Girl Meets Boy Blog Tour: Author Interview and Giveaway

 What do guys and girls really think? Twelve of the most dynamic and engaging YA authors writing today team up for this one-of-a-kind collection of he said/she said stories he tells it from the guy s point of view, she tells it from the girl s. These are stories of love and heartbreak. There s the good-looking jock who falls for a dangerous girl, and the flipside, the toxic girl who never learned to be loved; the basketball star and the artistic (and shorter) boy she never knew she wanted; the gay boy looking for love online and the girl who could help make it happen. Each story in this unforgettable collection teaches us that relationships are complicated because there are two sides to every story.

Joining me today for the Girl Meets Boy Blog Tour is contributing author and editor Kelly Milner Halls. Kelly visited my blog a few months ago to share her favorite independent bookstore for my Love My Indie feature. I'm so happy to host her here again today to talk about Girl Meets Boy, writing, and some of her favorite books.

Welcome Kelly!

About the book:

I love books that are told from alternating perspective AND when authors collaborate to tell a story. This is what immediately drew me to Girl Meets Boy. Please tell me how this concept came about.

I heard one young couple’s break up story.  In brief, she went to watch TV with a male work friend, he was convinced she’d been unfaithful.  The “truth” each one told was completely different.  That sparked my imagination.  What if the best writers in YA tackled this experiment in human perception?  What if pairs of authors wrote the same story from two different points of view?  That’s how the concept was born.

If you could write your own cover blurb for Girl Meets Boy, what would it be?

The authors featured in Girl Meets Boy brilliantly answer the question, “What in the world were they thinking,” from a series of male and female points of view.  Can understanding be far behind?   

On writing:

How does your role as an editor play into your role as a writer?

When you’re editing authors as brilliant as those featured in Girl Meets Boy, you job isn’t as taxing as you might imagine.  What I think I did do especially well was pairing the contributing writers.  I had a strong sense of who I wanted together, and I think that helped make magic.  

What is your favorite writing environment? Is it also your most productive?

I write well with noise.  Silence doesn’t work for me.  I need the TV or Internet radio (go Pandora) to back me up.  I get distracted by quiet, as strange as that sounds.  But when I’m in the zone, my (grown) kids know better than to trust any response I give.  They leave me notes, so I actually absorb whatever it is they need me to remember, because when I’m deep in the work, I answer but I don’t remember what’s been said.  Guess we all have our quirks. 

Girl Meets Boy is your first young adult project. How was writing for this audience different from your "weird-nonfiction" audience?

It’s very different, and such an exciting new challenge.  I had my first YA reading Saturday with my friend Chris Crutcher at a local bookstore here in Spokane.  I was a little nervous for the first time in ten years.  But it was sensational.  Granted, presenting with Chris is never a bad thing, and we’ve been friends so long there’s a fun energy because we know each other so well.  But it was interesting to address questions from older readers.  I am thrilled to have the chance to experience both, now.

About books and reading:
 
Searching for new books to read is a small part of my love for books. What are some factors when you selecting new books to read? Any current favorites?

I tend to love realistic YA fiction when I read for pleasure.   But I’ll confess to loving anything that feels fresh and original in the genre.  My recent favorite is probably Exposed by Kimberly Marcus and I’m reading (and loving) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.   I’m dying to read John Green’s new book, The Fault in our Stars after watching him read the first two chapters on YouTube.  Yes, I too am a proud Nerdfighter.

Do you judge a book by its cover?

Doesn’t everyone?  The cover determines whether we pick that book up or not.  The publishers have a huge gamble to take every time they make that crucial selection.   I usually read the first ten pages, because I’m also a writer and I now we have no control over our covers.  But they are so important.  Luckily, Chronicle Books created a wonderful cover for Girl Meets Boy.

Do you have a book that you like to read over and over again (what I would call a comfort read) because you know that it will make you feel good after reading it? Is it a book that you turn to because you know that it will make you laugh or does it remind you of how you felt when you first read it (a sense of nostalgia)?

When I was young, that was Charlotte’s Web.  That was the first book that convinced me fiction could be real – could open up imaginary worlds and people who would matter to me.  Still love Fern and Wilbur.  Now, it’s probably a book called Illusions by Robert Bach.  It’s utterly impossible, the scenario he’s constructed, but he makes me suspend my disbelief every time I read it.  And I dearly love Deadline by Chris Crutcher.  It reminds me not to waste so much time.   

As an editor and book reviewer, it is safe to assume you read a lot of books for work (and for pleasure). But is there one book or author that you wish you would have read and can't believe that you haven't yet?

I am dying to curl up with every book ever written by the very brilliant Libba Bray.  Can’t wait.

Can you tell me about any works currently in-progress?

I am working on two YA novels – one about a tattoo artist who accidentally links the living with the dead.  And one about a high school journalist who is tested – how fiercely will she defend the first amendment when the whole world seems to disagree?   I’m also working on a new anthology, more about that as soon as possible.  : ) 

Thanks Kelly for sharing! And you definitely should read some Libba Bray soon. Might I suggest Beauty Queens - it is the only book by Libba that I've read so far, but I thought it was fantastic and so smart!

Tomorrows Blog Tour Stop: Stiletto Storytime www.stilettostorytime.wordpress.com

And now for the giveaway:

The Prize

a copy of Girl Meets Boy

signed by all 12 contributing authors

donated by ChronicleBooks

 

Giveaway Rules:
Must be at least 13 yrs or older
Open to US and Canada addresses only
Following is NOT required
To Enter fill out the form below

Earn extra entries by:

(+1) Reading Kelly's Love My Indie post

(+1) Tweet: "I want to win Girl Meets Boy by @KellyMilnerH from @ActinUpwb"

Contest ends February 14th 2012 11:59 EST
One Winner will be selected using random.org

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

The Disenchantments
by Nina LaCour
Published by Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date February 16, 2012











Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next? (from Goodreads)

Why do I read young adult books? The Disenchantments IS WHY I read young adult. It is the reason I read contemporary. It was like hanging out with my best friends.

Nina LaCour’s sophomore novel, The Disenchantments, is the story of four friends having one last hurrah before going their separate ways after graduating high school. Well that’s the simple, uncomplicated description. But in one moment, Bev’s decision to go her own away, complicates everything.

I felt like I was there with Colby, Bev, Meg and Alexa in the VW bus singing along with them. Hanging out with them before their shows and all of their late night adventures.  I was in the moment. I was there for all of the fun - eating at the diners, stopping at neighborhood lemonade stands, looking for sea glass and other treasures on the beach -but I was there for all of the awkward silences too. Some many things just waiting to be said, that needed to be said. I think this is what I loved most about reading The Disenchantments - really being in the story.

I loved the camaraderie of the characters. It was obvious that they all cared for each other. There were so many tender moments between them to be savored. Sisters spending their last week together before older sister Meg moved away for college. Best friends trying to understand what they really mean to each other. All of them scared that they will become different and their friendships may never be the same. But also, they were hopeful of all of the potential and possibilities of their future.

I’m realizing that I read this book from such a nostalgic perspective that, just maybe, I haven’t really expressed what a fun and adventurous book The Disenchantments really is. And oh boy (or girl) IT IS!! There are late nights spent dancing, a tattoo (or few), music you just want to belt out to - Heart, The Runaways, and always (thanks to Meg) The Supremes, and there’s even a hot tub scene! And the concerts, well, just read this book because there are no words, really.

I loved this book and can’t wait until it comes out so I can get my own copy to read over and over again. It will be like spending time with some old friends.

I received the ARC for review as part of the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours.

In My Mailbox (58)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which showcases the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

Purchased:

Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Karma by Cathy Ostlere

For Review:

The Forgetting Curve (Memento Nora) by Angie Smibert
Requested from Publisher

Won:

Fracture by Megan Miranda

from Lenore at Presenting Lenore - part of the Apocalypsies Giveaway

So this was my week in books. A special thank you to Lenore for Fracture and hosting the Apocalypsies Giveaway and to Marshall Cavendish Publishing for The Forgetting Curve.   I'm excited to read Angie Smibert's follow-up to Memento Nora (my review). 

 

Girl Meets Boy Blog Tour

How excited am I about this book? So excited!! When I first discovered Girl Meets Boy, I knew that it was a book I wanted to read. Why? Because it is a collection of stories told in alternating voices - a method of storytelling that I LOVE! And the stories are written collaboratively. Now I am thrilled to participate in this blog tour!!

Here's more about Girl Meets Boy ed. by Kelly Milner Halls 

 What do guys and girls really think? Twelve of the most dynamic and engaging YA authors writing today team up for this one-of-a-kind collection of he said/she said stories he tells it from the guy s point of view, she tells it from the girl s. These are stories of love and heartbreak. There s the good-looking jock who falls for a dangerous girl, and the flipside, the toxic girl who never learned to be loved; the basketball star and the artistic (and shorter) boy she never knew she wanted; the gay boy looking for love online and the girl who could help make it happen. Each story in this unforgettable collection teaches us that relationships are complicated because there are two sides to every story.

Girl Meets Boy will be featured on these blogs Jan. 26 through Feb. 14 with author interviews, guests posts, giveaways and reviews. Here is the complete schedule. Make sure to check out my interview with Kelly on Tuesday, January 31.

Chronicle Books www.chroniclebooks.com 1/26/2011
SarahRyan.com http://sararyan.com/ 1/27/2012
Rebecca Fjelland Davis.com http://www.rebeccafjellanddavis.blogspot.com 1/28/2012
The Story Siren http://www.thestorysiren.com 1/30/2012
Actin' Up with Books Http://actinupwithbooks.blogspot.com 1/31/2012
Stiletto Storytime www.stilettostorytime.wordpress.com 2/1/2012
The Book Cellar www.thebookcellarx.com 2/2/2012
Page Turners Blog www.pageturnersblog.com 2/3/2012
Mother Daughter Book Club http://motherdaughterbookclub.com 2/4/2012
Flamingnet Teen Book Review www.flamingnet.com 2/5/2012
A Life Bound By Books http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/ 2/6/2012
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read! www.sithereandread.com 2/7/2012
Addicted 2 Novels http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com 2/8/2012
Cynsations http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/ 2/9/2012
The Children's and Teens' Book Connection http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/ 2/10/2012
365 Days of Reading http://365daysofreading.com 2/11/2012
Shooting Stars Mag http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com 2/12/2012
Beth Fish Reads www.BethFishReads.com 2/13/2012
Chronicle Books www.chroniclebooks.com 2/14/2012

And there's more! A Wattpad Contest

Wattpad is featuring the guy’s side of the story, and inviting their members to write same scene from the girl’s perspective. Stories should be no more than 300 words long, and the deadline is February 8^th. Winners will be announced on February 14^th.

One Grand Prize winner will get:

·         A copy of Girl Meets Boy signed by all 12 contributors
·         A critique of 25 pages of writing by editor Kelly Milner Halls
·         A 30-minute Skype consultation with Kelly
·         A copy of Kelly’s favorite how-to book on writing

Four runners-up will win a copy of Girl Meets Boy signed by all 12 contributors

For all of the details, go HERE
 _______________________________________________
Girl Meets Boy is available now at Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday - The Unnaturalists

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Unnaturalists

by Tiffany Trent

Published by Simon and Schuster

Publication Date:  August 14, 2012

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world. (from Goodreads)

The Unnaturalists isn't the typical book that I would be drawn to.  As a reader of mainly contemporary YA, I don't immediately want to read books outside of that genre. It takes a bit of coaxing and more often than not, I'm so happy that I am introduced to new genres and authors. 

I found out about this book today from my friend, Traci, who I was inviting to join the book club I am in. Immediately she tells me to check out Tiffany Trent's website because she has a new book coming out this year that may be something we would want to read when it is released.  I haven't read any steampunk books, but I think I'm ready to discover what they are all about. 

If you want to dive into some steampunk or if you are already a fan, then you should definitely check out Tiffany's blog to enter her Lovely Steampunk Giveaway

Thanks Traci for recommending this book!

Book Club Discussion: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Not yet, but there will be spoilers. You have been warned.

Provisions and Paperbacks, my IRL book club, just read Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. As I said in my previous post (you can read it here), I want to share some thoughts and ideas brought up during the book club and bring my blog readers into the discussion.


When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? 

There will be spoilers. You have been warned.

Here are some ideas that I had during and after reading Unearthly:

• I had a hard time connecting with Clara throughout the first half of the book. She wasn’t a character that I really cared about what was happening to her. I guess this was because she seemed so indifferent about being an angel. She took everything her mother was telling her and didn't challenge her.

• was Christian ever really her purpose? in her visions, he didn’t seem to be in distress he was just there. This is revealed in the end, but was this even her purpose or was he just going to play a role in her future purpose. Were these visions just a way to bring them together?

• What is going on with the mom? She has so, so many secrets. Too many secrets. Is she good, evil? More good than evil? I’m interested to learn more about her in Hallowed. I’d even like to read a book just about her and her life. I mean she is 116 years old. I’m sure she has experienced a lot in her lifetime.

• Team Christian or Team Tucker - Team Tucker ALL THE WAY - he’s not the simple country boy that Clara thought him to be when she met him. I love how he picks on her and the banter between them (and the joke about the fish - this makes me smile) 

• I wouldn’t call the relationship between Christian, Clara and Tucker a love triangle. I really hope that it doesn’t turn out that way. I think that the relationship between Christian and Clara serves a different purpose. I mean doesn’t he still love Kay? I’ll admit I felt sorry for her at the prom. (I know what it is like to be dumped 3 days before the prom and then have your ex-boyfriend do with another girl - this really happened!!)

• The incident between Clara and Sam was super creepy. I was terrified for her when she could hear and feel his thoughts. In my mind I was screaming NO, NO, NO for her. As horrible as being dragged to hell with him was, it could have been even worse.

• Why are there so many angels and angel-bloods in this small town? What is drawing them there? And was Maggie just using Clara’s vision and purpose as an excuse to move them to Wyoming? I am so suspicious of her. I’m bet she really is all great in all of her glory, but still, there is so much more to her than she is letting on. And why did she really go to California? Hmmm. . . .

• Wendy is such a good friend and gives the best birthday gifts ever! Love this girl!

• Christian lives with his uncle, doesn’t discuss his father (from California, right) and he never said he was dead either - could he also be Sam’s son? 

So I will admit, I am very suspicious of the mom, but no one else in the club agreed with me.  This book left all of us with so many more questions than answers. Some of us loved it, some of us were on the fence. All of us want to read Hallowed to know what will happen next!

I'd like to invite anyone to join in on the discussion and share your thoughts on Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. BUT I do ask that you only make comments on this specific book in the series and that you don't reveal any spoilers for future books in the series. Please and Thank you!

Up next: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Provisions and Paperbacks - a book club

Not just yet, but there will be spoilers. You've been warned.

Provisions and Paperbacks is a book club that was started by me and a few In Real Life friends. We wanted to have a chance to get together and read some great books, mainly young adult, and share our thoughts, raves and rants. So far we've read The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab, Impossible by Nancy Werlin and Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Our discussions are pretty lively and a lot of fun. I'm so happy that we started Provisions and Paperbacks because I don't think there is anything lonelier than reading a book and not having someone to discuss it with.

I want to take the book club a step further and share what we discuss here on my blog. This is where the spoilers come in. I often share the books that I love or the characters or storyline that frustrates me, but I'm not too specific as to why because I don't want to reveal any spoilers. With these posts, I'm going to let loose. I will always post:

There will be spoilers. You've been warned.  

I will invite anyone to join in on the discussion and share your thoughts on our latest book club read. BUT I do ask that if we are discussing a book in a series that you only make comments on the specific book read and that you don't reveal any spoilers for future books in the series. Please and Thank you!

So what's up next: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In My Mailbox (57)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

For Review:

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour ARC
for the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tour

Scary School by Derek the Ghost and Scott M. Fischer

from the author

Swapped:

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

from Paperback Swap

Library:

Without Tess by Marcella Pixley

Won:

iBoy by Kevin Brooks

Underdogs by Markus Zusak

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

All from the This Is Teen giveaway at Overflowing Shelf hosted by Danielle

Cinder by Marissa Meyer ARC

Thank you Lenore at Presenting Lenore - part of the Apocalypsies Giveaway

Purchased: 
all e-books

Awkward by Marni Bates 

Geek Girl by Cindy Bennett

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

I can officially say that I am overwhelmed by the number of books that came in this week. At least only 2 are for review and one I requested. I am part of the Southern Book Bloggers ARC tour for The Disenchantments. I have never participated in an ARC tour and am thrilled this is the first book that I received for review in a tour. The Disenchantments has been on my wish list for a while and I am happy to havehte chance to review it.

I picked up a copy of Without Tess from the library. I read this book a few months ago from NetGalley but didn't have a chance to review it before the e-galley expired. My intention is to go back and write the review, finally. 

This was also a Week of Win!! I've won a few giveaways recently and the books are starting to arrive. I won Cinder (and 3 other books) from the Apocalypsies giveaway at Presenting Lenore. It was such an amazing prize that I still can't believe I won it. I don't know if you can tell, but my ARC of Cinder is all jacked up. I think my postal carrier was having a battle with my mailbox and tried to shove the book in sideways. The cover and half of the pages are bent but thankfully none of the pages are ripped. I plan to get a finished copy of this, so I'm not too heart broken (well maybe a little bit). 

And I went a little crazy with the e-book purchases. This is something that I need to cut out - IMMEDIATELY!! Does anyone else have this problem?

Thank you to Shannon from Stalking the Bookshelves and Lori from Pure Imagination, Derek, Lenore, Danielle and Scholastic, and my local library for making this another amazing week in books!

Share the Love - Independent Bookstores

Button by Ginger at GReads!

Love My Indie is where authors, bloggers and readers share their favorite independent bookstores. You can check out some past posts HERE. I have a few posts scheduled for 2012 and I'm always looking for guest bloggers and authors.

Do you have a favorite independent bookstore that you want to tell everyone about? Yes! Then just fill out the form below! I look forward to hearing from you and learning about your favorite independent bookstores.

And the Winner Is . . . .

The Winner Is . . .

 

Stacie

She has won my Dreaming of Books Giveaway -Moonlight and Oranges by Elise Stephens

(winner has been contacted by email and accepted giveaway prize)

There were 98 entries and using random.org, number 72 was selected. Congratulations Stacie! Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog and entered.

Waiting on Wednesday: Nothing Special

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Nothing Special

by Geoff Herbach

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc

Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Felton Reinstein thought he had it all-a great girlfriend, an athletic scholarship in the bag, and football friends he could totally count on. Wrong! Like an elephant storming a house of cards, it all comes crashing down. And it's Felton's fault. Turns out his little brother has taken an impromptu road trip to Florida (aka desperate flight from all the talented people) to make a bid for stardom (aka fronting a hotel rock band with escapees from a retirement community). What's a big brother to do but help pick up the pieces, even if it means giving up all the status, all the glory and once again facing a life of nothing special. (from Goodreads)

I haven't noticed too many YA releases by male authors for 2012. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places or they just haven't been announced. If anyone who stops by the blogs knows f any that you are looking forward to, please let me know in the comments. 

I loved Herbach's 2011 novel Stupid Fast and as soon as I found out he had a new book coming out, I added it to my TBR list and wish list. This book sounds like a good companion novel and I'm interested to read how Felton's story plays out. Nothing Special comes out in May. 

The Mind Readers: Book 2 Coming Soon!

The wait is almost over. Last January I read Lori Brighton's YA paranormal romance The Mind Readers and ever since finishing it, I wanted to know what happened to Cameron and where her mind reading abilities will take her. I thought The Mind Readers was a great start to a story which I have since learned will be a trilogy. So excited! You can read my review of The Mind Readers HERE.


The next book in the series is The Mind Thieves and will be out in April. Until then, Lori is giving her readers a few teasers with some excerpts on her blog. Having read them, I am intrigued for sure. I hope that Lori posts a few more excerpts - but if not, April isn't too far away.

The Mind Readers is currently available as an e-book for $2.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. It is definitely worth it.

Coincidences and Connections

So I'm sitting here reading a book and I come across something that seems familiar. Like I just read that in the previous book. I'm not talking about the plot or the storyline - just little similarities like the name of a character or the state where the book is set. So far this month I have read seven books and I can link six of them to at least one other in one way or another. This has happened before. Last year I read 2 or 3 books in a row where the main character played the guitar or the character was reading a book that a character from another book was reading. Not a big deal, just a coincidence. 

There are just too many coincidences that I couldn't help but share them. 

Here are the books I've read so far (in order read):

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Major Crush by Jennifer Echols, Girl Meets Boy ed. by Kelly Millner Halls, The Wolf by Steven Herrick, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Site by Jennifer E. Smith and Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

and here are the connections:

Has a main character who is 5'2"

• Delirium
• Major Crush
• Girl Meets Boy

Has a character who lives on a farm

• Major Crush
• Girl Meets Boy
• The Wolf
• Cryer's Cross

Has a character named Alex

• Delirium
• Paper Covers Rock
• Girl Meets Boy

Has a character who is a runner/athlete (not so unusual but it plays a big part in the character's life)

• Paper Covers Rock
• Delirium
• Cryer's Cross

Has a character named Lena

• Delirium - Lena, short for Magdalena
• Cryer's Cross - Lena, short for Marlena (she is rarely referred to as Lena, but still)

Now those first two are just weird to me - characters who are 5'2" in 3 books in a row and so many people living on farms.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight doesn't have a character named Alex who is a runner that lives on a farm. There is one way it can be linked to all the others, but I don't want to share it because it may be a bit spoilery. So just go and read it already!

So I am wondering, does anyone else pick up on these small little details from book to book? I'd love to read your coincidences and connections in the comments, but please don't leave any spoilers. Thanks!

In My Mailbox (56)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

 Purchased:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

For Review:

Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides to Every Story ed. by Kelly Milner Halls

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin (e-book)

Gifted:

Greyhound by Steffan Piper (e-book)
Thanks Lisa!

January has been an awesome month for new releases and we are only 2 weeks in. I'm going to have to pace myself after last week's haul and this week's too. The Fault in Our Stars, Girl Meets Boy, and Don't Breathe a Word are new releases. I've already read Girl Meets Boy and I loved it. This short story collection is filled with so many characters that would love to know more about. I'm excited to share this collection as part of the Girl Meets Boy blog tour at the end of the month.

Honestly, I'm excited to share all of these books. 2012 is going to be a great year. I just hope that I can keep up with the reading and reviewing and not leave all of these wonderful books sitting pretty, but unread, on my shelves.

Happy Reading!