{Audiobook} Review: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories, edited by Stephanie Perkins

Title: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Author: various
Narrator(s): various
Series: anthology
Length: 12 hrs 55 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Source: from publisher via Netgalley, audiobook via library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by 12 best-selling young adult writers (Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Tayler and Kiersten White) and edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or Kwanzaa, there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have 12 reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

Every short story in a collection like this can't be a winner for every reader, but I dare anyone to say that they read all of the stories in this anthology and didn't feel at least a little holiday cheer by the end. Some of these stories were written and narrated by favorites of mine, while others were by authors and narrators I've only ever heard of...if that. I tried to go into this audiobook without knowing who wrote each story, and even though the author is stated before each story, it was so quick that I missed a lot of them at first. But my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to know who certain stories were written by. Some were kind of obvious and some were complete surprises. Here's how they fared all in all:

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell and narrated by Rebecca Lowman - ★★★★★

This story, I had no problem whatsoever guessing the author. It felt very reminiscent of Fangirl, which is by no means a complaint. It's just that RR really knows how to write a coming-of-age story that feels genuine. Midnights chronicles several New Year's Eves in the MC's history with the love interest in a somewhat random order to fill in some blanks and show how this story's couple came to be where they are this New Year's Eve. It was bittersweet and everything you expect from a Rainbow Rowell story. And I don't think I will ever approve of anyone but Rebecca Lowman as narrator for RR's stories...she is perfect.

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link and narrated by Fiona Hardingham - ★★★★

This story probably won't resonate with most readers the same way it did for me, but I kind of loved it. I don't think I can say I've actually heard of Kelly Link before, but this haunting tale of a love that defies logic -- not to mention the borders of the living world -- has intrigued me enough to research the author to find more of her works. Also, it probably helps that I love Fiona Hardingham as a narrator, and her performance made this story that much more interesting. Her accent also made it feel more authentic.

Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Peña and narrated by Henry Leyva - ★★★★

I've been meaning to check out this author's work for some time, so I was happy to see that a short story from him was included, especially as it lent some diversity to the anthology. Loved the male perspective...that was a definite plus. Not so sure I loved his love interest, considering the circumstances, but I liked how the scholarship kid made out in the end. Never heard anything narrated by Henry Leyva as far as I know, but I really bought his performance.

Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han and narrated by Kim Mai Guest - ★★★★

Another favorite author paired with a favorite narrator; this makes my heart happy. Especially since this story was kind of like the movie Elf but with a female protagonist. It was bittersweet, much as I've come to expect from Jenny Han, but even so, I felt a twinge of hopefulness there at the end, despite it all. Also, I think I would give this story the award for best title in the anthology, even if the story did feel like the shortest one in the bunch.

It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins and narrated by Samantha Quan - ★★★★★

This story was definitely cute. Like, make my heart sooo happy cute. So, of course it's from Stephanie Perkins. She knows how to write love interests that just melt my heart. And she writes normal girls who get themselves all flustered over said heart-melting love interests. And I like the homage to Charlie Brown. I'm not familiar with this narrator, but she did an outstanding job of making me fall even harder for these characters.

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan and narrated by Dustin Rubin - ★★★

I've only read Levithan's collaborations with other authors, including John Green and Rachel Cohn, so I only know how his characters bounce off of another author's characters. Without that added narrative, this story just fell flat for me. I was pleased to see that a LGBT story was included in this collection, but I wish the romance would have jumped out at me the way they have in the author's previous works. Another narrator I'm not familiar with, and honestly I can't say the performance was all that memorable either.

Krampuslauf by Holly Black and narrated by Julia Whelan - ★★★★

This story was another win for me, and not just because of the favorite author and narrator combo. I liked the contemporary start the story had but loved the fantastical turn it took. After listening to this story, I had to look up Krampuslauf to see if it was a real thing because I was so intrigued by where it took the story...it is a real celebration and one I'd like to witness some day.

What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Foreman and narrated by Abby Craden - ★★★

I've only read If I Stay and Where She Went by Foreman because I'm not sure that anything else by her would be a good fit for me. Case in point, this story. It features a mixed couple getting to know each other, feel each other out without offending one another with stereotypes and generalizations. I liked that aspect, but I just think maybe it was just a bit too heavy-handed in this story. Or it's Foreman's writing style that didn't work for me. Another unfamiliar narrator that did a decent job, though.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire and narrated by Lincoln Hoppe - ★★

This was my least favorite story in the whole anthology. I should also probably mention that I never read further than the first book in the Hourglass series, either. I'm just not a fan of McEntire's writing style or the fact that I never connect with her characters. This story was basically one of those in which a good girl makes a bad boy question his wicked ways. That can usually be a fun scenario, but it was just boring in this case. I liked the narrator, though.

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White and narrated by Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez - ★★★★

Well, butter my biscuits! I totally expected to be disappointed by this story because I've all but given up on the author's work up until now after finding myself unable to finish the Paranormalcy series, but I was very happy with this story. I really, really thought it was going to take a more magical turn, but I'm glad it didn't. Basically, the MC is soooo ready to graduate and leave her sad life and tiny town behind her...until a cute new boy enters the picture and gives her a reason to stay. That's not even the best part, though! Family present and accounted for. Diversity. And standing up to physical abuse. And it managed to be quirky and funny, something her previous books attempted and it fell flat. Not in this case. And the narrator was legitimately good, especially her accents and pronunciations.

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter and narrated by Shannon McManus - ★★★★★

I've never read an Ally Carter book before, but I am now convinced that I have to read them all. (I know, Summer...you've been telling me this for ages now.) I love when starlets want to disappear from the limelight because I imagine that most do from time to time. But I also love a takes-no-sh!t love interest, too, and the one in this story is kind of the best. As is his family and the whole situation the MC finds herself in. Carter may soon become a favorite, and it doesn't hurt that she's paired with another of my favorite narrator's in this audiobook anthology. This was definitely one of the highlights of the collection for me.

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor and narrated by Ann Marie Lee - ★★★★★

In a collection of mostly contemporary tales, Laini Taylor manages to stand out, as usual. This was by far the most fantastical of all the stories in the anthology, and it was also probably the most melancholy. But it was oh so evocative, as I've come to expect from Taylor, and I am in no less awe of her exquisite prose than I was when I finished her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. But this is the problem with fantasy short stories: they always leave me wanting more of the world and characters, and I know I'll never get my wish. I've also never experienced an audiobook narrated by Ann Marie Lee, but I'm a fan after this story.


A bit of a mixed bag, for sure, but there's a little something for everyone here. I don't read many anthologies, but I heartily recommend this one.

Oh, and did you know that the couples on the cover actually represent the couples from the stories? How cool is that?

source

GIF it to me straight:

About the editor:

Hi, there! I'm Steph, and I wrote ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I also edited (and contributed a short story to) a romantic holiday anthology called MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME. My next YA novel will be horror—a teen slasher published by Dutton.

Find Stephanie:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: anthology, audiobooks, christmas, contemporary, favorite authors, favorite narrators, favorites, holidays, my true love gave to me, reviews, stephanie perkins

Waiting on Wednesday: The Secrets We Keep & The Trouble with Destiny

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: The Secrets We Keep
Author: Trisha Leaver
Series: n/a
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: April 28th, 2015

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

Twins!!!! Identical. Books involving twins always suck me in. I blame Parent Trap from when I was young. Granted one of these twins bites it, but hey!! I love the idea of her being stuck in her lie, pretending to be her dead sister. I'm really curious to see how she pulls that off. I'm guessing it won't work out too well.

I probably shouldn't be so excited for this one, it will more than likely make me cry, or at least sniffle a bit.





's Pick:



Title: The Trouble with Destiny
Author: Lauren Morrill
Series: n/a
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: Fall 2015

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.

Oh my gosh, this just sounds adorably nerdy and funny and I just love Lauren Morrill, so I'll definitely be picking this one up come Fall of next year. Goodness, I'm already featuring books that come out a year from now...I've hit an all-time low, lol.

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, lauren morrill, macmillan, random house, the secrets we keep, the trouble with destiny, trisha leaver, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Review in a GIFfy: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

So, I've seen a few others doing early reviews for books pre-release by doing a less formal review and sorta just fangirling over the title prior to publication, which may be months away, depending on when they read the book. Jamie from The Perpetual Page-turner has a Save the Date feature, and Heather over at The Flyleaf Review showcases her pre-release thoughts in a Mark Your Calendars post. I have the same problem. I want to tell the world about some of the awesome books I read pre-publication, but I can't wait until just a few weeks before the release date to shout it from the rooftops. And sometimes there just aren't words for a book, ya know?

My dilemma led me to an awesome idea: Reviews in a GIFfy. I already (sometimes) post my reactions to a book via GIFs on Goodreads. (The one I did for World After was very well received.) But I wanted to make it a thing for those titles that I just can't wait until they appear on the ole reading schedule -- or for the ones that it's really hard to adequately express my feelings -- and I wanted to share my reactions via GIF with all of you. Essentially, these are going to be GIF-only reviews to tide you -- and me! -- over until I can expand on my thoughts in a legitimate review closer to the book's release date...if ever!

This week, I'm using this method to review the second full-length book in Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's Starbound series. Companion novels are usually easier to review, but this one's a little different, so I thought a pictorial expression of my feels might be in order.




Title: This Shattered World
Author: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Series: Starbound, book #2
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: December 23, 2014
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The second installment in the epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

First and foremost: You absolutely must read Tarver's free novella. If you were a fan of Tarver in These Broken Stars, you will appreciate his heroism in This Night So Dark. And even if you weren't a fan of his -- but let's be honest, that's not really a possibility, now is it? -- you'll still need to know things and you'll be a lot closer to those discoveries if you read this short story. Also? It's bloody FREE!

Reasons to read: Well, for one, the aforementioned Tarver makes an appearance, as does the lovely Lilac, and they're kind of awww-some. But the new couple is awe-inspiring in their insta-hate and it's kind of fun to watch them chip away at each other's defenses. Also, there's the whole corporate conspiracy-turned-intergallactic planetary disaster waiting to happen. It's as much fun to see unravel as it is to sing about.

The story: So much win here, let me tell ya. Whereas These Broken Stars was pretty heavy on the survival story, This Shattered World focuses on the rebellion instigated by the blight upon Avon, not unlike the one that was developing on the planet Tarver and Lilac spent a good deal of time on. Except in this case, the planet is inhabited and the natives are not happy. As you can probably tell, though, it helps to have read the previous book. It's not necessary, as this is technically a companion story, but it helps all the same.

The characters: Everyone in this book is very opinionated, and their beliefs run deep, meaning it's going to take a lot for them to meet anywhere in the middle. But that also means that some might find them harder to connect to. I liked their take-charge, no nonsense attitudes, and I liked how they meshed -- or clashed, depending on the circumstances.

The villain: There is a somewhat localized villain/non-villain and then there is the über villain. Both are likely of the mind that they are making great strides for their people, but then again, so was Hitler.

The romance(s): Flynn and Lee have serious chemistry right from the beginning, but they fight it every step of the way. And I mean every step. But it's worth it in the end. And, of course, Lilac and Tarver are more adorable than ever. I was glad at more than just a little peek at where their lives have taken them since the events of These Broken Stars.

The swoons: I love a good "sworn enemies-turned-lovers" romance. Those. Are. The. Best. Tension runs high in these situations, but so does the passion! (There's also a blush-worthy Tarver and Lilac scene, fyi.)

Everything's coming full circle: Since this is a companion novel and not a true sequel, I didn't expect any second book syndrome from it, but I also didn't expect to get so much more of the political intrigue and corporate espionage that was only hinted at in the first book. It may have been the complete opposite of the first book, but it made for a really engrossing read and led us right back where we needed to be.

The quotability: I was too busy flying through the pages to mark many quotes and passages, but I really dig this one:

    "He doesn't look much older than I am, so even if he enlisted the day he turned sixteen he won't have more than two years of service under his belt. Enough to get cocky -- not enough to know he should wipe that grin off his face. A few weeks on Avon will do that for him. He's chiseled, with a chin so perfect, it makes me want to hit it. The shadow of stubble along his jaw only emphasizes the lines of his face. These guys invariably end up being assholes, but from this distance he's just beautiful. Like he was put together by an artist.
     Guys like this make me want to believe in God."

In summation: Exhilarating. Steamy. A story that felt familiar to it's predecessor but remained wholly unique. I loved each book equally because they were such different pieces of the same story and felt like clues to a bigger mystery that I can't wait to unravel. This sci-fi writing duo is tops with me and I can't wait to see what their next collaborative effort reveals. (May it also include Tarver and Lilac and Lee and Flynn.)

About the Authors:

Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are longtime friends and sometime flatmates who have traveled the world (but not yet the galaxy), covering every continent between them. They are sure outer space is only a matter of time. Meagan, who is also the author of the Skylark trilogy, currently lives in Asheville, NC, while Amie lives in Melbourne, Australia. Although they currently live apart, they are united by their love of space opera, road trips, and second breakfasts.

Visit the These Broken Stars website for the latest news on the series and follow the authors on Twitter at @AmieKaufman and @MeaganSpooner. You may also sign up for their newsletter as well! This Shattered World will be available in North America in December 2014.

Previous posts in this feature:

Of Metal and Wishes
The Kiss of Deception
Between the Spark and the Burn
Blue Lily, Lily Blue

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Labels: amie kaufman, beautiful covers, collaboration, disney hyperion, fantasy, favorites, meagan spooner, review in a giffy, reviews, sci-fi, starbound

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Books We've Got Grabby Hands For

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. Apparently, they are overly fond of list-making and love to share their bookish lists with the rest of us book nerds.  =) We're game.

This week's topic is the Top Ten Books We're Looking Forward To In 2015.

April's Picks:

I shouldn't even be grabby hands for any new books, because I have so many old books I need to read. Alas, I cannot help my wants. And these books I really really want!!!!! Especially Golden Son. I would do just about anything to get my hands on that one. Except eat sauerkraut. That shit is nasty.

Jen's Picks:

Haha, watch it, April...some people, ahem, like sauerkraut. Probably has a lot to do with the family you're raised in, though. :P I'm reading Crimson Bound right now and loving it. I also read Red Queen a few weeks ago, and it was good, though not as good as I expected. :( The Heart of Betrayal should be on my list, though...I guess I neglected it because it was on my sequels list last week or the week before? *shrugs*

There are SOOOOO many 2015 titles that I'm eagerly anticipating, that this TTT post could have easily been Top Hundred Books I'm looking forward to. I mean, seriously. :) Some of these I've already featured as Waiting on Wednesday picks and others I've only recently discovered, but all are books I can't wait to have in my possession.

Er, I just realized I already have Things We Know by Heart. Oh, well. It's too late I'm too lazy to change my graphic, so it stands. Just pretend The Heart of Betrayal is on their in its place, lol. =) Regardless, I'm still really looking forward to it.

Which 2015 books are you most looking forward to? :) Be sure to share a link to your TTT post so we can visit!

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Labels: 2015, grabby hands, top ten tuesday

Our Christmas TBRs

So, we just listed our Winter TBR picks on last week's Top Ten Tuesday post, but this post is different because it features books that have a Christmas theme. It'll be smaller than our usual holiday-themed TBR post, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. :D Without further ado, here are the holiday reads you can expect to see us picking up in the next couple of weeks to get into the spirit of the season.

April's picks:

I love this time of year and I always try and read Holiday themed stuff during the month of December. Life is busy so I kept my choices light. I think just about every one of these is short stories except for Dash & Lily, but that one is pretty short compared to other audio I've listened to. Here are my Holiday TBRs.

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by various authors - I grabbed the galley of this a while back but could't bring myself to read it during the Halloween months.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn - I'm currently listening to this one now on audible. It is freaking adorable. I love it.

On Christmas Hill by Nichole Chase - I won this one last year around Christmas time by commenting on a post. I wanted to get to it, but alas, I didn't. I will this year though!

Cross Country Christmas: A Woodfalls Girls Novella by Tiffany King - I really like this series by Tiffany King, so I grabbed this one last year when it went live. Didn't get around to it in time though, and I'm one of those people who cannot read Christmas stuff after my tree goes down.

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle - When I typed into google and goodreads, "good Holiday YA reads" This book came up first. So I grabbed the kindle edition so I can get to it! :)



Jen's picks:

I always, always re-listen to Dash & Lily's Book of Dares around this time of year, but I thought I'd read and/or listen to some other holiday-inspired stories to get me in the right frame of mind for all the shopping, eating and family time I'm about to enjoy. So, these are my holiday-themed picks:

(1) Mistletoe & Mr. Right by Lyla Payne - sounds adorable
(2) Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn - of course I have to relisten! =)
(3) Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle - on shelf for years, never read :(
(4) Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas - takes place in one day...and on Christmas Eve, no less
(5) My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by various authors - so much awesome from so many favorites!
(6) Hear Me by Viv Daniels - loved her previous NA and her work as Diana Peterfreund, hoping for an unusual holiday tale from her with this story


What books do you enjoy reading around the holidays? Will you be picking up any of these, or do your prefer to get comfy with old favorites during this time of year?

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Labels: christmas, holidays, TBR pile