Review: Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Hi!

Today I'd like to recommend you Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles, a very touching and inspiring New Adult Contemporary Romance: 

Just Remember to Breathe
by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Release date: November 12th 2012 
by Cincinnatus Press
Format: Paperback, 290 pages
(e-book released on August 30th)

Goodreads: 

 Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

My thoughts:

You know I love writing quotes in my reviews. But sometimes, there are books I can't choose quotes from because they were so gripping or there was so much going on in them, that I couldn't be bothered to stop reading enough to save a few lines. And then there are books I can't choose quotes from because they were just full of awesome and I'd have to quote the whole thing. Just Remember to Breathe fits in the second category, no questions asked! Seriously, read it and you'll see for yourself what I mean!;) There's something so raw, natural and beautiful about this story and the characters that you can't not love! 

Alex and Dylan had a messy break-up - and that's putting it mildly. They ended up on different sides of the world, heartbroken and not hearing from each other again. But when Dylan comes back from Afghanistan, he has to get his life back on track, and circumstances bring him and Alex at the same college. They haven't talked to each other since they ended things, but the pain of their lost love is still there, so they need to protect themselves against another potential heartbreak; they must do their best to be around each other without thinking or talking about their past, ignoring their feelings and trying not to kill each other. Not such an easy task.

They are forced to work together. And as time goes by, they spend more and more time together (and not only at collage), talking about things they shouldn't talk about, reliving things that should have stayed in the past... And before they even realize it, they start falling in love all over again. But they're not the people they used to be anymore; everything that happened in their life in the past few years changed them and their relationship could never work again (or so they think): 

There was no question Dylan was not the same boy I’d fallen in love with. He’d grown, matured in ways I couldn’t have foreseen four years ago. [...] The Dylan I’d fallen in love with was gentle, and kind. Thoughtful. Funny. He was still all of those things, but had an edge to him that was new and, to be honest, it was frightening. 

I'm not getting into any more details here, but I loved reliving their memories with them, good and bad. The past and the present blend together and create a beautiful story that will melt your heart!

I said in one of my updates on Goodreads when I read this book that it was like My Heart for Yours (Jolene Perry and Steph Campbell) met Something Like Normal (Trish Doller). Well, for those of you who are familiar with those stories (they are both awesome Contemporary books released this past summer),  Just Remember to Breathe is not as depressing as My Heart for Yours was and it also had that something that I thought was missing in Something Like Normal. It's pretty amazing! The characters and their story are very realistic, it's like you're right there with them, feeling and seeing everything. It has a sense of raw and natural, a sensibility that makes all thoughts and emotions seem very authentic, both from Dylan and Alex's POVs (yes, we have alternative POVs). Their inner pain and struggle pull at your heart strings and you just want to reach into the book, hug them and promise them everything will be all right. Dylan's time in Afghanistan left him hurt and scarred on the inside and on the outside, and coming to terms with everything that happened and moving on is very hard for him. Only Alex with her love and understanding can help him move forward. And despite all their hurt and problems, they show an incredible strength too, all thing things considered. Many people would have probably given up at some point, but they don't, not even when the temptation is there and it feels like it's just. Too. Much. 

Now, this story is not as sad or depressing as it seems. There's the occasional dry humor, banter and awkward situation between the characters, the way they affected each other and sweet moments that always made me smile. 

Oh God, I was a mess. I was a mess because of his impossibly blue eyes, because of how in the Army his arms and chest had become … so developed. He smelled the same as always, and being around him was impossible. Sometimes when he was close to me I couldn’t even breathe. How in hell was I supposed to stay detached and professional when he set off every single nerve in my body?

They're both like-able characters and have great voices, it was very easy to connect with them and their story. I also really liked the secondary characters. They weren't there just for comic relief, but also to show their love and support and to help the main characters realize they're perfect for each other and to find their HEA. By the end, they're all like a big family who would do anything for each other. 

Dylan: “Why? Why in God’s name do you care?”
Sherman: (his friend from the Army): “Because we’re brothers, man. We’ve been through shit no one else knows about. We’ve been through shit they don’t want to know about. And I don’t want to see you f*ck your life up. And, I care about Alex and her sister [...]!”

Alex and Dylan's relationship wasn't perfect before they broke up either, so seeing them putting together the pieces of their past, learning to forgive, trust and love each other again was bittersweet.

