Jim Miller/ViewDaria Snadowsky holds a copy of her first novel, "Anatomy of a Boyfriend," which she wrote about falling in love for the first time.
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They say that nothing is more painful or magical than your first love. Some would disagree with this sentiment, while others would argue that it's completely true.
Henderson-area author Daria Snadowsky attempts to tackle the issue of teenage crushes and first love in her debut novel, "Anatomy of a Boyfriend."
The young adult romance chronicles the emotional and sexual experiences of first love through the point-of-view of Dominique, a 17-year-old high school senior with plans to pursue medicine when she leaves for college in the fall.
"She's a smart, level-headed girl who has never had a boyfriend in her life," Snadowsky said. "But she meets and crushes on a boy just around the time of winter break. She really falls head over heels for the guy and finds herself obsessed, wanting to be his girlfriend more than she wants to get into a good college."
The novel follows the young couple through their emotional and physical journey during their senior year of high school into their freshman year of college.
"I wanted to show what real, first love is really like," Snadowsky said. "Not romanticize it. I wanted girls and guys to read it and see that, yeah, sometimes love and everything that comes with it makes you feel great. But sometimes, it doesn't. Sometimes it's filled with hurt and loss and growing apart without ever knowing it's happening."
Snadowsky, 27, a former UNLV law student, did not begin writing until she was 22.
"I was unemployed and living in Atlanta," Snadowsky said. "I needed something to fill the time, so I started writing. I moved back to Vegas (a year and a half) later and searched for an agent and a publisher. After a rewrite, the book was picked up, and here I am."
"Anatomy" is patterned after Snadowsky's favorite Judy Blume novel, "Forever," in a very minimal way.
"I read the classics in high school and they were great," Snadowsky said. "But nothing touched me like Judy Blume's stuff did. Her novels were drenched in realism, and I wanted to use that. I wanted to show the magic and wonder of a teenage girl's first physical encounter. But I also included the embarrassment, disappointment and awkwardness that sometimes follows."
Jennifer Ohn is the owner of the children's bookstore, The Neverending Story Bookshop in Las Vegas, where Snadowsky's book launch party was held.
"It's a great, really well-written first novel," Ohn said. "The physical relationship especially is well written. I have a 15-year-old daughter, and I let her read the novel. I think that it's great because a lot of teens are wrapped up in the fantasy of relationships and not the reality. It shows that young love is not always forever, and it's important to recognize. Not enough young adult literature is brave enough to confront issues like sexual intimacy. But it's a valuable thing."
"Anatomy of a Boyfriend" can be purchased at any bookstore in the valley.
For more information, visit www.daria-snadowsky.com.
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