What do you think?
Rate this book
19 Love Songs
Ein Valentinstag im Leben von A, dem Protagonisten von Letztendlich sind wir dem Universum egal.
Eine Rückkehr zu den Charakteren aus Two Boys Kissing.
Eine unerwiderte Liebe innerhalb einer Schulmannschaft.
Die »19 Love Songs« des New-York-Times-Bestsellerautors sind aus David Levithans Tradition entstanden, am Valentinstag Geschichten für seine Freunde zu schreiben. Geistreich, romantisch und ehrlich schreibt er über die unterschiedlichen Facetten der Liebe und findet so den Weg ins Bücherregal von Teenagern und Erwachsenen.
Ab 14 Jahren.
Eine Rückkehr zu den Charakteren aus Two Boys Kissing.
Eine unerwiderte Liebe innerhalb einer Schulmannschaft.
Die »19 Love Songs« des New-York-Times-Bestsellerautors sind aus David Levithans Tradition entstanden, am Valentinstag Geschichten für seine Freunde zu schreiben. Geistreich, romantisch und ehrlich schreibt er über die unterschiedlichen Facetten der Liebe und findet so den Weg ins Bücherregal von Teenagern und Erwachsenen.
Ab 14 Jahren.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
147 people are currently reading
3750 people want to read
About the author
David Levithan
119 books19.5k followersDavid Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
March 3, 2020
19 Love Songs
, David Levithan's newest book, is a collection of stories and verse celebrating the big and small moments of love, life, relationships, and finding yourself. It was so fantastic!
"He liked the idea that when you fall in love with someone, the other person becomes your lighthouse keeper, even if it means staying up all night, even if it means staring out into the darkness until the darkness assumes the shape of your love and comes back to you."
In this collection, Levithan explores the highs and lows of love, from the exhilaration of the first spark to the moments where a relationship rises and where they sometimes fall. It’s also a look at how it feels to fully know yourself, to accept yourself for who you are.
Many, but not all, of the stories have LGBTQ themes or characters. Some deal with major moments and some deal with everyday occurrences. From a first date between a transgender football player and a male cheerleader or a young boy’s memories of Valentine’s Day with his mother, to a boy dressing as Santa Claus as a favor for his boyfriend or a story about self-discovery amidst participation in a school quiz bowl, these stories are heartfelt, sometimes funny, thought-provoking, and just gorgeously written.
Three stories feature characters from three of Levithan's books— Every Day , Boy Meets Boy , and Two Boys Kissing —but you don’t need to have read those to enjoy the stories.
"Words were my tools of creation. And love, I learned, is a constant act of creation, just as creation is almost always an act of love."
Levithan is among my favorite YA authors. (His one book for adult audiences, The Lover's Dictionary , is pretty fantastic as well.) His writing, his use of imagery, and the way he conveys emotions often brings me to tears because I feel so connected with what he’s saying. I got seriously choked up more than a few times while reading this.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
"He liked the idea that when you fall in love with someone, the other person becomes your lighthouse keeper, even if it means staying up all night, even if it means staring out into the darkness until the darkness assumes the shape of your love and comes back to you."
In this collection, Levithan explores the highs and lows of love, from the exhilaration of the first spark to the moments where a relationship rises and where they sometimes fall. It’s also a look at how it feels to fully know yourself, to accept yourself for who you are.
Many, but not all, of the stories have LGBTQ themes or characters. Some deal with major moments and some deal with everyday occurrences. From a first date between a transgender football player and a male cheerleader or a young boy’s memories of Valentine’s Day with his mother, to a boy dressing as Santa Claus as a favor for his boyfriend or a story about self-discovery amidst participation in a school quiz bowl, these stories are heartfelt, sometimes funny, thought-provoking, and just gorgeously written.
Three stories feature characters from three of Levithan's books— Every Day , Boy Meets Boy , and Two Boys Kissing —but you don’t need to have read those to enjoy the stories.
"Words were my tools of creation. And love, I learned, is a constant act of creation, just as creation is almost always an act of love."
Levithan is among my favorite YA authors. (His one book for adult audiences, The Lover's Dictionary , is pretty fantastic as well.) His writing, his use of imagery, and the way he conveys emotions often brings me to tears because I feel so connected with what he’s saying. I got seriously choked up more than a few times while reading this.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Read
January 12, 2022David Levithan is the OG gay YA author. He has published dozens of queer books and started doing so long before Simon or Ari & Dante were a thing. Boy Meets Boy must have been the first overtly gay book I ever read. And that was about ten years ago.
19 Love Songs is a collection of 19 (surprise) short stories and poems. Some revisit previous stories like Two Boys Kissing and Every Day, but most are independent stories unrelated to any of Levithan's published books. The main characters of these stories are mostly gay dudes, but we also get the one or other trans and lesbian MC. And there's lots of Jewish representation too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book but as with most collections, there are always stories you like more than others. The second half dragged a little and I have to admit that Levithan's verse poetry doesn't do it for me. Don't know why. Levithan is one of those literary YA fiction writers. His writing is deep and emotive and I love that. But at times it can grow a bit weary and many of the short stories were easily forgotten. I couldn't even tell you what they were about and I only finished this book yesterday. Nevertheless, a quick, light and very queer read.
Find more of my books on Instagram
19 Love Songs is a collection of 19 (surprise) short stories and poems. Some revisit previous stories like Two Boys Kissing and Every Day, but most are independent stories unrelated to any of Levithan's published books. The main characters of these stories are mostly gay dudes, but we also get the one or other trans and lesbian MC. And there's lots of Jewish representation too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book but as with most collections, there are always stories you like more than others. The second half dragged a little and I have to admit that Levithan's verse poetry doesn't do it for me. Don't know why. Levithan is one of those literary YA fiction writers. His writing is deep and emotive and I love that. But at times it can grow a bit weary and many of the short stories were easily forgotten. I couldn't even tell you what they were about and I only finished this book yesterday. Nevertheless, a quick, light and very queer read.
