Review: Before Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Before Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn
Published: October 31st 2016 by Entangled TEEN
Number of pages: 81 Pages (Kindle)
Series: Yes, 1.5 of the Forget Tomorrow Trilogy

   In a world where all seventeen-year-olds receive a memory from their future selves, Logan Russell's vision is exactly as he expects—and exactly not. He sees himself achieving his greatest wish of becoming a gold-star swimmer, but strangely enough, the vision also shows him locking eyes with a girl from his past, Callie Stone, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

   Logan’s not sure what the memory means, but soon enough, he learns that his old friend Callie is in trouble. She’s received an atypical memory, one where she commits a crime in the future. According to the law, she must be imprisoned, even though she's done nothing wrong. Now, Logan must decide if he'll give up his future as a gold-star swimmer and rescue the literal girl of his dreams. All he'll have to do is defy Fate. (goodreads.com)

* Thank you to Entangled TEEN for providing me with 

an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion *

   I am obsessed with the Forget Tomorrow Trilogy because both books have so far been absolutely amazing and Pintip is an awesome author, so when I heard that there would be a novella from Logan's POV, I was on that!

   Usually I'm not into novellas or prequels, but this one, I just had to have it and read it. I loved Logan in Forget Tomorrow (review) and so getting to read more about him, from his POV, was really interesting. Throughout Before Tomorrow we follow Logan as he receives his Future Memory and how that changes his thoughts and basically everything for him. We get to know his life a little more, the way he thinks and feels, which was fascinating.

   Unlike the other books in the trilogy, this one was in 3rd person. I'm not a fan of 3rd person at all so that threw me of a little at first, but I managed to look past it enough to still really enjoy the story and see the world I already loved through another set of eyes.

   All in all, I really enjoyed Before Tomorrow a lot. If you're a fan of Pintip and the Forget Tomorrow trilogy, definitely check it out, especially because you can read it for free for a limited time so use the opportunity while you still can!

I give Before Tomorrow 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Review: Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Published: October 18th 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: 659 Pages (Hardcover)

Series: Yes, #2 in the Illuminae Files Trilogy

   Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

   The saga that began with Illuminae continues on board the space station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of BeiTech’s assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter, Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

   When an elite BeiTech team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum may be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

   But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope. (goodreads.com)

"It may comfort you to know that your death, 

while astonishingly violent, 

will likely be mercifully swift."

   Ever since I finished reading Illuminae (find my review here) last year, I waited with anticipation and great expectations for Gemina. As with all sequels, the second book fear was real, but Gemina exceeded all my hopes and expectations in amazing ways with brilliant and unexpected twists and turns.

   Just like Illuminae, Gemina is told through files, instant messages, video transcripts and alike, which is still the coolest book format I've ever encountered. We also meet another crucial character from Illuminae again who turns out to be an even worse person than we've so far thought. The hate is real and only turns realer. That part is told through a court room transcript which in itself was really interesting.

   In Gemina we follow Hanna and Nik. Hanna is the daughter of the Heimdall's captain, rich, spoiled but still a total badass with a black belt and loads of tactical knowledge which most definitely comes in handy through the story. I really liked her, even though she seemed a bit naive and very spoiled throughout the first few pages, but my opinion of her quick changed. She was a really interesting character and I couldn't wait to see what her role in the story would end up being. I didn't quite expect her to be that much of a badass, but I loved every second of it.

   On the other hand we have Nik who belongs to the House of Knives, a Russian criminal cartel on board of the Heimdall station, as well as New Petersburg. Since characters like him belong to my favorites, I knew I'd like him the moment we first meet him. Throughout the story I only fell more in love with him and found myself rooting for him. When a very emotional moment came up, that I won't spoil, I was on the verge of tears, not going to lie. He was a great and really interesting character, especially thanks to all the details about the cartel and the tattoos he and the others had.

