Waiting on Wednesday: Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Deadly Curious
Author: Cindy Anstey
Publication date: April 14, 2020
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Genres: Young Adult, Historical

Synopsis

1834. Sophia Thompson wants nothing more than to be one of the famed Bow Street Runners, London’s most elite corps of detectives. Never mind that a woman has never before joined their ranks–and certainly never mind that her reclusive family has forbidden her from pursuing such an unladylike goal.

She gets the chance to prove her capabilities when an urgent letter arrives from her frantic cousin Daphne, begging Sophia to come look into the suspicious death of Daphne’s brother.

As Sophia begins to unravel the tangled threads of the case–with the help of a charming young policeman–she soon realizes that the murderer may be even closer to her family than she ever suspected.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway of Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff

Title: Finding Mr. Better-Than-You
Author: Shani Petroff
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: January 14th 2020
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

A heartbroken teen, with the help of her best friends, goes on a quest to find the perfect boyfriend, and in the end learns that some things are more important than boys in Shani Petroff’s fun YA contemporary novel Finding Mr. Better-Than-You.

Camryn Roth has it all planned out: a perfect senior year with her friends and then it’s off to Columbia with her boyfriend, Marc. But the first week of school, everything falls apart. Not only does she not have enough extracurriculars for her dream school, her relationship falls to pieces when Marc publically dumps her!

With the help of her two best friends, Camryn is determined to pull her life back together. Step one, more extracurriculars. Step two, get over Marc and find someone better.

Shani Petroff’s newest rom-com is a love letter to friendship: to those who help you find your true self, stand by you no matter what, and support your plans even when they know they’re doomed.

Praise for Shani Petroff:

“Fans of holiday movies, rom-coms, and ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ will enjoy My New Crush Gave to Me . . . Petroff’s festive story will have readers baking gingerbread cookies and buñuelos at any time of year.” —VOYA, on My New Crush Gave to Me

“A worthwhile read. Flirty and fun.” —Booklist, on Romeo & What’s Her Name

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

---

As a very engaging and fast-paced high school romance, Mr. Better-Than-You threw a few curve balls my way. Camryn Roth is ready to rock her senior year of high school. She and her high school sweetheart are deeply in love and they both have the same dreams to attend Columbia for college. But Cam’s world is thrown into a whirlwind after meeting with the school counselor and then later having her heart broken at a local diner. After moping and piecing together her broken heart, Cam takes initiative to improve her college resume, her love life, and even herself.

Cam is a rom-com aficionado. As a dedicated fan of romantic comedies, she lives and breathes romantic tropes. However, when her own happily ever after ending is crushed, she takes matters into her own hands. On a mission to find a boyfriend better than her ex-boyfriend, Cam’s definition of love changes throughout the novel and morphs into self-appreciation and the value of friendship.

One of the most unexpected things about Mr. Better-Than-You is that this book is not your typical rom-com. While dating shenanigans ensue throughout the pages, Cam’s mindset of love is altered and molded into a variety of understandings of “what is love?” As a must-read, I highly recommend this book to readers who are fanatics of watching female friendships blossom and characters who take initiative into finding their true selves through heartache, laughter, and the support of the people around them.

Author Bio:

Shani Petroff is a writer living in New York City. Please visit her website at http://www.ShaniPetroff.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Win a hardcopy of Mr. Better-Than-You

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of A Soldier and a Liar by Caitlin Lochner

Title: A Soldier and a Liar
Author: Caitlin Lochner 
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: February 19th 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Synopsis:

In a world on the brink of war, four superpowered teens must learn to work together for peace in Caitlin Lochner’s action-packed debut novel, 

Lai Cathwell is good at keeping secrets. As a Nyte, a supernaturally gifted teenager who is feared and shunned by the ungifted, this skill is essential to survival. Orchestrating her own imprisonment to escape military duty has only honed her ability to deceive others. But when rebels start attacking the city, Lai is dragged back into the fight with a new team of Nytes.

Thrown together with Jay, a self-conscious perfectionist consumed by the desire to be accepted; Al, a short-tempered fighter lying for the sake of revenge; and Erik, an amnesiac hell-bent on finding his memories and his place in the world, Lai realizes she’s facing an entirely different kind of challenge—one that might just be impossible. But if this team can’t learn to work together, the entire sector will be plunged into war.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

REVIEW

It has been so long since I have read a dystopian novel and A Soldier and a Liar was the perfect book to fall back into the genre. Providing a futuristic setting where the world is in disarray and people are fighting to survive, this book provides an outlet for multiple characters to shine brightly in two main perspectives of gifted soldiers: Lai and Jay.

One of my favorite aspects of A Soldier and a Liar is that the world development is articulated and molded so well, which allows the pacing of the story to be steady and straightforward. Not only is the story filled with groups of gifted and powerful people known as Nytes, but I loved how uniquely their supernatural powers are explained and used throughout the plotting of some strategically planned and action-packed scenes.

Overall, I really enjoyed that along with the fight for good and survival, the book also adds in small dashes of mystery, humor, and wit. Add in some unraveled secrets, messy twists, and unexpected turns and you won’t want to put this book down. In the end, what kept me ingrained in A Soldier and a Liar was the (un)reliable narratives and newly developed friendships, which formed the strongest bonds to keep this apocalyptic and military-driven story together.

Author Bio:

(Um, so, wow bios are hard.) I studied creative writing at the University of South Florida and used my BA in words to become an English teaching assistant in Tokyo. I’m in love with storytelling of any kind, but especially in the form of books, manga, and video games. If you ever want to talk nerdy, I am VERY down.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of Match Me If You Can by Tiana Smith

Title: Match Me If You Can
Author: Tiana Smith
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: January 8th 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Mia’s best friend Robyn is known for her matchmaking skills, which is perfect, because homecoming is just around the corner. But Robyn refuses to set Mia up with the guy of her dreams, which forces Mia to take matters into her own hands. She uses Robyn’s matchmaking service to make sure popular Vince Demetrius falls for her.

Vince asks her out, but Mia doesn’t count on Logan, the persistent school newspaper photographer who seems to like her out of the blue. Now she has to choose between Vince – the guy she knows is right for her – and Logan, who insists that she give him a chance. And she needs to make sure Robyn doesn’t find out that Mia’s been matchmaking behind her back.

Mia has two weeks before homecoming. Can she fix the mess she made or will she have to kiss her perfect match goodbye forever?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

REVIEW

Match Me If You Can is a drama-filled pageturner. This romantic, fast-paced story is driven by a pure drama-llama high schooler by the name of Mia. Mia is a good student and a cautious person, but when it comes to crushes and finding the “perfect” homecoming date, Mia makes some life-changing decisions that creates a pile-up of white lies and messy hearts.

I found Match Me if You Can to be very reminiscent of 90s romance movies, so obviously I couldn’t stop turning the page to see how the story ends. And once the main character starts creating a mess of her love and social life, friendships start to falter, emotions become tangled, and Mia begins questioning her feelings between two guys. I thought the frenzy that Mia causes would sway me away from the story, but actually I was enamored by her narrative and finding out how everything would unfold. 

If you are a fan of goofy guys, dating shenanigans, and 90s romcoms, I highly recommend that you read Match Me if You Can. And for more reasons on why you should read this book, check out my moodboard below, which was inspired by some of the book’s most swooniest moments. 

Author Bio:

Tiana Smith is a copywriter turned novelist who grew up in the Wild West of Montana. When she isn’t writing, she’s chasing after her ninja boy, reading, or binging the Disney Channel. She’d love to be fluent in sign language, but for now she gets by with awkward hand gestures and even more awkward French. She has double degrees in Honors and English from Westminster College but wants to go back to school to be a lion tamer.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin

Title: To Be Honest
Author: Maggie Ann Martin
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: August 21st 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.

Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

My Rants and Raves of To Be Honest

To Be Honest is such a feel good read that I could not put down. I wish I could tell my teenage self: “in 2018 there will be books you can relate to. They are fat positive and realistic and swoony as hell.”

In To Be Honest, I adored the main character Savannah. She is fat and healthy and proud of all her successes. Yes, she is apprehensive about big life changes and possibly dating, but this young adult rocks at math, journalism, and being an amazing friend, sister, and daughter. I loved that Savannah is bold and funny; I love that she is determined and 95% of the time says what is on her mind. 

