From Twinkle, With Love

by Sandhya Menon

[layawaydragon]

From Twinkle, With Love is a cute young adult romance between two shy AF kids coming out of their shells. Twinkle’s passion for movies, growth as a person and director will spur you to research all the women directors she writes. Perfect for YA romance fans who want to keep it simple, clean, and forgiving of misunderstandings. It’s Tash Hearts Tolstoy with less technical directing/producing details.

From Twinkle, With Love did feel on the younger side of YA. It would make a good transition between MG and YA with Twinkle’s POV. I think this is a good thing and works for a couple reasons.
1.>>There are “late bloomers”.
2.>>There’s a need for bridges between the age ranges for the stradlers and grey areas.
3.>>There are kids still being left behind by their peers and jealous of the popularity hierarchy. This being ignored in YA as narratives favor the victors isn’t a good argument against it.
4.>>It maybe young, but it’s still YOUNG Adult.

Further, I think she feels so young and immature is because we’re so used to YA being matured beyond their years. Don’t get me wrong, I love mature YA and campion for it ALL the time. BUT there’s definitely been an invasion and co-opting of YA by NA, which is skewing the genre maturity level up.

~>>I love the idea of writing letters for journaling. That’s really smart. I have a hard time writing to myself, so I just might use this tip soon.
~>>Twinkle & Sahil are adorable!
~>>I think the family aspect gets overshadowed in reviews. The hard-working well-meaning absent parents, the old school superstitious grandma, and their growth is wonderful. Kids today REALLY connect with the at least one if not both of these family members. I can’t wait to see more of this honestly. I think it’ll really help kids feel less lonely and talk to their own oblivious adults.
~>>Menon does a fantastic job showing Twinkle’s POV. I love the moments were it’s clear to the reader what’s going on but Twinkle’s oblivious in a way that’s endearing and clear WHY she’s misunderstanding the obvious-to-everyone-else.
~>>I love how their movie remake is gender swapping Dracula! The difference between #ownvoices and white people fucking shit up: a white person/non-Indian would’ve made their movie a Bollywood remake. Don’t @ me.
~>>I will admit to not seeing the problem with Twinkle’s original plan of attack re:bonus footage. I do think the path she chose makes a better ending and her explanation for it is enough to satisfy me.
~>>I love how Sahil had to get over his own insecurities and it wasn’t Twinkle’s fault or responsibility to PROVE shit to him. That seems to be a good trend in YA lately.