Meet Cute

October 16, 2017
“This might be a love story, so I want to tell it the right way,” begins Nina LaCour’s entry in an anthology celebrating serendipitous run-ins that feel bigger than coincidence, in this case a customer-service-related flirtation between two teenage girls. Contributions from Huntley Fitzpatrick, Meredith Russo, Sara Shepard, Nicola Yoon, Ibi Zoboi, and others add to an enjoyable and diverse collection that never feels repetitive, despite the stories’ shared thematic underpinnings. Dhonielle Clayton offers a enticing fantasy in which a girl attempts to see the love that the gods have destined for her when a boy appears at her feet. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s playful “The Dictionary of You and Me” involves an overdue library book, and Jocelyn Davies charms with a tale about New York City junior Samara, who tries to quantify fate for a statistics project after a missed connection on the subway. The stories vary in genre, and although many involve love at first sight, others are about seeing someone in a new light. All 14 leave just enough magic and mystery to inspire readers to trust in a little bit of fate. An Alloy Entertainment property. Ages 14–up.

October 15, 2017
Fourteen short stories from prominent authors for teens explore the moments when two people first meet. The collection's title suggests that these stories will showcase first encounters that wrap up with happily-ever-after endings. Many of the stories do deliver; several even end with first kisses. But occasionally the stories offer endings that are tinged with sadness, preventing the collection from becoming saccharine. Characters who share a genuine connection are separated by circumstances, whether it's traveling in vastly different high school social circles or being sent on a one-way mission to Mars. Topics beyond romance add complexity, as characters grapple with grief, financial hardships, and body-image issues. The collection is a welcome departure from strictly heterosexual romance, including cisgirl-meets-girl and transgirl-meets-girl connections in addition to girl-meets-boy scenarios. There are nods to modern dating with computerized matching services, reality TV, and introductions via social media. There's futuristic science fiction and a story that 1980s movie fans will recognize as a nod to Say Anything. The stories include great banter, the determination to find a boy from a crowded subway train, and the message that the rewards of love outweigh the potential pain of loss. A collection that adds much-needed diversity to the existing teen-romance genre. (Romance. 14-18)

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