Book Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Maybe One Day
Author: Melissa Kantor
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: February 18th 2014
Review Source: Edelweiss | HarperTeen

Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

“Friends are the family you choose for yourself”. This is one of my favorite quotes ever because my friends are one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Without them, I don’t know… I don’t think life will be as meaningful. Especially when it comes to my best friend. I know her since I was nine years old. She is part of who I am. She is my family. So this book is very dearly to me. Maybe one day is a book about friendship. These are rare now in days and I am thankful for Melissa for sharing this story with us.

What would you do if the one thing you enjoy the most is taken from you? The one thing that kept you going is no longer there to inspire you. This is what happens to Zoe when she and her best friend, Olivia, are cut out the dance program at NYBC. This was her whole life. This is all she knew.

A year after this, Zoe is pretty much given up on life. Then, she gets a call from Olivia giving her bad news. Something she never expected.

What would you do if your best friend tells you she is sick? A deadly one. Well… I know my world would shatter.

This is a story of true friendship.

This is a story of love.

Let me tell you, the last pages of this book crushed me. I couldn't see at all, it was all a blur. I was ugly crying. I was gasping for air. I had to read over the words. Even writing this down… ah, the tears *sniff sniff*.

This is not as sad as you may think. Yes, cancer sucks and it is a sad topic. But the story of Zoe and Olivia’s friendship is just… beautiful. The true meaning of love and friendship is being there every step of the way. No matter what the circumstances are, you stick to being yourself and being the friend that your friend loves. And this is what Zoe did. This tragedy brought them closer.

Maybe One Day is a powerful, amazing and simply beautiful story of friendship. It will melt you, it will make you smile and it will touch your heart. I recommend everyone to pick up this book.

Read Chapters 4&5
click here to download PDF

RCE's #VampireAcademy Cast Interview

As many of you know I co-run www.RedCarpetEndings.com with Lisa. This past Wednesday we had the opportunity to meet and interview Dominic Sherwood, Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry that will be starring in Vampire Academy.

Here is our video interview (get ready to laugh) but make sure you head over to RCE to check out the full write up that includes pictures and a pretty awesome giveaway.

RCE's Exclusive: ‘Vampire Academy’ Cast Interview & Giveaway!




Vampire Academy hits theaters nationwide February 7th 2014.

Author Giveaway: The Darkest Joy | Marata Eros | Kindle Fire + Gift Card

In celebration of Marata Eros upcoming release THE DARKEST JOY, she is celebrating by sharing this fabulous giveaway.

Book Description:

“I don’t want my broken fixed. . . .”

Six months ago, Brooke Starr was one impeccable piano performance away from Juilliard. Now, she is lonely, devastated, orphaned . . . seeking solace in a place where the sun never sets and trying to make sense of the dark tragedy that clouds her shattered heart.

There are no coincidences. . . .

Deep-sea fisherman Chance Taylor can’t imagine what his life would be if he’d never taken that midnight stroll to the pier. Had never seen the intriguing, raven-haired girl swan dive into the Alaskan sea. Had never plunged into the icy waters to rescue her . . . and finally felt her electric charge.

As their blazing chemistry consumes them, Chance is determined to save Brooke from her demons. But Brooke knows she must find her own footing. She thinks she’s already lost everything—until the terror of her past catches up with her and threatens all that she has left: her life, her love, and the freedom to choose between drowning in grief and finding joy in the darkness.

Author Bio:

Marata Eros (a pseudonym for Tamara Rose Blodgett) is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY

bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Loveand its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband. She is currently writing volume four of her serial new adult dark romance, THE TOKEN.


Facebook | BLOG | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinteresta Rafflecopter giveaway

The REEL Book Club: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard Book Discussion

Hi everyone! Welcome to The REEL Book Club Labor Day Discussion.

You might recall that we did a couple post back in November for The Book Thief but we didn't have an official name for our book club yet. And now as you can see above, we are called The REEL Book Club. Do you get it? Reel for movie reel, since we are still going to be discussing books turned into movies. 

This meet up was all about LABOR DAY by Joyce Maynard. 

Labor Day written by Joyce Maynard was originally printed back in 2009. The movie-tie edition was released December 3rd 2013 from William Morrow Paperbacks. See below each cover. 

So on Sunday, January 26th we all met at my house once again to discuss the book and what we expect in the upcoming film.

Pictured here from left to right: Yara (Me), Jessica, Jennifer, Rachel, Heather, Dustie, Stephanie, Mary Alice, Trudy and Sheila D..

Pictured here from left to right: Sheila M., Jennifer (bottom), Jessica (top), Rachel, Heather, Dustie, Stephanie, Mary Alice, Trudy and Sheila D.

DISCUSSION:

How do you think the events of that Labor Day weekend change Henry? How might his life have gone if Frank had not shown up?

