"Writing Realistic Teen Romances" by Haleigh Wenger- Guest Blogger

Writing Realistic Teen Romances

One criticism I hear a lot when referring to teenage romance novels is that it’s not realistic for love interests to always end up together and have a happily ever after. 

Here’s what I think: It’s absolutely realistic. Because when you’re a teenager, and when you’re in love in general, it feels like forever. I can so clearly remember being sixteen and in love, writing in my Live Journal about my intense feelings while waiting around for someone special’s name to pop up on my AIM. Even as a happily married adult, I still get butterflies thinking about those first crushes and how life changing they were.

Let’s give teenagers more credit. I think they understand that not all sixteen-year-olds have a happily ever after, the end, that’s it. But we should trust them enough to know for themselves what they’re feeling and how serious those feelings are. Teens should see healthy romantic relationships in the books they read. For some of them, it might be the only place they see that a happy ending is possible. 

In April a hashtag started by the #Novel19s made the rounds on Twitter. Young Adult writers shared pictures of their prom, with and without their dates under the tag #YAGoesToProm. What was interesting was the amount of people that are currently married to their prom date. But, even if teen love doesn’t turn out to be forever love, it’s still okay to write it like it could be. When we do this, we’re validating teenager reader’s relationships and telling them that, yes, your romantic feelings are real and big and important. We’re preparing them for future relationships that will last, and showing them positive relationship role models. 

If you are a reader of Young Adult fiction who supports happy endings, check out THE ART OF FALLING IN LOVE, out August 13 from Literary Crush Publishing.

- Haleigh Wenger, author of The Art of Falling in Love

The Art of Falling in Love by Haleigh Wenger - Book Tour

Hi guys, 

I'm excited to tell you about The Art of Falling in Love by Haleigh Wenger.  Haleigh reach out to us and asked us if we would in interested in reviewing her debut novel The Art of Falling in Love, which will be released on August 13th by Literary Crush Publishing.

We asked to participate in the book tour for this release and we couldn't have been more excited!  Part of the book tour involves a guest blog post that Haleigh wrote!  You'll be able to find that here.  As always, we were asked to read this book for an honest review. 


First things first, the cover of this book is adorable!  You will note that there is a sandcastle on the front of the cover.  The sandcastle is somewhat the main focus of the book. 

Claire is spending her summer in Florida like she does every year. Except is year is different because her Opa has passed away. Upon finding a filled registration form that he completed, for her to participate in a sand building contest. 
Claire is an artist, yes but she does her art in the form of sketching.  Sand is a new medium for her and it's taking her through uncharted territory. 

Soon after finding out about the contest, Claire meets Foster.  Claire doesn't know this right away but her and Foster are more alike than just sharing their love for art.  They know what it's like to lose someone who's close to them.  Foster lost his mother a couple years before.  While 
With the help of her new friend, Foster, Claire is determined to fulfill her Opa's wishes. When Foster's past and his present come to light, Claire learns that it's going to alter not only her present but their future.  

Foster is homeless. He’s hiding from his older brother, Johnny and from CPS. Foster and Johnny have a complicated and virile relationship; one that drives Foster to stay away. (Who could blame him??)

Filled with many up and downs, the reader gets to see Claire learn to live this summer without her Opa. We also get to see the now challenging relationship Claire has with her sister, Livvy. Livvy is a few years younger than Claire but up until this summer, they had always gotten along. 

That being said, Haleigh wrote a book dealt with realistic topics. Everyone at one time or another had lost someone close to them and had to navigate grieving.  Anyone with who's close to someone, has siblings, etc; knows what it’s like to hit a rough patch and feel distant from them and like something has changed.  Even homelessness is something that's ever present in today's society; individuals and families are struggling everyday.  Even the topic of falling in love.  Sometimes that becomes all consuming and the emotions that the reader saw Haleigh have toward Foster were relatable. 

The way that The Art of Falling in Love ended, at least to me, felt like it too was realistic.  Not every relationship is meant to last.  Sometimes they hurt but you come out stronger in the end and you end up finding yourself. 

