Hi! And welcome to Choose Your Own Love-Venture, where you describe the kind of book you want for Valentine’s, and your friendly local library provides!
Pick a category to start. For Valentine's, you would like:
[[Realistic stories]]
[[Impossible shenanigans]]
[[Dramatic happenings]]
[[A short burst of sweetness]]Want a [[classic meet-cute]]
Or a geeky [[dreams come true?]]
Maybe something from the [[past|Something from history]] --
[[Go back. Something new|Start]]Do you want [[adventure]] somewhere far away?
Or a dose of [[magic]] to brighten your day?
[[No, I'd rather choose another way|Start]]Did you want the drama
that takes place on a [[stage]]?
Or are you craving [[sorrow]],
tears staining each page?
[[Go back to the start, this fills me with rage|Start]]Short and sweet is fabulous,
but if you had to choose --
Do you want something mostly [[sweet]]?
Does [[short]] appeal to you?
[[Go back; try something new|Start]]Adventure's amazing! Which one's more your drift?
[[Something from history]]?
[[Something from myth]]?
[[This makes me sick|Start]]Choose: the magic of [[sunshine]]
or a [[moonlight]]-drenched night.
[[Sorry, these just don't seem right|Start]]As you know, a stage
means a Shakespearean surprise!
[[Tragedy]] or [[Comedy]]?
[[I'd like a different prize|Start]]
What sort of story would you like?
You could choose fairy tales, with [[princesses]] and [[dragons|TeaDragon]]
Or fall for a prince with a passion for [[fashion|Prince]]
You could go for two [[grandmas|Bingo]], loving through time...
[[Quoth the raven, NEVERMIND|Start]]
A book of short stories?
Choose whatever you please:
[[Love at First Sight]]
or [[Love that's in threes|Love Triangles]]
[[Neither of these|Start]] CONGRATULATIONS!
You got <i>Princess, Princess Ever After</i> by Katie O'Neill!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1505189698l/30025791.jpg" alt="Princess, Princess Ever After book cover">
Princess, Princess Ever After is a young adult graphic novel that reimagines Rapunzel as a story about two reluctant princesses. One is a crybaby, exiled to a tower by her sister; the other prefers sword-fighting and kissing girls to an arranged marriage. These two girls fight for justice and fall in love in this absolutely charming short story.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>The Tea Dragon Society</i> by Katie O'Neill!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1505189639l/34895950.jpg" alt="The Tea Dragon Society book cover">
Tea? Dragons? Tea dragons! Combine two fabulous things and you get The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill, an enchanting fable about a blacksmith’s daughter, a shy prophetess, and an ancient tea-brewing tradition. This story is about a young crush, yes, but it’s also an ode to the memories that bring us together and found friendships. If you need a stress-free read, pour yourself a mug of tea and give it a shot.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>The Prince and the Dressmaker</i> by Jen Wang!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494400495l/34506912.jpg" alt="The Prince and the Dressmaker book cover">
<i>The Prince and the Dressmaker</i> is a story just as much about loving yourself as falling in love with someone else. When beginning seamstress Frances makes an innovative dress for a customer, her act of daring gets her noticed by the throne. Prince Sebastian promptly hires her to design for him -- both as Prince Sebastian and as his alter-ego, Lady Crystallia. But Prince Sebastian is afraid to let the kingdom know about his true self, and that means Frances can never showcase her designs, either. This cute graphic novel is a short read with a huge heart.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Bingo Love</i> by Tee Franklin, Jenn St-Onge, and Joy San!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512450347l/34840092.jpg" alt="Bingo Love book cover">
Why should young people get all the love stories? In Bingo Love, two sweet girls meet in a bingo parlor in the early fifties. They fall in love right away...but, unfortunately, a queer marriage isn’t in the cards. Will they reunite when they’re older, fall in love all over again, and warm your heart? Absolutely! This cute graphic novel releases on Valentine’s Day.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got <i>Meet Cute</i>!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492664131l/33503607.jpg" alt="Meet Cute book cover">
<i>Meet Cute</i>, a brand-new YA anthology of love stories, contains all sorts of accidental meetings. Whether focused on airport strandings, chance subway connections, trips to space, or TV interviews, all of these stories focus on the power of that instantaneous connection.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Three Sides of a Heart</i>!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486678410l/26837046.jpg" alt="Three Sides of a Heart book cover">
Conflicted about love triangles? Us, too. But Three Sides of a Heart reimagines those ever-present geometric shapes. These books don’t feature Edward-Bella-Jacob or Peeta-Katniss-Gale or any of those delightful, yet chromatically similar, tormented lovers. Instead, meet a zombie-fighting slave in a post-apocalyptic Antebellum South; a girl constantly torn between two alternate futures for every choice she makes; a trio of vampires all crushing on each other; a girl who chooses between her love for a boy and her love for a city.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Echo after Echo</i> by Amy Rose Capetta!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486650820l/27258116.jpg" alt="Echo after Echo book cover">
Drama, murder, and true love: <i>Echo after Echo</i> has intrigue to spare. When newcomer Vera gets the role of a lifetime as Echo in her favorite tragic play, she’s even more excited about acting in the famous Aurelia Theater. Unfortunately, her early visit to the stage means that she’s the one who finds a dying man in the orchestra pit. Enter hot tattooed girl, stage right. Eli Vasquez, assistant lighting director, knew the dead man best. Together, can Vera and Eli solve the crime, fall in love, and pull off the ultimate performance? Or will the play’s tragedy reflect in real life, too? (No, I’m not spoiling that one for you!)
