Is it a sin to be born a thorn?

{WATTY'S 2020 WINNER & EDITOR'S PICK.} Hopeless romantic and aspiring writer Mare Atwood has fallen madly in love with her childhood correspondent. There's only one catch-she doesn't know who he is. When the beaus of Star's Crossing return from boarding school to begin the courting season, Mare is determined to uncover the identity of her writer, flout her family's intentions of orchestrating an advantageous marriage, and procure the life of writing and romance she's always sought. But as in the tales she so adores, it won't be easy. Galas, masquerades, picnics, and hunts-alongside an old friend, a former teacher, and an unlikely ally, Mare delves into an investigation that leaves her torn between three clever, deceptive, and wealthy young bachelors. If Mare can confirm which is her writer and claim his hand before the courting season ends, she'll have her wish: the love of her life, a valuable marriage, and a future of writing romance. But with the eyes of Star's Crossing upon her, a business plot forcing invisible hands, and the unwillingness of her writer to come forward-Mare's future may not end in triumph, but tragedy. Set against the gilded Victorian backdrop of coastal Connecticut and lush with pre-war luxury, fans of Jane Austen, Margaret Mitchell, and Louisa May Alcott are sure to enjoy this lighthearted, lyrical novel of young love, independence, and identity. #1 Literary #1 YA Romance #1 Victorian #1 Lyrical #8 General Fiction

[September Editor's pick- 2021] After taking a nannying job, Grayson never expected to fall for Rosie, the lawyer who employed him. But she's not looking for love, and he's scared to love again. Can they let go of the goodbyes that have hurt them in the past in order to embrace a future together? **** Grayson had a good life. He was happily married, loved his job as a nurse and maintained great ties with his family. What he didn't expect is that three years later that life would be shattered, with nothing motivating him to wake up in the mornings. Unemployed and on the brink of homelessness, Grayson's only options are to return to his mother's home, or find a job and maintain it. Grayson opts for the latter. Rosie Bhatt had her life planned out. She worked hard, built her family and was entering her thirties, excited to see what the future had in store. But soon the struggle of being a single-parent becomes too much as she juggles the life she wants and the life she has. With limited time on her hands, she chooses to employ Grayson as a nanny for her six-year daughter Anni. What she doesn't expect is the realization that someone else understands her pain. With both Grayson and Rosie suffering from the loss of goodbyes, tensions rise, and the importance of love, life and family is thrust upon them, challenging them to seek what really matters. Though Goodbyes were their beginning, can a new After become their future? * Content warning - This story contains dark elements including discussions on alcoholism, mental health and bereavement*

After a sudden hiatus from social media, popular YouTuber Belinda Quincy feels like she has her mojo back and attempts to do something to make it up to her fans. But that's when a mystery girl's music video goes viral. Jealousy creeps in at all the attention the girl starts getting, and in a bid to do something that puts her back as the center of attention, she exposes herself to a cyberbully. Her secrets and personal life take no time in appearing on social media, and her life begins to fall apart. Despite having the boy that's been sending her flirtatious winks by her side, it still feels like everything is over. But what if she's keeping the cyberbully close and doesn't realize it until it's too late? Editors' Pick, July/September 2021. Featured by the Community Team. (Cover by @goldenways)

A new system of marriage for the prince has been made in the kingdom Taraxac: The Dandelion System. When Karlina Dearcage makes a deal with the manipulative Princess Oda to be her pawn in The Dandelion System, she has a bad feeling about it. There are ominous rumors of the mysterious prince whom the public never sees, the other contestants are just as driven as her for different reasons, and the Queen herself has some tricks up her sleeve. Nevertheless, she meets the strangely childish Prince Otto and the other personality, Oscar, who shares his body, and realizes she wants to help both of them out of her own will. As Karlina learns of the dark secrets of the Royal family and the other girls' feelings about it, she finds herself questioning the innocence of The Dandelion System. *** #1 in royal (2/11/21) #1 in royalty (4/21/20) #1 in retelling (6/13/19) #1 in medieval (1/22/20) #1 in revolution (4/16/20) #1 in dark fantasy (1/1/21) #2 in rebel (10/20/19) #2 in contest (8/22/19) #2 in competition (6/19/20) #2 in fantasy romance (10/8/21)

