YOUNG LOVE

Author: Dean Amory

Tags: young romance, first love, young love, teenage romance, teenage love, coming of age, new adult, young adult, romance, novel, highschool romance,

He who looks outside dreams

Dean Amory entices with  atypical New Adult Romance Novel Series about real young people in a real world

Are you done with romance stories that rely on princes, werewolves or dark secrets?  Here is a set of refreshing contemporary New Adult Romance Stories about ordinary people that deal with love, loss and growing up.

Imagine a romance novel with no billionaires or earls, no unexpected heritages, no criminal boyfriends with dark secrets, no paranormal gifts, no vampires or zombies, … in short: A novel that doesn’t rely on well-trodden stereotypes, but depicts all the uncertainties and overpowering emotions that come with true young love and describes the heroes psychological struggle in an honest, original and genuine way.

Such is exactly what you will find in Dean Amory’s Young Love Novels Part 1, A Schoolyard Love Story and Part 2, First Love’s Shadow: Two refreshing high school romance novels set in Europe, Flanders, in the early seventies of the previous century, that have it all: they are witty, bittersweet, touching and rich in culture and history.

The “Young Love” novels are available in most quality webshops, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu, Kindle, Feedaread, Shopmybooks, Smashwords, etc….

At http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Jaimelavie the book is also available in a luxury hardcover boxset edition which includes both stories.

Dean Amory, real name Edgard (Eddy) Adriaens, was born 21.09.1953 in the Flemish city of Aalst.  After finishing high school, he worked at a few local SMEs as a correspondent and assistant (sales) executive. In 1986 he was recruited by Bacob Bank, and started as a relationship manager.  After the bank’s merger with the Dexia Bank, he moved on to be an Electronic Banking Expertise Officer at Dexia, later renamed Belfius bank. 

In “Young Love part 1, A school Yard Love Story”, Sean and Katherine fall in love the first day they meet. But Katherine breaks up when things become too serious, and risk to disrupt her studies and the good understanding with her parents.

For Sean, being dumped is hard enough, but things become really complicated when Katherine  promises she will return to him after they graduate from high school.  Unfortunately, his heart is broken and he never believes love is something one can switch off and on deliberately. After trying for months to convince Katherine to reconsider, Sean gives up.  But with Katherine always nearby, he never really manages to distance himself from her. 

About Young Love, part 1: "A Schoolyard Love Story"

Sean is only seventeen, but the serious issues he faces when he falls in love with his new class mate, Katherine, resonate also with older readers.

Theirs is a complicated relationship from the start. Readers will appreciate the realistic depiction of the tortured hero's psychological struggle after the heroine ends the relationship, especially when it becomes clear that both young people remain drawn to each other anyway and struggle to regain their balance during the rest of the school year.

A refreshing high school romance set in Europe, Flanders, in the early seventies of the previous century with a total lack of stereotyping, that has it all: it's witty, bittersweet, touching and rich in culture and history. The story depicts all the uncertainties and overpowering emotions that come with true young love in a most original and genuine way.

The sequel “Young Love Part 2, First Love’s Shadow”, starts at the beginning of the summer holiday.  Sean has accepted a holiday job at a hotel in a seaside resort.  He tries to move on with his life. It’s difficult though to forget about Katherine, when so many of the issues he experiences in his new relationships look almost identical to what he went through before with her.

At the start of their last year at school, Sean and Katherine discover that it’s not always simple to spend most active hours of every life in the same classroom with your ex.  Someone you loved and adored with all of your being and with whom it’s still easy to talk because they know and  understand you.  

After some time, Katherine invites Sean to date again. Will they lay their hearts on the line again? Are second chances really possible? Can recreating the past help the young couple to create a different future?  And is Sean even willing to accept the terms Katherine's offer comes with?

About Young Love, part 2: "First Love's Shadow"

Dean Amory, author of the critically acclaimed coming of age novel “Young Love, A Schoolyard Love Story”, returns with a poignant, striking sequel that skilfully captures the singular experience of being a teenager: “Young Love, First Love’s Shadow”.  Dean Amory chronicles the hero’s life through the thrills, heartbreaks, joy and despair of the final year in high school and the consecutive transition to a labour environment.

After the traumatic end of the school year, Sean leaves for the Flemish seaside resort Ostend, where he will work at hotel Brabant during the summer holiday. Away from Katherine, he opens up again, meets new people and falls in love again but past experiences are haunting him and he must face some hard truths about himself.  Torn between old dreams and new hopes, he questions himself and the rules he’s always lived by.  By the time he returns home after the summer holiday, he feels reborn and ready to face the world.

But is he also ready to face Katherine? When she broke up, she had a simple plan: put studies before love and return to Sean after graduating from high school only.  Seeing how Sean has distanced himself from her, she realizes she is running the risk of losing him completely and invites him to reunite with her until the end of the school year, at which point she wants to re evaluate her life. 

Are second chances really possible? Can recreating the past help the young couple to create a different future?  And is Sean even willing to accept her terms?

In this imaginative, surprising and complex page-turner, which will certainly appeal to all fans of young adult and new adult romance novels, Dean Amory has brought a vivid, clever and heartfelt portrayal of what it’s like to be a teenager in love. "Young Love Part 2, First Love's Shadow" is a gripping story in which the distance between lost and found is often less than a text line long.

Some Comments:

Great writing!  Could not stop reading!!

When I first picked up this book I wasn't all that sure I would like it, but I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. Now I can say with complete honesty that I enjoyed the story very much and am so glad I picked it! The story drew me in and I felt all the joy and all the pain.  It was intelligent and well developed and the dynamic between the main characters was great. 

I really enjoyed the characters. The characters are very well written: they have substance, and are unique without ever being overdone.  The author didn't go over the top with unrealistic scenes, though sometimes I became frustrated with Sean and even yelled at him once or twice. He took his time and you felt him struggle with his feelings. 

I was a little sad at some times and even cried at one point.  His heartbreak over losing Katherine was really sad.  I was left with a little bit of hmmmm a hang.

All in all it was a sweet read and wish this author only success with many more to come.

Total recommend for someone who's looking for a really good, original romance novel.

(Nele)

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I usually dont leave reviews, but this book was TOO good not to.  This is an incredible book that you will not regret reading.  The story really caught me up in it. It had me hooked within minutes and I couldn't put it down!  I love this type of stories because they give you that feeling of first love discovery and transport you back to the days of high school and the emotional highs and lows of young love. 

The book is very well written and unique because it takes the boy's point of view, which is rather unusual for a romance.  Also, it isn't as superficial as most romance stories: you really get to know the main characters very well. Especially Sean of course. To me, it was unexpected who he ended up with. Throughout the book, I kept hoping Sean and Katherine would come together in the end, after they finished school. After all, they loved each other, had known each other for years and had always been there for each other, even when they were not so close.I can honestly say that my feelings were hurt when they did not, even though they probably made the best choice for themselves.

I hope the author will consider publishing the book with an alternate ending with Sean picking Katherine, after they finally realize they've been each other's true love all along! Definitely recommend this book. I will be buying other books by this author. 

(Megan)

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I'm so glad to have come across this book! This truly is a gem!  I have absolutely enjoyed reading it!  I fell in love with the characters right away and felt as if I were in high school right along beside them.  They are totally realistic and relatable.

I loved the special bond Sean and Katherine shared.

The story had me go through a roller coaster of emotions.  The plot line was sweet and endearing but also honest and never too sappy! Even though Sean's heart gets broken along the way, he refuses to settle for anything less than true love. I'm so glad for the silver lined cloud in the end. 

The story is paced evenly throughout the book with no huge time jumps or overworking of parts. I would definitely recommend you purchase this book. You will not be disappointed! 

(Sharon)

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Wow, I loved this book!  Really amazing!  This book contains a well thought story plot.  The characters are genuine, and their decisions easy to understand.

Sean's personal struggle adds just enough drama, but I most of all adored Katherine.  Unlike Sean, she does not allow her hormones to rule her life and fights for what she knows is right, even if this means that she has to suffer a lot. 

I absolutely loved this book!

(Caroline)

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Wonderful book. I literally just finished it and am sitting here a little stunned by how much I liked it. From the beginning I felt a connection with Sean.  I absolutely loved this story! It had me smiling, made me feel sad, even crying and on edge.  I was amazed at how well written it was.  The book is easy to understand, but also very different to the usual superficial falling-in-and-out-of-love kind of teen romance.  I loved it!

This is definitely one of the better young adult romance novels I have read in a long time!  Anybody who loves a great teen romance should definitely read this book.

(Madelyn)

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Wow, "Young Love" is absolutely awesome and I really enjoyed reading it.

