Book Nerds Across America: anthology

Thursday, August 31, 2023

BLOG TOUR: Study Break, edited by Aashna Avachat

Book Summary

College...the best time, the worst time, and something in between.

What do you do when orientation isn't going according to your (sister's) detailed plans? Where do you go when you're searching for community in faith? How do you figure out what it means that you're suddenly attracted to your RA? What happens when your partner for your last film project is also your crush and graduation is quickly approaching?

Told over the course of one academic year, this collection of stories set on the same fictional campus features students from different cultures, genders, and interests learning more about who they are and who they want to be. From new careers to community to (almost) missed connections — and more — these interconnected tales explore the ways university life can be stressful and confusing and exciting and fulfilling.

Gen Z contributors include Jake Maia Arlow, Arushi Avachat, Boon Carmen, Ananya Devarajan, Camryn Garrett, Christina Li, Racquel Marie, Oyin, Laila Sabreen, Michael Waters, and Joelle Wellington.

Flo's Mini Review

Full disclosure: I am still reading this. But I'm enjoying it! The great thing about anthologies is that at the end of a busy day, you can read one story and feel like you've really made a dent in the book. My favorite story so far has been the one by Aashna, actually -- it's so cute and right up my alley! Cute, awkward boy falling first, a set time frame, all the stuff I love in my romance stories. But one cool thing about this anthology is that it runs the range of protagonists and topics. I love the diversity of characters and story lines. It's definitely giving me all the nostalgia for my college days, which really were such a formative and fun time for me. All the stories I've read so far have ended with possibility and hope and anticipation, and I just love that. What a good overall feeling to capture. It's the one constant in these different stories and I'm here for it. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the stories.

Just for fun: comment with a favorite college memory. Or, if you haven't been to college, comment with a favorite college movie.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Book review: Meet Cute

Book Summary
Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today’s most popular YA authors.

Readers will experience Nina LaCour's beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard's glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon's imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno's story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick's charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants.

This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

Flo's Review
This was certainly a cute little anthology! (Sorry for the bad pun! There was really just nowhere else to go.) I enjoyed the 15 stories, though was interested in the format of some of them. I mean simply that some of these stories felt like complete stories in themselves, while others just read like they were a section literally pulled from a larger story. I guess the second method is okay, but the first I found more enjoyable.

Another thing I noticed about the story set was the variety of main story points. For some, the meet cute was the point of the story; while for others, the meet cute was really just a plot point in the story to get the main character to learn more about herself. Again, I enjoyed the former better, but that didn't mean I disliked the latter simply for what it was.

Finally, the diversity of settings was great. These weren't all contemporary rom coms. There was sci-fi, there was fantasy, there was magical realism. But they all still had meet cutes! Very cool.

I adored the final story in the anthology, by Nicola Yoon. That is the one I'd like to see expanded out to a full book, or even to a set of stories within that one world. There is just so much that could be done there! Dhonielle Clayton's story as well. My other favorite stories were the ones by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Jocelyn Davies.

The good thing about an anthology book like this is that it's very easy to read a little at a time. It was so easy to pick up the book and read a story or two at lunch or right before bed.

Final verdict: Yes, you should meet this cute book. (See what I did there?!? Thank you, folks, I'm here all week! 😂)