spent the last couple of years with her and the thought of her leaving is tearing at him. Lisa has been urging him to come with her, that they will get an apartment and he can find work there, but he doesn't want to leave. He likes his town and the world around him and when he lived with his mother when she moved to Florida didn't make him want to leave again.
When a new young woman comes to town to paint a mural on the water tower, Remy is surprised to find himself noticing her. He hasn't had eyes for anyone but Lisa in years. But does it actually mean anything? He still feels the same way for Lisa.
Remy likes working at the local garage for Duff, who has been teaching him about working on cars, and says that he's a natural at it. He likes feeling the connection to the land that he lives on. Is Lisa worth giving that up. When Remy's dad comes up with what seems like a solution, Remy wonders how much he is willing to give up for love.
This is a coming of age story, a story of a nice young man who thinks of others and wants to do the right thing, but isn't sure anymore what he himself wants. I have to say that I wasn't enamored of Lisa, who doesn't have any depth here, and therefore wasn't rooting for their relationship.
Remy's tale is also one that is seen across rural America, where young people are leaving and not coming back. Where the environmental concerns may be winning battles, but the towns are dying as people leave.
I really enjoyed Remy and this book, but then I also fell for a guy who has the touch with cars.
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