Cover Win / Fail #1

As some of you already know, I'm a huge cover junkie. I'll be the first to admit that I judge a book by its cover and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing ... What I appreciate about beautiful covers is that someone put a lot of effort and thought into it and made it irresistable - I often have the urge to buy certain books just because the covers are a work of art, even if I don't like the story, I just want to stare at the cover, heh. On the other hand, if a cover is (in my humble opinion) poorly designed or boring or just plain unappealing, then I don't feel guilty at all about disregarding a certain book. Because honestly, I *buy* most of my books and if I'm going to spend my money on something, then at least make it worth my while - I want the whole package. Is that weird? I know it's shallow, but I don't feel too guilty about it. :)

I know some people only care about the story inside, but to me the covers are immensly important too and I always comment on them soooo I thought I'd dedicate a new feature here just to the covers. I've decided to call it Cover Win/Fail - it'll be posted sporadically (basically whenever I feel like it :p) and in it, I'll highlight two covers, one that I love and the other that I don't love. Is that wrong, to diss other people's work just like that? I do feel a bit iffy about that, but I mean no harm, no offence, it's all just MY PERSONAL OPINION and please do let me know if you disagree with my choices; other points of view are always welcome.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my two choices:

_

Cover WIN: Encore Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
This is a sequel to Very Valentine (which I won on Novelicious, yay!) and I'm head over heels in love with this cover, it's too pretty for words. Some people don't really like drawn covers, but I'm a huge fan of them so you'll be seeing a lot of them here. And what's not to love about this cover? Pretty colours, lovely font, cute drawing - we have a winner! I'm not crazy about the plot itself, but I'd frame the colour, ha! Gorgeous!

Cover FAIL: I'm So Happy for You by Lucinda Rosenfeld
This one makes me shudder! As I said, I like covers with drawings on them because that tells me that someone put a lot of effort into it, but what I do not appreciate are covers with horrible stock images and normal font on them, eurgh. I really dislike the *orange* dress - who wears dresses like that? And even if a hideous dress like this plays an important part in the story (which I hope it doesn't), I'm sure it didn't have to be reflected on the cover if the publishers wanted this book to sell. So yeah, I dislike the style and the colour of the dress and simple font - it's too boring and unappealing and I'm afraid it wouldn't interest me in reading the back cover to see what it's about.

So what do you think of this new feature, is it too controversial? :) Do you agreee/disagree?

In My Mailbox #36

Hiya and welcome to another installment of IMM, hosted by The Story Siren!

Well, this is a scheduled post (written on Thursday evening) and if everything went according to the plan, then I'm in/on/at (?) Sardinia at the moment, which sounds lovely, but sadly it also means that I won't be able to check out everyone's IMMs - yeah, I'll miss that, I'm silly like that. ;) So please excuse the lack of comments and everything, but I'll be sure to catch up as soon as I get back!

Anyway, I got three books before I left:

BOYCOTTS & BARFLIES by Victoria Michaels and THE UNIDENTIFIED REDHEAD by Alice Clayton were sent for review by the lovely people at Omnific Publishing. I love the cover for B&B and the Redhead sounds like a fun read so I can't wait to read these!

I bought BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS by Lucy Silag mostly because I adore the covers for this series. Well, the plot sounds great too, but the covers sealed the deal, hehe.

Hope you're all having a great weekend! :)

Review: FROZEN IN TIME by Ali Sparkes ****

1956 - Freddy and Polly have always known their father is a genius. So they've never minded helping him with his experiments. Even when that means being put into cryonic suspension-having their hearts frozen until their father wakes them up again. They know it will only be for an hour or two, so there's nothing to worry about ...
2009 - Ben and Rachel have resigned themselves to a long, boring summer. Then they find the hidden underground vault in the garden-and inside it two frozen figures, a boy and a girl. And as if that isn't spooky enough, when Rachel accidentally presses a button, something unbelievable happens...
Can Polly and Freddy adapt to the twenty-first century? Will their bodies survive having been in suspension for so long? And most important of all, what happened to their father - and why did he leave them frozen in time?

