Julian Winters

14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown - the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida C rdova and Natalie C. Parker - exploring mermaids like we've never seen them before A Vietnamese mermaid caught between two worlds. A siren who falls for Poseidon's son. A boy secretly pining for the merboy who saved him years ago. A storm that brings humans and mermaids together. Generations of family secrets and pain. Find all these stories and more in this gripping new collection that will reel you in from the very first page Welcome to an ocean of hurt, fear, confusion, rage, hope, humor, discovery, and love in its many forms. Edited by Zoraida C rdova and Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown features beloved authors like Darcie Little Badger, Kalynn Bayron, Preeti Chhibber, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Julie C. Dao, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Adriana Herrera, June Hur, Katherine Locke, Kerri Maniscalco, Julie Murphy, Gretchen Schreiber, and Julian Winters.

Familiar tropes, unique twists, all the feels. Grab a snack, some tissues, and try not to fall in love with this playful anthology that explores or reimagines a well-known trope about love from some of the most talented and captivating voices in the YA space today. Each trope acts as a prompt and inspiration for a different story, as well as serves as the main thread throughout the collection, while also allowing each author to put their own spin on these classic favorites that are sure to steal your heart including:* "Enemies-to-Lovers": Two boys from rival schools are forced to share a room the night before their championship baseball game. What begins as their mutual nightmare just might just turn to something more between the two of them.* "Fake Dating": Every year, Rachel's siblings and cousins bring dates to the family Hanukkah party, but Rachel always flies solo. Tired of everyone asking when she's going to meet a nice Jewish boy (or girl), she asks Matthew Klein to be her fake date. The only problem? He may have accepted her invitation only because he has a crush on her sister.* "Kissing Under the Influence": Two interns in the Department for Unexplained Phenomena are assigned to investigate a city that seems to have disappeared. Antics (including a mistaken ensorcellment and an unexpected declaration of love) ensue.

You've Reached Sam meets Hadestown in this enchanting, intoxicating romance across the mortal world and the underworld. Eighteen-year-old August is trying to navigate life after the sudden death of his boyfriend left him devastated, aimless, and feeling guilty. Years after the tragic accident, August mistakenly stumbles into a world beyond his own--the Underworld. Unlike his own gray existence, the underworld is a lavish extravagant place, full of mystery and a flurry of charismatic gods, all curious about August's arrival in their world. Realizing right away the opportunity in front of him, August goes searching for his lost love, guided by Cary, the smoldering, broody ferrier of souls. But the more time August spends down below, the more his intentions begin to blur. Is he visiting this realm to reunite with his soulmate? Or is he desperately, inexplicably, intoxicatingly drawn to Cary? With his own world in pieces and a dangerously seductive realm promising him a new existence at a heavy cost, August must choose: a life with grief or a love that might destroy him.

Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he's planning is the same man who broke his heart.They say you never forget your first kiss. But Jordan Carter wishes he could forget the one he shared with Jamie Peters as teens. And the one they almost shared again last year before Jamie made it clear he wasn't the "right" man for Jordan to be with while he's figuring himself out. Now, Jordan's fully focused on his career at 24 Carter Gold, his family's event planning company, and ready to move on - until his boss assigns him to plan a new client's high-profile wedding. The bride's man-of-honor? None other than Jamie. As things ramp up the closer they get to the wedding, so does Jordan's relationship with Jamie, with sarcastic asides turning into steamy hook-ups. But can Jordan afford to pursue Jamie if he's still unsure who he is? Or is knowing who he loves enough? Venue shopping, cake-tastings, and dress fittings with the man he can't forget just might change the man Jordan Carter is meant to become. Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is a second chance romance about finding yourself-and the love of your life. "A tender, slow burn romance about falling for your first crush, questioning your identity on your own terms, and finding your place in the world. Julian Winters delivers a sweet, funny, steamy, and uplifting love story that is sure to make readers swoon." - Alexis Daria, bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola "No one writes as vividly and as tenderly as Julian Winters, and Last First Kiss is his best yet. It's as sweet as an unexpected slow dance in a conservatory and as playful as a cake tasting turned flirty, and while Jordan and Jamie may have had their last first kiss, you'll be sighing happily over their firsts and lasts long after you close the book." - Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, authors of A Jingle Bell Mingle

When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his judgmental family members that Denz is capable of commitment he impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship. Problem is the last serious relationship he was in hung him high and dry after leaving the continent. Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to bring to family functions and seal the deal on the CEO position. To do so he enlists the help of his best friend and roommate, Jamie. Someone his family already accepts in their inner circle. But when his BFF is a no-show, Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship with: Braylon, the man who broke his heart. Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion and Denz is currently up a creek without a paddle. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business, but between the funny texts and the confusing kisses soon enough Denz is struggling to separate business from the affairs of his heart. In Julian Winters's I think They Love You, sometimes fake dating your way to success can mean finding the second chance at love you've needed all along.

Young Royals meets Red, White, and Royal Blue in this heart-pumping romance by award-winning author Julian Winters When roguish Prince Jadon of les de la R verie is left in America to clean up his image after a horribly public break-up gone viral, romance is not on the table. Carefully planned photo ops with puppies? Yes. Scheduled appearances with the Santa Monica elite Absolutely. Rendezvous with a pink-haired, film-obsessed hottie from the private school where he's currently enrolled? Uhhhh . . . Together with his entourage--a bitingly witty royal guard, R verie's future queen (and Jadon's brilliant older sister), and a quirky royal liaison--Jadon's on a mission to turn things around and show his parents, and his country, that he's more than just a royal screw-up. If he doesn't prove that he's the prince R verie deserves? Well, he may not be allowed home . . . But falling for a not-so-royal American boy has Jadon redefining what it means to be a leader. If he can be someone's Prince Charming just by being himself, maybe that's all it takes to win over a nation. Or at least a prince can dream . . .

