Book Review: The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

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The Lies About Truth
Author: Courtney C. Stevens
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Released: November 3 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen

Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past.

I got to admit that when I was about half way through this book, it started to feel like it was dragging a bit because it sort of felt a little repetitive, despite the fact that I love the narrative for how funny and witty it is. But that's me and it could be because I am a therapist, and this book is VERY psychological and it was frustrating me that Sadie (the main character and narrator of the story) wasn’t getting past some issues that don’t feel that important to me. If you read it with a non-clinical eye, it may not seem dragging, but from the moment I began reading it, I noticed all the psychological issues with the main character and knew what she had to do to get past them, yet wasn’t.

Sadie is one of the two survivors of a horrible car crash that killed the driver –her best friend Trent –and left her scared physically and psychologically. The crash happened a year before the story begins and the author does an amazing job to explain not only how the wreckage happened, but also what’s happened since to Sadie and her friends. See, Sadie is one fifth of her group of friends: Trent, Max (Trent’s brother), Gray (Sadie’s ex-boyfriend), and Gina (Sadie’s BFF since kindergarten). But after the crash, she completely withdrew from the world (and developed agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, even though it’s not mentioned in the book) and even more so from her friends. She only spoke and confided in Max, who she ends up falling in love with.

It wasn’t until the end of the book that I went from “eh, it’s ok” to “Oh my God, I love this story!” And the reason for that being is because the story begins with Sadie being completely agoraphobic and unable to accept the fact that she has scars all over her body (she flew out of the window when the car crashed, which naturally left quite a few scars, and she was convinced the world only saw her scars and not her anymore), but with therapy and the amazing support given to her by her parents and Max, she is able to begin loving herself once more –and forgiving her friends for something they did to her. It turns out to be a beautiful story that would help anyone going through a similar situation realize that there are more wonderful things than bad in life, and that physical scars are just that, and that what counts is what’s on the inside.

Chat Announcement: Faking Normal Author Courtney C. Stevens on Spreecast 4/11

This Friday, April 11th at 2:30 CDT via the Epic Reads Spreecast channel, they will be chatting live with the author of FAKING NORMAL, Courtney C. Stevens. This is open to the public. You can RSVP below.

Faking Normal with Courtney C. Stevens RSVP Link

You can check out our review of Faking Normal and read our interview with Courtney C. Stevens to get you read for the chat on Friday. 

Friday Author Spotlight: Courtney C. Stevens

Friday Author SPOTLIGHT! We will feature a Young Adult, New Adult or Adult Author. These post will contain interviews, author posts, book blasts, fill in the blanks, etc... This is just our way to get authors noticed and out there as much as possible. So we hope you enjoy and stay tuned Fridays to see who we have on and what they shared. To see previous posts click here.

Today OUaT is happy to feature Author Courtney C. Stevens. She is the author of Faking Normal - An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction. Faking Normal is set to be released this upcoming Tuesday, February 25th 2014.

Author Courtney C. Stevens

About the author: Courtney C. Stevens grew up in Kentucky and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is an adjunct professor and a former youth minister. Her other skills include playing hide-and-seek, climbing trees, and being an Olympic torch bearer.

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Interview

OUaT: Describe your book in five words.

The truth set us free.

OUaT: What’s the best thing about being a debut author?

Meeting people I wouldn’t have met without this fantastic opportunity.

OUaT: What inspired you to write a novel with such a sensitive topic?

I did a critique at the LA SCBWI conference and an editor pushed my fantasy manuscript back across the table and said, “This is fine, but where is the novel you have to write. I want to read the novel only you can write.” Best hundred bucks of my life.

OUaT: Regarding Bodee's hair, where did you get this idea from? I had a friend in high school that used to do this. I was wondering if you got this idea from a friend?

Believe it or not, a guy in high school, who had a locker near mine, did this. I always admired him for being so brave with blonde hair.

OUaT: Did you grow up with a treehouse? If so, was it your safe spot? Who built it for you?

You win the blogger award for the question that no one has asked me yet. Awesome. Yes, I did have a tree house. In fact, I had three. My granddad built me one on his property, my dad built me on ours, and my best friend and I built another one my junior year of high school. I love them. If I didn’t live in an apartment, I’d build one right now. And yes, the very nature of a tree house is fort-like, defendable, and safe, and I certainly felt all of those things when I was perched in mine. I also waited for mail to come to my mailbox, which was fastened down below, but alas, no one ever wrote.

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Click here to view review

Book Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Faking Normal
Author: Courtney C. Stevens
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: February 25th 2014
Review Source: HarperCollins | Edelweiss

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

Faking Normal is one of those books that once you start reading you cannot put it down. Well, at least in my case. I couldn’t put this book down. It intrigued me from the very moment I saw the cover. I wanted to know why this girl is so sad. After reading the synopsis, I wanted to find out who did this to this poor girl. See, Faking Normal deals with a sensitive topic. And as you may know, I am always all over these kind of stories and it didn't disappoint! Faking Normal was touching, emotionally and well captured.

Alexi is a girl that is broken. A girl who thinks no one can fix her. She hides a secret to protect a friend. A secret that is killing her slowly. A secret in which her demons blocks her memories. Worst of all, no one, not even her family knows about. Her innocent was taken away and all she does is pretend to be normal. She’s faking normal.

Bodee is a broken boy, with a rough past. He has always hidden from this awkwardness. He has always been invisible to everyone. Now that everyone knows that his father is a murder, one that killed his own mother, the spot light has been on him.

With the help of Alexi’s mother, Bodee moves in with them. This is when Alexi and Bodee begin a friendship. This is when they both discover the truth about themselves, their secrets. I love how they both see each other when others cannot. I love how they both help each other. They both learn that they alone can save themselves from their own demons.

My only issue with Faking Normal is the end. I was not happy with the outcome. I wanted justice. This is what he deserves! Ugh, seriously frustrating!

Overall, Faking Normal was a phenomenal read. Courtney Stevens is an extraordinary debut author. She captured this story perfectly. I loved Alexi and Bodee. They are both strong individuals. Together they make an awesome couple. They help each other. They learn from each other. I loved them. I loved Faking Normal and I cannot wait for everyone else to read it! Seriously, go read this story!

P.S - After reading the book, I think the cover captures this story well. I also wonder if those are not trees but brain stems. Because when I was in Biology class, those always looked like trees to me. And well the brain is a funny thing when it comes to memories…

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.