Teen-Age Romances #30

Ellen, a shy seventeen-year-old who's spent more time with books than people, finds herself desperate to seem more popular when her parents throw her a birthday party—and when Terry Stevens, a boy she likes, suddenly takes an interest. When Terry drops her just as quickly, Ellen invents an elaborate lie: a secret engagement to a college man named Garth, complete with love letters to prove it. As summer approaches and her schoolmates demand to meet this mystery fiancé, Ellen's desperate fabrication spirals out of control, forcing her to call in a real favor from a real college student—and discovering that sometimes the best lies have a way of becoming complicated when the people around you refuse to play along.

When Diana Sheridan breaks up with her steady, Jim Gordon, a girl named Patty sees her chance with the heartbroken quarterback—but her secret love quickly turns complicated when school spirit demands Diana reunite with Jim for the sake of the football team. As Patty watches from the sidelines, she'll discover that getting what you want and keeping it are two very different things.

In "They Said He Was Too Old," Jo finds herself caught between gossip and her growing feelings for Ken, an older man whose kindness is mocked by her peers. When her mother is injured, it’s Ken’s steady support that proves more meaningful than any rumor.

A young woman's well-intentioned lies to her parents about her whereabouts set her on a dangerous path when she begins dating a charming boy who promises her the world—but has very different intentions than marriage. After a harrowing night that forces her to confront the consequences of her deception, she must rebuild the trust she's broken and find a way forward with the people who truly care about her. Jeanne learns that honesty and family judgment aren't obstacles to romance—they're the foundation it needs to survive.