The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash: A Novel

Sebastian Alvaréz is just trying to hold the pieces together, to not flunk out, to keep his sort-of-best friend Wild Kyle from doing something really bad. And to see his beloved Ma through chemo. But when he meets Birdie Paxton, a near-Valedictorian who doesn’t realize she’s smoking hot in her science pun T-shirt, at a party, an undeniable attraction sparks. And suddenly he’s not worried about anything. But before they are able to exchange numbers, they are pulled apart. A horrifying tragedy links Birdie and Bash together – yet neither knows it.

When they finally reconnect, and are starting to fall – hard – the events of the tragedy unfold, changing both their lives in ways they can never undo. Told in alternating perspectives full of the best nerdy banter this side of Ohio, some seriously awesome skate moves, and the promise of a kiss destined to make the world stop turning, The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash will break your heart and put it back together again.

Six Goodbyes We Never Said

Naima Rodriguez doesn’t want your patronizing sympathy as she grieves her father, her hero―a fallen Marine. She’ll hate you forever if you ask her to open up and remember him “as he was,” though that’s all her loving family wants her to do in order to manage her complex OCD and GAD. She’d rather everyone back the-eff off while she separates her Lucky Charms marshmallows into six, always six, Ziploc bags, while she avoids friends and people and living the life her father so desperately wanted for her.

Dew respectfully requests a little more time to process the sudden loss of his parents. It's causing an avalanche of secret anxieties, so he counts on his trusty voice recorder to convey the things he can’t otherwise say aloud. He could really use a friend to navigate a life swimming with pain and loss and all the lovely moments in between. And then he meets Naima and everything’s changed―just not in the way he, or she, expects.

Candace Ganger's Six Goodbyes We Never Said is no love story. If you ask Naima, it’s not even a like story. But it is a story about love and fear and how sometimes you need a little help to be brave enough to say goodbye.

Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t get out of bed? Not the occasional morning, but every day? Do you find yourself listening to a voice in your head that says “you’re not good enough,” “not good looking enough,” “not thin enough,” or “not smart enough”? Have you ever found yourself unable to do homework or pay attention in class unless everything is “just so” on your desk? Everyone has had days like that, but what if you have them every day?

You’re not alone. Millions of people are going through similar things. However issues around mental health still tend to be treated as something shrouded in shame or discussed in whispers. It’s easier to have a broken bone—something tangible that can be “fixed”—than to have a mental illness, and easier to have a discussion about sex than it is to have one about mental health.

Life Inside My Mind is an anthology of true-life events from writers of this generation, for this generation. These essays tackle everything from neurodiversity to addiction to OCD to PTSD and much more. The goals of this book range from providing a home to those who are feeling alone, awareness to those who are witnessing a friend or family member struggle, and to open the floodgates to conversation.

Labrador Retriever Siblings Play Jenga and There's One Clear Winner

Dogs are capable of learning some pretty cool things. From the standard “shake” to opening the fridge to bring their human a can of Sprite, their intelligence feels a lot higher than we give them credit for.

There’s no better example than Labrador Retriever siblings Ollie and Tato. The dynamic duo recently sat down for a game of Jenga—yes, JENGA!—and though they both strategized well, only one lucky boy claimed the blue ribbon.
During the weekly “pulling of the activity,” Ollie chose Jenga, a...

Senior Dachshund With 'Strength of a Fighter' Crushes Daily Therapy Like a Champ

When I adopted my senior dog from the shelter, he was in rough shape. Not only had he gone through some disturbing, heartbreaking events, but his age and health weren’t at their best. It’s been three years now, and though he has cancer, he wakes up every day ready to tackle whatever comes his way (and yes, I cry about him all the time).

Piper, a senior Dachshund with ailments of his own, would be good friends with my pup—I just know it. For being 18 years young, this little fighter isn’t about...

Golden Retriever Taking Emotional Support Box to Bed Is Pure Comedy

I never knew how rewarding it would feel to rescue a senior dog until I adopted one. We may have missed out on most of my of our Staffy’s life, but I’m eternally grateful for every day we have together now. Even with the challenges, like his past traumas and how they manifest each day, he shows us what real, unconditional love feels like.

Duke, a senior Golden Retriever, was rescued a couple of years ago, and thankfully, he’s in a loving home with a patient, supportive mom. However, due to his...

