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Making It Up

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YA romance

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

30th May 2014 by Jax Blunt Leave a Comment

This does remind me of something, but I’m not sure what.

It’s a romance, but it’s not fluffy. It’s edgy, with slightly bruised and battered characters despite their youth. They aren’t lovely, they aren’t the centre of attention, they’re barely getting by on the edges.

The language surprised me. I swore like a bar worker through my teens and early twenties but reject bad language now, and I found the first few pages uncomfortable going. That faded away as I got into the swing of it, and I found myself absorbed into the story.

Perhaps it’s something like Heathers? But not quite. No, that’s not it. It’s a John Hughes movie maybe, but not quite so polished. Because most of those have soft edges, while Eleanor and Park is definitely prickly.

The cultural references amused me. It felt strange to have so many familiar songs and books from my own teen years in a modern YA book. I did wonder what Big made of that, I suppose most of them must have passed her by. And the cultural stuff felt a little false, not that I know much about Korean culture it has to be said.

All in all, this was an absorbing read, more challenging than other YA romances I’ve read recently, but feeling like it’s definitely a keeper. (I nearly started rereading it immediately. But I decided I’d rather have a little gap then I could cherish it properly. )

Linky to be added later, I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

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Filed Under: Book club, read52 Tagged With: Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell, YA romance

The Geography of You and Me – review and giveaway.

11th April 2014 by Jax Blunt

geography of you and me

buy on kindle

Buy at Hive

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The Geography of you and me by Jennifer E Smith is pretty much the perfect teenage romance. It’s gentle and funny, touching without being mawkish, and has been added to my list of go to books for when I *need* a feel good read.

That isn’t to say that there’s nothing to it, there’s plenty going on. You’ve got the stories of two very different teenagers, Lucy and Owen, brought together during a power cut in the building they live in. One is an apartment dweller from the 24th floor, the other the son of the new building superintendent living in the basement.

They spent just one night together, and then start to build a relationship over long distance as they are moved by circumstance around the globe away from each other. Part of the connection is in their joint feeling of helplessness at their circumstances but neither is a victim. And relationship building over a distance is never easy, particularly when it’s your first love. There’s a fantastic argument with absolutely spot on use of Fine! which had Big spluttering as she read it.

I don’t feel that I’m doing this book justice at all.

It’s lyrical, poetic in parts. I think it may be visually appealing – there’s a particular section, you’ll recognise it when you’re reading, when the chapters reflect each other in a verbal dance to a written climax. I read it in eArc, so I’m not sure what those look or feel like on the page, but I think it may be more dramatic on paper.

When I was done reading it, I wanted to just start over straight again, but I’ve been holding back. Tonight I might give in though 😉 It’s released next week on the 15th, so you can get your pre orders in now, or you can attempt to win one of two copies with me.

As is ever the case, it’s a really simple comment entry. Just leave a comment telling me your favourite place in the whole world.

Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for each entry or it won’t be counted.)

  • Tweet: “I’ve entered to win the Geography of you and me with @liveotherwise – check it out https://liveotherwise.co.uk/makingitup/”
  • Like me on facebook
  • Follow @liveotherwise
  • Share this giveaway some other way.
  • Sign up to receive this blog by email (see sidebar)
  • Add a book review or reading challenge post to the linky.

In Read 52 news, I actually read this book much earlier this year, and I’m not sure I’ve read anything this week! Eek, must run off and find a kindle. Please say you’ve been doing better and link up your bookish posts.

Terms and conditions.

This giveaway is promoted by me, Jax Blunt, and sponsored by Headline who are supplying the prizes. No recompense has been received by me for running this draw.

This prize draw runs until 23.59 GMT Thursday 17th April. Two prizes of The Geography of you and me (RRP £9.99). Fulfilment will be arranged by the company and the winner must agree to have details passed to them for that purpose. Open to adults 18 and over with UK delivery address. Entry is by comment as described above. Non completion of the mandatory entry requirement will disqualify any other entries by that individual. The winner will be chosen using a random draw plugin from all comment entries, and notified by email within 48 hours. They must claim the prize within 28 days.

Entry into the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

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Filed Under: Book club, giveaway, read52 Tagged With: Jennifer E Smith, The geography of you and me, YA romance

The statistical probability of love at first sight. Jennifer E Smith.

15th February 2014 by Jax Blunt

statistical probability of love at first sightThis is the third Jennifer Smith novel I’ve been lucky enough to have for review, and they’re always a pleasure. Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight is teen romance, encapsulated in a single night and day, with a plane journey, and a wedding or two. All the parts of life are here, divorce, remarriage, and loss, and it was an ideal valentine read.

Hadley is on her way to her dad’s wedding. Except she’s just missed her flight. She meets Oliver in the airport and they end up sat together on the plane. He distracts her from her emotions and his banter gets between her and the claustrophobia she feels when flying.

For all this is a romance, it touches on some heavier themes as Hadley comes to terms with the massive changes in her life resulting from her dad’s new romance. There’s some nice literature brought in (although I’ve never been a Dicken’s fan to be honest) and plenty of light conversation with a bit of London sight seeing to pass the time. Hadley is a great character – sometimes there’s a temptation in these books to tell at least one of the lead couple to shape up, Hadley never had that effect on me. (Oliver I found a teeny bit more annoying. Straight answer to a straight question occasionally please!)

Jennifer E Smith is rapidly becoming my go to author for feel good books – they are just wonderfully judged.

half sick of shadowsAs an apology for this post being a few days late (did anyone even notice?) I’m going to chuck in a book giveaway. Simply leave a comment on your favourite romance from fiction – theatre, film, music, book – and I’ll draw a winner at random for a hardback copy of Half Sick of Shadowsby David Logan. This was the (joint) winner of the inaugural Terry Pratchett Anywhere But Here, Anywhen But Now First Novel Award so I’ve high hopes for it, but no time to read it. If you win, pop back and let me know what it’s like?

Competition open until 23.59 Thursday 20th February.

Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for each entry or it won’t be counted.)

  • Tweet: “There’s a book #giveaway hidden in this review from @liveotherwise can you find it?”
  • Like me on facebook
  • Follow @liveotherwise
  • Share this giveaway some other way.
  • Sign up to receive this blog by email (see sidebar)
  • Put your #read52 or other book review post in the linky

Terms and conditions.

This giveaway is promoted and sponsored by me, Jax Blunt. No recompense has been received by me for running this draw.

This prize draw runs until 23.59 GMT Thursday 20th February. One prize of a hardback copy of Half Sick of Shadows as described above (value approx £12). Open to adults 18 and over with UK delivery address. Entry is by comment as described above. Non completion of the mandatory entry requirement will disqualify any other entries by that individual. The winner will be chosen using a random draw plugin from all comment entries, and notified by email within 48 hours. They must claim the prize within 28 days.

Entry into the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

And here’s your #read52 linky, just in case there’s anyone out there waiting for it 🙂 You can find the badge over here until I get around to putting it in the footer!

Disclosure – Hive links are affiliate links.

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Filed Under: giveaway, read52 Tagged With: Jennifer E Smith, YA romance

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