love is in the air

My first love’s name was Darren. Oh how I loved that boy or so I thought as I look back at that time. I remember the intensity of it and the heartache when it came to an end. Love is makes the world go around. At times it makes you feel like you are on a rollercoaster, ups, downs, twists and turns. Could he or she be the one? Or is it an infatuation that will eventually fade? Your first love will probably be the one you remember for the rest of your life. You may have other loves as you grow but this the one that you can never forget. I understand why you may like to read romance books – they give you something to relate to or allow you to dream about something you could have. There are all sorts of romance books out there for people your age. Some are more P.G. while others have a little edge to them. Check out my list of romantic choices below.

Sarah Dessen books
Reading is Sarah Dessen’s books are like eating Doritos; you can’t read just one. All of her books seem to have a girl learning and growing, going through changes and romantic undertones. If I had to choose, probably my favorite would be This Lullaby. I think it is because the girl in the story is such a cynic and really doesn’t believe in love. She is what you would call a serial dater letting down the guy before they get close. You can’t really blame her when her mother is on her 5th marriage and her dad is not in the picture. Is there anyone that can get Remy to settle down? Maybe that loveable Dexter has a chance…..

How Not to Spend your Senior Year – Cameron Dokey
Jo and her family are always on the move. It is not by choice either. Jo and her father are in the witness protection program. Considering how many places she has lived it, she knows all the tricks on how to blend in. She lives where she lives now – she actually has a best friend and the hottest guy in school has taken an interest her. It shouldn’t surprise you that as things were going well; Jo has to move…again. But what about Alex, the guy she likes? This is not the end of story by a long shot. When you are in the witness protection program you are not supposed to have contact with anyone from your old life when you assume a new identity. Jo is having a tough time with that and devises a plan to stay in touch with her old friends. If you enjoy romantic comedies then you will enjoy this book. I had fun watching Jo get out the messes she created for herself while being dead.

A Novel Idea – Aimee Friedman
How many times have you joined a club or activity just to get a guy’s attention? I think we have done stupid things at one time or another. Some backfire while others can be considered a success. Looking to beef up her extra curricular activities for her college application, Norah starts up a book club. Everything is going pretty good and then James joins the group and Norah finds herself attracted to him. Did I mention that she was pretty unlucky in love? When you are unlucky in love, sometimes the craziest ideas seem sane. The group for her was no longer about literature but more about snagging James. Unfortunately for her most of her attempts don’t work out the way she wants but lucky for her he was interested in her anyway.

Twilight – Stephenie Meyers
If you thought Romeo and Juliet were star crossed lovers then you need to read twilight which is the ultimate story of dangerous love. Twilight is the story of Bella and Edward. They first meet after she moves to Forks to live with her father. It was impossible not to notice Edward. Besides it being a small school, Edward is absolutely Adonis perfect with his porcelain skin and ocher eyes. What girl would not be attracted to a guy like that? But Edward has a secret – he is a vampire. At first he tries to keep his distance because he is so attracted to her blood lust wise but finally gives in and a relationship begins. Complications arise as the pair grows closer putting Bella’s family and friends in harm’s way.

Romiette and Julio – Sharon Draper
Ever thing that you would see a retelling of the classic Romeo and Juliet story with a happy ending? In many ways, Romiette and Julio are quite similar to the star crossed lover Romeo and Juliet. Both come from very proud families. Instead of meeting at a feast, they meet in a chat room. Turns out they live in the same town and go to the same school. They start hanging out but not everybody is happy about it - her parents and a gang at school who has their eyes on him. However, Romiette and Julio think it is fate, kismet that they met and that they are soul mates. An explosive event takes place which brings the couple closer and finally the admiration and respect from the both of the party’s parents. Awww……

Hearts Delight – Per Nilsson
I think we all are memory collectors especially if you have mementos of love locked up in your heart. Love books are not just for girls as you will see when you read this book about the ups and downs of first love and break ups from a guy’s point of view. Heart’s Delight, as the narrator calls her is his first true love. She was this gorgeous and mysterious red head he met on the bus while going back to school. Soon they started talking then fell in love but then they fell out of love and now all he wants to do is get rid of the memories he has.

If You Come Softly - Jacqueline Woodson
Love doesn’t really care what color your skins is. Ellie and Jeremiah are in love. The problem is that he is black and she is white and Jewish. The skin color issue doesn’t bother them but it bothers the rest of the world as they think their relationship in not appropriate. What kind of world do they or we for that matter have to live in to make a relationship like that work?

Forever – Judy Blume
Is it possible while you’re still a teenager to experience a love so strong that it will last a life time? This book has been around for a long time – I read it when I was in high school and you will do the same thing I did after I finished it – I passed it around to my friends. In books today we see a lot of sexually active teens but back when this book came out that topic was a no- no and she tackled the topic with sensitivity.

A Walk to Remember and The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks
I always tell people when they read a Nicholas Sparks book they better have a box of tissues nearby. Both A Walk to Remember and The Notebook is about the ups and downs of first love. In, A Walk to Remember, she begs him not to fall in love with her but of course the heart thinks differently than the brain. Who would’ve thought that the goody-two shoes daughter of the town’s minister would fall in love with the school jock that really has some growing up to do could find a love so simple and pure. As for the Notebook, it deserves to be mentioned when you are naming classic love stories. The book was so much more than just two kids from different sides of the tracks falling in love.

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart – Deb Caletti
When Ruby, a shy girl falls in love with the rich handsome boy on a motorcycle she thinks she has pretty much died and gone to heaven. A dream come true. Interestingly, while things are looking up for Ruby in the romance department, her mother’s is crumbling around her as her father walks in and out of her life. Turns out Travis wasn’t Prince Charming after all and Ruby should’ve kicked him to the curb but some things are easier said than done. This story has heart and by the end both Ruby and her mother will know the true meaning of love.

Seventeenth Summer – Maureen Daly
If a story is good enough then it can stand the passages of time. Seventeenth Summer is actually a reprint – the original story was published in 1942 when the author was still in college and in love for the first time. Angie and Jack are easy to relate to. Daly perfectly portrays the giddy feelings of first love. Read this book – it won’t be one you soon forget.