Blog Tour: A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor + Giveaway

Welcome to our tour stop for A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor ! This tour includes a giveaway courtesy of PenguinTeen.

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A Map for Wrecked Girls
Author: Jessica Taylor 
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: August 15th 2017
Publisher: Dial Books
 

We sat at the edge of the ocean—my sister Henri and I—inches apart but not touching at all. We'd been so sure someone would find us by now.

Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic queen bee of an older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happened that wrecked them.

I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow.

Then the unthinkable occurs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped in this gorgeous hell, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall catastrophically apart.

For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore.

To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But there’s no map for this—or anything. Can they survive the unearthing of the past and the upheaval of the present?

AMFWG in 10 Gifs or Less

1. Emma has always been a little awkward.

2. But her older sister Henri . . . there’s um, nothing awkward about Henri.

3. They’re the best of friends . . .

4. . . . until some drama goes down.

5. Seriously. Things get real.

6. On their tropical vacation, Emma is desperate to put back together what’s been broken.

7. But a boating accident leaves the sisters shipwrecked on a deserted island.

8. Their only companion is Alex, a boy they met on vacation.

9. The three must survive each other and survive the island with practically nothing.  

10. They don’t even have a ninja star.

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Jessica Taylor adores atmospheric settings, dangerous girls, and characters who sneak out late at night. She lives in Northern California, not far from San Francisco, with a law degree she isn’t using, one dog, and many teetering towers of books.

Enter for a chance to be one (1) of three (3) winners to receive a hardcover copy of A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor. (ARV: $17.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on August 7, 2017 and 12:00 AM on August 28, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about August 30, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Book Review: A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor

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A Map for Wrecked Girls
Author: Jessica Taylor
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: August 15th 2017
Review Source: Dial Books

We sat at the edge of the ocean—my sister Henri and I—inches apart but not touching at all. We'd been so sure someone would find us by now.

Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic queen bee of an older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happened that wrecked them.

I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow.

Then the unthinkable occurs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped in this gorgeous hell, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall catastrophically apart.

For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore.

To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But there’s no map for this—or anything. Can they survive the unearthing of the past and the upheaval of the present? 

A Map For Wrecked Girls is told in the past and present. I'm not really a fan of those, I don't like the back and forth but for this novel I happily enjoyed finding out about things that happened in the past.

First of all A Map For Wrecked Girls is everything I'm afraid of happening to me, getting on a boat and getting stranded. This is what happens to Em and her sister and Alex. Their boat malfunctions and they swim to an island, From then on they have to rely on each other and try their best to survive. Surviving isn't always easy especially if their at odds with each other but it was interesting to read about the dynamics between these three characters.

I won't say much about this book because I feel like you need to read it to enjoy it just as much as I did and to understand why Henry and Em have a rocky past and how and IF they survive this island.

Jessica Taylor debut novel is like a thriller movie, you don't know if anyone will survive, you're holding your breath waiting to see what happens next and then some secrets and comic relief are thrown in and by the time it's nightfall you're wondering how you finished this book so fast. I definitely recommend this book and I hope you buy it asap.

Blog Tour: And Then There Were Four by Nancy Werlin + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on And Then There Were Four tour for Nancy Werlin . This tour is hosted by PenguinTeen.

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And Then There Were Four
Author: Nancy Werlin
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Released: June 6th 2017
Publisher: Dial Books

Khosa is Given to the Sea, a girl born to be fed to the water, her flesh preventing a wave like the one that destroyed the Kingdom of Stille in days of old. But before she’s allowed to dance – an uncontrollable twitching of the limbs that will carry her to the shore in a frenzy – she must produce an heir. Yet the thought of human touch sends shudders down her spine that not even the sound of the tide can match.

Vincent is third in line to inherit his throne, royalty in a kingdom where the old linger and the young inherit only boredom. When Khosa arrives without an heir he knows his father will ensure she fulfills her duty, at whatever cost. Torn between protecting the throne he will someday fill, and the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent’s loyalty is at odds with his heart.

Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race whose dwindling magic grows weaker as the island country fades. Animals cease to bear young, creatures of the sea take to the land, and the Pietra – fierce fighters who destroyed the Indiri a generation before – are now marching from their stony shores for the twin’s adopted homeland, Stille.

