(2) YA Illustrated by Jim Tierney. Teen readers of Rowell's (Eleanor & Park, rev. 5/13; Fangirl, rev. 11/13) first short-story collection will relish spending time with her nine distinct narratives about love (four previously published). The author taps into her literary sweet spot of complex and memorable romance, including a friendship that evolves over multiple New Year's Eves; a Star Wars movie premiere that brings two teens together; a college breakup healed by mixtapes from an unlikely source; and an invitation to a school dance that changes everything. New beginnings and longstanding relationships are staples, as are wintertime, Christmas, and Rowell's home state of Nebraska, but variety in plot and characterization keep pages turning. These riveting character studies (including one of Simon and Baz from Carry On, rev. 1/16) often lead to truthful and profound conversations; within this mix of realism and fantasy (including the pandemic, a contemporary fairy tale, and a bit of metafiction), Rowell always addresses how love--in its many forms--is a fundamental aspect of life. Happy endings are in no way guaranteed (though they're often implied), but every tale concludes with some degree of connection while leaving room for contemplation about what might happen next. There is a mauve and teal color palette in the text's fonts, in scene-setting full-page illustrations at the beginning of each story, and in occasional spot art throughout.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023