Valentine's Day with the YA Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day, lovely readers!

I know not everyone is a fan of Valentine's Day, but this year I wanted to give you a reason to enjoy it a little more. So I've enlisted some friends.

The wonderful YA Valentines are here on the blog today to brighten up your Valentine's Day with a little love from the main characters of their debuts. Each author has written a Valentine's message from their mc to you, the reader. Enjoy their sweet and quirky messages of love.

One-Liners:

Jen McConnel's Darlena in DAUGHTER OF CHAOS:

Hey, Valentine, you make sparks fly!

Bethany Crandell's Cricket Montgomery in SUMMER ON THE SHORT BUS:

The way to a girl’s heart is inside a little blue box.

Lindsay Cumming's Meadow in THE MURDER COMPLEX:

Happy Valentine's Day.
The Murder Complex will spare you.

Poems:

Paula Stokes' Lainey in THE ART OF LAINEY:

A warning for my Valentine:

I will not quit until I make you mine

I'm a girl who plays to win

And I will steal your heart again <333

Kristi Helvig's Tora in BURN OUT:

I’d ask you to be my Valentine
but I’m sweating my ass off under the sun
so though I hope you live to enjoy the day
my only date will be with my gun

Jaye Robin Brown's Amber in NO PLACE TO FALL:

Your fingers on the banjo,

My heart in a whirl

I sing while you play

and wish I was your girl.

Lynne Matson's Thad in NIL:

If we make it back
I promise you this
You’ll be the only girl I’ll ever kiss
For you I’d run
For you I’d die
C’mon Nil—just one more try
Give me a gate to make or miss.

Bethany Hagen's Madeline in LANDRY PARK: 

Happy Valentine's Day,

I'll put on my best gown,

but no kissing,

until my father is overthrown.

A. Lynden Rolland's Chase in OF BREAKABLE THINGS:

This ghost town reeks of ashes

and the bitter salt of the tide.

But when hope rides the tails of the breeze

know that it's me by your side.

Look for a dent near your pillow.

I'll whisper some peace in your ear.

Hang on just a little bit longer.

Your death. I feel it. It's near.

Anne Blankman's Gretchen in PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG: 

I was taught to hate you,

And yet I can't look away.

I catch myself wondering

If we can be together someday.

Kristen Lippert-Martin's Sarah in TABULA RASA:

Deep in my heart, believe it or not,
My love is so strong, it's like I've been shot.
Oh, wait. That's a bullet and this blood is all mine,
Assuming I live, will you be my Valentine?

Roses Are Red:

Sara B. Larson's Alexa Hollen in DEFY: 

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Don't attack the prince,

and I won't be forced to kill you

Sara Raasch's Meira in SNOW LIKE ASHES:

Roses are red,

The blood of my enemies is too.

Dating isn't a priority when your kingdom is enslaved

But I'll make an exception for you.

Philip Siegel's Becca from THE BREAK-UP ARTIST: 

Gashes are red.

Bruises are (black and) blue.

What we're doing is wrong

And you know it, too.

I hope that helped to give today a little extra shine. These lovely characters are happy to be your dates today (even if some do seem a little preoccupied). Think about it this way, though: you can always count on some love on Valentine's Day because fictional characters will always be there for you.

Happy Valentine's Day from me, these characters, and the YA Valentines!