Author Samantha Picaro
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samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Author Samantha Picaro
@samanthapwrites.bsky.social
240 followers 150 following 200 posts
Author of sweet and non-romantic Young Adult books
Autistic rep ♾️
Aroace rep 💜💚
Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps coming 11/3/25❄️☕️

https://linktr.ee/authorsamantha?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=8697cd01-9b1b-4348-8cbd-3768e7ea626d
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samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Tropes in Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps:
Forced proximity (platonic)
Small town
Movie lover and blogger
“Grinch”
Loner
Autistic and aroace rep
Holiday festivities gone wrong
Actress
Family

Preorder
Light blue snowflake and lights background. In center is the book cover of Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps. Surrounding it are the tropes listed in this post in black text
October 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
It's Banned Books Week. fiction or nonfiction. There are three fiction books about characters challenging book bans i recommend:
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (adult)
This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed (YA)
Banned Together (YA anthology)

#bannedBooksWeek
White and red gradient background. Black text at top reads Books about Books Bans. Beneath are book covers for the 3 books listed on this post and underneath each one is their genre in black text.
October 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps follows a girl, Ellie, as she makes she an actress, Robin, doesn't get into trouble while participating in her small town's events. The main character plays an elf and the actress plays Mrs. Claus, and it might be their most unpredictable, uncomfortable event
White background. Green and red striped borders on top and bottom. Black text reads holiday activity gone wrong in upcoming book at top. At bottom black text reads the protagonists play Mrs Claus and an elf at a mall. There are images of a red throne, an uh-oh emoji wearing a Santa hat, and a child throwing a tantrum.
October 1, 2025 at 8:33 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Like my other young adult books, Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps starts each chapter in a unique way. Each chapter begins with a holiday tradition. For example, one chapter states a holiday tradition of "snowballs" and another states a tradition of "decorating cookies."
Light purplish blue background. Black text reads chapter beginnings. Each chapter in my upcoming book begins with one of the main character’s holiday traditions. Below are two examples from two chapters. Beneath the black text is the book cover for Hot Chocolate and Holiday Moshaps to the left. To the right is a white box containing black text saying snowballs and cookie decorating. Next to each tradition is a round Christmas ornament. At bottom of post are mounds of snow.
September 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Book recs: covers that are orange like the fall leaves:

One Last Show by Tari Riley (YA)
Find Her by Ginger Reno (MG Mystery)
Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira (YA Romance)
Stargazing by Jen Wang (MG Graphic Novel)
Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin (Adult Mystery)
Light orange background. Black text at top reads Orange like the leaves books. There are 5 book covers for each of the books listed in the body of the post. Beneath each one is their genre written in black text
September 22, 2025 at 6:47 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
It's Latine Heritage Month. In the comments are some books I highly recommend any time of the year
Orange ombré background. Black text read Latine Heritage Book Recs. Below are 5 covers of the books I listed in this post. Beneath each one is the genre I described for each book
September 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Last day for ARC signups for Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps! Registration closes tonight at 10:00 PM Eastern.

Form is in my LinkTree

#arcSignup #bookARC #hotChocolateAndHolidayMishaps #ARCreaders
September 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
ARC signups are open for my teen holiday novel Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps! Sign up using the form in my LinkTree! I plan to send the ARCs out on Sunday, September 14, so grab your spot because that's soon! Signups end Friday
September 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Behold the cover for Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps, a teen holiday novel following a review blogger helping an actress improve public opinion of her through events in her small town.
Book releases November 3

