An Underwhelming New Novel from a Favorite Author - The Trouble With Destiny by Lauren Morrill

Title: The Trouble with Destiny
Author: Lauren Morrill
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: December 8, 2015
Source: received from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey...

With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.

Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.

But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.

I loved Lauren Morrill's debut, and her sophomore novel was cute, but I have to admit that I was completely underwhelmed by her newest novel. It was cute, but it's that kind of cute where I'm cringing at what I know is coming because you can just tell that a disaster is on the horizon. I almost put it aside at 30%. To be completely honest, I almost put it aside several times with no intention of picking it back up, but I just kept hoping that it would redeem itself, especially considering how much I enjoyed her previous novels.

It's just…this book felt glaringly familiar. As in, I'd seem pretty much this same premise in Meant to Be. It's like she took versions of the same characters from her first book and rewrote them into this book. But instead of gallivanting around London, they were cavorting on a cruise ship. Same kinds of hijinks. Same bad decisions. Just more cringeworthy.

I didn't hate this book. It just wasn't nearly as fun as I'd hoped. Especially since I'd been anticipating it for a year. And it felt like the focus of the book -- the competition for $25k to save the band -- was lost along the way because of the romance drama.

Because of the similarities to Meant To Be, this book was extremely predictable. Not that her first book wasn't predictable in its own right, but it was still cute enough to keep me entertained, and I was able to look past it. The same can't be said for The Trouble With Destiny.

I really wanted to love this novel, especially with that adorable cover. But I barely made it to the end…and I was cringing all the way. I'm not giving up on this author just because of one disappointing book, though. She's got another contemporary novel slated for release next year, and I'll at least give it a try.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Lauren Elizabeth Morrill is many things, including, but not limited to, a writer, an educator, a badass roller derby skater, a former band nerd, an aggressive driver, and a die-hard Mac person. She also watches a lot of TV, eats a lot of junk food, and drinks a lot of Coke. It's a wonder her brain and teeth haven't rotted out of her head.

Lauren is the author of Meant to Be, Being Sloane Jacobs, The Trouble With Destiny, and the forthcoming My Unscripted Life (October 2016), all from Random House.

Find Lauren:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, disappointments, lauren morrill, paper lantern lit, random house, reviews, the trouble with destiny

{Cover Reveal} Kiss and Tell by Jacqueline Green

I am so excited to help Paper Lantern Lit with the cover reveal of the third book in Jacqueline Green's TRUTH OR DARE series, due out from Little, Brown in February! This is also the reveal of the jacket copy description. I'm a book behind in the series, but after reading that summary, I am itching to get caught up! So, without further ado, behold the awesome:

Pre-Order KISS AND TELL here!
Here's the blurb:

Since their dangerous game of truth or dare began, Tenley Reed, Sydney Morgan, and Emerson Cunningham have lost almost everything. Closely guarded secrets, romantic relationships, and sought-after spots at the top of their school's social hierarchy-all gone in the blink of an eye.

Now the darer has upped the stakes, leaving another body behind in the girls' isolated beach town of Echo Bay. And if they can't untangle the twisted web leading to whoever is behind the mysterious deaths, one of them could be next. But what happens when the trail leads to those they trusted, those they loved?

Filled with intoxicating twists and shocking betrayals, the final installment in the Truth or Dare trilogy will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Need to catch up on the TRUTH OR DARE universe? Watch the trailer here!

About the author:

Jacqueline Green received her BA from Cornell University and her MFA in writing for children from The New School. She grew up in Wynnewood, PA, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and their tiny dog (who sometimes moonlights as her writing companion). Truth or Dare, the first novel in a trilogy, is her young adult debut. Jacqueline Green is a pen name of Jacqueline Resnick.

Find Jacqueline:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

What do YOU think of the cover and the summary?

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Labels: contemporary, hachette, jacqueline green, murder mystery, official cover reveals, paper lantern lit, truth or dare

{Blog Tour} The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris - Review & Giveaway

I am so excited to be helping Paper Lantern Lit celebrate their new imprint -- The Studio -- with a special blog tour to help support their debut ebook: The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris! The book was pitched as "a sweet romance perfect for springtime, with best friends-turned-enemies and love that blooms from unlikely places."

