Chocolates, First Loves and Book Crushes: Melissa Gorzelanczyk (Interview + Giveaway)

Chocolates, First Loves and Book Crushes is a blog event featuring debut authors answering questions that I have sent them as they talk  about their Valentine's day routines, love, book crushes and more. For a list of all the participating authors, check it out here.

Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a former magazine editor and columnist who believes love is everything. She is a proud member of the SCBWI, The Sweet Sixteens and the Class of 2k16. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and family.

Find Melissa: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Chocolates, First Loves and Book Crushes: Laurie Elizabeth Flynn (Interview + Giveaway)

Chocolates, First Loves and Book Crushes is a blog event featuring debut authors answering questions that I have sent them as they talk  about their Valentine's day routines, love, book crushes and more. For a list of all the participating authors, check it out here.

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn writes contemporary fiction for young adults. Her debut, FIRSTS, will be published by Thomas Dunne Books/St Martin’s Press in 2016.

Laurie went to school for Journalism, where the most important thing she learned was that she would rather write made-up stories than report the news. She also worked as a model, a job that took her overseas to Tokyo, Athens, and Paris.

Laurie now lives in London, Ontario with her husband Steve, who is very understanding when she would rather spend time with the people in her head. Laurie can mostly be found writing happily at her desk, with the world’s most spoiled Chihuahua on her lap. Laurie drinks way too much coffee, snorts when she laughs, and times herself when she does crossword puzzles.

Laurie is represented by the amazing Kathleen Rushall of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Find Laurie: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Stacking The Shelves #7: OH LOVE

Stacking The Shelves is a feature hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where bloggers share what books (both physical and digital) they received, won, bought, and borrowed.

On this week's Stacking The Shelves, I received some fantastic digital ARCs from amazing publishers. Both books are surrounded with the theme of love and also with their titles. Unfortunately, I haven't exactly purchased new books, so. Anyway, here they are.

FOR REVIEW

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick

Love Hurts by Malorie Blackman 

with contributions from Maureen Johnson, Catherine Johnson, Philip Pullman, James Dawson, Jenny Downham, Patrick Ness, E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, Laura Dockrill, Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak, Susie Day, David Levithan and Lauren Kate 

Special thanks to HarperCollins Publishers on Edelweiss for allowing me to read a novel of one of my favorite authors of all time and to Random House Children's Books UK on Netgalley for surprising me with this copy of Love Hurts!

Tell me what you have on your stacks this week! Leave comments below!

Love At Bookstores?

Serendipity. Fate. It's all too mainstream. In young adult books, it caters to these factors in love and we can't help but think that one day we'd actually find a person meant for us in the most unusual of moments or through a shared connection.

Almost a month ago, I was actually inside a bookstore and I saw the first batches of Marie Lu's The Young Elites. I had this instinct to go to it and stroke it so lovingly, cradle it in my arms and just basically run my fingers on it. Then I noticed someone next to me, a guy, who started smirking. I felt embarrassed and headed to the next shelves just to get away from the guy because well, again, embarrassed, and for one, I don't do well with guys at all so, yeah. Jayvee, scoot over to the sides please.

Anyway, I really wanted to stare at The Young Elites, so I headed back to the pile, hoping the guy was gone and he was but then I found him at the cash register and he meets my eyes, he lit up, starts waving at me with a copy of The Young Elites in his other hand and smiled at me. Again, embarrassed, I walked away, the heat rising up my ears, I felt it. After that, I left the bookstore, hoping to get something to eat. Then, I saw the guy at a local fast food chain, from a top the escalator. He then noticed me and smiled again, his friends looked at me too. I  tried to not be wary of him and of course the fact that he actually had The Young Elites already. I decided to head to a music store instead of the fast food restaurant to get away from all the embarrassment.

Then, I told my book club or lets say book group about it and they laughed and freaked out. One of my friends said that he thought the guy was gonna buy the book for me. WHOA!

So, it left me thinking. Would it be possible to actually just meet a guy at a bookstore and connect in a way that is far beyond chit-chat?  It's not like I don't know cases like these. I have seen love blossom among booknerds too but I've never actually notice it happen among people who come and go of bookstores. I wish I would. There are reasons why we have become unexpectedly taken by the idea that we'll find our soulmate inside a bookstore, mainly of course because of, you guessed it, BOOKS!

1. THE "HE LOOKS AT YOU" SEQUENCE

When you find out that a guy or a girl is actually looking at you while scanning a book or checking out what new books came out of the shelves, it definitely triggers the mind into thinking, "How do I look right now?" "Am I too weird?" It's either the guys a stalker or just plain interested in what you are doing.

2. THE "WHAT ARE YOU READING" ACT

It's actually funny to use this line on to a girl, especially towards a guy. Unless you are an upfront girl and your definitely interested in knowing what he is reading. Yet, in reality, not many people are like this, really. Again, unless he or she is basically just interested in the book, then yeah, people can be like that, but for reasons that love is involved, it could use a lot more work.

3. THE "WOW, YOU READ THAT" SEQUENCE

It's a lot more natural to approach a person when they have actually read a book that you know or currently reading. It gives more grounds to knowing each other than sounding really creepy.

4. BOOKS ARE THERE TO LOVE YOU BACK

Prince Charming or the princess of your dreams may not be present in the bookstore, but you'll always find love in the books that are around you. They will always be there to love you. I know Matilda was very loved by them! Way to get a catch! *winks*. But also, you know, find someone who you can share them with.

But honestly, as Ed Sheeran's song Thinking Out Loud says, "PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS." Maybe a guy would see you freaking out over one of Rainbow Rowell's books or  just end up sitting there in a corner, quietly reading a book then a girl finds it adorable. Finding love at a bookstore may seem like a total doozy, but it is never impossible and as for me and my experience, well, I may as well use it as a reference in the near future.

So hey! Tell me if you've had an encounter like this at your local bookstore or if you've ever found real love in the process in the comments below. 

Book Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn (2011)

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Author: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Publication: Oct. 11, 2011, Ember
Format: Paperback, 260 pages
Source: Borrowed from schoolmate! (Thanks Joemar!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | iBooks | Indie Bound | National Book Store & Fully Booked  (PH readers) |

Synopsis:

"I've left some clues for you.

If you want them, turn the page.

If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Misfit Review:

Funny, romantic and slightly delusional. That was basically the first thought I had when I was reading the book. There were instances were I just couldn't help but laugh and at times feel like they've bummed themselves out too many times. It's probably just part of the deal.

But because of it, he seemed to be the best part of Christmas so far. I wanted to keep them all for myself.

THEM: A Short Story (HER, Part 3 FINALE)

(So recently I decided to pursue this story in my head. It will be in parts... THIS IS ITS END... or it depends on what you think. But I will apologize for stalling for so looooong! I always blame school Here it is. LE FINALE...)

(Photo Credits to Sheryl of WeHeartIT)

Try as they can, they could not bring themselves to talk to each other. he would only stare, she would only worry. But the strength in their feelings grew each day as he would sit on the counter, punching numbers, constantly thinking of what to say to her and she would stand there growing curious of his features and personality.

HIM: A Short Story (HER, Part 2)

(So recently I decided to pursue this story in my head. It will be in parts until I think that the story could end or even not end but I feel like it did... I'm sorry! I'm complicated! Anyway, here it is. Please enjoy!)

Photo Credits to Advanced Scribes

The order of things should always be the same. I liked it that way. My movements would be frozen by any changes in how I've always lived. 

I am blind. For 10 years, the world has been dark and cold, shapeless and indefinite...

But the order of things around me has depleted. The daily routine I forever would've lived with, has now been invaded by eyes I felt were looking at me.

You stood by the counter, waiting for the basket of things Anthony (if you would like to know is my chauffeur), carried for me. I felt every your every gaze, somehow piercing towards my skin and the blankness of my eyes.  Did you find me disgusting? Am I an eyesore? 

HER: A Short Story (Part 1)

(So recently I decided to pursue this story in my head. It will be in parts until I think that the story could end or even not end but I feel like it did... I'm sorry! I'm complicated! Anyway, here it is. Please enjoy!)

Photo Credits to IPickMyNose of DevianArt

I've always wondered about that existence of yours, whether you were real or just a fragment in my eyes, playing with my heart. It seems that I am playing with my own, hurting the very veins by the thought of you.

I've marveled at your beauty when we first met. I could not take my eyes off of your eyes. There was distance in them but they were never dead. You never did notice, didn't you? How I looked at you? You come by the shop almost everyday, with a man by your side. I envied him. He was near you, while I was in the counter, looking at you profusely, with all the intent in my heart to love you.

Book Review: The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan (2004)

(Hopefully, there are no harsh reactions to any of my reviews. Thank you.)

I was lucky enough to receive something special that day. My uncle sent me some money which I didn't expect. I asked him for it a few weeks back, but he wasn't replying, until one day he sent me a message saying that he sent me some cash. I headed to a pawnshop after finishing up enrolling for my second semester at school. Afterwards, I headed to the bookstore and grabbed the books that actually spoke to me while I was there. One of which is the book I'm going to be reviewing now.

I agree Agnes!!! IT REALLY IS!!!

There are a couple of books that I've read where I would actually be too attached to a character or be drawn in by a scene in a page. I would be lying if I said that I never thought Jace was real or that Sherlock Holmes could actually be my dad! And with this book, The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan, I ended up noticing the same symptoms... that I've become too attached to  the characters, that each line they spewed out, either hurt or made me extremely happy. A book that actually took me to endless possibilities.

Hey Boyfriend!

Hey Dad!

The Realm of Possibility revolves on the stories of 20 teens, each with a voice, all of which are intertwined with one another or at least aware of each other's existence. The main story focuses on a gay couple-Daniel and Jed-who are in a verge of celebrating their first anniversary. But as I said, there are 20 people in the story, all of which are catered with different scenarios. There are five chapters, and each chapter consists of four people who tell their story. I noticed stories on heartbreak, moving on, self-consciousness, weakness, pain, suffering, falsity, longing, regret, discrimination and of course, everyone could not live without the LOVE bit. You could never go wrong with it.

Photo Credits to YA LOVE Blog

I fell in love with each character of the story, though some of them are way too hard to understand-why they actually go through what they are going through. But through these characters and stories, I felt a piece of myself with them, that I've actually at some way, felt the same way as they did, maybe not as much but definitely a speck of there somewhere. I believe this is one of David Levithan's amazing superpowers! He is a total genius for me! He was able to draw me in to every situation. He made me laugh, cry, angry and all of those emotions mixed into a bundle of something that you actually could not explain. I would like to call it FEELS... BOOKNERDS, back me up here!

A Letter To My Future Boyfriend (Wherever You Are)

Dear To Whom It May Concern, 

Hi! I know we haven't met each other yet, or we already have. It's just that we never talked or we did, just so happens we don't know each other a lot... I don't know. We might be closer to each other than we think we are. What I'm aware is, to myself, that I'd wait for you...

Anyway, all I want you to know is, I am not gonna be the typical girlfriend. Why you ask? Well, first of all. I'm weird. And I like being one. I tend to do things out of the ordinary, or say things out of context or basically, you might never understand me but please do.