Using How To Lose A Best Friend by Jordan Casomar as a Mentor Text for Suspense (Sydney Salter)

Suspense is the quality that pulls a reader through the story of any novel. Jordan Casomar does a really good job of using elements of suspense to grab the reader in his debut novel How To Lose A Best Friend, a contemporary story about a universal human experience: falling for someone who doesn't feel that same way about you.

So how does Jordan Casomar use elements of suspense? 

1. A great first line: "Of all the possible places someone can celebrate their birthday, a hospital's gotta be one of the worst."

Immediately I wanted to know who was in the hospital. What's happening? The line also shows us what motivates Zeke throughout the story: his dad has cancer. 

The first chapter also introduces us to Imogen, Zeke's longtime best friend and crush and his successful baseball career. We understand immediately that Zeke has a lot to lose. 

2. A dual POV structure creates suspense. 

Zeke's version of events is followed by Imogen's point of view. The reader finds out really early in the story that Zeke expects Imogen to be his girlfriend once she turns 16 and is allowed to date. Imogen does not feel the same way. How is that going to go?!?!?

3. Promises create suspense. 

Zeke promises to throw Imogen the best Sweet 16 party ever. The tension around this event builds to a really great payoff scene at the party. Later there are bigger promises with bigger consequences, building the pressure, and causing chaos among the friendship group. 

4. Rules create suspense.

Establishing boundaries for characters gives them chances to break those rules, creating suspense. In this story Imogen cannot date until she's 16, and that leads to many good story moments. In another scene a broken boundary provides a moment of relief in the midst of heightened tension. 

5. Connecting to the characters emotionally creates suspense. 

Jordan Casomar is so good at developing his characters emotionally, and that makes the character care about everyone in the story. Action is not the only way to create suspense. I loved these characters so much that I hated to watch them suffer. 

6. Quiet moments create room for suspense. 

A moment of ease gives the reader time to absorb the tensions in the story. Casomer creates moments of kindness--like a thoughtful school janitor--that give the reader time to pause between more intense scenes. 

The novel also includes lovely romantic moments that create space for more tension and suspense. Yet--Casomar never hesitates to write the tough scenes. He dives into the messy scenes with delicious details! The pacing is spot on in this story. 

7. Short chapters create suspense.

During the most tense moments of the story, Casomer uses short chapters to flip between Zeke and Imogen's experiences--and the reader cannot put the book down! 

8. Tough choices and bad decisions create suspense.

I especially loved the way that all the characters were good people. There are no villains in this story--just humans acting oh-so human. You don't need a villain to make a story suspenseful. Good kids making bad choices creates plenty of tension! Every reader can relate to the experience of being one's own worst enemy 😓

How To Lose A Best Friend is a good comp title for dual POV stories, friendship stories, unrequited romance, stories about dealing with illness in the family. 

I highly recommend this beautiful story about love and friendship and family.