You Say It First

Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California and Meet the Benedettos as well as eight novels for young adults. She is also the coauthor (with Candace Bushnell) of Rules for Being a Girl. She lives in Boston with her family.

“Cotugno's latest slow-burn romance digs deep…. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, this is a must-read for teens questioning their futures or their own hearts.”  — ALA Booklist (starred review)Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “A vibrant, sparkling narrative of first love and second chances - will remind you that love isn’t ever easy, but falling for a great story is.” — Entertainment Weekly“A realistic and captivating story that speaks to the issues relevant to teens today….Romance, politics, family drama, and more—this one has it all.” — Kirkus Reviews“Cotugno’s debut ambitiously, and intriguingly, follows a couple who fall in love twice, over two different time periods.” — ALA Booklist“Cotugno writes with equal sympathy about opinionated characters with differing life experiences and worldviews. For collections where the smart-girl romances of Miranda Kenneally, Jenny Han, and Nandini Bajpai do well.”  — School Library Journal"In You Say It First, Katie Cotugno explores the messy victories and sweet imperfections of falling in love across party lines. Meg and Colby are brave and scared, flawed yet true to themselves, and as their relationship grows, we see how the wrong person can come along at exactly the right time. Katie's writing is always full of empathy, humor, and hope, and this book is no different. I absolutely loved it." — Robin Benway, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Far From the Tree"In You Say It First, Katie Cotugno explores the messy victories and sweet imperfections of falling in love across party lines. Meg and Colby are brave and scared, flawed yet true to themselves, and as their relationship grows, we see how the wrong person can come along at exactly the right time. Katie's writing is always full of empathy, humor, and hope, and this book is no different. I absolutely loved it." — Robin Benway, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Far From the Tree“A realistic and captivating story that speaks to the issues relevant to teens today….Romance, politics, family drama, and more—this one has it all.” — Kirkus Reviews“Cotugno's latest slow-burn romance digs deep…. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, this is a must-read for teens questioning their futures or their own hearts.”  — ALA Booklist (starred review)“A sequel that’s just as compulsively readable as the first.” — ALA BooklistPraise for 99 DAYS: “This book will appeal to fans of E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks (Hyperion, 2008), offering complex characters, plot twists, and an insightful look at society’s double standards.” — School Library Journal“A thought-provoking story...[that] explores the powerful bonds that arise between childhood friends who grow up to discover romance” — Publishers Weekly“A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksPraise for FIREWORKS: “Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change.” — ALA Booklist“A thrilling, intense read...this book will hook readers.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)Praise for 9 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS: “With realistic depictions of complicated, imperfect personalities, this book will be enjoyed by fans of … Sarah Dessen and E. Lockhart.” — School Library Journal