Find more of my books on Instagram
Read
July 22, 2019why aren't more people freaking out about this?
April 1, 2020
4 Stars
This LGBT anthology is impressively written, as expected, and delivers a variety of writing styles and formats, ranging from straight-forward narratives, to poems; even featuring a comic strip story to keep things interesting.
Of the 19 stories available, I read 13, skimming a couple that simply didn’t hold my attention, and skipping two (for now) that were direct continuations featuring characters from other prominent Levithan books that I’m shamelessly yet to read.
Of the shorts I did read, I particularly enjoyed The Woods (a Taylor Swift inspired story), How My Parents Met (a heartfelt tribute to Levithan’s parents’ love story), the powerfully written and emotionally compelling Storytime, and the Two Boys Kissing follow-up about teen couple Avery and Ryan, titled Snow Day.
Simply put, this diverse collection of LGBT themed short stories is a must for any and all Levithan fans out there. And for newcomers, it’s a great way to dip your toes in and sample Levithan’s inspired words.
This LGBT anthology is impressively written, as expected, and delivers a variety of writing styles and formats, ranging from straight-forward narratives, to poems; even featuring a comic strip story to keep things interesting.
Of the 19 stories available, I read 13, skimming a couple that simply didn’t hold my attention, and skipping two (for now) that were direct continuations featuring characters from other prominent Levithan books that I’m shamelessly yet to read.
Of the shorts I did read, I particularly enjoyed The Woods (a Taylor Swift inspired story), How My Parents Met (a heartfelt tribute to Levithan’s parents’ love story), the powerfully written and emotionally compelling Storytime, and the Two Boys Kissing follow-up about teen couple Avery and Ryan, titled Snow Day.
Simply put, this diverse collection of LGBT themed short stories is a must for any and all Levithan fans out there. And for newcomers, it’s a great way to dip your toes in and sample Levithan’s inspired words.
July 1, 2020
L.O.V.E. Four letters that mean so much. It could be the biggest little word ever! As the song says…love can suck, conquer, soar, climb. Hell it can do it all! Or I like to think it can anyway. Love dances and smiles and shouts and bounces around the sun and back again with joy! Love wraps around us oh-so quietly and keeps us warm day after day without any kind fanfare too. It can be funny or sad or funny and sad. And love…yes, love…can be brutal. We all know it can be. THIS book shares all of that and more.
Lots and lots of LOVE is exactly what I needed right now. 19 Love Songs by David Levithan is a big, beautiful, beating heart of a book that found me at just the right time. Love lives on every page in the words, music, memories, and loves. The everlasting, fleeting, hard, easy, quiet, simple, complicated loves. It’s love in all its glory and pain. These 19 stories gather new characters, familiar voices, different styles, old times, and hopes for the future. We see and feel love for a parent, partner, lover, place, and time. But we also see the warmth of friendship, the sense of belonging, and sexual awakenings. I smiled, laughed, remembered, and felt it all as I met and listened to these characters. I felt the love. And that’s what I needed. I needed to feel some love and hope again.
Ah, hope. Another little four letter word packed with power! I always find hope in a Levithan read. It’s no secret I adore the man’s words. Simple words, new words, and words coupled up to woo me. They’re all infused with hope! You can feel the hope and happiness in his joy of words and writing. The way he places and plays with words on the page inspires me to stop and read lines out loud or jot words down for later--like “fantastical” or “traumedy”. This visit words like “serendipity buzz” and “the color of words” jumped out at me. The color of words—I LOVE that! Gah! I can’t seem to express the rush his words give me. You’re just going to have to read this for yourself! :) I do have to say hearing one of my favorite writers talk about one of my favorite musicians was pretty darn close to perfect though. It felt like the best of both worlds!
Obviously music plays a significant role in this collection. But it’s not just a fun title and cool way to present a short story collection. Well it is that actually, but so much more too. A song can transport you back in time. A couple of stories--featuring words and music holding hands together--did just that for me here. I was transported back to a time where mix tapes were art! Levithan breaking down his un-finished mix tape song by song felt personal and very familiar to me. Each song brought him some place different in time and us along for the ride. We even see specific artists getting into the action. Like Taylor Swift’s impact in one couple’s journey. And so much more! You’ll feel the rhythm of music from the first song to the last in earbuds, loudspeakers, and in the air itself! I can get lost or found in a song. And the same can be said for love.
"The music in our heads always circles back around
to itself, and we search for ourselves
somewhere in the notes."
This review would go on and on if I rated or discussed all 19 tales. Plus I believe every reader will identify with something different in each and every voice. Every story hums with perfect nights, lonely moments, high school halls, light smiles, and finding your way in the world. I will say I loved a few, liked a few more, and “meh”-ed one or two. But they all found a place in my heart. Some will even remain there. I hope you pick 19 Love Songs up and find a bit of love or even a whole lotta love.
Highly recommended. A must for Levithan fans!
A couple of extra love notes:
I hope every library goer and book lover reads The Mulberry Branch. Pure library love!
And one of my favorite lines…
“When we were done, when we were reduced to two deeply satisfied heartbeats, I leaned into him as he held on to me, the lightness of smiles in the air, in our words.”
September 26, 2019
Every Valentine's Day, Levithan writes a short story to send to his dear friends. I've heard about this for years, and finally, some of those Valentine stories are released and included in this collection! All sorts of love in these nineteen stories are explored; romantic, familial, true friendships... a portion of them being tales from his own life. Each story, whether one I've read before or not, warmed my emotional insides. His signature soft, poetic way of phrasing mood and experiences will always be one of a kind.
April 9, 2020
Oh man, this book was a rough one for me to get through. Having just read “Everyday” by David Levithan in March and loving it beyond words, I immediately checked to see what other books my library had available from the same author. Hence, me stumbling upon this one. “19 Love Songs” came out in the very beginning of this year , January 7th 2020.
