Hooked on YA books 2015 discussion

In Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist we meet Nick O’Leary and Norah Silverberg – they are two teenagers whose lives revolve around music. Nick, wanting to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, asks Norah to be his pretend girlfriend for five minutes. Norah goes along with it and the five minutes ends up lasting a whole Saturday night. I like that the chapters are written from both NIck and Nora's perspectives (they alternate) so that you can get a sense of how they're both perceiving the situation and how much we attempt to second guess our own actions and wonder what the other person thinks (when we're on a date!) The characters tend to talk to one another throughout the book, but they also reference a lot of emotions and memories that are tied to various songs that play or are talked about during the date. They'll also quote songs and let them stand in for their emotions. For example:

"If you act courageous / it could be advantageous / to make me act outrageous / all over your blank pages' - did you think I was, like, learning these songs phonetically?"

"My love ain't hypothetical / or pronounced for you phonetical / so it might just be heretical/ if you don't love me back,;" I quote in return. (P. 119)

It’s an interesting way to connect their interests with alternative ways of expression.