Hi guys! I am super excited to officially announce our next theme week here at Joyfully Jay will be Young Love Week! Squee! It will run from October 6-13. I am a big fan of this trope as my husband and I met and started dating at 16. So I love stories that feature characters that fall in love young and make it work.
Ok, so just what am I talking about when I say Young Love? Well, specifically I want to feature stories of romance between guys who are high school and college age (even if they aren’t necessarily in school). I want the focus to be on those books where the relationship develops as young men and they manage to make things work even when meeting so young. So more specifically, I’m looking for:
- Books where both characters are HS/college age, not with an older/younger pairing
- Books where the main romance happens when the guys are young, versus stories where they meet or even date as young men but the main romance takes place as adults or some period in the future. But books where they start young and the story develops continuously as they get older are good (Amy Lane’s Locker Room, for example).
We will feature some YA books, but the stories definitely don’t have to be YA. I am thinking we have a special YA day and probably some focus on virgin heroes (because you know I LOVE my virgin heroes!).
So, why am I telling you all this now if it is still two months away? Because there is a lot of reading to do for these theme weeks and we need to start early. And as usual, I’d love to get you guys involved. So right now we are gathering ideas for books to read, guest posts, giveaways, etc. Here is how you can join in the fun…
Readers
- Recommend books for review – Do you have suggestions for books you’d like us to review for Young Love Week? Maybe something you are crazy about that you think we should read? Or a book you are curious about that you’d like us to review? I’d love any and all suggestions!
- Guest posts – Do you have a book you’d like to share in a Book I Love Post? Or are you interested in writing about some other aspect of young love? Just get in touch and we’ll talk.
Authors/Publishers
- Recommend books for review – Do you have a book (either already released or upcoming) that you’d like us to consider for review? Just let me know and we’ll talk.
- Guest posts – Are you interested in writing a guest post about some aspect of young love? Let me know.
- Giveaways – Once again we will be having a big theme week giveaway so I am definitely looking for book donations. If you have a book/s to include in the giveaway, please let me know.
So feel free to get in touch either by commenting below or sending me an email. I am really excited about this one and hope you all will be too!
Here are some of my faves, you’d have to decide which ones you want to review but the first four are probably my 5 star reads.
Tailor Made by Josephine Myles (2 college age guys, around 21 or 22)
Lord of the White Hell 1 & 2 by Ginn Hale(I think they are both around 17 or 18)
Hot Weather by Matthew Haldeman-Time (one a recent college grad and another a sophomore)
Catching a Buzz by Ally Blue (one is in college, the other similar but it’s never explicitly said)
An Oral Fixation by Piper Vaughn (two recent college grads)
Tyler by Christiana Spencer (I think both college age)
Physical Chemistry by Jana Downs (college students)
Accidental Love by Shae Connor (college students)
The Tutor by Sean Michael (grad student and freshman)
Dinner and a Movie and My Secret Valentine by M. Durango (if you don’t mind twincest)
DNA Double Helix by Jaye Valentine (19 I think – twincest again – short but novel coming)
Just a Summer Fling by Lily Grace (young college age – could be YA as it is not sex)
That should keep you busy. 🙂 I like college students as well, although it seems they are often paired with an older student.
Oh, great list Tam! I have read and really enjoyed Tailor Made but haven’t read any of the other ones. I will definitely check these out! Thanks so much!
Lord of the White Hell. Gah! Brilliant. I sincerely hope there is more someday. Amazing world building. Loved them both.
I am super excited about this! Partially because I am this age (21, graduating college in December) and love to read books that I can connect with! The first book I thought of was Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane, which is one of my favorite books ever! Both MCs are college age with Chase being in college. This is not a happy go lucky book but does have a great HEA! I can’t remember if you have already reviewed it on the site but would love it you would consider it!
Oh, great suggestion Juliana! I actually have had that one on my TBR list for a while so this would be a great time to read it.
Glad you are excited about YLW! I am too!