There are times when I seem to have read many books that weigh heavy on my mind. Books that make me question or that deal with traumatic events. When I find I have read a lot of these types of books in a row, I always LOVE to turn to something light and refreshing. Tahira in Bloom by Farah Heron is just the right book if you are wanting a teen romance to cleanse the reading palate.

Tahira Janmohammad has a Plan, one she has been working towards ever since she declared that she was going to be a fashion designer. Part of the Plan is a summer internship with a local designer but the universe has other plans for Tahira. With the internship she had obtained canceled, Plan B takes her to Bakewell, Ontario to work in her aunt’s clothing shop. She’s on her own in a new town, vastly different from Toronto but she grows and learns through this new experience and even finds love in the process.

I LOVE a good teen romance. The author has a deal with the reader, there will be a happily ever after, but how we get there is always a fun ride. There will certainly be conflict and unexpected events along the way but you can always count on a neatly packed story that will leave your heart feeling happy and light. Farah Heron is a pro when it comes to romance novels but Tahira in Bloom is her first foray into YA romance and I am so happy she wanted to write a story that her 13 year old could enjoy. It felt incredibly current, with teen slang, social media and characters coming of age, figuring out their place in the world. The characters are all from diverse backgrounds and experiences truly ensuring the story will resonate with all teen romance enthusiasts. It’s the perfect story that you can read in a weekend or on a holiday, which I did, but also contains enough elements to give the reader pause, to think and reflect.