Happy Valentine’s Day

Cutest valentine ever. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

In honor of the most romantic day of the year, I’ve got two presents for you–presents that are *almost* as good as chocolate and roses and diamonds.

First, a sweet little excerpt from one of my writing projects, All Mixed Up. It happens just before Valentine’s day, so it’s sort of perfect for the occasion… 

“Hey,” he says. “Saturday’s Valentine’s Day. Let’s hang out.”

“What should we do?”

He ponders, toying with the ends of my hair. “Seattle,” he says decidedly. “Something fun. Something to cheer you up.”

“It’s not your job to cheer me up, Max.”

“Sure it is. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but my happiness is directly related to yours. I never, ever want to see you cry again.”

I nestle closer. “That might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said, Holden.”

“I have my moments.” I hear the smile in his voice. “Remember when you had that horrible summer job walking the Nelsons’ dog?”

The Nelsons, who live a couple houses down from the Holdens, hired me a few years back to walk their grouchy terrier once every weekday while school was out. It was a thankless job full of ankle nips and poop-scooping, worsened by the fact that it was one of the hottest summers on record. “Ugh. Yes. Why?”

“Remember how I used to walk with you?”

“I do.” Max’s company had kept me from strangling that dog.

“Do you know why I walked with you?”

“Because you weren’t old enough to get your driver’s license? You were bored?”

“Hardly.”

Curious, I fold my hands across his chest, drop my chin onto them, and work to make out his features in the darkness. “Why, then?”

“Because I thought I was in love with you.”

I laugh out loud, only lowering my voice when I remember I’m in Max Holden’s bed in the middle of the night, just down the hall from his sisters.

“Seriously,” he says. “I was convinced you were, like, my soul mate or something.” He pauses, grinning at the memory. “Even back then, watching you drag that shitty little dog down the block, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the whole neighborhood.”

Aww… I love Max and Jill, and I hope you get to read more of their story one day.

And, your second present… Book recommendations! Here are some of my very favorite YA love stories. (Covers link to Goodreads pages.) 

    

  

    

    

    

     

There you have it, friends. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Tell me: What’s your favorite love story? 

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16 thoughts on “Happy Valentine’s Day”

  1. Jennifer Pickrell says:

    Awww, what a sweet moment 🙂 I just searched my TBR-list to see if I had IMPOSSIBLE on it b/c it sounded familiar but I couldn’t quite place it. It IS on there, along with a description and a note that “Katy recom.” I must have seen it on your blog before!

  2. Tanya says:

    Oh my goodness, Katy, I love it! So glad you shared the excerpt. It has me itching to know more about Max and Jill and what their story is. She’s in his bed so it sounds like serious relationship… or maybe they’re just hanging out. Did they start as friends (which is how it sounds), are they an “official” couple… so many questions. He sounds like a sweetheart (he never wants to see her cry again… awww!). I’d be so up for reading more. 🙂

    My fave love stories: Easy by Tammara Webber (that one really took me by surprise – although more NA than YA), Eleanor & Park, Pushing the Limits and The Infinite Moment of Us. You list several that I’m familiar with but I’m heading right over to GoodReads to check them out.

    • katyupperman says:

      Thank you so much for saying such nice things about my writing, Tanya. Totally made my day! I so hope you get to read more one day. 🙂 I haven’t read EASY yet, but I want to. I’ve heard great things! Hope you’re having a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

    • katyupperman says:

      I only just read it a few months ago and I loved it SO MUCH. It’s hard to pick a favorite of the three Cashore books, but FIRE definitely has a special place in my heart.

  4. Alexa says:

    Oh I love the excerpt Katy, thanks for sharing. I’m completely intrigued and want to know Max and Jill’s story now. Maybe I’ll be picking it up in a bookshop one day 😀
    Great recommendations, so many book and couples I love on there. I’d add Francesca and Will from Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, and Sean and Puck from The Scorpio Races. It just slays me when he says “It’s late for that Puck” SWOON!

    • katyupperman says:

      I sincerely hope you get to read more of Max and Jill’s story one day, Alexa. And you’re totally right about Sean and Puck! I can’t believe I omitted them. Love THE SCORPIO RACES!

  5. Stephanie Scott says:

    I intended to do a post like this but, well, editing took over. I love the romance in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s such a creative, beautiful book.

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