What You’ve Always Suspected About Me
So, here’s the honest truth: I’m a 12-year-old girl at heart. I love young adult romances.
I’m afraid that makes it sound like I’m all about Harlequin Romance Juniors (are there such a thing? I have no inclination to Google that phrase, but you are more than welcome to do so), and that’s not really true.
I just happen to really enjoy the romance aspect of any given YA novel. (There is no need for me to mention here that I love Twilight, right? I thought not).
Take Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl. A fantastic book which would be great without the romance, but is even better with it.
Or The Hunger Games. Why hello love triangle. Nice to see you here; thanks for joining us.
I heard a lot of good things about Graceling, but I was ultra-motivated to read it when the back cover informed me that, in addition to “elegant, evocative prose” and the creation of a “mesmerizing world” and “death-defying adventure” there was a “heart-racing romance.” Sign me up, friends.
I just read my first Elizabeth Scott book this week (Perfect You), and I remembered how much I like a little first hand-holding. Or first date. Or first kiss.
Today, I found this blog – YA Romance Reviews – which I now pretty much love with all my heart and am forcing all my friends to go look at. Because I’m hoping they’re also twelve. Needless to say, I’m looking up holdings for all the books mentioned on the “Top 20 Couples” page at all the library branches in the state.
You don’t have to admit you love a little teen romance yourself, but I would love you forever if you did.
*******************************************************************
Gotten love them! More later.
Though I can’t say I love ALL the ones you mentioned, I am quite the sucker for romance too. I liked The Hunger Games, but the romance totally did me in. Loved it. M just rolled his eyes when I told him about it but then conceded it was well done after reading the book too. YA romance is USUALLY good clean fun. I’m a sucker…
Yep, big big fan of the teen romance.
Which is why I have to insist that you read ALL the Sarah Dessen books, and Sloppy Firsts (at least), and have you ever read the Caroline Cooney “Time” books? And also, if you haven’t read it, read The Only Alien on the Planet. One of my fave YA books of all time. Of course now you’ll probably hate it.
Sucka’ here. I’m reading “The Blue Sword” this week. I think I like it better than “Hero and the Crown” because of the romance. In the latter, I always thought the Aerin-Luthe thing was, well, a little creepy, and I just felt bad for Tor. But Corlath–ah! There is a real man. 🙂
Try The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein. I loved it in high school. In fact, I may just read it again!
Oh, you know I’m just a YA girl. Thanks for the tips.
I would like to say that I’m not, in fact, a 12 year old girl.
At 12, I still suspected that those deacons might have a cootie or two.
I’m definitely still 14 though, and have been known to giggle out loud at certain aspects of new romance. The kiss! The awkwardness! The lack of TMI(usually)!
You know I’m right there with you 🙂 Edward 4EVA.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED “Graceling”! It made me laugh and smile throughout the entire book. Other favorites: Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray, The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot and The Trickster Series by Tamora Pierce. Oooo…I’m gonna go reread them right now….
I’ll admit it. I’m not ashamed.
I’m somewhere between 9-1/2 and 16 years old because along with YA romances (gosh, they even had them when I was in school, even if they were a little more subtle – lol), I still love paper dolls, doll houses, and dolls that come with lots of clothes and accessories, too.
I don’t think I’ve read any of the books anyone mentioned here, but I did enjoy Boston Jane by Jennifer Holm.
As to Harlequins, I don’t know if they write any for teens, but I wouldn’t recommend that a teen read any Harlequin Romance published in last 20 to 30? years. The old Harlequins (say about 1979 and earlier) are really quite interesting and usually suitable for teens to read. Some of them are almost travel guides. I used to love to read the ones set in Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia.
hmm – I never thought about this. You are right though. I have found that I am not a big fan of YA books if they do not have a little romance attached.
a new site for ya books! JOY!! Janssen you are fabulous. I was lacking on my book list. 🙂 thanks!
You’re not the only one! I definitely fall into the 12-year-old-at-heart category! I LOVE YA romances!
me too. I heart YA romances. Speaking of which…I noticed you read a Sarah Dessen book. My favorite of hers is a book called “the truth about forever”.
Oooh ooh yay. Excited to read that blog. The only books I like are YA.
I admit, I should be part of an YA Romance anonymous group, as I like them just a bit too much. I like them better than adult romances, since you rarely have to deal with anything too crude or graphic. For the most part they are completely wholesome. What other point is there for reading Twilight? Thanks for sharing these links, I’ll definitely check them out!
I totally swoon over the romance in “The Goose Girl” and I’m 25. And generally in YA the romance is either easy to relate to or very sweet–usually not ridiculous or outlandish (ala adult romance novels).
I not only love YA romance, I just love YA in general. Don’t get me wrong, I love a well-written book of any genre or age, but I find more success in the YA section.
And Science Teacher Mommy, I’m totally with you on the Luthe being creepy thing. Still love the book, but the romance not as much as the Blue Sword.
12 and proud of it 🙂
Oh my gosh, I am totally the same. This describes me to a “T”, and I haven’t read most of these book, so thanks for the heads up! Although Goose Girl is one of my all-time fav’s. I love the romance aspect, and it doesn’t matter if it’s just hand-holding, like in “Princess Academy”(Hale), or the yummy, heart-racing kissy stuff like in Twilight. And the nice thing about YA or JV novels is that they’re not as likely to be so R or X-rated as the adult ones. Have you read the “Uglies” series? Scott Westerfield is the author. Not the GREATEST I’ve ever read, but entertaining fantasy and definitely contain a nice romance angle!
I think I must be a cynic at heart, because most love-triangles just don’t do it for me. What does that say about my personal life, anything? That I’m a square, perhaps?
Sigh.
xox
you are seriously just so uber cute 🙂
Yep, can’t myself when it comes to the YA romances. I’ve decided you need a search engine on your blog. Is that possible? I was trying to find out if you’ve reviewed Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. Let me know, I need a reliable review.
I *write* teen romance. So, to be honest, it’s really my favorite as well.
OOoh thanks for that link! I like a little romance in everything, not just YA. I love the heart racing giddiness of it.
(David and Sammy, you can search her blog from the box in the very upper left!)
I just started The Hunger Games… Ohhhhh so good. I am a closet teen romance lover too (dont tell my mom, she hates them) But i just love books that satisfy my need for simple love. The also seem to be the kind of books that it is easier for me to read and still be a mommy. I can read them fast and not feel like i am neglecting my kids too much.