This Story follows Abby, once a beloved, high-achieving, kind girl who loses her parents and brother in a car crash. She survives with severe trauma, falsely believes she caused the accident, and is further damaged by night terrors nearly every night. Now living with her caring grandmother, Abby struggles with PTSD, nightmares, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, and hides behind goth clothes and isolation. At school, her former best friend, Kim, now queen bee, leads a vicious bullying campaign built on lies that Abby killed her family and is insane. Rumors, humiliations, and cyberbullying escalate-from fake news stories and leaked underwear photos to daily harassment, food attacks, and public pantsing-while the school's response is weak, partly because Kim's wealthy family funds the school.
A few adults, especially her therapist Scott and teacher Mr. Hester, try to help, but Abby refuses to process her grief and feels completely alone. Popular football player Jake, Kim's boyfriend, gradually sees through the rumors. He researches Abby's past and learns she was once extraordinarily kind and community-minded and that the crash wasn't her fault. Disturbed by the cruelty around him, he repeatedly tries to reach out to Abby, who assumes his kindness is another set-up. As bullying intensifies, Abby has a suicidal crisis. She is briefly hospitalized, then later begins to fight back physically, including beating Kim in a hallway fight and smashing the windows of Kim's car after a public humiliation. Jake discovers Kim's direct role in the worst abuses, breaks up with her, and refuses to be part of the "witch hunt." Abby is on school probation after she begins to fight back against her tormentors. She is still deeply wounded but starting to push back. At the same time, Jake becomes increasingly committed to defending her and uncovering why Kim turned on her so viciously. While Jake begins to learn about Abby, he discovers what a fantastic girl she really is and how she touched the lives of so many around her before her accident. Without intent, Jake starts to fall for Abby and, in the process, teaches her that he is the real deal and not there to hurt her further. Over time, Abby begins to fall for Jake as well, and she learns what true friendship and love really are. Jake and his sister, Lacey, now Abby's best friend, stand by Abby through it all. Abby faces yet another setback, and Jake and his sister must race to find her, save her life, and prove to her that she is worth fighting for, before it's too late. They must prove to Abby that her mind and faulty memories are deceiving her, and he must show her that true love conquers all. After all, "Sometimes fairy tales are real, and happily ever after does exist." This edge-of-your-seat, action-packed love story is the most powerful and suspenseful of the year. It will make you cry, make you cheer, but most of all, it will make you believe again.