A tear ran down her face, and she said, “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
I gave her a half smile and said, “You’ve got that backwards, Alex. I’m the one who … who is undeserving.”
“Don’t ever say that,” she said.
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
She shook her head. “You’re wrong, Dylan Paris. About this, you are so wrong. We were made for each other.”

I had a few minor issues with the book (like some parts of the dialogue), but by the end, I forgot all about that - the ending was absolutely amazing! I almost feel like reading the whole thing again just to get to that part. :D


Just Remember to Breathe is the impressive love story of two people separated by long distance and war, pain and mistrust, who learn to forget and forgive, to get over the grief and betrayal of the past, to trust, help and support each other, no matter what, to believe in the power of love and in themselves, in happiness and second chances.

Get the book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Stalk the author: Website / Twitter / Facebook

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
**Quotes taken from ARC and subject to change in the final edition of the book.

I have an extra ARC from the author to give away on the blog next week, so stay tuned!:D

Happy weekend!

Review: Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Hi!

Today I'd like to recommend you Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles, a very touching and inspiring New Adult Contemporary Romance: 

Just Remember to Breathe
by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Release date: November 12th 2012 
by Cincinnatus Press
Format: Paperback, 290 pages
(e-book released on August 30th)

Goodreads: 

 Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

My thoughts:

You know I love writing quotes in my reviews. But sometimes, there are books I can't choose quotes from because they were so gripping or there was so much going on in them, that I couldn't be bothered to stop reading enough to save a few lines. And then there are books I can't choose quotes from because they were just full of awesome and I'd have to quote the whole thing. Just Remember to Breathe fits in the second category, no questions asked! Seriously, read it and you'll see for yourself what I mean!;) There's something so raw, natural and beautiful about this story and the characters that you can't not love! 

Alex and Dylan had a messy break-up - and that's putting it mildly. They ended up on different sides of the world, heartbroken and not hearing from each other again. But when Dylan comes back from Afghanistan, he has to get his life back on track, and circumstances bring him and Alex at the same college. They haven't talked to each other since they ended things, but the pain of their lost love is still there, so they need to protect themselves against another potential heartbreak; they must do their best to be around each other without thinking or talking about their past, ignoring their feelings and trying not to kill each other. Not such an easy task.

They are forced to work together. And as time goes by, they spend more and more time together (and not only at collage), talking about things they shouldn't talk about, reliving things that should have stayed in the past... And before they even realize it, they start falling in love all over again. But they're not the people they used to be anymore; everything that happened in their life in the past few years changed them and their relationship could never work again (or so they think): 

There was no question Dylan was not the same boy I’d fallen in love with. He’d grown, matured in ways I couldn’t have foreseen four years ago. [...] The Dylan I’d fallen in love with was gentle, and kind. Thoughtful. Funny. He was still all of those things, but had an edge to him that was new and, to be honest, it was frightening. 

I'm not getting into any more details here, but I loved reliving their memories with them, good and bad. The past and the present blend together and create a beautiful story that will melt your heart!

I said in one of my updates on Goodreads when I read this book that it was like My Heart for Yours (Jolene Perry and Steph Campbell) met Something Like Normal (Trish Doller). Well, for those of you who are familiar with those stories (they are both awesome Contemporary books released this past summer),  Just Remember to Breathe is not as depressing as My Heart for Yours was and it also had that something that I thought was missing in Something Like Normal. It's pretty amazing! The characters and their story are very realistic, it's like you're right there with them, feeling and seeing everything. It has a sense of raw and natural, a sensibility that makes all thoughts and emotions seem very authentic, both from Dylan and Alex's POVs (yes, we have alternative POVs). Their inner pain and struggle pull at your heart strings and you just want to reach into the book, hug them and promise them everything will be all right. Dylan's time in Afghanistan left him hurt and scarred on the inside and on the outside, and coming to terms with everything that happened and moving on is very hard for him. Only Alex with her love and understanding can help him move forward. And despite all their hurt and problems, they show an incredible strength too, all thing things considered. Many people would have probably given up at some point, but they don't, not even when the temptation is there and it feels like it's just. Too. Much. 

Now, this story is not as sad or depressing as it seems. There's the occasional dry humor, banter and awkward situation between the characters, the way they affected each other and sweet moments that always made me smile. 

Oh God, I was a mess. I was a mess because of his impossibly blue eyes, because of how in the Army his arms and chest had become … so developed. He smelled the same as always, and being around him was impossible. Sometimes when he was close to me I couldn’t even breathe. How in hell was I supposed to stay detached and professional when he set off every single nerve in my body?

