Autoboyography
By Christina Lauren
Romance
Autoboygraphy is a young adult book about a bisexual teenager, Tanner, whose family moved from California to Utah three years ago, around the time when dating and flirting becomes of paramount importance in a teen’s life. Living in a conservative, religious state as a bisexual teenager proves tricky for Tanner, and things get even rougher when Tanner develops a crush on Sebastian, a devout Latter-day Saint teenager and the teacher’s assistant for Provo High’s prestigious Seminar class, which requires students to draft an entire novel in four months.
If you only read one book by Christina Lauren, I highly recommend reading this one. In the acknowledgements, the authors write that Christina worked in a counseling office in Utah and saw “teen after teen coming through who honestly believed, devastatingly, that their parents would probably rather have a dead child than a gay one.” Lauren, who grew up bisexual in the Bay Area, felt “a social obligation to reach out to teens whose experiences weren’t as easy” as her own. The result is this book, heartbreaking yet relatable, no matter your gender or sexual orientation. Anyone who grew up gay, LDS, or in Utah County will recognize and appreciate the details surrounding Tanner’s story and his struggle with finding love and acceptance in a state where homophobic beliefs and attitudes too often prevail.
The Unhoneymooners
By Christina Lauren
Romance
The Unhoneymooners is a hate-to-love contemporary romance about Olive and her twin sister Ami. While Ami is preparing for a wedding she financed herself, Olive is preparing for a run-in with best man Ethan Thomas, her nemesis. When the entire wedding party except for Olive and Ethan get food poisoning, a free honeymoon trip is up for grabs, and Olive is not about to let Ethan enjoy it by himself. After a temporary truce, they pretend to be newlyweds, and are off to Maui. Strangely, the longer Olive pretends to be Ethan’s wife, the less unpleasant it feels.
The Unhoneymooners is full of hilarious situations and swoon-worthy scenes. I loved both Olive and Ethan! Their relationship is believable and nuanced for how quickly it develops. If you’re in the mood for a fun, light, fast-paced rom com, I highly recommend this book.
Something Wilder
By Christina Lauren
Romance
Released in 2022, Something Wilder is Christina Lauren’s latest novel. This book is part adventure story, part treasure hunt, and part love story as it follows Lily Wilder and Leo Grady through the twists and turns that can only be found in Canyonlands National Park. Lily Wilder — a resourceful and self-reliant cowgirl — is left leading tourists on staged treasure hunts through the canyons of Utah after the future she had planned is abruptly lost. Unexpectedly, Leo Grady — who was at the heart of that lost future — shows up in one of Lily’s tour groups. As Leo and Lily embark on what is supposed to be one of Lily’s usual “treasure hunts,” things quickly go wrong. The two past lovers are forced to ask themselves what they’re willing to do for the adventure and love of a lifetime.
I really loved this book! As someone who has spent time in Canyonlands, I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in that setting. I also loved the balance the authors found between adventure and romance throughout the novel. It was as fun to watch the characters’ relationship develop as it was to figure out where the next clue would lead. I highly recommend this book to any contemporary romance fans and I especially recommend it to those who enjoy a good western adventure!
Interested in these books? The authors will be visiting the Orem Public Library to discuss and read from their books, answer questions, and sign copies of their books. All are invited to join us in the Orem Library Hall at 7 PM on Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
