19 Love Songs Summary

19 Love Songs Summary

The first short story (stylized as "Track One") in the collection is called "Quiz Bowl Antichrist" and follows a young man in high school who is a frequent participant in his local Quiz Bowl (a competitive trivia contest). He has competitions coming up and starts to dedicate a significant amount of time to preparing for them. However, amidst the trials and tribulations of the competitions, he develops a crush on one of his team members. At first, they become friends. However, a romantic relationship begins to blossom, heartening him.

The following story is called "Day 2934" and follows a couple in a long-term relationship. Together, they look back on their relationship, how they met, and the moments (both mundane and extraordinary) that have shaped their love and relationship. Throughout the years, their love has remained strong; however, they have changed.

"The Quarterback and the Cheerleader," the next story in the collection, tells the unexpected love story of a male cheerleader and a female quarterback. In this story, where typical gender roles are switched, the couple at the center of the story love each other dearly but experience discrimination. But their love endures despite it all. That story is later revisited in the novel's final story, called "The Quarterback."

"The Good Witch" follows a young man who has finally come to terms with his sexuality. One day, he comes across another young man who he is attracted to. The feeling is mutual, and the two begin an intense romantic relationship with each other—the first such relationship for each of them. They love each other but, over time, realize that they have drifted apart. Another story later in the collection called "The Boy Witch" tells a similar story from the perspective of a young man.

The fifth "track" is called "A Brief History of First Kisses," which follows several characters who talk about their first kisses. The next story is called "The Valedictorian" and follows a high school valedictorian who is preparing her speech to her graduating class. When crafting her speech, she pays particular attention to romantic relationships and the nature of love. Reflecting on her own experiences, as well as the experiences of her classmates, she crafts a speech about love and graduating.

The next story in the collection is called "The Alumni Interview." It follows a college applicant who meets with an alumnus of the college he is applying to in order to interview them. Initially, the two appear to have nothing in common. However, they quickly discover that they have a fair amount in common as the two reminisce about their past loves and experiences.

The following story in the collection is simply called "Pride." Set during a Pride Parade, the story examines how the community bands together to celebrate and preach acceptance of their unique identities. "A Better Writer" picks up where "Pride" thematically ends. It tells the story of an unnamed protagonist, a writer, who dissects how love and loss have impacted his life and his understanding of love.

The next story in the collection is called "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things," and follows several characters. Collectively, they live the same day on repeat. Because of this, they discover quite a bit about their own lives and about life and love more generally. The following "track" in the collection is called "Miss Lucy Had a Steamboat." It follows a young girl who must navigate the challenges of adolescence, including love and its many foibles.

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