March 13, 2014

Not to kick off this season with the most cliché phrase, but spring is f*$%ing here...and obviously we couldn’t be more excited. Spring means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but here are some of the things about the season that put a spring in our step: warmer weather (shining sun, longer days, casual breeze); more opportunities (excuses!) to consume ice cream, frozen yogurt and all other cold culinary delights; dresses without tights (!), open-toed shoes, linen suits, how dare we go coatless; the wonderful amount of wonderful, new books being released in the wonderful upcoming months, getting piled onto our to-read list for those even more wonderful, warmer days to come at the beach; for all you college kids it means spring break (where’s a Jerry Springer joke when you need one? #YOLO); and the thing that we are most looking forward to --- come on, do we even need to say it --- spring flings!

Over here at 20SomethingReads.com, every season is the season for love (except maybe February). As all those guys emerge from their man caves and girls lose their “lady layers” (decide what that means at your own discretion…), we’re asking you to show some skin, break out those sunglasses and sit down with your “dressed to impress” novel* in the park --- in the famous words of Annie Rand, “you’re never fully dressed without a book.” (Sorry, we may have Travoltified the teleprompter on that. Sincerest Apologies from Natalie Seempzon and Elijah Herdson...look who’s talking now).

*We know that reading is valuable in and of itself, and not because it will attract you a mate. In real life, people will love you no matter what you read...as far as we’re concerned, you’re never too old for the Berenstain Bears. We would never judge a book --- or you --- by its cover.

ONE MORE THING: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak: You’re cute, you’re young and you probably dress like Jordi Gordi-Lovey Dovey in (500) Days of Summer. You’re deep and you don’t take yourself too seriously.

THE TEMPTATION TO EXIST by E. M. Cioran: “True Detective” opened your eyes to the myriad existential philosophies floating around our world (if you believe that kind of thing even exists). Now that you’re not getting your weekly dose of nihilism delivered in McConaughey’s deadpan drawl, you’ve got to make your own way --- no hurry, though, because time is a flat circle.

WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY? by Ylvis and Christian Løchstøer: If you’re reading this book, the fox probably says you’re a pop culture junkie. And that you have a short but sweet attention span. Joff-tchoff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth: It takes a blockbuster movie adaptation to get you to read a book. You’re pretending to be on top of it three years too late.

FRANNY AND ZOOEY by J. D. Salinger: You saw The Grand Budapest Hotel at midnight last Thursday, and you have The Royal Tenenbaums listed as your favorite movie on your OKCupid profile (and you only reply selectively to messages).

UGANDA BE KIDDING ME by Chelsea Handler: You like to party hard with all your celebrity friends and then tell funny stories about it. And you probably stay up late on weeknights.

WORDS OF RADIANCE, Book Two of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson: You’ve been to your fair share of Comic Con conventions. But judging by the length of this book, it’s pretty safe to say you’re patient, and you have some serious upper body strength.

THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt: You’re trendy, and you spend a lot of time at art museums when you’re not birdwatching with your sorority sisters.

HOUSE OF CARDS by Michael Dobbs: You marathoned season two of “House of Cards” last weekend and, much like Frank Underwood, you’re greedy for more, so you’re dipping your ambitious little toes into the book that started it all (and inspired the original UK version of the series).

BARK: Stories by Lorrie Moore: You’re the best, and Emily will marry you.

S. by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst: “Lost” is your all-time favorite TV show, and you’re a big fan of meta storytelling.

LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg: The Spice Girls got you through some of your formative and more awkward years (girl power!), and now you’re a devoted follower of Queen Bey. You like to be in-the-know when it comes to social issues, and you’ve got something to say about them. Or you will, after you’re done reading this book.

YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz: You’ve already read LEAN IN and taken its message to heart, and now you’re in the market for a book with more of a psychological thriller twist to blow off some steam. This hits stores on Tuesday, March 18th.

