Posts tagged friend
When “Just Friends” Isn’t Enough, But You Hold On Anyway: Exploring This Concept in Teen Romance
When “Just Friends” Isn’t Enough, But You Hold On Anyway: Exploring This Concept in Teen Romance

Have you ever been just friends with someone but wanted more from the relationship?

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavejust friends, concept, teen romance, relationship, friendship, crush, confess, feelings, friend, distance, unrequited, unrequited love, date, heart, story, good friend, intense, love, staying friends, stay friends, pain, potential partner, forget, deep connection, INFJ personality, INFJ, deeply, conversations, secrets, comfortable, complicated, YA romance, ending, chooseComment
Navigating the Line Between Love and Friendship—and Childhood and Adulthood—in YA Romance
Navigating the Line Between Love and Friendship—and Childhood and Adulthood—in YA Romance

One of the biggest challenges she faces is trying to be a good friend to Simon while having an intense crush on Mordecai.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavelove, friendship, childhood, adulthood, YA romance, confess, feelings, high school, complicated, good friend, crush, attachment, date, story, choose, decision, coming-of-age, teenager, intense, attention, deep love, kid, friend, characters, love triangle, young adult romance, partner, endings, decideComment
Who Will Her First Love Be? You Decide the Outcome in This Teen Love Triangle
Who Will Her First Love Be? You Decide the Outcome in This Teen Love Triangle

Which love story do you want to experience?

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Writing, FictionAshley Cantavefirst love, outcome, teen, love triangle, young adult romance, confess, feelings, ending, main character, high school, good friend, friend, secrets, secret, love, friend zone, attachment, story, teenager, relationships, friendship, date, decide, choose, distance, understand, endings, experience, YA romance, love story, romanceComment
Dealing With Unrequited Love for a Friend in a New YA Romance
Dealing With Unrequited Love for a Friend in a New YA Romance

Even so—even after all the time they spend together—Simon still struggles to tell Chloe how he feels.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantaveunrequited love, friend, new, YA romance, confess, feelings, high school, student, crush, date, complicated, friendship, good friend, story, complexity, love, teen, relationships, teenagers, being friends, just friends, mixed signals, friends, IM chat, friend zone, teen romance, ending, membership, young adult romanceComment
Being Friends With Someone You Have Feelings For: Lessons from a New Teen Romance
Being Friends With Someone You Have Feelings For: Lessons from a New Teen Romance

This type of dynamic can be complicated at any age, but I think it’s especially challenging when you’re a teen.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavebeing friends, feelings, lessons, teen romance, crush, friend, complicated, friendship, confessing, confess, romantic relationship, teen, main character, YA romance, high school, student, intense, good friend, love, fiction, characters, priorities, focus, priority, just friends, friend zone, potential, jealousy, mixed signals, distance, healthy, relationships, strong, secrets, learn, qualities, story, high school romance, ending, young adult romance, friendships, love story, relationshipComment
A Coming-of-Age YA Romance in 2025—With a Spin
A Coming-of-Age YA Romance in 2025—With a Spin

The way Chloe “comes of age” is different depending on the partner she chooses.

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Writing, Fiction, Self-DiscoveryAshley Cantavecoming-of-age, YA romance, spin, stories, characters, story, high school, in love, good friend, complicated, feels, feelings, friend, choose, decision, teen romance, confess, endings, partner, unique, perspective, relationships, ending, transition, adulthood, young adult, teenagers, childhood, kids, adults, adult, friendships, crush, play, games, deep love, romantic relationship, high school romance, young adult romance, love story, newComment
High School Romance Recommendation: “What Happens After You Confess Your Feelings to Someone?”
High School Romance Recommendation: “What Happens After You Confess Your Feelings to Someone?”

As far as high school romance goes, this story has a lot of unique elements to it.

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Writing, FictionAshley Cantavehigh school romance, confess, feelings, high school, crush, date, behavior, love, complicated, friendship, friend, good friend, story, young adult romance, teen romance, characters, messy, just friends, teenagers, teen, relationships, unrequited love, no spice, emotional connection, choose, ending, love triangle, endings, main character, love interests, reread, twist, friends to lovers, hidden, relationship, complex, nostalgia, modernity, nostalgic, authentic, main characters, relatable, good girl, secrets, perspective, perm, relaxer, Black hair care, nontraditional, teenager, love story, YA romance, experienceComment
Yearning to Go Back to a Simpler Time? This YA Romance Might Be Just What You Need
Yearning to Go Back to a Simpler Time? This YA Romance Might Be Just What You Need

If you went to high school before the internet had become such a big thing…you may sometimes feel nostalgic for a time when things were simpler.

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Writing, FictionAshley Cantavego back, simpler time, YA romance, young adult romance, crush, confessed, feelings, friend, good friend, love, friend zone, confess, setting, story, time period, modern, benefits, 2000s, revisit, past, high school, internet, social media, nostalgic, simpler, friends, technology, distractions, friendship, interactions, instant messaging, phone calls, characters, interact, heartbreak, main character, public, connection, modern times, communicating, atypical, ending, cellphones, texting, emotional, connectComment
A New Young Adult Romance Story With No Spice
A New Young Adult Romance Story With No Spice

Sometimes when I’m writing a story, I like to get lost in the emotional aspects of it. And that can be easier when I don’t include spice.

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Writing, FictionAshley Cantaveyoung adult romance, story, no spice, emotional, connection, characters, friendship, heartbreak, love, feelings, good friend, friend zone, friend, secrets, emotion, emotions, young adult, proximity, distance, interactions, attachment, different, romance, decision, outcome, chooseComment
5 Things INFJs Might Want You to Know (But Might Not Tell You)
5 Things INFJs Might Want You to Know (But Might Not Tell You)

This is why you might want to get in the habit of watching their body language when they’re around you. Their actions will often say far more than their words do.

