Title: Lies My Girlfriend Told Me
Author: Julie Anne Peters (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: June 10, 2014
Genre: YA, LGBT Contemporary
Pages: 256
Source: Publisher

When Alix's charismatic girlfriend, Swanee, dies from sudden cardiac arrest, Alix is overcome with despair. As she searches Swanee's room for mementos of their relationship, she finds Swanee's cell phone, pinging with dozens of texts sent from a mysterious contact, L.T. The most recent text reads: "Please tell me what I did. Please, Swan. Te amo. I love you."

Shocked and betrayed, Alix learns that Swanee has been leading a double life--secretly dating a girl named Liana the entire time she's been with Alix. Alix texts Liana from Swanee's phone, pretending to be Swanee in order to gather information before finally meeting face-to-face to break the news.

Brought together by Swanee's lies, Alix and Liana become closer than they'd thought possible. But Alix is still hiding the truth from Liana. Alix knows what it feels like to be lied to--but will coming clean to Liana mean losing her, too?

I've been working to challenge myself more here on the blog with types of novels that might have scared me away when I first started reviewing young adult. Contemporary was the first big hurdle for me, in that I had to realize that not all contemporary novels were trite and cliche. LGBT novels have been a long time coming for me because I wanted to convince myself that these novels can hold more power than just preaching - and that they could transcend the norm in YA and show us true diversity. Lies My Girlfriend Told Me epitomizes stretching my boundaries and reading a novel that portrays two beautiful, powerful and broken relationships in the best possible way, offering readers exactly what we'd expect and more. Julie Ann Peters shows us that this is a book about navigating teenage life, loss and love - not just about being gay.

I think that it must be said that there is an innate power in Lies My Girlfriend Told Me, simply with the fact that Ms. Peters is showing us society is growing, evolving and changing with the times. While we know our protagonists are lesbians, it's actually not the central theme of the novel. The theme is love and loss, with characters who happen to be gay, have very real relationships and navigate the same sorts of drama we might see in every other novel. It was beautiful to see that the author didn't trivialize the sexuality of her characters, but she didn't exploit it either, which made the story all the more powerful.

Alix was a very broken and confused character with whom I could empathize right away. Her story and the death of her girlfriend was tragic and heartbreaking - only to be compounded upon by the revelation that there was another girl in the picture. Watching her navigate the grief, the loss and the betrayal felt true and honest, though I must say I was thrown off slightly by the budding relationship with Liana. I appreciated Liana's character for the depth and emotion that she provided, as well as the secondary perspective of such a great loss. I just didn't necessarily agree with their sort of insta-love connection. That said, however, grief is different for everybody, so it might have been their coping mechanism.

In the end, though I wasn't entirely sold on the instantaneous connection between our leading ladies, I was sold on how poignant this novel was and how much anyone can relate to it. Addressing powerful subject matter with well-developed characters, Lies My Girlfriend Told Me is a novel I'll be suggesting to anyone looking for a challenging, thought-provoking read. I give it a high 3 out of 5, and I definitely recommend to fans of young adult, especially those who enjoy contemporary and LGBT novels.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

I will never tire of three things in literature: witchcraft, historical fiction and magic. To combine the lot in one book seems to be the trifecta for me these days, and I'm getting pickier and pickier about what I review otherwise.  That said, it seems as though historical fiction is growing in both popularity and creativity these days, making it the perfect genre for me!

Title: Salt & Storm

Author: Kendall Kulper (Twitter)

Publisher: Little, Brown BYR

Publish Date: September 23, 2014

Genre: YA, Historical Fiction

Pages: 416

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island’s whale men safe and prosperous at sea. But before she could learn how to control her power, her mother, the first Roe woman in centuries to turn her back on magic, stole Avery away from her grandmother. Avery must escape from her mother before her grandmother dies, taking with her the secrets of the Roes’ power.

When Avery awakens from a dream foretelling her own murder, she realizes time is running short—for her and for the people of her island, who, without the Roes, will lose their ships and the only life they know.

With the help of Tane, a tattooed harpoon boy from the Pacific Islands, Avery plots her escape from her mother and unravels the mysteries of her mother’s and grandmother’s pasts. Becoming a witch may prevent her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers it will also require a sacrifice she never expected—one she might not be able to make.

