VANISHING GIRLS by Lauren Oliver - GIVEAWAY

I received a copy of Vanishing Girls at Apollycon and I already have the book, so I thought that I would share my extra copy with one of my blog readers. Vanishing Girls is a Five-Star read. I've shared some quick thoughts that you can read below. 

Good Luck!!

VANISHING GIRLS by Lauren Oliver

Publication Date: March 10, 2015

Published by Harper Collins

Pages: 357

About Vanishing Girls

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

My Thoughts

An extremely well crafted story. I enjoyed the mystery and complexity of it. I had to pay close attention the the chapter headings to know the timeline and character perspective, but this kept me on my toes.

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Mini Reviews: VANISHING GIRLS, NOWHERE BUT HERE, and NUTS

A collection of mini-reviews, quick thoughts, and books worth mentioning. Check them out!

VANISHING GIRLS by Lauren Oliver

Publication Date: March 10, 2015

Pages: 357

Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 of 5
Synopsis

My Thoughts

An extremely well crafted story. I enjoyed the mystery and complexity of it. I had to pay close attention the the chapter headings to know the timeline and character perspective, but this kept me on my toes.

NOWHERE BUT HERE by Katie McGarry

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Pages: 496

Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 of 5

Synopsis

My Thoughts:
A wonderful series starter that was so full of secrets that I couldn't stop reading until they were revealed. I loved Emily and Oz and their story. Nowhere But Here is sexy and satisfying and has one of my favorite endings. I can't wait to get to know the rest of the characters in the Thunder Road series. Loved IT!!!!

NUTS by Alice Clayton

Publication Date: October 20, 2015

Pages: 308

Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 of 5
Synopsis

My Thoughts
This book kept me in stitches. It is hilarious! Nuts was a book-club selection (my choice). Wallbanger was such a big hit (pun intended) that we wanted to read another book by Alice Clayton. It was fun to read-along with my friends and giggle and swoon and wish we had some of the yummy cakes from Roxie's diner. Roxie's inner dialogue and conversations with her friends cracked us up! We're already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 

Countdown to #YALLFest2014: 8 weeks

YALLFest is coming!!! 

8 Weeks until AWESOME!

Details (from YALLFest.org)

YALLFest 2014

Who’s coming: 60 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers.

What: Panels, presentations and signings on three stages on Upper King Street, as well as the infamous YA Smackdown!

When: Fri., Nov. 7 and Sat., Nov. 8, 2014

Where: Blue Bicycle Books, the American Theatre, Charleston Music Hall, Upper King Street, Charleston, SC

Cost: FREE!

Every Saturday until YALLFest, I'll share why I'm looking forward to this event.

This week's topic:

Books I Want to Read Before YALLFest

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Panic by Lauren Oliver

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige 
(not pictured, I'm picking up a copy today)

And
at least one Sarah Dessen book

I have all of Sarah's published books, but have ready only half of them. With all of the books I want to read and all of the review books I need to read, it's likely I'll only read from the picture above. 

Which one should I choose?

YALLFest Author Interview: Lauren Oliver

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall, the Delirium Series, and two books for young readers: Liesl and Po and The Spindlers

 

 

 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Coffee!

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

Honestly, neither. It’s just every single line in between that feels impossible.

Best writing tip you ever received?

Aim for truth and beauty will follow.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

I have fourteen tattoos. I can fall asleep any time, any place. I have a phobia of worms. I hate fruit. I wrote my first novel largely on my Blackberry.

Where's your favorite place to write?

In my sunroom in upstate New York.

What are you working on now?

Two different middle grade books and an untitled young adult novel that my agent described as “the most disturbing thing he’s ever read.” Oops!

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I love realistic books that include just a hint of fantasy.

Visit Lauren Oliver's Website

 

 

It was a Good Week in Books (2)

Bookish things that grabbed my attention this week:

• Super Pop! by Daniel Harmon Blog Tour is going strong. I shared my Top 7 Favorite Super Pop Top Ten Lists. One of my favorite posts from the tour so far is at Dear Teen Me and not just because of Daniel Harmon's use of Venn diagrams.
• The Unnaturalists author Tiffany Trent revealed the cover of her upcoming follow-up THE TINKER KING - available February 11, 2014.
• There was the cover reveal of The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe. I didn't even know she had a new book coming out anytime soon so this was a wonderful surprise.

 And if that was enough:

• Lauren Oliver shared a video announcement about her upcoming YA novel, PANIC - "it's super secret".
• Kate of Kate's Tales of Books and Bands is organizing Jennifer Echols Week: July 9th - 16th. Just in time for her upcoming novel Dirty Little Secret (available July 16th). I'm a fan of Jennifer Echols (Endless Summer is one of my favorites) and signed up to participate.

Other happenings:

•  I received my copy of Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham which I hope to read in time for The Broke and the Bookish Book Club. On Tuesday, I received a copy that looked like this: 
  
  By Friday I'd already received my replacement copy that is in perfect condition.
• I added Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Becca Ann to my TBR list after finding it at JennReneeRead blog. If it is anything like Kody Keplinger's The DUFF (which I wouldn't be surprised if it was inspired by it) - then I'm sure that it will be a funny and entertaining read.
  

Waiting on Wednesday: Requiem

"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:

Requiem
by Lauren Oliver
Published by HarperTeen
Publication Date March 5, 2013














(from Goodreads)

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

After listing the series books I haven't finished in yesterday's Top Ten Tuesday, I realized just how much I want to read Requiem right now. Just thinking about Lena and Hana and Alex took me back to the moment of when I finished Delirium and was overcome with emotion. I'm reading Hana now and all I can say is thank you Lauren Oliver for giving your readers something to tide us over.