It's no big secret that I'm a total softy when it comes to romance. There's nothing I love more in a book than a solid, romantic, sweet romance. So, when some of the YAtopia authors mentioned doing something fun for Valentines Day, of course I was in!
That means for the next two weeks, you can count on the kind of posts I love! We're going to blog about boys, kisses, couples, any and everything related to LOVE!
To kick things off I'm going to talk about some of my favorite romances in YA. It was really hard for me to narrow it down, but I think I have a solid group of swoon-worthy romances to talk about.
Justin and Drea from Harmonic Feedback~ This was a really special romance, IMO. I love how Drea sees the world. In some eyes, she's "different" (she has a touch of Aspergers), but not to Justin. He liked her for who she was from the very start. He never wanted or expected her to be anything except who she was and he saw how special that person was. He was always there for her, took his time, went slow with her because he knew it was what she needed. Even when other's did, he never laughed at her (not in a mean way), never pointed out those little things about her that others consider strange. He SAW her, loved her, and it was incredible.
Because Justin is all kinds of sweet, a couple of my favorite scenes from Harmonic Feedback:
"She's kind of adorable, isn't she?" Naomi asked.
I focus on his tennis shoes. Dirt was caked around the rims, and one of his laces was coming loose.
"Yeah, she's kind of a lot of things." His vice was soft, like he meant it as a compliment. But a lot of things could mean, well, anything.
"You should double knot your laces." I pointed at his shoes.
Naomi giggled and plopped on my bed again, and Justin let out what sounded like a soft laugh. I look up at him hesitantly.
"I'll keep that in mind."
And
He folded his arms across his chest. "Okay, then, I'm asking. How do you feel about me?"
"It's hard to explain. You make me feel connected to the world in ways I've never felt connected before. Usually I hate it when people touch me, but with you--its comforting. Not in the same way as my mom."
"God, I hope not." He gave me a strange look before holding up his hands. "Sorry, go on."
"It's a warm feeling, and my stomach kind of tickles. And...why are you smiling?"
He moved from the wall and sat on the bed. Close, but not close enough to touch me. "You're describing actual sensations."
"You asked me how I felt."
"I know and its the most real and honest answer I've ever heard. That's why I'm smiling."
*Sigh*
Adam and Mia from If I Stay~
I love this book. Everything in if felt so completely, real and raw. The flashbacks of their life made me giddy happy, and the pain after her accident is heartbreaking. It's amazing how I could actually feel how much Adam loved her even without the book being written in his POV. I can't explain what was so special about this romance, but it is one that will always stay with me! It's one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
Alex and Brittany from Perfect Chemistry~
I almost didn't pick this book up. I wasn't sure a gang member falling in love with the "perfect" rich girl would be believable. Alex and Brittany touched my heart. I love how they started at complete odds, but something grew between them. Something real. It was sweet and a complete joy to watch them fall in love.
There are MANY more on my list (Edward and Bella. Yep, I just said that, lol. Tucker and Clara from Unearthly to name a few), but I'm pretty sure you don't want to read a ten page blog entry :) Instead...I thought you would all enjoy a contest! SO, I just need a few things from you. First, you must be a follower of YAtopia AND a follower on my personal blog HERE. If you'd like extra points, you can follow other YAtopia members blogs or Tweet or blog the contest. Please provide links.
Then, all you have to do is leave a comment and tell me one (or more) of your favorite YA couples. I also want to know why they're one of your favorites. I'll leave the contest open until the end of our Love and Lit extravaganza which is Saturday, February 20th. On Sunday the 21st, I'll post the winner who will get their choice of any paranormal or contemporary romance (value up to 15.00) from Barnes and Noble. So sorry, but I can only ship in the USA.
Enjoy and I'm looking for some new books to read. I can't wait to see what couples you mention. Hoping my to be bought list will grow!
*Update*
Just finished Sea by Heidi R. Kling. Am in awe by the awesomeness that is this book.
The YA, NA & MG Lit Haven
Monday, February 7, 2011
Favorite YA Couples ~ And a Contest!
Reader and writer. I'm a romantic at heart and enjoy nothing more than a good love story. I'm happily married to my very own hero and have two beautiful little girls.
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Great post. I love romances and one of my favourites would have to be Jace and Clary from Cassandra Clare's series. I adore them. They hate each other, they love each other, their romance is literally impossible and yet you want it to work so bad! So yeah, I like it when it's difficult!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can't enter this competition as I'm not in the US, just thought I should say this :)
I've never read Harmonic Feedback, If I Stay or Unearthly! I'm so glad to have some good romances to add to my reading list. Ah, love. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Judith McNaugjt's romances .... Matt & Metedith being the best! But the all-time hands down best romance ever (besides Megan & Adam from Carrier-hi Leigh!) is James Fraser & Claire Randall from the Outlander series-ack!!!! None of these were YA, sorry! :)
ReplyDeleteOooohhhh. I love Meghan and Ash from the Iron Fey series. It was just so awesome to watch his shield melt (no pun intended) when it came to Meghan. Also, Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games trilogy. It's such a heartbreaking story. And... I also love Adam and Mia. You're right, you can totally feel how much he loves her even though its not from his POV. I can't wait to read Where She Went.
ReplyDeletetweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/BritneyWyatt/status/34600152249409536
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteAHHHHH! I LOVE Jace and Clary!!
Wendy, definitely read those. Also Sea by Heidi R. Kling. My kids woke me up in the middle of the night last night and I couldn't stop thinking about it to get back to sleep!
