REVIEW: LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES BY ALEXIS BASS

Love & Other Theories

by Alexis Bass

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: December 31st, 2014
Blurb:

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.

*The eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

If you want more, you have to give less a secret Aubrey and her friends bring with them every day to survive through high school. They were heartbreak-free and Aubrey is happy to enjoy those moments ‘til graduation until Nathan Diggs transfer to her school, things started to change and she started to break her number one rule: Don’t fall in love.

Before reading this review I have to say that this will not be spoiler free, there are parts from the book that I really need to point out and put in this review. So with that notice let’s start.

Things I liked: I totally adore the writing style of Alexis Bass. There are about 50 plus chapters in this book and I’m not a patient reader when it comes to this but Alexis Bass made a perfect technique of ending each chapters in a way that would make you turn the next page. The one character that I find quite redeemable is Trip. He is actually a good guy once you get to the whole story, how he was there when Aubrey needed a true friend. The tense scenes were perfectly written with just a right amount of grip. How the story ended is completely reasonable and I totally agree with how Aubrey decided to end things with Trip (only Trip).

Things I don’t liked: The first few pages actually started out great with Aubrey describing her friends and their strong relationship with each other, her first meeting with Nathan and then it stops. I understand that you’re in high school and you were not new with things but hooking up with a guy on your first meeting is not some character that I would love. Aubrey’s decisions just make me hate her more and more. She tried to keep distance with Nathan and once her friend started to hit off with him she gets jealous and showing this emotions that I believed she doesn't deserve to have. Because girl you did this to yourself.

Then her friends *sigh* Shelby, the words I could describe to this girl is endless and not in a very good way. She hooked up with Nathan who was with Aubrey, one of her “best friend”, before and why? Because it just happened *facepalm*. Do you not know girl that a guy who’s been with your friend has a back-off tape attached to his forehead? Yes a back-off tape, because you don’t get to touch them not unless you asked and your friend tell you that it’s fine with her for you to hook up with the guy and ripped off that tape. But what Shelby did? Of course that’s “THE GIRLFRIENDS RULE” she did not have on her pockets. Meanwhile Danica and Melissa can have the silver and bronze facepalm worthy award with Shelby having the gold; they just stand there with all these things happening, seriously. Then there’s Nathan, I don’t like him, that’s it. He’s just some guy that Aubrey crossed in her high school life, not entirely a memorable character. How could Aubrey forgive Nathan and Shelby in just few days is beyond me. Party is the one word that would definitely not be left out in this book, they drink and partied and drink, such high school life eh?

To sum it up this book is okay hence the two quills, I don’t totally hate the story but it’s not on my re-read list too. Alexis Bass write such story that would make you realize to think your decisions twice, that a change is not that bad and it may make you learn a few things in the way too.

   

About the Author 

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel.

Follow her on these sites
   

Blog Tour: Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass + Giveaway

Today on our blog, we have Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass, her debut novel, on tour. Check out the sample excerpt below and follow the rest of the tour for reviews and guest posts. Don't forget to join on the giveaways! Happy Holidays everyone! ;)

Love and Other Theories

by Alexis Bass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: December 31st 2014

Blurb:

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.

Also available as an AUDIOBOOK. Listen to a sample HERE.

EXCERPT 

Buy Love and Other Theories on this following retailers:

“Careful, subtle and aching. ” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Warning: Bass’s debut novel will ignite ALL your feelings!” - Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy

“I loved LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES. Alexis Bass writes a compelling critique of the ways society expects girls to behave in their relationships, the lies girls tell each other–and themselves–to keep from getting hurt, and, when all is said and done, how only the heart knows the truth.” – Kristin Halbrook, author of Nobody But Us and co-founder of YA Highway

“Alexis Bass masterfully captures all the complexities of high school relationships. A lovely debut.” – Amanda Maciel, author of Tease

“A bold debut that authentically captures the frenzy of love, lust, and senior year of high school!” - Julie Murphy, author of Side Effects May Vary

“Love and Other Theories challenged my assumptions, dared me to think differently and burrowed into my heart. A heart-achingly beautiful story about whether it is better to protect your heart or to take the biggest risk of all.” - Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds

“In her debut novel, Bass provides honest, incisive, and sometimes uncomfortable insights into the complicated intersections of friendship and romance, the ways sex can be wielded as a weapon, and the measures some teens take to protect themselves from pain.” — Publishers Weekly

“Bass’s debut is an entertaining perspective on the battlefield of the teen dating world.” —Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Follow the tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

About the Author 

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel.

Follow her on these sites

Details: Win (1) book of your choice written by Wendy Higgins OR Kristin Halbrook OR Amanda Maciel OR Julie Murphy OR Daisy Whitney (US Only)

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Win a $30 Barnes & Noble gift card (It will be an e-gift card that they’ll receive via email)

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Exclusive Q&A with Sara Raasch, Author of Snow Like Ashes

Hi everyone! Another week is about to end and Christmas is just around the corner, with that we wanted to give you one of our Q&A with one of the most anticipated debut author this 2014. I know, I know it's been months since the book has released and a lot has already read it--I envy you all people--but for those of you who want to know what Snow Like Ashes is all about and its characters, read our exclusive interview with Sara and a short This or That below too. Have fun!

How did the idea of writing Snow Like Ashes come about? Did something/someone influence you to write about witches?

(not part of my answer but: SLA isn't about witches...)

I honestly have no idea where SNOW LIKE ASHES came from. I started writing it when I was a wee preteen, and it's been so long, all the details of its origins have been lost in my eternally worsening memory. I do know that I always loved winter and hated that it got pegged as the "bad guy" whenever it was portrayed in books/shows, so that could have been part of SLA's beginning!

Could you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?

I spend about four hours every morning either drafting or editing, then I break for lunch, then I come back and either do more writing/editing (depending on how productive I was that morning, ha) or get caught up on social media goodness. I do all of my drafting on my laptop, and I mix notes between (totally illegible) handwritten and online. Excel spreadsheets are GLORIOUS.

Can you tell us about your protagonist, Meira, and her best friend the future king, Mather? 

Meira is a sixteen year old soldier, one of eight refugees who escaped her kingdom's fall. She wants more than anything to help save her kingdom, but she gets forced into certain roles by the refugees' leader, Sir -- which is good, because he knows what their kingdom needs, but it's also bad from Meira's side, because she wants to feel some connection to the home she doesn't even remember (sort of survivor's guilt). 

Mather is sixteen as well (they were both infants when Winter fell) and suffers from his own form of guilt. Every kingdom in SLA has a magic item, a conduit, that can only be used by that kingdom's given gender. For instance, Winter's conduit can only be used by the oldest living female heir. Mather is Winter's only heir and he, obviously, is not female, which means he can't do very much for Winter, aside from someday having a female heir. This restriction haunts him, but it also fuels him to do everything he can for Winter despite his limitations.

Meira and Mather's shared upbringing and similar weaknesses really unite them -- they both understand one another's pain in ways the other refugees don't. It's an interesting relationship, and one I hope readers fall in love with as much as I have! 

How did you begin writing? Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing each book?

I began writing as a child -- one of my earliest memories is of making (really awful) hand-drawn pictures books. I always knew this was what I wanted to do -- be an author -- and I am grateful every day that it happened. It sounds cliche, but dreams totally come true! You know, after years of hard work and dedication ;)

What makes Snow Like Ashes different from other books in the Fantasy genre?

I'd have to say SLA's niche is in its Season Kingdoms -- each kingdom embodies a certain season and that season affects every part of that kingdom's culture, and getting to write this part of the world was so much fun!

Because this is your debut novel, we're very curious; how did you celebrate your first book deal?

Tears. Lots and lots of ugly, sobbing tears. 

THIS or THAT

Summer or Winter? 

Winter! Obviously. 

Vampires or Zombies? 

Zombies! I actually hid little zombie finger puppets in the table decorations at my wedding. 

Chocolates or Flowers?

Ehh...neither? I'm allergic to cocoa/milk and most types of flowers. How about vegan cupcakes?

Abs or Chest? Oh god. Arms, actually -- there's something about really lean, muscular arms that's just debilitating. 

Skirts or Shorts? Shorts! I've never been able to find a skirt I like.

Hardcover or Paperback? For prettiness: hardcover. For affordability (I am poor): paperback.

The Hunger Games or Divergent? I...haven't read either. *ducks thrown objects* 

Contemporary or Paranormal? Hm. Going off the grid here again to say fantasy, because obviously.

Bad boys or Good boys? Good boys. Bad boys are overrated. 

Young adult or New adult? Young adult! Though I am liking some of the freedom New Adult gives.

 

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes#1)
by Sara Raasch

Hardcover: 422 pages
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: October 14th 2014

Blurb:

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own. 

You can purchase Snow Like Ashes at the following Retailers:

    

   

About the Author 

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, comes out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.

Follow her on these sites
   

So that's it. What do you think of the interview? Have you read the book?

