Self-proclaimed average guy Joe falls hard and fast for a girl he meets quite by accident on a trip from his suburban home to London. At first Candy is as sweet and charming as her name suggests, but as their relationship progresses, fifteen-year-old Joe learns that her life is far more complicated than he could possibly imagine. She is a heroin addict and a prostitute working for a ruthless pimp named Iggy. Joe also discovers that while he and Candy now move in totally separate spheres, they began their lives in much the same place: both grew up in similar middle class suburbs. It soon becomes clear that both Joe and Candy are fighting addictions: Candy to her drugs, and Joe to Candy. They both vacillate between a conviction to fight against their compulsions and utter resignation. Joe’s love for Candy feels so overpowering he can think only of saving her. Taking her to his parents’ country cottage, he sits with her while she goes through a brutal detoxification. Meanwhile, Iggy kidnaps Joe’s sister, Gina, in order to get Candy back. Brooks’s novel is a gritty and horrifying look at the many repercussions of addiction. (Ages 14–17)

“[A] provocative, suspenseful work . . . the story plays skillfully to teens’ curiosity about the mechanics of addiction and its manic, lurid subculture.” —Booklist

When Joe meets Candy, it seems like a regular boy-meets-girl scenario. They chat over coffee, she gives him her number, and he writes her a song. But then Joe is drawn into Candy’s world—a world of drugs, violence, and desperation. As the dark truth about Candy’s life emerges, Joe finds himself facing real danger at every twist and turn. Soon Joe’s conflicting emotions begin to mirror Candy’s, and he understands that falling in love just might be worth the struggle. This intoxicating tale of heartache, danger, and hope will enthrall teen readers.

“A story as sharp as the title is sweet, with something dark lurking inside and no cozy answers . . . Some words of warning: Candy may hook you too.” —The Guardian



“Versatile English author Brooks infuses his latest tale with a romantic—even mythic—grandeur sure to enthrall his fans . . . This story’s gritty street smarts will keep thrill-seekers more than entertained, while Joe’s orphic rescue mission into the netherworld of addiction gives more thoughtful readers plenty to ponder.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Brooks’s plotting is masterful, and the action twists and builds to a frenzied and violent climax.” —School Library Journal



“Brooks is one of the best young adult writers around. Get this book. Word-of-mouth will do the rest” —The Irish Times