Blog Tour (Review): A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Jared Reck (YA)

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

by Jared Reck

Expected release date: September 26th, 2017

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House Teens)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook, and Audiobook 

Format read: ARC provided by the publisher.

SUMMARY

The unrequited love of the girl next door is the centerpiece of this fiercely funny, yet heartbreaking debut novel.

Matt Wainwright is constantly sabotaged by the over-dramatic movie director in his head. He can't tell his best friend, Tabby, how he really feels about her. He implodes on the basketball court, even though no one cares about the JV team. And the only place he feels normal is in Mr. Ellis's English class, discussing the greatest fart scenes in literature and writing poems about cantankerous candy-cane lumberjacks. 

If this were a movie, everything would work out perfectly. Tabby would discover that Matt's madly in love with her, be overcome with emotion, and fall in his arms. Maybe in the rain.

But that's now how it works. After a tragic accident, Matt finds himself left on the sidelines, spiraling out of control and in danger of losing everything that matters to him. 

From debut author, Jared Reck comes a fiercely funny and heart-wrenching novel about love, longing, and what happens when life as you know it changes in an instant.  

Humorous and heart-wrenching, A Short History of the Girl Next Door is perfect for readers who fell in love with All the Bright Places' Finch or Stargirl's Leo. 

FAVORITE QUOTES

"I put my bag in the spare bedroom where I always sleep, then start setting the table in the kitchen while Gramma tends to the griddle. Because that's just what you do at Gramma's. You can suck at being a human in your daily life, but at Gramma's you set the table without being asked." - page 223, ARC 

MY REVIEW

I really don't know how to start this review, other than it is everything! And I hope that this book gets the recognition and praise that it deserves! This is an outstanding debut and I am already looking forward to reading more by this author soon... 

A word of caution, be prepared for some major gushing and I apologize ahead of time if some things may not fully make sense -  it's been 2 months since I've read this book, but it feels like I read it yesterday! The love I have for this story is strong... 

Told from a basketball-playing-poetic-big brother-best friend forever-teen boy, Matt's inner monologue is by far the truest psyche and temperament that I have ever seen in a book! Matt knows who he is and how he feels at all times, unfortunately, that doesn't all come out well whenever he tries to put it into words or actions, especially if he's upset or put on the spot. If he could, he would scream out to the world how much he adores his Tabby - his childhood best friend. So imagine how he feels when Tabby starts dating a guy named Liam, the guy that Matt is aspiring to be - the star player on the basketball team. Matt knows that Liam is a good guy, but feels threatened and unworthy and does not know how to deal with this new situation. He feels like he's lost Tabby already when she's clearly still there, but he just doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. But when an unexpected tragedy occurs and Matt's life is flipped upside-down, everything for Matt feels like a lie and unreachable. He doesn't know what to do except to act out and make things worse...  

This book has EVERYTHING you could ever want! The entire cast of characters is so wonderful, heartwarming and real! The author captures everyone's personality and delivers such genuine people - I can't express how wonderful it was to read such authentic personalities. The family dynamic, how they all relate and truly love each other. Matt's relationship with Tabby and Trip, how hard it is to be a teen boy nowadays, his true feelings for Tabby, his family and teachers; and then, how he deals with the shock of loss and finally seeing things in a bigger perspective and accepting that there is more than just what is in front of him... I can't say more or give specifics because I fear I may spoil important parts of the story. Just trust me when I say that every person, moment and feeling in this story is important and palpable! 

The writing is exquisite, insightful, beautiful... divine! 
And Matt's story will melt you and make you think twice about slowing down and appreciating every moment in your life, even the smallest ones. And how differently everyone deals with anger, loss and grief.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh and a tissue-worthy heartfelt story! 

*I received an ARC copy of this book for a book tour from the publisher and my honest review. All thoughts here are my honest opinion and words.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jared Reck

Jared Reck lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters. 

He teaches 8th grade Language Arts, where he has been reading awesome books and writing alongside his students for the past twelve years. 

A Short History of the Girl Next Door is his first novel. 

Links: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Amazon / Book Depository

Review: WINDFALL by Jennifer E. Smith (YA)

WINDFALL

by Jennifer E. Smith

Release date: May 2nd, 2017

Published by Delacorte Press (Random House)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook, UK Paperback

Format read: ARC acquired by another book blogger
My rating: 2 1/2 stars

SUMMARY

Alice doesn't believe in luck - at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she's been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday - just when it seems they migh be on the brink of something - she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes. 

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy's father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them go grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy's newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could imagined... and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect. 

MY REIVEW

I had such excitement going into this story... as this is one of my favorite authors, the whole concept and summary of this book sounded exactly what she would write and it would be dreamy and amazing! Unfortunately, that's not how it went for me... 

