Best Friends (Orion Sessions, #1)

At thirteen, Orion Casey has stopped singing—and it’s not because she stopped loving it. After the girls everyone follows start talking about her instead of to her, she’s done performing for anyone.

Then the mysterious messages start. Anonymous. Encouraging. A little too perfectly timed.

Someone’s been watching her—really paying attention—and part of Orion can’t help hoping it’s the one person she wishes would notice her back. The texts spark a confidence she didn’t know she had—enough to discover songwriting and find her way back to music.

But as friendships shift and secrets surface, Orion begins to wonder: when your sense of self keeps changing based on who’s watching, how do you figure out who you really are?

Perfect for readers ages 10–13, Best Friends launches The Orion Sessions, a contemporary middle-grade series that blends music, friendship, and self-discovery. Written in a fast-paced style and paired with original songs readers can listen to, this coming-of-age story explores the pressures of middle school—where belonging, betrayal, and social media can shape how you see yourself.

The novel was shared with 7th graders at Dodd Middle School in Connecticut before publication, where Orion’s story resonated strongly with students.

Early Praise:
"The only downside... it's over too soon—Kirkus Reviews
"An amazing opening to the Orion Sessions Trilogy."— Readers' Favorite
"An overall joyful read."—Independent Book Review

Want to read the short prequel? It's free! Go to the Orion Sessions site or social media sites @TheOrionSessions.