One of my favorite things to do in the library is to come up with book displays and booklists. With Valentines Day fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to create a list of books that show the complexities of relationships: the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can find my list of break ups and unrequited love in my Love Will Tear Us Apart Booklist. Today's topic is again inspired by one of my favorite bands, New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle, which illustrates the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in when we fall in love whether it's by falling for someone we can't have or just bad timing. There are lots of books to choose from, but I tried to choose from a variety of genres. Here goes...
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- A fabulous contemporary romance set in Paris, the City of Love. Plenty of teen angst, however, it's not the kind where you want to strangle the characters but rather you can't turn the pages to find out what happens. Perkins is right on target with Anna's confusing relationship with Entienne St. Clair. Are they just friends or are they more? Is he still with his girlfriend or are they on the outs? Full of swoony moments, humour, and loveable characters. If you haven't picked this book up yet, what are you waiting for?
24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley- Jack Grammar's love life is in ruins. The love of his life has rejected his invitation to the senior prom and now Jack is dateless for the big event. In order to help him out, his best friends run a online school ad soliciting a date. Instantly Jack has gone from 0 girls interested in him to 24. The result is a hilarious adventure as Jack tries to speed-date 24 girls in 7 days. As if the selection process isn't complicated enough, Jack also has to contend with a mysterious online pen pal who gives him dating advice. 24 Girls in 7 days is a cute, quick, and entertaining guy's-eye view on dating, friendship, and understanding oneself.
Cupid by Julius Lester- The Greek gods give a new meaning to dirty little secrets. Psyche is a princess who is so lovely that people come to worship her instead of Venus, the goddess of love. Upon hearing this, Venus can't tolerate being usurped, so she sends her son, Cupid, to shoot Psyche with one of his love-tipped arrows. The problem? Cupid sees and falls hopelessly in love with Psyche. In order to conceal his mistake from his mother, Cupid only comes to Psyche only under cover of darkness and asks her to vow never to gaze upon his face or risk losing him forever, which seems simple enough until Psyche's sisters begin to plant seeds of doubt into her mind. Will Psyche abide by her promise or will she lose her love forever? Cupid is a clever retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth with a little twist. Fans of both romance and mythology should not miss out on this book.
Scott Pilgrim series by Brian O'Malley- Scott Pilgrim has the perfect life playing guitar in a rock band and dating a cute high school girl..that is until he meets Ramona Flowers, an unforgettable rollerblading delivery girl. Smitten and obsessed, Scott has to battle and defeat Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends if he wants to win her love.
M or F? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts- Marcus and Frannie are "brain twins," who have similar interests and tastes. The only thing is that Marcus is gay and Frannie is straight. Both best friends are looking for romance. Frannie thinks she has found the right guy in Jeff, but she's too shy and insecure to send him an e-mail. Marcus, on the other hand, has no problem finding the right words to keep Jeff interested, when he impersonates Frannie online. M or F? is a creative, funny romance, and well written. It's a classic tale of mistaken identity and inaccurate assumptions, filled with twists of plot that will tantalize and please readers.
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott- We all know the unwritten rule is to not fall for your best friend's significant other. Sarah knows it too, but she can't help it. Sarah has liked Ryan since eighth grade, and now he's her best friend Brianna's boyfriend. Sarah is trying to restrain her feelings and be a good friend, but she is starting to sense that Ryan likes her back too. What are they going to do now? Scott takes a fresh look at a familiar dilemma by adding an extra layer of exploring what is means to be a friend.
Persuasion by Jane Austen- We are always told to listen to our elders, but what if they were wrong? Welcome to Anne Elliot's world. Persuaded by family and friends that the charming and handsome Frederick Wentworth is not worthy of her and rejects his advances. As luck would have it, Wentworth returns after seven years and is now a captain. In other words, he's out of Anne's league. Anne can't help but still feel attracted to Wentworth, but the question is whether or not he is interested in her? Romance, wit, social and political commentary all rolled into one. You can't go wrong with Jane Austen.
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt- When Lord Death comes to claim sixteen-year-old Keturah, while she is lost in the King's Forest, she charms him with her story and is granted a twenty-four hour reprieve in which to seek her one true love. As Lord Death falls in love with Keturah, her life twists and turns. Will Keturah find her true love before it's too late? With intense romance, excellent writing, and a spellbinding story, it's hard to turn away from this book.
Beatle meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams- Are we destined to fall in love with someone or is it just pure coincidence? This is the question that superstitious John "Beatle" Lennon struggles with when he meets Destiny McCartney while dating the best friend of his twin sister. Beatle and Destiny seem to hit off right from the start with their shared quirkiness. Are they meant to be together?
Mikki Falls: Spring by Mark Crilley- Miki Yoshida has decided to be confident and aggressive in her senior year of high school. Her renewed sense of self is challenged when she sets her sights on Hiro, a tall, handsome, and decidedly antisocial new boy at school who is hiding a dangerous secret. Miki will stop at nothing to find out what Hiro is hiding and what she may discover will be the last thing she expected.
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton- Sometimes love triangles doesn't make anyone happy. Ethan Frome, a poor farmer in nineteenth-century Starkfield, Massachusetts, sets off a devastating chain of events when he falls in love with the vivacious Mattie, cousin of his sickly, demanding wife. Romantic, bleak, and tragic, Ethan Frome is one of Edith Wharton's best and most popular written novels.
My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr- Ellen has been in love with her brother Link's best friend, James, for years. Ellen wrestles with her deep love for her brother and the intensity of her feelings for his best friend. Are James and Link a couple? Ellen wrestles with that possibility as well as what it might mean to be gay. When Link begins dating a girl, James and Ellen try to find what they are to each other without Link. My Heartbeat is a complex look at love, loyalty, and sexual ambiguity.
I hope you today's edition and stop back for tomorrow's I Can't Help Falling in Love Booklist on Valentines Day. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this booklist, feel free to add them in the comments. Thanks!
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Love Anna & the French Kiss! And I really like the sound of Keturah and Lord Death, seems like just my cup of tea.
Yay Anna and the French Kiss! I loved that one so much:) The Unwritten rule sounds really interesting as well, and what a complicated and frustrating situation to be in. Thanks for these lists Rummanah, you've got some great reads on here!
PS - Regarding Chloe Neill, definitely start with the Chicagoland Vamps, I like that series better than the YA series. Both are good, but Merit and Ethan are fabulous:)