The Love Interest Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

The Love Interest
Author: Cale Dietrich
Genre: YA LGBTQ Contemporary 

Release Date: May 16, 2017

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Synopsis:

There is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.

Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection. Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome. The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?

Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be – whoever the girl doesn’t choose will die.

What the boys don’t expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.

The Love Interest is a fantastic new addition to the young adult contemporary genre, and is one fans will definitely want to pick up. I'm not usually a big reader of YA contemporary, but I was immediately intrigued by the description of this one. I'm so glad I gave it a shot, because it far exceeded any hopes I had. I personally wouldn't categorize this as just a contemporary novel - there's so much more to it than that. Every aspect of the story was very well done, from the characters to the plot itself. I'll break it down into the specifics of what I really enjoyed:

Characters: The two main characters, Caden and Dylan, were both well rounded and complex. Each had distinct personalities and traits that made them realistic and easy for me to connect with early on. They were each brave, strong, smart, and determined - but they also had flaws like everyone else. I liked getting to know each of them separately as well as watching their relationship grow and change throughout the story. Add in the fact that they are "diverse" characters - and that just makes it even more distinct and fresh.

Plot: Very detailed and intricate - especially the whole concept of the LIC and what they are meant to do once assigned. I loved learning as much as I could about the LIC, what they were up to, what exactly was going on, and all of the other things involved. There's was a plethora of fascinating information, and the author did a fantastic job of getting every single detail just right. I could've read about the LIC and this strange world the author created for much longer - it would've been perfect for a series because of the sheer amount of information and intrigue.

Writing Style: One of the most important things for me is the writing style an author chooses to use. Thankfully, the author chose to write this story in the first person perspective - which was a great fit, in my opinion. We get to really connect on a deep level with the narrator and see what happens through their eyes. I love getting to know them on a such a personal note. It makes the novel all the more exciting and real, and it allows me to slip inside the narrator's mind and world. The style is always a big deal for me, and I'm so glad the author decided to go with the first person POV. It can make or break a book for me - and this was such a huge win for this novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book - much more than I thought I would. I highly recommend it for fans of YA contemporary, romance, science fiction, dystopia, and readers looking for something fresh and new.

Cale Dietrich is a YA devotee, lifelong gamer, and tragic pop punk enthusiast. He was born in Perth, grew up on the Gold Coast, and now lives in Brisbane, Australia. The Love Interest is his first novel.

(1) Finished Copy of THE LOVE INTEREST by Cale Dietrich
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Meg & Linus Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 
 

Meg & Linus
Author: Hanna Nowinski
Genre: YA Contemporary/LGBTQ+
Publication Date: April 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

Can friendship, Star Trek, drama club, and a whole lot of coffee get two nerdy best friends through the beginning of their senior year of high school?
Meg and Linus are best friends bound by a shared love of school, a coffee obsession, and being queer. It’s not always easy to be the nerdy lesbian or gay kid in a suburban town. But they have each other. And a few Star Trek boxed sets. They’re pretty happy.

But then Sophia, Meg’s longtime girlfriend, breaks up with Meg. Linus starts tutoring the totally dreamy new kid, Danny—and Meg thinks setting them up is the perfect project to distract herself from her own heartbreak. But Linus isn’t so sure Danny even likes guys, and maybe Sophia isn’t quite as out of the picture as Meg thought she was. . . .

From crowdsourced young adult imprint Swoon Reads comes Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski, a fun friendship story about two quirky teens who must learn to get out of their comfort zones and take risks—even if that means joining the drama club, making new friends, and learning how to stand on your own.

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Maybe “‘selectively shy”’ is a good way to describe my approach to social situations. Like, I have no problem walking up to most people and starting a conversation. I get along with the school librarians, I always have a chat with the check-out people at the grocery store, and I’m on a first-name basis with most of the bus drivers from all the times I couldn’t get a ride home with anyone and didn’t feel much like walking.

The only problem is that I have absolutely no idea what to say when I meet people I really want to have a conversation with. I have a tendency to panic.

Like that time I was out looking at colleges with my dad and we ran into Alan Tudyk. In a sandwich shop. To this day I have no idea what he was doing there. Well. , He he was probably buying a sandwich. And I didn’t even recognize him at first, because who expects that to happen? But then my dad was like, “Hey, isn’t that the dude from that show you forced me to watch?” And, well, yeah, it was him.

I mean, I wouldn’t have gone up to him even if my legs hadn’t decided to go all weird and wobbly all of a sudden. Because, seriously, let the guy buy a sandwich in peace. But my point is that a normal person could have made the conscious decision to leave him alone instead of turning really pale and then blushing tomato red and then being unable to utter more than one-syllable words for the next fifteen minutes.

So, talking to Danny? Agreeing to tutor him? It could be a massive disaster of previously undiscovered proportions. There is absolutely no telling what might happen if I attempt this.

And yet, the thought doesn’t leave me alone all through bio class—it is almost too good to be true. And it’s not like I expect anything, I don’t really want anything from him, I just . . . oh god no, I couldn’t do it. It’s too weird.

 Hanna Nowinski is a language enthusiast and trained translator for German and English who lives in the middle of nowhere, Germany. She has wanted to be a writer since she learned that books were made by real people. As a kid, she made up her own bedtime stories, mostly sending her stuffed animals on adventures around the world. She loves books, music, coffee, and getting way too emotionally invested in TV shows. Meg & Linus is her debut novel.

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Review: Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley

Our Own Private Universe
Author: Robin Talley
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance/LGBTQ
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Description:

Fifteen-year-old Aki Simon has a theory. And it's mostly about sex.

No, it isn't that kind of theory. Aki already knows she's bisexual—even if, until now, it's mostly been in the hypothetical sense. Aki has dated only guys so far, and her best friend, Lori, is the only person who knows she likes girls, too.

Actually, Aki's theory is that she's got only one shot at living an interesting life—and that means she's got to stop sitting around and thinking so much. It's time for her to actually do something. Or at least try.

So when Aki and Lori set off on a church youth-group trip to a small Mexican town for the summer and Aki meets Christa—slightly older, far more experienced—it seems her theory is prime for the testing.

But it's not going to be easy. For one thing, how exactly do two girls have sex, anyway? And more important, how can you tell if you're in love? It's going to be a summer of testing theories—and the result may just be love.  

 

Our Own Private Universe is a new young adult contemporary romance that focuses on love, friendship, learning who you are, and accepting yourself. It's a great read for fans of the genre along with readers who enjoy LGBTQ issues, coming of age tales, and those wanting to diversify their shelves. Here are my pros and cons for the book:

Pros:
- Realistic and likeable main character in Aki
- Easy to empathize with the characters and what they're going through
- Universal issues along with topics dealing with LGBTQ
- Appeals to a wide audience
- First person point of view

Cons:
- I couldn't fully identify with Aki because we're so different. Even though the story is told from her perspective, I couldn't connect with her as much as I wanted to.
- I'm personally not a huge fan of contemporary fiction, especially romance, so this wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction, romance, young adult fiction, and coming of age stories.

 

10 Things I Can See From Here Blog Tour: Review

10 Things I Can See From Here

Author: Carrie Mac
Genre: YA Contemporary/LGBTQ
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Description:

Perfect for fans of Finding Audrey and Everything, Everything, this is the poignant and uplifting story of Maeve, who is dealing with anxiety while falling in love with a girl who is not afraid of anything.

Think positive.
Don’t worry; be happy.
Keep calm and carry on.

Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom—the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through—is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver.

Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. Between her dad’s wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves? 


  

10 Things I Can See From Here is a great new addition to the diverse young adult contemporary genre. Not only does it deal with LGBTQ issues, it also discusses mental illness - specifically anxiety. Sadly, mental illness is still stigmatized in our society - although it's starting to be talked about more. I personally suffer from mental illness - and one of my diagnoses is anxiety disorder. I'm really glad that more books are being written that discuss mental illness and the impact they have on people. This is another novel that sheds a realistic light on the issue. I'm always weary when approaching a book about mental illness because I'm not sure how the author will portray it - especially so if I also suffer from the diagnosis. It's so hard to talk about these things, and when there are materials written about them, you want them to be accurate and really show how it effects people's lives. Luckily, this story was pretty spot on when it came to the main character's anxiety problems. That trait in itself made me like the novel and I was able to identify with Maeve right away. Sadly, I couldn't fully connect with her character because of her sexual preference. I could easily empathize with her and what she encountered, but that part of her personality eluded me on a personal level. The book was written in the first person point of view - from Maeve's perspective - which is by far my favorite writing style. I'm happy that the author chose this style because it allows the reader a deeper connection with the narrator. With a story so personal, it only makes sense to be written this way (in my opinion).

