Amanda Woody (YA Contemporary)

Author: Amanda Woody (@findmeediting)

Age Range: YA

Genre: Contemporary

Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary

The Query Letter:

Dear Ms. Townsend,

Hi, Suzie! Since you’re seeking contemporary YA to make you swoon and laugh, and you’re on the lookout for Jenny Han vibes, I wanted to reach out to you! Please take a look at THEY HATE EACH OTHER, a 72,000-word YA romcom best described as TO ALL THE BOYS meets RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE.

According to 17-year-old Jonah, archenemy Dylan Ramirez has the personality of stale water and the sex appeal of a decaying rat. Likewise, Dylan believes that Jonah Collins could be summarized as a walking airhorn with a kickable face.

So when they wake up in the same bed after homecoming, asses out, hickeys aplenty, and no memory of the previous night, they’re more than a little horrified.

Now, to salvage their reputations, Jonah and Dylan can only turn to one cliché. Fake dating. If they can last through winter break, without committing murder, the gossip will die, and they can go back to exchanging middle fingers. To pull it off, though, they’ll need to do three things. 1) Make it convincing. Even if it means gargling on each other’s lips in the cafeteria. 2) Ignore emotional baggage. Especially Jonah’s struggle to provide for his little sisters, thanks to his deadbeat father. Especially Dylan’s anxiety over his nightmares. And, finally: 3) Do not add the rom to the com.

During #dvpit, a few editors expressed interest in THEY HATE EACH OTHER, which I have listed below the query. As for me, I’m a former editorial intern who worked under [REDACTED], an administrative assistant, and an icon to my 17-year-old sister (who laughed heartily in protest when she read this sentence). Thank you for your time! Keep safe, and keep smiling.

Sincerely,

Amanda Woody