Clearly, there is no such thing as a new idea. =/

My first thought is about Twilight. It certainly isn't realistic, but it sells. Why? Because teen girls feel like they can live vicariously through Bella. Yet the series is actually pretty formulaic. Girl meets boy. They hate each other at first, but it turns out the hatred is really love. But then he leaves her. Another guy appears in the picture, but then the girl and the original guy are reunited and live happily ever after. I've basically just pieced together parts of plots from many different romance novels and movies. Many girls are comfortable with Twilight as a series because it fulfills their expectations. Barely after starting the first book, you know that Edward and Bella are going to fall in love and be together forever, because that's the formula.

But your books aren't formulaic. You tell stories that are unpredictable and a little weird (which is why I like them so much). You write a novel about three girls, two of whom end up in a relationship. But it ends unpredictably, and somewhat messily. What happens next is up in the air, which is what makes it realistic to me. LIFE is messy. We don't always get a happily-ever-after or a truly solid conclusion to each phase of our life. I think people who review your books as "unrealistic" are uncomfortable with the idea of breaking the mold. They're willing to hear the same story over and over again, because the same story is different than their lives. The story they want to hear is neat and tidy, and they like it that way, because it makes them feel like they can achieve that kind of formulaic neatness in their own lives.

But the thing is, we need to be more comfortable with breaking the mold. Our survival depends on it. Art needs to evolve, otherwise it will stop being art and instead become simple imitation. Art has a great power to shape humanity, and when art becomes formulaic, we will too, which is a major problem. Our survival as a human race depends on our ability to innovate and to adjust to new challenges and environments. Without innovation, we'll never be able to solve the problems we face, and without adaptability, we will be stuck in a rut as a culture.

Really! I personally know someone who had was sent to Europe as a teen. One of thousands of teenagers, I'm sure. And one hears of novel-esque things happening in the world all the time. A story like Meg Cabot's "The Princess Diaries" happened in reality (think Prince of Monaco's California daughter).

I liked your comparison of this way of thinking to that of someone experiencing a new country or a new food (or a talking hampster) for the first time. Their idea of "normal" (to use a word that shouldn't be in my vocabulary) is so concrete that any contradiction to it is disconcerting. They want to reject it. A person's idea of reality can truly deprive them of the potential reality holds. The truth is, ANYTHING can happen. Anything, I sez.

I do understand the point made by other commenters about bizarre happenings that don't fit in stories; I mean, yeah, if it's a talking hampster story, and the hampster has ambitions of going to law school, he wouldn't all of a sudden decide to elope to Vegas with a lizard ex-con who later eats him. Or…maybe he would. I don't know. Point is, I got what they were saying. In that case, though, there's a problem with the story's structure, or it has the "out-of-character" syndrome previously mentioned. It breaks from the story's reality, but it still has nothing to do with Our Reality.

Or does it?

In any case, good job as always, Maureen. The purpose of fiction is to give us something to think about and enjoy, maybe teach us a few things. Though personally, I think life is a big novel that is enjoyed most by those who have a little imagination.

Anyways, can't wait 'til Scarlett Fever is coming out! (I might wait until it's in paperback though)

Also, my school's band program is going to New York for Spring break. (there's only 11 students going so it's not like a lot of people) but (if you read this) where would you suggest going?