booksbybelle
After a rough first day at Liceo Galileo Galilei di Roma, sixteen-year-old Kartika Malavasi already wants to disappear. The crowded hallways, the whispered rumors, the stares-it's too much for the German-Italian girl who never seems to fit anywhere.
Then she meets Andrea Arru, the school's infamous bad boy: sharp tongue, soft eyes, and a past that clings to him like smoke. Against all reason, Kartika feels drawn to him. But when she starts spending time with Dario, Andrea's closest friend and her calm in the chaos, Andrea's jealousy starts to burn.
Soon, friendships fracture, secrets unravel, and Kartika is faced with a painful truth-sometimes the place you thought was home hurts just as much as the one you left behind.
Back in Germany, Kartika realizes she can't outrun her problems-especially not the ones in her own heart. Meanwhile, Eugenia struggles to make sense of her feelings, and Melissa's long-hidden issues finally come to light, forcing the group to face the consequences of love, loss, and growing up.