The first time I heard about this book was after it won the Blue Peter Book of the Year award a few weeks ago. I think the news was all over Twitter and once I read the synopsis, I was immediately hooked. I sometimes wonder how people from decades or even centuries ago would cope with living in our mad and hectic world. I haven't come across many books on this subject so I decided to give this one a go.

It's a story of two tweens, Ben and Rachel, whose parents are away (working as a circus act on a ship) so the two are spending their boring summer in Darkwood House with the brilliant uncle Jerome and they're extremely bored. Once it finally stops raining, they go out in the garden and discover an underground vault. They later learn it was a bomb shelter built in 1955 and in it they discover two sleeping children. When they wake up, they introduce themselves as Freddy and Polly Emerson and it turns out they've been in cryonic suspension, i.e. frozen in time for 53 years, since 1956! As it turns out, they are Ben and Rachel's great aunt and uncle who also lived in the same house and when they disappeared, everyone thought their genuis scientist father murdered them and fled the country as he was never found. The children are determined to find out what happened to Mr Emerson along with the help of their uncle Jerome and an old police officer Percy who worked on that case. But the children are soon left alone and they've no idea that what they're researching can be very dangerous and then Freddy and Polly start experiencing the same symptoms as the experiement rats did before they died ...

Frozen in Time is a fast-paced middle grade adventure. The premise is quite original and intriguing; there's danger and excitement and double agents and spies and mystery, but it's also quite funny in places when the two children from the 1950s try to learn about the life in the 21st century. The writing is quite simple, but I suppose it's just right for the target audience. The characters were wonderful too and I can't fault the cover either, it fits the story and I quite like the silhouettes as opposed to the actual drawings.

All in all, this is a lovely old-fashioned meets modern Famous Five mystery that younger teens will love! Speaking of Famous Five, they actually get a mention as one of the books appears in the story, plus the children resemble the characters too - two girls (one very domestic and Anne-like), two boys and even a dog try to solve a mystery on their own while the parents are away. I loooved this sort of thin when I was 10 or 12 or so and while those stories may seem old fashioned to young readers today, Frozen in Time has the same feel but is more modern while also maintining that charming old-fashion feel to it with the 1950s children who appear to have stepped right out of the Famous Five novels. Oh and don't forget to watch the book trailer here! :)

overall rating:
plot: 4/5 | writing: 3/5 | characters: 4/5 | cover: 4/5

ps: On a side note, I'll be MIA in the blogosphere in the next few days. I'm going on a short trip for the weekend (no comps) so sadly I'll be unable to check everyone's blogs and comment during that time. :( I do have a couple of posts scheduled (including an IMM) so be sure to check back for those, and I'll catch up with everyone's posts when I get back on Tuesday! :)

Waiting On Wednesday: CUM LAUDE by Cecily von Ziegesar

This meme is hosted by Breaking the Spine.
This week I'm waiting on Cecily on Ziegesar's supposedly first adult novel called Cum Laude (explanation here).
Cecily von Ziegesar is famous for being the author of the Gossip Girl series, which I haven't read, but I watched the first two seasons of the TV show and quite enjoyed it actually (in a 'guily pleasure' kind of way, hehe).
Anyway, this new series sounds seems fun too, as you can see below. I can't make up my mind about the cover, I suppose I like it. Can't wait to see the final version though!

CUM LAUDE

by Cecily von Ziegesar

[1 June 2010]

Dexter College is a small liberal arts college in the quiet town of Home, Maine. But it won’t stay quiet for long with this new group of freshmen. There’s Shipley—blond, and beautiful, the object of envy and more than a little lust. Her edgy roommate, Eliza, has an attitude and a mouth to match. There’s Tom, the artist/jock, and Nick, his pot-smoking roommate. Adam, the introvert, lives at home with his parents and not-so-little sister. And finally there’s the requisite older guy who never quite left school...