Title: The Boyfriend Thief
Author: Shana Norris
Series: n/a
Publisher: The Studio, a Paper Lantern Lit imprint
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Source: from publisher for review/blog tour
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Avery James doesn’t believe in romance—she’s studied enough biology to know that love is nothing more than hormones and chemicals. Besides, she has more practical goals in mind, namely saving up for a summer humanitarian program in Costa Rica. But when her Diggity Dog House supervisor denies her a raise and Avery finds herself $500 dollars short for the trip of a lifetime, Avery has no choice but to accept an unexpected offer. The deal? She must steal her arch nemesis Hannah’s boyfriend before prom, giving Avery eleven days to seduce Zac Greeley.

Avery is sure the job will be easy. But a few midnight comedy shows and spontaneous dance parties (not to mention one particularly intimate carwash) later, Avery finds herself questioning everything she’s ever thought about love. Could Zac’s signature cherry-lime Slurpees be causing brain freeze, or is Avery actually starting to fall for him?

Will Avery be able to steal Zac away from Hannah before he steals Avery’s heart?

Boyfriend thievery isn't a topic I would usually be interested in, but I'll admit that my curiosity was piqued by the premise of The Boyfriend Thief, especially because Avery doesn't sound like the type of character to commit such an atrocious act. And once it was revealed who exactly wanted to pay her to do the stealing, I was on board.

Avery is the kind of protagonist that's going to grate on a lot of people's nerves. She did mine...at least, she did at first. But the more I got to know of her character, the more I realized that my teenage self had a lot in common with her. Avery is very goal-oriented, very ambitious, and very competitive. She's vying for Valedictorian and is currently tied with her ex-best friend for the top spot. I found myself in this very same predicament my senior year of high school. It was our competitive natures that drove the wedge in our friendship, but for Avery and her best friend, it was something far less altruistic: a boy.

Avery's mother left her family in a lurch after battling depression for many years, and Avery's never really recovered. She sabotages practically every relationship she's ever had, romantic and otherwise, and she's still doing it to this day. Avery doesn't believe in love except in a purely scientific manner, so when the opportunity to make the money she needs for her trip presents itself, she truly thinks she can keep it all business. But she never expected Zac to get under her skin the way he did.

The romance was cute, but I found it a tad predictable, especially since you can pretty much assume that Avery will mess things up at every turn, usually by jumping to conclusions or misunderstanding things and not waiting for the full explanation. It's comical at first but it becomes annoying after awhile. But there again, when I think back to my relationships in high school, I didn't always have the best judgment either, nor did I have much patience. However, I did like how Zac and Avery used each other as sounding boards and how they forced each other to face their problems instead of avoiding or running from them as they had before.

The Boyfriend Thief was a very quick read, and I think it's the perfect jaunty little book for a day at the beach. I recommend it to friends who are looking for a fun contemporary on the lighter side of YA because there's not a lot of depth here; it explores some deeper issues while remaining cute and fluffy. You won't walk away with all of life's questions answered, but you'll have fun anyway. ;0)

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Most days, Shana Norris still feels like she’s stuck at sixteen, which is probably why she enjoys writing about teens. Thankfully, she’s never had to work as a giant hot dog, but she did work at a locksmith shop making keys for six months. She currently lives in a small town in eastern North Carolina with her husband and small zoo of pets, which currently includes two dogs, five cats, and a flock of chickens.

Find Shana:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Boyfriend Thief Blog Tour Schedule:

Monday, April 28th- Chick Loves Lit

Tuesday, April 29th- Ella Bee Reads

Wednesday, April 30th- Tiger Lily Rachel

Thursday, May 1st- Anna Reads

Friday, May 2nd- Reading Lark

Monday, May 5th- Starry Eyed Revue

Tuesday, May 6th - Glass of Wine

Wednesday, May 7th- Lili's Reflections

Thanks for stopping by!

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Labels: blog tour, contemporary, paper lantern lit, reviews, shana norris, the boyfriend thief

Review: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Title: Being Sloane Jacobs
Author: Lauren Morrill
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Source: received from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

If you'll remember, I just about squee'd my pants with excitement over Lauren Morrill's debut, Meant to Be. That story was completely adorable and had me giggling like a school girl over the zany antics of Jason and Julia.  The antics perpetrated by The Sloanes were no less zany and no less adorable, and I ended up loving Lauren's sophomore novel almost as much as her debut, which I've featured here on the blog prominently, as it's one of my favorite new contemporaries.

Both Sloanes are experiencing issues on and off the ice, and both are willing to do just about anything to escape those problems.  So, when a chance encounter leaves them with the opportunity to do just that, there's nothing and no one standing in their way, and they switch lives for a summer of new experiences, new obstacles, and new love.  Little do they know that running away never solves anything, and their problems have only just begun.

True, this novel requires the suspension of disbelief from the reader, as there are quite a few plot holes to be overlooked and the general plausibility of such a situation is called into question many times.  But if you can bring yourself to overlook that and focus on the novel in a purely entertaining fashion, I think you'll be pleased with the end result.  It is not a perfect book, but it is definitely a fun book.  Think The Parent Trap meets The Cutting Edge and you'd have a fairly apt comparison.

This story is told from both Sloane's perspectives, and unlike a lot of books that attempt the dual POV,  Being Sloane Jacobs actually does it effectively.  The author manages to make each girls' voice unique, which is apparently difficult to do for characters of the opposite sex for some authors, so I'm doubly impressed that Morrill was able to accomplish this task so brilliantly.  Each Sloane had similar reasons for agreeing to switch lives for several weeks, but even so, they were very different girls with very different lives, and that was portrayed well in this narrative.

Being Sloane Jacobs fares on the lighter side of YA, but I think it's too-cute role reversal plot can be enjoyed by all ages. Especially since the story focuses on the girls, their bond, and their ability to overcome life's little obstacles, rather than on the summer romances they each start up.  Those were cute, but they weren't the focal point of The Sloanes' summers, much to my delight.

I knew what to expect from this story going into it, and it delivered.  Which is to say, the book oversimplifies things a bit and comes in an entirely neat and tidy package, but it still manages to be highly entertaining in the process.  It was a jaunty little read that left me content and smiling, and sometimes, as with this book, that's all I'm looking for.  Yes, it was a fluffy read, but it was a well-written one from a great new voice in YA contemporary literature.  It's a little bit cheesy and a lotta bit fun, and if you're looking for a cute read to help pass the time until Isla is finally, finally in your hands, I think this just might be the book for you.

GIF it to me straight:

Adorable AND full of girl power.

(I'm seriously going to teach my daughter to do this in her Jeep. :P)

About the author:

LAUREN MORRILL grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, where she was a short-term Girl Scout, a (not so) proud member of the marching band, and a trouble-making editor for the school newspaper. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in history and a minor in rock & roll, and now lives in Macon, GA with her husband and their dog, Lucy. When she's not writing, she spends a lot of hours getting knocked around on the track playing roller derby.

Find Lauren:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: being sloane jacobs, contemporary, lauren morrill, paper lantern lit, random house, reviews

Forgiveness or Fury Blog Tour

The PLL Team is joining up with the preferred bloggers and getting ready for the September 3rd release of the final installment in the Fury series from Elizabeth Miles, Eternity, by hosting an awesome blog tour with the author.  The theme is Forgiveness or Fury. Each day the hosting blogger will pose a scenario to Elizabeth, who will decide how she would respond: with forgiveness and mercy…or with fury and vengeance? She will also be recommending YA books that specifically relate to the scenarios she discusses, so keep an eye out for some other good reads!

Without further ado, here's Elizabeth....

Thank you for hosting me as part of the FORGIVENESS or FURY Blog Tour! I’m thrilled about the release of my third novel, ETERNITY, the final chapter of the FURY SERIES. At each tour stop, I’ll be offering advice to teens on how to handle difficult situations (some of which come from the Fury trilogy itself), and I’ll recommend either forgiveness…or fury. I’ll also suggest a few of my favorite YA titles that tackle these difficult scenarios.

Today’s question is: My friend stole from a store but tried to pin it on me. Should I choose Forgiveness or Fury?

My advice: She stole a pricey lacy tank top -- not even in your size! -- and when her mom asked her about it, she said YOU took it from the boutique downtown. Her mom told your mom, and the rest is...you're grounded. Ugh. Totally unfair, but I'd advocate forgiveness in this case, as well as an open, honest conversation about what's going on with your friend. You never know what circumstances lead friends to make bad choices, but oftentimes what seems like a malicious action is actually a sign of a deeper issue. Ask her if everything's okay. (And tell her you won't serve as her scapegoat ever again.)

Great YA pick about a similar situation: Trinkets by Kirsten Smith
When I heard that the co-writer of She’s the Man and 10 Thing I Hate About You had written a YA novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. I wasn’t disappointed! This hilarious novel is about three girls who meet in a Shoplifter’s Anonymous meeting and take a detour on their road to recovery, learning that sometimes the things you steal aren’t as valuable as the ones you can get for free, if you work hard enough.

About the author:

Elizabeth Miles grew up in Chappaqua, New York, not far from New York City. She graduated cum laude from Boston University in 2004, worked for several years at the Boston Phoenix, and now writes for the Portland Phoenix, an alternative weekly newspaper. She has won several awards from the New England Press Association and was nominated for an Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Award. Elizabeth serves on the board of trustees of Portland Players, a community theater and second home. She loves pizza; she can often be found running around on stage while scantily clad; and a cold winter night in Maine is one of the creepiest and most beautiful things she can think of. Eternity is her third novel.

Find Elizabeth:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

And here's a little about this final book in the Fury series:

Title: Eternity
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Series: The Fury Trilogy, book #3
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Secrets and revenge make for desperate measures and fateful choices in this gripping conclusion to the Fury trilogy.

The weather is mild in Ascension…but beneath the surface, everything is burning up.

The nightmare Emily Winters has been living through for months shows no sign of ending, as the Furies stay on the peripheral, slowly driving her crazy. Em feels...different. She’s angry, and never cold, and too strong. It’s only a matter of time before she turns into the thing she hates the most. Em needs to take her fate into her own hands, but without Drea’s help, or anyone to turn to, Em is quickly running out of options.

Crow’s involvement with Em has grown more complicated. His visions are taking shape—and it doesn’t look good for Em. But Crow has a plan, and he will do anything to save her. Anything.

JD misses the Em he used to know...and love. She doesn’t seem like herself; it’s like she’s hiding something. When JD begins to learn the truth, he is as scared as he is determined to help her. And Em’s survival may be dependent on his actions.

The Furies love to play games, but this time they’re deadly serious…and they hate to lose.

Tour Schedule:

8/26: Boekie's Book Reviews

8/27: Read My Breath Away

8/28: The Starry-Eyed Revue

8/29: Chick Loves Lit

8/30: Reading Lark

  9/2: PLL’s blog!

How would you have handled that situation?  Have you read or do you plan to read the Fury series?  I read the first book, but I haven't managed to get back to the series yet, though I am fascinated by The Furies.

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: blog tour, elizabeth miles, fury, mythology, paper lantern lit, simon schuster

Review: Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

Title: Truth or Dare
Author: Jacqueline Green
Series: Truth or Dare, book #1
Publisher: Poppy/Little, Brown BFYR
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Source: finished copy courtesy of Paper Lantern Lit
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.

I always dreaded the game of Truth or Dare when I was younger.  It never ended well for me.  And the same is true for the girls in this book.  But we'll get to that in a moment.

I like mysteries and thrillers and revenge stories.  It's one of the reasons I'm still watching Pretty Little Liars. I didn't read the books, though.  I read the first book in The Lying Game series by the same author, and I vowed no more.  Those books just weren't on my level.  Obviously, the story is interesting enough or I wouldn't still be watching the show.  But I'm constantly screaming at all those pretty girls to just go tell someone in a position of authority what the heck is going on.  And it's one of those mysteries that just gets more mysterious and complex as it goes.

The same could be said of Truth or Dare.  It's an intricately woven story, full of secrets and deceptions, and it definitely kept me guessing.  No dirty laundry remained un-aired.  No skeleton remained in its closet.  And no stone was left unturned as the girls tried to discover who was behind the dares.  I'm usually really good at guessing who the culprit is early on and enjoy watching as the characters search for clues, but this time around, I was just as stumped as them until something happened and I just knew.  The writing was clear and concise and the book read more mature than that series I mentioned earlier, and that just aided in keeping me in the dark for so long.

I generally like to know more than the characters do.  So, when a character knows something that I don't and then takes it to the grave, it leaves me feeling a bit agitated.  Especially when said character was on the verge of revealing this information, only to meet their untimely death.  I call foul.  What kind of ploy is this and why must you make me suffer so?

The suspense wasn't the only thing I liked about the story.  The setting was the secluded town of Echo Bay, during it's Fall Festival.  A festival which had previously been cancelled due to the mysterious deaths of three girls, dubbed the Lost Girls.  If that doesn't set the mood for an eerie story, I don't know what would.  The deaths weren't technically linked to the festival, but I usually attempt to avoid activities that lead to mentions of a curse and the like.  But, hey, who am I to judge?  Not the judgey people of Echo Bay, that's who.

I think I would have rather this book been a stand-alone.  The story was just dark and intense enough to keep me reading, but that ending kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  I mean, you get your answers and you move on.  Though the ending wasn't what I would call a cliffhanger, it did leave a lot more questions.  Maybe I don't like mysteries as much as I thought?  Because the questions and the not-knowing are seriously bothering me right now.  I guess that's the sign of a well-written mystery?  Like I said, I liked the writing, and I'd like to read more from this author.  Just maybe not a mystery because she's infuriatingly good at it.

Be sure to check out my stop on the Truth AND Dare Blog Tour and see how I fared at playing a round of Truth or Dare!

Rating:   1/2

About the author:

Jacqueline Green received her BA from Cornell University and her MFA in writing for children from The New School. She grew up in Wynnewood, PA, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and their tiny dog (who sometimes moonlights as her writing companion). Truth or Dare, the first novel in a trilogy, is her young adult debut. Jacqueline Green is a pen name of Jacqueline Resnick.

Find Jacqueline:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: blog tour, contemporary, hachette, jacqueline green, mystery, paper lantern lit, reviews, truth or dare

The Truth AND Dare Blog Tour

Paper Lantern Lit and the new Preferred Bloggers are teaming up for a round of Truth or Dare to spread the word about this awesome thriller from Jacqueline Green.  Except, us bloggers are being issued Truths AND Dares to complete on each of our stops on the tour.  I'm just glad these are all book-related and nothing like the dares actually issued in the book!

TRUTH:  What celebrity would you LOVE to read a book from?

Hmm...well, if it's an autobiography, I'd have to go with Jennifer Aniston.  Who doesn't want to know what really went down with Jen, Brad, and Angelina?!?  Also, maybe she'd give us the secret to those sexy gams of hers!

But if we're talking about a piece of fiction, I think I want Tina Fey to write a YA novel.  That woman is so funny and quirky and just plain awkward at times, and I think that would translate fabulously into a YA contemporary story.  =)

DARE:  I dare you to imagine a scenario where all three TRUTH OR DARE girls are competing in The Hunger Games.  Who stands the best chance of winning THAT game?

Oh, dang.  Well, first, let's see how I view each girl:

Sydney
the pyromaniac photographer

Tenley
the conniving gymnast

Caitlin
the too-perfect academian

Upon first meeting Tenley, I would have immediately discounted her as a worthy adversary in the Games, but she can get herself out of a tight spot and she's a master manipulator...almost as good as the Darer.  Caitlin, though, would not stand a chance.  This girl is all over the place emotionally, and she's not willing to fight back.  She is a runner, though, and she does have her wits about her.  Sydney, on the other hand, is willing to fight fire with fire.  She'll even play with it if you let her.  She comes from a tough background, and of the three, I imagine she probably is the toughest physically, too, just from her demeanor.

Winner:  Sydney

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Be sure to enter for your chance to win a personalized copy of Truth or Dare over at Paper Lantern Lit! And check out the rest of the stops on the Truth AND Dare Blog Tour!

Tour schedule:

July 18th: Fiction Freak
July 19th: The Reading Lark
July 20th: Queen Ella Bee Reads
July 21st: No one! 
July 22nd: The Starry-Eyed Revue
July 23rd: The Compulsive Reader + Miss Print
July 24th: Chick Loves Lit + Tiger Lily Rachel
July 25th: Boekie’s Book Reviews + Read My Breath Away
July 26th: Anna Reads

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!  And check back later for my review!

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Labels: blog tour, contemporary, hachette, jacqueline green, mystery, paper lantern lit, truth or dare