Zoe knows most people just put up with her sarcastic attitude because of how kind her best friend, Olivia, is. When Olivia is diagnosed with leukemia, the whole cheerleading squad rallies to help, but Zoe knows when it comes to cancer, there isn't much they can do. As Zoe struggles to keep a happy face for Olivia, her heart breaks more and more at the thought of her best friend hurting, and things only get worse when Zoe finds herself falling for Calvin, the boy Olivia has a crush on. Zoe, determined to be there for Olivia, will bury every bad emotion she has as long as Olivia will survive, because anything reality other than that is inconceivable.

MAYBE ONE DAY by Melissa Kantor does an incredible job of squeezing at your heart. From the beginning, Zoe's sarcastic attitude and underestimation of herself oddly, but completely, make her so relatable and likable. She is a main character who is clearly flawed, but in the realest way. The friendship between Olivia and her is wonderfully balanced, and I wanted to give them both hugs so many times throughout the story. Reading about Zoe being terrified to lose Olivia will make you want to call up your own best friend and pray they are safe and will be around a long time.

Though the focus of the story is beautifully on friendship, I really love the side romance between Zoe and Calvin. It isn't insta-love or anything that happens at all quickly, but something that builds over time and comes with a lot of stumbling blocks, including Zoe herself. Kantor's way of showing the place Zoe is in by having feelings for Calvin, not only because Olivia crushes on him, but also the struggle of dealing with any feelings other than constant worry and torment when your best friend is sick, is so realistic and understandable. It gives Zoe wonderful depth and dimension to her character and makes the romance feel so much more true to life.

This is definitely a new favorite contemporary YA for me. For anyone looking for a solid, developed story on friendship, MAYBE ONE DAY is an excellent choice.