Boxer's Reaction To Seeing Grandpa 'After 4 Hours' Is Excitement Overload

Dogs can’t comprehend how much time passes when we leave them. Our quick, 5-minute trip to the gas station probably feels like years to these cutie-pies, and they remind us with the best welcoming “pawty” each and every time.

Poppy, the Boxer, isn’t known for showing her emotions too often, but when she does, it’s because she’s happy Grandpa came back… after 4 hours.

One of the best traits of dogs is their unmatched, over-the-top joy to see us no matter how much time has passed. There will n...

British Longhair Cat Afraid of New Infant Decides He's Actually One Cool Dude

When it comes to cats, you generally know where your relationship stands. They’re never shy about letting someone know whether they love or loathe them. This level of brutal honesty and zero fake persona is something to aspire to be more like in 2026, really.

One British Longhair cat named Kingston checks all of these boxes, but it’s mostly because he’s always been Mom’s number one baby. Now that there’s a human infant around—and another one on the way—this once-terrified feline has worked har...

Important Life Lessons My Terminally Ill Rescue Staffy Teaches Me Every Day

You never know when you’re going to meet the pet that changes your life. Even a random stroll through the local shelter to “see who’s there” could unexpectedly link you and your soul dog together. This is what happened when I found my senior rescue Staffy, Franklin, and now that he’s living with terminal cancer, I’m taking in every last moment with him.

It’s true what they say about soul dogs—you just know—and even with Frank’s limited time, he’s making sure I smell the roses, watch the sunris...

Best Prime Day Deals We Shopped Last Year - Today's Parent

Amazon knows how to spoil us. Not only do we get items from the newborn checklist delivered fast, but the deals are fire— especially on Amazon Prime Day. The two-day shopping window blesses customers with the latest and greatest at a fraction of their normal price.So, when is Amazon Prime Day 2024? We're expecting it to fall in early to mid-July based on Prime Day dates in prior years (and the bevy of brands coming forward to say they'll be releasing special deals that week).
TBH, we're still th...

How a Tattoo Helped Me Grieve My Divorce and the Loss of a Friend

I have a lot of tattoos — bats, skulls, ghosts, and hearts, to name a few — but one is particularly personal. It's lyrics from a song called "Beautiful" wrapped around my wrist: "Can I have you? Can I be a part of you? Can I help you? Can I be all for you?"
I met the Dayton, OH, band who sang the original song in early 2004 during a night out in Indiana. After talking to them between sets, we hit it off. Before I knew it, I was driving to Ohio to watch them play, and sometimes to sing with them...

Allison Holker Boss Says Kids 'Walked Into First Day of School' with 'Bravery': 'Proud Mommy'

Allison Holker Boss is beaming with motherly pride this week.

On Wednesday, the pro dancer, 35, shared photos on Instagram showing her three children on their first day of school.

"BACK TO SCHOOL ... Zaia started preschool, Maddox 2nd grade and Weslie a sophomore," Holker Boss captioned the post. "Watching them each walk in with so much confidence, joy and bravery is something special! Proud mommy Moment 🥰."

The photos show son Maddox, 7, and daughters Zaia, 3, and Weslie, 15, dressed and...

Kelly Rowland Says Blue Ivy Works 'Very Freaking Hard' on Beyoncé's tour: 'So Proud'

Kelly Rowland is singing Blue Ivy Carter's praises!

The 11-year-old daughter of power couple Beyoncé and JAY-Z has regularly joined her Grammy-winning mom on the Renaissance World Tour to show off her talents — and former Destiny's Child member, Rowland, 42, is in awe.

"I'm very proud," Rowland told E! News. "She works very freaking hard, period. But how could she not, you know? She sees her mother in action and she sees her father in action and how they apply everything, hard work to everyt...

Big Fig Mattress Review - Today's Parent

Finding the perfect mattress can be daunting. It’s an essential part of a good night’s rest, and with so many options, the possibilities seem endless. Unlike kids' beds, adult mattresses can be personalized to better suit your body’s needs. This is especially true for those with greater weight and in need of added support.If you have a bigger figure, the Big Fig mattress offers everything you need to sleep better. Be prepared to make an investment in your sleep, because these beds definitely are...

I didn't find my biological father until years after his death. He will always be a part of me.

On Saturday, November 29, 2008, my mother made a shocking discovery that would take over a decade to reconcile.

After years of searching, we learned my biological father died from cancer — four years prior. His obituary, which listed me as his only child, said he lived and died a few miles from me. Just like that, the only person who could heal the wounds his absence created was gone.

Every time Father's Day rolls around, I remind myself of everything I've learned and why I'm better for it.