I don't usually read young adult books because I thought they are too juvenile for me.  But I decided to give it a shot anyway.  After reading Young Love, I am persuaded otherwise!  The story captivated me from the start. I realy liked this book. It was so full of emotions that it overwhelmed me sometimes.

The story is good and it's well-written. I was able to connect to the characters and feel the emotion they were going through.  I started reading it last night and couldn't put it down anymore.  I finished it about 15 minutes ago. 

My emotions were everywhere! The book reminds me of my own life story.

I appreciated the honesty with which the author describes Sean's personal struggle.

The boy took my heart away just because he's not perfect or fake, but one hundred percent authentic.  And Katherine was so strong!  Doing the right thing all the time even though she knew it would cause her pain.  

(Abigail)

Young Love is available at:

Lulu.com

http://www.lulu.com/shop/dean-amory/young-love-part-1-a-school-yard-love-story/paperback/product-22211969.html

http://www.lulu.com/shop/dean-amory/young-love-part-2-first-loves-shadow/paperback/product-22225251.html

Amazon.com  (also Amazon Fr, De, Uk ...)

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Love-Part-School-Story/dp/1514332035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434526760&sr=8-1&keywords=dean+amory+young+love

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Love-Part-Shadow-Volume/dp/1514641836/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0EY2KAM7CTJ2KJXQDJ6R

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Love-Part-School-Story/dp/1514332035/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434526665&sr=8-2&keywords=dean+amory

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=dean+amory

Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/young-love-part-1-mr-dean-amory/1122130623?ean=9781514332030

ShopmyBooks

http://www.shopmybooks.com/BE/en/books?query=dean+amory

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/550243

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552606

More about Young Love

There is something endearing and innocent about young love; it’s irresistible. 

Here are two unconventional young adult romance novels with a unique rhythm that echoes the cadence and energy of youth, and a wonderful underlying pulse that quickly captures your imagination.  YOUNG LOVE is a unique and welcome look at love and romance from the young man’s perspective. It looks at first love in diverse and unconventional ways, which is what we need in young adult novels today: 

YOUNG LOVE Part 1, A School Yard Love Story, follows Sean as he meets the smart and witty Katherine on the first day of the new school year.  Although Katherine questions what his true intentions are, and doesn't always like his behaviour, she cannot help falling in love with him. But when their relationship threatens to ruin her studies and the understanding at home, she breaks up.

When he discovers that Katherine cannot shake him from her mind, Sean struggles to live up to her expectations and restore their bond. In the process, he is forced to have a good look at himself and to discover his own identity.  Slowly, he finds that it’s okay not to have all the answers.

In Young Love Part 2, First Love's Shadow, we follow the two during their last year at highschool. During a two month holiday job at a seaside resort, Sean has managed to distance himself from Katherine.  After the return to school however, Katherine realizes she's about to lose him for ever and invites him to reunite.  But her invitation comes with a condition.

Will they lay their hearts on the line again? Are second chances really possible? Can recreating the past help the young couple to create a different future?  And is Sean even willing to accept the terms Katherine's offer comes with?

If you’re looking for a great contemporary romance check out YOUNG LOVE.

YOUNG LOVE  is a wonderful contemporary romance.  Dean Amory does an excellent job at at giving us humor and characters that have depth, and portraying love, heartbreak and fate in this great coming-of-age story.  He gives us the thoughts and musings of young adults, and shows us that in a world seemingly without a cure, there is always hope in one form or another.

Dean Amory is a master at writing characters that come alive on the page.  The emotional tension between Sean and Katherine  is beautifully written. You really get a good sense of what both characters are feeling.   The sweetness of young love.  The anguish of regret.   The sadness of time lost.   Not only did I fall in love with Sean and Katherine, but I really enjoyed watching Sean struggle to become the person he wanted to be and remain honest and consequent, even when his decisions came with an obvious cost.

I don’t know about you, but I totally love high school romance stories, especially when they involve young people trying to become the best they can.  I highly recommend this book.   It’s a wonderful read, and it leaves you with a sigh and a smile.  

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young adult and new adult romance novels article with front.pdf (929.5 KB)   

Why We Read More Young Adult And New Adult Romance Novels

tags: young adult, new adult, romance, novels, books, young love, first love, high school romance, teenage love,

Young Adult and New Adult Romance Novels are a booming genre.

