10 YA Books That Make Great Valentines

A book is the best valentine you can have. I know I am always in the mood for a good swoony romance when the Valentines Day season comes around. These are my top 10 young adult books I recommend making a date with this Valentines day. Dive into that box of delicious chocolates and enjoy these romantic reads that are sure to get your heart beating this Sunday. 

The Anatomical Shape Of a Heart

Jenn Bennett

Feiwel and Friends 

I read The Anatomical Shape of a Heart last month and absolutely loved it! The romance was beyond adorable and most importantly very real. I couldn't stop smiling while reading this book. You can check out my review here.

The Wrath and the Dawn 

Renee Ahdieh 

Putnam 

If your in the mood for a little bit of fantasy with a mysterious and sexy romance this Valentines Day I highly recommend The Wrath and the Dawn.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Becky Albertalli
Balzer & Bray

I don't think I have read a book that made me smile and feel as good as Simon did. The relationship between Simon and Blue is one of the most adorable and perfect things I have ever read. Simon is also one of my favorite main characters ever. You can check out my review here.


A Little Something Different
Sandy Hall
Swoon Reads

Words can not describe how cute and adorable this book is. First you start off with that swoon worthy cover and then you get to the actual love story and BOOM my heart starts gushing and my face starts to hurt from the constant smiling.  You can check out the rest of my review here.


First & Then
Emma Mills
Henry Holt and Co.

If you are looking for a contemporary novel with a slow burning romance but also a book about family relationships and sibling friendship I highly recommend this cute and fast read. You can check out my review here.



The Weight of Feathers
Anna-Marie McLemore
Thomas Dunne

If you are a fan of beautifully written magic realism this is the Valentines Day read for you. This book about rival traveling performers with star crossed lovers is guaranteed to capture your heart. 


Kasie West

If you are looking for a fast and light romance I recommend any of Kasie West's contemporary's. My personal favorite of hers is On The Fence.


The Game of Love and Death
Martha Brockenbrough
Arthur A. Levine Books

Are you in the mood for a more intense and philosophical romance this Valentines Day? If so, The Game of Love and Death is the perfect read for you.


Sarah Dessen

I am sure you know who Sarah Dessen is. Sarah Dessen was the first author whose books really spoke to me. As a result her books are my go to. Sarah's reads always feature great romances but they also go much deeper and lead to a coming of age story. This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, and Just Listen are my all time favorite Sarah Dessen books.


When It Happens
Susane Colasanti
Viking Juvenile

Susane Colasanti has been a favorite author of mine since middle school. She has written many more books in recent years, her newest book being City Love. Though the first book she ever wrote, When It Happens, is still my most favorite of hers to date, even years later. If you love Sarah Dessen and are looking for a similar read Susane Colasanti should be the next author you check out.


What is your go to romantic read?
What are you planning on reading this Valentines Day?
Tell me in the comments below!

Review: A Little Something Different

Title: A Little Something Different

Author: Sandy Hall

Pages: 272

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Publisher: Swoon Reads:

Publication Date: August 26th 2014

 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The distinctive new crowdsourced publishing imprint Swoon Reads proudly presents its first published novel—an irresistibly sweet romance between two college students told from 14 different viewpoints.

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.

But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

 

 

REVIEW:

Words can not describe how cute and adorable this book is. First you start off with that swoon worthy cover and then you get to the actual love story and BOOM my heart starts gushing and my face starts to hurt from the constant smiling.  

Gabe and Lea's love story is perfect. They are both kind of shy and even though they fit perfectly together they have a hard time admitting to each other that they want more. It was so fun to watch them fall in love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the progress of their budding romance. There are scenes where they connect and they get the same jokes and there are some very awkward scenes that leave you cringing on the edge of your seat the whole time. But not a bad kind of cringe. The kind of cringe where you are like shouting...Come on! Please! Say something! Just kiss!

Hall does a great job with make this a playful, lighthearted, feel good book with still adding in some more serious undertones. Gabe is dealing with the fall out of an incident that happened last year. This causes problems for him in his daily life and also his relationship with Lea. This storyline made the book feel more realistic but it did not take away from the fun and lovable aspect of the book.

I personally really enjoyed the fourteen different viewpoints you hear the story from. It allowed you to hear others thoughts on Lea and Gabe and see how everyone else also believes they are meant to be together. It is just one big group just rooting for them to finally get together. I was originally worried I was not going to be able to connect with the romance and characters as much because you don't actually hear from their perspectives but almost every chapter the narrator either has an interaction with one of them or watches and over hears a conversation happening between Lea and Gabe. This allowed you to see their romance grow and also understand the individual characters.

I read A Little Something Different in one sitting. I spent the whole time smiling and could not get enough. Gabe and Lea's love story had me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting and begging for them to get together. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable, and beyond adorable romance.