HUMANS OF NEW YORK by Brandon Stanton: You love to people watch (in a park or not), and ‘tis the season. This book will encourage you to get creative and take on your own Humans of ___________ (insert your city here) project, wherever you decide to lay and graze in the grass.

So while we all sit in the park reading and waiting in anticipation of Keith Richards' (of Rolling Stones fame --- if you don't know, ask your dad) first children's book, coming this fall, we hope you meet your match...or at least someone to hang with for a few hours, maybe grab a beer, take a stroll and talk books.

Our very special Shel Silverstein Special Anniversary Contest is still going on through Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. You must submit a short poem for a chance to win the unbelievable grand prize, which includes a copy of each of the following: THE GIVING TREE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, DON’T BUMP THE GLUMP! 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, A GIRAFFE AND A HALF 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, and LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION. The runner-up will receive the anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE and WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. The top two poems + our 10 favorites will be posted on the site. Get out your black turtleneck because it’s a prize so good it makes us want to rhyme…so set aside some time, and send us something sublime, better get on it because I'm...Click here to enter the contest and/or scroll down for more information on each anniversary book.

We also have a new monthly feature drummed up by staffer Shara Zaval --- REAL TALK Publishing. Over the next few months, we'll sit down with book editors, librarians, booksellers, children's literature professors, book cover designers, publicists, professional reviewers and more, giving you insight behind the books. Through interviews, guest posts and sometimes sneak peeks inside their offices, you'll get to learn more about the book industry and all the work that goes into creating some of the world's best written word.

We're kicking the feature off with Sarah Harrison Smith, the Children's Book Editor at The New York Times. Sarah shared with us details about her day-to-day responsibilities, her favorite (and least favorite) things that she does, and the books she loved as a kid. She also gave us a sneak peek inside The Book Review office, and showed us her bookshelves (picture included on the feature page). Read the interview and learn more here!

We have three great books, along with reviews, to highlight this week. THE CELLAR by Natasha Preston is a Young Adult novel about a girl, Summer, who is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her-and three other girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet. Without seeing sunlight for months on end, will Summer make it? And what about the others? SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler is a remarkable and uncompromising saga that explores the age-old question of whether or not you can ever truly come home again --- and the kind of steely faith and love returning requires. And lastly, but of course not leastly, WONDERKID by Wesley Stace is about a rock band, the Wonderkids, who are living the rock and roll dream life with sold-out concerts, screaming fans, TV shows and Number Ones. But something is wrong. Although the gigs are sold out, the halls are packed with little kids instead of sexy hipsters. And all that screaming sounds more like wailing. The TV appearances are PBS on Saturday morning rather than “Saturday Night Live,” and as for Number Ones, you don’t want to know.

Until next time, here's signing off to big smiles and bright mornings...LOVE you, MISS you, BYE!

Connect with us via Facebook and Twitter, we love to hear from you!

Nicole Sherman (Nicole@bookreporter.com) + Emily Hoenig (Emily@bookreporter.com)

The enticing series from author J.M. Darhower, SEMPRE and SEMPRE: Redemption, are passionate stories about love, sacrifice, death and freedom. Two teenagers, Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco, come from very different worlds. When they fall in love in the midst of a mafia-run sex trafficking ring, they start to question everything they once believed. In the sequel, SEMPRE: Redemption, Haven and Carmine find themselves implicated in the mafia-run organization they once tried to overthrow, and desperately try and find new ground in their relationship.

→ Click here to read an interview with author J.M Darhower.
→ Click here to learn more about the series.

More about SEMPRE:
Two young lovers, Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco, come from very different worlds. When they fall in love in the midst of a mafia-run sex trafficking ring, they begin to question everything they once believed. This is a story about sacrifice...death...love...freedom. This is a story about forever.

Available in eBook NOW. Available in paperback NOW .

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.

More about SEMPRE: Redemption:
In this thrilling sequel to SEMPRE, Haven and Carmine find themselves implicated in the mafia-run organization they once tried to overthrow, and desperately try and find new ground in their relationship.