As a genre, Young Adult and New Adult Romance hasn’t changed much over the years, because neither has the subject matter that appeals to the readers. 

The reason that romance is such an eye-catching genre, is because of the heart pounding thrills that drive the story. The road blocks, obstacles, and struggles that each of the characters must face to develop the love between them is an emotional trip that any reader would love to explore. 

The various subgenres: young adult, new adult and adult romance, are largely determined by the protagonists' age and aims at drawing readers in by having the main characters struggle through the same emotional issues as the reader before gaining the love which they set out for.

In North America, romance novels are the most popular literary genre, comprising almost 55% of all paperback books sold.  According to The Daily Mail, sales of Young Adut and New Adult Romance Novels jumped almost 150 per cent in just six years.  Figures compiled by Neilsen BookScan are even more dazzling: In 2014 more than 3 million books in the category were sold, compared to only 981,000 in 2006!  Whereas it is estimated that women buy up to 90%  of all adult romance books, Young Adult and New Adult romance books have managed to attract a considerable number of male readers.

The common theme in these novels are young people turning into adults and discovering love and the responsibilities of life.

Typically, the main character in these books is a late teenage or early twen heroine who is trying to figure out who she is and wanting to fit in and be noticed.   In the process, she is struggling with her emotions, and often getting into conflict with her environment.

In the Young Adult Romance Novels, paranormal elements, dark forces (spirits, werewolves, vampires, zombies or whatever) and universal threats (extinction, plague, extra terrestrials) help to attract young readers.

In the New Adult Romance Novels, the life phase focused on generally moves from an high school environment to college and transition to work.  Paranormal elements appear less frequently and, if they do, are less important.  Instead, the emphasis is on a more mature sexual experience and / or deeper psychological analysis and description.

Inter racial and same sex relationships, as well as more controversial topicss including poverty, addiction, criminal behaviour, rape, abuse, domestic violence and personality disorders are addressed in some novels.

Young adult fiction, thankfully, has conquered the literary recognition it deserves.  And It's not just children who are reading these books!  Industry experts estimate more than a third of them are actually bought by adults.

It's no surprise these books are finding a growing audience:  there are countless amazing young adult and new adult novels to choose from, and with promising novels coming out every month, chances are that once you have found one series you enjoyed, you too will return for more. 

There are plenty of good reasons why adults love these books. 

Actually, young adults often feel  embarrassed to confess that they are reading Young Adult or New Adult books, whereas more adult readers have come to accept and appreciate the reasons why they love reading this kind of novels:

-          There is something endearing, fresh, compelling and innocent about young love that makes it irresistible.  Stories about young love are about starting the path towards becoming yourself.  They are open minded, unpretentious, have a strong sense of hope, and take us to a period in life where imaginiation still reigns and cynicism isn't present yet.

-          The characters are easily relatable: the main character’s behavioural traits and goals mostly are clear from a very early stage in the story, allowing readers to communicate more openly, honestly and candidly with them than is possible in most adult novels.

-          Since the theme is universal, we can draw from what is happening in the story and learn from the characters' behaviour and growth how to conquer problems in our own life.

-          The stories have a clear plot: generally, you know what to expect when you start reading.

In Young Adult novels, the protagonist, who is usually female, is going through a rough periode and meets a bad boy.  As the story evolves, a good boy enters the story and with time, she discovers that she's in love with him.  But there are obstacles to overcome and misunderstandings to clear before the pair of them finally become an item and their love is accomplished.  

In New Adult novels, though the story is basically the same, you are likely to find more explicit sex scenes, thought monologues and flashbacks. Also, since the characters are usually older here, elements from their personal history may return on stage and complicate the plot.

-          The first cut is the deepest.  Teenagers have this capacity to love undonditionally.  Their life is filled with new emotions, new perspectives, new dreams and new experiences and every decision has the potential of creating a totally different future.  Because they are about a phase in life when everything is new and felt more intense, also the drama is more intense in Young and New Adult novels.

-          To some adults, reality is a disappointment.  They want to experience true love and,  live all these emotions and believe in a happily ever after, but often can't.  Reading about it is the next best thing and has the power to turn every day into a love story.  Young Adult and New Adult Romance Stories are exciting and interesting because the reader knows they almost always end with a positive outcome.  In general, good people who believe in and fight for their relationship will likely be rewarded, which offers hope and feeds optimism.