Doesn't that sound pretty much epic? I love not only the setting, but the dire straits to which Avery and the other characters seem to need to go to save their magic and their lives. I haven't read a good historical fiction in a while, but I think this could break that streak for me because it sounds awesome. I can't wait to see if there's more to the black magic of the Roes than we think! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Torn Away
Author: Jennifer Brown (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: May 6, 2014
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

It doesn't happen often, but there are rare times when an author is able to consistently captivate you with his or her works, simply because each one captures the essence of humanity within their pages. Jennifer Brown is one of these authors for me, and Torn Away is the type of novel that will trap you in its clutches, begging for you to understand the true emotions we all feel when we strip aside all the pretenses. Whereas some novels offer us a villain, and some might even make us search within ourselves to find out if we're actually the villain in the tale, mother nature is our villain here, binding us in with a powerful, raging and unstoppable force.

Most of you who have been reading my blog for a long time now know that I have a love affair with Ms. Brown's books. Hate List shattered me into a million little pieces before artfully crafting me back together again. Torn Away, however, might just have edged right up there alongside my favourite with its raw, angry power. Jersey is the perfect protagonist for this type of story. She's an innocent girl with whom we can empathize in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, if only because her grief, anger and loneliness is so very visceral. I felt, more often than not, that I was in her shoes, and her pain was shared with each turn of the page.

While yes, this is a story about a powerful and heartbreaking natural disaster, it's also a coming of age story in which Jersey must learn to come to terms with the overwhelming sadness and loss with which she was dealt. There's a beauty to her pain as Ms. Brown articulates every instance, every emotion and every scene with careful accuracy, painting them with broad strokes of pure emotion. Standing in Jersey's shoes through the tornado and then the aftermath of being shuttled to her father's family, I felt a hollow, aching emptiness that was nearly all-consuming. Her path and her future seemed so very bleak and littered with pain, which made the novel almost oppressive at times - but in a powerful manner. 

More than anything else, Torn Away is a novel that embraces the length process of healing in the wake of terrible loss. Ms. Brown has an innate ability to capture the true grieving process, asking readers to experience what her characters experience all the while. There's a delicate and haunting reality in each and every word of this novel, and it's the type of prose that will break you and heal you through the story, as well. I must say that though Jersey takes center stage in the novel, the secondary characters rang authentic and true, as well. Each one, however fleeting their appearance was, played a significant role in the healing process and served to raise the stakes of the novel.

All in all, though I've loved all of Ms. Brown's novels, Torn Away earns a special place up there with Hate List for me due to is awe-inspiring power. It's the type of novel that I'll recommend to readers time and again when looking for a real, gut-wrenching story. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy hard-hitting contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Rags & Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales
Authors: Multiple
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: October 22, 2013
Genre: YA
Pages: 356
Source: Publisher

The best writers of our generation retell the classics.

Literature is filled with sexy, deadly, and downright twisted tales. In this collection, award-winning and bestselling authors reimagine their favorite classic stories, ones that have inspired, awed, and enraged them; ones that have become ingrained in modern culture; and ones that have been too long overlooked. They take these stories and boil them down to their bones, and then reassemble them for a new generation of readers.

Today's most acclaimed authors use their own unique styles to rebuild these twelve timeless stories.

Anthologies are often what what I like to think of as a mixed blessing. They give readers a little bit of everything they could ever want and, sometimes, a little more than they might have wanted. They give us a lot of amazing authors, but they don't always give us enough of our favourites. Nevertheless, anthologies are priceless, as I'm always amazed just how many authors there are with different mindsets, different voices, different narratives and, truly, different perspectives on storytelling. Rags & Bones was certainly no exception, offering readers retellings of stories such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Rumplestiltskin" and many more. 

It is difficult to review an anthology as a whole because often the anthology as a whole doesn't quite measure up to the sum of its parts. However, if you take each story as its own entity within this grand master package, you're certain to be mesmerized. Rags & Bones gives us 12 dazzling tales that are reimagined through some of the most incredible minds of our generation. Neil Gaiman, Kami Garcia, Holly Black and a host of other authors lend us their literary prowess and send us into a whirlwind of adventure as we leap from one story to the next with excitement.

A true standout for me would have to be Neil Gaiman's take on Sleeping Beauty or, re-named, "The Sleeper and the Spindle." This rich story blurs the lines between fairy tales, letting other known princesses like Snow White come to the aid of the damsel in distress. It's rich, it's vivid, it's oddly empowering and it offers us a glimpse into this world that is so different than we might have imagined, but so very plausible, too, if you think about it. Rick Yancey offers us "When First We Were Gods," a new take on Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic "The Birth-Mark." This disconcerting dystopian tale is unsettling and eerie in a world where the rich can download their souls and place it into a new body.

Carrie Ryan's version of "The Machine Stops" is equally disconcerting, playing largely upon man's dependence upon technology. Her unique and accessible voice brings the world alive though, inviting you in with tantalizing detail and luring us into a wonderful, technological trap. The list goes on. Each story is vivid with detail, and it was delightful to gain a new sort of insight into the authors' worlds and how they see such classics being told.

While anthologies usually don't work for me, Rags & Bones was really very enjoyable. Though, at times, I found the pace a bit frantic and the stories almost a bit too short for my liking, they whetted my literary appetite and kept me intrigued throughout. If you're looking for an anthology that will come alive for you, I highly recommend this. I give it a 4 out of 5, and this is suitable for both YA and NA audiences.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Reality Boy
Author: A.S. King (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: October 22, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.

Gerald is the kid that everybody knew...and that nobody knew at all. Twelve years ago, his family invited TV cameras into their home to "help" them with their struggling family dynamic, complete with off-kilter and a dysfunctional child. Little did most of the viewing population know, every single moment was carefully crafted by someone more devious and psychotic than the rest, aimed solely at placing all blame and drama on young Gerald's head. Today, those memories, and that life, haunt him still. Will he ever be able to escape his past?

In a day and age where reality TV is, oddly enough, king, Reality Boy couldn't be more relevant for the YA crowd. Yet, for some reason, this book has missed the necessary hype to get readers excited for its potential. It flew under the radar for me, as well, and I almost turned it down, but I did see some promise for another dramatic and realistic storyline from author, A.S. King. I was thoroughly impressed by the depth of this book, the internal struggle brought to light and a boy so lost in a web of false impressions that he's not even sure who he is anymore. This book, this story and this raw, gritty and emotional journey will definitely stick with me.

Guys, it's been a long time since I've read an entirely believable male protagonist. There was such a heartbreaking authenticity to Gerald's voice in Reality Boy that made his plight resonate from the very first page. I couldn't quite get a grasp on his character at first because he is so very misunderstood, and a lot of what we are offered is what the very viewers of the reality show Gerald was a part of saw. He is such a broken, battered character - not externally though - so his wounds cut much deeper and, to most, can't even be recognized. He's simply seen as damaged. But there are so many facets to Gerald's character that make this story sing because as we peel back each singed, tainted and bruised layer, we begin to see that there is a genuine and vulnerable boy underneath who, above all else, simply wants to run from the nickname "Crapper" and the traumatic past that damaged him so much. Perhaps equally strong was the portrayal of Gerald's family throughout the reality TV process. Complete with a British nanny and staged scenarios, Lisi, Gerald and their malicious older sister, Tasha, are forced to live out their young lives for the world to see, digest and regurgitate - tainted by their own impressions, which haunt both Gerald and Lisi to this day. As the story progresses, we watch as this broken, shattered boy finds someone that sees him for something other than the poisoned image from reality TV, and as Hannah gently helps mend his heart, we can't help but root for their story to finally give Gerald the happy life he so desperately deserves. Now, be aware that the romance plays second fiddle to Gerald's journey, but it's done beautifully nonetheless, and I loved it.

Overall, I was completely floored by the sheer poignance and power of Reality Boy. I hope this book doesn't remain as under-hyped as it is now, and I really hope that readers give it a shot. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Author: Matthew Quick (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: August 13, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

Leonard has given up. Today is the day, without a doubt, that he will end kill Asher Beal, then turn the gun on himself. It's the way it has to be. It's the only way out now. From his less-than-ideal family life, to the relationships with friends that never really got off the ground, or simply crashed and burned, there is a reason that Leonard has come to the school today with a loaded gun in his backpack. But before he can finally end it all, there are just four people to whom Leonard has to apologize. And, once he does, he's free to finally and ultimately be free...if he truly wants it.

I'm sure most of you can agree that this book has flown far beneath the radar on the YA market and, in some ways, I do understand why. Grappling with base human emotions, the darker side of the human mind, depression and suicidal themes, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock challenges the boundaries of young adult fiction. With heartfelt emotion, raw tension and a painful, palpable sadness, Matthew Quick paints a picture of a boy so desperate to get out, he sees no other option than a tragic murder suicide. And, with even greater precision and feeling, we are offered not only an insight into how Leonard's life became so hopeless, but also to the true hope for redemption.

When I read the synopsis of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, I'll admit that I had pause when considering picking it up. As readers of this blog, you know that I have a deep appreciation for darker books that tackle reality in a true manner. However, I was worried that a book this dark might be even too much for me to bear. However, I have to say that I was very wrong in that regard. Let me be clear though; this book is extremely sad. It's sad in the sense that it is so very heartbreaking to watch a teenage boy so lost in the throes of despair that he cannot find a way out. It's sad that we can't reach through the pages and hold this boy that is so real, tangible, sensitive and genuine. It's sad that we cannot convince him that it does get better. Leonard truly was a remarkable character. There's a distinct intelligence about him that contrasts perfectly with this shadow of depression surrounding him. He's lonely, and that feeling is aching and hollow from page one, and we're enveloped into the world in which Leonard has lost himself. Told in first person, I found it was easy to access Leonard's thoughts on life, as a whole. I'll admit it was a bit painful at times, and as we see in his footnotes describing the extraneous details, we see just how thoughtful he is. He examines everything. He sees and feels it all, and that pain and sense of loss is almost suffocating at times which, for a story such of this, is a huge talent. The brutal beauty of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock lies within the ability to put us in Leonard's shoes though, and by giving us a true-to-life, searing tale of a teen who has no sense of self-worth left. I do wish the ending had been a bit longer to know with complete certainty Leonard's fate. There's something to be said though for leaving us with two divergent paths, a touch of hope and, after all, a resigned sense of closure.

Overall,  I was really, really impressed with Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. It's about as dark as you can get in this genre without crossing the line because of the honest portrayal, but it is rich, layered and incredibly important. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA and upper YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and issue books. Please be aware of the dark subject matter and, at times, coarse language.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Altered
Author: Jennifer Rush (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: January 1, 2013
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 323
Source: Publisher

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Anna's life has never been truly normal. With a father that's deeply embedded in the inner workings of a secret government project, homeschooling, daily duties in their underground lab and a long-since passed mother, she's never really looked for normalcy in everyday life. But there's something about the boys on whom her father experiments that intrigues Anna. They don't remember life before Branch. There are files stashed in her house with cryptic messages and, for some reason, Branch will do anything to get the four boys back. But Anna's on the run, and she's in so far that she's a part of the program, too, whether she likes it or not. 

I've professed my love for science fiction on this blog many times now. I've also stated that I absolutely love stories about characters with unique powers and abilities. These storylines speak to me. Altered by Jennifer Rush promises readers all that and so much more. From page one, we're thrust into a high-speed, action-packed chase in which we can only hope that we, as well as the characters, survive this story in one piece. Altered sends readers on a whirlwind plot of adventure, clever mystery and intrigue, never letting up until we ultimately get the answers we seek.

For all intents and purposes, Altered was a good book. The first thought that entered my mind about two chapters into the book was that the writing was incredibly cinematic, if you understand my meaning. The author has created a book that reads very much like you would expect an action movie to play out. It jumps, it twists and we're thrust from event to event, trying to connect the clues as we go. In some ways, this really works because it forces us to absorb every intricate detail we come across. In other ways, however, I felt as though it left the true development of the story and the characters' individual arcs on the backburner, which is a bit of a tricky element for me. In terms of characterization, the author does a great job of creating individual personalities for these four boys, Nick, Cas, Trev and Sam. Each one is extremely distinct, and I found it easy to associate the boys with a character trait, which set them apart as I read the story. On the flip side though, I felt as though a lot of Altered spent time telling me about these characters and their emotions, rather than showing me who they were and what they were going through. Anna was also a bit of a tricky one for me. I found her to be largely self-deprecating at the beginning of the story, despite the fact that she's pretty, she's smart, she is self-sufficient and she can defend herself. I find it to be extremely aggravating when we see a potentially powerful heroine stripped down to a meager facade that is, well, pretty lackluster. In my humble opinion, her character could have been so much more. All that aside though, I'd be remiss if I didn't state the storyline for Altered is really well done. Every element was thought out and carefully pieced together so that the action and adventure never stops. There are plenty of unexpected turns that surprised and pleased me, and that is a really strong trait for a book to have. 

Overall, I think Altered was a successful debut, albeit mildly flawed for a demanding reader like myself. I find myself becoming pickier and pickier, and this book has received a lot of good reviews, so it could very well be me. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it fans of YA fiction that enjoy science fiction and adventure.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Half Lives
Author: Sara Grant (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: July 9, 2013
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher

Seventeen-year-old Icie's parents have given her $10,000 in cash, a map of a top-secret bunker, and instructions to get there by any means necessary. They have news of an imminent viral attack and know that the bunker is Icie's only hope for survival. Along with three other teens, she lives locked away for months, not knowing what's happening in the outside world or who has survived. And are they safe in the bunker after all?