   Another thing that blew my mind in Gemina was the whole aspect of the wormhole within the Heimdall station which was later on explained in a more scientific way, along with other hardcore science, which honestly was one of my favorite parts of the story. I love sci-fi books that have a solid dose of science in them, even if most of it is way too complicated for me to understand. Gemina definitely did that part right and in a marvelously interesting way.

   In the second half of the story we also meet our beloved characters from Illuminae again. Their role in the story isn't necessarily the biggest one in terms of page count, but it's still very much crucial and done in an amazing way. I was curious how Jay and Amie would tie them into the story and I am more than happy with the way they've done it.

   Also we need to take a moment and truly appreciate Marie Lu's (author of the Legend trilogy as well as The Young Elites trilogy) illustrations for Gemina. She isn't only a incredible author, no, she's also amazing at drawing. I was really curious to see all of it after I first heard about it, and boy did I love it!

   Just like Illuminae, Gemina has a lot of aces up its sleeve in form of amazing plot twists that you most definitely won't see coming and aliens that creeped the hell out of me, especially the way they were "created". Now that was awful in more ways than one. But their role in the story was fascinating, even though, as I mentioned before, they were really creepy. But, at the end of the day, the Phobos virus people in Illuminae were still scarier than the aliens, but that was to be expected, I mean that virus was off the charts.

   Gemina is am amazing action packed sequel with unexpected twists and turns, smart moves and tactical planning, and even some crazy science. I didn't think it could one up Illuminae, but somehow it managed to do it anyways. I cannot wait until we'll finally get the finale next year, especially after that ending. I am excited!

I give Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman 5 out of 5 stars!

Blog Tour: Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn (Review)

Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn
Released: October 4th 2016 by Entangled TEEN
Number of Pages: 400 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: Yes, #2 in the Forget Tomorrow Trilogy

   The sequel to the NYT Bestselling and RITA™ Award-winning novel, Forget Tomorrow, is a twisting, turning roller-coaster ride—the perfect sci-fi futuristic read.

   Sixteen-year-old Jessa Stone is the most valuable citizen in Eden City. Her psychic abilities could lead to significant scientific discoveries, if only she’d let TechRA study her. But ten years ago, the scientists kidnapped and experimented on her, leading to severe ramifications for her sister, Callie. She’d much rather break into their labs and sabotage their research—starting with Tanner Callahan, budding scientist and the boy she loathes most at school.

   The past isn’t what she assumed, though—and neither is Tanner. He’s not the arrogant jerk she thought he was. And his research opens the door to the possibility that Jessa can rectify a fatal mistake made ten years earlier. She’ll do anything to change the past and save her sister—even if it means teaming up with the enemy she swore to defeat.

* Thank you to Entangled TEEN for providing me with an eARC 
in exchange for my honest opinion *

   I was beyond excited to get my hands on Remember Yesterday because I absolutely loved Forget Tomorrow last year (review here). Luckily I not only received an eARC but was also invited to be part of the blog tour for it, which was just double amazing.

   When it comes to sequels I'm always a bit worried that they might turn out to be nothing more than fillers building up to the finale and nothing more. Remember Yesterday definitely didn't feel like a filler but like a worthy sequel to Forget Tomorrow.

   Unlike the first book, this one is told my Callie's sister, Jessa. At first I wasn't quite sure what I thought of that, but I knew that that was the only option for the sequel to work and happen. Quickly I started to really like Jessa and enjoyed her narration and voice, which sounded definitely different then Callie's in the first book.

   The plot was filled with twists and turns, exciting revelations and lots of moments that amazed me, made me swoon and move to the edge of my seat. It offered a lot of things we didn't have in the previous book, which I can't name of course because spoilers, but if you worry that the plot might somehow repeat itself, there is no need for it. Remember Yesterday is completely different then Forget Tomorrow.
   Also, the ending? Still didn't recover. 

   The love interest in this one was interesting and very different then the one in the previous novel. Tanner was an interesting character with a truly sad backstory which I enjoyed getting to know piece by piece. Though I'll admit I'm really not fond of the name Tanner. Seeing the way he acted toward Jessa change throughout the novel was interesting, especially as certain things were revealed and he understood different moments from his past he didn't understand before.

