Coincidences and Connections (2)

So I'm sitting here reading a book and I come across something that seems familiar. Like I just read that in the previous book. I'm not talking about the plot or the storyline - just little similarities like the name of a character or the state where the book is set. There are just too many coincidences that I couldn't help but share them.

Here are the books:

Purity by Jackson Pearce,  First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky, Never Enough by Denise Jaden, Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan, How to Be Bad by Lauren Myracle, E. Lockhart, and Sarah Mlynowski, Rules for Hearts by Sara Ryan,  and Zero by Tom Leveen (links to Amazon)

and here are the connections:

Characters like photography:
First Comes Love
Never Enough 


Characters create lists:
Purity - Life List
First Comes Love - Oughta List


Chinese Fire Drill:
Purple Daze
Never Enough


There's a Road Trip:
How to Be Bad
First Comes Love 


Takes place the summer before college:
First Comes Love
Zero
The Rule for Hearts

Reptiles make an appearance:
How to Be Bad
First Comes Love

Set in Phoenix, AZ:
First Comes Love
Zero 

The characters are part of a play:
The Rules for Hearts - character in the play
Never Enough - characters create sets for a play

And the guy of the cover!! 

So I am wondering, does anyone else pick up on these small little details from book to book? I'd love to read your coincidences and connections in the comments, but please don't leave any spoilers. Thanks!