Audio Adventures: Wish List

It is a sad fact that for as many books that get published, not all of them can become audiobooks. The following is a list of all the books (or authors' entire works) I wish I could listen to.

Audiobook Wish List

Paula Stokes 

You're right, Paula isn't a book, but I would like ALLLLLL of her work to be audiobooks. I ADORE The Art of Lainey and Girl Against the Universe. I have not read Vicarious yet, but I'm sure it is also fantastic. Paula's characters are so REAL. They're dynamic individually, and dynamite as an ensemble. I would love to hear her stories since I always get a different perspective when I listen to a book.

Jennifer Echols

Jennifer is a favorite of mine, but she has always been part of the quiet YA movement. Her books aren't flashy bestsellers (which is a darn shame!), but I have always connected with her stories and her characters from the very first time I saw Major Crush's cover. Something in each of Jen's books feels like it's been pulled out of the diary of my life, and how could I not want to listen to them? Plus, Jen has some seriously swoony guys and sassy gals I'd love to hear!

Jodi Meadows

I LOVED Jodi's Incarnate series; each installment kept getting better and better. So it pains me that only Incarnate has an audiobook. Conversely, I didn't LOVE The Orphan Queen duology, but I enjoyed it. I would love to see if listening and gaining new perspective would make me enjoy the story even more. The bottom line is that Jodi writes kickass fantasy, and that always makes for entertaining and engrossing audiobooks. C'mon, Harper, jump on it!

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Again, I didn't LOVE this book, but I did really like it. Plus it's a 13 on the 1-10 swoony scale. Skylar and Josh have phenomenal chemistry, and that translates well in audiobooks if you have the right narrators. With as popular as IMYT is, honestly I'm shocked it didn't get an audio.

Meg Cabot's Boy series

I have long loved Meg's teen books: Princess Diaries, Mediator, Airhead, Abandon, Avalon High, Teen Idol, etc. She's queen of teen fiction. But Meg ALSO has a ton of amazing adult books, and I got hooked on those when I picked up Boy Meets Girl probably about a decade ago. Since then, I have read the entire companion trilogy about once every two years or so (probably a little more), and I have long stalked Meg's website FAQ which has hinted for a couple years that she was working on another epistolary novel. This year when The Boy is Back was announced, I couldn't have been more excited. To celebrate, I began searching for the audiobooks of the other three so I could listen to them before number four releases in September. Imagine my disappointment, nay, horror when I realized THEY DON'T EXIST. Granted, this is probably because they are epistolary novels and instead of traditional prose narration, these stories are told through letters, notes, emails, IMs, diary entries, airplane tickets, documents, etc. But if Illuminae can make it work, SO CAN THESE.

Update: I just discovered an AUDIO CASSETTE of the first book in the series The Guy Next Door (I guess before it was Boy Next Door! Sold from Germany and the UK so maybe that's why?) on Amazon for $9.08. This shall be mine!

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

This book isn't out yet, but it's already one of my favorites of the year. Emma herself narrated the audiobook for her first novel First & Then, which was pretty good. I wouldn't mind if she narrated This Adventure Ends; I just want one period!

I wrote this list a couple months ago. This Adventure Ends released last week, and I haven't seen an audiobook pop up on Amazon or Audible. FINGERS CROSSED that it will happen!

The Storyspinner and The Skylighter by Becky Wallace

 

 Fantasy novels make the best audiobooks, and I'd love for Becky's Brazilian-inspired world to come to life in an audio. It's a magical, beautiful series, and I think it would sparkle and shine via audio interpretation.

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

I just don't think it's very fair that both of Emery's other books have audios, but Me and You doesn't. It was a really interesting story, and I would love to hear Paige's intense and emotional story.

Tiffany Schmidt's Once Upon a Crime Family series
 

I would love to have audiobooks (and more sequels!) for Hold Me Like a Breath and Break Me Like a Promise. They're such unique books, and I think they would be really exciting in audio. Again, these are more quiet YA, but these books are really cinematic (seriously, these should be movies!), and that's a great quality to have in an audiobook.

Do you agree with my picks? What books would you choose to have audiobooks? Let me know in the comments!

Boldly Bookish Blog Tour: Guest post with Emery Lord + Giveaway

I am so excited today to feature the four authors and books who are part of Bloomsbury's spring 2015 Boldly Bookish tour–Trish Doller (The Devil You Know), A.C. Gaughen (Lion Heart), Emery Lord (The Start of You and Me), and Tiffany Schmidt (Hold Me Like a Breath)! Today's post is a guest feature with Emery all about adorable nerdy boys! Keep reading after Emery's post to learn more about the authors, their books, and the stops on the tour. Oh, and there's a giveaway too, but you probably aren't interested in that, right? ;) Take it away, Emery!

Ode to the Nerdy Guy

a post by Emery Lord 

So, here’s the thing. I think the Top 10 of my massive high school graduating class included at least 5 people from my friend group. We were literally all in marching band. Most of us in show choir. A few of us were on the QuizBowl team. Nerds.

