I was rereading one of my favorite contemporaries this week – The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller – and while I loved it dearly, it got me thinking. It totally has me with unrealistic expectations every time I walk into a comic bookstore. I’m literally convinced I’ll walk in, found an adorable nerd-hot man waiting behind the counter and we’ll embark on our own YA romance. It has full on convinced me of that…but well, this isn’t book world. This is real world, and YA contemporaries have kind of lied to me about my love life with their adorable and swoony tropes. I wanted to tackle some of the most popular premises in YA contemporaries and, well, showcase some of their real life flaws with my own semi-amusing life.
I’m going to split this post into two, because I found as I went on, there were a lot of YA contemporary tropes and my life life has totally been failed by all of them. I should have the other one up later in the week.
Myth #1: The Hot Next Door Neighbor
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, last year, I thought one of the greatest things happened to me in my bookish life: I got attractive next door neighbors. Before them, I always had sketchy or old people. But alas, last year, not one but TWO young guys showed up and moved in. I was like, OMG, HERE IS MY YA MOMENT. I AM LIVING IN A YA CONTEMPORARY LIFE. I WILL FINALLY HAVE MY BOOKISH ROMANCE. I mean, some of my favorite tropes are the whole next door neighbors turning into adorable ships. I was sooooooo excited.
Until, well, I never saw them. Literally. NEVER SAW THEM. In the long months that they lived there, well, I physically saw them a total of…one time. And no, it’s not because I never left my house. I left it a lot. They were just…off doing mysterious and non-YA contemporary romance things that left for no room for the adorable meet cutes. My entire interaction with them the entire time they lived there: a wave. Where was the adorable awkward meetings? Where was the chatting? IT WAS NOWHERE IN SIGHT, and MY YA HEART IS CRYING. And then they moved because there might have been a fire and, you know, that’s bad – and totally nothing that YA books prepared me for.
Check out: My Life Next Door, On the Fence, & Under Rose-Tainted Skies for more of this trope.
Myth #2: Wrong Numbers
Every once in a while, you get a wrong number. It can turn into Tumblr worthy epicness or general creepiness or literally nothing. Because you just go oops, wrong number and hang up and that’s it. Although in YA, wrong numbers turn literally in some of the most amazing romances ever. You get a text from someone accidentally and of course, a ship is bound to start if you’re reading a contemporary. The oops is usually followed with no, don’t go, I’m really enjoying talking to you. And then it goes on for weeks and usually you’re texting way into the night when YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A REASONABLE BED TIME AND REALLY BE DOING THAT PHYSICS HOMEWORK SO YOU DON’T FAIL.
I’ve had only a few wrong numbers, and alas, not one has turned into a romance. One told me one was from social services and told me I could pick up my son (I think I was 13 at that time, so that was a no go). One kept having weird half conversations with me that somehow ended up with the person calling me a bitch? And the other time was someone that kept calling me at 1:00 in the morning. So…I was definitely not starting up with anyone that was keeping this future Aurora from her beauty sleep. And then when we called back to say stop calling, they said they were never calling and cursed us out. So, yeah, I’m not sure who the real winner is here: me or YA contemporaries.
Also, there is a rather small subset of this trope where you’re actually talking to someone famous by accident. Well, I mean, you’re literally always talking to someone that is famous. See also: Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger, because mysterious Twitter romance is now also a thing. Yay?
Check out Geekerella and This is What Happy Looks Like for more of this trope.
Myth #3: Stuck in the Middle With You
Ah, yes, the whole “I’m stuck you you – ugh – but also super yay because you’re a hottie!” situation. This could be very plausible. I could see where being pushed together allows you to see a whole different side of a person and where the like would definitely come out. But YA tends to take it up a notch. Usually being stuck is being more than just stuck in a horrible group project. Sometimes it’s literally being locked in a library for the weekend with a guy. Or being stuck in this super killer storm and literally sharing this cramped awkward shelter with them. Or being stuck on a deserted island – because there’s nothing like love than literally dying to survive.
