Meet Cute - (Countdown Novels) (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. Meet Cute is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today's most popular YA authors.

Readers will experience Nina LaCour's beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard's glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon's imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno's story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick's charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There's futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants.

This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

From chance encounters in airports and diners to futuristic dating apps and reality TV, how does love begin?

• All-Star Author Collection: Featuring original stories from YA powerhouses like Nicola Yoon, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Nina LaCour, Sara Shepard, and Julie Murphy.
• LGBTQ+ Romance: Discover heartwarming stories of girls falling in love in airports and online, plus a powerful and riveting story centered on a transgender heroine.
• Contemporary & Sci-Fi Stories: Whether it's a missed connection on the subway, hiding from the cops at a party, or finding a match through a futuristic dating app, these tales span genres.
• Diverse Voices and Characters: From a girl determined to leave her small town to a fated love on a magical island, this anthology celebrates a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

Review Quotes

"...An enjoyable and diverse collection that never feels repetitive, despite the stories' shared thematic underpinnings... All 14 leave just enough magic and mystery to inspire readers to trust in a little bit of fate." - Publishers Weekly

"The people and situations vary, but it all comes down to that effervescent moment of "hello" -- so essentially, it's like those Starburst bags that only contain the red and pink ones, but in book form." - EW.com

"The collection is a welcome departure from strictly heterosexual romance, including cisgirl-meets-girl and transgirl-meets-girl connections in addition to girl-meets-boy scenarios... A collection that adds much-needed diversity to the existing teen-romance genre." - Kirkus Reviews

"Ultimately a well-rounded, charming collection of love stories that any reader will be happy to meet." - Booklist

About the Author