So in the start of this story Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas, and Smakle are in eighth grade. Then throughout the book they face life challenges such as break ups, losses, and mess ups. Though through it all they have each other.
Little Riley Matthews, Maya Hart, Lucas Friar, Farkle Minkus and everyone else form a cute friendship and develop not REAL feelings but what they see as love from their young, innocent perspective. They'll grow and mature into young adults as the chapters proceed and begin to learn who they are.