End Of Year Book Survey – 2012!
8:46 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
In case you missed it, I received a cold for the holidays, so my blog remained empty for most of last week. I planned to have a few posts for Best Books via categories, etc., each day, but had no energy to put it together.
Luckily, Jamie from both The Broke and the Brokish and The Perpetual Page Turner put together an awesome survey and is inviting fellow bloggers to link up!
Check it out, and read on for a few of my 2012 favorites!
And since I'm not doing any other "Best Of" posts...
~Other favorites that didn't make the following list in any of the categories included:~
DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang, BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore, WAKING STORMS by Sarah Porter, THE RIVALS by Daisy Whitney, GRAVE MERCY by Robin Lafevers, ENCHANTED by Alethea Kontis, CINDER by Marissa Meyer, and INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows!
And since I'm not doing any other "Best Of" posts...
~Other favorites that didn't make the following list in any of the categories included:~
DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang, BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore, WAKING STORMS by Sarah Porter, THE RIVALS by Daisy Whitney, GRAVE MERCY by Robin Lafevers, ENCHANTED by Alethea Kontis, CINDER by Marissa Meyer, and INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows!
~Best in Books 2012~
1. Best Book You Read In 2012?
(It looks like my review is still in draft mode and unfinished. I'll finish it this week! For now, check out reviews for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and the short story THE SHADOW CATS!)
*My favorite adult novel was GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. While it started out slowly, there were so many surprises and twists that I was up until 2 am reading!
(My review)
*My favorite MG is a tie between:
ORDINARY MAGIC by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, which was so unique, and written in such a fresh, funny voice.
(My review of ORDINARY MAGIC; I also did a guest post with the author on world-building and a cover design interview with art director Donna Mark!)
My other favorite in the category is WINTERLING by Sarah Prineas, which I apparently never reviewed, even though I read it back in February! Guess I'll have to do that when SUMMERKIN comes around in 2013!
*My favorite novella e-book was AFTER THE BALL by Sarah Cross, which I just read last night and haven't reviewed yet. It reminded me of how much I loved KILL ME SOFTLY and the fairy tale world of Sarah Cross!
(Check out the short story AFTER THE BALL for FREE and read my review of KILL ME SOFTLY, one of my 2012 favorites!)
*My favorite indie/self-pub title was DEITY by Jennifer Armentrout. Spencer Hill Press continues to amaze me with what they are putting out!
(My review)
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I didn't fall for John Green's THE FAULT IN OUR STARS as much as everyone else did. I think it's because I purposely detached myself from the book because medical issues were too hard for me to read about this year. Also, there was a lot of hype. I think I expected wonder babies!
(I just read it in Dec, so there's no review yet)
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross. The cover is really bloody, and the title doesn't indicate that this is a fairy tale. I never would have even looked at this twice at the bookstore if someone hadn't named it a Best of 2012 So Far title back in June for Armchair BEA!
(My review)
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
"What should I read if I liked THE HUNGER GAMES?" I've recommended Veronica Roth's dystopian series to SO many people! I literally loaned out my copies of DIVERGENT and INSURGENT to six or seven people. They are BATTERED now! (And I've learned that book loans should ALWAYS be in a book sock, because you never know who reads your shiny books with potato chip fingers!)
(My review of INSURGENT; I never reviewed DIVERGENT in 2011.)
5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer! I have yet to review STORM, SPARK and the novellas because I was waiting to do one big week for everything and have Brigid stop by. We haven't been able to coordinate yet. But ooooh, so good!
6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Three come straight to mind:
*Zoë Marriott: I had read THE SWAN KINGDOM before 2012, but thought it was ordinary compared to DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier's version of the fairy tale. This year, I read SHADOWS ON THE MOON, which is a dark Japanese version of Cinderella, and was blown-away. I also read Zoë's two non-fairy tale fantasy novels and loved them, too. I'm so excited for her new series in 2013!
(Check out a guest post with Marriott and a review of SHADOWS ON THE MOON, along with an author interview! I also reviewed DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES and FROSTFIRE.)*Jackson Pearce: I had SISTERS RED and SWEETLY, but never read either until 2012. I also read Pearce's latest novel, FATHOMLESS this year. All three are fantastic and twisty, and I love Pearce's way with words. I am so excited for COLD SPELL in 2013!
(Check out my reviews of SWEETLY, SISTERS RED, and FATHOMLESS!)
*Sarah Cross: KILL ME SOFTLY was so well-written, and reading her free novella AFTER THE BALL yesterday made me remember why I loved Cross so much. She creates such unique, delicate sentences. Read the opening hook in my review of KILL ME SOFTLY to see what I mean. Gorgeous! I loved her so much that I had to read her older, non-fairy tale novel DULL BOY this year as well!
(Check out the short story AFTER THE BALL for FREE and read my review of KILL ME SOFTLY, one of my 2012 favorites!)
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
*I don't read a lot of mystery or crime thrillers, so GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn was out of the ordinary for me. I got really into it, though. One of the most unputdownable reads of 2012!
(My review)
(My review; my interview when I met the author)
*A third book in a genre I don't read a lot was RADIATE by Marley Gibson. It was about cancer and illness, a genre I loved in high school when Lurlene McDaniel was a favorite of mine, but steer away from now because it's too depressing. This was an unsolicited send from a publicist that I almost didn't read, but I'm so glad I did!
(My review)
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
To repeat #7...
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn!
(My review)
9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Either INSURGENT by Veronica Roth or THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson. I'm sure I'll re-read both before the final book in each trilogy releases!
(My review of INSURGENT. THE CROWN OF EMBERS is in draft mode and coming soon!)
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
I love so many covers that I'm just going to go with the top five that come to mind :
*SISTERS RED isn't from 2012, but I read it this year. I love the way the cover is an illusion and looks like two different things depending on if you see the two sisters or Little Red and the Wolf! I was disappointed when FATHOMLESS launched a cover re-design for this series!
(My review)
*The UK cover for Jay Kristoff's STORMDANCER is my favorite, though I also love the US version created by Jason Chan (Then again, I am a HUGE FAN of anything by Jason Chan!). The UK version has a more traditional Japanese feel, while the US version reads more steampunk. The traditional scene wins my heart here!
(My review)
*I love the illustrated cover for SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo. I wish more YA and Adult novels had grand illustrated covers! Rich Deas has designed so many fabulous covers that I loved this year. I interviewed him back in January about his cover design for Marissa Meyer's CINDER!
(My review)
*The cover for VESSEL is soooooooooo pretty, which is fitting, because this is perhaps my favorite book from Sarah Beth Durst. The lush fantasy, the coloring, the intrigue, the sheerness of it all! I can wax poetic for hours!
(No review just yet, but look for treats in 2013! For now, check out my reviews of her titles ICE (my other favorite by her), ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE!)
*ELEMENTAL by Antony John is take-my-breath-away gorgeous in person. It's embossed and shiny, beautiful to look at no matter what direction you're turning it in!
(No review yet, but it's coming!)
11. Most memorable character in 2012?
A from EVERY DAY by David Levithan. Levithan created a character so unique, so extraordinary, that I've never seen anyone similar. Truly memorable!
(I read this one in December, so a review is again forthcoming)
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
(my review)
*I also covet Lauren Oliver's way with words, which I've said in past years. It's one reason I'm so drawn to her titles. This year, her middle grade novel THE SPINDLERS stood out as being chock-full of beautiful, descriptive sentences.
(This is another review in draft mode...mostly because I never have energy/time to cross-check all the ARC quotes I want to use against the finished copy!)
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
This year, I was shocked by the raw grittiness being released from Harlequin Teen. It wasn't all about the romance. One title in particular stood out. PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry had so many nuances that I still find myself thinking about the characters and their lives every now and again.
