25 Aug 2012

AAA: Huntley Fitzpatrick, author of My Life Next Door: Top 5 Debut Books

For today’s post, I’m excited to share a post from debut author, Huntley Fitzpatrick. She blew us away with My Life Next Door and I’m sure you’re just as anxious as I am to get your hands on What I Thought Was True, which releases in 2013! Since Huntley is a debut author herself, I thought it would be interesting to see which other 2012 debuts she’s read, loved and recommends. Without further ado, please welcome, Huntley Fitzpatrick!

Top 5 Debut Books

Let me start by saying that I’ve never been good at ranking things. I don’t mean this as a slam against lists, because I’ve been grateful for so many of them. But I get confused, from Oscars to Newbury Award winners, how can you compare a comedy with a drama, a Leonardo di Caprio tearfest with a Steve Carrell laugh-out-loud comedy, a contemporary with a dystopian, a transporting musical with a drama that rearranges the world for you?

That said, I’m straying from the topic, which is my five top debuts of 2012. Just saying it wasn’t easy, and I agonized, and in the end decided to go with the first five that popped up when I wanted to recommend books to a teenaged friend today.

1. Pushing the Limits, by Katie McGarry
I am a sucker for the two-POV book. I so admire authors who can do this and make each perspective incredibly clear and true With this book, I was fell completely into the experience of both characters. Katie McGarry completely captures both Echo’s and Noah’s experiences, different yet interconnected in a fundamental way. I adored this book.

2. Gilt, by Katherine Longshore
I am a history junkie, and specifically a history junkie since reading DAUGHTER OF TIME by Josephine Tey (if you haven’t read this classic history/mystery story, go find it). I followed that fascination into Henry VIII and you should too, because this amazing book is an extraordinary combination of history and modern day drama, showing in a beautifully written and heartbreaking way that they more we change the more we stay the same. Struggling all along the way with their conflicted relationship, Kitty Tylney follows her friend Catherine Howard into the heart of Henry’s court, and toward disaster for them both. This book kept me up all night, and pondering the could-have-beens long after that.

3. Something like Normal by Trish Doller
I never know where to start with this one, except to say get it, read it and you will love it. Travis comes back from his tour in Afghanistan to fight a different war at home—the quiet, necessary battle of making peace with your family and learning what it means to grow up. His only true—unexpected—ally is Harper, a girl who has her own reasons to distrust and dislike him. Travis’ voice, genuine, conflicted, ultimately compassionate, was what made this book shine for me. One to read and reread.

4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
This book absolutely astonished me. At first, I hesitated to pick it up. A retelling of Cinderella, set in China in the distant future? And Cinderella is a cyborg? Um….?But I kept hearing such wonderful things that I couldn’t resist reading a page….and got completely hooked. The world Meyer sets up is so intricate and so beautifully imagined that it is, indeed, hard to believe this is her first book. A must-read.

5. Scarlet by AC Gaughen
I’ve always been fascinated by Robin Hood and eagerly sought out as many retellings of his story as possible. Scarlet is one of the best, turning the legend on its head by reimagining one of Robin Hood’s lesser known sidekicks, Will Scarlet, as a strong, spirited girl in disguise. This book hits all the high notes—love, adventure, non-stop action, heartbreak—and a heroine with a winning sense of purpose and social justice. I loved it.
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Find Huntley on: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

A HUGE thank you to Huntley for stopping by and sharing this amazing post with us! I’ve read Pushing the Limits, Gilt and Something Like Normal and loved them all. Cinder and Scarlet look great and since Huntley and I share a similar taste in books, I’m sure I’ll enjoy them both!

Are you a fan of Huntley? Then what are you waiting for? Take the time to appreciate Huntley, by sending her a tweet or message to say thanks and spread the love.

Giveaway!
Don't forget to go enter the AAA giveaway! It's open internationally, and there are DOZENS of books to be given away!

17 comments:

  1. Oh this is fun! I always love to see what other authors are reading. I ADORED My Life Next Door and wasn't aware of What I Thought Was True, so first of all THANK YOU FOR THAT!! Seriously.

    Next, from this list, I've read Pushing the Limits, Something Like Normal, and Cinder and LOVE LOVE LOVED them all. I just bought Scarlet because I'm having a royal fit to read it too. I haven't read Gilt because I haven't read all that much historical stuff, but I've heard great things about it.

    What a great post! Thanks Huntley and Rebecca. This is so fun. :)

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    1. No worries, Asheley! I knew about What I Thought Was True but only found out this morning that it was on Goodreads - woo hoo! :D

      Really recommend Gilt. I'm a new historcal fan, thanks to Jessica Spotswood, and really enjoyed it. It was fascinating and in the end, I was dragging myself away, it was THAT good. Ooh, looking forward to your Scarlet review - enjoy! :)

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  2. Another author I need to read! My Life Next Door looks so fun. This is definitely the year I need/want to read a TON of contemporaries, when I'm normally burying my nose in a fantasy of some sort. :) I LOVE Huntley's choices. Out of all of them, I've only read Scarlet (which was good), and I've been dying to read Cinder (totally bought it the other day and I only need to get through 2 more books until I can read it. WooHoo!). Definitely want to read Pushing the Limits, and the other two sounds pretty interesting, but might not be for me. :) Thanks Huntley and Rebecca! :D

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    1. It is fun :) I suggest you make a list and start reading because otherwise you'll never get on top of your contemporary list. SO many amazing ones to read! I'm dying to read Cinder, too. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by! ♥

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  3. Ooooh GREAT post! I am yet to read Pushing the Limits (although I got it in the mail the other day, YAYYYY! *dances*) and I'm definitely looking forward to it and I'm yet to read Cinder as well! Although I'm hanging out for Cinder because of all the supposed Sailor Moon references *grins*

    I haven't read Huntley's novel yet, but I am extremely keen to :D

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    1. Thanks, Penny! PTL is amazing, hope you enjoy it when you get round to it. Sailor Moon references? Cinder? REALLY? That seriously excites me.

      MLND is fabulous and Huntley is even more amazing :D

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  4. OH.
    MY.
    GOODNESS.

    What an epic list! I keep hearing Scarlet is AMAZING--MUST get my hands on it. And you KNOW I adored Cinder and PTL :D

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    1. I do know ;) Agreed, epic list, Huntley has great book taste so that make's me all the more excited to check out Scarlet and Cinder :D

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  5. OMG - I love Daughter of Time! eeeeeeee! I still need to read GILT (it's in my TBR for Sept) but I loved the other four as well.

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    1. OK, I must get my hands on Daughter of Time if both you and Huntley are raving! Gilt is amazing, in the end I was having to drag myself away from it. It was THAT addictive.

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  6. All great choices, Huntley!! And more amazing debuts came out today, too! And I understand that Stormdancer is already available in Australia - luckies!!

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    1. The 28th of August was certainly a very special day, so many amazing books and debuts released! Yes, Stormdancer is out in Australia! I haven't seen it in stores myself but that's only because I'm trying to avoid buying more books, but several of my Aussie blogger friends have been tweeting pictures that it's hit the shelves - sqee! Don't worry, not that long to wait til it releases in the US! ♥

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  7. I'm honored by the add, Huntley! Hi Rebecca! *waves* I'm actually reading My Life Next Door now and I'm loving it!

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    1. *waves back*

      Oh my gosh, Katie McGarry commented on my blog! *freaks out*

      My Life Next Door is amazing, glad to hear your enjoying it!

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  8. Cinder is great. I still need to (and really want to) read Pushing the Limits & My Life Next Door. And I love, love, love Scarlet.

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    1. Pushing the Limits and My Life Next Door are amazing, hope you enjoy both! Really must get round to Cinder and Scarlet, both look great :)

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