Cum Laude is a witty, intimate, and unconventional take on the coming-of-age story. College is about more than just cramming and keg parties. It’s about doing things you’d never imagine yourself doing because you’re madly in love, stuck in the middle of nowhere, and may have just taken a mind-altering substance.

With Gossip Girl, Cecily von Ziegesar created a publishing and television sensation intended for young people, but embraced with equal fervor by adults. Her novels, praised for their humor, insight, and warmth—have sold more than six million copies. Now von Ziegesar embraces her sizable eligible-to-vote audience with an adult novel that grabs the reader from word one.

ps: Don't forget to enter my DAUGHTERS OF FORTUNE contest if you haven't already!
Speaking of contests, you can win a copy SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready over @ The YA Book Queen - but hurry up, this international contest ends tomorrow, March 25th! Good luck! :)

Review: HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult ***

Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject -- in his case, forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do...and he's usually right.
But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's -- not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect -- can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family feel the spotlight shining directly on them.
For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?
Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way -- and fails those who don't.

I've read most of Jodi Picoult's books and I like to say she's one of my favourite authors so naturally I was excited to read her latest offering too. I wasn't sure if I was in the mood for it, but after seeing reviews everywhere, I just couldn't resist it. I found the first half of the book absolutely gripping and I just couldn't put it down; I just wanted to read on and on as I really wanted to know what actually happened on that day. But then the obligatory Picoult courtroom scenes came and the book really slowed down. I kept reading as I was expecting some major twist in the end, but little did I know that the only thing this novel had in store for me was The Lamest Twist in the History of Plot Twists, which was quite an unpleasant surprise since Ms Picoult is famous for her shocking plot twists. And here, there wasn't even a twist, just the final explanation which just made me roll my eyes. I just kept thinking, "Is *that* even possible? Wouldn't a medical examiner have spotted that? Why didn't they just *ask* Jacob what actually happened?" So yeah, this book sadly went from a very promising opening to a rather disappointing conclusion.

While I did enjoy reading it, especially the first half or so, I thought the book was far too long and full of fillers. Ms Picoult has a trademark writing style, which is lovely and full of metaphors and I would recognize it immediately, even if I didn't know something was written by her. I can't fault it and Picoult definitely knows how to write, but now I feel that she always uses the same techniques, plus to me it feels like all her characters have a similar narrative voice so I find it difficult to tell them apart without being told who's narrating the story (there are always multiple narrators), which obviously affects the characterization as well. I wasn't particularly annoyed by any of the characters in this book, but sadly I didn't really connect to them either. They were basically just the standard Picoult characters: the child with an issue, the mother who will do anything for that child, the resentful sibling, the distant significant other, the lawyer, the detective, the prosecutor, the judge and yadda yadda, so basically nothing new really.

Picoult tackles a topical issue in each of her novels and this time she picked Asperger's Syndrome, "a highly-functional form of autism". At first I found the subject fascinating and it was interesting to see the world through the eyes of an Aspie, but after hearing the definition of Asperger's Syndrome and all the symptoms for like the twentieth time, I did feel slightly beaten over the head with the subject of autism and I think I could probably recite the definition in my sleep, which is slightly annoying.

As for the covers, I posted both the UK and US ones above. I can't say I'm a fan of either (too much green *shudder*), but in this case the UK one is definitely the winner - well, at least it's relevant to the story (the rainbow quilt plays an importan part), whereas the US one feels completely random. I've no idea what a small child is doing on the cover since Jacob, the main character, is supposed to be 18?