(My review)
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce! I had it first, too...and it was the third book by Pearce that I read in 2012.
(My review)
I also finally began reading Cinda Williams Chima in 2012 after sitting on her Heir Chronicles books for a while. I'm still only two in, and I'm eager to get a kick-start on her Seven Realms Quartet in 2013.
(No reviews yet)
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
I can't think of any one offhand, but this past month, I was constantly updating Goodreads with quotes from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green and EVERY DAY by David Levithan, so they're fresh in my mind. As I mentioned in #12, Sarah Cross (KILL ME SOFTLY) and Lauren Oliver (THE SPINDLERS) also have profound ways of describing things.
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
*Longest — TILT by Ellen Hopkins clocks in at 604 pages (Though it doesn't have as many words as other, "shorter" books might since it's in verse!)
(My review)
*Shortest — I'm assuming we're excluding ebook novellas and picture books, but just looking at novels. Looking at Goodreads, the shortest novel is ELEMENTAL by Emily White, clocking in at 180 pages.
(My review)
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
I NEEDED to talk to my co-workers who had read GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn immediately after finishing the book. OMG, you can't even...I can't even... that book just SLAMS you. It is absolutely a book club book that will have the conversation going for hours!(My review)
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
*One thing that made PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry work well was the way the two main characters interacted with one another. They were at two extremes in their lives, and only together could they begin to heal. This interaction is a big part of what makes PUSHING THE LIMITS so incredibly good.
(My review)
*I was also a big fan of the way Caitlen Rubino-Bradway shared the Hale family with readers in ORDINARY MAGIC. The family is so close-knit and caring and loving, and they reminded me a lot of the Weasley family. I loved them so much and miss them already! I wish more families like the Hales existed in literature!
(My review)
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
*THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson, which was my favorite YA novel of the year.
(It looks like my review is still in draft mode and unfinished. I'll finish it this week! For now, check out reviews for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and the short story THE SHADOW CATS!)
*I also loved Sarah Beth Durst's latest offering VESSEL. It's her best book yet!
(No review just yet, but look for treats in 2013! For now, check out my reviews of her titles ICE (my other favorite by her), ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE!)
*Before 2012, I had read one book by Zoë Marriott, which was good, but didn't blow me away. All three of the ones in 2012 did, but especially her latest offering, SHADOWS ON THE MOON.
(Check out a guest post with Marriott and a review of SHADOWS ON THE MOON, along with an author interview! I also reviewed DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES and FROSTFIRE.)
20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
I would have never picked up KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross if it hadn't been for another blogger talking about how good it was during Armchair BEA. I didn't even know it existed because the cover and title turned me off!
(my review)
~Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012~
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?
 |
| ©Margot Wood at The Real Fauxtographer As much as I love the cover art for Libba Bray's BEAUTY QUEENS, I sort of love this version even more!!! |
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?
*SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoë Marriott
or TIGER LILY by Jodi Lynn Anderson or PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry are three that I remember loving offhand.
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I personally loved my recent Scribble Post entitled The Perfect Gift for Aspiring Young Writers. I just had so much fun with it and sharing my own childhood experiences with you.
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
My brain can't think of any right now, but I know there have been some great ones that I loved reading and commenting on this past year. I just can't think of any off the top of my head! *hides*
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Macmillan brought four of its Fierce Reads authors my way and chose A Backwards Story to host the event! They sent me books for an epic autographed giveaway, I had a one-on-one interview with the authors, and the signing and Q&A were so much fun. Plus, I got to hang with Jamie from The Broke and the Bookish and The Perpetual Page Turner (Yes, the same Jamie who created this survey!), and I don't get to meet up with this girl often enough!
I also had a great time at PAYA, where I met up with so many great authors and saw some great local bloggers, including Jena from Shortie Says, Vi from Confessions of a Vi3tbabe, and Frankie from Frankie Diane Mallis and The First Novels Club!6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
When someone left me the sweetest, nicest comment in the entire world. To me, it was profound, meaningful, and showed me that people truly care about both me and this blog. I hold that comment so, so close to my heart because it was deep and meaningful.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
The top five high-hitting posts amuse me, because they're not the posts that I would think would become the most popular, but they all have four-digit hits!
*My Cover Reveal post for THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith
*My Mythological Mondays post about trolls and Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy
*During Splash into Summer, my Mermaid Spotting in Jodi Lynn Anderson's TIGER LILY
*My review of OFF-BALANCE: A Memoir by former Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu
*My Cover Crazy post featuring TANGLED TIDES by Karen Amanda Hooper
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I wish the reviews I loved most from this section in #2 had more interaction, as well as a lot of the interviews I've done, especially with elusive cover designers!
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I loved that so many movies that were book-world-related came out this year. I saw both RUBY SPARKS and THE WORDS in theaters, and I just rented STRUCK BY LIGHTNING On Demand (It will be in theaters in January 2013). I also found, purchased, and watched two older related movies earlier this year, DEDICATION and THE GHOSTWRITER. None of them compares to my favorite book-related-movie, STRANGER THAN FICTION, but I loved seeing so many books with this topic in 2012!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Last year, I participated in a lot of meme challenges, but this year, I didn't really link up to anything. I had less free time in 2012 since I was promoted in late 2011 and began working longer/more hours. I found that I spent a lot less time blogging than I would have liked this year, both from this, and from personal events going on in my life throughout the year.
My big challenge in December was to finish reading everything "major," and I'm still four books short since I've been too sick and/or busy to read in the last week or two! That's better than usual, though!
~Looking Ahead…~
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
If you saw my answer to the last question, you'll know there were four books I wanted to have read by the end of 2012 for a potential Best Of list.
They were:
(This one makes me sick. I've wanted it since the publishing deal announced in 2010!)
*THE DARKEST MINDS by Alexandra Bracken
(Another one that makes me sick. I've wanted this since reading BRIGHTLY WOVEN when it came out in HARDCOVER in early 2010 after reading snippets on the author's blog. I even had an ARC of it...and no time!)
*COLLATERAL by Ellen Hopkins
(After reading TILT, I was so eager to try an adult novel by Hopkins. I tried to start this before it came out, but haven't had time yet!)
*THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty
(I've read all three of the author's other books and was eager for a historical novel from her, especially after it was called the Book of Summer. I even won an early ARC from Library Thing! Have I had time to read it? No!)
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
I've been REALLY good about sitting on my 2013 ARCs until, well...2013! I wanted to finish some 2012 titles first. They're really stacking up, though, and I don't know which of these ten to read first! I want to read them all this second. Which order would you choose?
3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
I want to review at least two books every week, as well as do more features again. I got really behind in blogging this past year, and didn't always have as much content as other bloggers. I want to bring you more great features and reviews to interest you in more titles!
This was really long, I know. Thanks for sticking around till the end! Link me to your post below and I'll check it out! ^_^
{Review} SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington
9:14 AM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
O P E N I N G H O O K:
in which
national geographic
inadvertently changes my life
national geographic
inadvertently changes my life
The secret I have now is so, so much juicier than that. I'm just about ready to burst at the seams.
(Page 7, US paperback first edition)
By the end of SPEECHLESS, readers truly care about Chelsea and her life. This is a complete 180 from the beginning, when Chelsea is a supremely unlikable character. Chelsea would fit right in with the popular crowd from the movie Mean Girls, living it up at the top of the social pyramid with her friends and trash-talking everyone around her. After her fall, a lot of her peers thought she got what was coming to her. After all, "everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret." In a way, Chelsea reminds me a lot of Samantha Kingston from Lauren Oliver's award-winning BEFORE I FALL. Both Chelsea and Sam are easy to dislike, and it's hard to care about their plight. They both learn hard lessons about the consequences of their actions and become stronger, kinder characters along the way. This particularly shines through in SPEECHLESS because Chelsea must make amends with the friends of the student who was the victim of her words, especially as she realizes how much she likes them.
It's interesting to see the way Chelsea's words and actions change her life. She even takes a vow of silence after reading an article in National Geographic, which fuels more teasing at school from students who don't understand. I know from personal experience that long-term silences (even with just one person) are hard, especially when you want to talk, but don't know how to start things up again after going so long without. In that aspect, I connected with the book on an additional level that other readers might not. I also liked the unflinching way Harrington highlights the consequences of one's actions, the negative side of bullying, and the benefits that come from sticking up for your beliefs and doing what's right. SPEECHLESS is a powerful addition to the teen genre and should be read by teens of all ages, forcing them to consider thinking before they speak.~*~
C O V E R D E S I G N:
This cover is so simple, yet so striking in person. It made me stop and take notice! At first, I didn't even realize I'd expressed interest in the title before as an ARC.
Take a look at this video for a close-up look, but I love everything about this one!
Take a look at this video for a close-up look, but I love everything about this one!
~*~
O F F I C I A L I N F O:
Title: SPEECHLESS
Author: Hannah Harrington
Author: Hannah Harrington
Release Date: Out Aug. 28, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Received: Purchased
SUMMARY:
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.
Great Ebook Deals from HarperCollins!
12:45 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Check out some of her fellow authors for a Steal of a Deal with two e-book specials!
May I especially recommend UNEARTHLY if you're forced to make a decision? It was beyond good. I didn't expect to like it at ALL because angels aren't my thing, but Cynthia Hand's writing is so strong and I am so in love with this book!
My review of UNEARTHLY
And while I haven't read THE BODY FINDER, I adore Kimberly Derting's other series, THE PLEDGE. It was a dystopian fantasy, full of kingdoms and kings and queens and all that good stuff, so a lot of people who don't like the two genres to mix gave it mixed reviews. I, personally, love both genres, and to see them together made my heart beat a little faster. I enjoyed it so much! I would definitely read another book by this author, and for $2.99, how can I say no to THE BODY FINDER?
My review of THE PLEDGE
And don't forget these other $2.99 deals from HarperCollins and Epic Reads, which are only good for a couple more days:
I've been hearing especially good things about S.J. Kincaid's dystopian debut novel, INSIGNIA!
Get these great deals FAST, because they won't last long!
New Titles Coming From Lauren Oliver!
12:06 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Whatever will you read next?
How about...MORE Lauren Oliver Books?
In 2014, Lauren is releasing her first novel for adults, ROOMS. Not much is known about this one yet because HarperCollins/Ecco is keeping everything under wraps. But, uh....I already want it? Lauren Oliver is that good of an author.
If you're not ready to leave the world of Delirium just yet, there are two treats in store for you! Lauren wrote two more e-novellas in the vein of HANA.
The second new novella, RAVEN, will release on March 5th alongside its momma, REQUIEM.
For those who don't like e-books or don't have a way to read them or, heck, just want their own shiny copies to sit alongside their print copies of Lauren's other books, you're in luck! On March 5th, HarperCollins is ALSO releasing a paperback anthology that gathers together all three stories (and perhaps some additional treats?)! It's currently titled: DELIRIUM STORIES: Hana, Annabel, and Raven.
Okay, I don't know about you, but even though I have HANA as an ebook on my nook, I want that paperback copy because I own all of Lauren's book's in hardcover and they'll look so pretty and shiny together!
Besides DELIRIUM, Lauren Oliver has also written the best-selling stand-alone novel BEFORE I FALL (her debut!), as well as two stand-alone novels for children, charming LIESL & PO, and creepy THE SPINDLERS! Check them out for more Lauren Oliver love if you haven't already done so!
