The YA Romance Experience: In all it’s Diverse, Complex, Quirky Glory

Fans of YA romance will swoon over the stories of this diverse group of teens navigating life and love. In Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas, a young aspiring chef unravels life and love while trying to win a spot in Lyon’s most cut-throat kitchen. In This Train is Being Held by Ismee Williams a Park Avenue ballerina defies her family when she falls for the wrong boy: a wanna be poet, baseball player from the Bronx. In Maria Andreu's The Secret Side of Empty a straight-A high school senior navigates love and life as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. Best-selling author Julian Winter talks about How to be Remy Cameron, in which a gay teen is determined to have a relationship but must reconcile the outward labels people attach to him with the real person within.

SOKY Book Fest is one of the Kentucky’s largest literary events, hosting more than 100 authors including headliners such as Angie Thomas, Diana Gabaldon, R.L. Stine, Nicholas Sparks, Rita Mae Brown, Louis Lowery, Terry Brooks, Sharon Draper, Loren Long, Henry Winkler, etc. The 2020 Book Fest has already secured award-winning author, Louis Sachar. The 2020 Book Fest will be the 22nd festival and is a fundraiser for the promotion of literacy in South Central Kentucky. The event is free and open to the public.