Witt leads the Pietra, their army the only family he has ever known. The stone shores harbor a secret, a growing threat that will envelop the entire land – and he will conquer every speck of soil to ensure the survival of his people.

The tides are turning in Stille, where royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the rising sea calls for its Given.

And Then There Were Four... The first think whenever I read this title is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. As a fan of this Agatha, and her crazy psychological-thriller novel, I had to read this book. I needed to know if this book would have my mind twisted and blown away. I wanted to be on the edge of my seats, turning the pages to have the story plot unfold the twists and leave me mouth hanging. Although, this didn't happened... And Then There Were Four is indeed solid, not a And Then There Were None, but I liked how dynamic the characters are and how each of them lean to one another to support each other. It's its own story.

There are five characters but only two narrators, Saralinda and Caleb. I really liked Caleb and to be honest, if this book was written only in his POV, then maybe I would've loved it. I say this because I found Saralinda very immature and 99.9% of the time, annoying. Most of the time I really, really wanted to skip her parts. Yet her parts were important to the story, so I couldn't. To be honest, I was going to give up, but as soon as one of the five dies, I liked how the story did a 180. The pace picked up, the plot thicken, and Caleb started being more panic-y. At times you doubted him... However, if you follow along, the story tells you who is involved in the crazy events and if you don't... when you get to the part, you are left shocked. Sure the crime are a little unrealistic, but still, within the story, you are still in shocked.

Even after reading this book about a week ago, I cannot believe the plot. It's ludicrous! I think about it here and there, and talk about it at work with a co-worker. She started reading it, even know the end, but hey it's still maddening. It's really entertaining.

So, if you want a short story that will get you worked up, then you should read And Then There Were None. At then end, even Saralinda will make you smile.

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Nancy Werlin is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Killer’s Cousin, The Rules of Survival, Impossible, and a host of other young adult novels. She received her BA from Yale, was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for her first novel, and has since established herself as a writer of literary teen suspense. Werlin lives with her husband near Boston, Massachusetts.

GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of And Then There Were Four by Nancy Werlin (ARV: $18.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on June 5, 2017 and 12:00 AM on June 19, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 22, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Follow the Tour

Week One:

June 5 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – The Power of Four

June 6 – A Midsummer NIght's Read – Review & Playlist

June 7 – Xpresso Reads – Like/Try/Why

June 8 – YA Book Central – Excerpt

June 9 – The Novel Knight – Character Candles

Week Two:

June 12 – Once Upon a Twilight – Review

June 13 – The Forest of Words and Pages – Favorite QUotes

June 14 – Bookworm Everlasting – Review & Photograph

June 15 – Fiction Fare – Author Q&A

June 16 – It Starts at Midnight – Review & "Guide" on Hot to Deal With (Possibly Murderous) Parents

Book Review: Summer in the Invisible City by Juliana Romano

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Summer in the Invisible City
Author: Juliana Romano
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: June 21 2016
Review Source: Dial Books

A sparkling coming-of-age story about self-discovery, first love, and the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Bell has this summer all figured out: She’s going to befriend the cool girls at her school. She’s going to bond with her absentee father, a famous artist, and impress him with her photography skills. And she’s finally going to get over Noah, the swoony older guy who was her very first mistake.

Sadie wasn’t counting on meeting Sam, a funny and free-thinking boy who makes her question all of her goals. But even after a summer of talking, touching, and sharing secrets, Sam says he just wants to be friends. And when those Sadie cares about most hurt her, Sam’s friendship may not be enough. Sadie can see the world through her camera, but can she see the people who have loved and supported her all along?

Set against a glamorous New York City backdrop, this coming-of-age romance is a gorgeous summer read—one whose characters will stay with you long into the fall.

Sadie has had a rough past recently. Wanting to find her dad and dealing with what happened with Noah. So when Sam comes into her life she isn't prepared for it. Which is usually when the best things happen. She then becomes close with Sam, someone who wants to be a friend, yet Sadie has tunnel vision.

Juliana Romano is one of my favorite authors. I read her debut novel First There Was Forever (Which if you haven't read you should go do that...and then get this book and read it too) and I was hooked on that story. When I saw that she had written another book I was ecstatic and knew I had to get my hands on it.

I wasn't disappointed. It was such a quick read and Sadie was a character that you just wanted to take out of the book and give a big hug to. She has been through such a rough couple of trials in life, some that we all have faced, and in that she becomes relatable and lovable. While there are times it's frustrating, Romano writes it in such a way that you understand. You're frustrated with Sadie but you get why she's doing what it is that she does.

Book Review: Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

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Highly Illogical Behavior
Author: John Corey Whaley
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 10th 2016
Review Source: Dial Books

Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, which is fine by him.

Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But how can she prove she deserves a spot there?

Solomon is the answer.

Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa thrusts herself into his life, introducing him to her charming boyfriend Clark and confiding her fears in him. Soon, all three teens are far closer than they thought they’d be, and when their facades fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse, as well.

Someone slap me for not getting my hands on a John Corey Whaley book much sooner! And if there’s anything that I’m going to take away from Highly Illogical Behavior it’s that I want to give Star Trek a try, okay that’s a lie, there’s more, but that’s definitely top of the list.

Highly Illogical Behavior follows both Solomon Reed, an agoraphobe who hasn’t left his house in three years and Lisa Praytor, a student who wants nothing more than to get out of her small town and Solomon Reed is her ticket out. One day in middle school Solomon had a panic attack and stripped down and got into the school fountain. From that day forward Solomon has never left the house and Lisa never stopped thinking about him. Fast forward to present day and Lisa is applying to the second best psychology program in the country and their entrance essay is about your own personal experience with mental illness. The best essay recipient receives a full years tuition and there’s nothing more Lisa wants than to get that scholarship and get out of town and Solomon Reed is her ticket out.

From the first page to the last I was sucked in from writing style to the characters, to everything in between, it held my attention like no other. I’m actually kicking myself for this being my first John Corey Whaley book *puts review on hold* *orders all the books*. While I was reading this, I kept seeing an add on Facebook for books you just want to hug after you read them, and Highly Illogical Behavior was always right there in the center and you know what, I did just that once I closed that last page. It wasn’t just a story about mental illness, but about friendship, truth, discovering yourself, and testing your limits. It’s about growing up and making mistakes and having the best support group around you to help pick up the pieces. Everything I wanted, could want, and didn’t even imagine I wanted, was in this book, and seriously cannot wait to read more by this author.

So, obviously I highly recommend Highly Illogical Behavior. I will question your behavior if this is not immediately added to your TBR, because that’s clearly illogical not to do so. (See what I tried to do? Kind of failed, kind of not).

Book Review: Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke

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Wink Poppy Midnight
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: March 22 2016
Review Source: Dial Books

Every story needs a hero. Every story needs a villain. Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened? Someone knows. Someone is lying.

Wink, Poppy, Midnight. 3 completely different characters with 3 completely different personalities than what we are aware of. One's a hero, one's a villain and one is a liar? But who is who? Midnight, the shy quiet one. Wink, the strange and out there girl. Poppy, Midnight's girl next door who can easily manipulate you.

I absolutely enjoyed how Tucholke decided to write this story. The 3 different perspectives, with each one written so definable for their character. You know that Midnight is your main character - but that Wink and Poppy are just as important, especially their point-of-views, as Midnight is. But because you are mainly getting the gist through Midnight's eyes you tend to lean toward him being the hero.

Throughout the entire book you will be trying to guess who is who. It doesn't help that the cover blatantly asks you who's the hero, who's the villain and who's the liar. You then realize that you really can't trust any of the characters. Which goes against everything you've been taught about reading. You pick up a book and you trust the main character. You rarely every think "Maybe this character is lying to me, maybe they're painting this in a better light". You just automatically assume that the character is telling the truth. That's the complete opposite when you pick up this book.

My one problem with this book was that I was hooked about 3/4 of the way through the book. I enjoyed the writing style, so that got me through the first half. I was then a little worried that I had made it halfway through the book and I wasn't dying to know what was happening next. It didn't sit well with me. I got through the next quarter of the book and THEN I was hooked. There's one exact moment when I realized "Oh! Oh wow! This is good!" and it happened too far into the story for me.