“Jodi Picoult, James Franco, and Stephen King are among the starry-eyed standouts” in this collection of captivating essays about a first celebrity crush (Elle).

Crush brings together stories of heartbreak, humiliation, and hilarity from a roster of popular luminaries, including James Franco, Carrie Fisher, Stephen King, Roxane Gay, Jodi Picoult, Emily Gould, and Hanna Rosin, who share intimate memories of that first intense taste of love. Here are funny, whimsical, sometimes cringe-worthy tales of falling head over heels for River Phoenix, Mary Tyler Moore, Howard Cosell, Jared Leto, and a host of other pop culture icons.

A few contributors channeled their devotion into obsessively writing embarrassing fan letters. Some taped pics in school lockers. Others decorated their bedroom walls with posters. For tweenaged Karin Tanabe, it was discovering bad boy Andy Garcia—playing the gun-loving mobster Vincent Corleone in The Godfather III. Barbara Graham unsuccessfully staked out an apartment on Park Avenue for a glimpse of her blue-eyed soulmate, Paul Newman. There was only one puppy for six-year-old Jodi Picoult—Donny Osmond—while Jamie Brisick’s pre-teen addiction was Speed Racer.

Swoon-worthy and unforgettable, the essays in Crush will leave you laughing, make you cry, and keep you enthralled—just like your first celebrity crush.

“Charming.” —Entertainment Weekly

“A wonderful collection.” —People, a People Book of the Week

“Enthralling.” —In Touch Weekly

“[A] box of treats . . . There’s a lot to enjoy in these three dozen pieces.” —The Washington Post

“The seemingly lightweight premise of an anthology built around celebrity crushes yields an outstanding selection of poignant and thought-provoking stories.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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