The To Do List Structure in YA Novels

 It's a great time for a breezy summer read before going back to school.  I found it interesting that several of the young adult romances I found on NetGalley employed a "To Do List" structure that was entertaining to follow.  In K.L. Walther's The Summer of Second Chances, Olivia Lupo decides to postpone going to college to be with her grandmother who has dementia. When Olivia's stepmother invites her to spend a month on Martha's Vineyard, Olivia realizes she has an opportunity to follow her grandmother's book of memories from the time she spent there.  Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson introduces the main character, Emily, who is looking forward to spending the summer with her best friend Sloane. But Sloane disappears, leaving Emily a letter with 13 tasks for her to complete. An Introvert's Guide to Kissing In Europe by Brenda Janowitz focuses on a bereaved teen struggling with her sister's death. Her grandmother, a former member of the singing duo "The Flower Sisters," suggests she go to Europe and replicate the tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966. In each book the main character meets a love interest who is more than willing to help her check off each item on her "To Do" list. 

 The Summer of Second Chances finds a recent high school graduate, Olivia, choosing to postpone going to college to stay home with her beloved grandmother, Annie, who has dementia.  When her stepmother invites Olivia to spend time with the family on Martha’s Vineyard, she’s reluctant to go.  Then she finds a box of pictures and memories from Annie’s time there and decides to go and visit all the places Annie describes as magical. Olivia plans to get pictures of herself in all of the same places to make a photo album with their pictures side by side. When she arrives in the Vineyard, Olivia reconnects with Connor, whom she has met previously. He offers to help her reconstruct her grandmother's memories with the hope of becoming part of Olivia's future. 

In Since You've Been Gone Emily’s best friend Sloane disappears without a word, and Emily is devastated. Sloane has always called the shots, with Emily tagging along. Then a letter arrives from Sloane outlining 13 tasks for Emily to complete.  Thinking they will lead her to Sloane, she begins completing the tasks with the help of new friends Frank, Emily and Collins.  As they work together on the to-do list, Emily and Frank grow closer despite his having a long-time girlfriend who is out of town.  Emily gains self-confidence as she “Hugs a Jamie,” Steals something,” Goes skinny dipping” and more. This engaging story about a side kick who becomes the star of her own life will delight readers.

 An Introvert’s Guide to Kissing in Europe introduces Emily Tannenbaum, whose sister  recently died. Emily vows to be the safe girl that her parents don’t have to worry about.  But as she is graduating from high school as valedictorian, she realizes she needs an adventure before heading off to Dartmouth.  Her grandmother, a former member of the famous Flower Sisters music duo, proposes that Emily take time off to follow the European tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966.  Emily is befriended by a variety of traveling teens, and hits it off with Penny, who agrees to join her on her European tour. They meet Nick and Alfie and travel with them until the boys have to return to London to see their sick grandmother. Of course, Emily and Nick reconnect, and as her European trip draws to a close, Emily realizes that Nick could be “The One.”  

Musicians -The Notes, Every Time You Hear that Song and The Ballad of Darcy and Russell,

 Books about elite musicians can go in many different directions, but frequently the tolls of the mental pressure these high achievers experience, resulting in questionable behavior, are at the core of the story's conflict. The Notes by Catherine Con Morse, explores the mental health issues challenging elite pianists at a boarding school for performing arts. Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris focuses on the personal sacrifices made by a country singer in her quest for stardom. The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson follows Russell Henrion, an aspiring musical theater writer, who sabotages his whirlwind love-at-first-sight romance with Darcy Milligan, by lying about his true identity. 

In The Notes Chinese American pianist Claire Wu attends a South Carolina boarding school for the performing arts.  When a Taiwanese piano teacher, Dr. Tina Li, arrives, Claire is smitten and is determined to please the demanding teacher.  However, her best friend Jenny and crush Rocky are skeptical. When Claire begins receiving anonymous notes warning her not to fall under Tina's spell, she becomes obsessed with who is writing them.  Preparing for her piano repertoire with hours of practice, falling for Rocky, and striving to be accepted in the Asian Students Society, Claire begins to struggle under the emotional and physical stress. Dr. Li misguidedly believes that pressuring students with negative reinforcement will improve their performance. Rocky, who is the top senior pianist at the school, flounders under her harsh treatment, and Claire in her attempt support Rocky battles to succeed as well.  The mystery of who is writing the notes is secondary to the realistic exploration of mental health issues challenging elite young artists in this semi-autobiographical novel. There is a content playlist included at the end of the book. 

In the beginning of Every Time You Hear that Song, superstar country singer Decklee Cassel dies, leaving behind a time capsule supposedly filled with memorabilia. However, when it is opened, there is nothing in it.  Shortly, after the shocking revelation, Decklee's prerecorded message introduces a scavenger hunt to find the contents.  Teen reporter Darren Purchase, who is from Decklee's hometown of Mayberry, Arkansas, goes on a road trip with her friend and coworker Kendall Wilkinson to solve the mystery. The story chronicles Decklee's rise to fame in the 60s and her partnership with lyricist Mickenlee Hooper and their secret lesbian romance. Mickenlee mysteriously disappears after a falling out with Decklee over being true to themselves.  Decklee, who has struggled to climb the ladder to stardom is not willing to reveal their relationship in a musical world that does not accept homosexual relationships.  Darren, who herself is a bisexual, uncovers the scavenger hunt clues with uncanny prescience, until the final shocking reveal.  Told in alternating perspectives, the novel uncovers the ugly truth about the sacrifices made in the climb to stardom.

The Ballad of Darcy and Russell takes place as the main characters are heading home from the Silverspun Music Festival.  Darcy Milligan has gone to see her dad's favorite band, Nighthawk, before she heads to Connecticut for her freshman year of college. When her bus home breaks down in Jesse, Nevada and her phone dies, she seeks the help of Russell Henrion, an aspiring musical theater writer, who will be a freshman at the University of Michigan.  It's love-at-first sight and they spend a romantic few hours together, wandering around Jesse until the bus is fixed.  As they bond over hopes and fears about the future, they find themselves falling head over heels.  Then they break into a hotel pool for a swim and get arrested by the police. Russell breaks down and calls his celebrity dad to get them out of jail, revealing that he has been lying to Darcy about who he really is.  Darcy ends up at his house waiting to catch a bus back to LA and meets all of his dad's ex-wives and children.  She discovers the complicated emotions of a musician who is trying to get out from under his father's shadow and prove that he can make it on his own. Navigating the transition to college, struggling with parental expectations and the trappings of privilege, are a few of the issues covered.  The snappy dialogue and sizzling chemistry between Darcy and Russell make this a journey the reader will enjoy taking with them.