The New Boyfriend by Kelly Link

 The Twilight comparisons are inevitable. 

Despite the initial allure, 'The New Boyfriend' leaves one with a sense of unfulfilled potential, revealing itself as a curious, if somewhat uneven, addition to Kelly Link's unique repertoire. Hailing from her Pulitzer prize nominated collection, 'Get in Trouble,' I selected this story on a whim and it turned out to be mostly disappointing. Moreover, it would probably be more impactful if it were, in fact, shorter in length. Regrettably, the narrative is somewhat bloated, hindered by an excess of superfluous details that veers awfully close to novella territory. These unnecessary detours causes the story to stumble along before hitting a brick wall, ultimately contributing to a lackluster conclusion.

I recently reviewed another teenage girl coming of age story called "One Hundred-Percent Humidity" but Link's work could not be more different. Even though both stories involve a young female protagonist navigating social pressures and relationships for the first time, "New Boyfriend" is far more tame and whimsical. Anchored within the urban fantasy genre, the story fully embraces its supernatural quirkiness. Perhaps it is somewhat of a stretch, but to me, the story often felt like a Twilight parody if you replaced the brooding vampire boyfriends with ghosts. The young female protagonist, Imogen (although everyone calls her Immy), falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend who just so happens to be a ghost. Despite the seemingly absurd premise, it is convincing enough in this fantastical setting. On a more positive note, Link adeptly captures the complexities of teenage angst and shifting friendship dynamics that sometimes feel performative. In a supernatural context, the author manages to poignantly explore Imogen's internal struggle with friendships and young love (with a ghost!), highlighting the challenges inherent in navigating the tumultuous landscape of youth and relationships. 

 Also, here is a random nitpick: Why are these teenager girls always guzzling absinthe like it's water without any adverse side effects?