Family issues abound in three new YA romances, where exploring the problems with the help of a new love interest, leads to a path of self-discovery, as well as young love. More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn (You'd Be Mine) introduces a dancer and a composer, who collaborate on a dance piece and find each other in the process. In Smash It! by Francina Simone (The Keeper's Vow) Olivia Johnson decides to lead a more fulfilling life by auditioning for her school's musical, a rap version of Othello. Breathless by Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places) finds Claudine spending her senior summer with her mom on a remote island in Georgia, after her dad abandons the family. All of these novels are best suited for more mature readers, as the romantic content is fairly graphic.
In More Than Maybe Vada, a dancer and music critic, and Luke, a musician, who creates a vlog with his twin called "The Grass is Greenly," have been crushing on each other from afar. However, they don't get together until his music composition class and her dance class are assigned joint projects. He will create the music for a piece she choreographs and dances. When his twin hears the song Luke wrote for Vada, he plays it on their vlog without Luke's permission. Their dad, a former rock star who wants Luke to pursue a stage career, hears it and ups the pressure for Luke to perform, which he wants no part of. Problems with her alcoholic father also complicate Luke and Vada's relationship. Working together at The Loud Lizard, her mom's boyfriend's club, their flirtation turns into a friendship filled with mutual interests and ultimately love. Their texts and conversations include references to songs whose lyrics reflect their emotions. Reading it a second time, I used the internet to listen to the songs in the texts as they occurred, I loved exploring the music that gives a deeper insight into this slow burning romance.
Smash It! introduces Black high school junior Olivia Johnson, who is inspired by Shonda Rhimes's Year of Yes to embrace her fears and lead a more fulfilling life. Liv auditions for her school's rap version Othello and begins to date so she can move on from her role as number one fan to a music duo consisting of Dre, her best friend and Eli, her neighbor and secret crush. Also on her To Do list are accepting her "curves," resolving issues with her overly critical single mom and finding female friends. The boys find out she's auditioning, and she and Eli start staging rehearsals where he helps her with singing and she helps him with dancing. As they grow closer, she waits for him to make a move, but when he doesn't, decides she needs to move on. Liv lands the part of Bianca, Eli is cast as Othello and her new love interest Kai is Iago. As she begins checking off items on her, "F*#k It" list, she finds herself unprepared for the fallout from her riskier behavior. But with the help of new friends, she realizes her most important lesson is learning to love herself. Filled with a diverse cast of supporting characters, the story is interspersed with the musical lyrics from the rap version of Othello that the school is performing. Readers will enjoy the well-paced roller coaster of events as Liv journeys toward self acceptance. (Release date September 22)
As Breathless opens, Claudine, aka Claude, is anticipating high school graduation and making plans for a road trip with her best friend before heading off to college. Then her world falls apart. Her parents announce their separation and Mom, who is an author, tells Claude they are going to spend the summer on a remote island off the coast of Georgia, where her ancestors lived, hoping for inspiration for a new book. Claude is furious with her parents, but when she meets the group of misfit teens who work on the island, she lets them draw her into a journey of self-discovery, including first love. While Mom researches the family history, Claude connects with Miah, a troubled teen who works for Outward Bound and is wise beyond his years. As they explore the wonders of the island, Miah helps Claude accept her family situation, and he confides in her about his family pressures. Their frank discussions about the loss of her virginity to him, sexual pleasure and loyalty are specific, but tastefully done. What begins as a summer fling turns into much more. (Release date September 29)
