The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published by Penguin Books
Date: January 3, 2013
Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Pages: 316
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

- Goodreads

Hazel Grace has resigned herself to a life of living with cancer. She lives her life based on a routine that she has no reason to change, and she's okay with that. But, her mother insists on sending her to Cancer Support Group, which is where she meets Augustus Waters. And, Augustus Waters changes everything. Augustus lives like everyday is a gift, and he challenges Hazel to step out of her comfort zone and learn what life and love are really all about.

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Defy by Sara B. Larson
Published by Scholastic Press
Date: January 7, 2014
Series: Defy #1
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

- Goodreads

Alexa has been playing a part for years, ever since her twin brother Marcel saved her life when they suddenly became orphans during an attack on their village. Ever since that day, Alexa has been masquerading as Alex, the most skilled member of the Prince's guard...and also a boy. It has been imperative for Alexa and Marcel to conceal her true identity, lest she face the horrors that await all orphaned girls at the hands of King Hector, the ruthless ruler of the once-great nation of Antion. But, when Prince Damian is abducted with Alexa and her best friend Rylan along with him, Alexa's secret is suddenly in jeopardy as she fights to keep the Prince safe, all while trying to make sense of the confusing attractions she suddenly feels for Damian and for Rylan. How can Alexa manage it all--maintaining the safety of the Prince, reconciling the feelings she harbors for Damian and Rylan, and possibly even putting an end to the senseless war that has ravaged Antion and the neighboring nation of Blevon for decades? What decisions will Alexa make, and will those decisions be the right choice?

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Alienated by Melissa Landers
Published by Disney Hyperion
Date: February 4, 2014
Series: Alienated #1
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

--Goodreads

When Cara Sweeney is selected to host one of the first exchange students from the planet L'eihr, she thinks her future is set. She'll host Aelyx for a year on Earth, take her turn on L'eihr, and then return to Earth where she can attend the university of her dreams, courtesy of the hefty scholarship she'll receive as a student in the first intergalactic student exchange program. Piece of cake. Never mind the fact that Aelyx has plans of his own. He and his friends want nothing to do with Earth or humanity. Equipped with a secret plot to sabotage the potential alliance between Earth and L'eihr, Aelyx plans to return to his home planet as soon as possible, never to return to Earth again. When the exchange finally starts, neither Cara nor Aelyx is prepared for torrent of events and emotions that will change both their lives, and even their planets, forever.

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Fair warning, I don't usually read true romance novels. They're just not my style. Occasionally I'll pick one up, but usually I'll read books from other genres, like science fiction or fantasy, that have a romance tied into the plot. So, some of the books on my list are true romance, while others are not.

1. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks: No list about romances would be complete without The Notebook. It is the mother of all romances. Anyone would kill to have a romance as epic as Ally and Noah's. It's just a fact of life.
2. Any Novel by Jane Austen:  Jane Austen knew how to write good romance. And, each one of her novels sucks you in with the characters' witty charm. Personally, my favorite is Pride and Prejudice, but any of them are wonderful.
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: It takes true devotion to wait your entire life for someone, which is exactly what Clare does in The Time Traveler's Wife. She is always waiting for Henry, and through it all, she never loses her love for him.
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: This is one of my favorite books ever. A touch of mystery gives the love story depth while the magic of the Night Circus makes Celia and Marco's romance unforgettable and unlike any other. 
5. The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series by Maggie Stiefvater: As far as supernatural love stories go, this one is one of my favorites. I love the characters and the unpredictability of the plot. Maggie Stiefvater knows how to take aspects of real life and romance and blend them with fantasy to make a story that is truly unique. 
6. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Get out the torches and the pitchforks...Twilight has made my top ten list of romances. Say what you want about the Twilight series--I certainly have my fair share of negative comments--but, let's face it, Twilight has a few moments that make your heart go a-flutter.
7. My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger: This book isn't exactly an epic love story, but it does have cute romantic moments, and I love how each of the characters comes alive. It's definitely a good read.
8. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: This is another not-so-epic love story. However, I really enjoyed the premise of the book. The idea of passing a book of dares back and forth with a potential love interest is intriguing and unique.
9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: This book tackles the idea of love at first sight. Although I found some aspects of the story a bit unbelievable (I'm a bit cynical), it's still a cute love story.
10. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: I wasn't sure if I want to include this book, but I'm going to include it anyway because I can't think of another book to put on the list. Romeo and Juliet seems to be synonymous with romance. And, it is a good love story even though it's tragic and Romeo is kind of a player.

There's my list. Which romantic novels would you recommend?

These Broken Stars 
by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Published by Disney Hyperion
Date: December 10, 2013
Series: Starbound #1
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 374
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

---

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

- Goodreads

Lilac and Tarver live in completely different worlds. Lilac, the beautiful, young heiress of the richest, most powerful man in the galaxy, is used to being the center of attention and having the world at her fingertips. Tarver, on the other hand, is a war hero from humble beginnings who can't help but feel like he doesn't fit in with the members of high society and their world of fancy parties and ridiculous social niceties. Lilac and Tarver couldn't be more different. But, when the starship their traveling on, the Icarus, falls out of hyperspace and crash-lands on an unknown planet, Lilac and Tarver suddenly find themselves bound to one another as they fight to survive and await a rescue mission they aren't entirely sure is coming. These Broken Stars is a gripping story about survival, love, and strength that takes the genre of science fiction and turns it into something new.

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From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
- Goodreads

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