The Breakfast Club meets Can't Hardly Wait with an unforgettable ensemble cast in another swoony YA contemporary from award-winning author Julian Winters Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell's party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances. But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .

Smart, swoony, and pitch-perfect, Right Where I Left You is ideal for every reader who's just as likely to geek out over a new issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El as they are the quintessential meet-cute."--LEAH JOHNSON, bestselling author of You Should See Me in a Crown and Rise to the Sun School's out, senior year is over, and Isaac Martin is ready to kick off summer. His last before heading off to college in the fall where he won't have his best friend, Diego. Where--despite his social anxiety--he'll be left to make friends on his own. Knowing his time with Diego is limited, Isaac enacts a foolproof plan: snatch up a pair of badges for the epic comic convention, Legends Con, and attend his first ever Teen Pride. Just him and Diego. The way it should be. But when an unexpected run-in with Davi--Isaac's old crush--distracts him the day tickets go on sale, suddenly he's two badges short of a perfect summer. Even worse, now he's left making it up to Diego by hanging with him and his gamer buddies. Decidedly NOT part of the original plan. It's not all bad, though. Some of Diego's friends turn out to be pretty cool, and when things with Davi start heating up, Isaac is almost able to forget about his Legends Con blunder. Almost. Because then Diego finds out what really happened that day with Davi, and their friendship lands on thin ice. Isaac assumes he's upset about missing the convention, but could Diego have other reasons for avoiding Isaac?

Kacen Callender meets Becky Albertalli in a deliciously geeky best friends-to lovers romance from award-winning author Julian Winters School's out, senior year is over, and Isaac Martin is ready to kick off summer. His last before heading off to college in the fall where he won't have his best friend, Diego. Where--despite his social anxiety--he'll be left to make friends on his own. Knowing his time with Diego is limited, Isaac enacts a foolproof plan: snatch up a pair of badges for the epic comic convention, Legends Con, and attend his first ever Teen Pride. Just him and Diego. The way it should be. But when an unexpected run-in with Davi--Isaac's old crush--distracts him the day tickets go on sale, suddenly he's two badges short of a perfect summer. Even worse, now he's left making it up to Diego by hanging with him and his gamer buddies. Decidedly NOT part of the original plan. It's not all bad, though. Some of Diego's friends turn out to be pretty cool, and when things with Davi start heating up, Isaac is almost able to forget about his Legends Con blunder. Almost. Because then Diego finds out what really happened that day with Davi, and their friendship lands on thin ice. Isaac assumes he's upset about missing the convention, but could Diego have other reasons for avoiding Isaac?

Comic book geek Wesley Hudson excels at two things: slacking off at his job and pining after his best friend, Nico. Advice from his friends, '90s alt-rock songs, and online dating articles aren't helping much with his secret crush. And his dream job at Once Upon a Page, the local used bookstore, is threatened when a coffeeshop franchise wants to buy the property. To top it off, his annoying brother needs wedding planning advice. Confronted with reality, can Wes balance saving the bookstore and his strained sibling relationship? Can he win the heart of his crush, too?

QUEER WE GO AGAIN!Fans of Becky Albertelli, Adam Silvera and Nina LaCour will eat up this delicious anthology of romantic and adventurous contemporary and speculative stories featuring LGBTQ+ teens.A follow-up to the critically acclaimed All Out anthology, Out Now features seventeen new short stories from amazing queer YA authors. Vampires crash prom…aliens run from the government…a president’s daughter comes into her own…a true romantic tries to soften the heart of a cynical social media influencer…a selkie and the sea call out to a lost soul. Teapots and barbershops…skateboards and VW vans…Street Fighter and Ares’s sword: Out Now has a story for every reader and surprises with each turn of the page!This essential and beautifully written modern-day collection features an intersectional and inclusive slate of authors and stories.With original stories from:Fox BenwellTanya BotejuKate HartKosoko JacksonWill KostakisCB LeeKatherine LockeSaundra MitchellHillary MonahanCandice MontgomeryMark OshiroCaleb RoerigMeredith RussoEliot SchreferJessica VerdiJulian WintersRead the entire set of companion anthologies featuring queer teens in the past, present, and future!All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the AgesOut Now: Queer We Go Again!Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder (coming soon!)

Everyone on campus knows Remy Cameron. He's the out-and-proud, super-likable guy who's admired by friends, faculty, and fellow students alike for his cheerful confidence. The only person who isn't entirely sure about Remy Cameron is Remy himself. Under pressure to write an A+ essay defining who he is and who he wants to be, Remy embarks on an emotional journey toward reconciling the outward labels people attach to him with the real Remy Cameron within.

Bloomington High School Lions' star goalie Sebastian Hughes should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing, and he's got a coach who doesn't ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood-best-friend Emir Shah shows up at summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team's success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him. Determined to reconnect with Emir for the sake of the Lions, he sets out to regain Emir's trust. But to Sebastian's surprise, sweaty days on the pitch, wandering the town's streets, and bonding on the weekends spark more than just friendship between them.