A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Educational Value
very little
Characters discuss Vincent Van Gogh, sharing some lesser known facts about the painter.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Be proactive. Take care of your own happiness. Don't let past hurts stop future joy. Perfection doesn't equal success.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Emilie's grandma is a strong, caring adult figure. Her friend group is kind and supportive. Characters are romantically interested in one another for who they are as people, not just for looks or status. There is a "mean girl" clique that bullies other students, but they are used as an example of who not to be. Overall, the main characters show compassion, empathy, respect and perseverance. Some characters make choices that have negative impacts, such as ditching school, lying, and acting out under stress, and while they don't regret all of their choices, the characters face consequences for these actions and learn important lessons.
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Diverse Representations
some
The main characters are White. One supporting character is Black, another is Vietnamese. Two minor characters are gay. The main character splits her time living with her divorced parents. One character's sibling is deceased. Most characters are described as attractive.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
While there is no physical violence in the book, there are instances of unkind behavior, including a group of "mean girls" who bully classmates and a cheating boyfriend. There are multiple car crashes with no serious injuries. Parents are insensitive to their children's feelings.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
There is flirting and light kissing between teens. Characters embrace passionately once, with hands going under the shirt to skim bare skin. The main character obsesses over how handsome a classmate is, including ogling him when he takes off his shirt to show off his tattoo. There is a lot of discussion of dating and romantic gestures, mostly relating to Valentine's Day.
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Language
a lot
Swearing includes "F--k" and variations, "a--hole," "s--t," "dick," "bitch," "prick," "douche," "dammit," "hell," "godforsaken," "holy Christ," "god-awful," and "oh my god." However, swearing is only occasional and often intended in a joking or exclamatory manner.
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Products & Purchases
a little
Characters talk about cars, mentioning make and models. Many pop culture references are made to set the scene, including nods to celebrities Taylor Swift, Khloe Kardashian and Timothée Chalamet, movies such as Frozen, Grease and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and authors Christina Lauren, and Raymond Carver. Taylor Swift lyrics are referenced multiple times.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Do-Over by Lynn Painter is a sweet current-day romance where 16-year-old Emilie experiences the worst Valentine's Day of her life, and is forced to repeat it day after day while trying to figure out how to set things right. Expect a few passionate kisses and a focus on romance and dating. Violence is limited to light bullying, a minor car crash, and a few heated arguments. Swearing includes infrequent uses of "f--k" and its variations, "a--hole," "s--t," "dick," "bitch," "prick," "douche," "bitchy," "dammit," "hell," "godforsaken," "holy Christ," and "oh my god" often in a joking or exclamatory manner. Characters exhibit perseverance, empathy and genuine self-growth.
What's the Story?
In THE DO-OVER, 16-year-old Emilie is ready for the best Valentine's Day of her life. She's made a to-do list, picked out a cute outfit, and has the perfect gift for her boyfriend Josh. But when her plans go horribly awry, Emilie can't wait for the ill-fated day to end. She falls asleep on her grandmother's couch, only to wake up in her own bed the next morning -- and it's once again February 14th. Armed with her trusty planner, Emilie is determined to find a way out of the twisted time loop before she's stuck re-living Valentine's Day forever.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of fate versus free will in The Do-Over. How does Emilie's understanding of these concepts change over the course of the novel?
Emilie is determined to complete every item on her to-do list. How does her perseverance serve her as the story progresses?
What do you think about the commercialization of Valentine's Day?