Available in eBook NOW. Available in paperback on April 1, 2014.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.

We're still celebrating a whole bunch of Shel Silverstein anniversaries, including the 50th of THE GIVING TREE and the 40th of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. It’s hard to believe these books have been around so long, especially when you think about how contemporary and still-resonant their sensibilities are. Shel was among the first authors to write what his editor once described as “good books for bad children,” and we’re so glad he did! What would our childhoods have been like without the irreverent zaniness of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, or the heartbreakingly poignant relationship at the heart of THE GIVING TREE?

So, in honor of Shel Silverstein, we’re running a month-long contest until Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. You must submit a short poem for a chance to win the unbelievable grand prize, which includes a copy of each of the following: THE GIVING TREE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, DON’T BUMP THE GLUMP! 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, A GIRAFFE AND A HALF 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, and LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION. The runner-up will receive the anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE and WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. The top two poems + our 10 favorites will be posted on the site.

There are plenty of great spies in fiction --- The Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes and James Bond, just to name a few. But one of our very favorites is Harriet M. Welsch from HARRIET THE SPY, the girl who walks around her New York City neighborhood every afternoon with her top secret spy notebook, recording her neighbors' activities and thoughtfully munching on a tomato sandwich.

Although Harriet herself will forever be 11 years old, the book HARRIET THE SPY is actually turning 50 this February! We're celebrating by giving away FIVE copies of HARRIET THE SPY: 50th Anniversary Edition, which includes the original story, a map of Harriet's New York City neighborhood and spy route, tributes by such authors as Judy Blume and Lois Lowry and copies of letters between the editor and author.

For this contest, you have until Wednesday, March 19th at noon ET to answer the question "Which literary character would you spy on, and why?" The winning answers will get a copy of the book, and we'll post our top 10 favorites on the site.

Click here to enter the Harriet the Spy 50th Anniversary Contest!

We are looking for contributors for book reviews and blog posts who would like to impart their wisdoms on life, love, books, TV, movies, pop culture and all the other stuff we 20Somethings just can't get enough of. Send a cover letter and writing samples to Nicole@bookreporter.com and Emily@bookreporter.com.

We've heard from some of you recently and send out our sincerest thanks. We can't wait to hear from more!

Not sure you want to commit long-term? We know what that's like and would love to hear your idea for a "one-off" piece if you are not ready for commitment. If you are interested in more of a long-term commitment, the deal is if you write for us enough, we'll add you to our Contributors page.

THE CELLAR by Natasha Preston (Suspense/Thriller)
For months, Summer is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her-and three other girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet. His perfect, pure flowers. His family. But flowers can't survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out. Reviewed by Sheena Kowalski.

HALF BAD by Sally Green (Fantasy, Paranormal)
In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and 16-year-old Nathan, who is both. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his 17th birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch --- or die. Reviewed by Ashley Tran.

THE WINNER'S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski (Fantasy)
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, 17-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him --- with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. Reviewed by Harman K., Teen Board Member.

ABOVE by Isla Morley (Psychological Suspense/Dystopian)
Blythe Hallowell is 16 when she is abducted and locked away in a missile silo a few miles from her home and family. Wanting nothing more than to escape, Blythe will spend the next 17 years below looking for a way above and imagining what it will be like to go home again. When she finally does get above, the world she left is not the one in which she remerges. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

BARK: Stories by Lorrie Moore (Fiction/Short Stories)
In her new collection of stories, her first in 15 years, Lorrie Moore explores the passage of time and summons up its inevitable sorrows and hilarious pitfalls. Here are people beset, burdened, buoyed; protected by raising teenage children; dating after divorce; facing the serious illness of a longtime friend; setting forth on a romantic assignation abroad but having it interrupted mid-trip, and coming to understand the larger ramifications and the impossibility of the connection. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

