BOOKANISTAS: These Broken Stars

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

So, you may have heard this book being compared to Titanic in space, and that's an absolutely perfect description! A couple from vastly different backgrounds in a survival situation on a huge ship? Yup...I'm in.

This book really is the perfect balance between space/sci-fi and romance/relationships. Well, for this contemp lover, anyway. The relationship between Lilac and Tarver is such a deliciously slow-developing one. It was so much fun to watch them change from absolutely hating each other to having to work together to survive and watching things go from there. These characters are such a treat to spend time with, and they are developed so fully I felt like they could have climbed off the page.

And one of the best things about this book? The other books in this series are companion novels, not sequels. Which means that this is a standalone story that resolves at the end! Can I tell you what a relief this is with a sci-fi? I feel like every non-contemp YA release these days is a triliogy, and it sorta gets on my nerves. It's so refreshing to have a complete story to read...and future stories in the same world to look forward to! Yay!


Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to today...

• Rebecca Behrens is excited for THE DESPERATE ADVENTURES OF ZENO & AYLA by Jane Kelley
  
• Christine Fonseca is intrigued by IRON BUTTERFLY by Chanda Hahn
  
• Tracy Banghart is loving PRECIOUS THINGS by Stephanie Parent 
  
• Katy Upperman is captivated over FIRE by Kristen Cashore

2013 Superlatives Dates and Categories!

Okay, everyone. Katy Upperman, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and I have nailed down all the dates, we have figured out all the categories, and the ridiculously talented Tracey has designed a beautiful banner for us. The Class of 2013: YA Superlatives Blogfest is all ready to go!

So, mark your calendars! We're going to be sharing our favorite 2012 releases from Monday, December 16th to Thursday, December 19th. And we're hosting a giveaway of some of the best books of the year for participants in The Class of 2013: YA Superlatives Blogfest!

What do you have to do right now?

--> Grab this button and stick it on your blog to let everyone know you're planning on participating in The Class of 2013: YA Superlatives Blogfest!

--> Finish up all of those 2013 releases sitting on your shelf, or use this list to find more 2013 releases to read between now and the end of the year.

--> Check out our awesome list of categories below and start planning out your choices! (I know I already have some books and characters in mind for some of these...but I also still have a lot of 2013 releases to get through in the next few weeks!)

Monday, December 16th: Head of the Class 

Favorite Dystopian
Favorite Science Fiction
Favorite Fantasy
Favorite Contemporary
Favorite Action/Adventure 
Favorite Historical Fiction
Favorite Comedy
Favorite Mystery
Favorite Romance
Favorite Paranormal 
Favorite Family Drama

Favorite Genre Bender

Tuesday, December 17th: Popularity Contest
Choose characters who fit each topic from ANY 2013 YA book!
Class Clown
Most Likely to Become a Rock Star
Mostly Likely to Start a Riot
Biggest Flirt
Fashion King and/or Queen
Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF
Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School
Most Likely to Become President
Quirkiest Character
Villain You Love to Hate
Favorite Parental Figure
Coolest Nerd

Wednesday, December 18th: Elements of Fiction
Most Envy-Inducting Plot (Or, the plot you wish you'd thought of yourself.)
Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you most definitely would NOT want to travel to.)
Wanderlust-Inducting (Or, the setting you'd happily travel to.)
Loveliest Prose
Most Dynamic Main Character
Most Jaw-Dropping Ending
Best Performance in a Supporting Role
Best use of Theme

Thursday, December 19: Best In Show
Favorite Cover
Cutest Couple
Most Likely to Succeed (Or, pick a Printz Winner)
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (The book you just couldn't put down!)
Best Repeat Performance (Your favorite sequel or follow-up)
Favorite Finale or End of Series Novel
Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath
Breakout Novel (Your favorite book by a debut author)
Best Old-Timer (Your favorite read of the year, published BEFORE 2013)
Most Likely To Make a Grown Man Cry
Most Pleasant Surprise (The book you didn't think you'd like, but totally did)
Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle
Sleeper Hit (Book you found so awesome you wish it had been hyped more)
Favorite Outlier (Your favorite MG or adult 2013 book)

Your turn! Pick your own superlative category and bloghoppers will weigh in with their choices

Katy, Alison, Tracey, and I are so excited about The Class of 2013: YA Superlatives Blogfest this year, you guys! And we hope you are just as excited as we are to share all of your favorite 2013 reads with everyone. Now, what are you waiting for? Get reading! 

BOOKANISTAS: Winger

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

I remember when this cover was first released, I took one look at it and said...DAMN, that's one of my favorite covers ever. I don't know if I can really explain what I love about it so much. It's just a completely realistic kid looking directly at the camera, and the bloody nose and stitches add this level of interest to the whole thing. How did this seemingly normal kid get these injuries? Did he get in a fight? I need to know!

Amazingly, the words inside this book ended up being even better than the cover. I've been a fan of Andrew Smith on his blog and on twitter for a long time now, but I hadn't read any of his writing before. I'd heard so many good things about this book that I knew it had to be the one of his I started off with, and, oh man, it did not disappoint. The voice in this book? It's amazing. Want to know how it feels to be in the mind of a fourteen year old guy, for better or for worse? Crack this book open, friends. 

Ryan Dean plays rugby and thinks pervy things about his best friend, Annie. But he also has these genuine thoughts and feelings for his friends and for himself that endear you to him immediately. Watching him mature through the course of the book is an amazing thing, and there are parts of this book, things Ryan Dean says and does, that almost bring a tear to my eye now, weeks and weeks after finishing this story. 

This book isn't really what you'd call high concept. It has Ryan Dean's little drawings and cartoons throughout, which are awesome, but what moves the story forward is the character of Ryan Dean himself and his authentic and genuine voice. You want to know this guy. You want to follow him on this amazing and heartbreaking journey he goes on. You want to look that kid on the cover in the face, scars and blood and all, and walk with him onto the rugby pitch. You'll laugh with him, you'll cry with him, and you'll be forever changed by Ryan Dean West. I promise.

Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to today... 

• Katy Upperman is loving HOW TO LOVE by Katie Cotugno
  
• Christine Fonseca is nostalgic with ROOMIES by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando
  
• Shari Arnold is enthralled with THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson

BOOKANISTAS: Time After Time

Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds. 

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

It's no secret that I was in love with Tamara Ireland Stone's debut novel TIME BETWEEN US. Time travel has always fascinated me, and a time travel romance? Yes. And time travel from 1995? When I was a teen girl myself? Absolutely. I was thrilled when I heard that there would be a sequel to one of my favorite books of 2012, and I was even more thrilled when I heard it would be from Bennett's POV!

This book did not disappoint. It picks up where the first book leaves off, and it answered some of the questions that were left up in the air after the first book, it explored some of the other aspects (good and bad) of Bennett's unique ability to time travel, and, of course, there was more of the awesome romance with Anna, his 1995 girlfriend. I love that this book explored the difficulties they were having keeping their relationship going. It's obviously not easy for these two, and there are still tons of sweet moments throughout, but I loved getting the insight into the difficulties, too. I mean, this is a pretty impossible relationship to maintain, and this is the source of a lot of the conflict in the book.

If you loved TIME BETWEEN US as much as I did, you'll be more than satisfied with Bennett's side of the story. And if you love music as much as I do, be sure to check out Tamara's awesome playlists for this book! They are just as good as the first ones!

Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to today...

• Katy Upperman is loving JUST ONE YEAR by Gayle Forman
• Christine Fonseca is delighted by BY BLOOD by Tracy Banghart
• Nikki Katz is wow'd by THE SPECTACULAR NOW by Tim Tharp
• Kimberly Sabatini is reveling in THE MOON AND MORE by Sarah Dessen

#SipSwap 2013

Guess what time it is, everyone? It's time for the second annual #SipSwap!

Last year Kelsey Macke and I had such a blast hosting this fun exchange for writers, and we are thrilled to bring it back for its second year! If you weren't around for #SipSwap last year, all you need to know is that it's a mug exchange for writers. Just enter all of your info into the form, Kels and I will draw a secret match for you, and you get to shop for a special mug for your person. Then send it off and wait for your own surprise mug to come to you in the mail! It's so much fun finding out who shopped for whom and to see the huge variety of mugs that people end up with. We saw so many creative and special mugs last year!

Interested in joining in on the fun? Here's all you have to do...

* Fill out the form below with all of your information by Friday, November 1st at midnight PST. (We want to make sure everyone who sends a mug gets a mug, so please don't sign up unless you are going to participate FOR SURE.)

* Keep an eye on your email. You'll be getting a note about who you're going to be mugging (heh) with all of their personal information and special requests.

* Go shopping! Pick out a fun mug for your swap partner and send it off by Friday, November 29th. 

* When you get your mug in the mail, show it off! Blog about it, tweet it, instagram it, whatever.

That's it! Easy peasy!

If you're participating, grab the cute little banner to stick on your blog:

<div class="Sip-Swap-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://www.bit.ly/sipswap"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7Q9gAbjWTM/UmSg5Nh8-BI/AAAAAAAAbLQ/FjpC040wdlw/s1600/sipswap.jpg" alt="Sip Swap" /> </a> </div> <!--end button code box-->

And you can follow me (@_JessicaLove) and Kelsey (@KelsNotChels) on twitter to keep up on the #SipSwap latest.




I hope you guys are as excited about this as we are...and I can't wait to go shopping for one of you! 

We hate to do this, but we have to limit the swap to residents of the continental US only, just to keep costs and convenience uniform.

All Kinds of Cover Love

I've had so many exciting things happening for my friends lately, and I just love sharing my friends' exciting news. Today's happy topic is book covers!

First, my dear friend Kathryn Rose was finally able to unveil the cover of her YA Camelot steampunk book CAMELOT BURNING over at YABooksCentral.

Check out this gorgeousness...I don't even know where to begin talking about what I love about this cover. 

By day, Vivienne is Guinevere's lady-in-waiting. By night, she's Merlin's secret apprentice, indulging in the new mechanical arts and science of alchemy. It's a preferred distraction from Camelot's gossipy nobility, roguish knights, and Lancelot's athletic new squire, Marcus, who will follow in all knights' footsteps by taking a rather inconvenient vow of chastity.

 

More than anything, Vivienne longs to escape Camelot for a future that wouldn't include needlework or marriage to a boorish lord or dandy. But when King Arthur's sorceress sister, Morgan le Fay, threatens Camelot, Vivienne must stay to help Merlin build a steam-powered weapon to defeat the dark magic machine Morgan will set upon the castle. Because if Camelot falls, Morgan would be that much closer to finding the elusive Holy Grail. Time is running out and Morgan draws near, and if Vivienne doesn't have Merlin's weapon ready soon, lives would pay the price, including that of Marcus, the only one fast enough to activate it on the battlefield.

Be sure to click over to YABC because they are having a giveaway for a signed finished hardcover of CAMELOT BURNING over there. 

Second, another dear friend of mine, Kelsey Macke, is having a contest to pick the cover of her YA contemporary book DAMSEL DISTRESSED. Kels and her publisher put out a call to graphic designers to come up with a cover concept, and Team Kels narrowed it down to 10 awesome entries. 

Go check out the poll to see all 10 and vote for your favorite. You can vote as often as you'd like...you can even vote for all of them if you want to. (Although I don't see what good that would do.) 

I love this idea--it's fun to make the future readers of the book so involved in the process! It makes the final product seem so much more personal. 

So many awesome things in the works for my friends lately! I just love sharing good news. 

CONGRATULATIONS DANA!

This is a post I have been wanting to write for so long! I'm beyond thrilled to celebrate the fact that one of my dearest writing friends Dana Elmendorf has accepted an offer of representation!

That's right, everyone! Party with me because Dana has an agent!

CONGRATULATIONS DANA!

Dana's book is amazing, but I knew it had to find just the right home...someone to connect with all if its awesomeness in just the right way. And it did! Dana and her awesome book are now represented by Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency!

Like I said, Dana is one of my very favorite people. We bonded like glue the second we met, and when the two of us get together...watch out. She shares my passion for indie music, my love of having the best time ever, and she knows how to tear up my manuscripts in the best way ever. I absolutely love this girl, and I could not be more thrilled for her to take this next step on her writing journey!

Go check out her agent post on her blog and give her tons of agent love! Or give her some love on twitter! Join the Danabration!