They're both like-able characters and have great voices, it was very easy to connect with them and their story. I also really liked the secondary characters. They weren't there just for comic relief, but also to show their love and support and to help the main characters realize they're perfect for each other and to find their HEA. By the end, they're all like a big family who would do anything for each other. 

Dylan: “Why? Why in God’s name do you care?”
Sherman: (his friend from the Army): “Because we’re brothers, man. We’ve been through shit no one else knows about. We’ve been through shit they don’t want to know about. And I don’t want to see you f*ck your life up. And, I care about Alex and her sister [...]!”

Alex and Dylan's relationship wasn't perfect before they broke up either, so seeing them putting together the pieces of their past, learning to forgive, trust and love each other again was bittersweet.

A tear ran down her face, and she said, “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
I gave her a half smile and said, “You’ve got that backwards, Alex. I’m the one who … who is undeserving.”
“Don’t ever say that,” she said.
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
She shook her head. “You’re wrong, Dylan Paris. About this, you are so wrong. We were made for each other.”

I had a few minor issues with the book (like some parts of the dialogue), but by the end, I forgot all about that - the ending was absolutely amazing! I almost feel like reading the whole thing again just to get to that part. :D


Just Remember to Breathe is the impressive love story of two people separated by long distance and war, pain and mistrust, who learn to forget and forgive, to get over the grief and betrayal of the past, to trust, help and support each other, no matter what, to believe in the power of love and in themselves, in happiness and second chances.

Get the book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Stalk the author: Website / Twitter / Facebook

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
**Quotes taken from ARC and subject to change in the final edition of the book.

I have an extra ARC from the author to give away on the blog next week, so stay tuned!:D

Happy weekend!

New Adult Monday #3 - Review: Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Hello everyone!

*New Adult Monday is a feature started by Danny at Bewitched Bookworms to share the love for New Adult literature, our latest bookish obsession. To learn more about the feature and the genre read  Danny’s New Adult Discussion post or my first post.

***

Derailed (Clayton Falls #1) 
by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release date: September 22, 2012Format: e-Book

Goodreads:

When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.

My thoughts:

Derailed was a sweet, heart-warming story about loss, love, self-discovery, healing and second chances.

When her fiancé died, Molly's entire life crumbled to pieces. Living in the same city, same apartment, alone, with all the memories of her life with Adam and her grief and guilt over his death, was unbearable. And she realized that being an attorney wasn't what she really wanted either. So she decided to go back to her home town, at least for a little while, until she figured out what she wanted to do with her life. But there was an empty house and old, painful memories waiting for her there as well, and facing all that proved to be harder than she had expected. 

Gazing out the window, I watched the town, my town. Every block held memories, the only memories I had without Adam. Unfortunately, even those memories hurt.

She met some old friends, got a job and tried to put up a good front, at least for the sake of all the people who cared about her.

But it wasn't easy. And when she met her ex-boyfriend, things got even more complicated. Old memories, thoughts and feelings started to surface. Plus, that chemistry and passion that always pulled them together were still there, making it impossible for her to stay away from him. Still, there was nothing worse than the guilt and self-loathing that she constantly felt, eating her alive and making her keep everyone at a safe distance - especially Ben (her ex). 

She was scared, insecure and heartbroken and tried to keep everything to herself. She was convinced that she didn't deserve anyone's love, compassion or understanding. But Ben would have none of that. He never really got over her, even though she broke his heart when she went away for collage. He wanted her back and he would do anything to get past her barriers, to help her heal and to prove her that they still loved each other and that they belonged together. 

I turned around to look at him. His brown eyes still had the friendliness they always did, but he looked so much older. Maybe it was another five years spent in the sun, or just time passing, but he certainly didn’t look like the same boy I left. He braced his arms on the railing, looking down at me. “You look so sad.” “That’s not really what a girl wants to hear.” I tried to make a joke of it. “You still look beautiful, but you look sad. What can I do to change that?” “You don’t have to change it. I’m used to feeling this way.”

She kept thinking that she didn't deserve his love, but she couldn't stay away from him either.

I knew I wasn’t good for him, but I couldn’t stay away. Every time I thought I’d pushed him from my head, his smile would show up in my mind again.

He was charming, fun and helped her a lot. He was passionate and brought back to life the wild, playful side of her. And they got to spend more time together, to have fun and to realize that their connection was too strong to ignore or to pretend it was just something friendly and casual. Maybe there was hope for them, after all... 

