Relaxing with Rom/Coms

When I am looking for escape and relaxation, a young adult romantic comedy is just what the doctor ordered.  Three of my favorite YA rom/com authors have new books out that I would recommend.  Lynn Painter's Trust Fall finds a midwestern girl's life changed overnight when she inherits a brownstone in New York City. Jennifer Chen's Checking You Out focuses on Lizzie who finds notes in her favorite fantasy novels at the library. She is determined to find the author. Sarah Dessen's Change of Plans introduces Finley Hope who thinks she is going to NYC with her divorcee mom, only to find out Mom has cancer and is taking them to the rural summer home she has agreed to sell. 

In Trust Fall Julia Lowell’s life changes overnight when her family inherits a historic brownstone in NYC from an old man her family befriended in Nebraska. In order to inherit the family must live in the brownstone for at least six months.  Julia and her twin brother Liam attend Gardenwood Academy where they meet Damion Rutledge, Lou’s nephew who expected to inherit Lou’s home. Not knowing his background Julia falls in love with Damion, but is devastated when she finds out the truth.

Checking You Out  features Dylan and Lizzie, who meet while volunteering at a kitty nursery.  Lizzie loves reading fantasy novels and someone is leaving her notes in all her favorite books.  She and her friends are determined to find out who it is, so she starts leaving notes for him.  Dylan, the captain of the tennis team, was bullied at his last school for reading fantasy novels.  He is determined not to make that mistake at his new school, so when Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he denies it.  She is sure her mystery pen pal has to be a reader and is sure it can’t be Dylan, even though their attraction to each other is undeniable. 

In Change of Plans Finley Hope, who has always preferred to live in the shadow of her boyfriend Colin, heads off for a two-week summer vacation to NYC with her distant divorcee mom, while Colin goes on a Disney cruise with his family.  Then Mom abruptly changes their plans and takes her to her family's rural summer home that she has agreed to sell.  Finley is reintroduced to her aunts and the rest of the extended family whom she met when she was young.  She inadvertently fins out Mom has breast cancer and is facing surgery and treatment in the near future, explaining why she is ready to sell.  Finley is thrown for a loop when Colin breaks up with her over a video call and abruptly throws her phone in the lake in a fit of anger, distancing herself from communication with her dad and friends at home.  As the family prepares the home for sale, Finley befriends new people including Ben, the shy adorable cook at her aunt's diner. She realizes that all her future plans revolved around Colin and determines that she is in charge of her own destiny.  

Young Adults Who Love YA Literature

 Young adults who love literature would seem to be a natural focus for YA novels.  In Left on Read by Marissa Eller the main character Nova has a passion for American Lit and dreams of being a professor in the future. Unfortunately her American Lit teacher has lost her interest in teaching, so Nova takes over the class.   Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen focuses on two characters  Dylan and Lizzie, who love fantasy literature. Lizzie is determined to find out who her mystery pen pal is, who loves fantasy. The pen pal  Dylan is captain of the tennis team and has learned the hard way that athletes are not supposed to like fantasy novels, so hides his interest. The Beckett Effect by Nashoe Jones finds Wren Richardson, a film lit student,  attempting to get revenge on Beckett Lane who humiliated her sister by dumping her soon after they begin dating. Wren's film lit project focuses on proving Beckett is a Byronic hero who doesn't deserve redemption. 

In Left on Read  Nova and Hayes have been academic rivals throughout high school.  When they are paired for a project on mental health, they begin to realize that they understand each other better than anyone else.  As Nova battles to make the American Literature class she’s been looking forward to worth attending, Hayes is there to support her. The teacher, who is dialing it in, is threatened when Nova takes over supporting fellow students with their class projects. Her dream of becoming an American Lit professor will be enhanced if she succeeds.

Dylan and Lizzie meet while volunteering at a kitty nursery in Checking You Out.  Lizzie loves reading fantasy novels, and someone is leaving her notes in all her favorite books.  She and her friends are determined to find out who it is, so she starts leaving notes for him.  Dylan, the captain of the tennis team, was bullied at his last school for acknowledging the he loves reading fantasy novels.  He is determined not to make that mistake at his new school, so when Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he denies it.  She is sure her mystery pen pal has to be a reader and thinks it can’t be Dylan, even though their attraction to each other is undeniable.  

The Beckett Effect begins when Wren Richardson’s sister is humiliated by Beckett Lane, and Wren vows to get revenge. Girls seem to fall for him despite him dropping them soon after they begin dating.   Wren and her best friend Chelsie decide to focus their Film Lit project on proving him to be a Byronic hero who doesn’t deserve redemption. A Byronic hero is a literary archetype named after the English Romantic poet Lord Byron, characterized by a combination of pride, cynicism, emotional depth and moral ambiguity. Wren attempts to prove the rumors about him only to find that they are all false.  She goes “undercover” and begins to date him and ultimately falls for him as well. Of course, he and her sister find out about the project and Wren must find a way to make amends.  The author adds snippets of film scripts to add to the cinematic value.

Classic Connections

 Classic connections are found throughout young adult novels, as inventive contemporary retellings of familiar tales are popular with YA authors. I am recommending three new novels with classic connections this month.  Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen is a Romeo and Juliet inspired romance which focuses on feuding Taiwanese and Korean families who had hoped to open a restaurant together. Inspired by Ferris Bueller's Day Off, While We're Young by K.L Walther has three high school friends skipping school in the hope of repairing their once close friendship. Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher is a queer reimagining of the Robin Hood legend. 

In Hangry Hearts Julie Wu and Randall Hur were best friends until their families had a falling out.  Now they see each other at Pasadena Farmers Market where they have food stands. When Julie and Randall are paired with the wealthy London Kim for a community service school project, they are forced to work together and acknowledge their attraction to each other. Randall is transgendered, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for them or their families.  The falling out happened years ago when the two families attempted to open a restaurant together, but it burned down before they could open.  As Julie and Randall sneak around stealing kisses, they hope to find away to get their feuding grandmothers to forgive each other.

While We're Young introduces Grace, her brother James and her best friends Isa and Everett.  They used to be inseparable until Isa and Everett had a short-lived romance with a messy breakup.  In the last month of their senior year Grace orchestrates a “day off” to Philadelphia to repair relationships but leaves James behind. She and Everett are secretly in love and Isa is with James, but each  couple is afraid to go public. Reenacting their favorite Philly experiences, with James hot on their trail, they deal with grief, family secrets and mental health issues.  Told in four points of view, this joyride through Philadelphia playfully reenacts the shenanigans from the classic movie. .

Not for the Faint of Heart introduces Robin Hood's granddaughter Mariel Hartley-Hood, who is captain of a diverse crew of Merry men and women.  Her father has taken over the Merry Men after Robin’s retirement. The story begins with Mariel and her band abducting Clemence Causey, a healer, to heal various wounds they have suffered. Clem, whose light-hearted humor contrasts to Mariel’s serious ambition, finds herself enamored of not only the band's adventurous lifestyle, but also Mariel herself.  When her father is abducted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Mariel is determined to rescue him and prove herself worthy of being a leader.  Told from Clem’s and Mariel’s alternating third-person perspectives, this action packed rom-com is filled with explosive fight sequences and tender moments highlighting the loyalty the members feel for each other.