Sweetheart

At the wise old age of 17, AJ has the world figured out: it’s all going to hell, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Perpetually apathetic, AJ is dreading the annual family vacation, where the pool, beach, and family-friendly stage shows were once the highlight of her year. Dragged to the modest holiday trailer park by her mother against her angsty will, AJ’s joined by: her nine-year-old sister Dana, in all her ignorant innocence; her perfectly pregnant older sister Lucy; and Lucy’s boyfriend Steve, who seems to be the only one who remotely understands AJ. Determined to hate every minute of the trip, AJ finally musters a smile after meeting Isla, the park’s alluring lifeguard donned in chlorine and Converse. The two become fast friends, but Isla’s mixed signals and AJ’s fumbling insecurity leave AJ wondering if they could be more. An ode to those coming-of-age years, when you’re simultaneously the smartest and most clueless version of yourself, SWEETHEART is the unforgettable summer fling worth the sunburn. —A.B.