I started off by rating each of the 19 individual stories as I do with all other short story collections or anthologies. After-all, I believe that a book is the sum of all of its parts.
1. Quiz Bowl Antichrist - 1 Star. Note: I don’t really understand the point of this one other than everyone likes someone other than who likes them. This is one angsty circle of feelings.
2. Day 2934- 5 stars. Note: This was A’s story ( the main character from “Everyday”) and I could immediately relate to it. Loved this story so much, it reminded me of my childhood Valentine’s Days with my parents, especially my Mom. Every single holiday I always woke up to a scattering of presents on the kitchen table. As I got older, I’d wait until she went to sleep at night and do the same for her. I have no doubt that if I lived with her now she’d do the very same thing; I still get packages in the mail.
>>“We give each other gifts, red scarves, red mittens, cards and licorice; upside down pizza. We give each other gifts, but really we give each other details. When days are gone whether they be holidays or ordinary days when you are nowhere near where you once were, the details have a way of staying.”
>> “...But back then the world was far from a bloody, angry embarrassing thing. Red had one meaning, and that meaning was love.”
3. The Good Girls - 4 stars.
>> “Because I was happy, I didn’t really question who I was.”
4. The Quarterback and The Cheerleader- 3.5 stars. Note: I was pleasantly surprised by this story. The title lead me to believe that this was going to be about a heterosexual couple when instead the main character was transgender. The name “ Infinite Darlene” was inspiring, but the repetitiveness of it began to get annoying.
>> “She hates bringing up the times when her choices have hit the wall of other people’s small-mindedness. Because every time she has to talk or think about it, it’s like hitting the wall all over again and she has to watch the reaction of the person that she’s talking to, to see if it’s another wall in the making.”
5. The a Mulberry Branch- 1 Star.
>>“ To read: It’s not enough to have a book, you also need a comfortable chair, an absolute quiet, the feeling of other readers orbiting around you. Reading is a conversation between you and an author— held inside the pages of a book.”
6. Your Temporary Santa- 5 stars.
7. Story time-2 stars.
8. A Better Writer- 5 stars.
9. 8 - Song Memoir- 3 stars. Note: while I understand the appeal and intention of this story and of looking back on a mixtape of your once favorite songs, this is directed at a much older adult audience. It discusses disc-man and walk-man and cassette tapes. I didn’t even know any of the songs and I’m 30.
>>“... I rewound to leave a record of my mistake. Some of you know exactly what I mean, many of you don’t and I guess that— more than anything else makes me nostalgic.”
10. Snow Day- 4 stars.
11. The Woods-4.5 stars.
12. A Brief History of First Kisses- 2 stars.
13. As The Philadelphia Queer Youth Choir Sings Katy Perry’s “Firework?” 1 Star.
14. The Vulnerable Hours- 2 stars.
15. Twelve Months- 4 stars.
16. The Hold- 1 Star.
17. How My Parents Met-3 stars.
>> “My parent’s story is the love song that has played underneath my entire life. It has been the best soundtrack my brother and I could’ve ever asked for.”
18. We- 2 stars.
19. Give Them Words- 4 stars.
54/ 19= 2.84 stars rounded Down to 2 stars because I really only enjoyed a few stories.
The problem is that I couldn’t wait for this book to end. I was so bored. I believe that these tales have a deep meaning to the author, but I feel like most of the storylines are “ you had to be there to get it” kinda thing. For MOST of the time I felt like an outsider just listening to someone continually telling stories about their friends and themselves.
Additionally, this book is marketed as YA and while some of the tracks felt they could be focused on that audience, others there were songs; topics that even I don’t know or can’t appreciate as a 30 year old.
I believe that some topics of this book are beautiful and necessary and I appreciate its diversity. While it does give a decent representation of the LGBTQIA+ community, I would’ve loved to see a bit more range in the relationships. These stories are heavily weighed towards male/ male relationships. I was hoping for more rep for heterosexual, female/ female, pansexual, bi- sexual, etc.
I started off by rating each of the 19 individual stories as I do with all other short story collections or anthologies. After-all, I believe that a book is the sum of all of its parts.
1. Quiz Bowl Antichrist - 1 Star. Note: I don’t really understand the point of this one other than everyone likes someone other than who likes them. This is one angsty circle of feelings.
2. Day 2934- 5 stars. Note: This was A’s story ( the main character from “Everyday”) and I could immediately relate to it. Loved this story so much, it reminded me of my childhood Valentine’s Days with my parents, especially my Mom. Every single holiday I always woke up to a scattering of presents on the kitchen table. As I got older, I’d wait until she went to sleep at night and do the same for her. I have no doubt that if I lived with her now she’d do the very same thing; I still get packages in the mail.
>>“We give each other gifts, red scarves, red mittens, cards and licorice; upside down pizza. We give each other gifts, but really we give each other details. When days are gone whether they be holidays or ordinary days when you are nowhere near where you once were, the details have a way of staying.”
>> “...But back then the world was far from a bloody, angry embarrassing thing. Red had one meaning, and that meaning was love.”
3. The Good Girls - 4 stars.
>> “Because I was happy, I didn’t really question who I was.”
4. The Quarterback and The Cheerleader- 3.5 stars. Note: I was pleasantly surprised by this story. The title lead me to believe that this was going to be about a heterosexual couple when instead the main character was transgender. The name “ Infinite Darlene” was inspiring, but the repetitiveness of it began to get annoying.
>> “She hates bringing up the times when her choices have hit the wall of other people’s small-mindedness. Because every time she has to talk or think about it, it’s like hitting the wall all over again and she has to watch the reaction of the person that she’s talking to, to see if it’s another wall in the making.”
5. The a Mulberry Branch- 1 Star.
>>“ To read: It’s not enough to have a book, you also need a comfortable chair, an absolute quiet, the feeling of other readers orbiting around you. Reading is a conversation between you and an author— held inside the pages of a book.”