[ALSO KNOWN AS "MATCH MADE IN HELL" ON WEBTOON ORIGINALS] He's. . . hot, popular, and proud. She's. . . plain, eccentric, and persistent. There's nothing common between them except that they hate each other. Not good, right? But why is he determined to find her while she is determined to escape him? Twists get turns, fates have entangled. Life has even become harder than before. And their once-upon-a-modern-time story starts with a dance. -- Book cover illustration by raindrops_ [Old version] STARTED: Nov. 2012 FINISHED: Nov. 2013 [New edition] STARTED: Jun 2018 FINISHED: Jun 2019

When Adrienne's app TMI is a resounding success, she can't wait to reveal the dirty secrets of the glamorous "it" crowd of her prestigious school, but soon, lines begin to blur and she might find herself being the one who falls. *** Adrienne's plans have come to fruition. Her app, TMI, has taken Petraka Academy by storm, with its promise to reveal and confirm the juiciest gossip. It is also endorsed by the shiny "it" crowd who can't wait to ridicule the fallen. But they have no clue that Adrienne is coming for them, ready to push them off their pedestals one by one. Because she knows something no one else would believe. She knows that top-of-the-food chain Rosie Geld killed Audrey Hart. And once the truth hits TMI, everyone will know, and the guilty will finally pay. [[Watty Award winner in Mystery/Thriller]] Content warning: This story contains themes of bullying, sexual assault, eating disorders, drug use, abuse, violence and suicide. *** Cover designed by Holly Thurston

Reece Bremer goes through life with a scowl and cold personality. Jessica Andrews goes through life with a glowing smile and positive outlook. Reece looks at life with dull, judgmental eyes that make him hate the world and the people living in it. Jessica, well... She looks at life through a camera. Literally. They're polar opposites, and that's what sparks Reece's immediate hate for Jessica the moment they meet. All he sees is a girl with the best life, put in the category of those who get everything handed to them on a silver platter. But who says Jessica's life is like that? Just like a photograph, there's more to the story than what you see. Stumbling across one of Jessica's hidden portfolio might reveal that her happiness isn't all that true. Behind that smile and each picture she takes, holds a thousand words of a very big secret - one that Reece is determined to find out. And who knows? It just might change everything between them. cover by dysanic || 2015 watty's winner for talk of the town ||

"I didn't ask to be in the middle of your ego-battle," I grumble. Blake pins me to my locker, hands resting on either side of my head. "Well, you got it in anyway, Darling," he whispers. His face is inches away from mine and damn me for licking my lips. I am NOT falling for these guys. And then, at the corner of my eye I spot Owen and his gang approaching. Well, that's just great. *** The West and East gang of Tygerwell have been at each other's throats since the dawn of time. And the two leaders of these gangs want to end the fight, once and for all. But fighting with fists is easy. Fighting with wit and charm, is a whole other ball game. Blake. West-side gang leader. Leather jacket and killer glare. Don't talk back. Owen. East-side gang leader. Fancy coat and toxic stare. Don't resist. And in comes Amber. Hair of gold and oceans in her eyes. Has too much sass for her own good and always, ALWAYS, manages to get into the middle of trouble. But these boys have no idea who they're really dealing with. And when Amber descovers she knows a little too much when it comes to guns and fighting, she has to question everything she thought she knew about herself. Three can play this game. *** "Let's settle this. You got rejected, I got rejected. It's only fair that the fate of the gangs be on who gets the girl first." "That sounds rather good, Rhodes. I'll take that bet on the golden girl." *** COMPLETED FICTION AWARDS: Best new story and best new account Highest ranking in Teen Fiction: #1 on 25/06/2018

He continues to stare as the young girl hums quietly, while keeping her eyes locked on the book in her hands. At the sound of his footsteps, she suddenly stops reading only to look up and let out a squeal, one that he found adorable. Her already rosy cheeks become even brighter. "Hello." He melts at the sound of her angelic voice and says his next words carefully, softly. "Hi sweetheart." She tilts her head to the side as he unknowingly stares at her with a certain longing. "Who are you?" "I'm Seth. What's your name?" He questions, taking a step into her room. She grins, causing two cute dimples to appear on her cheeks. "Daisy." ~ In which Seth Andrews, who is usually quiet and brooding, becomes captivated by his best friends little sister, Daisy Miller, who believes everyone has at least a little good in them.