T...

My endometriosis nearly ruined my life — and my marriage

When I married my husband, Ryan, on Valentine’s Day in 2021, I could barely stand long enough to exchange our vows. Riddled with pain and exhausted from endless doctor appointments, I moved through the ceremony in a murky daze from my debilitating, invisible illness: endometriosis. It had taken over our relationship — and now, our special day, too. The disorder, in which glands of the uterus lining grow outside of it, relentlessly ravages ovaries, fallopian tubes and surrounding areas by acting...

I’m a mom with OCD. This is what it’s like to parent with mental illness

My two children only know me one way: flawed.Lilliana, 16, and Sullivan, 11, have spent many hours of their lives watching me painstakingly rearrange the 29 jars of peanut butter in the cupboard again and again and again and again — because it didn’t feel right the first three times. I never meant to accumulate that many, truly. It began the same way as any other compulsion — one jar at a time.One jar became four became seven, and before I knew it, we had multiple cabinets full of various versio...

Stray 'Dream Dog' Left In Field Gets A Very Special New Dad

Remi’s life didn’t start out too great. The 1-year-old Belgian Malinois mix had been left in a field with her mom and siblings. She needed a little luck and a lot of TLC.Luckily, The Labelle Foundation stepped in to save the sweet pups, and in a matter of weeks, Remi found her forever home — with a big star.“There were eight pups and their mom, who gave birth in a field, and they were rescued about two weeks later,” Taylor Lautner, Remi’s dad, told The Dodo. “An amazing foster took in the mom an...

How infertility can rip friendships apart

Fertility struggles don’t only affect those trying to conceive — they can wreak havoc on careers and friendships, too. As a woman with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), I suffered two devastating miscarriages over three years while trying to conceive my second child. My youngest is now 10, and I’m often reminded of the close friendship I lost while trying to conceive. The absence of her still hurts. For years, I felt like my body failed me and, in turn, so did this relationship. It couldn’t su...

A Redditor Says 'Spider-Man' Was Ruined, Thanks To Crying Baby

Spider-Man: No Way Home is officially out in the world, which means people are flocking to movie theaters around the globe. A Redditor known as u/thatguybob321 took to the forum's "Am I the A**hole" subreddit after a less-than-desirable screening of the Tom Holland-led film.

"Holy sh*t. Just got back from seeing the new Spider-Man movie (no spoilers but it was pretty good) and maybe 6 seats to my left was a mother and father who had come with their baby," the man wrote. "Throughout every emotio...

9 Wacky Rules 'MasterChef' Contestants Must Follow

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Fox’s MasterChef and wondered what it takes to be on a reality cooking competition, it’s a lot to digest. Famed chef Gordan Ramsay has led the show for over 10 years, along with other guest celebrity chefs. MasterChef has become its own entity, with the junior version spinoff and new hopefuls every year. That said, getting onto the show comes with more than a few rules to follow.


In today’s reality landscape, it seems as though the contracts are getting le...

Vanessa Lachey Admits No Parent Has It Together & It's Refreshing AF

As a mom to three young children, Vanessa Lachey understands the pressures of parenting. Nearly all parents can relate to the stress of bending to an impossible standard prescribed by social media and celebrities aren't any different. But in the era of filters and edited conversations, Lachey is embracing a whole new perspective. She's leaning towards honesty instead, in hopes that all parents will follow her lead. Romper recently spoke to Lachey, who has recently partnered with the brand Water...

It's Impossible To Live Up To Rebecca On 'This Is Us'

I dropped my children off at school this morning, drove to the store, and shopped for groceries with no memory of any of it. After re-watching the latest episode of This Is Us — the closest account of who I am within the context of fiction — I've only just showered, and it's nearing late afternoon. Soon, I'm to grab my kids, come home, and robot my way through more mindless tasks to pass the time. But I'm stuck on the show's matriarch, Rebecca Pearson, who, through the show's arc, becomes the sy...

Vanessa Lachey Is A *Very* Busy Lady

While you're checking your list ( and checking it twice), you're probably already indulging in everything the holidays offer. Whether it's gingerbread cookies straight from the oven, or a cup of hot cocoa by the fire, a great holiday movie wraps it all together in a neat little Christmas bow. One of those TV movies set to air soon, A Twist of Christmas, stars a familiar face. So, aside from the Lifetime flick, what else has Vanessa Lachey been in?Formerly Vanessa Minnillo, Lachey was Miss Teen U...
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