Finding Swoons in Books: Paula Stokes

The thing with Valentine's day shoving all kinds of couply lovey-dovey things in your face is that some have resorted to calling it Single Awareness Day. It's a bit morose, but I can kind of see that. As a person who's been a single lady for most of her life - and I'm being quite serious about this. Put my dating life on a pie chart and you'll have this very small sliver that says "possibly not single" - I am thrilled to announce that Finding Swoons is catering to the fun-loving single crowd today. (Not that couples don't love fun. I mean, Blythe and horse masks. Just saying.) Stopping by today is Paula Stokes, the fantabulous author of the equally fantabulous contemporary romance The Art of Lainey. Her characters Lainey and Bianca - a.k.a. 2014's hottest galmance - are here to talk about 10 ways to have fun with friends on V-Day. Let us know if you agree, if you're totally ditching you romantic type person thingy now or if you have your own suggestions!

No date? No problem. Lainey and Bianca have some girl-powered suggestions for how to have the best Valentine’s Day ever!

Bianca: We should probably start by telling everyone who we are.

Lainey: You don’t think they know who we are? I have my own freaking commercial!

Bianca: Lainey, no one outside of Hazelton, Missouri has seen that commercial…and Hazelton doesn’t actually exist, remember?

Lainey: Oh. Right. Well then. My name’s Lainey and I’m the main character from Paula Stokes’s The Art of Lainey. I’m a striker forward on my school’s soccer team and I work at my dad’s coffee shop, Denali. People sometimes want to strangle me when they first meet me, but after they get to know me, they find me kind of endearing.

Bianca: *cough* Sure they do. Just kidding. I’m Bianca, or Bee if you know me well. I also play soccer and work at the coffee shop. I like reading and hiking and I’m going to be a doctor someday. Also, no one has ever told me they wanted to strangle me. I’m just saying.

Lainey: *side eyes* *strangling motion* Anyway, we’re here hanging out on Finding Bliss in Books to give you our top ten suggestions for ways to make your Valentine’s Day rock even if you’re single. Bee and I had each other long before either of us had boyfriends, and although V-Day might be the official holiday of love, there’s way more to the L-word than kissing and cuddling.

Bianca: Okay, I’ll go first. Number 10: Let’s start out simple with a movie marathon. I got an A in algebra so you can trust me when I tell you that you + friend + pizza + movies = perfect. Skip the sappy romances in favor of fun friend-centric films. Some of our favorite movies are Bend it Like Beckham, Clueless, Bring it On, and Pitch Perfect.

Lainey: Number 9: Forget movies. I say makeup marathon. Grab your gal pal and that crazy shimmery stuff you bought from Manic Panic and go nuts. Your mom is wrong—cat eyeliner and glacier-blue lipstick would look awesome on you. Probably. Take pictures. Laugh hysterically. If you’re feeling bold, head out to the mall and strut your new look. 

Lainey: Number 8: Pick-up game! The weather is perfect for a little scrimmaging. Grab your soccer ball and a friend (or five) and head to a nearby park. Play until the stars come out and then take turns making wishes. Note: The big non-blinkey star is actually a planet.

Bianca: Hey, you just did two in a row.

Lainey: I did? Whoops, I guess I did.

Bianca: Did anyone ever tell you that you’re totally oblivious sometimes?

Lainey: What? Sorry I wasn’t paying attention *grins*

Bianca: *strangling motion* Moving ON. Number 7: Two words—ICE SKATING!!

Lainey: Ohmygod. We totally have to go ice skating as soon as we finish this top ten. Let’s hurry. Number 6: My dad said I have to mention how awesome it would be to spend Valentine’s Day in a cozy coffee shop, eating reasonably-priced delicious food and sampling cappuccino topped with heart-shaped foam, courtesy of some tatted-up barista. Also, chocolate-covered espresso beans FTW.

Bianca: Number 5: Drop by the closest drug store or supermarket and stake out the ridiculously huge boxes of candy you’re going to buy for 50% off the next day. No one needs a boy in order to enjoy a 72-piece dark chocolate assortment.

Lainey: What number are we on? I got distracted by all the chocolate. Oh, number 4: Let’s see. Head over to the nearest super-trendy department store and try on the cutest outfits you can find. Bonus points if you wouldn’t be able to afford them in a million years. If you’re not feeling like trying on clothes, then proceed directly to the hats department. You totally need a fur-lined, lilac fedora with a mesh veil.

Bianca: Number 3: Want to feel like a superhero? Hit the nearest rock-climbing gym, squeeze tiny elf-shoes on your feet, and get a crash course in climbing and belaying. You’ll start out nervous and leave feeling like a champion.

Lainey: Number 2: REENACTMENT PARTY! Grab a pal, choose a handful of famous fictional couples—l recommend Rose and Jack, Thelma and Louise, and Lilo and Stitch—and reenact some of their biggest scenes. Note: do not really drive car off cliff. Bonus points: film these scenes and upload them to the interwebz. Double bonus points: Reenact basically any scene from the movie Love Actually and wuk on yah Brit-tish ox sent!

Bianca: And our numero uno way to spend Valentine’s Day? Go out for a fancy schmancy dinner. Whether you’re flying solo, having a siblings’ date, or hanging with your pals, if you really want to get dressed up and pay fifty bucks for a rubbery lobster tail and some squishy chocolate covered strawberries, then do it. Nothing is off limits to you just because you’re single!

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is used to getting what she wants, and when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her for no reason, what she wants is to win him back before the start of their senior year. Lainey and her friend Bianca check the interwebz for tips and tricks, but the online dating advice is all pretty lame.

Then the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. Didn't someone once say that love is a battlefield? Jason isn't going to stand a chance once Lainey and Bee go all Zhou Dynasty on him...

Old school strategy and subterfuge meet modern-day dramarama in the story of a girl who sets out to win at all costs and ends up discovering what's really worth fighting for.