Save the Date For: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

If you've read Emery Lord's debut novel, Open Road Summer, then I'm sure her follow up novel has already been added to your to-be-read list.  But for those who are new to this woman's writing, I strongly recommend getting acquainted with her brilliant and beautiful story-telling.

The Start of Me and You has a slow build, introducing the reader to Paige: a teenage girl who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, while still navigating the trials and tribulations of high school life.  Chapters flew by and I found myself completely surrounded in Paige's world.  Her best friends were the type of friends I remember from my own childhood.  They are that group of girls who would drop everything to be by your side in an instant, even if the moment just calls for ice cream and lattes.  The relationships Paige has with her family felt very authentic and fleshed out.  Emery Lord has the ability to create characters breathing through the pages.  These aren't just fixtures in a story, they are pulses vibrating from one page to the next.

And then there's the boy.  He isn't your typical crush that we see so often idolized in YA contemporaries.  I appreciated the realistic approach that Emery Lord took in creating this character and cultivating the relationship between him and Paige.  The atmosphere sizzled between these two characters, only to cascade into a finale of all finales.  There was total book clutching happening as I read that last chapter.

Emery Lord is a delightful person who has graced the YA contemporary world with a gift of irreplaceable and unforgettable story-telling.  The Start of Me and You is a book not to be missed.  If it hasn't already been added to your to-be-read list for 2015, please make a point to add it now.  I adored this story in countless measures, reminding me why I fell in love with literature to begin with.

About the book from Goodreads: Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for a year, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

To be published by Bloomsbury on March 31, 2015

add to goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Waiting On: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
To be published: March 17, 2015 by Dial

Fans of Sarah Dessen and Huntley Fitzpatrick will enjoy this smart debut young adult novel, equal parts My Life Next Door and The Princess Diaries—plus a dash of Aaron Sorkin.

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be. [goodreads]

When a book is compared to Sarah Dessen or Huntley Fitzpatrick, my interest is definitely peaked.  I have yet to read a YA contemporary set in the political arena, so this could be refreshingly different.  I'm curious if the writing will leave me with the same sense of pure love for YA contemporary as Dessen and Fitzpatrick do, though.  This one is definitely on the TBR for 2015!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Top Ten Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit

Since I'm a girl who loves to travel, and doesn't always have the bank account that allows me, I love that books can take me there!  This week's topic was a fun look back on some past reads, reminiscing over my travel bucket list -- it's always expanding!

As always, be sure to check out The Broke and the Bookish for more details on this awesome weekly feature.

1. ITALY -- Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae [add to goodreads]
2. ROAD TRIPPIN' ON A TOUR BUS -- Open Road Summer by Emery Lord [add to goodreads]
3. AMSTERDAM -- Just One Year by Gayle Forman [add to goodreads]
4. NASHVILLE -- Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols [add to goodreads]
5. NANTUCKET ISLAND -- Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland [add to goodreads]
6. LUCKY HARBOR -- Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis [add to goodreads]
7. COLBY (NORTH CAROLINA COAST) -- Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen [add to goodreads]
8. SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO  -- In Honor by Jessi Kirby [add to goodreads]
9. COUSINS BEACH -- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han [add to goodreads]
10. TARPON SPRINGS, FL -- Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller [add to goodreads]

Blog Tour: Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan + GIVEAWAY!

I am super excited to be a part of the official blog tour for NOT IN THE SCRIPT by Amy Finnegan!  Below is a fun look at tabloid journalism, which plays a role in Finnegan's debut novel.  I must admit, I feed into the hype when I'm standing at the grocery store check out line and notice all the outrageous headlines occupying the news stand.  I can't imagine how exhausting that must be for a celebrity to see your face, and your story, no matter how fictional it may be, splashed across the tabloids.  Author Amy Finnegan gives us a closer look at this phenomena that's always been itching to be read.

Tabloid Journalism: A Celebrity’s Best Frienemy?

Many say that celebrities need tabloids to truly make them famous. But is all publicity really good publicity?

Personally, I think these statements are total B.S., and yet I support them—and pad the pockets of those who propel these myths—every time I pick up a tabloid.

But sometimes I can’t help but be curious, because what if the royal family really did have something to do with Princess Diana’s accident? What if Marilyn Monroe’s death truly was staged by the White House to cover up her affair with JFK? And was President Kennedy actually killed by the mafia? This is compelling stuff!

Some of it might even be true.

Elvis really could still be alive and living out his days on a secluded island. Right? After all, according to the Weekly World News, “experts” claim that his grave was exhumed and that the tissue samples collected from the body therein did not match the DNA of The King. They can say this with “100 percent certainty.”

It really irks me that deceased celebrities continue to be the perennial subjects of scandals and exhumation rumors. Weren’t they harassed enough while they were alive? So why do stories like these keep popping up in tabloids decade after decade?

While I was doing research for NOT IN THE SCRIPT, which features characters who have to deal with relentless paparazzi and destructive gossip on a worldwide scale, I wasn’t surprised to discover that tabloid journalism began with a tale of guts and gore. Literally.

Du Jour magazine reports that at the scene of a ghastly car accident in 1957, the guy who started the National Enquirer noticed how eager bystanders were to get as close as they could to the carnage, and zowie, a new and improved way to rubberneck was born—now from the comfort of your own living room couch.

photo credit Tim Graham

Although tabloids have definitely extended their reach since then, their obsession with sensationalizing trauma to make it even more traumatic for all involved continues. For example, I just performed a Google search for “tabloid stories Princess Diana crash photos” and it produced 2.6 million results.

Just imagine how many times tabloids have caused Prince William and Prince Harry to relive the death of their mother. It makes me sick.

And it’s not just those left behind by their loved ones who have to deal with this type of never-ending aggravation. For NOT IN THE SCRIPT, I had to put myself in the shoes of a teenage celebrity whose love life is “perfect fodder for the tabloids.”

Emma Taylor, a successful actress in my novel, has had three boyfriends in a row cheat on her, and various tales of the drama have been reported over and over again in the entertainment news. To even begin to understand what that would feel like for a teenager, I read my very angst-ridden and love-stricken diaries from high school and imagined how I would feel (even now) if those pages were published—the good, the bad, and the ugly—for the entertainment of the entire world. And not only published, but embellished, misquoted, misinterpreted, and explained by people who hardly knew me or didn’t even know me at all.

Uhhhhhhggggggg!! What a horrifying thought!

Isn’t it hard enough to figure out life and love when your first kisses, crushes, humiliations, and heartbreaks remain relatively private? What if you couldn’t even trust that your best friends would keep your secrets? Could you be certain—without a doubt—that they would all pass up the opportunity to earn a few thousand bucks every time they dished on you to a tabloid?

My guess is that it would be awfully difficult to confide in anyone.

For NOT IN THE SCRIPT, I had to consider how far I wanted to delve into the practices of professional dirt bags tabloid journalism. I knew immediately that I could go really dark with this story. And I also realized I could make the story downright silly. Ultimately, I decided to just portray life as it truly is for most teenagers, whether or not they’re famous.

I went for realistic.

We all have ups and downs, good days and bad. Sometimes people gossip about us in damaging, heartbreaking ways, and once in a while, rumors are outrageously generous (A few days ago a teenager told me, “I heard you’re a super famous author!” Hahahahaha! But that was nice).

photo credit nymag.com

In NOT IN THE SCRIPT, Emma struggles to ignore the increasing presence of the press and paparazzi in her life. She feels desperate to protect a new relationship that she knows could lead to something much bigger and better than any relationship she’s had in the past—if she can keep it a secret, at least until she and Jake figure things out for themselves.

If you want to know more about the ins and outs of tabloid journalism and how tabloids get away with the totally bogus stories they often tell (I mean, how many children should the ever-expecting-or-adopting Jennifer Aniston have by now? A few dozen at least!), I highly recommend this “Stuff You Should Know” podcast by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant.

You will never look at entertainment news or tabloids in the same way again.

Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan
Published October 7, 2014 by Bloomsbury

About the book: The best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hills heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

add to goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Author Bio:

Amy Finnegan writes her own stories because she enjoys falling in love over and over again, and thinks everyone deserves a happy ending. She likes to travel the world—usually to locations where her favorite books take place—and owes her unquenchable thirst for reading to Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. Her debut novel, NOT IN THE SCRIPT, came about after hearing several years of behind-the-scenes stories from her industry veteran brother. She’s also been lucky enough to visit dozens of film sets and sit in on major productions such as Parks and Recreation and Parenthood.

You can follow Amy on Twitter: @ajfinnegan, Instagram: StrangerThanFictionWriter, Facebook: Amy Finnegan, Author. Or Visit her at www.AmyFinnegan.com.

***

Want to read your very own copy of this book? Enter below for that chance! Contest is open to US residents only and provided by Bloomsbury Publishing.
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Waiting On: Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff

Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff
To be published: January 27, 2015 by Harper Teen

A teenage boy tries to understand his best friend's suicide by listening to the playlist of songs he left behind in this smart, voice-driven debut novel.

Here's what Sam knows: There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, his best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs, and a suicide note: For Sam—listen and you'll understand.

As he listens to song after song, Sam tries to face up to what happened the night Hayden killed himself. But it's only by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he will finally be able to piece together his best friend’s story. And maybe have a chance to change his own.

Part mystery, part love story, and part coming-of-age tale in the vein of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Tim Tharp’s The Spectacular Now, Playlist for the Dead is an honest and gut-wrenching first novel about loss, rage, what it feels like to outgrow a friendship that's always defined you—and the struggle to redefine yourself. But above all, it's about finding hope when hope seems like the hardest thing to find. [goodreads]

I'm a sucker for YA stories involving music, so naturally I added this one to my TBR list because of that.  Then when I read the description, I discovered a deeper story that's being told underneath all that music.  The line: "what it feels like to outgrow a friendship that's always defined you" truly spoke to me because I feel that's an honest theme that many, no matter what age, can relate to.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Top Ten Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels

Most of the books I choose to read are character driven novels.  I tend to gravitate more toward stories that focus on the character, looking for a connection as the reader.  It would be easy to list any of my favorite novels, but I decided to compile my list from the books I've read so far this year, that I feel are character driven.

As always, be sure to check out The Broke and the Bookish for more details on this awesome weekly feature.

The Chance You Won't Return by Annie Cardi [add to goodreads]

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins [add to goodreads] 

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler [add to goodreads]

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally [add to goodreads]

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson [add to goodreads]

How to Love by Katie Cotugno [add to goodreads]

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han [add to goodreads]

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler [add to goodreads]

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler [add to goodreads]

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord [add to goodreads]

The TBR Tag

I was tagged by Andi from Andi's ABCs to discuss all things bookish when it comes to my to-be-read piles on goodreads.  This idea originated from Rachel at A Perfection Called Books and Dana from Dana Square, where they came up with these fancy fun questions to be answered.

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

When I first joined goodreads, back in 2010, I just marked everything as "to-read" and that meant it was part of my TBR pile.  However, over the years I've started classifying them according to the year the book is published.  I wish I had a fancier way of categorizing my TBR pile, but for now that is all I got.

Is your TBR mostly print or eBook?

When I mark a book "to-read", I don't specify the edition it is (ie. print or ebook).  However, as for the books I own, but haven't read yet, they're a mix of both.  Most of the adult contemporaries on my TBR list are in ebook format.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

I am such a mood reader.  I've tried making a schedule of what to read in the coming weeks, but it's rare I'll ever stick to it.  The only books I do stick to a schedule with are my review books.  If I know I need to review it, or if I'm on a blog tour for it, I'll make a point to move it up the line in my TBR pile.  As for the rest, it's whatever I feel like reading next.  Like I said, total mood reader.

A book that's been on your TBR list the longest?

I read the first three books in this series before I started blogging (and LOVED them!).  When Cassandra Clare came back and decided to continue the series, I had a hard time keeping up.  Book four didn't completely win me over, which made it hard to pick up book five: City of Lost Souls.

A book that you recently added to your TBR pile?

I came across this 2015 debut novel in Bloomsbury's winter 2015 catalog and it immediately went on my TBR list.  The cover is eye catching, as well as that heart breaking description.  When Reason Breaks sounds like it has potential to break me as a reader, but in the best way possible.

A book on your TBR strictly for its beautiful cover?

I first saw this book, Save the Date, at the beginning of the summer when I was looking for new adult contemps to check out.  I have never read anything by this author, but I was drawn to the beauty of this cover.  I love the colors, along with the simplicity.  If I saw this in a bookstore (which I have), I would definitely pick it up and read the inside cover.

A book on your TBR that you NEVER plan on actually reading?

When I first read this question, I thought, why would it be on my TBR if I didn't want to read it?  But then I realized, that sometimes I'll add a book, only to realize weeks.. months.. even years later my opinion of it changes. Unfortunately Levitating Las Vegas is one of those.

An unpublished book on your TBR that you're excited for?

The cover for this book caught my eye, but it was the book's description about an Olympic swimmer's dream being tested when she encounters a heart condition that really drew me in.  A Matter of Heart possesses something different that I am definitely looking forward to reading about.

A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read but you?

For those who started this series, I may be the only one left who hasn't finished it with this one.  I don't know why that is.  I enjoyed the first two books, and was eager to see how Ignite Me ended, but for some reason it still sits on my TBR list.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

Any time I mention not having read this book yet, so many people tell me I need to make that happen.  It comes highly recommended from so many reader friends that I trust.  I'm on a mission to read The Scorpio Races before the end of the year!

A book on your TBR that you're dying to read?

It doesn't have a cover yet, but I am DYING to read Jessi Kirby's next novel, Things We Know by Heart.  Her previous novels are among my favorites in contemporary YA.  I just know this next one will top that list as well.  2015 can't get here soon enough!

The number of books on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

As of right now, it's sitting at 558 books.  Yikes.

I am now tagging...
Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner
Anna @ Anna Reads
Judith @ Paper Riot
Jen @ Pop Goes the Reader
Jess @ Gone with the Words

If you haven't been tagged yet and want to play along, feel free to!