Have you ever read a book and found yourself completely distracted by an author’s overuse of the same word(s)? Hopefully not. Hopefully those little darlings were caught and thrown out by good editors and/or great crit partners long before the book hit the shelves. But I’d be willing to bet they were there… at some point.

It would be nearly impossible for writers—people who absolutely looove words—not to have a few favorites, right? Here are a few of mine, as pointed out by my awesome crit partners: suddenly, finally, blurted, sputtered, screeched (oh yeah, and... ellipses).

On the flip side, of course, are words people simply can’t stand. Maybe it’s the way the word feels rolling off the tongue. Perhaps it brings back painful/scary/horrid/heartbreaking memories. Or maybe there’s no good reason, except that it bugs you. One member of our crit group has an aversion to the word “gasped.” It makes her laugh every time she reads it. The result is that now none of us can read that word without thinking of her and erupting into giggles :)

So let’s hear it… are there any words that you love? Or overuse in your writing? Or hate to see in print?

The ending of a book can make or break the story. If an author leaves us hanging or feeling cheated, we may never forgive them for it. A satisfying last line can also gain our love forever.

But is there a right way to end a story?

The most common type of conclusion happens when there’s no story left to tell. EMMA by Jane Austen — and every Jane Austen book, for that matter — ends with all the main characters finding true love. On one hand, these endings can be predictable and a little too perfect, on the other, happily ever afters have stood the test of time. 

Other authors leave the outcome for the reader to interpret. The main conflict is resolved, but we have to use our imaginations to know what happens next. At the end of VILLETTE, Charlotte Brontë leaves hints of sadness to come, but allows us to believe in a happy ending where Lucy and Paul are reunited if we want. Real life is full of unanswered questions, and sometimes we like to fill in the blanks ourselves.

Epilogues and denouements often inspire mixed feelings from readers. Some people can’t stomach them, but I don’t think they will ever completely disappear. In THE RETURN OF THE KING by JRR Tolkien, do we really need to know what happens after the ring is destroyed and Aragorn is crowned king? Nah. But would the story be the same without the bittersweet moment when Frodo sails to the Undying Lands?

There are a million different ways to end a story. Some books end with a twist or bring us back to where we started, and we see a familiar scene with new eyes. Others just stop and leave you wondering why the heck you read it in the first place. Sometimes the end of a story is the end of a life, or a fresh start after the protagonist has discovered who they are. We’ve seen lessons learned, mysteries solved, relationships mended, villains defeated, and worlds saved.

There is no right or wrong way to end a book. We all want a conclusion that feels satisfying to us, but there’s no ending that will please everyone. Authors choose the way that feels best to them, and people will love or hate them for it. That’s life.

Story endings are a source of endless debate, and that’s part of the fun. So what kind of conclusions do you like? What do you hate?

Steph

Last night, the four of us WHYA girls sat around a dining room table, reading and chatting and eating and laughing. We get together every Tuesday night, and it's always one of the highlights of my week. (Sometimes it's the highlight.)

In fact, all of my best memories are with friends. Eating lunch together at a picnic table in the school courtyard. Playing soccer on the weekends. Road-tripping to visit each other in college. Watching Grey's Anatomy on someone's sofa, or going to the theater to see latest chick flick.

As much as I love a good romance, I think the friendships in stories are just as important. Your friends are a reflection of you -- the things you like to do, the qualities you enjoy in other people -- so if I don't like a main character's best friend, there's a good chance I won't like the main character either.

To prove my point, here are a few of my very favorite friendships from books:

Anne and Diana from ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

What do you get when you mix a mischievous, rough-around-the-edges orphan with a sweet, proper, and somewhat boring girl? A whole lot of laughs and adventure.

Anne Shirley and Diana Barry were the original "bosom buddies," and I loved how they interacted, each pushing the other to learn and grow. Anne convinced Diana to bend (or break) a few rules, to set her imagination free. Diana showed Anne how to be a lady in modern society, introducing her to a world of wealth and beauty. Together they were the perfect combination of dream and reality, passion and practicality. They helped each other become better people, and they stuck by each other throughout their lives.

Bella and Alice from TWILIGHT

As much as TWILIGHT focused on the love between Bella and Edward (and Bella and Jacob), I think the friendship-love between Bella and Alice was a big part of the reason I enjoyed the series so much. Alice was cute and quirky, full of personality. Plus she could see the future! Who wouldn't want a best friend with that power, right?

Okay, it wasn't always fun. But (SPOILER WARNING) when Edward leaves Bella, who did she write to? Not him. To Alice. Alice was the one she felt she could confide in. Alice was the one she spilled her broken heart to. And later (SPOILER WARNING AGAIN) Alice is the one that Bella lets throw her a party, pick out her clothes, and even plan her wedding. If that's not a sign of true friendship, then I don't know what is.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron from HARRY POTTER

Can I confess something? I never cared who Harry Potter fell in love with. Because to me, he already had his soul mates in Ron and Hermione.

They stuck with him through everything. They risked their own lives for his. They made him smarter and stronger by being his team. Sure, each of them had faults and weaknesses -- but when they worked together, that didn't matter, because they could cover for one another. They always had each other's backs.

And best of all, they were funny too!

All right, those are some of my favorite book friendships. What are yours?

KH

Congratulations to Carol Riggs, Zakiya LadyWings, and Brittany (loves books) -- you guys won our first ever giveaway!!