One last thing, and this is slightly off-topic, but I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Ms Picoult's use of sexist language. I've noticed it in several of her works actually and I'm quite surprised that she still uses the male pronoun to specify the indefinite pronoun, which is a pet peeve of mine; e.g. (p. 466 of my ARC):

"So someone with Asperger's might be smart?"
"Someone with Asperger's might even have a genius level IQ. However, when it comes to small talk, he'll be completely inept. He has to be taught social interactions [...]"
&
"A person with Asperger's desperately wants to fit in but simply can't understand social behaviour [...] He won't be able to read gestures or facial expressions [...] He won't be able to intrepret a non-verbal clue [...]"

Sadly, these are not lone examples; they appear all over the place and it really ticks me off so I'd like to take a moment and invite everyone to read this excellent article on Why Sexist Language Matters. Thank you and I hope I'm not the only one who feels so strongly about this issue? :)

All in all, I admit I was slightly disappointed with the latest Picoult offering, which is quite the opposite of how I felt about her previous novel, Handle with Care, which I gobbled up in one day. I'm afraid that despite a very promising and gripping opening I can't rate this one among my personal Picoult favourites (The Pact, Mercy, My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes etc.), but I expect her 2011 novel, Sing You Home, will turn out far better - I can't wait for it!

If you're not familiar with the Picoult phenomenom yet, then I wouldn't really suggest you start with this novel as I personally don't think it shows the best of what Picoult can do. But don't be discouraged by my review - despite all the compaints I had, I enjoyed reading this novel so definitely give it a try if you're a Picoult fan, it might tickle your fancy more than mine, who knows. :) Watch the official trailer below to learn more about the book!

overall rating:
plot: 3/5 | writing: 3/5 | characters: 3/5 | cover: 3/5

In My Mailbox #35

Hello there and welcome to another installment of In My Mailbox, which is hosted by The Story Siren. I received some lovely books this week and here they are in all their glory:

I randomly came across THE QUEEN MUST DIE by K. A. S. Quinn and both the cover and the plot really intrigued me so I just ordered it. It seems like a great historical YA book and I don't think I've seen any reviews of this, but it seems exciting!

I've been eyeing WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell for ages and one day I just decided to buy it. I've heard great things about it so I can't wait to read it!

I haven't even heard of FROZEN IN TIME by Ali Sparkes until it won the Blue Peter award a few weeks ago. I ordered it as soon as I read the synopsis after it received the award and ordered it immediately. I'll discuss why in my review, which will probably be up soon since I'm planning to read this next.

MY SINGLE FRIEND by Jane Costello was a lovely surprise from Simon & Schuster UK - thank you! The book is out on 15 April and it sounds great, plus the author just won of the RNA awards, woohoo!

That's it from me, what did you get? :)

ps: Quick contest reminders!

• Don't forget to enter my contest to win one of five copies of the amazing blockbuster DAUGHTERS OF FORTUNE!
• The lovely Lea @ The YA Book Queen is also hosting an *amazing* 300 follower contest so be sure to check that out!

Interview: TARA HYLAND, the author of Daughters of Fortune + GIVEAWAY - Win one of FIVE copies!

Scroll down to see how you can be
one of the FIVE people who will win
a trade paperback copy
of this fantastic debut!

Some of you may remember how much I enjoyed Tara Hyland's debut novel DAUGHTERS OF FORTUNE and for those of you who missed it, you can read my review here.
Now comes the good news: I got to interview the author (yay!), which is fantastic as I'm fascinated by authors and I love asking them questions, it's such an honour!
Want even more good news? The book is officially out today (HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, TARA!) so feel free to grab your copy!
And now without further ado, here is the interview, in which Tara provides some fascinating answers about her inspiration, reserach, deleted characters, her gorgeous covers, publishing advice, her next book and more ... Read on!