I haven’t had the pleasure (because I mean, obviously it’s only pleasure from what YA has been selling) of being in this situation too many times. Once I was in a group project with a cute guy and we spent a good deal of a planning session on a Facetime call with his girlfriend who kept telling him to put a shirt on (because his white tank top was too much for my sensibilities – I’m not quite sure???). Sadly, we ended up getting a B- on that project. Not sure why?
Check out: By Your Side (library stuck), Magnolia (storm stuck – also a book that made on the Book Princess favorite shelf so SO MUCH YAY), and A Map for Wrecked Girls (island stuck) for more of this trope!
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Love this post, it made me smile 🙂 I absolutely agree that some of the plot points in ya romances (and probably romance in general) aren’t entirely realistic. Maybe that’s why we read them- to be swept away? Looking forward to part 2 🙂
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Yes! Totally agree, Sophie. Being swept away is the best part even if they are a little crazy sometimes. But thanks so much! 🙂
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My life next door is on my tbr for Soo Long 😚😘
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Ahahaha. I read it forever ago, and I think it was pretty good from what I remember. 🙂
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I loved this post so much! YA gives so many unrealistic expectations in terms of romances and I’d be amazed if anyone has actually experienced something similar to what happens in these books. ‘Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour’ by Morgan Matson is a great example of when characters are stuck together – they only just met and decide to detour around America on a road trip?! Hmm… I can’t wait to read the second part of this post!
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Ahahaha yes! I totally agree. Oooooh, road trips. I forgot about that trope – another one with super unrealistic expectations. I can barely get my friends to drive an hour away – how do they meet and go for that right away? XD But thanks so much, Bex! 🙂
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This is so true!! My “hot next door neighbor” was really the “asshole next door neighbor’
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Ahahaha oh no! That is not pleasing at all. XD YA really lied with that one. D:
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I was laughing out loud while reading this and let me tell you that YA is not the only genre that lies to you…But then again I guess that’s why we love our bookish boyfriends so much they have all the qualities we want in one single package which when you do think about it doesn’t happen at all in real life…
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Ahahaha, so true! XD But yes, you make such a brilliant point. They make it so easy to love them because everything is stuffed perfectly together. It is a brilliant way to escape, though, from real life. XD
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Omg this is so true I’m crying😂 Magnolia had me duped and stuck in my own dream world forever. Would love it if you could check out my blog as well, I write book reviews too!
https://bookchantedblog.wordpress.com
Great post!!
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YES. Magnolia sooooo ruined me. too much cuteness. And yes, I just checked it out, and I absolutely love, love, love your header! So pretty! 😀
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Thankyou so much!! And seriously, books like Magnolia excel at giving us false expectations 😂
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Ahahahaha yessssssssssss. XD too many cute moments and swooniness. XD
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ahhh YA contemporary tropes are literally the best, even if they lie to us. My favorite has always been the boy next door one.
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Soooo true, Alaina! 🙂 And yes! Mine too! It’s always so cute and always brings the swoons. 😀
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Mandy, I love this! Everyone must wish to have a little YA Contemporary romance moment in their lives! Trust me I have pictured myself in all of these scenarios but none of them have ever come true!! XD I guess that’s why I keep to fantasy….keep my realistic expectations real low XP. I’ve always wanted the hot neighbour but alas I live in a neighbourhood full of grandmas and grandpas and the cutest boy I’ve ever seen around here is about three years old. So a very different kind of *cute* Still I appreciate the tropes as it feeds the imagination! XD
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Say it again for the people in the back! This is why I’m not a fan of contemporary. Great post. Genius, really.
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Ahahahaha yes, I can imagine. XD Far too many unrealistic expectations! thanks so much, Bella! 🙂
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Gosh!! So true. Though the wrong number thing did happen to me… I ended up changing my number. 😂
Anyway, love this post!
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Ahahah oh no! That’s terrible that you actually had to change it. D: And didn’t have a nice romance waiting for you at the end of it. But thanks so much, Poulami! 🙂
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While I do still want to read books with this trope, I do think it’s slightly silly with a book where the love interest has a “hidden identity” lol. I think the synopsis for SO many contemporary books give way too much away in the long run. Keep it short so more things are a surprise. Great topic; some of it made me laugh
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YES. I super agree! I also love where in the hidden identity storyline, there is literally one option that the summary mentions, so I’m like, well, I’m going to guess that’s the person. But it really is a fun trope if it’s done right. And thanks so much!! 🙂
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Of course!
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Hahahaha! OMG! I am laughing. This is amazing! I adore this post. I can definitely see how contemporary romances would build up unrealistic expectations. LOL. A lot of them are very much wish fulfillment type books, but they’re SO FUN to read!!! LOL. But hey, maybe when we go Sasquatch hunting, you’ll find a Mr. Darcy out in the woods.
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Ahahaha, thanks so much, Krysti! ❤ They do present us with a few unrealistic romances, but the swoons are just too great and fun, as you said. I'll deal with the unrealistic expectations. XD But yesssssss. Sign me up for that! XD
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The swoons are worth it! LOL. 😆😆😆
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This is SO relatable, just so on point. YA romances make me happy, but then I’m frustrated because love just doesn’t happen. No magic coffeehouses or bookshops. Or funny online friends.
The world needs to read so romances and gets it’s act together. NOW. I need the plaid wearing, sweet geeky friend. Like right NOW!
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Ahaha SO TRUE. When I read them, I get so excited and convinced something will happen, but noooooooo. You’re so right about the world – it needs to give us both that friend stat. XD
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Oh my gosh, all of the above haha. Why is real life so cruel?!
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Ahahaha I DON’T KNOW, KYERA, BUT IT’S NOT FAIR. XD
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Great post had me laughing throughout. If only YA romances happened in real life.
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Thanks so much! ❤ But yes! So true. Make life so much more fun. XD
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Your welcome 😀😀
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Mandy! This is the best post ever! I’m literally at work cracking up! I can’t wait for your part two. Loved it!
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Ahahaha, thanks so much, Birdie! XD And so glad it was entertaining. XD
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I LOVED THIS POST SO MUCH!!! Glad I’m not the only one who has at some point in time bought into the lie that YA Romance is real. I think I came to have unrealistic expectations of what romance should look like; my poor, dear husband paid the price for that. Glad i finally saw the light.
“They were just…off doing mysterious and non-YA contemporary romance things that left for no room for the adorable meet cutes.” <— btw, you have such a way with words. HAHA!!
Thank you for sharing this!
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Thanks so much!! ❤ But yes! XD They really do mess up your expectations so badly. But oh no for the husband. XD
And lol. XD Thank you so very much for sharing, by the way!!! ❤
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OMG I love this post so much- it’s so true! YA contemporary just lies about all these amazing experiences. I mean, I had a wrong number and we became friends (this was about 10 years ago before social media), but when he heard I wasn’t a skinny girl he stopped talking to me. :s I’ve also done a penpal-become-long-distance crush sort of trope, but when he came to visit me I decided straight away I wasn’t ready for love, haha!
But I love your anecdote about the hot next-door neighbours 🙂 Such a great post, it has made my evening! ❤
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Oh no!! That’s terrible. YA did not prepare us for the jerks of the world. 😦 And oh no to that as well. XD
But thank you. XD I was highly disappointed with that one. But thanks so much. XD
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Haha, I love this! Sorry you missed out on your cute next door neighbor trope. I can’t recall having any situations like these before, but I can relate to the hoping to meet a hot, adorable nerd in a comic bookstore.
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Thanks so much! ❤ And yes! They totally disappointed me. XD But yessssssssssssss. Still hoping for that day to occur. XD
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The sad thing I have realized is that often hot guys already have hot girlfriends and so they are off being busy with their girlfriends so they don’t have time to, like, sun tan in their front yard so they have a perfect view of you accidentally trip when you are doing your daily walk past their house to get the mail that happens to be in front of their house for valid reasons. (Thus, they may help you and fall in love because you are adorable and clumsy.)
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Hmmmm very true, Sha. I didn’t think about the wisdom of these words.
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