Love Radio

Product Information

To sum it up: I feel like its a must-read for high school kids but for older readers it can be a bit too pedagogic. This book started a tad bit slow and I was afraid I wouldn’t enjoy, but to my surprise this was a really good story and I forgot I was reading a YA Romance.

He’s been crushing on Dani Ford since middle school, and when they meet again, they don’t leave a good impression. Prince is the primary caretaker for his mother, a strong woman fighting MS, and his younger brother. Featuring a radio host who must learn to take his own romantic advice, two realistic main characters, and heavier themes that bring even more depth to the adorable romance, this one checks many boxes for me. LaDelle’s method of storytelling is so honest and genuine; you truly fall in love with these characters and can’t help but root for them. After accidentally meeting in a library he is convincing her to give him a chance - 3 dates to make her fall for him - and the love story ensues.For me, one of the highlights was all the incredible heart-felt details that LaDelle put into both of their backstories. We definitely love our mental health representation here, and I especially appreciated both Danielle and Prince’s experiences with their school counselor. However, while he spends his days talking about love, Prince has yet to experience a happily ever after of his own. They talk about the influences Motown has had on today’s music, as well as how Black beauty practices have been appropriated.

This fun YA novel of relationships and belonging to one's self has great characters, a delightful soundtrack (yes, I'm anticipating playlists across music apps to reflect what's in the book), and a playful engagement with Black romantic films. this book follows prince, aka dj lovejones, a boy who gives relationship advice on his own radio show and is wishing for a love of his own, and dani, a girl who’s trying to bury something that happened in her past while struggling with her college essay.Will the self-proclaimed teen love doctor be able to get the girl, or is all his love talk just hot air? Prince is passionate about music and romance and gives relationship advice on his Love Radio show- however, his own love life is looking a bit sad. But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what’s blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago.

So, when his Uncle offers him a segment on his popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, Prince graciously accepts. Danielle Ford has all but withdrawn from her former social life, deeply intent on securing college scholarships and admission to a university in NYC so she can pursue her dream of becoming an author. This book also contains sweet dates and all the joy of falling in love, and I enjoyed the way these moments–the humour and the adorable romance–are more prominent than the pain. Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates. The way the author wrote this book, the stories of triumph, and navigating high school while battling various hardships was phenomenal.The unique passions of each character and their individual growth throughout the novel is wonderful to witness. His character really hit home for me- it brought me back to my high school years when I didn’t want to go too far from home for college.

From there, we follow the two as they get to know one another and Prince vows to win Dani's heart over just three dates. Prince Jones is a certified love expert —that is, he has a popular segment on Detroit’s hip-hop show and people often seek out his romance advice. I loved how Danielle decided to take him out on a date, which was so funny because we see her being completely disgusted with the idea of love in the beginning of the story.

A story about a Black girl who loves reading from Black authors letting go and experiencing her own love story like in the movies. Prior to being an author, Ebony was a brand marketing director in book publishing and worked at Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, among others. Prepare to swoon: LaDelle's Love Radio gives voice to some of the sweetest hopes and the hardest truths. Additionally, I liked how they learned to support each other and help one another work through their difficulties. It was also really smart for LaDelle to let Dani and Prince to both be supportive of each other with their passions to increase their connection with each other.