Ben kept his word. He did help me forget. But with his gentle lovemaking that night, he also made me remember something too—how much I loved him— and that terrified me more than any nightmares or memories could. Whatever it was that Ben and I were doing, it wasn’t casual. 

They both had past issues to solve, guilt and pain to overcome. They had to learn to trust, forgive, forget and move on. And they did, eventually. Because they loved and completed each other like no one else ever could. Molly had to learn that everyone did mistakes, that not everything that went wrong around her was her fault and that self destruction wouldn't solve anything. And Ben was right there, every step of the way, caring, thoughtful and with a positive attitude, making her realize that they can be in love and happy together. 

 “Just think of how much you’ve been through. I hate to think of you suffering through so much alone. Never again. I promise I’m not going to let you down this time.”

“I never believed there was anyone else out there. I knew completely that no one else would ever make me feel the way you did. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, and from the day I realized I loved you, I never even considered a future without you.”

How sweet and heart-melting is that? I loved Ben!:D He knew he made mistakes in the past and hurt her as well, but he did everything he could to make up for that. He could be playful, but he could be serious as well. He was strong and ambitious when Molly was insecure and wanted to give up or hide behind her protective walls. He fought for her even when she pushed him away. And I know that Molly thought that keeping him at a distance was better for him, but I couldn't help but feel like sometimes she was a little selfish, too. Anyway, they balanced and completed each other well, in the end, and got the happy ending they both needed. 

There were a few things that seemed to happen too fast - or too slow, considering the circumstances at the moment, but overall, I really loved this story! It was so sweet and inspiring, even though it was heartbreaking at times. I liked that the characters and everything they went through was very raw and realistic, it made it so easy to connect with them, feel for them and wish only happiness for them! 

It was a beautiful story about hope and acceptance, letting go and moving on, dealing with grief, guilt and learning to live, trust and open up again, learning that it's never too late to find your own path or to love and be loved. And I can't wait to read the next book in this series - we already met the main characters here and I'm looking forward to seeing them again and reading about their HEA! :D

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Get the book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Find Alyssa: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Veer - Clayton Falls #2

Love that cover!:D

New Adult Monday #3 - Review: Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Hello everyone!

*New Adult Monday is a feature started by Danny at Bewitched Bookworms to share the love for New Adult literature, our latest bookish obsession. To learn more about the feature and the genre read  Danny’s New Adult Discussion post or my first post.

***

Derailed (Clayton Falls #1) 
by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release date: September 22, 2012 Format: e-Book

Goodreads:

When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.

My thoughts:

Derailed was a sweet, heart-warming story about loss, love, self-discovery, healing and second chances.

When her fiancé died, Molly's entire life crumbled to pieces. Living in the same city, same apartment, alone, with all the memories of her life with Adam and her grief and guilt over his death, was unbearable. And she realized that being an attorney wasn't what she really wanted either. So she decided to go back to her home town, at least for a little while, until she figured out what she wanted to do with her life. But there was an empty house and old, painful memories waiting for her there as well, and facing all that proved to be harder than she had expected. 

Gazing out the window, I watched the town, my town. Every block held memories, the only memories I had without Adam. Unfortunately, even those memories hurt.

She met some old friends, got a job and tried to put up a good front, at least for the sake of all the people who cared about her.

But it wasn't easy. And when she met her ex-boyfriend, things got even more complicated. Old memories, thoughts and feelings started to surface. Plus, that chemistry and passion that always pulled them together were still there, making it impossible for her to stay away from him. Still, there was nothing worse than the guilt and self-loathing that she constantly felt, eating her alive and making her keep everyone at a safe distance - especially Ben (her ex). 

She was scared, insecure and heartbroken and tried to keep everything to herself. She was convinced that she didn't deserve anyone's love, compassion or understanding. But Ben would have none of that. He never really got over her, even though she broke his heart when she went away for collage. He wanted her back and he would do anything to get past her barriers, to help her heal and to prove her that they still loved each other and that they belonged together. 

I turned around to look at him. His brown eyes still had the friendliness they always did, but he looked so much older. Maybe it was another five years spent in the sun, or just time passing, but he certainly didn’t look like the same boy I left. He braced his arms on the railing, looking down at me. “You look so sad.” “That’s not really what a girl wants to hear.” I tried to make a joke of it. “You still look beautiful, but you look sad. What can I do to change that?” “You don’t have to change it. I’m used to feeling this way.”