The Art of Falling in Love gives you major feels and for that, I happily give this book 4 coffee beans out of 5.  Why, you may ask?  Well.  I actually didn't like Claire's character! (I saw some of myself in Claire with how she felt toward Foster and I think that's what got to me.  Mind you, this is me knowing what I know now at 29 and not what I knew at 18).

~ Jillian

July Book Haul

Hello everybody!!

August is here! Do you know what that means? It means new books to review for a new month! 

I went on to title this post: “July Book Haul” because these are the books I got this month to read and post reviews for for August. (Bear with me, I’m new at this whole haul thing). 

All of these books are YA. One of them is juvenile fiction- I am trying a new idea here (more on that later). One of these books were sent to us for reviewing; the others I either bought myself or I borrowed from the library (summer reading is still here!)

Ready? Let’s get started! 

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett (YA) 
I’m not gonna lie, the cover art on this book totally pulled me in. I wanted to get Bennett’s newest book but it wasn’t available in paperback. I settled for this one. The premise of the story sounds super cute. 
It’s the start of summer vacation for Zorie, she’s working a few shifts at her parents’ acupuncture clinic; which happens to be right next door to an adult shop. Which happens to be opened by her neighbors. Who happen to the moms to her former best friend, Lennon. Who, Zorie HAPPENED to casually date briefly. 

Much to Zorie's dismay, her mother encourages and arranges for Zorie to go on a camping trip with friends.  Unknown to Zorie, Lennon is also going to be on this trip.  How do these two feuding friends handle their camping trip?  After a fight with Reagan, Zorie and Lennon are left to fend for themselves for a week in the woods.  How will they cope? 

The Art of Falling in Love by Haleigh Wenger (YA) *Review Request* 
Haleigh reaches out to us to review her debut release! Claire is spending her summer in Florida like she does every year. This is Year is different because her Opa has passed away. Afer finding a filled-out registration form that he completed, for her to participate in a sand building contest, Claire is forced to enter uncharted territory.   With the help of her new friend, Foster, Claire is determined to fulfill her Opa's wishes. When Foster's past and his present come to light, Claire learns that it's going to alter not only her present but their future.  Can she learn how to navigate this summer without Opa and how to help Foster without hurting herself in the process?

Maybe This Time by Kasie West (YA)
As we know, I am quite the fan of Kasie West.  I've read several of her books and I've enjoyed them all.  This is her newest release. 
Sophie is from a small town in Alabama, she's working to save money for college.  While working an event with her friend, Micah; Sophie meets Andrew Hart, the son of a famous TV chef.  For the next year, Sophie will be running into a lot of Andrew; much to her dismay. During this year, Andrew and Sophie will have 9 encounters to become friends or even something more.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett (YA)
Yes, this is the second book that I will be reading by one author in 1 month.  What is going on? Especially considering that I didn't care too much for her debut novel Alex, Approximately.  But I loooooved "Starry Eyes" enough to want to read this one.  I just reading it and I can tell you that I'm already digging it.  Birdie is 18, having been sheltered by her grandparents for the last 8 years; she convinced her grandfather to let her get her first real job.  As a lover of mystery (including Agatha Christie, Midsomer Murders, old episodes of Columbo and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries); Birdie was excited to get an overnight job working at the front desk of the Cascadia Hotel. Prior to starting her new job, Birdie had an encounter with a mystery magician. There is an element of mystery in this book, not only because Birdie learns of the identity of her mystery man but also because he helps her solve a mystery.

11 Birthdays: A Wish Novel by Wendy Mass (Juvenile Fiction)
Now, this might be a crazy pipe dream that I have but last week, I thought that it would be a cute idea to have a tween section to the blog.  I review enough YA and Jessica reviews enough Adult fiction; that a tween section would make us more well rounded.  I know that this title is a high circulating one within the library where I work.  The synopsis of the book sounds cute enough. At 10, Amanda can't wait to turn 11 but this year, her birthday will be different from past years because she won't be sharing it with her best friend, Leo.  Leo and Amanda aren't talking to each other.  When she goes to bed on her 11th birthday, she wakes up the next day to find out it's her birthday again! Will repeating her birthday, help Amanda fix her friendship with Leo? Well, I won't know until I read this tween book. 

I'll be posting reviews soon!

~ Jillian