About Recommended Reading: In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it . . .

Hi, I’m Bobby Ashton, main character of the young adult rom-com Recommended Reading. I’m known around my town as the Book Whisperer, i.e. the fat, nice, gay boy who can matchmake anyone with their next perfect read and partner. Here are ten romances ranging from the classics to up-and-coming legendary novels that you will match with… and maybe a few extra credit bonus picks thrown in for good measure because you can never make just one (or ten) book suggestions(s).

Emma by Jane Austen

I’ve always felt a certain affinity for Emma Woodhouse. She’s smart, blessed, driven, and accomplished. She gives back to her community and has a knack for matchmaking. We’re very similar. But she’s got a touch of superiority and a few blindspots that make her her own worst enemy and nearly cost her her chance at true love. Maybe we’re too similar.

Speaking of, if you loved the original or the movie Clueless, L.C. Rosen wrote a queer YA contemporary version called Emmett.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

It takes guts and skill to start your debut YA novel with the death of the lovers and still draw the readers in. Bhathena’s got both in spades! You’ll love Zarin, labeled as a bad girl when she is displaced to Saudi Arabia, and Porus, who only has eyes for her despite everyone’s warnings. The talent and depth of thought the author poured into the characters and story is clear from the first page to the last.

Bonus! Bhathena’s sophomore YA is a sweet, cozy rom-com, and her latest novels are fierce, girl power fantasies inspired by medieval Indian mythology with great banter.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë’s (of the famous Brontë  siblings) only published this one novel. The intensity! The passion! The devotion that defies death! The songs by Kate Bush and Céline via Meatloaf! Heathcliff is one of the original brooding bad boys, stomping around the Yorkshire moors as he and Catherine pine for one another. True love has never been so deliciously sadomasochistic. Read the OG classic that inspired both the Twilight and Fifty Shades franchises which, in turn, helped legitimize fanfic.

Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson

Anne Carson reimagines an ancient Greek myth into a contemporary coming-of-age love story. Geryon uncovers the potential of his art when Herakles, the object of Geryon’s affection, leaves at the height of infatuation and reappears years later. Told in verse, Geryon’s monstrosity and journey through heartbreak is gut-wrenching and uplifting at the same time. Readers will ache with Geryon in this romance where maybe the lovers shouldn’t end up together.    

Out of the Blue by Jason June

You can’t go wrong with a Jason June rom-com. I dare you. Double dog dare you. You can’t! Every single one is an absolute delight. OOTB has a familiar Little Mermaid feel with Crest, the merperson, on their mer version of Rumspringa, as they must aid a human before time runs out and they remain stuck on land forever. Enter dual narrator, plus-size swimmer, Sean, who has just been publicly dumped by his boyfriend and is devastated by the unforeseen breakup. Seems like Crest found his human to help and what better way than to pretend to be a couple. Fake lovers to true love trope? Hello! Yes!

Bonus points if you check out the rest of Jason June’s titles. Extra credit super duper bonus points if you also check out the audiobooks because Jason June is a superb voice actor and hearing the author read their work as intended is pretty special.

All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kauffman

Tom is just a normal guy stuck in a world where everyone is a superhero, including his wife, the Perfectionist. When his wife’s ex uses his powers to make the Perfectionist no longer see or hear Tom, he must somehow get her to before she moves on perfectly, as per her name, and forgets him forever. This one is a short novel and makes a perfect gift even for non-readers who don’t have a lot of time to commit. Prepare for your nails to dig into the cover of the book as you flip those pages and hope Tom manages to save his relationship.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Two magicians challenge one another to a magical duel to prove who can raise the best successor, in a battle that will result in death. The venue, a midnight circus that arrives filled with spectacles unlike anyone has ever seen. But it all disappears by the morning. The contenders, Celia and Marco, who fall in love with one another’s spells and then each other even when they know they must win the competition or perish. High stakes much? Lavish descriptions of settings create an unforgettable story of seemingly doomed love.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

What do you get when two writing best friends, one known for her revolutionary body-positive writing and one known for her no-holds-barred romance. A series of Christmas adult romances following former boyband members and unforgettable female leads that are like spicy Hallmark holiday movies in book form. AMLMC is the first book in the series that follows bad boy boyband member, Nolan, who needs to redeem his image through good behaviour and a wholesome holiday film, and Bee, a curvaceous adult film star who accidentally gets cast opposite Nolan, her teen crush and the guy who subscribes to her content. Sex positive and body positive, you will fall in love with the main characters and all the side characters. There are three Christmas Notch Series novels, two novellas, and three bonus chapters to keep you busy from January through December.

Extra credit if you want to delve into either author’s awesome other books that range from warm-your-heart to set-your-loins-on-fire.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples

Imagine if Romeo and Juliet were from two warring, intergalactic species instead of families and not only survived, but had a daughter who decided to tell their story in graphic novel space opera form. The result would be Saga. Better yet, the parent lovers bond over their shared adoration of a romance novel! Books really do bring couples together! A broad spectrum of diversities coupled with positive messaging about acceptance and tolerance provides the perfect balance of heart-melting and kickass moments.

The post The Book Whisperer’s Annotated Recommended Reading (AKA Bobby Ashton’s Brief List of Romances You Don’t Want to Miss) appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover new books from Brigid Kemmerer, Megan Lally, Gayle Forman, Ann Liang, and many more!

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella

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An Into the Woods-inspired fairy tale retelling where Cinderella never went to the ball and must lie to get her prince.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

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A young warrior dreams of proving his worth in the elite Guardian Tournament, fighting not only for himself but the fate of everything he loves.

All the Love Under the Vast Sky by Kip Wilson

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Twelve short stories in verse by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the highs and lows of love – romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love.

Bingsu For Two by Sujin Witherspoon

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This outrageously charming and infuriatingly adorable enemies-to-lovers coffee shop romance is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Better Than the Movies.

Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer

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Dangerous magic. Fateful choices. Broken promises. The spellbinding series by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer continues.

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall

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In this haunting companion to Bittersweet in the Hollow, a girl who can smell the lies of others uncovers the incendiary mysteries of her small Appalachian town.

The Rival by Emma Lord

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Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again.

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally

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Some secrets just won’t stay hidden in this twisty new thriller from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Lally!

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page

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A cozy sapphic romantasy about a teen witch trying to keep her family’s apothecary up and running, with a little help from her ex-best friend—and first crush.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn

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Heartstopper meets Derry Girls in this wonderfully hilarious rom-com about finding your first love when your personality might be too big for the world around you.

After Life by Gayle Forman

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This magnificent tour de force by acclaimed author Gayle Forman brilliantly explores the porous veil between life and death, examines the impact that one person can have on the world, and celebrates life in all its beautiful complexity.

The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley

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In this riveting historical thriller inspired by true-life events, Belladonna meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

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From the bestselling, and award-winning author of If You Could See The Sun comes a new page-turning speculative YA about a girl who wishes she could be as perfect and successful as her cousin… then wakes up the next morning in her cousin’s body.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

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A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . . Family secrets that can’t stay buried . . . A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . . This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

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In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it . . .

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough

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This historical novel in prose and verse tells the story of a deadly secret hiding in plain sight and of the women who risk everything to provide care for those with nowhere else to turn, perfect for fans of Blood Water Paint and The Lost Apothecary.

First Love Language by Stefany Valentine

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For fans of Frankly in Love and Tokyo Ever After comes a romantic dramedy about finding love and reconnecting with your culture in the most surprising ways.

Build A Girlfriend by Elba Luz

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A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.

The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears

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Uprooted meets Children of Blood and Bone in this dark fantasy inspired by a Malian fairy tale about a princess whose suitors are challenged to gruesome trials.

Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga

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In this story filled with “romantic tension, royal drama, and family secrets” (Kristy Boyce), four teens living in a glamorous boarding school must compete in order to inherit a European kingdom.

What January YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 20 New YA Books To Read In January appeared first on The Nerd Daily.