THE BEAR by Claire Cameron (Suspense)
While camping with her family on a remote island, five-year-old Anna awakes in the night to the sound of her mother screaming. A rogue black bear is attacking the family's campsite and pouncing on her parents as prey. At her dying mother's faint urging, Anna manages to get her brother into the family's canoe and paddle away. But when the canoe runs aground on the edge of the woods, the sister and brother must battle hunger, the elements, and a wilderness alive with danger. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BLACK HORIZON: A Jack Swyteck Novel by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
Three summers after the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, oil is again spewing into the ocean --- from a drilling explosion in Cuban waters 60 miles off the Florida Keys. Representing an American woman whose Cuban husband was killed on the rig, criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck discovers that his incendiary case may be lethally connected to his new wife Andi's undercover assignment for the FBI. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

CELL by Robin Cook (Medical Thriller)
The smartphone is poised to take on a new role in medicine, no longer as a mere medical app but rather as a fully customizable personal physician capable of diagnosing and treating even better than the real thing. It is called iDoc. Radiology resident George Wilson’s initial collision with this incredible innovation is devastating. Is it possible that iDoc is being subverted by hackers --- and that the U.S. government is involved in a cover-up? Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

A CIRCLE OF WIVES by Alice LaPlante (Psychological Thriller)
When Dr. John Taylor is found dead in a hotel room in his hometown, the local police find enough incriminating evidence to suspect foul play. Detective Samantha Adams is innocently thrown into this high-profile murder case, which is more intricately intertwined than she ever could imagine. It turns out that Dr. Taylor was married to three very different women in three separate cities. And when these three unsuspecting ladies show up at his funeral, suspicions run high. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

GEMINI by Carol Cassella (Mystery)
When an unidentified Jane Doe, the victim of a hit-and-run, arrives in Dr. Charlotte Reese’s intensive care unit, she brings with her mysteries --- both medical and personal. As Charlotte cares for Jane, she becomes increasingly caught up in the questions of her patient’s identity and what led to her accident. When Charlotte’s search for answers reveals links between Charlotte and her patient, the repercussions will forever change her life and her understanding of what love can make possible. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.

HOUSE OF GLASS by Sophie Littlefield (Suspense)
Jen Glass has her challenges, despite her affluent surroundings. Her husband has been laid off from his job, and their marriage feels like it is teetering on the brink. Her small son has quit talking to anyone outside the family, while her teenager is increasingly remote. But these problems pale in comparison when Jen and her family find themselves hostages in their own home during a break-in. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

INFLUX by Daniel Suarez (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Particle physicist Jon Grady is ecstatic when his team achieves what they've been working toward for years: a device that can reflect gravity. Their research will revolutionize the field of physics, and Grady expects widespread acclaim for his entire team. Instead, his lab is locked down by a shadowy organization whose mission is to prevent at all costs the social upheaval that sudden technological advances bring. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

KINDER THAN SOLITUDE by Yiyun Li (Fiction)
In 1989, three teenage friends are among the residents of a Beijing quadrangle in which all the neighbors know one another. It’s four months after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Twenty-two-year-old Shaoai, one of the residents, was among the Tiananmen protesters. One day, the friends discover that someone has poisoned Shaoai. This mystery is the backdrop of a novel about jealousy and the ways in which the traumas of adolescence can devastate one’s adulthood. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

MURDER IN PIGALLE: An Aimée Leduc Investigation Set in Paris by Cara Black (Mystery)
A serial rapist has been terrorizing Paris's Pigalle neighborhood, following teenage girls home and attacking them in their own houses. It is sad and frightening but has nothing to do with Private Investigator Aimée Leduc --- until Zazie, the 13-year-old daughter of the proprietor of Aimée's favorite café, disappears. The police aren't mobilizing quickly enough, and when Zazie's desperate parents approach Aimée for help, she knows she can’t say no even if she wanted to. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE PERFECT SCORE PROJECT: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT by Debbie Stier (Memoir/Education)
These days, high SAT scores are seen as the ticket to a good college, merit aid, and ultimately a successful life. Yet for parents, the torment of cajoling kids into studying is made worse by the tangle of conflicting advice about how best to prepare. Debbie Stier made it her mission to cut through that tangle and ace the SAT. As part of her quest, Debbie took the SAT seven times, sampled test-prep methods, and bonded with her test-taking teenage son. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

