Support your teen’s emotional wellbeing - one story at a time
Two heartfelt novels about family, friendship and first love - with a secret serve of emotional support
✓ Page-turning stories
✓ Emotional insight & depth
✓ Wellbeing & meaning
The Perfect Pair
Two interconnected stories, two unforgettable characters
Tilly and Eliza are friends — each facing their own mix of family drama, big feelings, friendship shifts and first love.
Together, these novels offer a rich world of connection, emotional wellbeing and self-discovery — page-turning stories teens love with the emotional depth and insight parents can trust.
Book 01
Never, Not Ever
A summer of secrets and second chances
Every year, Tilly dreams of the dad she’s never known showing up for her birthday. But he never does. When she wakes up on the morning of her sixteenth birthday dadless yet again, she knows it’ll never happen.
In fact, it’s her worst birthday ever because her grandmother died a few months ago, her mum is working again, and the boy she’s in love with—the ridiculously gorgeous Josh—refuses to break up with his drama-queen girlfriend and notice her instead.
Then Tilly’s dad does show up, shocking everyone, and she works out an awful truth: Her mum and her grandma lied to her. For sixteen years! Tilly is drowning in her family’s lies. Worse, these feelings for her neighbour Zack—these stupid, flustering, more-than-friends feelings she’s been trying to ignore—mean she’s also lying to herself.
Never, not ever… the story she expected
Book 02
Everything’s Absolutely Fine
When perfect plans are perfectly ruined
This is Eliza’s year.
She’s got a hot new situationship with gorgeous Seb, she’s primed to win the national debating championships (wiping out last year’s epic fail), and she’s finally, finally going to make her mum proud.
But then her domineering grandmother moves in. She’s taking over Eliza’s bedroom, making toxic judgements at the dinner table and giving her opinions on everything.
Worse, her sister Ivy is acting weird, Seb missed the memo about the perfect relationship, and then there’s Declan, an intriguing new debater who’s way too distracting.
With her social life in upheaval and a storm of family traumas brewing, Eliza struggles to keep it all from erupting, including the secret she’s been hiding from everyone—including herself.
Everything’s absolutely fine… until it’s not.
What People Are Saying
“I just wanted to thank you for your book. My daughter hasn’t read all morning for a while now, but [it’s almost lunchtime] and she’s still going!!”
— Mum
“I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! (Yes, all caps shouting with glee and minimum five exclamation marks). Deep compassion. I’m so hungry for more.”
— Reader
“It was the perfect way to combine the students’ love of books with covert personal development conversations based on issues they can relate to.”
— High School Principal
About the author
Jodie Benveniste - Author & Psychologist
I write heartfelt young adult fiction that reflects the real emotional world of teens — stories that are absorbing and relatable while also supporting self-discovery and emotional wellbeing.
As a registered psychologist, I understand how our inner world shapes the way we feel, connect and grow.
My books weave that insight into compelling, emotionally truthful fiction — giving teens stories they love and giving parents confidence they’re offering something meaningful as well as entertaining.
Imagine this…
Your teen reads all day because they can’t put the story down.
They feel seen in the characters. And you feel confident you’ve given them something that’s not only entertaining, but also supportive.
✓ Page-turning stories teens won’t want to put down
✓ Emotional depth that parents value
✓ Relatable challenges: family drama, friendship, first love
✓ Characters and moments that stay with you
Ready to start?
Order the 2 book set
The perfect pair to support your teen’s wellbeing
Not ready to buy yet?
Download the Teen Connection Guide - Free!