News: Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

I recently received some very exciting news about Stephanie Perkin's new book 'Isla and the Happily Ever After'.  I've been waiting for this one for the longest time, but now the wait is nearly over.  Usborne will be publishing the third book by Perkins in the UK and the US on Thursday 14th August 2014.  Yay!!  I'm dying to read Isla and Josh's story and I have high hopes that it will be just as good, if not better, then 'Anna and the French Kiss' and 'Lola and the Boy Next Door'. 

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

For those of you who can't wait until August, the first chapter of 'Isla and the Happily Ever After' is now available online. Read it here
And don't forget that you can pre-order your copy now.  I already have and am counting down the days until this one drops through my mailbox.   

My favourite reads of 2012

2012 has been a fantastic year for young-adult books with some incredible titles storming onto bookshelves around the world.  I've put together my top ten list of favourite books I've read (although not necessarily published) this year.  These are in no particular order because I loved them all equally!

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

 

Stephanie Perkins is one of my favourite YA writers.  Her writing style is fresh and original and I've adored both of her books so far.  I simply can't wait for 'Isla and the Happily Ever After' which will finally be published in 2013.  I loved the characters in 'Lola and the Boy Next Door' and I fell hook, line and sinker for the adorable Cricket Bell.

 

2. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

 

This is the second book in the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand which is a contender for one of my all-time favourite series of YA books.  The story was gripping and engrossing and I loved reading about Clara and the two boys in her life, Tucker and Christian.  I'm on tenterhooks waiting to find out which boy she'll eventually choose (I'm secretly hoping for Tucker!).  

 

 

 

3. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

 

One of the best debuts of 2012.  This was a five star read which blew me away.

 

 

 

4. Legend by Marie Lu

 

An incredible debut by Marie Lu loosely based on the plot of Les Miserables.  In my review I described it as a book which 'delivers the goods in spades'.  Dystopian fiction is one of my favourite genres and 'Legend' is one of the most thrilling stories I've ever come across.      

 

 

 

5. The Demon Trappers: Foretold by Jana Oliver

 

I had high hopes for the last book in The Demon Trappers series and Jana Oliver did not disappoint.  A truly fitting end to what has been an incredible ride. 

 

 

 

6. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

 

Yet another marvellous end to a series.  Readers finally got to find out if Belly would choose Conrad or Jeremiah, a question everyone has been pondering over since the series started.  I adored this book which gave me everything I wanted and more! 

 

 

 

7. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

 

I'm a huge Robin Hood fan so I thought this retelling from the point of view of Scarlet was fantastic.  I'm looking forward immensely to more from this extremely talented author.

 

 

 

8. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

 

There have been so many incredible debut novels in 2012 and this is another of the best.  Ten years in the making, 'Throne of Glass' is an epic fantasy adventure with wonderful characters and a fast paced and innovative plot. 

 

 

 

9. A Witch in Love by Ruth Warburton

 

Second books in a series can sometimes be a let down but not 'A Witch in Love'.  I described it as 'combining excitement, sadness, sorrow and hope' and it's one which left me begging for more.  The final book entitled 'A Witch Alone' is due out in 2013.

 

 

 

10. Revived by Cat Patrick

 

I count Cat Patrick among my favourite authors and her debut novel 'Forgotten' was one of my top reads of last year.  She's done it again with 'Revived' which yet again ticks all my boxes.  Gripping, engrossing and exciting, I absolutely loved it.

 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, published by Dutton 2010

Goodreads synopsis:
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Review:
J'adore Anna and the French Kiss! 

There was only ever one book I was hoping desperately to find under the tree on Christmas day.  The year's most eagerly anticipated debut YA novel by Stephanie Perkins.  And my wish came true!  I got a gorgeous shiny brand new hardback copy from my Mum and Dad which I started reading immediately...and couldn't put down because it was as amazingly wonderful as I was expecting it to be. 

I first stumbled across Stephanie Perkin's blog nearly a year ago and was immediately attracted to her funny and illuminating and thoughtful posts.  I eagerly followed the news about 'Anna' before the book was even published and I've been dying to read it for the longest time ever.  Since then it's been the hot topic of conversation across the blogosphere and I've read so many reviews raving about how brilliant it is.  I've been desperate to get my hands on a copy and now that I have, I've found my book of 2010.  This tops anything else that I've read this year. 

I don't even know where to start with describing all the things that I loved about it.  I'm just so full of admiration for a debut novel that literally left me breathless for more.  The book is set in Paris and there are so many wonderful descriptions of the sights, sounds and delights of the city.  I could almost taste the macaroons, I could sense the giddy heights of Notre Dame, I shared Anna's confusion over the language and I experienced the same feelings of lust and desire for the very hot Etienne St Clair.  Way to go Stephanie Perkins!  That's how you write a perfect boy with amazing hair, charm, good taste, a cute accent and sexiness in abundance.  I wonder if Anna would mind sharing?!  The ups and downs of their relationship is the main focus of the novel but it also teaches about loneliness, independence, family, friends and finding a place or a person that you can call home.

One of the things I loved the most was the fresh tone of the writing.  It reminded me a lot of Meg Cabot (another of my favourite authors) because it was just like having a conversation or reading a letter from your best friend.  Down to earth, real and not pretentious in the slightest.  This is the sort of book that on finishing it, you just want to pick it up and start all over again.   

Stephanie Perkins has two further books planned.  'Lola and the Boy Next Door' which is published in September 2011, followed by 'Isla and the Happily Ever After' which is out in 2012.  I'm sure there will also be many more to come, because Stephanie Perkins is one of the most talented new writers I've come across and I'm convinced she'll have a long writing career ahead of her.

Stephanie Perkins - Anna and the French Kiss

I am so excited for the release of 'Anna and the French Kiss'.  It's out in the UK on December 2nd and I have it preordered on Amazon already!  It's the first book from debut YA author Stephanie Perkins, who promises that it will feature lots and lots of KISSING!

Goodreads synopsis: Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.


But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.
 
On Stephanie's website, one reviewer describes it in the following way:

"Imagine a mug of rich, thick hot chocolate. Now add a swirl of sweet whipped cream. Yummy? Oui. Well, Anna and the French Kiss is richer, sweeter, and—yes—even hotter. You're in for a very special treat."

Now, how can anyone resist that?!

I'm super excited for this novel because Stephanie has an amazing blog on her website which I regularly read and through which she shares her love of super-gorgeous British men.  It's one of the first places I check each day when I go online.

Yet another lovely YA cover:

Even better, she also has another pending novel 'Lola and the Boy Next Door'.  So if you like 'Anna' you have something else to look forward to.