Teen Romance - Week 10

The books that I read this week all included various forms of teen romance, a.k.a...sexy books!  I'd also like to thank my oldest daughter, Jenn, for all of the many books that she shared with me this week.  Yeah Jenn!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly, Steve and their mom, Laurel, have spent every summer vacation with Susannah and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, at their summer beach house.  This year Belly is finally "noticed" by the two brothers.  While the younger brother, Jeremiah, is quick to have the friendship become more, the older brother, Conrad, lets what will develop occur naturally.  During this summer Belly realizes Susannah is going through a divorce and a cancer diagnosis.  Belly comes to support each brother in a different way.

           

I liked this book, because while you could sense the attraction between Belly and Conrad, the author took her time in order to transition their relationship from life-long friends to something more.   As in life, meaningful relationships don’t just happen overnight.  I found this little gem displayed on the bottom shelf of Barnes & Noble in the teen section.

Along for The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden decides to spend her summer before college with her dad, step-mother, and new step-sister, Thisbe.  Auden has always been the over-achieving student at the expense of any social life in high school.  Socially unaware, she meets two brothers her 1^st day at the beach.  The younger wilder brother, Jason, seeks her out, but it’s the older more reclusive brother, Eli who manages to gain her trust and heart.  Eli and Auden, both dealing with their pasts, come to support each other and value the love and friendship that they have nurtured.  This is a beautiful story of first true love.

Once again, I found this story in my oldest daughter’s room.  It’s one of her favorite Sarah Dessen books. 

 

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone

Conrad Parker Smith was the school jock and cheerleader favorite until he had to wear a leg brace and walked with a limp.  His social value at that point became non-existent to everyone except Jessie Lou and Quentin.  Jessie Lou adored Conrad and because of his brace, she enjoyed a real friendship with him.  The two really got to know each other without his popularity getting in the way.  When Conrad had to have an experimental operation for his leg, it was Jessie Lou by his side.  The surgery was a success and he no longer needed the brace.  When his popularity returned, it was Jessie Lou he wanted to take to the dance and found he liked.  Conrad helped Jessie Lou to see that she was every bit as pretty as her beauty pageant older sister.

I liked this book because I really found myself rooting for Jessie Lou even when I knew she didn’t believe in herself.  This book was given to my daughters by a friend.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Finding red sea glass was as rare as the love that was beginning between Anna and Matt.  Matt wanted to tell his sister Frankie, Anna’s best friend, on their family vacation but a heart defect took Matt’s life the night before they left.  Anna, who promised Matt she wouldn't tell, now feels compelled to keep this secret and support her grieving friend while she secretly grieves as well.  The following summer, Anna and Frankie return to the summer house in California on a quest to find twenty boys and move on with their lives.  While they did meet several boys, Anna only felt something for Sam.  Anna manages to understand that there will be life and love after Matt.  Their summer also allows the two friends to find some closure with their loss.

I first noticed this book on Amazon because I loved the cover art.  The beautiful sea glass becomes more meaningful after reading the book.  While this was a story of tragic first love, I loved this book because while Anna lost the love of her life, she manages in time to move on while still remembering Matt.

 

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

A picture of Elizabeth lost in the Iraqi desert brings tragedy to one marine and luck to another.  Logan slowly realizes that since he found the picture of Elizabeth, he is protected.  After his tour, he walks from Colorado to North Carolina with his faithful dog Zeus using clues in the photo to find this woman.  Since her grandmother was looking for help, Logan applied for the job.  Elizabeth realizes that there is more to Logan’s story, but slowly he gains her trust.  She is more beautiful and amazing than her picture, but he is unsure of what he was hoping to accomplish from his journey.  Elizabeth and Logan have many obstacles to overcome in order to be together.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to go to a gas station to find this story; I just had to rifle through my daughter's bookcase.  It is a compelling story of love, trust, duty, and destiny.

The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans

Julia and Ed initially met over a disputed parking spot.  Later that night, Julia walked in to the club where Ed was playing and into his heart.  While music is his passion, Ed spends his summers as a fire jumper with his best friend, Conrad, in the wilderness of Montana.  Conrad,a photojournalist, immediately feels a mutual connection with Julia.  A summer fire in Montana leaves Conrad to rescue Julia, while Ed loses his eyesight.  Conrad's failure to help his friend Ed and secret love of Julia, leads him far away from Julia and Ed.  After marriage, Julia and Ed move out west and start a family.  Although traveling the world, Conrad is never really out of their lives.  Tragedy once again strikes and leads Julia searching a war torn nation looking for Conrad.   

This book would appeal to the older teen or adult that can appreciate the difficulties that life deals you and how two people can overcome them.  I have had this book for years, but it wasn’t until a friend’s recommendation that I actually read it this past summer.  I found the love triangle heart breaking and enjoyed reading about the brave men and women who every summer risk their lives to fight these monstrous fires.