I’m taking part in a fun blog event hosted by Great Imaginations today — their annual Blogger Trick or Treat! Prizes, Halloween fun and visiting new blogs — what’s not to love?
I LOVED Halloween as a kid. I loved the costumes but mostly I LOVED THE CANDY. My neighborhood had a lot of people who would give the king sized candy bars (JACKPOT) and I was always trading kids in my neighborhood for my FAVORITE non-candy bar candy — MILK DUDS. Anyone else love Milk Duds?? I always hated how they got stuck in my teeth but they were so worth it.
Now as an adult I just really love coming up with costumes. And every Halloween I try and get Will to dress up in a couples costume and every year he refuses me. So I decided, since my persuasive powers haven’t worked yet on Will, that I would create couples costumes for some of my favorite YA couples. (I’ve also come up with costumes based on books I’ve read!)
Allyson & Willem met in London and, in a moment of spontaneity, have 24 hours together in Paris. The story of two lost people who desperately needed to find themselves (and each other) is a personal favorite of mine.
I picked silent film stars for Allyson & Willem! If you’ve read Just One Day you know that the first REAL conversation they ever have, after he insults her breakfast on the train, is about who she looks like which ends up becoming her alter ego of sorts that gives her the courage to be someone else for the day which is the catalyst for EVERYTHING that happens next.
“You know who you look like? Louise Brooks.”
I stare at him blankly.
“You don’t know her? The silent film star?”
I shake my head. I never did get into silent films.
“She was a huge star in the nineteen twenties. American. Amazing actress.“
And then a few lines later:
“You look so much like her. I should just call you Louise.”
Louise. I like that.
“No, not Louise. Lulu. That was her nickname.”
Lulu. I like that even better.
He reaches out his hand. “Hi, Lulu, I’m Willem.”
And then a little bit later as she embarks on her adventure:
“And this is the truth, because I may only be eighteen, but it already seems pretty obvious that the world is divided into two groups: the doers and the watchers. The people things happen to and the rest of us, who just sort of plod on with things. The Lulus and the Allysons. It never occurred to me that by pretending to be Lulu, I might slip into that other column, even for just a day.”
In Wanderlove Bria and Rowan meet traveling in Central America and Bria drops her tour group to see the world a different way with Rowan and his sister.
I thought the cliched tacky tourists would be an ironic costume considering Rowan’s view on traveling and also because they met traveling and Bria was TOTALLY in a group like this before she meets him.
Eleanor & Park meet on the school bus, share some tunes which leads to MORE and pretty much just made my heart ACHE.
Okay I know. Why would I not go the music route considering this book? Because one of the lines I love SO MUCH relates to this. I kiiind of want it to be gender-swapped. Little inside joke between them?
“He pulled one of his arms out from under her and traced her outline against the couch. He could spend all day like this, running his hand down her ribs, into her waist, out to her hips and back again. If he had all day, he would. If she weren’t made of so many other miracles.
“You know?” he repeated. She smiled, so he kissed her. “You’re not the Han Solo in this relationship, you know.”
“I’m totally the Han Solo,” she whispered. It was good to hear her. It was good to remember it was Eleanor under all this new flesh.
“Well, I’m not the Princess Leia,” he said.
“Don’t get so hung up on gender roles,” Eleanor said.”
The actual end of that conversation ends like this so I guess maybe Boba Fett could work too:
“You can be Han Solo,” he said, kissing her throat. “And I’ll be Boba Fett. I’ll cross the sky for you.”
These two get thrown together being pretty much strangers and take a cross country road trip. What better way to get to know someone than some good tunes and the open road in front of you. Oh & Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour just exacerbated my own wanderlust/love.
Image via Okay, I’m sorry but they met because of a cross country road trip and they absolutely have to be Google Maps because, besides good tunes, a map of some sort is essential.
Anna and St. Clair meet at their boarding school in Paris and made our hearts melt as they fell in love in Anna and the French Kiss.
*WARNING: Spoiler for Isla and the Happily Ever After*
Photo credit here. Cutest blog!
The costume I picked for Anna & St. Clair, because obviously France & the pastries tie them together, is a French chef & a croquembouche. I had always seen pictures of these tiered desserts and never knew what they were. But apparently a lot of couples in France have one of these instead of a regular cake. Spoiler: And given the fact that at the end of Isla they get engaged SOMEBODY WILL BE NEEDING ONE OF THESE! 🙂
Tell me some of your favorite literary couples and what Halloween costumes you would dress them up in!
Other reading:
* My Halloween TBR List
* Halloween costumes inspired by books
* 10 Halloween Reads
* A Very Fall Post
Bekka says
This post is so perfect! I am DYING over Anna and Etienne’s costumes. They SO would!
Jamie says
THANK YOU! 🙂 There’s took me the longest to figure out. I could not find something I was happy with!
Trina says
OMG that is the PERFECT costume for Allyson and Willem! And YES to the gender swap for E&P’s Leia and Han. I could also picture them doing some cool comic book makeup like the dots and heavy outlines.
Jamie says
YESSS the comic book thing for sure!!
Becca Lostinbooks says
SO FUN!
Jamie says
Thank you, Becca! 🙂
Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks says
A lot of people in France do have those pastry cakes, and Champagne towers 🙂
Jamie says
I LOVE IT! I had always seen pictures but had no idea what they were.
Valeria @ A Touch of Book Madness says
This was so original and fun! What a great idea!! I think your costume choices were idyllic! My boyfriend and I actually did the silent movie stars this year for my younger sister’s birthday party. Here’s a picture if you want to check it out. It is so easy to put together too! I think the google maps costume is very creative! And easy! I’ll consider it for next time. Great post!
Jamie says
OMG you guys look so cute!! LOVE IT!!
Tracey @PrintedWordsAnd says
This is so adorable, especially the Eleanor and Park one! But I couldn’t stop giggling at the google maps costume. Definitely the winner!!
Jamie says
Thank you!! And haha I think the maps is my fave one too. IDK I can’t choose!!
Margie aka The Bumble Girl says
Spot on costuming! Love this post so much 🙂 Great job!
Jamie says
Thank you, Margie!! 🙂
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
GAH, THIS POST.
You are my favourite, Jamie.
Jamie says
<333 LOVE YOU TIFF!
Dreams says
OMG, I love this! And this is why you are one of the bests out there.
Jamie says
That is so kind of you to say! Thank you! <3
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) says
HAHAHAHA, I am laughing so hard, especially at the Google Maps costumes and Anna dressed as a big pile of pastries. Though now I’m think maybe he should also be a pastry. A st eclair? *snorts*
Jamie says
STILL DYING. HAHHA
Donna @ OnDBookshelf says
Very imaginative post! Well done, and a joy to read even if I haven’t read all of the corresponding books.
Jamie says
Thank you, Donna!
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books says
hahahaha I LOVE this post. So creative and awesome. I love the one for Amy and Roger and Anna and St. Clair XD
Jamie says
THANKS LADY xoxo
Georgie @ What She Reads says
Jamie!!! These are awesome, I especially love the chef and the croquembouche–I will be considering that for my next fancy dress costume. The costumes you’ve chose are perfect <3.
Jamie says
If you ever do it I want pictures!! 🙂 And thank you!! 🙂
Jayvee @ Writer For Misfits says
THIS IS TOTALLY HILARIOUS! Especially those for costumes for Amy and Roger and Anna and St. Clair! XD
Lea says
ha ha – my friend and her partners are going as the Google maps. So freaking funny. Thanks for this!
Kristilyn (Reading In Winter) says
Aww …. so cute! And I love that I’ve read all the books you mention! I think my favourite is Amy and Roger … soooo adorable! Awesome post!
Jenny says
Thank you for the spoiler alert!! I am even more excited to read that book now, as it seems there is Anna and st. Clair information in it! Yay!! I laughed out loud at the Google Map people. How creative. I loved the costumes for just one day. I’m reading just one year right now, and that was a nice reminder of their relationship. Great choice!
Chrissi Reads says
Love, love, love this post. You’re so creative!
Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages says
These are so cute Jamie. I have not read most of these books, but I want to read all of them and even own a couple.
Kritika says
THIS POST IS SO CUTE. Now I’m even more excited for Just One Day – it’s been on my TBR forever but I haven’t gotten around to it. The Star Wars costumes for E&P is just perfect too. It captures their nerdiness and that quote was so great.
Britt @ Not So Teen Reads says
This post is AMAZING!
Hannah @ Broc's Bookcase says
I LOVE the google maps costume. So creative and made me giggle so much! This is such a fun idea for a post, plus its totally got me in the mood for Halloween! 🙂
Michelle @ Unraveling Books says
I always try to avoid spoilers but I just had to read it because when someone says “SPOILER” I automatically kick myself. Ugh I wish I didnt read it haha! And Milk Duds are so hard to eat! I can’t eat them.
Michelle @ Unraveling Books says
Hahaha I wrote “I automatically kick myself”
I think I meant, I automatically look. Idk I’m tired today.
Alexa S. says
I enjoyed seeing how you’d dress up these characters, Jamie! I think you’ve picked out some pretty damn awesome costumes for couples in these reads 😉
Marissa says
This is so awesome!!! I don’t know any of these couples except for Eleanor and Park but you inspired me to read the other books! They sound so good.
Jamie says
I hope you enjoy them!!