Alice is a very intelligent teen who works hard at everything - after the loss of her parents and having to move in with her uncle and his family, she has done nothing but to continue to try to make her parents proud of her by doing the things that she thinks that they would have liked her to do - excelling in school, volunteering, tutoring... Her best friend Teddy lives with his single mom in a modest one-bedroom apartment and is seemingly happy and content with what he has. When Alice gifts Teddy a lottery ticket for his birthday, and he wins, you can just imagine the excitement that ensues! Everyone wants to know Teddy and be his friend, even his father, who abandoned him, shows up on his doorstep... it takes Teddy a little too long to realize what everyone really wants from him and the truth comes out. Meanwhile, Alice sits on the sidelines waiting for Teddy to get a clue... 
In the end, the one person, besides his mother, that Teddy wants to share his winnings with doesn't want it... confusion, miscommunication, and drama arise from there... 

Parts of the story and the characters were too predictable. Alice is a goody-goody who has had a very sad and traumatizing past and is crushing on her best friend; Teddy is your typical popular/cute boy who gets by on personality and sports who then turns into an attention seeking and self-centered brat (as if he didn't already have enough attention by being popular, etc.); and Leo, the gay artist best friend who understands everything, is supportive and always says the right thing.

Overall, the main characters felt flat to me. Alice was just too good to be true. Even though things are explained, it still didn't seem right; and with Teddy, I just can't put it into words. He just didn't sit well with me. I wanted more from both. The "romance" connection wasn't there... I know that they could have been so much more, especially with their histories - their emotions just didn't reach me... the topics that arose could have been so much deeper and meaningful and it wasn't. I always expect so much when it comes to this author (she's one of my favorites!). Perhaps my expectations were too high... 

Tthe overall moral of the story is thoughtfulness and kindness - and everyone magically delivers in the end. A perfect happy ending... again, predictable.

The one good thing out of this story is Leo. I would LOVE to have a WHOLE book on Leo, please! Leo is quite the teaser - he was mysterious, aloof and gave as much as was needed for Alice and Teddy's story, but kept his own story to himself. His relationship, how he truly felt about everything that was happening around him, his past... I really felt drawn to Leo and feel that his story would definitely be worth knowing about and reading! I hope that this is something that the author is thinking of writing considering that she has only ever published standalone books and not companions or series.

I would recommend this book to all who truly love contemporary's with quick happy endings! Those who need a smile and are looking to just get lost in a story for genuine fun!

*I acquired an ARC from another book blogger through #booksfortrade via twitter.

All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jennifer E. Smith

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of eight books for young adults, including WINDFALL and THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

She earned her master's degree in writing in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her writing has been translated into 33 languages.

LINKS: Goodreads / Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr

Blog Tour (Review): THAT'S ME LOVING YOU by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (C)

THAT'S ME LOVING YOU

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Release date: December 27th, 2016

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Format: Hardcover

Format read/reviewed: Hardcover from the publisher.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

SUMMARY

From the author of the New York Times bestseller I Wish You More, comes a book that promises continuous love and makes the perfect gift for fans of Emily Winfield Martin's The Wonderful Things You Will Be and those looking for something new to add to their shelves next to the classic The Runaway Bunny. 

Wherever you are, 

Wherever you go, 

Always remember 

And always know... 

That feeling you always have in your heart?

That's me loving you.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal captures parents' desire to be ever-present in this simple and touching poem offering reassurance of their love. Signs of affection can be found in the natural world around us - from a soft breeze to a shimmering star. 

MY REVIEW

A very sweet and gentle story to be read to little ones while snuggled up in their favorite jammies and blanket... the book is filled with colorful, warm and connecting illustrations that will encourage your child to interact and ask questions, and/or will give them the courage and peace they seek from whatever they may be feeling at that moment... 

The story itself flows and will bring serenity over everyone, the reader and whoever is listening. It gently soothes all involved; allowing everyone to believe that they're not alone. It encourages children that no matter what situation they may be, whether they are in school, with the babysitter, or if a loved one has gone away for a long time or has passed away, they are never alone. That a small part of that person is/will always be with them just as long as they take a moment to remember that they are. There are little ways to remind your child to seek through their surroundings to connect to you or whomever they are missing to find reassurance, safety and love.

It is often hard for young children to remember self-coping methods when they are feeling disconnected, lonely or suffering from separation anxiety... if there is anyway to remind them of a favorite line from their favorite book, an illustrations, a toy, etc. they can eventually learn to remember on their own that someone is always thinking of them, loves them for always - and eventually they will learn to work through their feelings themselves. 

An unforgettable story told from the heart! Definitely for those who adore The Kissing Hand, Guess How Much I Love You and I Love You Through and Through!

*I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is the author of over 20 children's books. Her titles include Uni the Unicorn, Plant a Kiss, Little Pea, Spoon, The Wonder Book, Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons, and Duck! Rabbit!. 

A long-time contributor to NPR, she is currently the host and creator of MissionAmyKR.com produced by Chicago Public Radio. 

Amy lives with her family in Chicago.

Links: Website / Goodreads

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR - Teagan White

Teagan White is a freelance illustrator specializing in playful watercolors and illustrated typography.

Originally from Chicago, Teagan now lives and works in Minneapolis, where she received a BFA in illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design in 2012. 

Links: Website / Goodreads

Blog Tour (Review and Giveaway): SIX FEET OVER IT by Jennifer Longo (YA)

SIX FEET OVER IT

by Jennifer Longo

Release date: August 26th, 2014

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: Hardcover from the publisher.

SUMMARY

Home is where the bodies are buried.

Darkly humorous and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, Jennifer Longo’s YA debut about a girl stuck living in a cemetery will change the way you look at life, death, and love.

Leigh sells graves for her family-owned cemetery because her father is too lazy to look farther than the dinner table when searching for employees. Working the literal graveyard shift, she meets two kinds of customers:

Pre-Need: They know what’s up. They bought their graves a long time ago, before they needed them.

At Need: They are in shock, mourning a loved one’s unexpected death. Leigh avoids sponging their agony by focusing on things like guessing the headstone choice (mostly granite).

Sarcastic and smart, Leigh should be able to stand up to her family and quit. But her world’s been turned upside down by the sudden loss of her best friend and the appearance of Dario, the slightly-too-old-for-her grave digger. Surrounded by death, can Leigh move on, if moving on means it’s time to get a life?

MY REVIEW

Jennifer Longo has quite the flair to making you think and feel things that you don't want to. In SIX FEET OVER IT, we encounter loss and death, depression and sadness, new and unusual friendships - a coming-of-age story of a girl who learns that its okay to let go, move on... to live life and be happy.

Leigh, pronounced like Lee, has had quite the tumultuous childhood. We get to see reminisce about her childhood on their much beloved beach house with a cool older sister, hippie-artist mom and fun dad. She also dwells on how their lives fell apart when her sister Kai was diagnosed with cancer. On how her parents are unable to deal with it, and they start to neglect the girls. And then Leigh is left to try to keep what little is left of her life together by going to school, ignore the bullying that happens, and then coming straight home from school everyday to be with Kai.
Leigh tried her best, but there is only so much a tween, now a teen, can do.
Especially after the loss of her best friend.
And then her father, Wade, uproots the family and moves them to a cemetery where he has big plans, but then proceeds to make Leigh do all the office work and hires Dario to do all of the landscaping and handiwork. Wade hasn't a clue on what he's doing and puts high expectations on Leigh to handle the emotional side of it without a second thought. All while Leigh's mother hides in their home, depressed, painting beach landscapes. And Kai, in remission, goes back to school, takes up running and leads a normal teen life.

Leigh is lost. She believes that she is cursed, that bad things and death follow her and that she must keep herself from anything good in order to avoid bad things happening. She doesn't think twice about how her sister is moving on, but is hurt when her sister doesn't share the details with her. She wishes she could smack her parents on the side of their heads to get them to realize that things are bad, not normal, but, she's afraid of the fallout and then having more responsibilities. She pushes away potential friends, because she doesn't want her bad luck to interfere...
but when she finally lets someone in, just a little bit, and sees that there is some potential, even in her current state, she's confused about being hopeful... will Leigh dare to stand up for herself? Be happy? Dream of a better life?

Filled with insightful moments, sarcastic humor and great prose with memorable characters.... Leigh's story will make you think about how we deal with loss and hope. And will make you reevaluate how we treat ourselves, and not to be so abrupt with our decisions and loved ones. And that even in the most dire times, redemption and hope can be found.

*A hardcover book was sent from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jennifer Longo

A California native, Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting from San Francisco State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing For Theatre from Humboldt State University. 

She is a two-time Irene Ryan Best Actor award recipient and a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Best Full Length Script honoree for her play, Frozen. 

After years of acting, playwriting, working as a literary assistant at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre, then as an elementary school librarian, Jennifer told the occasional story at San Francisco’s Porch Light Storytelling Series and decided at last to face her fear of prose and actually write some. 

A recent San Francisco transplant, Jennifer lives with her husband and daughter near Seattle, Washington beside the water on Mercer Island and her every hour is consumed by writing, running marathons, tide pooling, walking her kid to ballet class eleven thousand times each week and reading every book she can get her hands on.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter