"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 Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey- Reshelved Books

**The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey was sent to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

For anyone who has been patiently waiting a new YA book review from me, look no further than this post!

The Library of Lost Things introduces us to Darcy Wells, a 17 year old girl who's been hiding the fact that her mother is a hoarder. With a new building superintendent, the secret that Darcy has worked so hard to hide is threatening to be exposed.  In a few weeks from when the author introduces the reader to Darcy, she will be 18, no longer at worry for CPS to take her away but fueled by the prospect that her home might be taken away from her and her mother. 

I didn't find there was as much focus on Darcy and her mom's relationship. I kinda thought that it could have been more involved? Yes, we knew that there was a shopping addiction and that her mother had other shortcomings but that was kinda it.  (Maybe the lack of her mother's appearance was to show that she was somewhat absent?! Update: I think it was totally intentional!)

Book Cover was copied from Amazon- linked above

Other than that, I felt like everything that Darcy was going through was relatable.  Having a fear of being out in front of an audience on a stage: normal.  Being on that stage and having to have your first kiss at the same time: terribly mortifying and yet a totally relatable feeling.  Having strong feelings for someone who you know can only be your friend and nothing else: also a normal thing. 

Darcy as a character was just bland.  There wasn't anything that made her stand out in my mind. 

My final feelings on this book are the following: it fell a little flat for me.  I found it to be very slow going for a good amount of the book.  It wasn't until the last 3 or 4 chapters that the story picked up from me. 

I would give this book 3 coffee beans out of 5 coffee beans.  

This book will be available for purchase on October 8, 2019.

~ Jillian