One of my favorite parts of this novel is that the book focuses on Savannah’s internal thoughts and doesn’t sugarcoat her flaws and struggles. Instead, we are there for every verbal fight with her diet-obsessed mom, every tear-stained mascara mark, every sloppy kiss from a handsome poodle, and every laugh between half pepperoni half pineapple pizza-loving friends. I adored this book so much; every page was like a comforting hug of support and love.

If you are fan of realistic high school stories, tulle skirts, and watching young love struggle to ignite, definitely give To Be Honest a read. I loved the story and the characters and of course the white poodle named Fiyero.

Author Bio:

Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over

Title: Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over
Author: Shani Petroff
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: May 15th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A bad storm, two canceled flights, stuck in an airport with a hot stranger and the guy who broke her heart… what could go wrong?

After Sari caught her boyfriend Zev cheating on her, their romantic Florida vacation was ruined. She can’t get back to NYC soon enough. Unfortunately, mother nature may have different plans. A huge storm is brewing in the Northeast, and flights all over the country are getting canceled—including Sari’s. She winds up stuck at the airport for hours. With Zev!

When another stranded passenger (a hot NYU guy) suggests a connecting flight to Boston, Sari jumps at the chance. But when her mom freaks out about her traveling alone, she has no choice—she has to include Zev, and somehow survive being trapped with the guy who broke her heart!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

 

Wow! I found this book to be a super quick and engaging read. Even though Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over spans over a week, Sari and Zev’s story definitely encompasses so much to unravel. And you know that saying, “when it rains it pours”? Well, when it came to Sari’s spring break and her one shot to sing at a local club, anything and everything seems to go wrong in the span of a few days. 

One of my favorite characters in the book was Zev. I loved that his goal was to explain any misconstrued situation, so Sari knew the facts and the truth. Sari tended to overthink everything and failed to see that there are several sides to a story. It’s smart for Sari to protect herself first, but I knew there were some holes in her observations. Throughout the story, Zev is always trying to open communication between him and Sari, and it’s so adorable how he always tries to make sure that she is okay and comfortable. I liked that Zev gave Sari room to think and breathe when anything dramatic blew up, but he was also determined to fight for the truth, their friendship, and ultimately love. 

The plot of Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over relies heavily on lack of communication and misunderstood situations. I’m not a huge fan of books that have so much “lack of communication,” but this plot devise definitely keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. If you love A LOT  of drama in your stories, which definitely keeps the story rolling, give Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over a try. This book is such a fast read and the ending is so swoony. 

Author Bio:

Shani Petroff is a writer living in New York City. She’s the author of the “Bedeviled” series, which includes Daddy’s Little Angel, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress, Careful What You Wish For, and Love Struck, and is the co-author of the “Destined” series which includes Ash and Ultraviolet. She also writes for television news programs and several other venues. When she’s not locked in her apartment typing away, she spends a whole lot of time on books, boys, TV, daydreaming, and shopping online.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of The Game Can’t Love You Back

Title: The Game Can’t Love You Back
Author: Karole Cozzo
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication date: May 15th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school’s baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she’s focused on one thing and one thing only—being the best pitcher she can be.

But when a freak accident forces her high school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren’t used to having a woman on their team. And the new team’s star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can’t afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher—even worse, to a girl.

As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

I love Karole Cozzo’s writing style and once again her storytelling did not disappoint. I really loved that The Game Can’t Love You Back has very honest and realistic characters. The two main characters, Jamie and Eve, are both competitive, independent, and are dealing with their own personal issues. But what I liked about Jamie and Eve is that they are both so authentic and don’t hold back their emotions. In some young adult novels, the lack of communication always causes the worst and most annoying drama, but when it comes to this book, these characters hold back very little and then burst with the most straightforward answers and opinions.

Additionally, I really enjoyed the romance that unfolds in The Game Can’t Love You Back. The story does have a “hate-to-love” feel, but once Jamie and Eve start connecting and interacting, there is no turning back from the heated chemistry between these two. The novel definitely reads like a teenage movie and I really enjoyed watching all the characters find their own paths. 

