Harriet Reuter Happgood, author of The Square Root of Summer, rewrites history for the kids (and adults) from your favorite teen dramas.

‘Characters From Teen Dramas Who Need To Revisit Their Pasts’ by Harriet Reuter Happgood

In my book The Square Root of Summer, teen physics prodigy Gottie H. Oppenheimer time travels to key moments from her own past, to better understand how to deal with grief, heartbreak and falling in love again. As a die-hard teen TV fan – I cited Dawson’s Creek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer in my undergrad thesis, and wrote about everything from Gilmore Girls to Veronica Mars for my Masters – I’d love to see these characters do the same.

Marissa Cooper, ‘The O.C.’

Everyone hated Coop, but I’ve got a soft spot for the girl-next-door debutante turned vodka-swilling klepto. If she revisited her romantic decisions – Luke (who hooks up with her mom!); emotionally stunted moraliser Ryan; Oliver, who kidnaps her at gunpoint; and Volchok, who literally keeps a snake in his shower – she’d see Orange County’s boys are awful, and get back together with girlfriend Alex. She might even be alive!

Jen Lindley, ‘Dawson’s Creek’

Thirteen years on from the finale and I’m still mad they killed Jen! Especially after so little screen time in the last two seasons, which is when she had her best hair. Some deathbed time travel would give her the chance to confront her terrible parents for banishing her to Capeside, deal with being “sexualized way too young”, and thus totally rethink her decision to date Dawson. Because ew.

Buffy Summers, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’

This show revisited its past plenty – viz. Angel’s 18th-century Oirish accent – but the Slayer herself rarely hit replay. She needs a “be kind, rewind” moment in the final season when she sides with Spike over Giles. A wormhole or two might remind her that Spike committed kidnap, assault and murder; whereas Giles has always been a kickass Watcher, friend, Scooby and all-round silver fox. Grrr.

Brian Krakow, ‘My So-Called Life’

Forget excellent leaner Jordan Catalano for a sec. Let’s look at the show’s resident Nice Guy, slut-shaming super-creep Brian. He starts the rumor Angela and Jordan hooked up. He stands a very nice girl up at the dance to drive Angela there instead. Brian is awful. Ugh, Brian. Take a long walk down a short wormhole to figure out when you became so awful.

Veronica Mars, ‘Veronica Mars’

Is it mean to make the X-rated Nancy Drew revisit her dark and twisted past again? That is a lot of bad feels. But by the show’s finale, the girl’s inner marshmallow is gone – she’s more mean, distrustful and spiky than ever. A quick trip down memory lane and she’d remember half her conspiracy theories and fears were ultimately unfounded. So, like, maaaaaybe you shouldn’t be secretly GPS tracking your boyfriend’s car? Learn to trust, V.

Lorelai Gilmore, ‘Gilmore Girls’

The show had plenty of flashbacks to Lorelai’s teen years, but let’s be real: Stars Hollow’s biggest commitment-phobe never confronted the high-falutin’ skeletons in her closet. I mean, it took her four whole seasons, a broken engagement and Digger Stiles to kiss Luke. Have you SEEN Luke? And then she goes and elopes with Christopher on the rebound! Go back, Lorelai. Look at your life. Look at your choices. Maybe rethink some of your crazier outfits, also.

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Happgood will be available on May 3 from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local independent bookstore.