Ann Jacobus is the author of YA novel The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent, and Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, winner of the Housatonic Book Award for Young Adult Literature. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has published essays, articles, poetry, and short fiction; teaches YA novel writing; and is a former suicide crisis line counselor and always a mental health advocate. When she's not reading, she enjoys swimming, sailing, dogs and kids, and binge-watching TV series. Find her at annjacobus.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
"""Jacobus creates a full picture of wild and wonderful Paris in her novel, tinted with an exotic magic realism that adds an extra layer of atmosphere. Recommend to teens who are interested in exploring serious issues, such as suicide and teen alcoholism, or those who prefer their fiction moody and thought-provoking."" --Booklist ""In her debut novel, Jacobus explores difficult topics including depression, alcoholism, death, and the reckless behavior that can accompany them. As Summer struggles with alcohol dependency and contemplates suicide, readers will grit their teeth in the hope that Moony will win the romantic tug-of-war with Kurt in time to help Summer see the light at the end of the tunnel."" --Publishers Weekly ""...A powerful glimpse into the world of darkness and the love that can pull one from its depths. A creepy, haunting read that will surprise readers at the end."" --YA Books Central ""Jacobus nailed the struggle with addiction, she nailed physical limitations, she nailed alcoholic and disability-related depression, she nailed the chaos of the active alcoholic, and she nailed the hopelessness and despair that can come from all of it."" --Disability in Kidlit ""The complexity of the story is a reflection of the complexity of life, and Jacobus handles it with a gentleness and care that is to be applauded."" --Hypable ""The intelligent and thoughtful quality of Jacobus's writing and the uniqueness of Summer's character make the novel worthwhile for all readers who are looking for a more serious, darker read."" --Teenreads ""In this realistic fiction title, Jacobus has created three strong characters. Summer and Moony are believable, flawed, and well-crafted teen protagonists. They each have their own complications and struggles. Many young adults will be able to relate to one or both of these characters. Verdict: The seamless pacing makes this book hard to put down.""--School Library Journal"