ReplyDeleteMorgan,
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to try the Outlander series, but haven't yet!!
Bwyatt,
ReplyDeleteI read the first in the Iron Fey series, but haven't read the rest! I guess I need to get on that, huh? LOL
GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug) of:
ReplyDeleteYAtopia
Kelley Vitollo
Beyond Words
DJ's Life in Fiction
Flowers for a Ghost
Sarah Nicholas
Leigh Fallon
Down Under Wonderings
Tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/LexieBookBug/status/34660406827950080
My favorite YA couple is Edward and Bella (only the book version). I know, cliche, but wouldn't it be nice to be wanted and needed so much be your significant other?
lexie.bookbug(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks, Lexie! I love Edward and Bella too!
ReplyDeleteKelley, it's a time commitment, but soooo worth it! I've read them all like 3 times:D You'll get to them just like I'll get to Frost!!!!
ReplyDeleteI will second Justin and Drea. You wrote my fav scene with the sensations.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Delilah and Patrick - the honey-eyed boy who can sing. Swoon.
The rest I either agree with your or they live in my head, on my computer... you get the idea.
Oh! Piper and Ed Chen from Five Flavors of Dumb. It's not a "romance" book but there's a good romance in there, especially the delightful bit in the coffee shop.
OMG! Love Delilah and Patrick.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite YA couples is Rose and Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series because their love is so intense and they go through so much.
ReplyDeleteI follow YAtopia and your personal blog
I follow DJ's Life in Fiction
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Thanks, Throughthehaze. I love Rose and Dimitiri too!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! I love Alex and Brittany though I really didn't think I would.
ReplyDeleteI also LOVE Max and Fang from the Maximum Ride series :-)
I think my favorite couple is Katniss and Peeta from the Hunger Games. I think the are the best because he loved her so much he changed the games. He overcame the immense obstacles in front of them based on his feelings for her.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
thegirlonfire27at gmail dot com
I haven't read Maximum Ride. They're good?
ReplyDeleteI love Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy. She does everything in her power to make him a dhampir again, even if that means not being with him. In the end, all he sees is her. Sigh....this love is just so passionate.
ReplyDeletefollower
YAtopia that I follow:
* Chanelle Gray
* DJ D.
* Kelley Vitollo
* Leigh Fallon
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I HAVE TO GO BUY HARMONIC FEEDBACK NOW! I think I just died from the pure romanticness of that section you shared.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Edward + Bella = 4Ever. 'Nuff said. :-D
I love Katsa and Po in Kristen Cashore's Graceling. They are a perfect compliment to each other. There's nothing like someone you can fight with (literally) and then kiss. Katsa is the eyes of Po and Po is the heart of Katsa.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of all is Rose and Dimitri I fell in love with Vampire Academy from the start. I loved it so much I can't say enough about it :)I
ReplyDeletealso love Patch and Nora from Hush Hush!
Follow all on GFC/latishajean
YAtopia
Chanelle Gray
DJ D.
Kelley Vitollo
Kelley York
Leigh Fallon
Sarah Nicolas
Sharon Johnston
Wendy Higgins
Tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/37395815026663424
tishajean@ charter.net
I'm reposting since I forgot to mention that I'm following all eight blogs, shown on my profile. I also blogged about the contest here:
ReplyDeletehttp://writekris.blogspot.com/2011/02/books-in-love.html
PARANORMALCY
I love Evie and Lend. You can tell that Evie's attracted to Lend from the beginning, and you watch them go through the awkward "I love him/her but don't know what to do" phase. You want to see something happen; at the same time, you like watching their relationship progress until they finally reach the stage where they're comfortable with kissing (and think it's amazing). First kiss scenes are important, and Kiersten White doesn't disappoint us. Plus, I love Evie's (Kiersten's) voice.
Evie and Lend are two teenagers trying to be normal when their abilities make them far from normal, yet they still find time to be normal teenagers from hanging out at Lend' school to chilling with his friends over pizza. Not to mention that Lend can take on any hot face (player potential, as Evie thinks at one point). Best of all, it's sweet how Evie loves his real face the most, and he finds in her someone who accepts him for who he is, not for the face he wears.
They're adorable. Period.
THE IRON KING
I love Ash and Meghan for the forbidden romance and faerie adventures. Faerie books are very popular nowadays with the paranormal romance craze, but Julie Kagawa spins a fantastical story with the addition of iron faeries. The human imagination sure has brought us far, hasn't it?
Back to the story: Ash is after Meghan under the order of his mother to bring her to the Unseelie Court. Despite knowing this, she can't help falling in love with him. He has a duty as a prince and should not fall in love with her, but his icy demeanor warms. The romance while they're in the Iron King's territory is especially sweet because of the danger they're in. There's nothing like a life-threatening situation to heighten the romantic tension!
You want Meghan and Ash to solve the issue of them being the children of monarchs on opposing thrones and see them together. You want Meghan to find her brother; at the same time, you don't want her to do so because it means that Ash must take Meghan to his mother (and not for a "Mom, I love her. I want to be together with her for eternity" type of meeting!).
Meghan is a normal girl thrown into a very different world, and she's trying to find her brother while struggling with her growing feelings for Ash. Ash is the hot, sexy lead guy AND Meghan's (almost literal) knight in shining armor. He's sweet, and their story is heart wrenching because, despite the romantic moments between them, we cannot help remembering that their time together is numbered.