Remarkable, exceptional, amazing, astonishing, astounding, sensational, stunning, incredible, unbelievable, and phenomenal.
All of those words can be used to describe extraordinary and all of those are words that Brenna Baker would never use to describe herself.
Brenna Baker starts off every school year with the same challenge from her dad: Be extraordinary. She doesn't know what it means to be extraordinary and if we're being honest, she doesn't really care either. She is perfectly fine in her bubble of solitude and spending her days holed up in a library with a sleeping, old woman.
Her attitude takes a complete turn the instant Jude Davis, a military brat, walks into her life shouting at her. Jude is everything that Brenna is not. He is outgoing, brave, and loves a good adventure. The moment Brenna laid her eyes on him, she knew that he was different, but even so, that didn't stop the heat that spread through her body and the butterflies that erupted in her stomach.
At the start of her senior year, Brenna is presented with another challenge. Only this time, it's not from her dad. It's from Jude. He presents her with a bucket list and the challenge to complete everything on it before graduation. The only rule? They have to complete everything together.
Oh, and #21 on the list? Be Extraordinary.
In which two ex-step-siblings reconnect after just about blowing up their family the first time around...
Three years ago, Maddie fell hard for Jacob Isaacs, the smartest boy in her school. The only problem was this: Her dad had quite literally gotten engaged to his mother. The two tried to dampen the flames of their burgeoning attraction for each other but not before they got caught and were the talk of the town for months.
After the fall out, Maddie moved away to try and start her life over and not be known as the girl who got caught doing it with her 'brother' at prom. She hasn't seen her family in ages and intends to keep things that way.
Jacob, on the other hand, has worked hard to accomplish everything he's ever dreamed of. He's stayed close to home, done exceptionally well at school, and is adored by just about everyone who meets him. There's only one problem: There's a Maddie-shaped hole where his heart used to be. But no matter how hard he tries to reach out and find her, he can't. She won't let him. He let her down and gave up on them when she needed him most. And she's not ready to forgive and forget.
But then Maddie's dad passes and she's forced to come home for his funeral. It should be a quick visit. She intends to make it one. But Jacob has other plans. He let his girl slip through his fingers once and he won't let that happen again. So now he has to convince her to give him one more chance. After all, they're not related to each other anymore.