This is a cute and relevant YA book about Paulie, a shy, sweet young man who is desperate to date popular Andie (or at the very least, talk to a girl). But when he witnesses an attack by a popular football player, he is reluctant to come forward as he fears violence from the football team. Later he meets Violet on the bus; she seems a little wild but agrees to accompany him to the school dance (which of course goes wrong as she goes to a rival school that doesn't have the same dress code). But Paulie is one of the "good guys." He knows what to do when the chips are down and he finds hidden strength within himself to confront the bullies and do the right thing. After teaching high school for 40 years, I found this realistic and a great contemporary look at high school life with its jealousies, cliques, and bullies.

"The Autumn of Andie" is labeled as a teen/young adult book but I found myself caught up and enthralled in the drama of high school that happened during my growing up years. Set in the era of Vietnam protesters and anti-war rallies, one can easily look ahead a few years at the future of the main character, a young man interested in journalism and writing. This book appealed to me as an older adult reader. The characters are rich and interesting, the plot is one that is timeless, With an "American Grafitti" type of setting the book, will remind older readers of a different time, where without technology, relationships were different and life was slower and the future uncertain for young men of draft age.

The hero of the story, Paul begins the autumn in his high school by trying to forget a summer relationship. He begins focusing on forging a new relationship with Andrea, better known as "Andie", a teen most consider out of his league.. His efforts begin well but go downhill when he begins to interact with her boyfriend, high school football player Colton. Along the way, he is a bit smitten by another young woman that becomes an unlikely source of good advice and a good friend from the "other side of town". The second in a series that tells a larger story around the romance of Paul, this book is a very good read. The Vietnam era is one that needs more storytelling and one can imagine how far this story of Paul might go. I hope so. This book is entertaining and timeless. Thanks to #TheAutumnofAndie#Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.