She Drives Me Crazy

Quindlen, Kelly. She Drives Me Crazy. 2021. 288p. ISBN 9781250209160. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Scottie's senior year is shaping up to be miserable. Her girlfriend, Tally, broke up with her so she could attend a prestigious suburban school and have the chance to win a basketball championship. Scottie's basketball team does not stand a chance. It barely attracts any crowd, the coach is the robotics teacher that was recruited because no one else would do it, and the Danielle, the team captain and Scottie's best friend, has to be the de facto coach. To top it all off, Scottie's car is accidentally hit by Irene, the captain  of the cheerleader team, one of the most popular girls at school, and probably the most uptight. Irene and Scottie have been enemies for a long time, and Irene even got Scottie's car towed last year.

Forced by their parents to drive together while Irene's car is being fixed, Scottie and Irene get on each other's nerves. Irene and her cheerleading squad do come and watch the girls' basketball team practice, which creates a buzz around the school, and more people begin to attend the games and the practices. When Scottie overhears Irene complain to her best friend Honey-Belle that her parents are making her pay the deductible on the car insurance for the repairs, but that she had already spent the money on cheer camp, and now she would have to quit cheer so she could work to repay them, Scottie comes up with a plan. She will pay Irene to pretend to be her girlfriend until the classic Christmas game against their cross-town arch-rivals, which happens to be the team that Tally is on. Tally is sure to hear of Scottie's new relationship, and this will make her jealous!

Except, both Scottie and Irene begin falling for each other through their pretend dating, and kisses and a memorable sleepover causes both happiness and angst. With the basketball team heading for a state championship, and with their relationship evolving towards mutual respect and possibly love, Scottie and Irene will need to navigate the choppy waters of a high school scene replete with drama and rebounds!