She kept thinking that she didn't deserve his love, but she couldn't stay away from him either.

I knew I wasn’t good for him, but I couldn’t stay away. Every time I thought I’d pushed him from my head, his smile would show up in my mind again.

He was charming, fun and helped her a lot. He was passionate and brought back to life the wild, playful side of her. And they got to spend more time together, to have fun and to realize that their connection was too strong to ignore or to pretend it was just something friendly and casual. Maybe there was hope for them, after all... 

Ben kept his word. He did help me forget. But with his gentle lovemaking that night, he also made me remember something too—how much I loved him— and that terrified me more than any nightmares or memories could. Whatever it was that Ben and I were doing, it wasn’t casual. 

They both had past issues to solve, guilt and pain to overcome. They had to learn to trust, forgive, forget and move on. And they did, eventually. Because they loved and completed each other like no one else ever could. Molly had to learn that everyone did mistakes, that not everything that went wrong around her was her fault and that self destruction wouldn't solve anything. And Ben was right there, every step of the way, caring, thoughtful and with a positive attitude, making her realize that they can be in love and happy together. 

 “Just think of how much you’ve been through. I hate to think of you suffering through so much alone. Never again. I promise I’m not going to let you down this time.”

“I never believed there was anyone else out there. I knew completely that no one else would ever make me feel the way you did. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, and from the day I realized I loved you, I never even considered a future without you.”

How sweet and heart-melting is that? I loved Ben!:D He knew he made mistakes in the past and hurt her as well, but he did everything he could to make up for that. He could be playful, but he could be serious as well. He was strong and ambitious when Molly was insecure and wanted to give up or hide behind her protective walls. He fought for her even when she pushed him away. And I know that Molly thought that keeping him at a distance was better for him, but I couldn't help but feel like sometimes she was a little selfish, too. Anyway, they balanced and completed each other well, in the end, and got the happy ending they both needed. 

There were a few things that seemed to happen too fast - or too slow, considering the circumstances at the moment, but overall, I really loved this story! It was so sweet and inspiring, even though it was heartbreaking at times. I liked that the characters and everything they went through was very raw and realistic, it made it so easy to connect with them, feel for them and wish only happiness for them! 

It was a beautiful story about hope and acceptance, letting go and moving on, dealing with grief, guilt and learning to live, trust and open up again, learning that it's never too late to find your own path or to love and be loved. And I can't wait to read the next book in this series - we already met the main characters here and I'm looking forward to seeing them again and reading about their HEA! :D

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Get the book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Find Alyssa: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Veer - Clayton Falls #2

Love that cover!:D

New Adult Mondays #1

Hi guys!

I'm super excited to introduce you to a new feature today, New Adult Mondays! Credit goes to Danny from Bewitched Bookworms who not only come up with the brilliant idea of this feature, but she also designed a super cool button! We both share the love and enthusiasm for this genre and we're happy to talk about it, introduce you to new, very talented authors and to recommend you great reads. Fun stuff all around!:D

***

I mentioned this genre on the blog before, but today I want to tell you a bit more about it. Basically, New Adult fills the gap between Young Adult and Adult books. In Rhemalda Publishing and JJ from St. Martin's words, it's "Coming of Age (18 to 25) fiction about young adulthood, when you are an adult but have not established your life as one (career and family)", it's about "the transition from teen to adult". You can read a detailed, very interesting article on this particular subject HERE. 

I love Young Adult lit, most of the books I read are YA, but I really like that this new genre brings something more to it. More romance, pain, angst, loss, hope, courage, intensity, passion. It's about college life,  love, challenges, insecurities, making mistakes and learning from them, making hard decisions, choosing paths, moving on;  it's about the moment when you realize something important is going to change. And, of course, it's sexy, hot and steamy. :D 

We don't have an official category for this genre yet (I still hope that one day soon, I'll be able to enter a bookstore, go to the NA section and buy a dozen books) - but it's growing. The traditional publishing houses have been skeptical about NA books (their stories and characters apparently are too old to fit with the YA books, but not old enough to fit with the Adult books), and that's why many authors took the self-publishing route. (I could hug each and everyone of them for making that decision. Those stories need to be told, no matter how!) 