6. Your Temporary Santa- 5 stars.
7. Story time-2 stars.
8. A Better Writer- 5 stars.
9. 8 - Song Memoir- 3 stars. Note: while I understand the appeal and intention of this story and of looking back on a mixtape of your once favorite songs, this is directed at a much older adult audience. It discusses disc-man and walk-man and cassette tapes. I didn’t even know any of the songs and I’m 30.
>>“... I rewound to leave a record of my mistake. Some of you know exactly what I mean, many of you don’t and I guess that— more than anything else makes me nostalgic.”
10. Snow Day- 4 stars.
11. The Woods-4.5 stars.
12. A Brief History of First Kisses- 2 stars.
13. As The Philadelphia Queer Youth Choir Sings Katy Perry’s “Firework?” 1 Star.
14. The Vulnerable Hours- 2 stars.
15. Twelve Months- 4 stars.
16. The Hold- 1 Star.
17. How My Parents Met-3 stars.
>> “My parent’s story is the love song that has played underneath my entire life. It has been the best soundtrack my brother and I could’ve ever asked for.”
18. We- 2 stars.
19. Give Them Words- 4 stars.
54/ 19= 2.84 stars rounded Down to 2 stars because I really only enjoyed a few stories.
The problem is that I couldn’t wait for this book to end. I was so bored. I believe that these tales have a deep meaning to the author, but I feel like most of the storylines are “ you had to be there to get it” kinda thing. For MOST of the time I felt like an outsider just listening to someone continually telling stories about their friends and themselves.
Additionally, this book is marketed as YA and while some of the tracks felt they could be focused on that audience, others there were songs; topics that even I don’t know or can’t appreciate as a 30 year old.
I believe that some topics of this book are beautiful and necessary and I appreciate its diversity. While it does give a decent representation of the LGBTQIA+ community, I would’ve loved to see a bit more range in the relationships. These stories are heavily weighed towards male/ male relationships. I was hoping for more rep for heterosexual, female/ female, pansexual, bi- sexual, etc.
Want to read
November 10, 2019Umm, EXCUSE ME, but why did no one tell me David Levithan has a new book coming out 😤
February 24, 2020
This is such a beautiful book. These stories are lovely, they're charming, they're gentle and loving and good. Every single one of these stories was something heartwrenching in the most wonderful possible way.
April 29, 2020
19 Love Songs by David Levithan collects short stories and poems as if it were a playlist or mixtape. It is the mixtape of music of love and relationship among people who are often experiencing romantic love for the first time. Each story stands on its own and has no relationship to others in the book and all are written by Levithan.
Because it is a collection of stories and poems, some stories are better than others, or, at least, more appealing to me. However, most of the stories, almost all of them, sparkle and shimmer with marvelous descriptions and insightful understandings of what it is to be young and in love. I could not read a single story without feeling the love of my younger life all over again.
I rarely find a book in which the author does such a good job of portraying believable, authentic-feeling characters and almost never read one that so fully conveys the joys and pains of being in love. No one really understands teenagers, they certainly don't understand themselves, but leviathan comes closer than anyone else I ever read.
Because I prefer to rate books more on the quality of the writing than on the storylines, I think I read fairly critically, frequently finding great storylines with mediocre writing. Most of these stories hit both attributes very well. I did not care for a couple of stories very close to the end of the book, and even in these stories it was both the writing and the storylines that I didn't like. Before those, I kept feeling, after every story, "Wow! That was my favorite story." But that feeling only lasted until the next story.
For the quality of its writing and for the unique plot and handling of it, my favorite story was "Track 4: The Quarterback and the Cheerleader," which is made all the better by the fact that I almost didn't finish reading it.
Get this book. Read this book. Treasure this book. Give David Levithan hugs, kisses, millions of readers and lots of book awards. He deserves them.
Because it is a collection of stories and poems, some stories are better than others, or, at least, more appealing to me. However, most of the stories, almost all of them, sparkle and shimmer with marvelous descriptions and insightful understandings of what it is to be young and in love. I could not read a single story without feeling the love of my younger life all over again.
I rarely find a book in which the author does such a good job of portraying believable, authentic-feeling characters and almost never read one that so fully conveys the joys and pains of being in love. No one really understands teenagers, they certainly don't understand themselves, but leviathan comes closer than anyone else I ever read.
Because I prefer to rate books more on the quality of the writing than on the storylines, I think I read fairly critically, frequently finding great storylines with mediocre writing. Most of these stories hit both attributes very well. I did not care for a couple of stories very close to the end of the book, and even in these stories it was both the writing and the storylines that I didn't like. Before those, I kept feeling, after every story, "Wow! That was my favorite story." But that feeling only lasted until the next story.
For the quality of its writing and for the unique plot and handling of it, my favorite story was "Track 4: The Quarterback and the Cheerleader," which is made all the better by the fact that I almost didn't finish reading it.
Get this book. Read this book. Treasure this book. Give David Levithan hugs, kisses, millions of readers and lots of book awards. He deserves them.
Want to read
January 17, 20201/17/20:
THIS HAS A IN IT.
I FREAKING CHOKED.
I mean, I haven't read Someday yet... I know, I'm just not ready... aagh. I'll do it. I'll have to read Someday before this so I can read this on Valentine's Day.
But... still...
I love Every Day so much.
Really pumped for this.
THIS HAS A IN IT.
I FREAKING CHOKED.
I mean, I haven't read Someday yet... I know, I'm just not ready... aagh. I'll do it. I'll have to read Someday before this so I can read this on Valentine's Day.
But... still...
I love Every Day so much.
Really pumped for this.
February 10, 2023
I enjoyed some of the stories but some of them sucked. It was hard to be attached to the characters. I also had no idea that it was short stories so yeah.
August 18, 2024
I didn’t know this book existed until I found it for a dollar in a Virginia charity shop, so of course I had to pick it up. I read quite a few books by this author growing up, including the Every Day series (that was my favorite book as a teen) and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. It is thankfully easier to access/read LGBTQIA+ books nowadays than it was in the past, and David Levithan was one of the few authors I knew about in my childhood that wrote about these themes. This was a short story collection and I really enjoy David Levithan’s writing style. I also liked how it was clear that some of the stories were inspired by his own life.
June 8, 2020
this book wasn’t BAD i actually did enjoy some of the lines but overall it was just. hard to get through since it was separated into 19 different stories but i guess i should’ve known that starting it.
overall i’m disappointed because i thought it would make me feel happy and loveyyy or whatever but it didn’t straight face emoji
anyway if you hate trump and are a homosexual man you’ll probably enjoy this :/
overall i’m disappointed because i thought it would make me feel happy and loveyyy or whatever but it didn’t straight face emoji
anyway if you hate trump and are a homosexual man you’ll probably enjoy this :/
Read
March 2, 2020I guess I didn't realize how many of these stories I had already read. Didn't stop me crying through a lot of them upon reread.
April 11, 2021
19 Love Songs has a great concept behind it. It’s nineteen stories about nineteen different types of love. I enjoyed some of them, others not so much — I feel like the second half seemed a bit rushed? Especially with the verse poetry. It wasn’t that bad, I just feel like some of it was a “filler”.
It is still a light and fluffy read and it helped me with my reading slump!!
It is still a light and fluffy read and it helped me with my reading slump!!
September 13, 2020
Just lovely. So many gems in this book.
April 13, 2022
Couldn’t even bring myself to finish this book it was so bad but for the sake of getting it off my currently reading I had to say I’ve finished it. I thought it would be a cute little book when I read the blurb but it’s nothing like the blurb?!?! Definitely don’t recommend and I think I need a coho book to compensate me for this shite I just read
Want to read
January 3, 2020I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T KNEW ABOUT THIS BEFORE!!!! WE GET MORE TWO BOYS KISSING STORIES MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE!!
August 30, 2020
I had to DNF. This was painfully boring. Every time I got invested, the story was over. As a collection of short stories it just really missed the mark for me.
January 5, 2022
Nope. Not for me.
I can go on with how I hate-like this book but I'm tired by now so I'll try to keep it short.
This book is excruciatingly hard to relate to. If you can, maybe / may not you would appreciate this book a little - but I think that is very unlikely.
It is almost like David Levithan was using this book to promote that he is Jewish (i think) and gay, since almost all the stories has one or the other elements in it. It has been to the the point where it becomes irritating and you would mumble to yourself "I get it, I get it".
Reading this was almost like hearing your gay uncle rambling on and on and on about how sexy men are. It's very hard to stay focused on the stories ; you can't take it seriously either.
I had to take looong breaks to keep reading this, and I really can't finish it. It's too boring.
However, some of the stories carried this book, such as " Day 2934 ". Without spoilers, that short story reminds me a lot of my mother and her loving self. It is wholesome and I could say that this and the ' Better Writer' story is pretty good. 5/5 for both of those. Changed my initial rating from 1 to 2 stars.
But other than those two, a lot of the remaining stories is hard to read.
So if you are a fan of David Levithan, you maybe would like this, but I don't recommend it. At all. If you're Jewish, and IS gay, sure try it out, you'll feel involved in a way to the stories and might enjoy it way more than I did.
I can go on with how I hate-like this book but I'm tired by now so I'll try to keep it short.
This book is excruciatingly hard to relate to. If you can, maybe / may not you would appreciate this book a little - but I think that is very unlikely.
It is almost like David Levithan was using this book to promote that he is Jewish (i think) and gay, since almost all the stories has one or the other elements in it. It has been to the the point where it becomes irritating and you would mumble to yourself "I get it, I get it".
Reading this was almost like hearing your gay uncle rambling on and on and on about how sexy men are. It's very hard to stay focused on the stories ; you can't take it seriously either.
I had to take looong breaks to keep reading this, and I really can't finish it. It's too boring.
However, some of the stories carried this book, such as " Day 2934 ". Without spoilers, that short story reminds me a lot of my mother and her loving self. It is wholesome and I could say that this and the ' Better Writer' story is pretty good. 5/5 for both of those. Changed my initial rating from 1 to 2 stars.
But other than those two, a lot of the remaining stories is hard to read.
So if you are a fan of David Levithan, you maybe would like this, but I don't recommend it. At all. If you're Jewish, and IS gay, sure try it out, you'll feel involved in a way to the stories and might enjoy it way more than I did.
February 14, 2020
4.5/5 I loved this compilation! It's a beautiful, sentimental blend of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novel. David Levithan is one of my favorite authors, and this was a perfect (new) choice for Valentine's week. It's a reminder to remember to love yourself for who you are and to not settle for less. He also includes a lovely portrait of his parents' relationship; how it began and how it unfolded. There's something here for everyone.
September 13, 2022
Full Review on The Candid Cover
19 Love Songs by David Leviathan is a collection of short stories that overflows with love. Containing works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, as well as stories inspired by the author’s previous novels, this anthology showcases David Levithan’s signature emotional writing style. As it features uplifting stories about different kinds of love, this is the perfect read for Valentine’s Day.
Containing 19 different “tracks,” this is a unique collection of stories all about different types of love. Throughout the anthology are stories of friendship, falling in love, and even one about a Taylor Swift fanfiction writer. A few of the stories also feature characters from the author’s previous books, such as Every Day and Two Boys Kissing. I was especially impressed by the mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry throughout this collection, as David Levithan’s mastery of each genre truly showcases his skill.
❀ UNIQUE AND ENJOYABLE STORIES
Each of the stories within this anthology are unique and enjoyable in their own way, but I particularly enjoyed the Every Day inspired story, Day 2934. This is an incredibly heartwarming tale about A on Valentine’s Day, and it spotlights a mother’s love for her son as they spend the day together. I was also touched by one of the works of nonfiction about how the author’s parents met, and I found that the anthology’s final poem dedicated to the Freedom to Read foundation is the perfect conclusion to such a moving book.
❀ POETIC WRITING STYLE
What makes David Levithan’s work shine is his poetic writing style. Each sentence is packed with emotion, and he perfectly captures feelings of nostalgia, hope, and love throughout each story. I believe that what makes this book so emotional is the fact that is inspired by the stories he has written as Valentine’s Day gifts for his friends, and I truly felt the love that went into each work as I was reading.
❀ CAPTURES THE FEELING OF LOVE
19 Love Songs by David Levithan is the perfect anthology to warm any reader’s heart. With its mix of genres, handful of familiar characters, and poetic prose, this collection perfectly captures the feeling of love. Fans of David Levithan will not want to miss this beautiful book, and for new readers, this collection serves as a strong introduction to his work.
19 Love Songs by David Leviathan is a collection of short stories that overflows with love. Containing works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, as well as stories inspired by the author’s previous novels, this anthology showcases David Levithan’s signature emotional writing style. As it features uplifting stories about different kinds of love, this is the perfect read for Valentine’s Day.
Containing 19 different “tracks,” this is a unique collection of stories all about different types of love. Throughout the anthology are stories of friendship, falling in love, and even one about a Taylor Swift fanfiction writer. A few of the stories also feature characters from the author’s previous books, such as Every Day and Two Boys Kissing. I was especially impressed by the mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry throughout this collection, as David Levithan’s mastery of each genre truly showcases his skill.
❀ UNIQUE AND ENJOYABLE STORIES
Each of the stories within this anthology are unique and enjoyable in their own way, but I particularly enjoyed the Every Day inspired story, Day 2934. This is an incredibly heartwarming tale about A on Valentine’s Day, and it spotlights a mother’s love for her son as they spend the day together. I was also touched by one of the works of nonfiction about how the author’s parents met, and I found that the anthology’s final poem dedicated to the Freedom to Read foundation is the perfect conclusion to such a moving book.
❀ POETIC WRITING STYLE
What makes David Levithan’s work shine is his poetic writing style. Each sentence is packed with emotion, and he perfectly captures feelings of nostalgia, hope, and love throughout each story. I believe that what makes this book so emotional is the fact that is inspired by the stories he has written as Valentine’s Day gifts for his friends, and I truly felt the love that went into each work as I was reading.
❀ CAPTURES THE FEELING OF LOVE
19 Love Songs by David Levithan is the perfect anthology to warm any reader’s heart. With its mix of genres, handful of familiar characters, and poetic prose, this collection perfectly captures the feeling of love. Fans of David Levithan will not want to miss this beautiful book, and for new readers, this collection serves as a strong introduction to his work.
January 19, 2020
True confession: I have attitude about short stories. I either get invested and then it’s over too fast (rare), or because there’s so little time/space, you don’t get a full story or complete characters and I just feel cheated (far more often). I’ve read a few YA anthologies in the last several years that I’ve enjoyed more than I expected and where the majority of the stories are pretty strong. There was a winter/holiday one, a Halloween one, and a summer one. So I thought I’d give this one a try, thinking it was centered around Valentine’s Day and knowing that I often enjoy Levithan’s writing.
But this one didn’t work for me. I discovered that he has a yearly tradition of writing a story for his friends on V-Day, and that’s where a lot of these came from. And maybe they made sense to his friends because they spoke to shared experiences or private jokes, but I was pretty lost throughout.
My favorites were the Every Day story and the one that was actually a Christmas tale that came from the Winter anthology I mentioned. The rest were a mixed bag of angsty conversations and epiphanies, and none of those were all that interesting to me.
Still, Levithan sure does have a way with words. I kind of wish I was one of his friends so the stories would be more meaningful to me.
But this one didn’t work for me. I discovered that he has a yearly tradition of writing a story for his friends on V-Day, and that’s where a lot of these came from. And maybe they made sense to his friends because they spoke to shared experiences or private jokes, but I was pretty lost throughout.
My favorites were the Every Day story and the one that was actually a Christmas tale that came from the Winter anthology I mentioned. The rest were a mixed bag of angsty conversations and epiphanies, and none of those were all that interesting to me.
Still, Levithan sure does have a way with words. I kind of wish I was one of his friends so the stories would be more meaningful to me.
June 28, 2021
TRACK ONE: QUIZ BOWL ANTICHRIST- 3.5 stars
TRACK TWO: DAY 2934- 4.5 stars
TRACH THREE: THE GOOD GIRLS- 3.5 stars
TRACK FOUR: THE QUARTERBACK AND THE CHEERLEADER- 4 stars
TRACK FIVE: THE MULBERRY BRANCH - 5 stars
TRACK SIX: YOUR TEMPORARY SANTA - 3 stars
TRACK SEVEN: STORYTIME - 4.5 stars
TRACK EIGHT: A BETTER WRITER - 3.5 stars
TRACK NINE: 8 SONG MEMOIR - 4 stars
TRACK TEN: SNOW DAY - 5 stars
TRACK ELEVEN: THE WOODS - 4.5 stars (more 4ish but i'm such a taylor stan i have to bump it up)
TRACK TWELVE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIRST KISSES - 3.5 stars
TRACK THIRTEEN: AS THE PHILADELPHIA QUEER YOUTH CHOIR SINGS KATY PERRYS "FIREWORK" - 4 stars
TRACK FOURTEEN: THE VULNERABLE HOURS - 4 stars
TRACK FIFTEEN: TWELVE MONTHS - 4.5 stars
TRACK SIXTEEN: THE HOLD - 4 stars
TRACK SEVENTEEN: HOW MY PARENTS MET - 3 stars
TRACK EIGHTEEN: WE - 4 stars
TRACK NINETEEN: GIVE THEM WORDS - 5 stars
----------
i feel like reading this on valentine's day is making me extra powerful!! all the love cells in my body are unionizing right now <3
TRACK TWO: DAY 2934- 4.5 stars
TRACH THREE: THE GOOD GIRLS- 3.5 stars
TRACK FOUR: THE QUARTERBACK AND THE CHEERLEADER- 4 stars
TRACK FIVE: THE MULBERRY BRANCH - 5 stars
TRACK SIX: YOUR TEMPORARY SANTA - 3 stars
TRACK SEVEN: STORYTIME - 4.5 stars
TRACK EIGHT: A BETTER WRITER - 3.5 stars
TRACK NINE: 8 SONG MEMOIR - 4 stars
TRACK TEN: SNOW DAY - 5 stars
TRACK ELEVEN: THE WOODS - 4.5 stars (more 4ish but i'm such a taylor stan i have to bump it up)
TRACK TWELVE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIRST KISSES - 3.5 stars
TRACK THIRTEEN: AS THE PHILADELPHIA QUEER YOUTH CHOIR SINGS KATY PERRYS "FIREWORK" - 4 stars
TRACK FOURTEEN: THE VULNERABLE HOURS - 4 stars
TRACK FIFTEEN: TWELVE MONTHS - 4.5 stars
TRACK SIXTEEN: THE HOLD - 4 stars
TRACK SEVENTEEN: HOW MY PARENTS MET - 3 stars
TRACK EIGHTEEN: WE - 4 stars
TRACK NINETEEN: GIVE THEM WORDS - 5 stars
----------
i feel like reading this on valentine's day is making me extra powerful!! all the love cells in my body are unionizing right now <3
August 30, 2023
My introduction to Levithan, and I wish there were more stars to offer. I haven’t encountered a more well-rounded account of love—loving yourself, loving your partner (and all the gorgeously diverse partnerships that exist), loving your parent, managing to love the world’s goodness while you watch parts of it go to shit, loving the power of words. Perhaps I’m also biased in favor of people who enjoy being “librarian-adjacent.”
February 7, 2020
I was just not in the mood for this like I had hoped. It's not that the stories were bad...I just wasn't into it. If you have read his other works, you will find familiar characters in these "songs".
However, all teachers and librarians should listen to/read the 19th song...thank you Mr. Levithan for such a wonderful reminder. Almost had me crying.
However, all teachers and librarians should listen to/read the 19th song...thank you Mr. Levithan for such a wonderful reminder. Almost had me crying.
August 27, 2020
“this is why we love stories, and love them from an early age: nothing bad ever lasts in stories. and this is ultimately why we love life, too—because nothing bad ever lasts in life, not with the same intensity with which it initially appears. if we pay attention, stories can teach us that.”
—
at this point I think I could even read the shopping list of Levithan and enjoying every word!
—
at this point I think I could even read the shopping list of Levithan and enjoying every word!
February 15, 2020
19 Love Songs
FEB 2-14 2020
3 Stars
With the cheesy, the bitter, and the heartfelt, Levithan is back.
I have never been able to dislike anything I’ve read from David Levithan. I think that is because no matter how cheesy some of his love stories get, they’re always emotional and thought provoking way beyond reading the last line and closing the book for the first time. When I think of books, I’ve never not thought of Two Boys Kissing. I don’t think I’ll stop thinking about some of these stories either.
Each of his characters are distinct, their voices strong, and they are so individually unforgettable, like the nostalgia behind certain songs. The way he is unafraid to give you an unfinished story, or bring up the things in life you always seem to forget about, time and time again. I’ve always enjoyed his narrative styles, the voices he reminds you are there. But they’re also so utterly real, while being unreal. Either way, they are never not, to some degree, reflections of what is real or what is possible. There is always a message in his writing; sometimes it is different depending on who is reading.
Half way through writing this, I have realized this is also a review for Two Boys Kissing, as much as How They Met And Other Stories, You Know Me Well (With Nina LaCour) and Every Day. I kind of associate Every Day in its own separate category for some unknown reason, so I’d say it’s more The first four (One of them being 19 Love Songs, of course). If you liked this book, you most certainly will love Two Boys Kissing, and likely the others I mentioned, following that. Two Boys Kissing is my favorite though, If I haven’t made that clear enough by now, and I actually was a little disappointed in 19 Love songs, but only because I stupidly compared it to the weight of Two Boys Kissing, which clearly, I should not be comparing anything to.
(Mini) Synopsis:
With a little of this and a little of that, Levanthan revisits some of your favorites, with appearances of A from Everyday as well as Avery and Ryan from Two Boys Kissing each with a continued story of their own! With the cheesy, the bitter, and the heartfelt, Levithan captures us once again in the 19 ‘Tracks’ of the tape of love he has crafted for us all with special hidden messages he wants us to all grasp onto and think about in our life after we put down the book for the first or last time. Love is never easy, it isn’t always sweet, and it certainly isn’t what or where anyone expects it to be, and yet sometimes, it is.
As Levanthan mentions, these stories are born with love from his own personal tradition of writing a story for his friends each Valentines Day, which is a lovely revisit to the last time I learned this lovely Idea that I think I first read in the beginning (or end) of How They Met and Other Stories. It may not be Valentines, but every day is a day you can remind someone of your love for them, in any form. Cliche’ isn’t always wrong, and often is borne from truth: simple words can mean so much to someone.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who has read Levithan before, and anyone who wants to begin. *Cough* Go read Two Boys Kissing first, though. Readers of Levithan may also like Adam Silvera and Shaun David Hutchinson. I recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe (by Benjamin Alire Saenz), followed by We Are The Ants, followed by History Is All You Left Me (In order of light to heavy intensity of emotional reading, as many might light the lightness behind Levithan’s work and not be ready for Silvera at the moment). Go read, you lovely people!
Until next time.
This is my opinion and never meant to completely discourage anyone from reading anything they think they may like reading. Good luck and happy reading!
FEB 2-14 2020
3 Stars
With the cheesy, the bitter, and the heartfelt, Levithan is back.