Generations in the future, a mysterious cult worships the very mountain where Icie's secret bunker was built. They never leave the mountain, they're ruled by a teenager...and they have surprising ties to Icie.

Icie lives in a world that's confined to the hidden, underground shelter of a bunker, simply to stay alive. Icie and her unlikely group of friends struggle to survive in this shelter that's devoid of news of the outside world, and, hundreds of years in the future, Beckett's life races through a series of unfathomable events as he tries to understand the mysteries of the very mountain in which Icie and her friends hid so many years ago. These two teens live generations apart, but there is an inexplicable link that will eventually, ultimately be realized.

Half Lives presents a unique opportunity for readers, as well as a bit of a challenge, which is often lacking in the YA genre. Sara Grant has created an intriguing premise for two decidedly different storylines unravel and unfold, all the while winding back into a single connection, which brings the story full-circle. With clever and articulate details, a heroine with whom readers can relate and a surprising new twist on the dystopian genre, Half Lives promises readers two very different and exciting journeys.

There was a lot going on in Half Lives, and I'll be completely honest and say that not all of it worked for me. I'll start, however, with what really did succeed. Icie's storyline was brilliant. Written in first-person perspective, I was offered a unique twist into accessing a teen protagonist's mind. I was worried that viewing the world and events from Icie's eyes would limit my investment in her storyline, or would keep me from understand the secondary characters Chaske, Marissa and Tate, but I was surprised to find that I had more investment in their arcs because of this viewpoint. On the other hand though, Beckett's side of the story was written in third-person perspective, which usually really succeeds for me, but I felt as though his own storyline felt shallow and difficult to follow. Perhaps it was the vernacular, or the chants and prayers, but I felt like I couldn't really get into his side of the novel. I will say that it was a clever and appropriate differentiation between Icie and Beckett's journeys, but I almost feel like Half Lives could have succeeded far better if the first book was written from Icie's POV, while the second followed Beckett's journey. That said, there were aspects of Beckett's future generation that I did enjoy. I think it was really unique and fun that the place in which they lived was called "Forreal." I enjoyed some of the tense revelations, which often led me down the wrong path and surprised me. Unfortunately though, a lot of the depth I wanted from Beckett's end was lost, and secondary characters became mere stereotypes, while the gripping drama of Icie's storyline slowly slipped away and got lost.

In the end, I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Half Lives. I give the author a ton of credit for tackling a lot with this novel and really challenging her creative bounds. I'm just not sure how well some of the story will resonate with readers, as it left me wanting a bit more at times. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy dystopian and split perspectives.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Guys, I'm insanely excited today because I get to participate in an incredible promotional tour for Daisy Whitney's stellar new young adult contemporary novel, When You Were Here, which releases tomorrow, June 4, from Little, Brown. In case you missed it, check out my review of this awesome book here.

This was such an exceptional read for me and, as someone who has notoriously suffered from a general aversion to the contemporary genre, I think it's safe to say it means something when a book really makes me feel something. So, without further ado, please enjoy Daisy Whitney's awesome interview about the character of Holland, a complex, tricky and, ultimately, heart-winning character.

Q: Holland, though a secondary character, plays an extremely important role in Danny's emotional healing. How did you balance Danny's healing process with that of Holland's?

Her healing process comes in what’s unseen and what she’s gone through over the last year before the story starts. When we meet her, she’s already begun to heal and that’s why she’s able to reach out to Danny many times, even though he’s not ready for her for a long time. But they both need to restitch themselves from the past wounds if they have a chance of being together.

Q: When writing Holland's character, did you know immediately that you wanted her to be a driving force behind Danny's journey to find peace, or did that sort come about along the way?

I always intended When You Were Here as a story about the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love you can find when you’re a teenager, so yes, Holland was always part of the plan, and even though her character changed in revisions, my endgame for her was always the same. (Readers can find out what that endgame is!)

Q: Holland could easily have become a jaded shell of a character after the circumstances she has to endure. How did you manage to keep her relatable, sympathetic and every bit as worthwhile as the protagonist, Danny?

It wasn’t always easy! She was a bit of a flippant, flirty, cold-fish-hot-fish in the first draft! But by diving into the backstory of when they were first together and showing more of those scenes, I was able to get at the heart of her character and why she fell in love with Danny. But since Danny doesn’t always see what’s in front of him, she needs to try harder to connect with him and she does that by going to his house, by offering to cover for him if he wants to skip graduation, by bringing him Chinese takeout, by trying to tell him why she broke up with him (though he cuts her off), and by continuing to reach out while he is in Tokyo.

Q: Holland is actually a very brave and selfless character, but we don't immediately see these traits. What was the meaning behind leading us to believe one thing, then revealing more and more later?

Because that’s how Danny experiences her. Because the truth of why she left is explosive and has been hidden from him intentionally.

Q: Is Holland's persona based on someone in real life, or was she simply the perfect counterpart for our broken protagonist?

Holland started with an idea, an archetype - the girl next door that the boy is madly in love with. She was molded and sharpened from that clay, but at heart, she is the girl who has always cared for Danny ever since they were kids, and the girl who still cares for him.

And, for your viewing pleasure, here is a never-before-seen video of Daisy in Japan!


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Last, but certainly not least, the generous folks at Little, Brown and Daisy Whitney have offered up five finished copies of When You Were Here for my lucky readers. This awesome giveaway is open to all residents of the US (no PO Boxes, please!) Simply fill out the Rafflecopter to enter! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Fathomless
Author: Jackson Pearce
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: September 4, 2012
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 304

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

I have always been a sucker for fairy tales. Always. Especially because they usually have a darker, more sinister underbelly if you read between the lines. Fathomless is the latest in this fantastic series of awesome fairy tale retellings, and let me tell you...mermaids?! Sold. The characters sound fantastic, and I love the fact that there is a deeper hidden meaning within that synopsis, and I can't wait to uncover the secret parts of the classic story of The Little Mermaid. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Title: Revived
Author: Cat Patrick
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: May 8, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

Daisy is used to dying. Actually, she’s died five times. Each time, her life is uprooted, she has to change schools, towns, lives and identities and, frankly, she’s not entirely sure it’s worth it anymore. Nothing is familiar. Nothing is sacred. Everything is temporary, and she wants something a little more solid. Revived has been her saviour each time she’s passed, but Daisy is beginning to see that the silver lining of invincibility isn’t quite as glamourous as it seems. It’s tiring, and nothing is real anymore. Plus, Revived is carefully controlled and God, who controls Revived, his subjects and his agents, is a little more meddlesome than she’d anticipated, and life’s great adventure is a frantic search for normalcy now.

So, colour me crazy, kids, but Revived has one heck of a premise. Death isn’t the end anymore. There’s a world beyond death and this drug is the key to it all. Veteran author, Cat Patrick, has crafted one heck of a plot filled with twists and turns, sending you on whirlwind adventure that’s sinister, realistic and incredibly mysterious. The fast-paced plot speeds you along as you grasp at straws to discover the hidden meaning and capture this character that we so desperately want to help and travel along with. Revived takes reality, turns it on its head, and thrusts an illustrious and unpredictable storyline upon the reader.

Cheating death; now that’s one heck of a crux for a story, eh? Honestly, I love that it makes you think. I’m a religious person. I believe that there is a reason for everything, and I believe that death, while inevitable, isn’t the end. However, Revived presents a reality where death, literally, doesn’t have to be the end…because you can live past it. It’s like a catch-22 though. You can live, but your life changes each time, and that presents questions. Would you still want to live if your life is going to be ripped away? What’s the point of coming back if you can’t come back to the life you love? Those questions run like a fuming undercurrent throughout the story. Revived also lends a touch of contemporary complexity to the story. While the premise is overtly supernatural and paranormal, the story itself, takes a very human approach. The intense characterization helps you become involved in and enmeshed in the journey, and you watch as Daisy carefully cultivates relationships through family, friendships and even first loves. This decidedly human approach makes Revived an interesting blend of contemporary and paranormal – though perhaps clouds it, as well. Finally, I have to remark on that cover. Holy beautiful. Someone buy me an art print, please and thank you!

All in all, I found Revived to be an immensely enjoyable read. I think that, although it was a bit too hasty and speedy at times, it was a solid read overall. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal and contemporary elements.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Perfect Escape
Author: Jennifer Brown
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: July 10, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 352

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

I've read a few of Jennifer Brown's books now, and she never ceases to amaze me. While I'll admit that I've started to have a bit of a soft spot for contemporary fiction, I'm still rather picky, and issue books are usually the way to go. I like some depth - more than the everyday romance and "boy meets girl" story. Because of that, I think that Perfect Escape might just be an awesome fit for me. It sounds like yet another deep, meaningful story in which I can become invested in the characters, so I can't wait! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?