THE RED ROAD: An Alex Morrow Novel by Denise Mina (Mystery/Thriller)
Police detective Alex Morrow is serving as a witness in arms dealer Michael Brown's trial, where the case hinges on his fingerprints found on the guns he sells. When the investigation leads to a privileged Scottish lawyer who's expecting to be assassinated after a money laundering scheme goes bad, and a woman who's spying on the people who put her in jail, Morrow has her hands full. And that's before she even gets to her family issues. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.

SHE'S LEAVING HOME by William Shaw (Historical Thriller)
Detective Sergeant Cathal Breen believes that the victim of a strangulation may be one of the many Beatles fans who regularly camp outside Abbey Road Studios. With his reputation tarnished by an inexplicable act of cowardice, this is Breen's last chance to prove he's up to the job. Both he and Helen Tozer, a young policewoman assisting him with the case, navigate a world where conservative tradition gives way to frightening new freedoms --- and troubling new crimes. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE STOLEN ONES by Richard Montanari (Thriller)
Luther Wade grew up in Cold River, a warehouse for the criminally insane. Two decades ago the hospital closed it doors forever, but Luther never left. He wanders the catacombs beneath the city, channeling the violent dreams of Eduard Kross, Europe's most prolific serial killer of the 20th century. A two-year-old girl found wandering the streets of Philadelphia by detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano may hold the key to solving a string of murders committed in and around Priory Park. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

TROUBLE IN MIND: The Collected Stories, Volume 3 by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller/Short Stories)
A devoted housekeeper embarks on a quest to find the truth behind her employer's murder. A washed-up Hollywood actor gets one last, high-stakes chance to revive his career. A man makes an impulsive visit to his hometown and learns more about his past than he bargained for. These are among the 12 electrifying tales in Jeffery Deaver's new collection of stories. Plus, Lincoln Rhyme, Kathryn Dance and John Pellam return in stories now in print for the first time. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE TROOP: A Novel of Terror by Nick Cutter (Horror/Thriller)
Once every year, Scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a weekend camping trip. An unexpected intruder stumbles upon their campsite like a wild animal. He is shockingly thin, disturbingly pale, and voraciously hungry --- a man in unspeakable torment who exposes Tim and the boys to something far more frightening than any ghost story. Within his body is a bioengineered nightmare, a horror that spreads faster than fear. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

WHEN SHADOWS FALL: A Samantha Owens Novel by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
Forensic pathologist Dr. Samantha Owens thought life was finally returning to normal after she suffered a terrible personal loss. As she settles into her new job at Georgetown University, the illusion is shattered when she receives a disturbing letter from a dead man imploring her to solve his murder. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME: Life In the Minor Leagues of Baseball by John Feinstein (Sports)
WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME takes readers inside the gritty, no-frills, high-stakes world of Triple-A baseball, which serves simultaneously as a launching pad for superstar careers and as a crash-landing pad for stars who have fallen. Introducing us to eight men --- two pitchers, three position players, two managers, and one umpire --- John Feinstein tells the riveting stories of those who are on the cusp of greatness. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

WONDERKID by Wesley Stace (Fiction)
Sold-out concerts, screaming fans, TV shows, Number Ones. This is the rock and roll dream, and the Wonderkids are living it. But something is wrong. Although the gigs are sold out, the halls are packed with little kids instead of sexy hipsters. And all that screaming sounds more like wailing. The TV appearances are PBS on Saturday morning rather than “Saturday Night Live,” and as for Number Ones, you don’t want to know. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.