Crush - by Cathy Alter & Dave Singleton (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A star-studded collection of essays from acclaimed and bestselling authors and celebrities that illuminates the lasting power of desire and longing, and celebrates our initiation into the euphoria, pain, and mystery that is our first celebrity crush.

You never forget your first crush . . .

CRUSH brings together stories of heartbreak, humiliation, and hilarity from a roster of popular luminaries, including James Franco, Carrie Fisher, Stephen King, Roxane Gay, Jodi Picoult, Emily Gould, and Hanna Rosin, who share intimate memories of that first intense taste of love. Here are funny, whimsical, sometimes cringe-worthy tales of falling head over heels for River Phoenix, Mary Tyler Moore, Howard Cosell, Jared Leto, and a host of other pop culture icons.

A few contributors channeled their devotion into obsessively writing embarrassing fan letters. Some taped pics in school lockers. Others decorated their bedroom walls with posters. For tweenaged Karin Tanabe, it was discovering bad boy Andy Garcia--playing the gun-loving mobster Vincent Corleone in The Godfather III. Barbara Graham unsuccessfully staked out an apartment on Park Avenue for a glimpse of her blue-eyed soulmate, Paul Newman. There was only one puppy for six-year-old Jodi Picoult--Donny Osmond--while Jamie Brisick's pre-teen addiction was Speed Racer.

Swoon-worthy and unforgettable, the essays in CRUSH will leave you laughing, make you cry, and keep you enthralled--just like your first celebrity crush.

Explore the hilarious, heartbreaking, and all-too-relatable first loves of your favorite writers:

• Star-Studded Contributors: Read deeply personal, never-before-told stories from literary icons like Stephen King, Carrie Fisher, Roxane Gay, Jodi Picoult, and James Franco.
• Unforgettable Pop Culture Icons: Relive the swoon-worthy obsession with a diverse range of crushes, from the boyish charm of River Phoenix and Donny Osmond to the unexpected allure of Mary Tyler Moore and--yes--Howard Cosell.
• Nostalgic and Relatable Moments: From writing cringe-worthy fan mail to staking out an apartment for a glimpse of Paul Newman, these tales capture the hilarious, humiliating, and universal experience of a first crush.
• A Celebration of First Love: Discover how these early, one-sided romances helped shape the lives and work of some of our most beloved authors and celebrities.

From the Back Cover

A star-studded collection of original essays that illuminates the lasting power of desire and longing, and celebrates our initiation into the agony and ecstasy that is our first celebrity crush

You never forget your first crush . . .

CRUSH brings together stories of heartbreak, humiliation, and hilarity from a roster of popular luminaries. Whether it manifests in writing vaguely inappropriate fan letters, obsessively chronicling their wardrobe choices, buying a Star Map in order to drive by their house, or simply purchasing every magazine with their face on the cover, we've all had a one-sided love affair with a person too famous to know we exist. In some ways more powerful than the up-close, in-person grade-school crush, the celebrity crush is as much defined by its mystery and allure as by its fervor and ferocity.

Swoon-worthy and unforgettable, the essays in CRUSH are poignant and compulsively readable, and each begs the question: Who is your celebrity crush?

Contributors include:

Amin Ahmad - Cathy Alter - Jessica Anya Blau - Michelle Brafman - Anna Breslaw - Jamie Brisick - Yesha Callahan - Jason Diamond - Shulem Deen - Larry Doyle - James Franco - Roxane Gay - Emily Gould - Barbara Graham - Shane Harris - David Housley - Jill Kargman - David Keplinger - Caroline Kepnes - Stephen King - Richard McCann - Andrew McCarthy - Kermit Moyer - Kimberly Dawn Neumann - Carolyn Parkhurst - Jodi Picoult - Julia Pierpont - Joanna Rakoff - Hanna Rosin - Janice Shapiro - David Shields - Dave Singleton - Larry Smith - Karin Tanabe - Tony Tulathimutte - Sam Weisman - Marion Winik - Nicola Yoon

Review Quotes

"The seemingly lightweight premise of an anthology built around celebrity crushes yields an outstanding selection of poignant and thought-provoking stories." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This charming book takes a look at first crushes....The authors do a remarkable job collecting different types of crushes while keeping the reminiscences short and sweet (one is just half a page). Carolyn Parkhurst's zippy celebrity fantasy provides a pleasingly lighthearted conclusion to a book that balances heartbreak and relief, blind love and terror." - Publishers Weekly

"Charming...The authors do a remarkable job collecting different types of crushes while keeping the reminiscences short and sweet...A book that balances heartbreak and relief, blind love and terror. " - Publishers Weekly

"This solid, legitimate anthology that reflects on a compelling and universal phenomenon will put readers back in touch with their younger selves." - Library Journal

"There's a lot to enjoy in these...pieces." - Washington Post

"Entertaining...Some stories are funny...others are inspiring...Reading these short, angst-packed essays about starting at movie screens and listening to transistor radios is like reminiscing with old friends...[A] reminder that first loves are always worth recalling." - Booklist

"[A] charming collection." - Entertainment Weekly