I Hope Eden Reads This

This novel by Eli Rallo begins with a prologue, that introduces best friends Penelope “Penny” and Eden in the eighth grade. Penny has always been the bold one, while Eden is anxious to have her first kiss, so Penny decides to walk her through it and teaches Eden how to kiss. From the beginning, their friendship is presented as incredibly close and intimate, with Penny naturally taking on the role of the more confident one.

The story then jumps forward to Penny as an adult, the morning after a conversation that has left her thinking her friendship with Eden might actually be over for good. This chapter is also included as a sample. We do not yet know exactly what happened between them, but whatever it was, Penny truly believes her relationship with her best friend is over and there is no way she can remedy it. Penny lives in the East Village with two roommates from college, while Eden lives with her boyfriend on the Upper West Side. Penny is spiraling and can barely get herself out of bed, but she eventually tries to pull herself together and go to work at The Note, a trendy NYC Gen-Z publication where she works as a journalist. At work, we meet Cindi, Penny’s best friend at the office and the publication’s resident “personality hire.”

The story then takes us back to Penny and Eden’s high school graduation, another sample chapter, tracing their history and childhood. Their families gather together for dinner on the eve of graduation, giving insight into the girls’ families, their tight-knit friend group, the social dynamics of their hometown and where they fall within the high school hierarchy. We also learn that Penny has had a lifelong crush on Eden’s brother, Eric. While Eden is out of town, Penny and Eric spend a private, secret afternoon together that Eden can never find out about. Before leaving for separate colleges, Penny and Eden have a tearful goodbye in their local town diner and promise each other that nothing will ever come between them.