Happy Valentines Day, friends! I can think of no better or more special way to celebrate a holiday meant to commemorate love and connection in all its forms than in helping to share a little about an upcoming book that explores just that. Today on Pop! Goes The Reader, I have the incredible honour of hosting the exclusive cover reveal for This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender! I’ve long been an admirer of Kheryn’s voice in the KidLit community and their tireless advocacy for diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature, so having an opportunity to work with them was a dream come true and I feel lucky to have been able to do so. Coming to a bookstore and library near you October 30th 2018 from Balzer & Bray, This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story is a romantic comedy that tells the story of sixteen-year-old Nathan Bird who, along with the help of his best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend again, Florence, explores his growing feelings for his childhood best friend, Oliver James Hernández, who has recently moved back to town. Kheryn has been kind enough to tell us a little more about the novel and what it means to them below. Suffice it to say this is one 2018 release you do not want to miss! The cover of This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story was designed by Michelle Cunningham and illustrated by Nathan Burton.
About Kheryn Callender
Kheryn Callender is the author of Hurricane Child (available March 27, 2018) and This is Kind of An Epic Love Story (available September 18, 2018). They’re an Associate Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and are committed to expanding diversity in children’s books.
This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story is about sixteen-year-old Nathan Bird, an aspiring screenwriter who has seen the demise of too many real-life relationships to believe in happy endings (including his own with his best friend and ex-girlfriend), but must confront feelings for his childhood friend, Oliver James Hernández, when Ollie moves back to their neighborhood.
Epic Love Story is the rom-com I would’ve wanted (and still want to see more of) as a queer teen of color. There will always be a need for coming out stories and difficult stories of adversity because of identity, like Hurricane Child — but especially now, with so much real adversity queer people of color already struggle with, I think there’s now an equal need for reminders that happiness and epic love stories are possible and do exist for people like us as well. Especially after the results of the latest Presidential election, I felt a power in writing a love story for people like me. This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story is available on October 30th of this year.
Title This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story
Author Kheryn Callender
Pages 304 Pages
Intended Target Audience Young Adult
To Be Published October 30th 2018 by Balzer & Bray
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon.com ● Chapters ● The Book Depository
Nathan Bird doesn’t believe in happy endings. Although he’s the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate’s seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist for real people.
Playing it safe to avoid a broken heart has been his M.O. ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel – but this strategy is not without fault. His best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend again Florence is set on making sure Nate finds someone else. And in a twist that is romcom-worthy, someone does come along: Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend.
After a painful mix-up when they were little, Nate finally has the chance to tell Ollie the truth about his feelings. But can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily-ever-after?