#coverReveal #bookCover #indieAuthor #indieBook #hotChocolateAndHolidayMishaps
September 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Middle Grade Book Spotlight: Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva.
Jolina seeks revenge on her bully Claudine by using a forbidden potion from her arbularyo training. Now Claudine wants to be best friends. Jolina takes advantage to get revenge. The friendship becomes real
Image: light blue background. Top text reads Middle Grade Spotlight. To the left of this text is a spellbook and to the right is the shape of Philippines. Beneath that is the book cover for Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva on top of a graphic of a stack of books and a round rug. Black text surrounding the book contains the tropes listed in this post
September 5, 2025 at 2:51 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Summer is almost over and the holiday season is almost upon us. If you are looking for a holiday YA book, then Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps releases November 3. Beloved holiday tropes include:
Small town
Holiday festivities
"Grinch" trope
City person goes to small town (secondary character)
Red background. White text at top reading holiday tropes in upcoming book. Beneath that are four white banners, each with a Christmas present on the left. Red text in each white banner contains a trope listed in this post
August 28, 2025 at 11:03 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Middle Grade Book Spotlight: Speak Up by Rebecca Burgess. An autistic girl is bullied, is secretly a popular singer online. She enters contest to finally sing in person. Highlights:
Singer
Challenges neurotypical standards
Friendship
Secret identity
Bullied, stands up for herself
Bully atones
light violet background. Top of page contains text reading Middle Grade Spotlight. There are graphics of music notes and the stay quiet emoji. In center of entire graphic is the book cover for Speak Up on top of a graphic of a pedestal on top of a round rug. Surrounding this are text containing the highlights I noted in this post
August 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Want an exclusive look at the first chapter of my first holiday novel "Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps?" Subscribe to my author newsletter at www.samanthapicarowrites.com, which you can also find in my LinkTree. The next newsletter containing this first chapter will be sent out on August 28
White background. All cap text at top reads subscribe for first chapter. Beneath that is a holiday garland with a notification symbol in middle. Black text reads the next newsletter will have first chapter of Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps. Exclusive to newsletter subscribers so subscribe and receive the newsletter with this chapter on August 28
August 14, 2025 at 3:13 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Summers not over just yet if you’re still looking for summer books that shine with summer sun and the hearts of the main characters. Take a chance on Limitless Roads Cafe #books #bookSky
My hand holds a paperback copy of Limitless roads Cafe. Background consists of pool deck, water, and pink float
August 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Book that deserves more attention: Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June. A podcaster teen makes a bet with a femme-hating bully to find a masc date to the Gaybutante Ball or else drop out of the organization that can launch his career. #books #bookSky
Stage with lights at the top and a light bulb cinema sign containing the words Book that deserves more attention. There is the cover of the book Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball that sits on a graphic of a podium. Surrounding this are pieces of black text against bright white backgrounds that contain the highlights I listed in this post
August 8, 2025 at 2:42 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
In honor of International Friendship Day, I'm sharing the release date for my friendship love story "Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps." You get to enjoy this heartwarming, humorous holiday novel on Monday, November 3rd! Follow me and subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated #bookSky
Snow and pine tree background. Mistletoe in upper corners. Two hands are holding each other at top above white script that reads Hot Chocolate and Holiday Mishaps, a friendship love story. Beneath the text is a calendar contains the words Monday November 3
July 31, 2025 at 2:37 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Still looking for books to read for Disability Pride Month? Then take a look at my young adult contemporaries featuring autistic heroines written by me, an autistic writer
#disabilityPride #books #indieAuthor #disabilityPrideBooks
July 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Book that deserve more attention: Your Plantation Prom is Not Okay by Kelly McWilliams, which follows a teen who tries to prevent a celebrity wedding and her school's prom from taking place on a plantation.

What makes this book a star: (continues in comments)
#bookSky #books #yaBooks
Stage with lights at the top and a light bulb cinema sign containing the words Book that deserves more attention. There is the cover of the book Your Plantation Prom is Not Okay that sits on a graphic of a podium. Surrounding this are pieces of black text against bright white backgrounds that contain the highlights I listed in this post
July 16, 2025 at 7:10 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
For Disability Pride Month, I'd like to address a crucial topic in my books. My books often explore internalized ableism, something I have always struggled with and still try to unlearn to this day. #books #disabilityPrideMonth
Pink background. Graphic of brunette woman looking in mirror. Black text contains the following quotes in black text: “I have to prove my worth.” “I wish I were normal.” “I’m just being sensitive.” “Nobody will like me unless I mask.” “Would a neurotypical person have made this mistake?” At bottom of entire image is black text reading Main characters in my books challenge internalized ableism and how they see themselves.”
July 16, 2025 at 7:42 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Fave books of 2025 so far:

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Sugar and Spite by Gail D Villanueva

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia (illustrated by Brittney Williams)

Made in Asian America by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat

Calling In by Loretta J Ross

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall
White gradient background. Images of book covers for books listed in this post
July 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Add Middle Grade Books to your TBR for Disability Pride Month!
One book I recommend is Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Brittney Williams which has dyslexia rep #books #disabilityPrideMonth #middleGradeBooks
Pink and purple gradient background. An image of the book cover for Mixed-Up. Beneath it is black text reading MG dyslexia
July 4, 2025 at 1:37 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Book recs with disability rep to start Disability Pride Month #books #indieWriter #disabilityPrideMonth
Pink and purple gradient background. Black text reads Disability Pride Month book recs. There are images of book covers for Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield with black text above it reading YA IBS, Mixed Up by Kami Garcia with black text underneath it saying MG dyslexia, and All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis with black text underneath saying YA autism Pink and purple gradient background. Black text reads Disability Pride Month book recs. There are images of book covers for Limitless Roads Cafe and Recipe for Confidence. More black text reads My books and YA autism
July 2, 2025 at 2:17 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
This is the first of the series of posts "Middle Grade Spotlight." The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln, which follows two siblings as they help a librarian and book characters come-to-life save the library from literary villains. #book #bookRec #mgBook
Light blue background. Text reads Middle Grade Spotlight. The book cover for The Night Librarian is atop a graphic of a pile of books on top of a carpet. Black text surrounding the book reads: battling infamous book villains, siblings, graphic novel, magical library, and book characters come to life
June 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
Looking for summer reads? Check out Limitless Roads Cafe, an indie YA novel that follows teens working during the summer in New Jersey in a opular downtown area. A beach scene is featured and so are scenes by a pool #indieAuthor #books
June 21, 2025 at 12:51 AM
samanthapwrites.bsky.social
This is the first of the “Books that deserve more attention” series of posts. The first is Can't Take That Away by Steven Salvatore, which follows a genderqueer teen who fights discrimination when they land the lead role in their school's musical.
Stage with lights at the top and a light bulb cinema sign containing the words Book that deserves more attention. There is the cover of the book Can't Take That Away that sits on a graphic of a podium. Surrounding this are pieces of black text against bright white backgrounds that contain the highlights I listed in this post: MC stars in school musical Great, supportive therapist MC is a Mariah Carey fan Stand up to high school administration including protest Pursues dreams in spite of stress of grandma’s dementia and facing bullies
June 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM