A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

A Pho Love Story by Loan LeTitle: A Pho Love Story
Author: Loan Le
Genre: , ,
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 8, 2021

Summary (from Goodreads):

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favorite employee. Not ideal.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and fire. She loves art and dreams pursuing a career in it. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including working practically full-time at her family’s pho restaurant.

For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh, who’ve avoided each other for most of their lives, both suspect that the feud stems from feelings much deeper than friendly competition.

But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity despite their best efforts and sparks fly, leading them both to wonder what took so long for them to connect. But then, of course, they immediately remember.

Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighboring restaurants.

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Last updated on March 21, 2026

Secret Santa by Sabrina James

Secret Santa by Sabrina JamesTitle: Secret Santa
Author: Sabrina James
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Summary (from Goodreads):

A tale of love, romance, confusion, and Christmas perfectly timed for the holiday season.

Noelle, a hopeless romantic, just knows that her gifts have to be from her senior crush! And geeky Froggy thinks the game is the perfect way to get super-popular Celia to fall for him...except she thinks his gifts are from Jake, the school's resident bad boy, and starts to crush on him! Romantic mishaps abound, but all is revealed the night of the Winter Dance, where there's more than one surprise waiting under the mistletoe!

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About Sabrina James

Sabrina James

One of the reasons why Sabrina James loves writing romantic comedies is because she loves reading them and watching them! Two of her favorite romantic comedies are Clueless and Legally Blonde. When it comes to “classic” romantic comedies, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn, is her absolute favorite. Has anyone ever worn a tiara and black dress better?! Sabrina has always been a huge reader. As a teen, some of her favorite authors were Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, R.L. Stine and Lois Duncan. When she got older, she devoured the novels of Danielle Steel, Jackie Collins and Sidney Sheldon. Sabrina currently lives in New York City, with her cat, Miss Thing, and an apartment way too small for all her Pop! Funko figures – she can’t stop buying them! Sabrina loves to hear from readers.

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Last updated on May 12, 2024

What Child is This? A Christmas Story by Caroline B. Cooney

What Child is This? A Christmas Story by Caroline B. CooneyTitle: What Child is This? A Christmas Story
Author: Caroline B. Cooney
Genre: , ,
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: August 29, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

Katie, a foster child, wants only one thing for a family. However, there are no wise men coming from the East or shepherds watching in the fields. There’s also a teenager named Matt, who believes in doing a good deed. And another teenager, Liz, whose family decorates and celebrates but leaves her wondering where the true meaning of the holiday has gone. And Mr. Knight and his son, Tack, who run an inn and put up a tree each season, on which children’s wishes will hang as they hope and wait for them to be granted. It’s the season of joy, hope, and miracles, but will the Christmas spirit be strong enough to grant those wishes that seem impossible?

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About Caroline B. Cooney

Caroline B. Cooney

Caroline B. Cooney is the author of Family Reunion; Goddess of Yesterday (an ALA Notable Children’s Book); The Ransom of Mercy Carter;Tune in Anytime; Burning Up; The Face on the Milk Carton (an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice Book) and its companions, Whatever Happened to Janie? and The Voice on the Radio (each of them an ALA Best Book for Young Adults), as well as What Janie Found; What Child Is This? (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults); Driver’s Ed (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Booklist Editors’ Choice); Among Friends; Twenty Pageants Later; and the Time Travel Quartet. She lives in Westbrook, Connecticut.

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Last updated on May 15, 2024

Finding My Elf by David Valdes

Finding My Elf by David ValdesTitle: Finding My Elf
Author: David Valdes
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Summary (from Goodreads):

Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this festive romcom about Cam, who’s trying to find the “the one” and also trying to find himself—while spending winter break working at a hectic Santa’s Village.

Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.

But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?

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About David Valdes

David Valdes

David Valdes is the author of the young adult novels Spin Me Right Round (a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens) and Brighter than the Moon as well as three nonfiction books, including Today Show "Top 10 Holiday Books" pick A Little Fruitcake. His plays have been produced coast to coast and abroad. As a columnist, he has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, and HuffPost. He lives outside Boston with his teenage daughter.

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Last updated on May 21, 2024

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

point of retreat by colleen hooverTitle: Point of Retreat
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #2
Genre: , ,
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

Layken and Will have managed to overcome the obstacles that threatened to destroy their love, proving that they are destined for one another. What they are about to learn, however, is that the things that have brought them together may be the very things that ruin their connection forever...

Layken is left second-guessing the relationship whilst Will is jumping over hurdles to prove his love for her. What the young lovers discover about themselves along this journey may change their entire world, and the lives of those who depend upon them the most...

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About Colleen Hoover

colleen hoover

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-three novels, including It Starts with Us, It Ends with Us, All Your Perfects, Ugly Love, and Verity. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded a nonprofit called The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly book subscription service. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

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Last updated on March 10, 2025