20 Aug 2012

AAA: Appreciating JENNY HAN

The author I’m here to appreciate today doesn’t need much of an introduction. She is known as Jenny Han and is the author of the Summer series, along with the co-author of Burn For Burn which releases next month. Read on to find out why I appreciate, Jenny Han!

Back before I met Goodreads and I started blogging, reading used to be trial and error. I had to experiment and do a lot of soul book searching before I found something really special. On a Saturday morning, a few years back, I was browsing Dymocks and came across The Summer I Turned Pretty. The blurb, the title, the simple cover; everything about it drew me in so I bought a copy. Not long after purchasing it, I began reading. I remember that day so clearly. It was a dark, dreary, cloudy, rainy, grey day and I had hauled myself away in my room, getting lost amongst the pages which bared no resemblance to reality at all. In fact, it was the complete opposite - sun, sand, swimming, summer. 

There are many reasons why the Summer series is so special to me, but one in particular is that as Belly grew I did, too. After reading The Summer I Turned Pretty, each year, for two years, another book released and each time, I was a little older than the last. I remember pre-ordering, It’s Not Summer Without You in 2010 and We’ll Always Have Summer in 2011, and once they had released, every day for about two weeks I got so excited with the idea that maybe today would be the day it finally arrived. You can imagine my excitement when it finally did show – jumping, squealing and a lot of smiling followed suit.

The Summer I Turned Pretty was not only the first YA story that really struck a chord with me, but it was also the first book that managed to harness my emotions and had me bawling my eyes out.

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am that Burn For Burn releases next month in September! *sqee* And just the other day I found out that Jenny has a new book releasing in 2014, called To All The Boys I’ve Loved. Title love! The second I saw this, I froze whilst my insides danced around. So far there is no blurb available but there is no need, because just the name Jenny Han is enough to sell me.

The Summer series will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ve always been a reader, ever since I was little, but The Summer I Turned Pretty cemented my love for reading even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.

P.S - Team Conrad forever and always ♥


Find Jenny on: Goodreads | Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
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Author Bio:
Jenny Han (Han like Han Solo, not Han like hand) was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) and she went on to graduate school at the New School in New York City, where she received her MFA in Writing for Children. She lives in Brooklyn and works part-time at a school library on the Upper West Side.

15 comments:

  1. I absolutely love Jenny Han! She's such an amazing writer and Conrad . . . he'll always have a place in my heart! Can't wait to read Burn for Burn.

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    1. Aw, so glad to hear you love Jenny, too! She's such a fabulous writer...and Conrad? Oh my! I am beyond excited for Burn For Burn :D

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  2. What a great story! I love those moments where you just fall so completely in love with a book that it makes you love reading even more. There are a couple books/series like that for me. :)

    Also, I haven't read anything by Jenny Han yet, but now I totally want to! I'm not always a contemp fan, but there's been so much released recently that sounds so good. Side note: Jenny's author photo is SO freakin' cute! Haha.

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    1. Thanks, Kristen! When you get round to reading The Summer I Turned Pretty, I hope you love it as much as I did. Oh, and remember to stock up on tissues! I totally get that, I used to be a contemp-only girl, but blogging has introduced me to all these other great genres ;) AGREED. Jenny's author photo is the BEST.

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  3. Becca, I have CHILLS reading this, I kid you not. When you connect to a book that deeply, and fall so in love with an author. PERFECT.

    And I know that feeling you described, getting excited EVERY day thinking *today* might be the day it arrives? I LOVE.
    Absolute perfection ♥

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    1. CHILLS? I'm THAT good, huh ;)

      You should have seen me, running to the letterbox everyday in hope that it would arrive that day. That was before the letterbox incident... Now I stay far, far away.

      Sweet comment for the ever so sweet, Sarah ♥

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  4. I completely understand your love for Jenny Han, because I too have fallen madly in love with this author's words. Her story-telling is some of the best kind. I ADORE this series, so much. I love that you've chosen Jenny Han to appreciate on your blog. Very nice choice!

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    1. I know your a huge Jenny fan, too! Yet another reason why you have such good boom taste ;) I'm with you there, the Summer series is so special, it's magical. Thanks, Ginger! :)

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  5. Jenny Han is one of my favorite writers and people, what a great post. I was so happy to read it.

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    1. She is an amazing author, it would be a dream to be able to meet her. *wishes* Aw, thanks Adele, I loved writing it :)

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  6. Oh my gosh. Becca. THIS. I understand this SO MUCH. It's exactly what I went through with Harry Potter - I grew up as those characters did, I began at 11, just as the trio were, and ended the same age as they were in the final book. I just SO understand what you're saying about growing up and the books grew up too - matured. And just... oh. The emotions you go through. It's SUCH a special book/reader relationship. Reading your story has made me a BAZILLION times more eager to read this series, I KNOW I'm going to love it <3

    I LOVE THIS POST.

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    1. Aw, Brodie <3 *huggles*

      I totally get that about the Harry Potter books. That is AWESOME, I never knew you were the same age as them. Cool stuff! And each year when the next book released, you and the gang were both a year older. Mind = blown.

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  7. YAY GO HEELS! (I live not too far from UNCCH so I feel like it is my duty somehow to say that, haha)

    Okay, funny story about this series. Somehow I have books two and three, but not book one. HOW? HOW did I do that? I don't know! This series is SO HIGH on my to-read list, but I have to get the first book first! I've heard it is SO AMAZING.

    I love this story!

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    1. Ha! ;) That is a funny story. How? I don't know! But I suggest you buy book one quickly!

      No worries, I was glad to share it <3

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  8. Such a lovely post Rebecca! I absolutely adored Jenny Han's summer series too, it's one that I can go back to time and time again and has become a ultimate favourite! I can't wait to dive into Jenny's next releases; Burn for Burn and To all the Boys I loved! (The title alone is making me melt)! thanks for sharing yet again a fab post! Btw I will always love Conrad too! :)

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