We love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below *wink*

P.S: Our Signed Legend giveaway has just ended, we'll be picking the winner this Wednesday so stay tuned! :)

JOIN the Blizzard

Book Signing Recap: #MarieLuinPH + Giveaway

Last Sunday, NYT bestselling author Marie Lu came to visit here in the Philippines and had a book signing courtesy of National Book Store. Deavelle, Jello (admin of MarieLuPHIL) and I were lucky enough to attend the blogger's forum before the public signing. Before going to the venue we went first to Glorietta because Jello had to talk and meet his co-admins. It was an insane line I'm telling you, the first people who line up arrived 24 hours before the event! Talk about dedication.

After arriving at the venue for Q&A session with Marie Lu with few minutes to spare, we arranged all items that will be given by the Marie Lu PH at the public signing. 

They got bookmarks, shirts and these posters designed by Aegisdea to be given to first 100 people who lined up. It was love at first sight seeing these awesome posters, such brilliant talent Aegisdea! Some of the bloggers even tried to bribe Jello to give them one poster or bookmarks (haha) but it was spoken for so we just settled for pictures of it.

Aegisdea

Dea, Leslie of Bibliophilekid and I,
practicing for our future modelling career haha!

At 10 am Marie Lu arrived and we were ready to know more about her and her books. We were given a chance to ask her questions and got to learned so much more about this lovely author. 

So without further ado here's some of the facts about her and her books:

• Before being a full time author she was an artist in the game industry and would love to do a picture book someday.



Day by aegisdea



June by aegisdea

• Day street name was inspired by his optimistic view in life while his traits were inspired by Marie Lu’s favorite character like Han Solo and Robin Hood. June’s name is after the month of June and her traits of a Gemini which is known for being intelligent and ambitious like Sherlock Holmes

•  The plot of Legend was inspired by social climate with those of real life dystopian like Holocaust.
• Marie Lu always outline/sketch her main characters and their world before making the whole story
• She said that there isn’t anything inspired by a fan reaction through her writings.
• Champion was by far the hardest book she wrote. Marie Lu like bittersweet endings and always wanted to have that kind of ending for Champion.
• She listens to music while writing but she just listens with sounds like rain or with lyrics that she doesn’t understand.
• Her favorite place while writing would be in a train.
•  Marie Lu is a very visual person and would just write what she sees in terms of making the action scenes in her books.
•  Her agent didn’t like the first 100 pages she submits because the character was very bland but asked who Adelina was.  Marie Lu said that Adelina was the most interesting manipulative character and is very interesting to explore, her agent like it and that’s where TYE born. 
•  Marie Lu actually doesn’t know what happens after the epilogue of Champion.
• In switching point of view in her characters, she said that it wasn’t really hard with Legend since she wrote alternating first person POV since high school. But it was more complicated in TYE because the POV has to all comes down with Adelina.
• Republic or Colonies: She chooses New Antarctica to live in.
• Day is the obvious rebel but June is the greater because she has to change her entire life for it.
• She was more likely like Day at the beginning of the story but more of June at the end. Marie Lu sees bits of June that is similar to her like dealing with things and being suck at romance.

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After the Q&A it was time for signing of books!

She also graciously signed the bookmarks and posters to be given away.

can we just all take a minute and look at her nails and rings? *drools*

We also get to witness her awesome artistic skills when she draw Day, June, Adelina and Enzo on books of some bloggers.

Jello's copy with June

Celine of  Two Ends of a Bookshelf with Adelina and Enzo

The goddess of nail arts, Nicole of Twins Read
For more of her works visit her nail art blog Novel Nails Designs

And to end, a group picture! #PHYABookBloggers

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After having our lunch and getting our Mockingjay tickets--it was awesome! *cue hanging tree song*-- we then went to Glorietta 1 for the public signing. The picture doesn't give justice for all the people who went to the signing. We have to find space at the second floor to wait for Marie Lu, and while waiting we got to talk to some girls who were number 723. That's when we found out that there were 800+ people who registered! There were banners and cosplayers from Marie Lu's hardcore fans. 

After waiting for an hour, Marie Lu finally arrived and the crowd was crazzzy. We actually didn't hear much of the interview because of the scream but I totally understand them, that's what fans do *wink*

 Thank You again National Book Store for making all these awesome events happen and to Marie Lu!

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Before we end this recap, our friends over at MarieLuPHIL will be giving away a signed copy of Legend for everyone to enjoy this book. Don't forget to join and feel free to comment below.

Were you in the event? Did you have fun? We want to know! 

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PS: We'll be attending the next event. Lang Leav book signing on December 7. See you there!

For more details about the event click this link #LangLeavinPH

Marie Lu's signing recaps:

Kai of Amaterasureads

Jeselle of Lifelong Bookworm

Kai of Bookaholic Blurbs

Louisse of The Soul Sisters

Leslie of  Bibliophilekid

Chyna of Lite-rate-ture