Crush: the Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love, by Gary Paulsen

Love is often compared to riding a bike, you just have to get on, fall a few times and learn. However, the scratches heal from falling off a bike, but the wounds left by love may never turn to scars. This is a deep intro to a light-hearted book about a boy, Kevin, who wants to make sure he gets love right the first time. This leads him to gathering data and following a scientific approach to approaching the apple of his eye, Tina.

However, after looking at a number of relationships he finds that he still can't make heads or tails of relationships. As Kevin is surrounded by blooming and renewed love at the 50th anniversary of his grandparents, he is certain that everyone knows the secret to romance but him. That is, until Tina strikes up a conversation and he finds that she has been trying to talk to him for days...so love goes.

Crush: the Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love is Paulsen's follow-up to Liar, Liar and Flat Broke.