The plot was well written, if not a bit predictable. I'm not a huge fan of contemporary fiction, so I didn't really get into the story as much as fans of the genre will. This is purely my own preference and opinion - there's absolutely nothing negative about the writing or the story. I definitely recommend this book to fans of YA contemporary fiction, romance, LGBTQ, and those wanting to diversify their reading lists.

CARRIE MAC is an award-winning Canadian novelist making her US debut. She lives in East Vancouver, where this story takes place. Check out her website at Carriemac.com and follow her on Twitter at @CarrieMacWrites. 

Queens of Geek Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

Queens of Geek
Author: Jen Wilde
Genre: YA Contemporary/LGBTQ+
Publication date: March 14, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publisher:

Three friends. Two love stories. One convention.

Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.

Queens of Geek, an empowering young adult novel by Jen Wilde, is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.

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Everything is out of place. I’m imploding, warping like steel under a searing flame. Tightening. Shrinking. Collapsing in on myself. Choking on tears and words I want to say but can’t.

Most people think of anxiety as panic attacks. That’s not entirely accurate.

I haven’t had a panic attack in years. I started to recognize the signs and learned what I needed to do to stop it spiraling. I learned how to internalize it to avoid public embarrassment. Anxiety isn’t an attack that explodes out of me; it’s not a volcano that lies dormant until it’s triggered by an earth-shattering event. It’s a constant companion. Like a blow fly that gets into the house in the middle of summer, flying around and around. You can hear it buzzing, but you can’t see it, can’t capture it, can’t let it out. My anxiety is invisible to others, but often it’s the focal point of my mind. Everything that happens on a day-to-day basis is filtered through a lens colored by anxiety. That nervousness that makes your palms sweat and your heart race before you get up and make a speech in front of an audience?

That’s what I feel in a normal conversation at a dinner table.

Or just thinking about having a conversation at a dinner table.

The fear that other people feel on rare occasions, reserved only for when they jump out of a plane or hear a strange noise in the middle of the night—that’s my normal.

That’s what I feel when the phone rings.

When someone knocks on my door.

When I go outside.

When I’m alone.

When I’m in line at a store.

Everything feels like I’m on a stage, spotlight on me, all eyes on me, watching, judging. Like I’m one second away from total disaster. It’s invisible, it’s irrational, it’s never-ending. I could be standing there, smiling and chatting like everything is totally fine, while secretly wanting to scream and cry and run away. No one would ever know. In my mind, no one can hear me scream. I hide it because I know it’s not understood or acceptable—because I’m not understood or acceptable.

So here I am, hiding it. Standing in a toilet stall, trying to remember how to breathe.

I find my phone and headphones in my pocket and plug them in, turning up the Queen Firestone soundtrack and closing my eyes.

Breathe in. One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five. Breathe out.

I close the lid on the toilet and sit down, rubbing my palms over my gray denim-clad thighs as I focus on the music.

Breathe in.

Jen Wilde is a writer, geek and fangirl with a penchant for coffee, books and pugs. She writes YA stories about zombies (AS THEY RISE), witches (ECHO OF THE WITCH) and fangirls (QUEENS OF GEEK). Her debut series reached over three million reads online and became an Amazon bestseller.

When she’s not writing, Jen loves binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix, eating pizza, traveling to far away places and going to conventions in Marty McFly cosplay.

Jen lives in a sunny beachside town in Australia with her husband and their cheeky pug, aptly named Heisenberg.

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Keeping Her Secret Tour: Spotlight + Giveaway

Keeping Her Secret (Endless Summer series)
Author: Sarah Nicholas
Genre: YA Contemporary F/F Romance
Release Date: August 22, 2016 
Publisher: Entangled Crush

Description:

Two girls. One kiss. 

The last person Riya Johnson expected to run into at her new summer camp is Courtney Chastain—her childhood best friend and the girl who broke her heart after a secret, mind-blowing, life-altering kiss. She definitely didn’t expect to be sharing a bunk bed with her for four long weeks. 

Courtney has what every girl wants—she’s beautiful, rich, and the object of every boy’s desire at Camp Pine Ridge. Too bad none of them make her feel an iota of what Riya’s kiss did all those years ago. But Courtney needs to uphold appearances at all costs—even if it means instigating an all-out prank war with Riya as her main target.  

Neither girl can stop thinking about the other...but that doesn’t mean they can give up past hurts and take a chance on a future together.  

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains drinking, sexual situations, and a fairy-tale romance sure to make your heart melt. 

Sarah is a 31-year-old YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too. 

She's a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library. She also blogs at YAtopia. 

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