{Official Cover Reveal & Giveaway} TAKING BACK FOREVER by Karen Amanda Hooper
12:00 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Karen Amanda Hooper, author of TANGLED TIDES and GRASPING AT ETERNITY, is sharing her newest cover today. The sequel to GRASPING AT ETERNITY, Book 2 of The Kindrily series, is titled TAKING BACK FOREVER.
Karen and her cover designer, Alexandra Shostak, have worked side by side to create the TAKING BACK FOREVER cover. After lots of hard work (and a lot of love) here it is…
TAKING BACK FOREVER
by Karen Amanda Hooper
by Karen Amanda Hooper
Want to know more? Here’s a summary of TAKING BACK FOREVER:
SUMMARY:
Forever is worth the fight.
Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.
Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.
To celebrate, Karen and Alexandra are giving away signed paperbacks of Grasping at Eternity. (Signed by Karen AND Alexandra!)
Contest is open internationally!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Alexandra Shostak is a writer of dark and fantastical things, mostly meant for teenagers. She is a freelance cover designer, and is available to do covers and interior artwork directly for authors. She is also a former Irish dancer, a guitar player, and the person who can get you through the zombie apocalypse without getting bitten.If you’re especially worried about the zombie apocalypse, you can find her in one of these places:
or on Twitter as @a_shostak
Twitter: @karen_hooper
What are your thoughts on Karen Amanda Hooper's latest cover?
Official Featured Fierce Reads Blogger 10/20!
11:45 AM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
 |
| Follow Fierce Reads on Facebook and Twitter! |
This Saturday, Macmillan is sending its quarterly Fierce Reads tour my way! Not only that, but they've been kind enough to ask my personal blog A Backwards Story to be the Featured Blogger at the event!
I'll be live tweeting from the event as @abackwardsstory (so long as I can get onto the wi-fi without a library card because I won't be in my own township) and posting a wrap-up either Saturday night or Sunday morning along with an exclusive interview AND a giveaway of six autographed books from Macmillan and attending authors Gennifer Albin (CREWEL), Leigh Bardugo (SHADOW AND BONE), Caragh M. O'Brien (The Birthmarked Trilogy), and Marie Rutkoski (THE SHADOW SOCIETY, The Kronos Chronicles Trilogy)! I'm hoping to also pick up some fun swag to give away as well!
Make sure to check back this weekend for all the details!
If you have any burning questions you'd like to ask any/all of these authors, please leave them in a comment below and I'll ask them on Saturday!
I'll be reviewing (and in one case, re-posting a review) each of the Fierce Reads authors this week, so look forward to reviews on the books all week long!
~*~
HAPPY BOOK DAY!!
Yesterday also marked the Book Day of two of the authors, CREWEL by Gennifer Albin and THE SHADOW SOCIETY by Marie Rutkoski.
I've read both of these and they're both great reads, so check them out. ....And, of course, enter to win them this weekend!
I'll be reviewing both of these novels this week, so look forward to it!
~*~
CONGRATULATIONS!!
And while, sadly, Fierce Reads author Marissa Meyer won't be at Saturday's event (Woe, I tell you, woe!!!), her debut novel CINDER was just listed as one of YALSA's 2012 Teens' Top Ten Books! (Along with heavyweight authors John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Meg Cabot, plus many more talented authors! I love so many books on this list!)
For anyone who has yet to learn about the fabulousness that is CINDER (and what are you waiting for? Run. Now!), check out my review from earlier this year, along with an interview with Macmillan cover designer Rich Deas!
{Review & Giveaway} PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry
10:33 PM Posted by Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Want a gritty new book to love while waiting for something new from Lauren Oliver?
Stay tuned after today's review at the bottom of this post to enter to win your own copy of the buzzworthy PUSHING THE LIMITS! Today may be my birthday, but HarlequinTeen and I are gifting one of you with this incredible, hard-hitting novel!
Also, did you know there's mythology in PUSHING THE LIMITS? It's true!
Check out my Mythological Mondays post!
Another cool thing? Candace's Book Blog, Natalia @ Dazzling Reads, The Page Turners, Mary @ The Book Swarm and at The Bewitched Bookworms have put together a PUSHING THE LIMITS Read-Along from July 31st to August 28th, including a live Twitter chat with author Katie McGarry!
Click here for more information!
Stay tuned after today's review at the bottom of this post to enter to win your own copy of the buzzworthy PUSHING THE LIMITS! Today may be my birthday, but HarlequinTeen and I are gifting one of you with this incredible, hard-hitting novel!
Also, did you know there's mythology in PUSHING THE LIMITS? It's true!
Check out my Mythological Mondays post!
Another cool thing? Candace's Book Blog, Natalia @ Dazzling Reads, The Page Turners, Mary @ The Book Swarm and at The Bewitched Bookworms have put together a PUSHING THE LIMITS Read-Along from July 31st to August 28th, including a live Twitter chat with author Katie McGarry!
Click here for more information!
O P E N I N G H O O K:
While I've always been more of a fan of fantasy than I have contemporary, especially teen contemporary now that I'm no longer a teen, I've been trying to read more in this genre. PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry has been garnering huge amounts of advance buzz this summer, the like of which I haven't seen since Stephanie Perkins released ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. It took me a long time to pick up ANNA because I didn't like the cover or the title and, let's face it, I thought it was pure romance, which I really don't read. But it was devastatingly good and stuck with me long after the book ended because the character development was so superb. PUSHING THE LIMITS also has a very romantic cover, so I overlooked the book when I first saw it online and I ignored the initial buzz. I read an interview that another blogger had done with McGarry and became intrigued. When publisher HarlequinTeen offered me a review copy and a giveaway copy, I jumped at the chance to see the book everyone is talking about. I'm not going to make the mistake I did with ANNA and judge this book by its cover.
I'm so glad I read this. As soon as the book arrived, I dropped what I was reading (Which turned into a DNF anyway, so I'm glad I dropped it...*cough*) to pick up PUSHING THE LIMITS and I devoured it. It was my day off, so I had plenty of time to read, and I stayed up late to finish. It was that good. Like the way Perkins developed characters I became enamored with when reading ANNA, so too did McGarry. Plus, PUSHING THE LIMITS is an issues book. Personally, I love books full of hard-hitting issues because they keep my attention more than a straight-forward romance ever could. Books with issues are the sort of contemporary novels I love best.
Ignore the deceptively romantic cover. All of that romance came at a high price. Told in alternating points of view between main characters Echo and Noah, both characters are incredibly damaged at the novel's start. Echo's older brother died in Afghanistan, which was a huge blow to her family. Her mother, who already suffered from mental illness, did something devastating, something that left scars on Echo despite the fact that her mind has repressed the memory. Noah, on the other hand, is an orphan. His parents died in a tragic house fire and his two younger brothers have been taken away from him and put into separate foster housing. Both Echo and Noah had so much taken from them and have gone through so much ever since their respective tragedies. Despite being from different paths in life, they find one another and learn how to heal, how to let go, how to move on, how to embrace the future and leave the past behind. The journey these two embark on is incredible and by the novel's end, both have come so far.
It's hard to describe PUSHING THE LIMITS without giving things away. All I can say is that McGarry, despite this being her debut novel, is a pro at layering and building up the development of her characters. Their world is real, and it's so easy for readers to get lost in the journey. The book has very raw, realistic emotions reminiscent of teen contemporary queen Simone Elkeles, who actually has a blurb on the dust jacket of PUSHING THE LIMITS. While most of McGarry's secondary characters fall to the wayside (it isn't, after all, their story), it's interesting to see that she'll focus on one of these characters in the 2013 release of her next novel, DARE YOU TO. While the character isn't one I necessarily gravitated to the first time around, it will be interesting to see how McGarry gets into her psyche and whether or not she can make me care the way she did when I read about Echo and Noah. I'll willing to take that chance and find out. Are you?
If I had seen this cover on the shelf and knew nothing about the book, I probably wouldn't have picked up PUSHING THE LIMITS. The cover looks very light, and there are many YA contemporary novels with couples against a locker, so it doesn't really stand out. Most recently, KEEP HOLDING ON by Susane Colasanti comes to mind, and this book also has a misleading cover since it's full of hard issues.
At the same time, the romance that builds between the two main characters is an important part of the story and the character development, so I can see why they went this route. Plus, the cover was designed with darker, grittier colors and a punch of silver, so the coloring stands out. I love that the female model has curly red hair like Echo does, too. Win!
The interior of the design is fabulous. If you take off the dust jacket, you see a full locker-sized image of the cover that spans the front cover, spine, and back cover. Each chapter alternates between Echo's and Noah's POVs, and each character has a unique font well-suited for his/her personality:
I'm so glad I read this. As soon as the book arrived, I dropped what I was reading (Which turned into a DNF anyway, so I'm glad I dropped it...*cough*) to pick up PUSHING THE LIMITS and I devoured it. It was my day off, so I had plenty of time to read, and I stayed up late to finish. It was that good. Like the way Perkins developed characters I became enamored with when reading ANNA, so too did McGarry. Plus, PUSHING THE LIMITS is an issues book. Personally, I love books full of hard-hitting issues because they keep my attention more than a straight-forward romance ever could. Books with issues are the sort of contemporary novels I love best.
Ignore the deceptively romantic cover. All of that romance came at a high price. Told in alternating points of view between main characters Echo and Noah, both characters are incredibly damaged at the novel's start. Echo's older brother died in Afghanistan, which was a huge blow to her family. Her mother, who already suffered from mental illness, did something devastating, something that left scars on Echo despite the fact that her mind has repressed the memory. Noah, on the other hand, is an orphan. His parents died in a tragic house fire and his two younger brothers have been taken away from him and put into separate foster housing. Both Echo and Noah had so much taken from them and have gone through so much ever since their respective tragedies. Despite being from different paths in life, they find one another and learn how to heal, how to let go, how to move on, how to embrace the future and leave the past behind. The journey these two embark on is incredible and by the novel's end, both have come so far.
It's hard to describe PUSHING THE LIMITS without giving things away. All I can say is that McGarry, despite this being her debut novel, is a pro at layering and building up the development of her characters. Their world is real, and it's so easy for readers to get lost in the journey. The book has very raw, realistic emotions reminiscent of teen contemporary queen Simone Elkeles, who actually has a blurb on the dust jacket of PUSHING THE LIMITS. While most of McGarry's secondary characters fall to the wayside (it isn't, after all, their story), it's interesting to see that she'll focus on one of these characters in the 2013 release of her next novel, DARE YOU TO. While the character isn't one I necessarily gravitated to the first time around, it will be interesting to see how McGarry gets into her psyche and whether or not she can make me care the way she did when I read about Echo and Noah. I'll willing to take that chance and find out. Are you?
~*~
C O V E R D E S I G N:
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| The cover WITHOUT the dust jacket. Image from Katie McGarry's blog b/c I'm LAZY, lol. |
At the same time, the romance that builds between the two main characters is an important part of the story and the character development, so I can see why they went this route. Plus, the cover was designed with darker, grittier colors and a punch of silver, so the coloring stands out. I love that the female model has curly red hair like Echo does, too. Win!
The interior of the design is fabulous. If you take off the dust jacket, you see a full locker-sized image of the cover that spans the front cover, spine, and back cover. Each chapter alternates between Echo's and Noah's POVs, and each character has a unique font well-suited for his/her personality:
~*~
O F F I C I A L I N F O:
Title: PUSHING THE LIMITS
Authors: Katie McGarry
Authors: Katie McGarry
Release Date: Out July 30, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Received: Received for Review
SUMMARY:
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
Now it's your turn.
You have until August 15th to enter to win the awesome PUSHING THE LIMITS by debut author Katie McGarry.
Good luck!
