Sara Jade Alan | Top 5 Reasons to Fall in Love with a Friend
In my YA debut, A MESSY,
BEAUTIFUL LIFE, Ellie and Jason are improv comedians who become friends when
their improv groups join forces to enter a sketch comedy contest. Laughing and
being absurd togetherβwhile heartache unfolds around themβpushes them closer,
and they have to decide if it's worth the risk to take their friendship to the
next level.
Since I ended up marrying my best friend in real life, I'm totally biased as to
whether it's worth the risk to fall in love with a friend. Here are my top five
reasons:
You get each other's jokes. For comediansthis is especially
important. But if someone gets your sense of humor, they get you. And
no one finds you funnier than your friends. Plus, laughter releases oxytocin in
our system, the same hormone that bonds people to each other. So, more laughter,
more bonding!It just makes sense.
You're committed to commitment. No one wants to risk
ruining a good friendship dynamic, so you both understand at the start that if
you're agreeing to take it to the next level, you're going all in.
He comes pre-approved.You get to avoid that awkward
introduction to your friends where you're stressing if he'll fit inβ¦because he's
already part of the crew!
You FINALLY get to ACT on all that pent-up attraction. If
you're going from friends to more, there's probably been desire simmering below
the surface for a l-o-o-o-n-g time. And there's nothing like that first kiss
you've waited for forever.
You already like each other very much "β¦just as you
are."There's a good reason that line fromBridget Jones's Diary
is so famous. It's the best feeling to be fully accepted by the ones we love.
And true friends already know, accept, and love youβflaws and all.
Have you ever fallen for your friend? What was the reason you took the leap?
And not always the ha, ha kind. Like that one time where a
hot guy tried to kiss me and I fell. Down. Hard. And then
found out I had cancer.
Iβm trying to be strong for my friends and my
mom.
And Iβm trying so hard to be βjust friendsβ with that hot
guy, even though he seems to want so much more. But I
wonβt do that to him. Heβs been through this before with
his family, and Iβm not going to let him watch me die.
So, I tell myself:
Smile Ellie. Be funny Ellie. Donβt cry
Ellie, because once I start, I might not stop.
Young Adult
[Entangled Teen, On Sale: October 2, 2017, Paperback /
e-Book, ISBN: 9781640633544 / eISBN: 9781640633544]
Sara Jade Alan wrote her first comedy sketch during second grade recess, then
cast it, directed it, and made costumes out of garbage bags. Since then, she has
performed in over a thousand improvised and scripted shows all over the country.
Currently she is one-half of the comedy duo, The Novelistas, who perform about
writing and teach performance to writers. Originally from a suburb of Chicago,
Sara now lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter.
Nothing stands in the way of true love.
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