Today I am participating in the DON'T EVER CHANGE Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club. DON'T EVER CHANGE by M. Beth Bloom was published on July 7th by Harper Teen. As part of the tour, I had a chance to interview M. Beth and ask about some writing advice and share some fun facts about herself with readers. Please check out the interview and my review of DON'T EVER CHANGE, and then enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.
Welcome M. Beth!!
What are some of the books that make you fall in love with reading?
The Secret History, by Donna Tartt.
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital, by Lorrie Moore
American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
How Should A Person Be, by Sheila Heti
Karoo, by Steve Tesich
What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
Begin in the middle.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t take yourself so seriously. Laugh at your own writing, see comedy in tragedy, allow cleverness and wit to move you.
Tell me 5 things about yourself.
I never take off my gold rings. EVER.
I don’t know how to use Twitter or really know what a hashtag is.
I collect i-D magazines and even have a i-D logo tattooed on my hand.
My stepsister and I have the same first name.
I’m about to direct my debut feature film in August.
Thanks for sharing!
DON'T EVER CHANGE
by M. Beth Bloom
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Published by Harper Teen
Pages: 368
Source: Author
Purchase Amazon / B&N / The Book Depository
Synopsis:
Eva has always wanted to write a modern classic—one that actually appeals to her generation. The only problem is that she has realized she can't "write what she knows" because she hasn't yet begun to live. So before heading off to college, Eva is determined to get a life worth writing about.
Soon Eva's life encounters a few unexpected plot twists. She becomes a counselor at a nearby summer camp—a job she is completely unqualified for. She starts growing apart from her best friends before they've even left for school. And most surprising of all, she begins to fall for the last guy she would have ever imagined. But no matter the roadblocks, or writer's blocks, it is all up to Eva to figure out how she wants this chapter in her story to end.
Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell, Don't Ever Change is a witty, snarky, and thought-provoking coming-of-age young adult novel about a teen who sets out to write better fiction and, ultimately, discovers the truth about herself.
My Thoughts
I really liked this book. A lot. Like a lot, a lot. I ate this book up! The short chapters, quick wit, and appealing storyline make for an enjoyable, entertaining read. Bloom skillfully pieced together a story about a girl who wants to be on the cusp of something big, but doesn't know exactly how to make it all happen.
The MANY things I liked:
- The first person perspective and getting to know Eva's thoughts (rational and irrational); the mind of a writer
- Eva - she's judgemental and stubborn and opinionated and I like this about her because it proves that she has some growing up to do. She may not see it, but others do and they make sure to tell her.
- Eva's relationship with her older sister, Courtney. She wanted to be worldly too, but she had fears about growing up and moving on.
- Eva's job as a camp counselor - she didn't have a clue what she was doing and her method of "winging it"
- Aloof Elliot - he's such a guy, I looked forward to reading the minimalists texts and conversations
- Foster - there's just something about him
- Literary references, thinking about writing, talking about writing (but not much actual writing)
- The take on high school friendships and Eva's need to be best friends foreva' and her reactions when she realizes that those friendships are changing too
- Eva's realization that forgiveness can come easy if you don't make it so difficult
- You don't have to have it all figured out, but you should take the time to live, have experiences and embrace opportunities, so you can figure it out
Favorite Quotes
"You're not alone if you have your books and your pen and your ideas," I say.
"That's sometimes when the best writing comes out -- when you feel challenged, when you don't want to write because it's too hard," she says. "If you only wrote when you felt inspired, you wouldn't find something new inside of it, you wouldn't uncover anything."
" . . . I veer pretty close to being an Unlikeable Character, I'm at least aware of the fact. Which means I have the chance to stop what I'm doing and change, before I become so unlikeable that the reader gives up on me, shuts the book, and sends it flying across the room, disgusted."
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way other than the ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY
I loved that interview so much! I'm glad to see that you really enjoyed this book. I loved it too, because I found Eva to be so relatable. She's going to my dream college and majoring in my dream major. :)
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
I loved how she always had these ideas for writing, but never knew where to go with the ideas. Were they enough for a whole story? Another favorite part was how she and Foster, would share or claim ideas. "You can have that one." LOVED IT!
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