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]
CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Foolish Hearts</i> by Emma Mills!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487081647l/33275690.jpg" alt="Foolish Hearts book cover">
Claudia didn’t mean to eavesdrop on the school’s most intriguing break-up. Too bad Iris will never forgive her or believe her. When Claudia and Iris both mess up their Shakespeare group project, the two girls have to try out for A Midsummer Night’s Dream for extra credit. As Iris gravitates toward her ex-girlfriend, Claudia finds herself falling for handsome lead Gideon. Like many of Shakespeare’s comedies, this story features misunderstandings aplenty. And watching friendship grow between Claudia and Iris is at least as rewarding as the romances in this book.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]Here's a box of Kleenex.
Want to break (and mend) your heart?
Read a book that [[fights through sadness|Pick myself up]]
Or [[makes every day count|Make every day count]]?
[[Sorry, slant rhymes make me pout|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>An Extraordinary Union</i> by Alyssa Cole!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484253653l/30237404.jpg" alt="An Extrordinary Union book cover">
It doesn’t get much more adventurous than spying during the Civil War! Elle Burns, a brilliant woman with an eidetic memory, is working undercover as a slave in a prominent Southern household (much like historical heroine Mary Bowser!). Malcolm McCall, meanwhile, spies on the Confederate army from the inside. When these two meet, sparks definitely fly, but any romance between them would jeopardize their covers. Book Riot rated this as one of the best romance novels of 2017, and every interaction between the leads is characterized by Elle’s intelligence and level-headedness. Bonus: It’s the start of a series, so if you like it, there’s more to come!
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</i> by F. C. Yee!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493219399l/30116958.jpg" alt="The Epic Crush of Genie Lo book cover">
If you’d like your love story to focus on punching and cinematic battles, give <i>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</i> a try. Genie is a driven high school student, focused on getting top grades and winning volleyball games. When demons swarm her California city, Genie will have to team up with arrogant new kid Quentin Sun to take them out. Except -- surprise! Quentin isn’t just a new kid...he’s the Monkey King. And Genie has her own part in his legend, both past and future. This book plays out on page like a fireworks show, all explosions and larger-than-life fight scenes.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>We Are Okay</i> by Nina LaCour!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471899036l/28243032.jpg" alt="We Are Okay book cover">
Sometimes, you need a broken-hearted Valentine, and Nina LaCour’s We Are Okay provides. Marin fled her home for college at the end of senior year. She’s been half-asleep with grief and hasn’t reached out to anyone -- not even her best friend and former girlfriend, Mabel. But Mabel is coming to visit for Christmas. Nina LaCour fills her novel with both sadness and quiet healing. It might help if your heart aches a bit today.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>They Both Die at the End</i> by Adam Silvera!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494333138l/33385229.jpg" alt="They Both Die at the End book cover">
I love Adam Silvera, but -- as the title of his latest book implies -- his books aren’t always happy. In <i>They Both Die at the End</i>, everyone gets a phone call on the day they’re about to die. Shy Mateo and adventurous Rufus meet through an app called “Last Friend” and agree to spend their last day together. Together, they’ll make the most of it by becoming the people they always wanted to be.The ending is heartbreaking, but you’ll be both teary and full of warm fuzzy feelings about hope.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]My favorite part of holidays
is the food I eat.
Would you like [[a cup of tea|TeaDragon]]
or [[a sugary sweet]]?
[[I think these can be beat|Start]]Not a lot of time to read?
A [[comic|graphic novel]] could be what you need.
Or, for a quick dose of glory,
you could try out a [[short story|short story anthology]].
[[No, that's boring|Start]]Pick a new path, of these choices three:
an [[elevator and platter of cheese]],
a [[Starbucks coffee]], violently thrown
or a [[college girl]] who fears being alone.
[[I've chosen the wrong path and wish to atone|Start]]Both these stories have conventions.
Both are super-cute.
Want [[space show Cinderella|Geekerella]]
or [[Australian love times two|QueensofGeek]]?
[[Go back, these make me blue|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>The Wedding Date</i> by Jasmine Guillory!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515694525l/33815781.jpg" alt="The Wedding Date book cover">
This story begins with our heroine, Alexa Monroe, trapped in an elevator. The gentleman across from her has, alas, shown up to a wedding without a date. 1-2-3, and it’s Fake Girlfriend Time...but what happens when Alexa and Drew start falling in love for real? (Shenanigans. Shenanigans happen.) If you need a stellar recommendation, Roxane Gay gave this book five enthusiastic stars.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>When Dimple Met Rishi</i> by Sandhya Menon!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475687488l/28458598.jpg" alt="When Dimple Met Rishi book cover">
<i>When Dimple Met Rishi</i> starts with a failed first impression. Dimple would rather win the local coding competition than fall in love. Meanwhile, Rishi’s thrilled to meet the girl he’s supposed to marry. His initial enthusiasm results in an iced coffee attack. (Pro tip: Don’t spring marriage on a girl right after "hello.") But both Dimple and Rishi are going to work together to submit their coding project. But as they get to know each other, this ambitious girl and romantic boy may find they have more in common than they think. Will they fall in love like their parents hope? (Probably!)
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Let's Talk about Love</i> by Claire Kann!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1505836080l/31625039.jpg" alt="Let's Talk About Love book cover">
Claire Kann’s cover for <i>Let’s Talk about Love</i> is exuberant and joyful, just like her protagonist. Alice’s life is stressful. Her best friends are getting married, her family is pressuring her to choose a major, and her girlfriend dumps her on page 1! Alice isn’t sure she can ever find true love as a biromantic asexual girl. When she meets Takumi, though, she wants to try again. Both of the leads are charming, and like college, this book is filled with flirting, self-discovery, and Netflix binge-watches.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Queens of Geek</i> by Jen Wilde!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488881057l/28245707.jpg" alt="Queens of Geek book cover">
<i>Queens of Geek</i> features not one but two love stories! Charlie’s an up-and-coming movie star who meets the girl of her dreams at Supa-Con. Taylor can’t manage to tell her best friend she’s in love with him. As both girls work to be honest about how they feel, they also embrace their own personal complexities and face exciting, uncertain futures. This story’s emphasis on friendship and love for fandom is balanced by basket-of-kittens-levels of cuteness.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>Geekerella</i> by Ashley Poston!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476734515l/30724132.jpg" alt="Geekerella book cover">
Cinderella meets sort-of-Star Trek in YA novel <i>Geekerella</i>. The popular television series Starfield is coming back on TV, and Elle is the world’s biggest fan. But why have the show-runners hired a brainless sitcom actor for the lead role? Meanwhile, teen actor Darien grew up with Starfield and gloriously geeky conventions. Too bad he has to pretend on camera that he doesn’t care about the series. When Darien texts the wrong number, he and Elle strike up a conversation about courage, happy endings, and the challenge to be your true self.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>The Secret of a Heart Note</i> by Stacey Lee!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456424870l/25165389.jpg" alt="The Secret of a Heart Note book cover">
Mimosa’s family heals hearts and makes love potions. When Mim accidentally gives her love potion to the wrong person, she has to scramble to fix her mistake before her mother finds out. Enter Cute Boy, a considerate lad who isn’t as afraid of her as everyone else. Problem is, if Mim falls in love herself, she’ll lose her magic powers! What to do? This book revels in descriptions of gardens and flowers, and will leave you feeling all warm and sunshine-y inside.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>When the Moon was Ours</i> by Anne-Marie McLemore!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489647354l/28220826.jpg" alt="When the Moon was Ours book cover">
If you prefer moonlight to sunshine, Anne-Marie McLemore’s <i>When the Moon was Ours</i> is full of flowers and magic. Miel is a lonely girl with roses growing from her wrist; Sam is a gentle boy who hangs moons from trees to guide her home. They’re in love. (Yay!) Problem: there are five heart-breaking girls who live nearby. They want Miel’s roses, and they’ll endanger Sam’s happiness to get them. (Boo.) This image-rich, magical realist tale is soaked in fairy tales and will leave you cherishing your own unique magic.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]CONGRATULATIONS!
You got: <i>BraveTart</i> by Stella Parks!
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479535573l/32191664.jpg" alt="BraveTart book cover">
If you’d rather have something literally sweet on Valentine’s Day, give BraveTART a chance! Want to recreate a Twinkie or enjoy a dark chocolate cookie? Delicious desserts adorn every page of this cookbook, as Stella Parks covers the history of the American sweet-tooth and provides recipes to satisfy the reader’s own cravings.
Have another favorite love story? Be sure to leave a comment below! And thank you for reading the Aurora Library Blog!
[[Take the quiz again|Start]]