• Rachel: She said that Henry would have become a recluse in her opinion.
• Dustie: says it was for Henry's best which helped tremendously with his self-esteem.
• Heather: Learning to bake the pie changed his life for the best.
• Sheila M.: She felt that he learned to get along better with men and women because of that Labor Day weekend. 

Scenes we want to see in the film.

• Yara: I would like to see the part where Frank and Henry go outside and Frank teaches him how to play baseball. It's a very happy part for me in the book I'd like to see on the screen.
• Jennifer: Wants to see the pie making scene and when Frank approaches Henry in the store when they meet for the first time.
• Shelia D.: Would like to see when Henry tells Eleanor off.
• Trudy: The 2 scenes she would like to see are the pie making and store meet up also.
• Dustie: Wants to see when Frank shows Henry how to play baseball, it's the scene she considered the happiest in the book.
• Heather: Wants to see when they first meet in the store and when they go to capture Frank.

Reaction to movie trailers.

• Everyone as a group agrees the trailer looks like it will be more interesting and "normal" than the book.
• Kate Winslet actually looks terrified when she meets Frank "Vinny" at the store as opposed to how it's described in the book. 
• We did catch that Henry narrates as a grown man in the movie trailer. When we read the book, we felt as a whole that it was a child narrating the story. Main reason was the missing quotations and just certain areas that grossed us out as moms (lol). 
• The movie trailer looks as if the film is going to be romantic since we felt the book lacked romance for us. 

HOPES.

• Believable, emotional, romantic.

Random.

• The movie trailer helped a few of us read and finish the book.
• Stephanie: Says it wasn't the most comfortable scenes to read in a book but she has read worst before.
• Sheila M.: Says she feels the author wrote this book to show the story as "fated" to the reader. 
• Group hopes that the movie is less detailed in certain scenes that in the book that were a bit uncomfortable to read. (Out of all of us, I had the hardest time getting through the book - Yara)
• It was disturbing for most of us with sons to know how interested Henry was to listen to his mother have sexual relations with Frank. 
• Sheila M: She could not handle the constant turmoil in the book. 

So that concludes are first meeting for Labor Day. Next we will go as a group and see the film then discuss our reactions after watching the movie. Labor Day was definitely a good book to have as part of a book club. There were moments of heated discussion regarding Henry and our own boys. It's definitely a book that moms of boys might be uncomfortable to read. But we do recommend that you do. 

Have you read Labor Day? What do you thins about what we mention in this post regarding the book and upcoming movie? What are you looking forward to seeing in the movie? Let us know in the comments. 

LABOR DAY - in theaters January 31st 2014.

“Labor Day” centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers, a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

Starring: Kate Winslet as Adele, Josh Brolin as Frank, Gattlin Griffith as young Henry and Tobey Maguire as adult Henry. 

Directed by Jason Reitman

Order your copy of Joyce Maynard's Labor Day today. 

Book Review: Roomies by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

Roomies
Author: Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: December 24th 2013
Review Source: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

It's time to meet your new roomie. When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room. As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met. National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.

Elizabeth receives her freshman-year dorm roommate assignment. As a logical decision, she sends an e-mail to her assigned roommate, Lauren, to figure out the basics: television, microwave, mini fridge etc. What she doesn't expect is the countless e-mails that follow. Lauren and Elizabeth find support in each other throughout the summer while dealing with family and boy troubles, even though they've never met.

Wow! I loved this story in it's entirety! Such a perfect representation of how friendships are built in the 21st century. Through the interweb, people can connect. And, that's exactly what Elizabeth and Lauren did. What a great way to get to know each other since, I mean, you will be rooming together for freshman year.

 I loved how each story was told, Zarr and Altebrando did a wonderful job in the layout of the book. Going from one girl to the next, each "voice" was distinguishable and each setting was different. I really enjoyed being taken on this journey through each girls life, family problem, boy trouble, and especially their friendship building.

 Definitely pick up your copy of Roomies when looking for a great, fun read!

Google+ Hangout Chat with Authors Cora Carmack & Lisa Desrochers Rescheduled for 2/6 at Noon!

This hangout has been rescheduled for 2/6 at 12EST/11CST/10MST/9PST.

HarperCollins Publishers is teaming up with Google+ Hangout to bring you a "hangout" with authors Cora Carmack and Lisa Desrochers.

The hangout will begin at 12pm EST and last 30 minutes on Google +.

HarperCollins Publishers Google+ Event

Books written by Cora Carmack:

Books written by Lisa Desrochers:

Do you have questions that you would like to ask Cora or Lisa or both? Then leave your questions in the comments below. I will be moderating the chat and will be asking as many questions as I can. 

See you at 12pm EST/11am CST/10am MST/9am PST. The chat will run for 30 minutes. 

Twitter Blast: Kiss of Fire | Rebecca Ethington | Giveaway

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to. The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

You could win a $25 Gift Card!

Kiss of Fire by author Rebecca Ethington is FREE on Amazon! If you haven’t read KISS OF FIRE yet, trust me, you WANT to snag a copy!

Praise for KISS OF FIRE…

“KISS OF FIRE reminded me some of THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series and a few other books mixed together. It was absolutely great to read and hard to put down.” – I READ INDIE

“The way the story unfolds is expertly written. The introduction of the magic and magical characters is written so well that the story flows without any hiccups.” – Literary R&R

“I just loved this book! In Kiss of Fire, I immediately fell in love with Ryland and Joclyn, got completely sucked in the story and loved it till the end. The concept of this story is amazing. The twists thrilling. And, the romance so perfect and bittersweet.” – Shortie Says…

How can you help spread the word? Easy!

Just copy and paste the pre-made tweet below and share! Make sure to use the hashtag #KISSOFFIRE. Author Rebecca Ethington is giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky tweeter. Good Choice Reading will be picking a winner from the hashtag and sending them a tweet. :) 

This giveaway is open international! 

TWEET:

#KissofFire by Rebecca Ethington is FREE on Amazon! Over 350 FIVE star reviews! #YALit http://amzn.to/MwrMSP

Good luck everyone!

Trailer Thursday: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Faking Normal

Author:  Courtney C. Stevens

Expected Publication: February 25th 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

Extra! Extra!:The #CoHorts Have Won!

OMG I am seriously thrilled for Colleen Hoover. #FindingCinderella by Colleen Hoover will be available in print 3.18.14!! Thank YOU, ATRIA Books for giving me another printed book of Colleen's to add to my shelf!

About COLLEEN HOOVER:

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and This Girl and Losing Hope. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

Watch the full #TeaTime recap!

There are so many new releases from HarperTeen this week and the Epic Reads gal are here to share them!

 

Book Review: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

When You Were Here
Author: Daisy Whitney
Reading Level: Young Adult | New Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction | Contemporary
Released: June 4th 2013
Review Source: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Filled with humor, raw emotion, a strong voice, and a brilliant dog named Sandy Koufax, When You Were Here explores the two most powerful forces known to man-death and love. Daisy Whitney brings her characters to life with a deft touch and resonating authenticity.

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Danny is left parentless when his mother loses her battle with cancer after five years. He is all alone with his ex-girlfriend and his mother’s best-friend next door. His girlfriend broke up with him the summer before out of the blue with little of an explanation and with him taking care of his mother all alone, he was left with the depressing thought that he was going to be left alone. He has flashbacks all throughout the book about all the good times that they had together and how happy he made him, how alive that he felt. She was his main point of happiness and for her to break up with him with no explanation made no sense to him. Then the worst thing that could happen, happens.

His mom dies. His mom was his world for the last 5 years fighting this cancer. He didn’t prepare to lose her at all and for sure not as fast as she left this world. Now he has to live his life without her. He keeps thinking about all the things that she is going to miss. That she wanted to see. His graduation his wedding, his first kid. Everything she wanted to do. He didn’t prepare at all. Not even the big things. All the little things that he did with him mom – that everyone does with their mom- that he took for granted and now they always come to his mind and makes him suffer every-day.

He was sure that cancer was going to lose and, his mom was going to win this battle because of the doctor they went to in Tokyo. The doctor was making his mother so happy and better. He was sure that his mom had already won this battle but then it seemed that she was just gone. He had been lost until he got a letter from a caretaker of their apartment in Tokyo about unopened pill bottles. He thought maybe if he went to where his mom was last that he could see why she left so fast. He thought maybe something fishy happened that’s why she thought she was better.

This book has such strong emotion through the entire thing. Every time he has these thoughts like, maybe if I did something else to help… or everyone around me either dies or leaves. He truly believes that he is the problem. And, the strong feelings of love that he still has for his ex- girlfriend. It is moving and depressing at the same time. I love how it’s from a man’s point of view it shows how vulnerable that he is how much emotion that goes through every day he is stressed out he is lost and he admits that.

The way that this book was written is so moving because it is raw. It keeps no secret he is so honest that it hurts to hear, you will have to read it again to make sure you didn’t misread it. He is such a true and good person that a bunch of horrible things happened to him. And, he doesn’t understand what he is supposed to do. He is lost not only did he just graduate high-school… but, his mother just died. And, to him he has no one to help guide him or tell him no. but, In the worst possible way that freedom could come to you.

He is a new adult who is one of the most lost people in this new big world. When he goes to Tokyo he seems to be better. Not completely but he seems at rest a bit more. He isn’t trapped in a house full of memories that now only remind him that he can never make more. He has these little moments where he just says she’s gone… she is really gone, forever. He can’t wrap his head around the fact that his mother – the one who gave him life is gone and never coming back. The way that he expresses his feelings are brilliant and breathtaking. I couldn’t put this book down and it will be in my favorites always.