Of Roses and Thorns

Introduction

We've all heard the story.

Bad boy falls for good girl.

But what if the cliché became real? What if the boy wasn't really bad, but just dealing with life the way he thought was best? What if the girl wasn't really good, but just trying to make it through college with a smile?

What if, instead of being the "bad boy" and the "good girl", the characters were just human?

You've probably noticed that this book has Christian themes. A common message in the Christian belief is that we're all imperfect. We all make mistakes. We all do good and bad things. I like to think of the quote from Sirius Black (yes, I'm a wee bit obsessed with Harry Potter). "The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on."

You see, humans can't be sorted into the box of the "bad boy" or the "good girl". They're more complicated than that. And so I wanted to create a story that communicated this. I wanted to take a trope and mess it up.

And thus the first book in the Not-So-Cliché series was born.

.

Now that you've heard the dramatic, cool introduction and are (hopefully) hooked on the premise, I'll let you in on a little secret.

What I talked about above is not why I wrote this book.

Oh no.

I wrote this book when I was in middle school and slightly obsessed with cliché wattpad romances. It was an escape for a thirteen-year-old girl, and it was probably one of the most cliché things you've ever seen.

I picked this book up a while ago and thought of editing it for my sister. She loves those smoochy romantic books, and that's not what I usually write; I wanted to give her something in a genre she'd enjoy.

When I began editing, I realized it was, to put it plainly, garbage.

The plot was cliché; the characters were unrealistic; it was full of typos.

But beneath all that, I wondered if the base of the story could be turned into something better.

That's actually how Of Roses and Thorns came to be: childhood delusion and a momentary lapse in judgment.

Whether or not the momentary lapse of judgment is worth it is up to you.

I'm planning never to publish this book, so I figured, if I'm never gonna share it with the world, why not share it with Wattpad? I've spent years on this platform as a reader, and I've really learned how to write by reading things on here—both the good and the bad. I'm honestly really grateful for this platform, and although publishing something on it scares be a bit, the fact that I'm sharing it with a community I already feel a part of makes it easier. So just a note to all my readers: I love you guys and really value you taking the chance on my book. I hope it provides some entertainment for you. <3

In this book, you'll likely encounter a slightly cliché plot and a storyline that may not always be realistic, but what I can guarantee you'll find is humor, faith, and characters who don't fall into any of the stereotypical YA boxes. It's far from perfect, but that's the beauty of it.

Also, there are some heavier themes dealt with in this book, so I will try to include trigger warnings when necessary.

So without further adieu, I send you off, armed and prepared, to adventure into the world Of Roses and Thorns.

Enjoy.

Wishes and wonder,

•*Elle*•