Young Adult

Tonight the Streets Are Ours

He seemed like the perfect guy. Until they met.

Recklessly loyal. That’s how seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley has always described herself. Taking care of her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But lately she’s grown resentful of everyone—including her needy best friend and her absent mom—taking her loyalty for granted. Arden finds comfort in a blog she stumbles upon called “Tonight the Streets Are Ours,” the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter. Peter gives a voice to feelings that Arden has never known how to express. He gets her in a way that no one else does. So when Peter’s heart is broken by the girlfriend he blogs about, Arden sets out on a road trip to see him.

During one crazy night out in NYC filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn’t exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, either.

Select praise

  • “Alternating poignancy and humor, and with obvious compassion for her characters, Sales gently imparts subtle wisdom about truth in storytelling, asserting independence, and above all, what it means to love someone (and not just romantically).”–The Horn Book
  • “It’s easy to get caught up in Arden’s exhilaration as she starts living life on her own terms.”–Publishers Weekly
  • “The prose is crisp and full of subtle, comic detail, and the girls’ climactic trip to New York provides an epic resolution.”–Kirkus Reviews
  • “This book will resonate with any reader who has experienced disappointments in romantic love or with any loved ones.”–VOYA
  • “The author taps into the anxiety, insecurity, and hurt that people experience when they think that they are giving more love than they receive…. Sales understands the intense bond that readers can have with bloggers and she uses this to propel Arden into a transformative road trip.”–School Library Journal
  • “This romantic adventure will grab fans of Rachel Cohen and David Levithan’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2006) and of Sarah Dessen, particularly with Arden’s desire to flirt with danger.”–Booklist
  • “Have you ever read a book, blog, or essay and thought, “I absolutely would be soul mates with this writer”? Then you’ll completely understand Leila Sales’ Tonight the Streets Are Ours…. But don’t expect your standard love story. Sales’ novel is far more about family, friendship, and finding yourself in the mess of life.”–Bustle
  • “Arden’s growth throughout the novel sets an important example for teen readers—especially girls—who have grown up believing it’s their duty to please everyone around them. While it’s important to take care of our loved ones, we have to learn to take care of ourselves first.”–Bookpage