-          Teens and young twens are still at the outskirts of society.  They aren't really part of the system yet, which allows them to revolt and kick ass.  As such, they remind us of our own ideals, which makes it easy to feel empathy for the characters and be empowered by them.  Watching them grow and learn from their mistakes, makes us reconnect with our younger self, which makes the characters easy to root for. 

-          Parents and teachers may choose to read Young Adult and New Adult books to stay connected to their children or students.

-          The novels provide an opportunity for escapism: There is nothing that makes you feel better than reading about people who become happy.  You also know that any emerging problem can be easily solved by reading the story all the way to the end. 

-          Young Adult and New Adult Romance Stories are inspiring and empowering.  In the life of a teen, every new event and decision has the capacity of creating new perspectives for a totally different future. In considering the possible consequences of the main characters’ decisions, we enter a world with new morals and new choices that invite us to consider applying them to our own daily actions.

-          They are good adventures, because traditionally the hero and heroine fall in love very soon, but have to conquer a lot of opposition and go through a roller-coaster of experiences and emotions before finally finding love in each other’s arms.

-          Stylish packaging and marketing helped them expand beyond their initial teen audience.

Young Love

Have you ever looked back at your life and noticed you remember it in segments defined by the relationship you were in?  If you did, I'd like to recommend you some of the more unconventional Young and New Adult Romance Novels. 

Amongst them, Dean Amory’s “Young Love” series definitely is amongs my favourites.   If you're done with romance stories that rely on princes, werewolves or dark secrets, than here is a set of refreshing contemporary New Adult Romance Stories about ordinary people that deal with love, loss and growing up.

Sean's high school phase was determined by Katherine. Though Katherine wasn’t his first girlfriend, she definitely defines as his first love: the person and relationship all later significant persons and relationships in his life are compared to.

In the first novel, Young Love Part1: A Schoolyard Love Story, Sean and Katherine fall in love.  Theirs is never an easy relationship.  When Katherine doesn’t agree with his life style, he realizes he will lose her unless he drastically changes his behaviour. His desire to please Katherine forces him to start looking at himself, other persons and events in his life with new eyes.  Nothing he does however can save their relationship from capsizing. When the relationship becomes a threat to her studies and understanding with parents and teachers, Katherine still ditches him. Since Katherine keeps repeating that the break up is only temporary and that she can’t imagine life without him, he starts out very optimistic about his chances to win her back.  Soon however, he discovers that broken things have sharp edges and that trying to fix them can be very painful..

Young Love, A schoolyard love story, is a refreshing high school romance set in Europe, Flanders, in the early seventies of the previous century with a total lack of stereotyping, that has it all: it's witty, bittersweet, touching and rich in culture and history. The story depicts all the uncertainties and overpowering emotions that come with true young love in a most original and genuine way.

Readers will appreciate the realistic depiction of the tortured hero's psychological struggle after the heroine ends the relationship, especially when it becomes clear that both young people remain drawn to each other anyway and struggle to regain their balance during the rest of the school year.

In the second novel, Young Love Part2: First Love’s Shadow, Sean tries to move on with his life.  After some time, Katherine asks him to reunite.  But she ads a condition: “Until the end of the school year only”.  Sean would go to the end of the world to date Katherine again, but the added condition makes it obvious to him that Katherine’s view of what they mean to each other is very different from his own. But maybe, once they go together again, Katherine will change her mind and not keep him to the expiration date she is putting forward?  Are second chances really possible? Can recreating the past help the young couple to create a different future?  And is Sean even willing to accept her terms?

In this imaginative, surprising and complex page-turner, which will certainly appeal to all fans of young adult and new adult romance novels, Dean Amory has brought a vivid, clever and heartfelt portrayal of what it’s like to be a teenager in love. "Young Love Part 2, First Love's Shadow" is a gripping story in which the distance between lost and found is often less than a text line long.

The success of the books is due to their simple, yet intricate storyline. This, in fact, is the kind of situation many young people go through.  Young love, the loss of love, the internal struggle and the continued search for love are all captured beautifully in these novels, allowing readers to easily identify with the story’s main characters..

Life (especially life as a teenager) is rough at times, and novels offer the greatest of sanctuaries from reality. As I met and came to love people like Sean and Katherine,  I realized that these novel characters do not only inspire us, but also remind us of the fact that we are not alone in our experiences.

04-07-2015 om 13:01 geschreven door Zytha