   I honestly cannot wait to see how the trilogy will end, what will happen with Chairwoman Dresden and if Jessa and the others will be able to figure out how to defeat her. Also, I really enjoyed the look into technologies we heard about in the previous novel but never explored in detail.

   Another thing that stuck out to me was how certain parts from the sequel played into the previous book and tied the plot together even more. Anyone who's read both will know what I'm talking about. It really showed, again, how much thought Pintip put into planning out these books and how much love to detail went into them.

   All in all I think Remember Yesterday is more than a worthy sequel to Forget Tomorrow offering many twists and turns, exciting revelations and swoon worthy moments. I cannot wait to read the final book in the trilogy, though it'll be sad to say goodbye to the characters and the story. Also, I cannot wait to see what the title will be for the third and final book because I've been loving the titles and covers so far! I cannot recommend these two books enough, so if sci-fi is your jam, definitely give them a try. Forget Tomorrow didn't win an award for nothing after all.

I give Remember Yesterday 5 out of 5 stars.

* * *

Buy Remember Yesterday here:

Amazon US // Barnes & Noble // iBooks // Kobo // Amazon UK // Amazon CA

   Giveaway

   One (1) winner will receive a limited, annotated hardcover of Forget Tomorrow

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author

   Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journel.

   Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. Her debut novel, Forget Tomorrow, won the RWA RITA® for Best First Book. Her other novels include The Darkest Lie and the forthcoming Remember Yesterday.

   She lives with her husband and children in Maryland.

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Review: The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire + Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF (No Spoilers)

   The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire
   Released: October 5th 2016 via YouTube Red
   Length: 96 Minutes

   PG-13
   Stage Show Recording

   Dan and Phil present their hit international stage show "The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire"! A performance inspired by the best of their videos, live and interactive with a real audience—along with some surprises you’ll never see coming.

   When Phil microwaves his laptop, he and Dan are warped into a universe where the internet is destroyed and everything from their online world has become real! As they work out how to entertain the real-life audience, a mysterious figure decides to teach them an important lesson. (youtube.com)

   After touring through the UK and US, Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) announced that their LA show at the Dolby Theatre will be filmed and released as YouTube Red Original Movie. Understandably their fans, especially those in places that didn't host any shows and thus couldn't go and see it, were very excited.

   Unlike other YouTuber tours and shows, Dan and Phil created an entire stage show with a proper script, music, props and audience participation (very consensual as Dan mentions in the actual show) bringing their YouTube Channels and personalities onto big stages.

   Diving into the stage show, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Sure, I've seen a few spoilers over the past months but I didn't know anything about the plot or how any of it actually looks like, which was honestly the best way to go into this show. As avid viewer of both Dan and Phil, I got all the inside jokes and could enjoy every aspect of the show easily which definitely enhanced my viewing experience.

   If you go in as very casual viewer, or a parent who's being forced into watching it with their kid, I don't think you'll enjoy the show just as much simply because of all the references to their videos and  the things Dan and Phil have done over the years. Please be warned.

   As fan of the two, I enjoyed the show tremendously. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing and it basically left me feeling very happy and positive. A message the two want to bring across with the show is that being weird or different is okay, that you can reach your goals and fulfill your dreams if you believe in yourself. I definitely got that from it.

   Looking at it from a more subjective perspective I still think it's a very cool stage show with an amazingly decorated stage and two very funny guys jumping around on said stage trying to entertain the audience. Speaking of which, you could really see how much joy the show was giving them which was just another layer of amazing really.

All in all I give The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire 5 out of 5 stars, 

subjectively and not just because I'm a fan.

* * *

   Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF
   Released: October 5th 2016 via YouTube Red
   Length: 61 Minutes
   PG-13
   Behind the Scenes Documentary

   The behind-the-scenes story of Dan and Phil’s adventure on tour! An intimate and epic documentary film chronicling everything from creating their stage show, to life on the road and reflecting back on its legacy. (youtube.com)

   Have you ever wondered how stage shows happen and what happens behind the scenes during tours? Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF will show you exactly that. Over the course of an hour you get to see who helped Dan and Phil create the show, how parts of it came together, how the look of the stage became what it is in the end, and what actually happens behind the scenes of the stage during the show itself.

    I was really curious to see how Dan and Phil came up with the show, how they as people of the internet who have nothing to do with big stage shows managed to create exactly that. Seeing them learn how to dance or learn tricks was really interesting, as well as seeing their adventures through the USA in their giant tour bus.

   Something that was also quite unique and interesting was seeing their fans talk about the show, express their feelings and see just how excited they were and how happy Dan and Phil, and the show, made them.

   The narration that leads us through the documentary was really well done and entertaining with the typical Dan and Phil humor.

   All in all I think Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF is really interesting and a fun look behind the scenes. When you decide to watch these two, definitely watch the Stage Show first and then the documentary because spoilers. I had a really good time watching the documentary and I'll definitely watch it, along with the stage show, again soon.

I give Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Published: October 18th 2007 by Razorbill

Number of Pages: 288 Pages (Paperback)

Series: No

   Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

   On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

   Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. (goodreads.com)

   I've had this book on my shelf for at least over a year but, even though I knew I really wanted to read it, I never picked it up. But then as I was browsing through audible, I remembered it, remembered that it's largely based on the narrator listening to tapes, so I thought it's the perfect book to listen to.

   And I was right.

   Thirteen Reasons Why is one of those books that I would call important, touching upon a topic people might find uncomfortable, especially when shown in this way. Personally, once I was done reading it, I felt the urge to write an email to my old English teacher to ask her if there is any sort of way she could incorporate this book into her lessons (knowing all too well that that's not possible).

   In Thirteen Reasons Why we follow Clay as he receives a box filled with cassette tapes containing thirteen different stories and reasons explaining why this girl called Hannah decided to commit suicide. This definitely isn't an easy, afternoon read that'll just entertain you. This is the sort of book that will make you stop and think about yourself and the way you treat others, what effect you might have on them even in moments that you'd think are trivial, insignificant.

   I don't think this book is for everyone, despite being nearly unputdownable, because a lot of it depends on you as reader being able to sympathize with Hannah, if her voice and narration style will click with you. Personally, I sympathized very much with her, and sure, some of her reasons might not come across as something that you'd think would have such a grave impact on a person, but I can understand why they affected her the way they did. If you take reach reason as a separate thing, none of them are heavy enough, but you have to remember that, as the story progresses, these reasons are stacked on top of each other creating this much larger, much more complex picture that will make you understand that it's very realistic that all of them together could make someone snap.

   Bullying especially is something that affects people in different ways, just like harassment that might not have that big of an affect on one person but might change someone else's life completely.

   Something that also stuck out to me was the discussion on how boys, in a way, find reasons and explanations for why they are entitled to treating girls a certain way, or talk to them a certain way. That was certainly a very interesting aspect that I think is still very much a big issue today, even more than back when Thirteen Reasons Why came out, adding only more to the list of reasons why I would have loved to read a book like this in English class and discuss it.

   When it comes to Clay, the supposed main character of the story, I really liked the way his story progressed throughout the book, how he was questioning why he got those tapes, how he could've affected Hannah in some more meaningful way. Once it was finally revealed and he understood what happened and what he did, or didn't do, I actually teared up a bit along with him. The one thing that I'd definitely criticize about him is how quickly he changed his mind, which I think would take much longer in a real life setting.
   Also, and this has nothing to do with Clay, did people actually still use cassette tapes in 2007?

   All in all I can very much recommend Thirteen Reasons Why and think it's an important read, especially for young people. I think this book raises many good points and gives a lot of material perfect for discussions and personal reflecting. I really much enjoyed listening to it, so I can recommend the audiobook. The two narrators did an amazing job at bringing Clay and Hannah to life.

I give Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 4 out of 5 stars.

Cover Reveal: Before Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

   I am beyond excited today because I am bringing you the absolutely gorgeous, stunning and incredible cover for the Forget Tomorrow novella called Before Tomorrow, which is told from Logan's POV (Color me even more excited!). As you guys know, I absolutely LOVED Forget Tomorrow last year (review here) and I'm currently making my way through the sequel, Remember Yesterday (loving it so far!), so when I heard about this novella and the cover reveal, I had to jump right on it!

   Without further ado, here is the beautiful cover of Before Tomorrow:

Before Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Expected Publication: October 31st 2016 by Entangled TEEN

Series: Yes, #0.5 of the Forget Tomorrow Trilogy

   In a world where all seventeen-year-olds receive a memory from their future selves, Logan Russell's vision is exactly as he expects—and exactly not. He sees himself achieving his greatest wish of becoming a gold-star swimmer, but strangely enough, the vision also shows him locking eyes with a girl from his past, Callie Stone, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

   Logan’s not sure what the memory means, but soon enough, he learns that his old friend Callie is in trouble. She’s received an atypical memory, one where she commits a crime in the future. According to the law, she must be imprisoned, even though she's done nothing wrong. Now, Logan must decide if he'll give up his future as a gold-star swimmer and rescue the literal girl of his dreams. All he'll have to do is defy Fate.

   Add Before Tomorrow on Goodreads!

   But what if you don't want to wait until Oct. 31?

   No problem. Pre-order REMEMBER YESTERDAY, book 2 in the FORGET TOMORROW series, and register your receipt here, and you'll receive a copy of BEFORE TOMORROW to read before anyone else! Plus, U.S. residents will also get a bookplate and bookmark!

   Want to learn more about FORGET TOMORROW and REMEMBER YESTERDAY? Click here.

   REMEMBER YESTERDAY buy links:

Amazon // Barnes & Noble // iBooks // Kobo 

About Pintip

   Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL. Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. Her debut novel, FORGET TOMORROW, won the RWA RITA® for Best First Book. Her other novels include THE DARKEST LIE and the forthcoming REMEMBER YESTERDAY.

   She lives with her husband and children in Maryland. You can learn more about Pintip and her books at www.pintipdunn.com

Review: Going Geek by Charlotte Huang

Going Geek by Charlotte Huang

Published: September 13th 2016 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 304 Pages (Hardcover)

Series: No

   A girl forced out of her comfort zone finds that being true to herself is the best way to live her life, in this second novel from the author of For the Record.

   It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Skylar Hoffman’s senior year at her preppy East Coast boarding school should have been perfect:

   amazing boyfriend

   the coolest friends

   the most desirable dorm

   But it’s far from it. To her dismay, Skylar’s not going to rule senior year because she’s stuck in Abbot House, a tiny dorm known for, well, nothing. Living with a group of strangers everyone thinks is lame is bad enough. Worse is that Skylar wasn’t exactly truthful about how she spent summer break in Los Angeles—and her little white lie is causing her once rock-solid romance to crumble fast. And when it turns out that Skylar’s best friend is the one responsible for having her booted from Lincoln? It’s an all-out war.

   Stepping out of her comfort zone never felt so scary—or necessary. But everything is different now. Including, maybe, Skylar herself . . . (goodreads.com)

* Thank you to Random House and Delacorte for sending me an ARC 

in exchange for my honest opinion *

   I absolutely loved For the Record last year, so when I heard about Charlotte's next book, I knew I had to read it. Thankfully, I was one of the very lucky people who got ARCs of it, even though shipping took 2 months for unknown reasons.

   Going Geek is set at a boarding school and is all about Skylar who, upon arriving, finds out that she won't be sharing a dorm building with her popular friends but that she's been transferred into the least popular dorm of all. On top of that Skylar's family is struggling financially and she gets booted out of everything she used to be part of. On top of that she looses her friendship with her popular best friend and the relationship with her boyfriend, solely because everyone finds out that she lied about what she did over the summer, alas that in reality she spent it working.

   Across the novel we follow her as she tries to figure out her new life and also the fact that maybe the traditional and typical high school way of thinking of the "cool" and "popular" people isn't the only one.

   It took me a while to warm up to Skylar since she isn't necessarily your typical likable narrator, but once I did, I got really pulled into the story and started to root for her. Her arc is really interesting and different, especially since, for once, we don't read about the typical wallflower grey mouse type girl, but someone who used to belong to the popular crowd, who has strong opinions and doesn't fear to speak her mind, even though it doesn't always work in her favor.

   Another thing I really liked about Going Geek was the diverse cast of characters and the fact that even the secondary ones seemed fleshed out and fun, not just like shadows that were needed to push the plot along. I really liked the girls Skylar shared her dorm with!

   Just like in For the Record, Charlotte's writing was amazing. The descriptions interesting and fun, her characters full of layers and dimensions, quirks and weirdness that made them unique and realistic. But, even though I really enjoyed Going Geek, I still have to admit I preferred For the Record, maybe even only because it was about music and it was the first book I ever read from Charlotte. Still, Going Geek was a fun read I can definitely recommend!

I give Going Geek by Charlotte Huang 4 stars.

Blog Tour: Interview: Kristin Bartley Lenz (The Art of Holding On and Letting Go)

   Hello and welcome to my stop of the blog tour for The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz.

   When I was presented with the opportunity to read and review this book, I was immediately intrigued and said yes. Said review can be found here. Then I also got the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, to which I obviously said yes, too, because you guys know I love debut authors and interviewing them about their books, so how could I not say yes? 

   So below you can find all about the book and Kristin's As to my Qs:

The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz

Expected publication: September 12th 2016 by Elephant Rock Productions, Inc.

Number of Pages: 307 Pages (Paperback)

Series: No

   A Junior Library Guild Fall 2016 Selection

   “When every piece falls into place, it’s like a dance, a delicate but powerful balancing act. The art of holding on and letting go at the same time.”

   Competitive climber Cara Jenkins feels most at home high off the ground, clinging to a rock wall by her fingertips. She’s enjoyed a roaming life with her mountaineering parents, making the natural world her jungle gym, the writings of Annie Dillard and Henry David Thoreau her textbooks. But when tragedy strikes on an Ecuadoran mountaintop, Cara’s nomadic lifestyle comes to an abrupt halt.

   Starting over at her grandparents’ home in suburban Detroit, Cara embarks on a year of discovery, uncovering unknown strengths, friendships, and first love. Cara’s journey illustrates the transformative power of nature, love and loss, and discovering that home can be far from where you started. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Kristin Bartley Lenz

   1 - Describe The Art of Holding On and Letting Go with a haiku (or twitter pitch).

   Climb, explore the world

   Family, friendship, love, loss

   Nature heals your soul

   2 - What was the first initial thought or thing that sparked the idea of The Art of Holding On and Letting Go?

   My husband and I became immersed in rock climbing when we moved from Michigan to Georgia, and then to California. We followed the careers of well-known mountaineers, and one by one, each of these climbers died attempting epic summits, leaving their spouses and children behind. I began to wonder what it would be like to be the child of a famous mountaineer. How would that child’s upbringing be different? And what if both of her parents were extreme mountaineers, not just one? How would this shape her world?

   3 - What do you like most about your protagonist Cara?
   I like that she has grit and tenacity and a big heart.

   4 - What was the most challenging about writing The Art of Holding On and Letting Go and which scene was the most fun to write?
   It was challenging to describe rock climbing without being too technical. My favorite scene to write was when Cara climbs at the viaduct by her grandparents’ house. It was fun to play with the language, and it was in that scene that I found the book’s title – The Art of Holding On and Letting Go.

   5 - How long did it take you from first thought until publishing deal?

   Ten, very long years! I worked as a social worker and wrote other stories during those years, but TAOHOALG was revised, submitted, shelved, and revised again every few years until I connected with the right editor who shared my vision.

   6 - How do you feel about the fact that in a couple of weeks, hundreds of people will be able to read your book?

   It’s nerve-wracking! This manuscript has received a lot of praise and support from agents, editors, and fellow writers over the years. I’ve grown as a writer through this process and I’m confident that I’ve produced a work of quality literature, but I know it won’t be for everyone. Very rarely has my book club ever unanimously loved a book; we’re all drawn to different aspects of stories. But it’s been so fun to correspond with some of the early readers who have really connected with my book.

   7 - In retrospective, is there anything that you’d change about the story or are you happy with the way it turned out in the end?

   The more time I spent in Cara’s world, the more details I wanted to add. I could revise endlessly, but at some point I needed to stop and trust that I’d shared enough of her story for readers to understand and make it their own. I’m happy with the book, and ready to move on to a new manuscript.

   8 - While writing the story did you ever imagine how a cover might look like and what do you think about the absolutely gorgeous final version?

   It is gorgeous, isn’t it?! Amanda Schwarz designed the cover, and I was so impressed with her vision. I thought the cover should incorporate mountains in some way, and I knew what I didn’t want (an overly romantic cover with a couple kissing), but I didn’t have a clear picture beyond that. I shared some of Amanda’s cover creation process on the SCBWI-MI blog. You can read that post here: http://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-making-of-book-cover-3-stories_22.html

   9 - Did you listen to any particular songs or artists while writing The Art of Holding On and Letting Go? If so, could you give us an example?

   I love when writers share their music influences, but my answer is pretty boring - I have to write in silence. But once I’m done writing, I head to the kitchen to make dinner, and that’s when the music comes on. Cooking requires music, and Eminem is the best for chopping veggies. ;)

   10 – What advice could you give aspiring authors?

   Connect with other writers in your area or online to share resources, give and receive feedback, and encourage each other to persevere along the bumpy path to publishing. SCBWI is a really supportive organization if you’re writing for children and/or teens.

   11 – If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

   Invisibility. There are so many times that I want to be a fly on the wall and just observe. I love watching and listening much more than talking.

About the Author

   Kristin Lenz is a writer and social worker from metro-Detroit who fell in love with the mountains when she moved to Georgia and California. Now she’s back in Detroit where she plots wilderness escapes and manages the Michigan Chapter blog for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her writing has been published by online literary journals, including Hunger Mountain and Great Lakes Review. The Art of Holding On and Letting Go is her first novel.

   Links for purchase:

   Amazon

   IndieBound

   Books-A-Million

   Barnes & Noble

   Goodreads

   Kobo

   Link to publisher’s website:

   Elephant Rock Books

Mon., Aug. 22 – Kristin makes a guest post on Making Connections

Fri., Aug. 26 – Kristin interviewed on Fiction Over Reality

Tues., Aug. 30 – Kristin interviewed on A Leisure Moment

Thurs., Sept. 1 – Kristin interviewed on Crazy Book Obsessions!
Sunday, Sept. 4 – Kristin makes an appearance on black plume
Tues., Sept. 6 – Kristin makes a guest post on Books Are Love
Thurs., Sept. 8 – Kristin interviewed on Alice Reeds
Mon., Sept. 12 – Release day post on Making Connections
Mon., Sept. 12 – Kristin makes a guest post on Books & Tea
Mon., Sept. 12 – Kristin is interviewed by her agent, Carrie Pestritto, on Literary Carrie
Thurs., Sept. 15 – Kristin interviewed on Books Are Love
Tues., Sept. 20 – Kristin makes a guest post on The Reading Date
Friday, Sept. 23 – Kristin makes a guest post on Twenty Three Pages
Mon., Sept. 26 – Kristin interviewed on Literary Rambles
Wed., Sept. 28 – Kristin interviewed on Wandering Educators
Wed., Oct. 5 – Kristin interviewed on Operation Awesome 

Review: The Art of Holding On and Letting Gn by Kristin Bartley Lenz

The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz

Expected Publication: September 12th 2016 by Elephant Rock Productions, Inc.

Pages: 307 Pages (Paperback)

Series: No

   A Junior Library Guild Fall 2016 Selection

   “When every piece falls into place, it’s like a dance, a delicate but powerful balancing act. The art of holding on and letting go at the same time.”

   Competitive climber Cara Jenkins feels most at home high off the ground, clinging to a rock wall by her fingertips. She’s enjoyed a roaming life with her mountaineering parents, making the natural world her jungle gym, the writings of Annie Dillard and Henry David Thoreau her textbooks. But when tragedy strikes on an Ecuadoran mountaintop, Cara’s nomadic lifestyle comes to an abrupt halt.

   Starting over at her grandparents’ home in suburban Detroit, Cara embarks on a year of discovery, uncovering unknown strengths, friendships, and first love. Cara’s journey illustrates the transformative power of nature, love and loss, and discovering that home can be far from where you started. (goodreads.com)

* Thank you to Elephant Rock Books for providing me with an 

eARC in exchange for my honest review *

   When the publisher contacted me regarding this book and I checked out the synopsis I was definitely intrigued. I've never read a book about a competitive climber before, or even seen climbing being mentioned in any other YA book I've read so far, so I was eager to dive into it. Thanks to a massive reading slump it took me way longer then it usually would, which is a shame, but I made my way through it and I can tell you that I was not disappointed by it.

   In this story we follow Cara's story that starts off in Ecuador during a climbing competition (which is described really, really well and with just the perfect amount of details) during which tragedy strikes Cara's family. Following Cara as she holds on to hope that maybe everything will be okay, and then having to accept that it won't and that her entire life is about to change, was heartbreaking and brilliantly written. Seeing her navigate a her new surroundings, making new friends and falling in love was amazing, especially because it was such a contrast to the way the book started off.

   What stuck out for me about this book was the way Kristin described the climbing aspect and Cara's emotional landscape, how it was changing and evolving along the way. You could really feel what she was feeling and understand why she felt that way and why she made certain choices. Cara is a fascinating character that I very much enjoyed reading about.

   I really enjoyed Kristin's writing style, the way she created likable and relatable characters that seemed realistic and three dimensional. The story definitely lived up to my hopes and to that really pretty cover.

   All in all, The Art of Holding On and Letting Go is a intriguing story that brings something new to the table, something we've not seen before, and it does it incredibly well. I can definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for a contemporary with lots of emotions and a looking into the life of a competitive climber.

I give The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz 5 out of 5 stars.

   Purchase links:
   Amazon
   IndieBound
   Books-A-Million
   Barnes & Noble
   Goodreads
   Kobo

   Also, if you want, you can totally check out the blog tour for The Art of Holding On and Letting Go (which I'm totally part of):

·      Mon., Aug. 22 – Kristin makes a guest post on Making Connections

·      Fri., Aug. 26 – Kristin interviewed on Fiction Over Reality

·      Tues., Aug. 30 – Kristin interviewed on A Leisure Moment

·      Thurs., Sept. 1 – Kristin interviewed on Crazy Book Obsessions!

·      Sunday, Sept. 4 – Kristin makes an appearance on blackplume

·      Tues., Sept. 6 – Kristin makes a guest post on Books Are Love

·      Thurs., Sept. 8 – Kristin interviewed on Alice Reeds

·      Mon., Sept. 12 – Release day post on Making Connections

·      Mon., Sept. 12 – Kristin makes a guest post on Books & Tea

·      Mon., Sept. 12 – Kristin is interviewed by her agent, Carrie Pestritto, on Literary Carrie

·      Thurs., Sept. 15 – Kristin interviewed on Books Are Love

·      Tues., Sept. 20 – Kristin makes a guest post on The Reading Date

·      Friday, Sept. 23 – Kristin makes a guest post on Twenty Three Pages

·      Mon., Sept. 26 – Kristin interviewed on Literary Rambles

·      Wed., Sept. 28 – Kristin interviewed on Wandering Educators

·      Wed., Oct. 5 – Kristin interviewed on Operation Awesome