Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This is a story of first love for YA audience.

Eleanor is the new girl in town who is overweight in flamboyant colors who winds up sitting next to Park on the bus, a comic book fanatic. They sit in awkward silence every day until Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comics over his shoulder; he begins to slide them closer to her side of the seat and thus begins their love story. Their relationship grows gradually--making each other mixed tapes and discussing comic book characters--until they both find themselves looking forward to the bus ride more than any other part of the day. Things aren’t easy: Eleanor is bullied at school and then goes home to a threatening family situation; Park’s parents do not approve of Eleanor’s awkward ways. Ultimately, though, this is a book about two people who just can’t get enough of each other and who believe that they can overcome any obstacle standing in the way of their happiness. It’s a book that is real and relatable for real people.