Author Interview with Huntley Fitzpatrick (plus a giveaway!)

Here on the blog today we have Huntley Fitzpatrick! Not only is she a fantastic up and coming debut author but over the last couple of months I’ve gotten to know her and she is just lovely! Read on to learn more about My Life Next Door, Huntley’s favourite authors and fictional crushes and much, much more! And without further ado, the interview!

What was your reaction when you heard My Life Next Door was going to be published?

I was speechless. I was still pinching myself about actually having an agent, and when she called to say there was an offer I actually thought I’d misheard her and asked her to repeat it.

What inspired you to write My Life Next Door?
A series of things that suddenly clicked in my mind. My lifelong fondness for and fascination with big families, one of my older daughters reading Romeo and Juliet, reading A Secret Garden to my younger children (I always had a soft spot for Dickon, the charming guy with his love for animals).

Where and when can you be found writing?
I write any chance I get. I do a lot of it late at night. I actually carry my laptop from room to room. Another book I loved growing up was I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith. The heroine of that writes a journal and always says she finds inspiration from working in different places. If I remember correctly she even writes sitting in the kitchen sink at one point. I have not gone that far, but moving about seems to work for me.

How do you decide what to name your characters?
One of my daughters named the heroine—I described her and she thought for a little while and came up with ‘Samantha Reed’. Jase just sort of hit me the right way. For some reason it’s usually easier for me to get the hero’s name than the heroine’s.

Apart from reading and writing what occupies your time?

Family and spending time outdoors as much as possible. And trying to come up with new ways to spend as little time as possible doing laundry.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it that strikes you about their work?

I might have too many favourite authors to name. I adore John Green, Stephanie Perkins, Deb Caletti, Jennifer Echols, E. Lockhart, Kristan Higgins, okay, stop me!

Favourite fictional crush?

Again—so many. Etienne St. Clair, Augustus Waters. I still carry a torch for Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind, which I remember reading late into the night by flashlight when I was eleven, under the impression that it was an extremely racy book I should not be caught reading.

A perfect day would consist of…
Getting up early, writing a few scenes I knew were good, then going to the beach with my family. Ice cream should also be involved.

If you were given a chance to travel back in time – to any destination in the world at any time– where and when would you go?
I have this weird compulsion to want to solve historical mysteries, so I think I’d want to investigate questions like “Did Emily Bronte really burn her second book?” and “What happened to the Princes in the Tower”. I’m not sure if that makes me curious or just nerdy!

Giveaway Time!
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Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
June 14th, 2012 ∙ Dial Books For Young Readers
Source: Author (Thank you!)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 395

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

Review:

Originally I was expecting a light, summer romance but what I got was so much more. Deep, meaningful and completely original, My Life Next Door played on my mind long after I turned the final page.

It took me a while to warm up to, but once I got through those first few introductory chapters, I grew more and more addicted and that was it, I was in love.

The Garrets – hands down the best fictional family ever created. Words can’t even begin to describe how much I love each and every one of them. It was a pleasure getting to know them as individuals and as a family. Warm, inviting, chaotic, welcoming and unique, it’s a guarantee that with the Garrets around there’s never a dull moment in sight.

Samantha is well grounded, smart, caring and a character I found easily to relate to. Jase is lovely, sweet and could be described as the nicest guy on the planet. They make an adorable couple and whilst Samantha and Jace are great as individuals, when teamed together they are unstoppable.

The romance is so delicately done, its perfection.  The thing I love is that it’s not insta-love or rushed it’s taken slow, making for a sweet and addictive romance that will leave readers breathless and wanting more. Swoon. How good you say? It had me retracing my steps just so I could re-read certain scenes!

I had heard that there was a major plot twist involved and as I made my way through the book I became anxious to know what was going to happen. I didn’t know what to expect but when the “thing” finally happened I honestly didn’t see it coming, at all.

I stayed up late, to be precise 2 o’clock in the morning, to finish this book. But before I go on let’s get something straight. I love to read, I truly do but staying up til that extent is unlike me. No matter how good the book is I normally manage to put it down and save the rest for the following morning, however once the plot twist kicked in, I just couldn’t put it down, I had to see how it was all going to end. I truly have no idea how I managed to fall asleep because after I had finished my mind was working overtime. When I finally managed to drift off, as soon as I woke up in the morning, the first thing that was playing on my mind was this book – the ending, the characters, everything!

Whilst reading My Life Next Door I found myself sighing heavily at the amazingness that is this book. Pausing for a minute, taking a breather and letting it all sink in. You know those beautiful books you want to share with the world? This is one of them.

Huntley Fitzpatrick has written a splendid debut, full of charm, wit and originality. If you’re looking for a beautiful contemporary story with a sweet, charming romance and believable characters, look no further because My Life Next Door has it all!

5/5

Peek into My Mailbox #2

Inspired by The Story Siren's IMM, Peek into My Mailbox allows me to share all the marvellous, bookish goodies I receive in the mail!

Changeling (The Order of Darkness #1) by Philippa Gregory – Historical Fiction – eee! I haven’t heard much about this one, let’s just hope it delivers! J

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson – Read, loved, tears shed. Amazing!

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson – I have wanted this book for ages, so I’m over the moon I now have myself a copy! I received this through #RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) and it’s the first one I’ve received so big thanks to Claire for gifting me!

Dead Time (The Murder Notebooks #1) by Anne Cassidy

 

(A huge thanks to Simon and Schuster, Claire @ Claire Reads and Bloomsbury!!)

Not the usual, massive mailbox this week but I’m excited with what I received! Hope you had a lovely week book wise and otherwise! Til’ next week, happy reading!

Waiting On Wednesday #4

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight an upcoming book release your eagerly anticipating!

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill - Releases: November 13th, 2012

Why? This sounds like such FUN, completely cute and a short yet sweet, engaging read! Look out November!

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone - Releases: October 9th, 2012

Why? This looks SO good! Time travel, adventure, romance – what more could you want!?

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.

  

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Peek into My Mailbox #1

I was unsure (and still am) about what I should do about the whole IMM situation, and have decided to just do my own thing showcasing the books I receive in the mail. So without further ado, here it is!

Inspired by The Story Siren's IMM, Peek into My Mailbox allows me to share all the marvellous, bookish goodies I receive in the mail!

The Industry by Rose Foster – For Review

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder – Haven’t yet read anything by this author but my epic friend, Sarah RAVES about her.

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle - For Review. This looks SO good but I’ve heard it’s heartbreaking, so I better prepare. Will be reading this soon!

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Night Beach by Kirsty Eager – Won

Divergent by Veronica Roth – Won ARC. Will be reading Divergent very, very soon. Promise.

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers – EEEE! I promised myself that if I saw any of the books from BooksI’m Wishing For: April Edition, featured in store I wouldn’t be leaving until I’d bought them. So I was completely surprised when I spotted Grave Mercy in Dymocks and of course I couldn’t go back on my word, could I now. HEHE

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles – I LOVE the Perfect Chemistry series so I’m real interested to see how I like this series.

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta – I adore this book! Adore, adore, adore! I read this last year and finally took the plunge and bought my own copy! Yay.

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer  - Story: I was in Kmart looking at cards and then all of a sudden I looked up, turned my head and I was in book land! I immediately stopped what I was doing and went on a book browse and that’s when I saw Storm! I technically have a US edition already but I saw the Aussie edition in the shop and…well…one thing lead to another and I bought it.

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink  - This book looks amazing and I’ve only heard fab things! Thanks Michelle for the beautiful, signed copy! I can’t wait to read it!

Sweet Evil Swag - Won

(A huge thanks to Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins Australia, The Tales Compendium, Cuddlebuggery, Michelle Zink and Wendy Higgins!!)

Phew! *swipes brow* Now that that’s over… What books invaded your mailbox this week? Any lovely surprises?

Waiting On Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight an upcoming book release your eagerly anticipating!

Losing Lila (Lila #2) by Sarah Alderson
Releases: September 18th, 2012

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

And it finally has a cover! After reading Hunting Lila, falling madly in love with Alex (swoon) and kickass Lila I’ve been eagerly anticipating the sequel ever since I finished HL and I’m so glad that in roughly four months Lila #2 will be hitting the shelves. Eeek! Who else is excited!? Silly question I know! :D

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian
Releases: August 2nd, 2012

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

Oh my golly wogs! I am so, so, so excited for this book. Actually, excited doesn’t even cover it. Ecstatic is a much better word. It’s Jenny Han everyone! Author of the Summer series which I simply love! Conrad, Belly, ect, ect! If you’ve yet to read the series, what are you waiting for? Skedaddle. Anyways, where were we? Oh yes! I haven’t yet read anything by Siobhan Vivian but if Jenny Han is writing a story with her she must be brilliant, so hopefully I’ll get my hands on some of her books soon!

Review: Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1) by Aimee Agresti

March 6th, 2012 ∙ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Source: Publisher (plus special thanks to Sara for sending me the copy!)

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 514

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

Review:

I struggled in the beginning and though it took me quite a while to fully submerge into the story of Illuminate, in the end I can happily say it redeemed itself.

Aimee Agresti has a beautiful prose. I simply loved the way she described the setting in such a stunningly manner, engulfing your senses.

The characters are an interesting bunch that’s for sure. The protagonist, Haven – smart, brave and a little geeky (but in a good way) – is a character I imagine readers will be able to relate to. Very much in the sense that like your average teen, Haven, is unsure, insecure and still figuring out she is. It was a pleasure watching her mature and grow as a person since first making her acquaintance and her arriving at Lexington Hotel.

As for the other characters, Lance is such a sweetheart and a fantastic friend. I really loved his character and can’t wait to read more about him in following books to come. For most of the book, I didn’t like Lucian but my opinion of him soon changed once a few things were revealed. Though Aurelia is a bad character, I liked her in the sense that she reminded me of a Disney villain - positively wicked! *insert evil laugh* Ferocious, over the top, Dante, certainly added to the mix and last but not least Joan, who is completely sweet and like a true, overprotective mother.

Though I found it hard to connect with the story at the start, I persevered and kept on and eventually came to a point in the story where instead of struggling to continue on, my interest piqued and all of a sudden I needed to know what was going to happen and how it was all going to end!

I know the length – 500 pages – might be a little intimidating, but if your willing to give it a fair go and invest a bit of your time into a good book full of mystery and intrigue, take a chance on Illuminate!

P.S – Think the cover is pretty online? Just imagine it in person!

3.5/5

STORM BLOG TOUR: Winners Announced

The Storm Blog Tour is officially over, but don’t fret! Storm is now out in the stores and screaming to be read. If you’ve already read it, loved it and now pining away for Spark, just remember the release date is not that far away (Okay it is, but at least it’s being published this year! Think positive!) and will be releasing on the 28th of August, so mark your calenders!

Read on to see if your one of the lucky winners who have won themselves one of the 14 awesome prize packs which were up for grabs during the tour! Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor! :)

International Prize Packs:

Elemental (ebook) + Storm + Spark preorder
Winner: Sarah Jane

Elemental (ebook) + Storm + Spark ARC
Winner: Cassie Frye

Copy of Storm + Spark Pre-order
Winner: Joanne S.

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Prize Packs:

Storm ARC + Spark preorder
Winner: Gabriella

Each receive a copy of Storm:

(Thanks to Allen and Unwin!)

Emma

Teresa L.

Alice S

Alexandra

Michelle A

Mary Preston

Kate

Mary Perez

Taneika

Keely

Huge congratulations to all the winners! I hope you enjoy Storm as much as I did! And for those who didn't win, I recommend you go buy yourself a copy stat! You won’t be disappointed!

Books I'm Wishing For: May Edition!

With so many wonderful books coming out in 2012, I thought why not highlight all the books that I’m excited for each month!

Here are the books I’m wishing for this month:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins – This book looks amazing and I’ve been pining away for it ever since I first heard of it. I love angel books and I’ve read some great reviews about it, so I‘m very excited for my copy to arrive!

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks – I haven’t yet read a good mermaid book, but I’ve heard it isn’t really classified as one? Either way the premise definitely sounds intriguing and fun.

Second Chance Summer by Matson Morgan – YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS BOOK! Seriously. After loving Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour (which by the way is EPIC) as soon as I heard the author had a new book coming out I flipped. Completely.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby – Contemporary, road trip (yay), cute cover and a blurb which sounds extremely promising – what more could you want!

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle – A re-telling of Romeo & Juliet  set in the modern world, it looks like a cute, fun story to get lost in.

May releases I’ve read and completely recommend:

Revived by Cat Patrick – This book is simply amazing. If your in the mood for a light paranormal with a gorgeous contemporary feel to it look no further! P.S – Cat Patrick is genius. Want more gushing? Click herefor my review.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore – A beautifully, weaved historical story set in the Tudor era, I highly recommend it to those looking for a decadent read, that will have you hooked the further on you read. For my review click here!

What are you wishing for in May?