In 1984, I was sixteen—the same age as Samantha Baker in "Sixteen Candles." She was the middle child, and her parents forgot her birthday. The story was so relatable that I frequently rented the VHS tape. John Hughes movies still resonate today for the same reason they did in the '80s. They capture the messy, hilarious, and painful teenage journey, so they remain relevant.

Their relevance comes from being character-driven stories, which makes them the emotional Velcro of books and movies....

Once upon a time, romance writers ruled the paperback shelves somewhere between shoulder pads and slow jams. The 1980s and 1990s were the golden age of swoon: cowboys brooded, billionaires brooded harder, and heroines had names like Savannah and Cassidy, rocking a wind machine like nobody’s business. Fast forward to 2025, and guess what? Romance isn’t just surviving; it's thriving — and it's fiercer, smarter, and more relatable than ever. Let’s break it down, no sugar-coating:

The 1980s–1990s:...

Judy Blume was my hero long before I considered writing, and that was because of a book that helped me. In 1979, talking to your mom about your period was like talking to a cowboy about his feelings; it was possible, but rarely done without squirming or possibly tears. The truth is, 1979 wasn't exactly the golden age of open communication when it came to that time of the month.

While I'm sure there are mothers who spoke openly to their daughters about the subject, most often it was a pretty...