Usually, when a reviewer interviews someone about a novel, you can assume he or she will have read the book. Who would have thought, right? Well, I am pretty confident that Jessica Peña did not read Unrequited by Christy Heron before she wrote the recent New Times article, “Bad romance” (Aug. 23).

Peña writes, “There are moments of genuine emotion in Unrequited. Granted, that emotion is, if any, tragic.” In contest with Peña’s opinion, had she actually read the book, Unrequited is completely based around “genuine emotion.” Main character January battles not only a personality disorder but also the unpredictable roller coaster of her unattainable lover, Jack aka Short Fat Fuck (SFF). The trials and tribulations she endures are nothing short of emotional. She claims tragic? Yes, to some degree, but whose life doesn’t involve a bit of tragedy? Isn’t that how most stories render worth telling?

Without spoiling the end, readers will see that this book is romantic—maybe not your traditional, Fabio making love to a foreign supermodel kind of romance, but real life, relatable, young adult romance. So many people, especially young women, have all been through the same experiences as January, making this book genuine.

Ms. Heron quotes famous poet Pablo Neruda:

“I am not jealous of what came

before me.

Come with a hundred men in

your hair,

Come with a thousand men between your breasts and your feet,

... Bring them all to where I am waiting for you.”

Unique, raw and nontraditional, Unrequited is a beautiful novel.

-- Kyrstin Pull - Grover Beach