Summer days, summer nights: Twelve summer romances ed. by Stephanie Perkins

Macmillan Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9781509809899
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Romance. Diversity. This collection features twelve stories, by 12 well known US authors writing for adolescents: Leigh Bardugo, Nina LaCour, Libba Bray, Francesca Lia Block, Stephanie Perkins, Tim Federle, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovran, Brandy Colbert, Cassandra Clare, Jennifer E Smith and Lev Grossman. The collection had a range of genres, from adolescent, fantasy, to horror so some stories will have more appeal than others depending on the reader's liking for a particular type of genre.
It is a collection that the reader can dip into to find stories by their favourite authors as well as find stories and genres by authors that may be new to them. One of my favourites was Head, scales, tongue, tail by Leigh Bardugo which appears to have all the hallmarks of a summer romance until the quirky twist at the end. Another that appealed was Last Stand At the Cinegore by Libba Bray, a look at a classic horror movie that comes alive - lots of humour and excitement here! Sick pleasure by Francesca Lia Block was not your traditional love story at all and will make the reader think about the meaning of love. Another that took a different approach to love was Good luck and farewell by Brandy Colbert where Rashida has to come to grips with the fact that her beloved cousin is moving to San Francisco with her girlfriend. The map of tiny perfect things by Lev Grossman has its two characters facing the same day over and over and having to find perfect things to keep going.
With its mixture of romance, race and diversity, this is sure to be a popular collection, although not as light hearted as My true love gave to me: Twelve holiday stories also edited by Stephanie Perkins.
Pat Pledger