But. Things are changing. We see NA authors on the bestseller lists, big publishers picking up their stories, we discover new talents and more and more readers enjoy reading stories about characters in their late teens and twenties. WIN!;)

And speaking of awesome NA authors, a group of them created the NA Alley, a blog where they talk about the genre and have all sorts of advice, information, inspiration, resources, chats, contests, recommendations and other fun stuff. You should follow them right now!;) 

I know I'm not alone in my love-fest; you can read what fellow bloggers Danya at A Tapestry of Words, Kelly at Radiant Shadows, Danny at Bewitched Bookworms and author Jessica Roberts recently said about all this. ;)

***

Ok. That's enough talk for now.:) Because I'm only touching the basics today, I'll give you some lists with a few NA books I already read and loved (and recommended to EVERYONE) and books that I added to my TBR list (highly recommended by trusted fellow readers and bloggers). 

The NA Genre on Goodreads

Popular NA Books on Goodreads

My only regret at the moment is that I live in the middle of nowhere *includes dramatic sigh here* *Ok, just kidding* and most of these books are self published in e-book format, so it's really hard do get paperback copies for my favorites shelf (me and Amazon's international shipping are not on the best of terms right now, but I'm working on it.:P)

Anyway, feel free to leave your thoughts about this growing genre, to tell me if you read any NA books lately and what you thought about them or to recommend me new ones. I'm always open to recommendations!;) Oh, and do let me know if I missed something, I'm a little distracted today.:)) 

Have a great week!

xoxo

New Adult Mondays #1

Hi guys!

I'm super excited to introduce you to a new feature today, New Adult Mondays! Credit goes to Danny from Bewitched Bookworms who not only come up with the brilliant idea of this feature, but she also designed a super cool button! We both share the love and enthusiasm for this genre and we're happy to talk about it, introduce you to new, very talented authors and to recommend you great reads. Fun stuff all around!:D

***

I mentioned this genre on the blog before, but today I want to tell you a bit more about it. Basically, New Adult fills the gap between Young Adult and Adult books. In Rhemalda Publishing and JJ from St. Martin's words, it's "Coming of Age (18 to 25) fiction about young adulthood, when you are an adult but have not established your life as one (career and family)", it's about "the transition from teen to adult". You can read a detailed, very interesting article on this particular subject HERE. 

I love Young Adult lit, most of the books I read are YA, but I really like that this new genre brings something more to it. More romance, pain, angst, loss, hope, courage, intensity, passion. It's about college life,  love, challenges, insecurities, making mistakes and learning from them, making hard decisions, choosing paths, moving on;  it's about the moment when you realize something important is going to change. And, of course, it's sexy, hot and steamy. :D 

We don't have an official category for this genre yet (I still hope that one day soon, I'll be able to enter a bookstore, go to the NA section and buy a dozen books) - but it's growing. The traditional publishing houses have been skeptical about NA books (their stories and characters apparently are too old to fit with the YA books, but not old enough to fit with the Adult books), and that's why many authors took the self-publishing route. (I could hug each and everyone of them for making that decision. Those stories need to be told, no matter how!) 

But. Things are changing. We see NA authors on the bestseller lists, big publishers picking up their stories, we discover new talents and more and more readers enjoy reading stories about characters in their late teens and twenties. WIN!;)

And speaking of awesome NA authors, a group of them created the NA Alley, a blog where they talk about the genre and have all sorts of advice, information, inspiration, resources, chats, contests, recommendations and other fun stuff. You should follow them right now!;) 

I know I'm not alone in my love-fest; you can read what fellow bloggers Danya at A Tapestry of Words, Kelly at Radiant Shadows, Danny at Bewitched Bookworms and author Jessica Roberts recently said about all this. ;)

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Ok. That's enough talk for now.:) Because I'm only touching the basics today, I'll give you some lists with a few NA books I already read and loved (and recommended to EVERYONE) and books that I added to my TBR list (highly recommended by trusted fellow readers and bloggers). 

The NA Genre on Goodreads

Popular NA Books on Goodreads

My only regret at the moment is that I live in the middle of nowhere *includes dramatic sigh here* *Ok, just kidding* and most of these books are self published in e-book format, so it's really hard do get paperback copies for my favorites shelf (me and Amazon's international shipping are not on the best of terms right now, but I'm working on it.:P)

Anyway, feel free to leave your thoughts about this growing genre, to tell me if you read any NA books lately and what you thought about them or to recommend me new ones. I'm always open to recommendations!;) Oh, and do let me know if I missed something, I'm a little distracted today.:)) 

Have a great week!

xoxo