1. On your website, you say you wanted to write the kind of book you enjoy reading with a strong storyline and an escapist edge - you did an excellent job at that, but how did you get the inspiration to feature three daughters of a fashion mogul? Are they based on any real people?
I came up with the idea for Daughters of Fortune when I was reading another book actually, which was also about siblings fighting over a fashion business, but it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, so I decided to have a go at coming up with my own. I was actually going to set the book around a jewellery dynasty to begin with, as Tiffany & Co used to be one of my clients when I worked in finance, but then another author used a jewellery business, so I settled on fashion instead.
In terms of the characters, from the beginning I wanted all three girls to be very different, each with their own issues, but all equally compelling. I originally just thought of them in terms of a few words - very ambitious, driven Elizabeth; gentle, naive Caitlin, who inadvertently becomes a rival to Elizabeth; and damaged, wild child Amber. From there, it was about coming up with plausible reasons why they were so different, even though they are related, as I wanted them to feel believable. While none of the girls are based on real people, when I was writing the novel, there was quite a lot in the media on Kate Moss / Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse / Blake Fielder, which echoed the Amber and Johnny relationship. But that was just a coincidence - I'd already written them in as characters. I suppose it's quite a familiar story - the girl who is so in love with a guy that she doesn't realise how bad he is for her, even though everyone else can see it.

2. The story starts in the 1970s and ends in the 2000s and tackles both business and fashion so I imagine you must've done quite a bit of research. What research methods did you use and what were some of the most fascinating things you discovered during your research?
Yes - there was an awful lot of research involved! - on the changing times and locations, as well as the business and fashion. In terms of the business side, I worked in finance for the best part of a decade, and I had mainly retail clients, so that was just from general knowledge. I've also been lucky to do a lot of travelling in my life, so I've visited many of the locations mentioned; for example, my husband spent a year in Tokyo back in 1997/98, and I went to visit him a couple of times, so I know Japan quite well. On the fashion side, I also read a couple of books: The House of Gucci by Sara Gay Forden, which gave me a feel for the rivalries within a family-run fashion house, and How Fashion Works by Gavin Waddell, which helped with the details of Caitlin's fashion course. And the rest was just down to imagination!
The most interesting thing I found out during my research was about Belleville, the artistic area where my Paris scenes are set. Originally I was going to use Saint Germain, but it felt a bit passé. As I looked into the art scene in Paris, I stumbled across Belleville in an article online, and it seemed like a much more alternative, cutting-edge place - especially in the early nineties, when that part of the books is set.

3. On your website, you also talk about how you got published and you also say you had to make the book far shorter than it originally was. Can you reveal any of the scenes that were deleted?
Yes - the book got a lot shorter! The first draft that I sent into my agent, back in January 2008, was 220,000 words long, and he said that he wouldn't submit it to publishers until it was cut to 150,000 words - that meant losing a whole 30% of the manuscript! One of the big things that I cut out was a character called Rupert, who provided the basis for a love rivalry between Elizabeth and Caitlin (Elizabeth was in love with him, but he preferred Caitlin, who then preferred Lucien - yes, it was quite complicated, and it was probably a good thing that it went!)

4. Which five words would you use to describe your book?
Fashion, glamour, secrets, wealth, passion.

5. How did the gorgeous UK and US covers come about? Did you have any say in them? Can you share any interesting stories on how the covers were designed?
The UK cover was originally quite different. I saw a first draft in July 2009, and it had a white background, with three blank-faced girls, full-length on the cover, strolling side-on off the page. Apparently they were meant to be the three daughters in the novel, strutting down a catwalk. I hated it! The girls on the cover all looked the same, almost like mannequins, which seemed weird, as everyone always comments on how the three main characters are so different, especially in the way they look and dress. It looked more like a cover for a book about modelling. So I wrote a long email saying how much I disliked it, and that for me it didn't capture the spirit of the book - and then found out that no one agreed with me! I felt very much like the lone voice of dissent, and honestly, I really didn't think anything was going to change. Then two months later, I received a new draft of the cover - and it was the one you see today! I couldn't believe how different it was! I was quite amazed (and grateful) that my publishers had listened to my concerns and gone away and totally reworked the design. And now it looks wonderful!
The US cover was a lot more straightforward. The one you see is pretty much the same as the first draft. They wanted a Gossip Girl feel, and also to capture the idea of upper class Englishness, and I think that's what they've done perfectly.

