Annabelle Chang recommends books for a residing. In case you had been to ask which one she finds most “criminally underrated,” she’d inform you it’s Katie Henry’s “This Will Be Funny Someday.”
“It is truly one of my favorite books I’ve ever read, not just my favorite YA books, just one of my favorite books that I think will really appeal to everyone,” Annabelle, 19, informed The Occasions. “I read it at such an important time in my life. I was 16. The protagonist is also 16.”
“Annabelle’s love for this book actually inspired our entire family to read it,” her older sister Alexandra Brown Chang, 25, added. “I think it’s absolutely fantastic. I read it when I was 23, but I still resonate with it.”
Annabelle’s knack for recommending nice younger grownup books led her to begin an Instagram and weblog through the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeing the constructive response from readers of all ages, she started promoting titles on-line and at pop-up occasions, together with the Los Angeles Occasions Competition of Books. At 16, she opened a brick-and-mortar retailer in Studio Metropolis: Annabelle’s E-book Membership LA, the primary younger adult-focused bookstore within the nation.
“I actually had my heart set on this one space in West Hollywood and I was so sad when it didn’t work out. The landlord at the time said that nobody would ever come to a bookstore, which I was very sad to hear,” Annabelle mentioned. “But it all worked out for the best and I truly could not imagine a better place for the bookstore.”
At 16, Annabelle Chang opened a brick-and-mortar retailer in Studio Metropolis: Annabelle’s E-book Membership LA, the primary younger adult-focused bookstore within the nation.
(Annie Noelker / For The Occasions)
On Sept. 2, Annabelle’s E-book Membership, which was not too long ago featured in a scene within the movie “Freakier Friday,” will host an additional particular occasion: a launch social gathering for her sister’s debut novel, “By Invitation Only.” Impressed by Alexandra’s personal expertise as a “debutante dropout,” the coming-of-age story follows two seemingly totally different feminine protagonists, Piper and Chapin, whose worlds collide on the elite La Danse des Débutantes in Paris. Collectively, Annabelle and Alexandra try to amplify younger grownup narratives.
“Historically, YA hasn’t been taken as seriously as it should be, but I think we are at a moment where that is changing and people are really recognizing the power of these stories,” Annabelle mentioned. “They’re impactful for readers of all ages, and they address universal themes and are just incredibly important for everyone.”
“I’ve wanted to write a young adult novel for a very long time, and I think that coming-of-age stories have pretty much proven to be evergreen because every generation seems to be finding new ways to tell them,” added Alexandra, who graduated from Stanford in 2022. “I think that we don’t really come of age once. We keep coming of age because every single new stage of life, whether it’s going to college or experiencing your 20s, it forces you to reevaluate who you are and who you want to be.”
Annabelle and Alexandra grew up in a literary family. Their mother, Amanda Brown, wrote the 2001 e-book “Legally Blonde,” which was later tailored into the Reese Witherspoon-starring blockbuster and a Broadway musical. The women recall their mother and pa, expertise investor Justin Chang, studying to them each evening, which helped encourage their love for books and storytelling. Amongst Alexandra’s favorites had been “Eloise,” “Madeline” and “Sweet Dream Pie.”
“I loved ‘Pinkalicious,’ which I think makes sense as the bookstore is also very pink,” Annabelle added. “It’s always been my favorite color and one of my favorite stories to this day.”
“I’ve wanted to write a young adult novel for a very long time, and I think that coming-of-age stories have pretty much proven to be evergreen because every generation seems to be finding new ways to tell them,” mentioned Alexandra Brown Chang.
(Annie Noelker / For The Occasions)
At 14, Alexandra began the style weblog Alex and Ella along with her shut buddy, and later launched her personal web site, the Zeitgeist, the place she continued to jot down about style, artwork, journey and extra. Whereas in highschool, she interned for designer Zac Posen in New York, an expertise she known as “life-changing.”
“It really allowed me to learn so much more about fashion, the business side of fashion, but also the design aspect,” Alexandra mentioned. “And it really helped me see fashion in all of its amazing ways and as an art form.”
In “By Invitation Only,” style takes heart stage as the ladies put together for his or her debutante debuts. Particularly via Chapin’s character, Alexandra argues that style ought to be handled as a severe craft — just like younger grownup literature.
“When all of the debutantes are wearing custom gowns, it makes sense that all of them would have an incredible amount of time and thought put into them,” she mentioned.
Earlier this month, Alexandra took half within the festivities at Annabelle’s E-book Membership for Bookstore Romance Day — an annual celebration of romance books at impartial bookstores throughout the nation. Along with internet hosting fragrance making and lipstick studying — which is like tarot card studying, however with lipstick — the shop gave away an advance copy of “By Invitation Only.”
Whereas there are romantic components all through “By Invitation Only,” the guts of the story lies within the sophisticated relationship between Chapin and Piper. Unlikely friendships are one in all Alexandra’s favourite tropes, she mentioned.
“Piper and Chapin come from completely different backgrounds when their lives unexpectedly collide in Paris, and they really do change for the better,” Alexandra mentioned. “And I think that’s a great message that everyone could use right now, and it certainly is true for myself and so many of my closest friends, and I really value those friendships.”
Alexandra spent about 5 years writing her novel and despatched a number of early drafts to her sisters, together with Annabelle; Audrey, Annabelle’s similar twin; and 15-year-old Ames. “I was really excited to get their input as the target age demographic as well,” she mentioned of her youthful siblings.
After the launch at Annabelle’s E-book Membership, Alexandra will head to bookstores throughout the nation to advertise her e-book, together with Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park and E-book Passage in San Francisco. In the meantime, Annabelle is preparing for her second 12 months at Stanford, the place she plans to main in product design and minor in artistic writing. Nonetheless, she continues to juggle her obligations as a scholar and a enterprise proprietor.
“It is certainly a balance. I feel incredibly lucky that we have such a wonderful team at our store, who can run the day-to-day when I can’t be there,” Annabelle mentioned. “I find myself going back quite often for events and meetings.”
Whilst they pursue their particular person paths, Annabelle and Alexandra savor each alternative they get to collaborate with one another.
“I love that we’re able to spend even more time together and that we have this common interest,” Alexandra mentioned. “It’s really special.”
