Samantha Picaro, YA Writer

Reader and Author of YA Contemporaries "Recipe for Confidence" and "Limitless Roads Cafe ♾️💚💜 Linktr.ee/authorsamantha

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My young adult books are good for readers looking for more:

Books set in New Jersey

Books with Platonic and familial love stories

YA contemporary books

Books with autistic rep/neurodivergent rep

Books with aromantic rep and/or asexual rep

Books with goal-oriented protagonists chasing dreams

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Rereading commonly banned classic from my high school days because book bans are on the rise and this particular book’s plot is all too relevant. Before you ask, yes I recommend Fahrenheit 451

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2 nominations for the Indieverse Awards 2025!

I am still processing this amazing news, so maybe it will take you less time to accept the fact that Recipe for Confidence has been nominated for 2 awards:

⭐Our Storytelling: Neurodivergent Representation

⭐Couldn't Put It Down, It Was That Good

I'm so honored. Thank you to everyone who nominated me. If you want to check out Recipe for Confidence, visit my LinkTree. Otherwise, I encourage you to check out the other nominees, too.

2025 Nominees — The Indieverse Awards

[aroaessidhe]

faves of 2024: aro & ace books

of 97 aspec books I read, these are some of my favourites!

Don’t Let The Forest In

Pluralities

Fallen Thorns

Compound Fracture

Dear Wendy

Party of Fools

Someone You Can Build A Nest In

The Beast of Okeme (now published as Until The Last Petal Falls)

Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty

Sailing By Gemini’s Star

Moth To A Flame

How To Sell Your Blood And Fall In Love

Flooded Secrets

Small Gods of Calamity

At The Feet Of The Sun

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Happy Aromantic Awareness Week! This is one of my favorite times of the year to discover new books, resources, and profiles. Read aromantic books and talk about them. Even sharing a post can mean a lot to an author or to someone who makes a book rec

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Get ready to see the title for my upcoming holiday novel. It is "Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps"!

I will release an official plot summary soon but for now you may know to expect:

-a celebrity visit to a small town

-holiday season (of course)

-forced proximity (platonic variety)

-grinch trope

Stay tuned and sign up for my newsletter too!

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listen you NEED to borrow that book from the library. i know youve got like 10 other books lined up to be read but you need to go to the library. remind the library that it's loved and cherished

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official library post

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Checking out a lesser known book at a library is something I strongly encourage because you can:

1. Find a great story

2. Decrease the likelihood of that book getting weeded down the line to make room for other books on shelves

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It’s magical to be an arc reader because I can be one of many people to help the book on its journey. It’s not the same as reading a book already published. Arc reading is a privilege I am proud to have when I am selected to be an arc reader. I especially value arc reading as an author

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Looking for books with unique chapter beginnings? Each chapter of Limitless Roads Cafe begins with a checklist to reflect the main character's reliance on and love of lists. Many chapters of Recipe for Confidence begins with a list of ingredients for items baked at her aunt's bakery or made in her free time.

See where you can get them by visiting my LinkTree.

Comment with a book that has unique chapter beginnings (or endings).

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Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean I’m not still reading holiday books

Tis always the season for a good book

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You may have started the new year 2025 with traveling either by going on a trip or attending a conference or wedding. That often means staying at a hotel. Did you know one of the major places in Limitless Roads Cafe is a hotel that is popular in the main character's town for parties? That is where the characters plan and host their fundraiser to save the cafe. The hotel is owned by the the family of the main character's former friend turned partner for planning

[glassfrogforest]

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Reminder to authors

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Looking for a young adult book for the new year? Try Recipe for Confidence!

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Need ideas for New Year’s resolutions for reading? Try reading more:

Friend-focused plots than romantic plots

Outside your normal audience. Example, read Young Adult if you normally don’t

Indie books

Lesser known books

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Who pays attention to the writing of shows as an author? I sure do and I’ve DNF’d shows cuz of lack of character growth, unrealistic dialogue, etc.

A Show I feel has awesome writing: Gravity Falls with the character growth, dialogue, setting, plot lines and ending

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Happy New Year! May 2025 rock for everyone.

I've already had a good start to 2025 as a writer and reader. As you can see on the slides, I have:

-finished my first reading book which is The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

-began reading the first book of the year called Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and

Adiba Jaigirdar

-began the first draft of my holiday novel for young adults

-started the plot outline for a platonic love book with a February 2026 or 2027 release date tentatively planned

What have you accomplished already?