Rae Ballester loves movie musicals and—thanks to her dad—’80s rock. Since he died a year ago, his favorite music helps keep his memory alive. Struggling to move on, Rae keeps her head down and earbuds in, but shunning the world has cost her even her closest friendships, leaving her the “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” When Rae meets Mac, a boy with a charming smile who thinks any problem can be solved with a show tune, she cautiously welcomes their easy banter. With his humor, enthusiasm, and well-curated Broadway playlists, Mac slowly edges his way into her heart, but when he proves “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Rae thinks about withdrawing to the comfort of hair metal and the silver screen. Should Rae retreat from the world to protect her already broken heart, or will her involvement in the school’s theater program and the random acts of kindness she and others have started performing give her “Something to Believe In?” I’ll Be There for You delves into the personal journey of healing old wounds, making new friends, and how to build a future with pieces of the past and present. "I'll Be There For You was a beautiful story about love and loss, grief and acceptance. The friendly banter was top notch, and the touching moments brought a tear to my eye." — Cherokee Crum for YA Books Central "For a debut YA novel, Brieanna Wilkoff I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU is very finely composed. It's a near perfect balance of carefully constructed characters and an engaging well-paced plot set amongst the dramas of growing up." — Kent Lane for IndieReader Brieanna Wilkoff (she/her) believes wholeheartedly in the power of kindness, the importance of theatre, and the awesomeness of '80s rock. She married her husband onstage at the oldest surviving theatre in central Ohio, and their first dance was to Bon Jovi's "Thank You for Loving Me." Her favorite musical is a three-way tie between Les Mis , Wicked , and Hamilton. I'll Be There for You is Brieanna's debut young adult novel. It was inspired by her family's commitment to kindness, including performing 100 kind acts in a single day. Brieanna lives in Westerville, Ohio, with her husband, daughter, and dog.