enchantinggardennacho

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Her books feel so REAL. I know I've talked about it before but like damn. DAMN

April Kerner Has Me in a Chokehold

I swear, every time I pick up an April Kerner book, I tell myself I’ll take it slow and then end up binging the whole thing in one night. Her stories just hit different—they’re emotional, messy, and so real that I feel like I know her characters personally.

After reading Boys with Secrets, I thought, “Okay, there’s no way she can make me feel this much again.” Then I read Boys with Braces, and now I’m just sitting here, fully invested in these fictional people like they’re my actual friends. Lazar? Riley? John? I’d defend them with my life.

I love how Kerner doesn’t shy away from difficult topics but still gives us those heartwarming, swoon-worthy moments that make me believe in love again. Her writing has this effortless way of making you feel everything—the angst, the joy, the absolute devastation (because yes, I did cry).

If you haven’t read her books yet, what are you doing?? Go suffer and fall in love like the rest of us. 😭💕

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Nate Palmer Headcanons cause my boy needs some love

Nate starts every day by sending Pen a good morning text. It’s usually something simple like, “Hope you slept well,” but sometimes he includes a silly meme or a photo of his breakfast. Pen saves every single one.

Nate has a pre-game ritual that involves tying his shoes three times and listening to the same playlist. Pen teases him about it but secretly finds it adorable. One time, she surprises him by showing up to a game wearing his lucky jersey.

Nate writes terrible poetry about Pen but would rather die than let her read it. One day, she finds a crumpled-up piece of paper in his bag with the line, “Your eyes are like… uh… really pretty.” She frames it as a joke but keeps it forever.

Nate tries to grow a cactus because he thinks it’s “low maintenance.” It dies within a week. Pen buys him a fake one and says, “There. Now you can’t kill it.”

Nate convinces Pen to join him at the gym, but she spends most of the time laughing at his attempts to lift weights. He’s surprisingly good at yoga, though, and Pen is both impressed and annoyed.

Nate creates a playlist for their first road trip together. It’s a mix of his favorite workout songs and Pen’s indie picks. They argue over the volume but end up singing along to every song.

Nate plans a surprise picnic for Pen at the abandoned drive-in theater (I support this headcanon full throttle). He forgets the utensils and spills wine on the blanket, but Pen says it’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for her.

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More Girls with Scars Headcanons I live by

When Pen finally brings Gasket home, Nate helps her set up a cozy corner in her room. The cat immediately takes to Nate, much to Pen’s mock outrage. “Traitor,” she says, but Gasket just purrs louder.

Pen steals Nate’s hoodies so often that he starts hiding them. One day, he finds her wearing one of his jerseys instead. “You’re impossible,” he says, but he can’t stop smiling. They continue with the hoodie wars throughout college, it's become a bit of competition. Who wins? Will it be Nate or Pen?

Pen and Nate argue over what songs to add to their shared playlist. Nate insists on adding “Livin’ on a Prayer,” while Pen vetoes it in favor of “Landslide.” They compromise by adding both.

#Yoga Fails: Nate tries to join Pen for yoga but is hilariously bad at it. He falls over during a simple pose, and Pen laughs so hard she snorts. Nate declares, “I’m never doing this again,” but he shows up the next week anyway.

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Pen Brooks Headcanons I live by

Pen has a sketchbook filled with drawings of people and places that mean something to her. She never shows it to anyone, but Nate accidentally finds it one day and is blown away by her talent. He secretly frames one of her sketches of the auto shop and hangs it in his room.

Pen has been feeding a scrappy little cat that hangs around the auto shop for months. She’s named it “Gasket” and is trying to work up the courage to ask her dad if she can bring it home. Nate surprises her one day by showing up with a cat carrier and saying, “Let’s do this.”

Pen hums when she’s focused, usually old rock songs or whatever’s stuck in her head. Nate loves it because it’s the only time she seems completely at ease. He’s started recognizing the songs and will sometimes hum along just to make her smile.

Pen’s favorite place in town is an old, abandoned drive-in theater. She goes there to think and sometimes drags Nate along to stargaze. One night, they sneak in with blankets and snacks, and Nate accidentally spills popcorn all over her. She laughs so hard she cries.

Pen the Hoodie Thief: Pen has a habit of stealing Nate’s hoodies, especially the ones that smell like his cologne. He pretends to be annoyed but secretly loves it. One time, he catches her wearing his favorite hoodie and says, “You know, if you wanted it, you could’ve just asked.” She replies, “Where’s the fun in that?”

Pen loves comics and has a small collection tucked away in her room. Nate finds out and starts buying her rare issues as gifts. They spend hours debating which superhero would win in a fight. (Pen always argues for Spider-Man; Nate is Team Batman.)

She's a Yoga Queen. Pen does yoga to help with her anxiety. One day, Nate walks in on her mid-pose and tries to join in. He’s hilariously bad at it, but Pen can’t stop laughing, which makes him fall over.

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I fucking adore David! What a MAN.

“The moment she sees me, her whole face comes alive, her blue eyes sparkling, her wide smile giving me a view of her dimples. My blood zips through my veins at the sight, and I tap my right hand to my heart. At the gesture, she laughs, and I find myself annoyed that I can’t hear the sound from where I’m standing.”

David Deckard is so whipped for Lottie. They are such a team. I don’t know how else to describe it.

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Pen's POV

Sometimes I wonder if people see me at all. Not the rumors, not the whispers in the hallways, not the version of me they’ve created in their heads. Just… me. The girl who hums old songs under her breath, who’s trying so hard to keep it together even when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Nate sees me. And that’s terrifying.

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Friend: Hey, what’s wrong?

Me: [staring at the last page of Boys with Secrets]

Friend: Oh. It’s a book thing, isn’t it?

Me: …It’s not just a book.

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Lazar has my whole HEART. This boy deserves everything. The whole Maras clan does.

Falling for a fictional man is easy. It’s the emotional recovery that’s hard.

Currently grieving over Boys with Secrets and no, I’m not okay.

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hmmmm very fucking valid

Before reading Boys with Secrets: ‘I like fun, lighthearted books!’

After reading Boys with Secrets: ‘I crave emotional destruction and morally complex characters who need therapy but won’t get it’

GOOD LORD this book man

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beautiful

Some scars are visible. Some aren’t. Either way, they shape who we become. 💔