Flirting in Italian

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson follows Violet a British girl.  When Violet finds a picture at a museum that looks just like her she becomes obsessed.  She finds a small finishing school in Italy right next to the castle where the picture was painted and convinces her mother to allow her to go.  The school is located at a beautiful villa and she and her three friends are poised to have a wonderful time eating wonderful food, drinking delicious wine and flirting with cute Italian boys while trying to solve the mystery of why she looks so much like the girl in the painting.

This is a fun and flirty book that is a true romance.  It takes place in a fun and foreign location with great friends and cute boys.  However, there is a plot point with her crush (whom she kisses a lot) whose mother lives at the castle with the painting (if you get what I'm saying) that is not resolved at the end of the book that is a bit icky that is going to turn off a lot of readers.  If you can get past that you'll find that this is a cute and fun romance that your older teens will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that straddles the line between adult and teen lit.  Had Violet been two years older it would have fit perfectly in the chic lit section.  There are several steamy kissing scenes but they do not go further than that.  There is a lot of drinking (which is legal in Europe) however there is also a lot of discussion of the need for a designated driver (yay) and a lot of talk about how there is no need to drink to excess (yay).  I would recommend this book to readers 16+ and use it as a starting point to discuss responsible drinking and the importance of designated drivers.

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Romance for Teens: I've Got Your Number

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella follows Poppy who after loosing her engagement ring at a hotel and then getting her cell phone stolen finds a phone that was thrown in the trash.  Out of desperation she gives the phone number to the hotel.  She soon gets a call and finds out that the phone belonged to a personal assistant and her boss Sam is not happy she has the phone.  Poppy refuses to give the phone back but promises to forward all of his e-mails and messages.  The two develop a relationship through texts and e-mails while Poppy prepares for her own wedding with the pretentious Magnus.

This is a fantastic and funny adult romance novel that has great crossover appeal to teens.  It is light, funny and flirty and Poppy is a peppy girl who readers can't help but root for.  Reading like one of those cute ABC family TV movies.  Although the book is very long it is still a fast read and I was unable to put it down laughing my way through the story.

Appropriateness:  This is a great book for teens who are interested in adult romance.  While Poppy is an adult and partakes in adult behaviors (she's living with her fiancee and drinks) there are no sex scenes literal or implied. 

Format note: the book is peppered with footnotes throughout that are a great addition to the story.  Because of this format I would suggest that you buy the book in hard copy or wait until there are solid reviews of a digital copy because footnotes generally do not translate well to a digital platform.

Romance for Teens: You Had Me At Halo

You Had Me At Halo is an adult romance novel by Amanda Ashby who has recently written two very funny paranormal romances including Fairy Bad Day.  This novel stars Holly who is having a very difficult time adapting to her death.  She is insistent that she did not kill herself and ends up being sent back to earth in the body of her co-worker Vince who apparently just died.  Unfortunately Holly soon learns that Vince is not dead and the two of them must work together so Holly can find out the true story behind her death and move on.

It's always interesting to see books that authors write years before the books that made them famous.  This book has hints of the brilliance that comes through in Ashby's newer novels but lacks their originality.  This book has a plot that we've seen in several chick flicks and the twists are not that shocking.  It is however a nice and easy read and a sweet and fairly clean adult romance that teens will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This is a fairly sweet and clean romance.  The two main characters share the same body so needless to say there is no sex.  There are a few illusions to erections and a couple drunken scenes that take place in a bar.  I would recommend this book for romance fans 13+  

You Had Me At Halo does not seem to be currently in print but is available for a low price in digital format and used copies are available (very cheap) through third party sellers. 

Romance for Teens-- The Boy Series

The Boy Series by Meg Cabot is a terrific romance series for teens.  The three books which can be read out of order follow three girls who work at the New York Journal.  These books are told in E-mails, IM's, Journal Entries and even on Menus.  The girls are all  right out of college smart and funny and the men that they end up with are all good guys.

Told in emails, IMs, and brief journal entries, these loosely connected (but each also stands alone) romantic comedies will keep you laughing: "Full of clever e-mail banter and tongue-in-cheek humor, this cheeky novel should be enjoyed in one sitting" (Publishers Weekly on Boy Next Door). Have fun "devouring this fluffy, fun urban fairy tale" (Publishers Weekly on Boy Meets Girl). And be sure to follow it up with Every Boy's Got One, a "frothy concoction of love, friendship and true  romance" (Publishers Weekly). 

More details can be found here.

These are light and fluffy romance that teens will eat right up.  The format while disconcerting at first makes for a very entertaining read that you would expect from Meg Cabot.

Appropriateness: These books are written for and about adults so there is sex and alcohol as one would expect in an adult romance novel.  The sex isn't descriptive than you would find in some YA novels making it perfect for the high school audience.