A collection of original contemporary love stories set during life in lockdown by some of today's most popular YA authors. Erin Craig "delivers" on a story about a cute pizza delivery boy, Auriane Desombre captures a girl trying to impress her crush on TikTok, and Bill Konigsberg takes readers along on daily walks where every step brings two boys closer to love. There's roommates-to-enemies-to-something more from Rachael Lippincott, a tale of a girl with a mask-making business and her potentially famous crush from Erin Hahn, and a music-inspired meet cute from Sajni Patel. Brittney Morris sparks a connection with the help of two balcony herb gardens, Jennifer Yen writes an unconventional romance that starts with a fortune reading and a take-out order, and Natasha Preston steals hearts when a girl meets up with the boy next door in a storybook oak tree. Romantic, realistic, sweet and uplifting, TOGETHER, APART is a collection of finding love in unexpected places during an unprecedented time . . . each with the one thing we all want: a guaranteed happy ending. In support of the book's publication, a donation will be made to Active Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health education, research, and advocacy for young adults ages 14-25. Gr 8 Up—This realistic fiction anthology features nine romantic stories, all taking place in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Characters in each story are navigating the new normal that teenagers in real life will find relatable: getting used to social distancing, logging into Zoom classes, baking extensively, taking daily walks around the neighborhood, and having prom canceled. The romantic aspects of each also have commonalities, with frequent whimsical thoughts about hoping to soon see their love interest without a mask, the desire to be physically closer together than six feet, and the significant role of technology in bringing them together. From there, however, the stories differ in gratifying ways. One main character is coping with a move to a rural area, while another is dealing with the noise from the musician on the balcony in the neighboring apartment complex. Some stories emphasize mental health and the need to maintain connection to bolster it, while others are more humorous. Some stories have stable families with whom the main character can quarantine, while others do not. The gravity of COVID-19 is consistently maintained, but anticipation for the future with a new partner is a common, satisfying theme. Many of these stories could easily be full novels. The book features LGBTQ and BIPOC perspectives throughout. VERDICT This timely read handles the challenging times readers are in with respect, grace, and hope. Recommended for purchase.—Susan Elofson, Airport H.S., West Columbia, SC "From a cute pizza delivery boy to TikTok crushes, daily walks to a homemade mask business,  Together, Apart  offers a lovely look at what the pandemic experience is like for teens ." -- Book Riot "The stories impeccably capture the teens’ fears, anger, and anxieties around the pandemic balanced by adorable meet-cutes and the sweetness of early getting-to-know-you attraction." -- Kirkus Reviews “Cleverly plotted, with sympathetic characters, the stories are a ray of sunshine in these dark days .” -- Booklist CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE: Erin A. Craig , New York Times best-selling author of House of Salt and Sorrows ; Auriane Desombre , author of I Think I Love You ; Erin Hahn , author of You'd Be Mine ; Bill Konigsberg , Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary award-winning author of six books for teens, including The Music of What Happens ; Rachael Lippincott , #1 New York Times best-selling author of Five Feet Apart ; Brittney Morris , author of Slay; Sajni Patel , author of The Trouble with Hating You ; Natasha Preston , #1 New York Times best-selling author of T he Cellar and The Twin ; and Jennifer Yen , author of A Taste for Love . Love, Delivered  by Erin A. Craig   “This is it!” Mom said brightly, opening the door to my new room with a grand, ceremonial swing.  I stepped over the threshold, eyes wide as I took in the high arched ceiling, the oak window seat, and my lamp--a bust of Edgar Allan Poe I’d made in ceramics class, already assembled and looking hopelessly out of place against the stark white walls.  You and me both, buddy.  “What do you think?” Dad asked, coming up behind us. “Just a second,” he called down to one of the guys from the moving company.  “This is it,” I echoed, trying to muster enough cheer to appease them.  “Do you like it?” Mom asked, pushing back one of the curtains the previous owners had left behind. It was some sort of floral chintz and would be coming down the second I was alone. “We were going to wait and let you pick for yourself, but then on the tour--this just screamed Millie.”  It was a cool room, I couldn’t deny that.  It just wasn’t my room.  But it was now, I supposed, no matte