We also got in trouble with the cops senior year. Pranked each other, huge-scale and creatively. Loved each other ferociously. Traveled. Went to shows. Sometimes we stayed in and played Mario Kart. We went through a phase where we were really obsessed with Risk. We took AP classes. We also skipped classes sometimes. We talked politics, theology, culture, and laughed over dumb stuff. Fun as hell nerds.

So I guess I love nerd guys (and girls) because I think “nerd” means you’re interested. And interested makes you interesting. Also, most nerds are good at things—it’s often what we’re made fun of for. But being interesting and competent? Sorry, but that’s sexy.

One thing about Max Watson, unabashed nerdboy of The Start of Me & You, is that it’s probably fair to call him a beta male. He’s not dominant, he’s not suave, he’s certainly not ripped. But he is confident. He’s also deeply kind, a good listener and loyal friend.  I think the thing that is so attractive about guys like Max is that he has nothing to prove to anyone. He knows exactly who he is and doesn’t really care what you think. All I see in swagger is guys who are overcompensating. Give me a secure guy any day of the week.

I know it can be easy to gravitate toward the people who have smooth lines, who will approach you with ease, who can attract you with rugged toughness. …eh, pass. Give me a lifetime of someone who is engaged with his world, with you, who cares and doesn’t care who knows it, who is good and good at things, who likes what he likes even if you don’t really get it. Give me someone who can make me laugh with smart humor. Besides, if being a nerd basically means you’re super into something…that means someone is passionate. Draw your own conclusions! ;)

So, to the girls who have asked me where to find guys like in YA books: might I recommend your high school’s Team Physics? Marching band? QuizBowl? The Engineering college of your local university? (Speaking 100% from personal experience.)

As a nerd, writer and the wife of a hot man who has a pretty serious Star Trek obsession, all I am saying…is give nerds a chance. Live long and prosper, xo!

*****

Okay, I just have to say, I agree with Emery 100%. I also was a Mario-Kart-playing, marching-banding, AP-class-taking, Scholars-Bowling certified nerd (and proud of it!), and truthfully, the guys (and girls) I knew from those activities were hands down the best people I interacted with in high schoool AND college. Also, Max may not be an Alpha male, but I've read (and loved) The Start of Me and You, and I'm totally in love with him so I'm pretty sure Alpha males are entirely overrated. Bring on the nerds!

Pub Date: March 31, 2015

Genre: young adult contemporary romance

Status: standalone
Summary: It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Book Buy Links:

   

About the Author:

EMERY LORD is the author of Open Road Summer. She lives in a pink row house in Cincinnati, with a husband, two rescue dogs, and a closet full of impractical shoes. Open Road Summer is her first novel. Visit her online at www.emerylord.com and on Twitter @emerylord.

 

Author Links:

  

Pub Date: June 2, 2015

Genre: young adult contemporary thriller

Status: standalone
Summary: Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Book Buy Links:

   

About the Author:

TRISH DOLLER is the author of Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine. She's a former newspaper reporter and radio personality who now works as a bookseller at the Ft Myers B&N. She lives in Fort Myers, Florida, with her two mostly grown children, two dogs, and a pirate. (For real.)  Visit her online at www.trishdoller.com and on Twitter at @TrishDoller.

 

Author Links:

  

Pub Date: May 19, 2015

Genre: young adult historical fantasy, retelling

Status: book 3 of the Scarlet trilogy
Summary: Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?

Book Buy Links:

   

About the Author:

A.C. GAUGHEN is the author of Scarlet and Lady Thief. She serves as the Director of Girls’ Leadership for the non-profit Boston GLOW, creating opportunities to encourage and engage teen girls in the Greater Boston area. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. Visit A.C. online at www.acgaughen.com and on Twitter at @acgaughen.

 

Author Links:

  

Pub Date: May 19, 2015

Genre: young adult contemporary thriller, romance, retelling

Status: book 1 of the Once Upon a Crime Family series
Summary: Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.

Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.

And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.

All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks.

Book Buy Links:

   

About the Author:

TIFFANY SCHMIDT is the author of Send Me a Sign and Bright Before Sunrise. She lives in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband, impish twin boys, and a pair of mischievous puggles. Visit Tiffany online at www.TiffanySchmidt.com and on Twitter @TiffanySchmidt.

 

Author Links:

  

Blog Tour Schedule:
May 18th: Alexa Loves Books
May 19th: The Eater of Books!
May 20th: Mary Had A Little Book Blog
May 21st: Jessabella Reads
May 22nd: Blue Sky Shelf
May 25th: Ageless Pages Reviews
May 26th: Mundie Moms
May 27th: Reading Teen
May 28th: On Starships and Dragonwings
May 29th: The Quiet Concert

Book Tour Schedule:

I am SUPER excited for this tour for many reasons, one of which is that I'm actually moderating the last stop in Texas! So join me, Annie, Trish, Tiffany, and Emery for a Boldly Bookish evening at the Barnes & Noble Stonebriar in Frisco on June 12! Thank you, Bloomsbury, for this amazing opportunity!

 
Giveaway: 

One winner will be able to choose one of the four books featured on the Boldly Bookish tour! Open to US residents age 13+.

a Rafflecopter giveaway