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INFJ, RelationshipsAshley CantaveINFJ, know, tell, needs, talk, alone time, need, signs, bothers, behavior, body language, actions, words, bothering, conversation, communication, comfortable, open, friendships, deep, relationship, vulnerable, safe, first move, friend, potential, romantic partner, considerate, overthink, miss you, deep relationship, love, deep connection, healthyComment
What Should You Say to a Crush Who Moved—And Took Your Heart With Them?
What Should You Say to a Crush Who Moved—And Took Your Heart With Them?

If you never confessed your feelings to this person, make sure you do that now.

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RelationshipsAshley Cantavecrush, moved, heart, move away, experience, confessed, feelings, feel, writing, letter, email, phone call, video call, depth, short-form writing, long-form writing, medium, how you feel, friendship, confess, I like you, I love you, confession letter, value, precious, express, care, emotion, long-distance relationship, friend, distance, romance, long-distance, words, friends, feeling, journal, good friend, trust, raw, emotions, valued, appreciated, miss, I miss you, pressure, open, response, stay in touchComment
The Beauty of an INFJ-INFP Friendship
The Beauty of an INFJ-INFP Friendship

These commonalities may already lead INFJs and INFPs to have something to bond over when they meet, but their understanding goes even deeper than that.

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INFJ, INFP, FriendshipAshley CantaveINFJ, INFP, friendship, personalities, good friend, friend, understanding, rare, misunderstood, deeper, introverted, intuitive, feeling, emotion, approach, understand, different, unconventional, alternative, lifestyles, accept, bonds, deep, introverts, depth, interests, unique, views, perspectives, discuss, uniqueness, open-minded, writing, express, warm, poetic prose, mutual, communicate, art, letter-writing, communication, values, similar, sensitive, feel, superficial, mind Comments
4 Well-Meaning Tips That Haven’t Helped Me Make Friends as an Introvert—And What Has Worked
4 Well-Meaning Tips That Haven’t Helped Me Make Friends as an Introvert—And What Has Worked

Many people are fine keeping relationships and conversations on a superficial level. But that’s not something that works for me.

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Introvert, Relationships, FriendshipAshley Cantavetips, make friends, introvert, advice, introverts, adult, joining clubs, club, joined, connected, members, passionate, friends, find, topic, experience, bonding, shared interests, friend, friendship, go deep, accept, relationships, conversations, superficial, level, deep friendships, connection, events, partners, attendees, courage, small talk, acquaintance, alone time, effort, comfort, go out, coffee shop, earbuds, store, approach, writing, connect, emails, schedule, email, letter, coordinate, face-to-face, conversation, keeping in touch, making an effort, first, send, message, ask, first move, strategies, introverted adultComment
Why Would Someone Seem to Like You But Reject Your Offer for Romance?
Why Would Someone Seem to Like You But Reject Your Offer for Romance?

If you like someone who seems to like you but turns down your offer to become more than friends, it’s possible that they do want to become more, but their head is convincing them it’s not a good idea.

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RelationshipsAshley Cantavesomeone, like, reject, offer, romance, love, signs, romantic relationship, possible, reasons, friend, crush, behavior, feel, kind, kindness, romantic interest, emotions, feeling, romantic feelings, leading you on, accept, head, heart, conflict, right, seems, friends, date, good idea, friendship, different, compatible, romantic setting, relationship, image, ideal partner, mind, conversation, hesitant, convince, mature, dated, dating, experience, research, good partner, dating etiquette, maturity level, commit, serious relationship, relationships, responsibilities, single, independence, time, idea, partner, scared, afraid, falling in love, hurt, feelings, reluctant, fear, slow, trust, safe, patientComment
How Do You Get Over the Fear of Confessing Your Love to Someone?
How Do You Get Over the Fear of Confessing Your Love to Someone?

Sometimes, when you’re afraid of something, it helps to identify exactly what it is you’re afraid of, rather than having this vague sense of “fear.”

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Relationships, Love ConfessionsAshley Cantaveconfessing, love, get over, fear, I love you, love confessions, love stories, courage, confess, feelings, crush, overcome, afraid, scared, friendship, friends, risk, rejection, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, preparation, medium, in-person, confession, texted, love confession, response, letter, appreciate, email, communication, method, preferred, respond, comfortable, practice, rehearsal, rehearsing, high stakes, nervous, good friend, I like you, rehearse, role, phone, video call, drafting, text, conversation, pros and cons, weigh, important, comfort zone, weight, right time, consider, dating, list, outweigh, how you feel, seriously, serious, friend, potential, romantic partner, value, reciprocateComment
6 Things You Can Do After You Both Confess Your Feelings
6 Things You Can Do After You Both Confess Your Feelings

When I talk about a happy dance, you don’t have to actually celebrate with a dance if you don’t want to. Just find some way to cherish this momentous occasion.

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Relationships, Love ConfessionsAshley Cantaveboth, confess, feelings, crush, confessed, each other, what now, confession, happy dance, together, celebrate, courage, requited love, talk, conversations, talk about, couple, dating, label, relationship, date, first date, feeling, communication, time together, spend, interest, good friends, friendship, romantic relationship, friend, romantic partner, transition, going slow, formal, uncomfortable, comfortable, partners, trust, advice, experience, questions, answer, feel, right, patient, rush, rules, rulebook, different, relationships, romance, opinions, new chapter, love, true loveComment