However, I do wish there was more focus on family dynamics in the book. We get some brief encounters with both characters’ families, but after the speech that Eve’s mom gives to Eve on Mother’s Day, I was craving more interaction. Plus, Jamie’s sister is shadowed in the background and I would have enjoyed some more scenes between the two siblings. Overall, I think The Game Can’t Love You Back is a hit. If you love baseball, girl power, playful rivalry, swoons, and romantic gestures, definitely give this book a read. 

Author Bio:

Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Thank you to Macmillan and Xpresso Tours for having me on this blog tour and for providing me a review copy to read for free in exchange for an honest review. All statements and opinions are my own. 

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Review of My New Crush Gave to Me by Shani Petroff

Title: My New Crush Gave to Me
Author: Shani Petroff
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: October 31, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

This sweet, funny holiday romance from the author of Romeo And What’s Her Name features cute boys, plenty of rom-com mishaps, and a determined heroine readers are certain to fall for.

Charlotte “Charlie” Donovan knows exactly what she wants for Christmas: Teo Ortiz. He’s a star athlete, a National Honor Society member, and the most popular guy in school. Plus he contributes to the school paper, where Charlie is a co-editor. Basically, he’s exactly the type of guy Charlie’s looking for. The only problem is–he barely knows she exists.

But Charlie has a plan: rig the paper’s Secret Santa and win his heart with the perfect gift. The catch? She has no idea what to get him. Enter J.D. Ortiz–Teo’s cousin, and possibly the most annoying person on the planet. He’s easy going, laid back, disorganized, and spontaneous–the exact opposite

of Charlie (and Teo). But he knows what Teo wants, so she’s stuck with him.

Yet, the more time Charlie spends with J.D., the more she starts to wonder: Does she really know what, or rather who, she wants for Christmas?

Shani Petroff’s newest young adult comedy of errors, My New Crush Gave to Me, is the perfect read for those searching for some love and laughter along with their holiday spirit.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

GAH! I love the holidays, and this is the perfect book to treat yo shelf to this time of the year. If you are a fan of swoons, Secret Santa surprises, and hate-to-love relationships, My New Crush Gave to Me is the perfect book for you. This novel is as sweet and fresh as a candy cane and it will have you laughing due to all the holiday shenanigans the characters go through.

In regards to the main character, Charlie is a stick-by-the-book type of gal. Routine, rules, and structure make perfect sense, so I can completely understand her personality. Charlie is extreme, but I like that she knows what she wants and she is determined to do what is best for her. Even though Charlie is a handful, she fosters a surprising friendship with the most laid-back, never on time, and free-spirited person named J.D. I adored J.D. because he is caring and spontaneous and balances out Charlie’s intensity. He challenges Charlie in the best ways; I loved how their friendship grew through each page.

Definitely pick up My New Crush Gave to Me, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, and let the Secret Santa fun unfold. The romantic notions mixed with wintery traditions adds a great amount of holiday atmosphere to the story. Even though this book will give you the warm fuzzies, My New Crush Gave to Me will also have you opening your eyes to the idea that you never know what other people are going through, so don’t take them for granted. 

Shani Petroff is a writer living in New York City. She’s the author of the “Bedeviled” series, which includes Daddy’s Little Angel, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress, Careful What You Wish For, and Love Struck, and is the co-author of the “Destined” series which includes Ash and Ultraviolet. She also writes for television news programs and several other venues. When she’s not locked in her apartment typing away, she spends a whole lot of time on books, boys, TV, daydreaming, and shopping online.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 30th
–Life of a Literary Nerd >> Review
–Readingwithwrin >> Review
–The Candid Cover >> Excerpt
–Writing Pearls >> Review
–Dani Reviews things >> Review

October 31st
–Smokin’ Hot Reads Book Blog >> Review
–Love in a time of Feminism >> Guest post
–Rolling with the Moments >> Review
–The Mind of a Book Dragon >> Review
–The Bibliophile Confessions >> Review

November 1st
–Here’s to Happy Endings >> Review
–Married To Books Reviews and Blog >> Review
–Rainy Days and Pajamas >> Excerpt
–Katie’s Stories >> Excerpt
–Buried Under Books >> Review

November 2nd
–Books Direct >> Review + Excerpt
–Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile >> Review
–Character Madness and Musings >> Interview
–I Read Indie >> Excerpt
–Chocolate and Chapters >> Review

November 3rd
–Creating-Serenity >> Review
–The Heart of a Book Blogger >> Review
–Supercalireader >> Review
–Lisa Loves Literature >> Interview
–The Genre Minx Book Reviews >> Playlist

 

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn

Title: Wesley James Ruined My Life
Author: Jennifer Honeybourn
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: July 18th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis: 

Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick’s having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad’s gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, former childhood friend—until he ruined her life, that is.

So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn’s going to do is forgive and forget. She’s determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once—by getting him fired.

But getting rid of Wesley isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

---

First, how adorable and perfect is the cover? Wesley James Ruined My Life is definitely the definition of COVER LOVE. And like the cover, this book also has it’s adorable moments. The main character may be over-dramatic in some scenes of the novel, but overall this story is quick-paced and the perfect summer read. 

In reference to the main character, I found Quinn sometimes irrational and quick to judge. By the title, we acknowledge that Quinn has something against Wesley. Communication, or the lack of communication, definitely plays a high role in Quinn’s reasoning of why Wesley ruined her life. Even though I may not 100% agree with Quinn’s dislike for Wesley, I understand why she needed someone to blame for the unfair circumstances that happened in her life years ago. But you guys, this book gets more funny and swoony as the story unfolds. And I could not put this book down once Quinn started opening herself up to truth, honesty, and forgiveness.

In a nutshell, this is a story about revenge, but it’s so much more. In the end, Wesley James Ruined My Life is a story about maturing, accepting the past, and moving forward. It definitely has it’s swoony moments and a romance that I kept rooting for. I enjoyed the historical references often portrayed in the restaurant scenes, but most of all I really loved how positive, lively, and approachable Wesley was throughout the novel. Wesley was definitely my favorite part of the book, and I highly enjoyed his determination and fun-loving personality. I think I might have a new book boyfriend. *swoons*

Jennifer Honeybourn works in corporate communications in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. If she could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, she’d have high tea with Walt Disney, JK Rowling, and her nana. She lives with her husband, daughter and cat in a house filled with books. Wesley James Ruined My Life is her first novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July 17th
–Writing My Own Fairy Tale  >> Excerpt
–Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books! >> Review
–The Avid Reader >>  Guest post
–Fic Central >> Review
–Mes Livres >> Review

July 18th
–Tales of the Ravenous Reader >> Interview
–The Bookish Thought >> Review
–Writing Pearls >> Review
–Rolling with the Moments >> Review
–Here’s to Happy Endings  >> Review

July 19th
–Book Briefs >> Review
–Girl vs Books >> Review
–A Dream Within A Dream >> Excerpt
–Beauty and the Bookshelf  >> Review
–Never Too Many To Read >> Review

July 20th
–blogs and coffee  >> Guest post
–The Heart of a Book Blogger  >> Review
–Padme’s Library >> Interview
–The Reader and the Chef  >> Review

July 21st
–Dog-Eared Daydreams >> Review
–Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile >> Review
–To Be Read  >> Review
–The Bookworm Central >> Review
–Wonder Struck >> Review

 

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Internet Famous by Danika Stone

Title: Internet Famous
Author: Danika Stone
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: June 6th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Can an online romance survive in real life?

Internet sensation Madison Nakama has it all! Her pop-culture rewatch site has a massive following, and fans across the world wait on her every post and tweet. Even Madi’s dismal romantic life seems ready to take off as Laurent, a fellow geek (and unfairly HOT French exchange student!) starts flirting with her in the comments section of her blog. But Laurent’s not the only one watching for Madi’s replies.

Internet fame has a price, and their online romance sparks the unwanted attention of a troll. When Madi’s “real life” hits a rough patch, she feels her whole world crumbling. With Laurent’s support, can Madi rally her friends across the globe to beat the troll, or will he succeed in driving her away from everything―and everyone―she loves?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

---

In Internet Famous, Danika Stone has created a literary world fit for bloggers, fans, and basically anyone who loves fandoms. This book is fast-paced and filled with a roller coaster of emotions mainly centering on falling in love, time crunching, graduating high school, and dreadfully dealing with trolls and cyberbulling. With a realistic approach, Stone has allowed her characters, especially Madi and Laurent, to explore a world that suggests that true friendships can develop even if it’s through the mutual love of fandom, movies, memes, and art. 

As the main character, Madi has a lot on her plate. Not only is she finishing up her high school career by completing online classes, she is also running a highly praised blog. Additionally, she is also trying to make sure her sister, Sarah, who is on the autism spectrum, lives a life of routine and comfort. I’m a huge fan when sibling relationships are explored in literature, and I adored Madi and Sarah’s interactions–even when they were fighting. Madi and Sarah may have their differences, but they find common ground in movie nights, and their interactions also show how much they love and dearly care for each other. 

As previously stated, Madi runs a blog dedicated to her love for fandoms and reliving them. She allows her fans to vote for the fandoms that they would like her to live blog, watch/rewatch, or even read/reread. I loved how active Madi is with her fans and she gives them an outlet to interact and voice their opinions too. I’m not going to lie, although I loved when Internet Famous focused on rewatching 80s movies, I was crossing my fingers for a Buffy rewatch. But overall, I felt that as a blogger with such a huge fan base, Madi did not allow her fame overshadow the reasons why she blogged: it’s fun, enjoyable, and it let her be herself while globally interacting with people who also love fandoms. 

Internet Famous also contains one of the best developing relationship stories I have read in a long time. Madi and Laurent’s relationship slowly develops and burns throughout the pages. I like that they take the time to get to know each other. This is not an instant-love relationship, but instead a romance that develops through online interaction, real-life interaction, the exchange of swoony texts, and coffee dates. Both characters communicate really well with each other, and I loved how honest and straightforward they often were with each other. The swoony relationship in this book was definitely my favorite part; it’s as sweet and ooey and gooey as a warm cinnamon roll. 

In Internet Famous, one of the subject matters that made my stomach twist in knots was the focus on trolls and cyberbullying. The truth of bullying makes my stomach ache, and a lot of this book focuses on the negative outcomes that come from putting your opinions and life online. Danika Stone captures the realistic negativity that internet trolls add to people’s lives, especially the hate that Madi receives from one of her online fans. Although I was not a fan of cyberbullying pumping up Madi’s angst, I think Stone handles this topic very well.

Overall, Internet Famous is the perfect book to curl up with this summer. Through a unique writing style of memes, texts, Tweets, and picture posts, this book blends together laugh-out-loud moments, great friendships, and swoons. But it also focuses on maturity, facing negative feedback from the real world, and finding the perfect balance of what should and should not be put out in the cyber world. Definitely give this fun, fast-paced book a chance, especially if you are dedicated blogger, a blogger follower, or a fandom lover.

Danika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both adults (The Intaglio Series and Ctrl Z) and teens (Icarus and All the Feels). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her husband, three sons, and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.

The first book in Danika’s upcoming Tathagata series (Edge of Wild) was selected as a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel of the Year Award (2013). Edge of Wild (Stonehouse CA) will be released March 2016. Danika’s YA novel, All the Feels (Macmillan US), will be released June 2016.

Ms. Stone is represented by Morty Mint of Mint Literary Agency.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Win a Copy of Internet Famous by Danika Stone

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June 5th
–The Page Unbound >> Excerpt
–Abooktropolis >> Review
–Married To Books Reviews and Blog >> Review
–Only True Magic >> Review
–Bookmarked Bliss >> Review

June 6th
–Happily Ever Chapter >> Review
–Tales of the Ravenous Reader >> Guest post
–Quartzfeather >> Review
–The Pursuit Of Bookiness >> Review
–Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile >> Review

June 7th
–The Avid Reader >> Excerpt
–Girl vs Books >> Review
–Wishful Endings >> Interview
–Between Printed Pages >> Review

June 8th
–Here’s to Happy Endings >> Guest post
–Betwixt the Pages  >> Review
–To Be Read >> Review
–Books Direct >> Review
–The Literary Huntress >> Review

June 9th
–A Dream Within A Dream  >> Excerpt
–Eru Books and Recs >> Review
–Reading To Distraction >> Review
–The Cover Contessa >> Interview
–The Heart of a Book Blogger >> Review

Presented by: