Review: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe, Annie, Breathe

by Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 15th 2014
Purchase: The Book Depository | B&N | Amazon 

Blurb:

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

"Breathe, Annie, Breathe is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautiful story about finding yourself after loss and learning to love. It gave me so many feels. Her best book yet." — Jennifer Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You 

This is only my second Miranda Kenneally book after reading Catching Jordan a few years ago and I'm berating myself for taking too long to follow it up. I adored her debut and promised to keep track of her new releases, but school happened and I'm a forgetful person. But better late than never, right? Going into Breathe, Annie, Breathe, I have a slight idea of what I can expect from it but I'm also hoping to be taken by surprise. In the end, this book delivered everything I loved in this genre and will go down as my favorite Miranda Kenneally book by far.

And what a poignant yet uplifting contemporary this was! It was the type of story I needed: something to fully lose myself in and that in the end, will make me feel light and happy. While Breathe, Annie, Breathe satisfied those expectations, it is also not quite what I expected because there's more to this book than fluff and feel-good; it's can also be a little dark, very emotional and beautiful.

I absolutely loved how driven and determined Annie is. I first admired her character for stepping out of her comfort zone by committing to join the Music City Marathon. The book opened with her at the early stages of marathon training. It's not a secret that she's doing it on behalf of her deceased boyfriend, Kyle, who had always dreamed of running a marathon. What people around her doesn't know is that it is also to distract herself from thinking about him. To be honest, I was more conflicted and impatient at first with the mystery that surrounds Kyle's death but I soon realized that it's one of the things that made this book stand out. Kyle became a fleshed-out character through Annie's memory and we see a glimpse of their relationship throughout the book. It was so easy to feel for Annie's hurt and love for him. I can only imagine the heartbreak she was going through while harboring guilt over his death, and my respect for her grows with every step she took to honor him. The story progressed with Annie running the distances required to train for a marathon and I was hit with another dose of hard reality as I witnessed how grueling and physically taxing training could be.

And the romance? One of the most convincing I've read in quite a while! I love Jeremy and his growth arc with Annie. He has easily won me over with his charm and distinct personality. He's a complex and imperfect character; into extreme sports and an adrenaline junkie. That said, I understand where he's coming from and the reason why he's always chasing the next thrill.

"If you don't put yourself out there, if you don't take risks, you can't truly feel. 
And I'm ready to feel again"

I enjoyed the sweet, slow-burn romance between him and Annie that only deepened with time. It ultimately became a part of Annie's emotional healing and acceptance, and of her letting another person in. I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. How can I when I was so completely immersed from the first page? I adored the characters, the fast-paced writing, and the story that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.


P.S. I think it's time to binge on Miranda Kennelly's other books in Hundred Oaks series!

  

  

About the Author

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Follow her on these sites
  

Guest Post: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid + Giveaway

One of the YA Contemporary release this 2014 is Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid. Since I saw this book in Goodreads and read its synopsis, it became my "one of the most awaited-and to read book" for 2014. Five strangers on a road trip? YEAH *more of because of the road trip ;)*! Below is Adi's choice of Top 5 Things to Pack and Travel-Themed Reads/Books to Read on the Road and don't forget to join the giveaway!

           5. Books 

4. Notebook/pen

3. My “I wish I could fly” penguin t-shirt for airplane days.

2. If it’s a road trip, snacks.

1.  Not much else. I prefer to keep it light.

      With Friends like These by Danny Wallace- A very funny man—the author of Yes Man—decides to revisit long lost friends across the globe. A touching and entertaining read about the things worth traveling for.

     Timbuktu by Paul Auster- A canine protagonist will teach you more about loneliness and how to be okay with it than any other book I’ve read. A great companion to the inevitable lonesome lulls while traveling. Plus it’s nice and light, so easy to carry with you.

    101 Summertime Knock-Knock Jokes- Just kidding.

    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams- To vicariously go where no man has before, and to find the answer to the universe.

     Best American Travel Series­- I usually go for the Best Shorts collections, but I picked up one of the travel collections once and it immediately made me want to hit the road. The pieces range from touching to insightful to just plain entertaining. With contributors like Anthony Bourdain and Gary Shteyngart, there’s something in it to please everyone, and plenty of ideas for not just where to go next, but how.

       Tales from Nowhere edited by Don George- Another collection of short pieces, all sent from different nowheres. From the back copy: “Nowhere is a setting, a situation and a state of mind. It's not on any map, but you know it when you're there.” A great non-fiction companion to Let’s Get Lost.    

_________________________________________________________________________

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Tenn

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Early Praise:

“Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels.” – School Library Journal

“Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss.  ” – Justine Magazine

“Moving and poignant.”  - Glitter Magazine

“An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut.” – Kirkus

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." ―YABooksCentral.com

“This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.” –Booklist

Pre-Order Today!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indie Bound * Harlequin.com

Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer.

 He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.  

Let's Get Lost Website!

Author Links:

   

1 signed hard cover copy of Let’s Get Lost

1 Let’s Get Lost luggage tag

1 Harlequin TEEN notebook

1 Let’s Get Lost sachel

1 Harlequin TEEN tote bag

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Interview: This Summer by Katlyn Duncan + Giveaway

Today I've had a chance to interview Ms. Duncan for her recent YA Contemporary book This Summer. Scroll down to read the interview and join the giveaway below. Have fun!

How did you come up with the concept in "This Summer"?

This Summer stemmed from reminiscing about my summers working for the local Parks Department.

Can you tell us about your protagonist, Hadley and Will?

Hadley and Will were next-door neighbors until he skipped town two years prior to the start of the book.  They had barely bridged the gap between their friendship toward something more when he left. When Will returns, it’s a challenge for them both to be around each other with their past on their shoulders.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like writing in the shower or standing in the head)?

I do think I get my best ideas when walking, and when I come up to a block I like to take my dog out, but I always have my phone ready to jot down any plot ideas!

What makes This Summer different from other books in the New Adult Contemporary genre?

The story is different than any other NA title I’ve read. It still holds onto the age group and problems that “new adults” face but it comes from the younger range where Hadley’s adult life is just beginning and the challenges that she will face are on the horizon.

Is there a message in your novel that you want your readers to grasp?

Not a message specifically, but I would love my readers to grasp onto the memory of their final childhood summer and all the possibilities within.

Have you ever had a writer's block?

Oh yes. And it can be quite unforgiving!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?


I hope you enjoy reading This Summer as much as I enjoyed writing it!

_________________________________________________________________________

This Summer by Katlyn Duncan

Release date: July 9, 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

ISBN: 9781472096449

Before college, before responsibilities, Hadley Beauman and best friend Lily are determined to have a summer to remember. There will be all the usual dramas - ex-boyfriends who don't seem to know what 'ex' means, pesky younger brothers with unrequited crushes, but what Hadley didn't anticipate was the out-of-the-blue return of the seriously hot boy-next-door, Will Carson. The boy who broke her heart when he skipped town two years ago.

Will may have shot up a foot and filled out (oh yes), but inside he carries the weight of guilt - for leaving, for coming back... Now he's just passing through to tie up loose ends but it's clear the old chemistry still crackles between him and Hadley. Trouble is, it's built on two years of lies...

This summer might just be the best time of their lives, but is Hadley ready for everything to change - again?

Find it at…

Purchase This Summer:

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | BARNES & NOBLE | BARNES & NOBLE UK | iTUNES | iTUNES UK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY | MILLS & BOON | GOODREADS

Coming soon… iBooks, Nook UK, Kobo, Google Play, & Sony Store.

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.

Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.

Follow her on these sites

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TUMBLR | YOUTUBE |GOODREADS

The author is offering up for giveaway a $50 Amazon US or UK gift card.

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Week One

July 14^th – Fire and Ice – Guest Post

July 14^th – Spiced Latte Reads – Review

July 15^th – Ramblings From This Chick – Review

July 15^th – The Cover Contessa – Interview

July 16^th – Book Briefs – Review

July 16^th – Swoony Boys Podcast – Interview

July 17^th – Falling for YA – Guest Post

July 17^th – Ginger-Read Reviews – Review

July 18^th – A Book and a Latte – Interview

July 18^th – Mary Had a Little Book Blog – Review

Week Two

July 21^st – Seeing Night Reviews – Review

July 21^st – Ticket to Anywhere – Guest Post

July 21^st – A Bottomless Book Bag - Review

July 22^nd – Library of a Book Witch – Review

July 22^nd – Simplistic Reviews – Guest Post

July 23^rd – Teen Readers’ Diary – Interview

July 23^rd – Rampant Readers – Review

July 24^th – Once Upon a Twilight – Review

July 24^th – Fiction Dreams - Interview

July 25^th – Burning Impossibly Bright – Guest Post

July 25^th – Fiktshun – Guest Post + Review

Waiting on Wednesday: Vanishing Girls and Zodiac

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click on the title for the Goodreads page):

Vanishing Girls

by Lauren Oliver

Release date: March 3rd, 2015

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pre-Order: The Book Depository | B&N | Amazon

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident. 

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late. 

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

I've been a fan of Lauren Oliver ever since I read Delirium and Pandemonium, although I'm too much of a chicken to finish the series. That being said, she has a gorgeous writing and I can't wait to experience it again with Vanishing Girls.

Zodiac
by Romina Russell

Release date: December 9th, 2014

Publisher: Razorbill

Pre-Order: The Book Depository | B&N | Amazon 

At the dawn of time, there were 13 Houses in the Zodiac Galaxy. Now only 12 remain….

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories.

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancrian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts.

Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians.

But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?

Embark on a dazzling journey with ZODIAC, the first novel in an epic sci-fi-meets-high-fantasy series set in a galaxy inspired by the astrological signs.

I only learned about this last week while I was checking out other people's WoW picks. I was easily drawn by the cover and the blurb because I've never read a book with Zodiac signs as its concept. And then I read the "epic sci-fi-meets-high-fantasy" and I'm sold.

What are you waiting on this week? Leave a comment with your WoW link and I'll make sure to stop by your blog!