Carol - GIMME A CALL by Sarah Mlynowski
Zakiya - THE PILLOW BOOK OF LOTUS LOWENSTEIN by Libby Schmais
Brittany - RED CARPET RIOT by David Van Etten

Please email us (weheartya at gmail.com) with your mailing address and we will get these books out to you as soon as possible!

Kristan

I am a sucker for a good love story.

It started when I was four years old and discovered Cinderella. I remember the thrill of hefting that huge, tattered Book of Fairytales (it had somehow survived my four older sisters) up onto my bed and getting lost in the world of princes and princesses, magic and myth, good and evil. As I got older, my love of fairytales grew into an appreciation for a variety of literature. But I will forever love a good love story.

Of course, there are the classic literary romances… Romeo and Juliet, Catherine and Heathcliff, Buttercup and Westley!

But almost every book out there, classic or not, has a unique love story woven between its covers. Whether dystopian, fantasy, contemporary, or adventure, there’s usually some sort of romantic entanglement involved.

So what is it about love stories that continually draw us in, especially in YA literature? Perhaps it’s the wonderment of our hero or heroine finding a kindred spirit, a soul mate, a partner. The characters often must overcome horrific obstacles and the endings are not always happy, but somehow (much like life) the journey is worth it.

Below are a few books I’ve recently read with memorable couples discovering first love:

· Katniss and Peeta/Gale - THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy by Suzanne Collins
· Mia and Adam - IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
· Wes and Macy - THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen
· Bella and Edward/Jacob - TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer
· Rapunzel and Eugene Fitzherbert (aka Flynn Rider) - TANGLED by Disney (I know it’s a movie, and yes, we’re back to fairytales, but it’s just too good to leave out)

A few weeks ago, I got giddy over the endearing romance between Anna and St. Clair in ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was that the characters were loveable, but not too perfect. Their actions, conversations and romance all felt very real. I recommend this book for anyone who has been in love—or longs to be.

So… what love stories do you heart, and why?

Ingrid

(Reminder: This is the last week for our giveaway! Winners will be announced on Mon.)

We've all seen this phrase in practice. Authors such as Jane Austen, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Charles Dickens have left behind clear depictions of the world they lived in, and it’s true, their writing is compelling because it gives us an authentic glimpse into their lives.

Lately though, my shelf is flooded with books about things their authors couldn't possibly have seen or experienced. Though I'm pretty sure JK Rowling has never been to Hogwarts, never seen a quidditch match, or had any luck with Wingardium Leviosa, I completely believe her.

So what makes an imagined story as compelling as one based on real life?

Characters that stay with you — Stories like ENTWINED, PEGASUS, and TUCK EVERLASTING have characters that make us believe they're real. The best authors know their characters like they know their best friends. Whether you’re a fan of Stephenie Meyer or not, you have to admit you get the feeling there’s so much more to her characters than you’ll ever read on the page.

Places you've seen for yourself — What draws us to books like THE BLUE SWORD, INCARCERON, and THE NEVERENDING STORY? It’s the atmosphere. These stories somehow manage to lift you out of everyday life and immerse you the in the unknown. You can close your eyes and just picture Middle Earth, because JRR Tolkien was so well acquainted with his magical realm, he was able to give us a firsthand account.

The winding road with a purpose — You can reread PATHFINDER, THE INHERITANCE CYCLE, and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA several times before you notice all the clues that were in place. In real life, we can look back at the string of decisions that brought us where we are today. As you begin the Harry Potter series, the story seems relatively straightforward, but as the plot unfolds, you realize how complex it really is, and that gives it a sense of reality.

Conviction that changes you — Every time you pick up of a book, there is a chance you will save the world or encounter greatness. Everyone loves an entertaining read, but we treasure the stories that change us. Who can forget old classics like PETER PAN which speaks to our heart's deep-seated longing to hold on to childhood, or how THE LORD OF THE RINGS shows us the meaning of hope? New stories like THE HUNGER GAMES and MATCHED teach us to value our freedom and fight to defend it.

It's not difficult to nail down what makes an imagined story resonate like a genuine experience. It's passion. Real passion transcends fiction. It leaps off the page and compels us to believe what we're reading. Write what you know? More like believe what you're writing. Know it in the pit of your stomach. Make it real.

What about you? Is there a book that was so real to you or made such an impact that you were different at the end of it?

Love YA,

Steph

(Don't forget about our giveaway. Only a little over a week left!)

(Oh boy, first post. No pressure, right?)

Well hello there, and welcome to We Heart YA. We are Stephanie, Ingrid, Sarah, and Kristan -- 4 writers and avid readers of Young Adult literature.


(We're also a bit cheesy, eh?)

Here at We Heart YA, we plan to gush about all the wonderful things we read, write, and think about the YA world. And we would love for you to join us! So if you heart YA, please follow us via RSS or email, and friend us on Facebook and Twitter! The more, the merrier.


What to expect: posts about what we're reading, what we're writing, authors we admire, movie adaptations, and more. We plan to include writer interviews, recommended reads, guest posts, and giveaways. In fact, to kick off our new blog, we're starting with a THREE-BOOK GIVEAWAY.


To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment right here on this post before Sunday, May 1st, and tell us what your favorite YA book is. It's that simple!

The three winners (each receiving one of the titles) will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, May 2nd. You can receive extra entries by tweeting about this giveaway, liking us on Facebook, following us via Google Friend Connect, and/or becoming a subscriber. Just leave an additional comment (with a link, if applicable) to let us know which ones you've done.

If you want to know what our favorite YA books are, check out the About page. You can meet our mascots there too. ;)