6. If your book was turned into a film, which actresses and actors would you ideally like to see playing your main characters?
Ooo - I like this question! Mainly because I love movies / TV almost as much as books! There's quite a big cast of characters in my book, so I'll just go with the three sisters:
Elizabeth - I always imagine Katherine Heigl's body, as Elizabeth's meant to be statuesque, with Sarah Michelle Gellar's head (the way she is in Cruel Intentions, quite bitchy and sharp!)
Caitlin - A shorter Liv Tyler (I always imagine Caitlin is about 5'6, whereas Liv Tyler is 5'10)
Amber - if she ever turned to acting, Avril Lavinge!

7. As a debut author, what have you learned on the road to getting published and what advice would you give to aspiring novelists?
I've learnt that everything in the world of publishing takes time! I originally contacted my agent in March 2007 (you can read the full story on my website, www.tarahyland.com), and it took another eighteen months to get the manuscript ready for submission to publishers, and another sixteen months from there to actually seeing the book published! But, even though it's been a long path to publication, it's also been an amazing experience, and I hope that I get to be a novelist for the rest of my life.
My advice to aspiring novelists would be to seek out feedback on their work - get a friend, relative or someone in your writing group (basically, anyone who is going to give you honest, constructive feedback) to read your manuscript before sending it off. It's so easy to get too close to your manuscript, so that you can't see the wood for the trees, and an outsider can often spot problems that you can't. My editors invariably come up with concerns and ideas which I would never think of. Even now, I'm looking at reviews on my first novel, seeing what people say, and trying to think how I can improve my next book, while still keeping the elements people liked about Daughters of Fortune. So far, Book 2 is 10% shorter and has less characters! Those points may sound familiar, Bookalicious...

8. The rumour has it that you've finished your second book - can you give us some details on what it's about and when it will be published?
I've just handed in the first draft of my second book (early March 2010), and it should be out this time next year, so spring 2011. My agent and editors saw a reasonably detailed synopsis last year, before I started writing, but I still haven't heard what they think of the full manuscript, so it's a nerve-wracking time! It's about a mother who abandons her daughter for fame and fortune, and the consequences of her actions on both their lives. It takes in the golden age of Hollywood, which was such a glamorous, dark period. There's also a big mystery running from page one of the book, although the story is still character-driven. Here's my synopsis (although my publishers haven't seen it as yet, or said they liked the book, so it may change!)

An unwanted child: San Francisco, 1958. On a dark December night, a baby girl is left at the Sisters of Charity Orphanage on Telegraph Hill.
A mysterious suicide: One year later, movie star Frances Fitzgerald takes her own life. Her husband, wealthy businessman Maximilian Stanhope, is rumoured to know more about her death than he’s letting on, but nothing is ever proved.
A terrible secret: What is the connection between these two events? That’s what Frances’ daughter, Eavan, wants to find out. Abandoned by her mother when she is just seven years old, her childhood is filled with hardship and loss. Even though as a young woman she finds professional success as a journalist, on a personal level she struggles to trust those around her. Unable to commit to the man she loves, Eavan becomes convinced that uncovering the secret behind her mother’s death is the only way to lay her demons to rest. But finding out the truth may end up tearing her apart.

9. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Just a big thank you to Bookalicious Ramblings for reviewing Daughters of Fortune. And I hope that readers enjoy the book.

***
Thanks so much for your time and brilliant answers, Tara! Oh, it's a rather safe bet that this book will be a great hit with the readers! And I cannot wait for the next book - it sounds fantastic!

Other reviews of DAUGHTERS OF FORTUNE: Chicklit Reviews, Chicklit Club, Girlie Gossip.

Lastly, make sure you watch the video below to learn more about this book straight from the author! To learn more about Tara Hyland, visit her website or her publisher page for more videos & info.