I have never been able to dislike anything I’ve read from David Levithan. I think that is because no matter how cheesy some of his love stories get, they’re always emotional and thought provoking way beyond reading the last line and closing the book for the first time. When I think of books, I’ve never not thought of Two Boys Kissing. I don’t think I’ll stop thinking about some of these stories either.
Each of his characters are distinct, their voices strong, and they are so individually unforgettable, like the nostalgia behind certain songs. The way he is unafraid to give you an unfinished story, or bring up the things in life you always seem to forget about, time and time again. I’ve always enjoyed his narrative styles, the voices he reminds you are there. But they’re also so utterly real, while being unreal. Either way, they are never not, to some degree, reflections of what is real or what is possible. There is always a message in his writing; sometimes it is different depending on who is reading.
Half way through writing this, I have realized this is also a review for Two Boys Kissing, as much as How They Met And Other Stories, You Know Me Well (With Nina LaCour) and Every Day. I kind of associate Every Day in its own separate category for some unknown reason, so I’d say it’s more The first four (One of them being 19 Love Songs, of course). If you liked this book, you most certainly will love Two Boys Kissing, and likely the others I mentioned, following that. Two Boys Kissing is my favorite though, If I haven’t made that clear enough by now, and I actually was a little disappointed in 19 Love songs, but only because I stupidly compared it to the weight of Two Boys Kissing, which clearly, I should not be comparing anything to.
(Mini) Synopsis:
With a little of this and a little of that, Levanthan revisits some of your favorites, with appearances of A from Everyday as well as Avery and Ryan from Two Boys Kissing each with a continued story of their own! With the cheesy, the bitter, and the heartfelt, Levithan captures us once again in the 19 ‘Tracks’ of the tape of love he has crafted for us all with special hidden messages he wants us to all grasp onto and think about in our life after we put down the book for the first or last time. Love is never easy, it isn’t always sweet, and it certainly isn’t what or where anyone expects it to be, and yet sometimes, it is.
As Levanthan mentions, these stories are born with love from his own personal tradition of writing a story for his friends each Valentines Day, which is a lovely revisit to the last time I learned this lovely Idea that I think I first read in the beginning (or end) of How They Met and Other Stories. It may not be Valentines, but every day is a day you can remind someone of your love for them, in any form. Cliche’ isn’t always wrong, and often is borne from truth: simple words can mean so much to someone.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who has read Levithan before, and anyone who wants to begin. *Cough* Go read Two Boys Kissing first, though. Readers of Levithan may also like Adam Silvera and Shaun David Hutchinson. I recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe (by Benjamin Alire Saenz), followed by We Are The Ants, followed by History Is All You Left Me (In order of light to heavy intensity of emotional reading, as many might light the lightness behind Levithan’s work and not be ready for Silvera at the moment). Go read, you lovely people!
Until next time.
This is my opinion and never meant to completely discourage anyone from reading anything they think they may like reading. Good luck and happy reading!
March 10, 2020
Even though Valentines day was a month ago, these stories are still warming my heart.
Nice, innocent stories of love and hope.
Some sadness, some hints of crushing defeat ... But is it weird to say, it's not a big deal? We get accustomed to being losers.
A lot of queer stories are in here, which can heighten the fear and darkness, because so much vulnerability goes into these stories, and real people who are like these characters are often met with hostility, but the overpowering emotions are love and hope regardless!
A hearty wave of hello to the author goes out, from me, because I am a nerd, don't care about looking cool, and I can't help waving. Yes, I too have created and saved handfuls of mixtapes and I remember the challenges and victories therein.
In the U.S., we're in the year 2020, and the groups of us who don't agree with the Republicans are really tired! The GOP is all over the news, making bad decisions and trying to make life difficult for everyone who isn't an old rich, white man (bonus points if the geezer has a young, attractive wife).
We're tired. And because I'm not a teen, not obsessed with angst or crushes or self-identity, the story that sticks longest in my brain is the one about the Women's March that took place in January 2017. So many people across the nation marched on behalf of love and human rights, and they sang songs together, and it was a beautiful message to the world that Not All of Us are Assholes. And other nations in the world marched with us too, because they agreed with us, saying essentially, "yeah, you all elected an asshole."
It's difficult because of the sharply divided media. Half the news is trying to sound like victory and control. The other half is doom and destruction.
Our leaders are unreliable. A lot of voters can agree on THAT, but an enormous faction is unrelentingly racist and misogynistic.
We don't know why our leaders hate us so much. We're really tired.
Nice, innocent stories of love and hope.
Some sadness, some hints of crushing defeat ... But is it weird to say, it's not a big deal? We get accustomed to being losers.
A lot of queer stories are in here, which can heighten the fear and darkness, because so much vulnerability goes into these stories, and real people who are like these characters are often met with hostility, but the overpowering emotions are love and hope regardless!
A hearty wave of hello to the author goes out, from me, because I am a nerd, don't care about looking cool, and I can't help waving. Yes, I too have created and saved handfuls of mixtapes and I remember the challenges and victories therein.
In the U.S., we're in the year 2020, and the groups of us who don't agree with the Republicans are really tired! The GOP is all over the news, making bad decisions and trying to make life difficult for everyone who isn't an old rich, white man (bonus points if the geezer has a young, attractive wife).
We're tired. And because I'm not a teen, not obsessed with angst or crushes or self-identity, the story that sticks longest in my brain is the one about the Women's March that took place in January 2017. So many people across the nation marched on behalf of love and human rights, and they sang songs together, and it was a beautiful message to the world that Not All of Us are Assholes. And other nations in the world marched with us too, because they agreed with us, saying essentially, "yeah, you all elected an asshole."
It's difficult because of the sharply divided media. Half the news is trying to sound like victory and control. The other half is doom and destruction.
Our leaders are unreliable. A lot of voters can agree on THAT, but an enormous faction is unrelentingly racist and misogynistic.
We don't know why our leaders hate us so much. We're really tired.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews