Friday, April 10, 2015

YA Summer Reads Blog Hop + Giveaway


Interview
Summer is almost here, and that means beautiful beach days, backyard barbeques, and digging deep into that TBR pile. To help you set the mood, young adult authors Janet Gurtler, Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, and Juliana Stone share their favorite summer songs. Perfect for partying or for playing poolside while your read your favorite book.
Janet Gurtler (The Truth About Us):
1. Katy Perry- Fireworks- This song just reminds me of the summer and taking my son to swim meets when he was younger, both of us singing at the top of our lungs!

2. LMFAO- Party Rock Anthem- Another ‘sing at the top of my lungs songs’ that I will never get tired of. It makes me feel free and loose and happy, just like summer!

3. Spice Girls- WANNABE- Because how can you not feel happy when singing…’I really really really wanna ziggy zig zag!’


The Truth About Us
Author: Janet Gurtler
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date: April 7, 2015 

 Synopsis:
Flynn’s from the wrong side of the tracks, but he may be just right for Jess…
The truth is that Jess knows she’s screwed up. She’s made mistakes, even betrayed her best friend, and now she’s paying for it. Her dad is making her spend the whole summer volunteering at the local soup kitchen.
The truth is that she wishes she was the carefree party girl everyone thinks she is. She pretends it’s all fine. That her “perfect” family is fine. But it’s not. And no one notices the lie…until she meets Flynn. He’s the only one who really sees her. The only one who really listens.

The truth is that Jess is falling apart, and no one seems to care. But Flynn is the definition of “the wrong side of the tracks.” When Jess’s parents look at him, they only see their differences, not how much she and Flynn need each other. They don’t get that the person who shouldn’t fit into your world might just be the one who makes you feel like you belong. 

About the Author
RITA Award finalist Janet Gurtler’s young adult books have been chosen for the Junior Library Guild Selection and as Best Books For Teens from the Canadian Children’s Book Center. She has had her writing compared to Judy Blume and Jodi Picoult and that makes her happy. She has volunteered at a few soup kitchens and hopes to do more. Giving back is so important. Janet lives in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son, and a chubby black Chihuahua named Bruce. 

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski (The Summer After You And Me):
1. “It Must Be Summer,” by The Fountains of Wayne, because every song by them makes me happy and because the lyrics mention the Jersey Shore.

2. “Come to Me,” by The Goo Goo Dolls, because that song was in constant rotation while I wrote my latest YA novel and the video is both romantic and touching.

3. “Island in the Sun,” by Weezer. I love it so much, it’s my ringtone! Every time I hear this song, it puts me in a good mood and makes me think about sipping Pina Colada’s on a Caribbean island. It was also featured in the teen movie Aquamarine, which I wind up watching every time it’s on.

The Summer After You and Me
Author: Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date: May 2015

 Synopsis:
For Lucy, the Jersey Shore isn’t just the perfect summer escape, it’s home. As a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in during Memorial Day weekend, crowding her costal town and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Still, she can’t help but crush on charming Connor Malloy. His family spends every summer next door, and she longs for their friendship to turn into something deeper.
Then Superstorm Sandy sweeps up the coast, bringing Lucy and Connor together for a few intense hours. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm, and Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and her broken home. Time may heal all wounds, but with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, Lucy’s summer is sure to be filled with fireworks.

About the Author
Jennifer Salvato Doktorski is the author of two YA novels and is a freelance nonfiction writer. Her first paid writing gig was at The North Jersey Herald & News, where she wrote obituaries and began her lifelong love of news and coffee. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
Juliana Stone (Some Kind of Normal): 
1. All Summer Long by Kid Rock. Lynard Skynard influence aside, it’s the perfect melody and lyrcis to conjure a hot summer day on the water with friends.

2. La Isla Bonita. This is an old Madonna song but I love the latin feel of the music.

3. Stay with Me by Sam Smith. This song makes me feel melancholy and definitely reminds me of last summer.

Some Kind of Normal
Author: Juliana Stone
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: May 5, 2015

 Synopsis:
What is normal? For Trevor, normal was playing fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes, and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves him with no band, no teammates, and no chance of graduating. It’s kind of hard to ace your finals when you’ve been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor, those beautiful blue eyes catching every flaw.
For Everly, normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service, and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor’s daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.
This achingly beautiful story about two damaged teens struggling through pain and loss to redefine who they are, to their family, to themselves, and to each other is sure to melt your heart. 

About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Juliana Stone fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she split her time between baseball, books, and music—three passions that carried over into adulthood. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult and adult contemporary romance, and does so from her home in Canada. 
Giveaway
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5 comments:

  1. Christina R.April 10, 2015 at 12:37 PM

    I love hanging out with friends, by the beach during the summer!!

    I have a US address but rafflecopter might show my location outside US because I’m doing a semester abroad

    thank you so very much :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 11, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    Best thing about summer has to be the great weather to go out and have fun with friends.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BubeApril 11, 2015 at 1:40 PM

    Everything :D
    And I love summer because in summer is my birthday :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Janet GurtlerApril 11, 2015 at 6:33 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting us on your blog! And yay....summer's on the way! (turns up music)

    ReplyDelete
  5. SummerApril 12, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    My favorite thing is reading outside in the warm sunshine with a glass of lemonade.

    ReplyDelete

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