4. books about the dynamics of friendship groups—I’d love something YA or MG with the feel of NOW & THEN, but more diverse (Celia Pérez’ STRANGE BIRDS does this really well, eg)

Here is another for my #queryingauthor friends. #MSWL

#grumpysunshine #roommatestolovers

#NewGirl vibes!

In middle grade, I’m always hungry for action, adventure, magic, and humor. It can be fantasy or contemporary, or a little bit of both. Give me your fresh takes on magical school settings or just fun friendship stories filled with hijinks. #MSWL

Happy #MSWL Day! I’d love to see…

Generally fic that gets a little weird and makes me feel things (see Lisa Taddeo’s ANIMAL, Jessamine Chan’s THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS)

A YA crossover witchy or obsessive girlhood friendship

An unusual & chaotic contemp workplace romance

MG: stories highlighting the beauty of kids going through difficult things and complicated family dynamics; experiences of first love and crushes esp of queer kids discovering themselves; misfits finding connection, friendship, and the stirrings of desire.

MG:
- contemporary, slice-of-life stories with an abundance of middle school drama
- light fantasy adventures and folktales
- sister stories, friendship breakups, first crushes

Speaking of toxic, I raced through SUCCESSION and love how it confronts our obsession with wealth while exploring the rot it creates within family/friends/relationships (8/12)

G+F is such a joyous triumph of celebrating female friendships, untraditional families, older protagonists, and life after love (6/12)

Friendship and family dynamics endlessly fascinate me, from the juicy drama of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES to the more wholesome GRACE AND FRANKIE (5/12)

#amwriting & #amquerying writers, I'm looking for contemporary cosy crime in an unconventional setting, a character-driven WW2 story with female espionage (think Heather Morris), and a Lucy Foley-esque locked room psychological thriller that revolves around toxic friendship #mswl

In any YA genre:
-LGBTQIA+ representation
-neurodiversity
-racial or cultural diversity
-male lead characters who subvert toxic masculinity
-found families and diverse ensemble casts
-strong friendships / platonic love stories
-protagonists as changemakers and activists
#mswl

I also love stories featuring relationships—the good, the bad, and everything in between: friendship and found family, “friend break-up”, complicated family dynamics. And I adore romance (especially LGBTQIA+!), but prefer it as a subplot.

Specifics I'd love to see:

-Light, humorous fantasy without end-of-the-world stakes

-Enemies-to-lovers

-Stories with band geeks, artists-any kind front and center

-Friend break-ups

-A platonic male/female friendship that is the core of the story and is never romantic

PB – Stories with environmental tie-ins (I’m especially drawn to stories about protecting oceans and the animals that live there). I also am a fan of unlikely friendship stories, especially with two very different animals—I really enjoy the ones that are true stories especially!

Things I DO love/DO want to see: unconventional magic systems, astronomy, page-turning thrillers, queer love, passionate characters w/ uncommon hobbies, enemies-to-lovers, friendship breakups, teen sleuths, stories not set in the US, body positivity, zombies

#MSWL

I would also love to see more Upmarket and Commercial/Women’s fiction (think compulsive book club fiction). I know this can be a broad category, but I am particularly drawn to books that play with power structures, friendship dynamics and odd familial structures. #MSWL

- Feel good stories that center female friendship + group dynamics a la Babysitters Club or teen-versions of League of Their Own + Call the Midwife
- Witches
(6/7 #MSWL)

Stefanie Rossitto #MSWL: would love to see more stories around a mature group of diverse female friends!

Specifically, I'm looking for complex family sagas that span decades (must include a contemporary component). Stories about friendships and the ways those bonds build and sometimes fracture. Sibling stories. Novels about home, belonging, lineage, legacy, and inheritance. 3/10

To go along with this, in romance any of the following is greatly encouraged to find its way into my inbox
Grump/Sunshine
Friends to Lovers
Second Chances
Forced Proximity
Queer ❤️
#MSWL