Being a newbie to writing a contemporary YA romance, but a
long-time fan of teen movies with a romantic bent, I thought I’d share my five
favorite teen movies:
5) Pride and
Prejudice (The A&E version)
Does this really count? I think so, since Lizzie was only
twenty when her epic romance with Mr. Darcy began. Plus, Lydia? Scandalous,
silly Lydia? Only fifteen and proof that even two hundred years ago, some teen
girls are seriously boy crazy. The angst and the tension and the miscues
between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy are superb. It even made my 12 year old daughter
sigh. Oh, and the pond. Collin
Firth, I tip my hat, sir. Jennifer Ehle was delightful as Lizzie—lovely, sharp
tongued, and independent.
4) Juno
Based on this
list, Michael Cera might be emerging as my unlikely favorite leading man. Truth
is—he picks great movies. Juno is a unique
and quirky love story about a girl who got pregnant by her friend the very
first time they had sex. The love story comes into play with them becoming closer
while they cope with this big change.
Juno (a remarkable Ellen Page) also makes the decision to give her baby
up for adoption and that’s a love story, too. The line, “She never really
belonged to us,” makes me cry every single time.
3) Some
Kind of Wonderful
Okay, if you’ve only indulged in Say Anything as your 80s teen movie, you missed a few. One of my
favorites isn’t one you usually see on lists, though. Some Kind of Wonderful is a crazy-amazing look at the divide
between popular/rich and unpopular/working class. John Hughes wrote it, and his
touch shines through. If you took Pretty
in Pink, gender flipped it, and gave it the ending we really wanted—there you have it. It’s gloriously acted by Eric
Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Lea Thompson. Key line: “You
look good wearing my future.” Swoon!
2) Nick and Nora’s
Infinite Playlist
This might be all about the casting, but the adventure of
running around NYC, looking for a band leaving clues about where they’ll
perform, is also an achingly sweet love story. The scene in the recording
studio? Wow. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings are adorable together and the whole
movie makes you feel like your greatest moment is right there, waiting.
1) The
Breakfast Club
This movie stands up. It’s amazing how well it stands up. I saw it first when I was 13. I remember it so
clearly (I was home with strep and thoroughly miserable)— it made me feel like someone got me. Someone understood what school,
what teens, were like. And, come on,
Bender and Claire (Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald)? That chemistry oozed off
the screen. It was the perfect opposites attract, rich girl/bad boy romance. I
watched it recently and swooned all over again. Oh, sure, the kids don’t have
iPhones and who does Saturday detention anymore, but the essence of it is still…perfect.
How about you? What are some of your favorites?
Book &
Author Details:
Finding Perfect by Kendra C. Highley
Published by: Entangled Crush
Publication date: September 14th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Published by: Entangled Crush
Publication date: September 14th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
For “Perfect
Paige” Westfeld, today is “D” Day. As in, she just got one on her calculus
test. With her dreams of Stanford, her reputation, and her parents’
expectations at stake, Paige needs to find a way to save face before
everything she’s worked for goes up in flames.
Ben Franklin
(yes, he’s related) is from the wrong side of town, with the wrong clothes and
the wrong kind of life. He also knows an opportunity when he sees one,
and he’ll be happy to tutor Paige—if she makes him into the kind of guy
her best friend, the hottest girl in school, will date.
It’s the
perfect arrangement. And Paige is determined not even the inconvenient—and
utterly imperfect—attraction simmering between her and Ben will ruin it…
Purchase:
AUTHOR
BIO:
Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and
two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important cats. This, according
to the cats, is her most crucial job. She believes chocolate is a
basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone
should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations,
baking and listening to bad electronica.
Author links:
GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
- $25 Amazon gift card
- Signed FINDING PERFECT and SIDELINED bookmarks
- Signed copy of SIDELINED
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