I’m a big Corey Ann Haydu fan. I know I’ve written here about my love for OCD Love Story and Life By Committee. I started reading her because I wanted to read books from alumni of my MFA program, but soon she became a must-read author for me. I’ve also met Corey a few times, and she’s always been delightful. All of these factors, plus the drop-dead beautiful cover, made me extra excited to open this book on my flight to LA earlier this week. It wasn’t a surprise that I quickly lost myself in the nuanced characters, smooth writing style, and world building. The book is set in an America where recent history has followed a different path. After terrorist attacks, people are obsessed with superstition and commemorating victims. The book jacket can explain the story setup better than me: Everyone who really knows Brooklyn knows Devonairre Street girls are different. They’re the ones you shouldn’t fall in love with. The ones with the curse. The ones who can get you killed. Lorna Ryder is a Devonairre Street girl, and for years, paying lip service to the curse has been the small price of living in a neighborhood full of memories of her father, one of the thousands killed five years earlier in the 2001 Times Square Bombing. Then her best friend’s boyfriend is killed, and suddenly a city paralyzed by dread of another terrorist attack is obsessed with Devonairre Street and the price of falling in love. Continue reading “The Careful Undressing of Love, by Corey Ann Haydu”
Month: February 2017
Ten Books I Loved More than I Thought I Would
I always *hope* that I love a book when I start reading. But sometimes, whether its an ARC sent to me, a rec from a friend that I can’t turn down, or something assigned for class, I’m a little skeptical of how much I will enjoy a story. Also sometimes books seem like they are going to seem way too sad for me. These ten books are books I thought I’d like but ended up loving. Hopefully there will be many more books to add to this list in the years to come! Continue reading “Ten Books I Loved More than I Thought I Would”
One (little) Complaint
Writing is hard. Some people get that. Other people don’t… and then proceed to tell you about the children’s book they are going to write someday. But that’s not what my complaint today is about. Writing is hard, but publishing is hard too. I’m not sure if I should even bring this up, but lately I feel like a lot of people in the non-book world are wondering what’s taking me so long to get a book published. Continue reading “One (little) Complaint”
Top Ten Friends First Romances
Happy Valentine’s Day! In case you haven’t notices, I LOVE romances. I love reading them. I love writing them. There are very few “tropes” within romance that I don’t like, but one of my absolute favorites is when friends fall in love. Maybe this is a little spoilery, but here are ten books about romances between friends that I adore. Whether you like romance or hate it, whether you are currently in love or single, I hope you have a lovely day. Hit me with your favorite literary romances, friends first or otherwise! Continue reading “Top Ten Friends First Romances”
History Is All You Left Me, by Adam Silvera
I wasn’t sure if right now was the right time to read Adam Silvera’s new book History Is All You Left Me. I’ve been steering clear of super sad books recently. Between, Silvera’s last book More Happy Than Not (not a cheerful-feel good story) and the description of the book, I knew this book would be beyond super sad. See for yourself: When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course.To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin’s downward spiral continues. He’s losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, and the secrets he’s been keeping are tearing him apart. If Griffin is ever to rebuild his future, he must first confront his history, every last heartbreaking piece in the puzzle of his life. Continue reading “History Is All You Left Me, by Adam Silvera”
Have Your Reading Habits Changed Since the Election?
This weekend, I was reading Publisher’s Weekly and saw a piece about what books have become drastically more popular this year. While sales of Trump’s book The Art of the Deal have dramatically risen (325% increase), most of the other books had to do with with feminism, race, warnings of fascism, and the constitution. It Can’t Happen Here, by Sinclair Lewis, has increased sales by twelve thousand percent. Sales of March, the graphic novel John Lewis co-created, increased by over four hundred percent. Sales of The Constitution, Brave New World, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit 451 have all risen dramatically. This is heartening! Continue reading “Have Your Reading Habits Changed Since the Election?”
Ten YA Books that don’t *need* more smooching
Happy Tuesday, friends. I struggled with this week’s topic. Because I’m generally a fan of anything and everything romantic, I thought I’d write about books that could have used more smooching. I know a lot of people wish YA didn’t have as much romance (if you are such a person here is a list for you), but I’m the opposite. If I feel a little meh about a book, usually I think there could have been more romance or more specifically more smooching. But it felt really mean to call out those books, so instead here are ten deeply romantic YA books that don’t *need* more smooching – however I wouldn’t complain if they did have more because I’m so in love with the characters! Long live romance! And have great weeks everyone! Continue reading “Ten YA Books that don’t *need* more smooching”
Hamilton!
Happy Friday friends! It’s been a hard week for America, but a pretty good week for Alison. My mom came to visit for two nights. The most exciting thing we did should already be obvious. I bought our tickets in a totally random, lucky moment right around graduation last year. It was the most lovely to get to share the show with my mom after waiting for so long. When Hamilton and Lafeyette say, “Immigrants, we get the job done,” the audience screamed, hollered, and clapped. I basically cried the whole way through, especially when George Washington stepped down. Still processing the election. Still on my own mind loop about revisions and new stories and publishing. But what a big, fun thing to get to do! So grateful!
Alison Doherty 