So you say you want to read this book? Well, here's your chance to win a copy!

• There will be FIVE winners and each gets a trade paperback copy of this brilliant book.
• To be entered, just leave a comment and tell me why you want to read this book. :)
• You don't have to be a follower to be entered.
• The contest is open INTERNATIONALLY and it ends on April 1st.

Here's how you can get more entries:
+ 2 if you're a follower of this blog;
+ 1 for following Tara on Twitter: @TaraHyland;
+ 1 for following Simon & Schuster UK on Twitter: @simonschusterUK (they're kindly sponsoring this giveaway);
+ 2 for tweeting about this contest or retweeing this tweet (provide link);
+ 2 for mentioning the contest in your sidebar;
+ 5 for posting about this contest on your blog with the picture of the cover and a video of Tara.

I need to get a hang of the Google Docs thingy, but until then I'll have to do this the old fashioned way, sorry. Good luck, everyone! :)

Waiting On Wednesday + Did YOU win a copy of BEFORE I FALL?

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine and it's meant for posting about the upcoming releases we're looking forward to.

Last week I posted a YA duo so this week I've decided to combine two chick lit reads that I can't wait to read. These two don't really have a similar theme, but what they have in common (apart from the genre) is that they both sound great and look lovely - what's not to love? :) So here are my this week's picks ...

SINGLE IN THE CITY
by Michele Gorman

[24 June 2010]

It’s official. Hannah has left her friends and family in the US behind and is following her dream. To live in London. Unfortunately she's completely unprepared for what's in store.
She’s going to find:
1. Her dream guy. A prince or Hugh Grant would be nice. Or does she have to settle for her half-naked Australian housemate or an "English gentleman" with terrible hygiene habits?
2. Her dream job. Something fantastic in fashion. So how has she ended up being the mini-me for an evil party planner who doesn’t even trust her to arrange the paperclips?
3. Her dream friends. But everyone in London seems to have known each other for years and Hannah’s having trouble getting to know nice people. Who’s she going to have fun with? Dream life? Should Hannah just dream on?
Maybe it would have been simpler and cheaper to just get a new haircut. Was she mad to move 3,000 miles away from everyone she knows? Will she ever find love and her perfect life in England?

JUST LOOK AT ME NOW
by Nell Dixon

[5 August 2010]

Tia's top beauty tip: apply heavy make-up carefully to prevent any cracks from showing...
Life is fabulous for Tia Carpenter. She has it all, money, looks, a great job as the beauty expert at stylish Platinum magazine and, at last, the attention of her unrequited high school love, Josh Banks.
But Tia has a secret – back at school she was Barbara Baker, overweight, crooked teeth, frizzy hair and no fashion sense. Cosmetic dentistry, losing seven stones in weight and a complete makeover later, Tia has successfully erased her past life as Big Barb, tub of lard, until the day Juliet Gold, the bane of her teenage existence, arrives to work at the magazine.
Juliet always got everything she ever wanted, and now she wants both Tia’s job and Josh. Tia will have to use every makeover trick she’s ever learned to stop Juliet from uncovering her past and stealing her man.

Ooh, don't they sound fantastic! I can't wait to get my hands on these perfect summer reads! :)

Lastly, I believe it's high time I announced the winner of my BEFORE I FALL contest, which ended last week. Sorry for taking so long, but these entries take quite a while to count and check (note to self: look into Google Docs, apparently that's a good solution to this problem, heh). Anyway, as it turns out, 39 people entered this contest and altogether there were 214 entries, yay! Thanks SO much for everyone who entered! I'd love to give a copy of this fantastic book to each one of you fabulous people, but sadly there can be only one winner - random.org picked number 118, which belongs to ... REBECCA @ Lost in Books! Congrats to the winner of a hardcover copy & some signed swag, I'll be emailing you shortly! As for others, please don't despair and stay tuned for some other great giveaways in the near future! :)