Waiting on Wednesday (#311): Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum

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

This week, I'm featuring:

Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.

Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.

Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing. 

Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope. 

Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers? 

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

I've read two of Buxbaum's books and really loved them! I can't wait for something new.

Blog Tour: What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing an interview with the lovely Julie Buxbaum, as part of the blog tour for What To Say Next. This book is Buxbaum's second YA contemporary novel and it is such a wonderful story. Don't miss it, publishing on July 11th!

What To Say Next review | Swoon Thursday | Tell Me Three Things review

Meet Julie Buxbaum!

Alyssa: Hi and welcome to The Eater of Books! So glad you could join me today to celebrate What to Say Next. =) What was the inspiration (or inspirations) behind this book?

Julie: I loved the idea of writing a story about two people who had pre-conceived notions about who the other was, and then connecting and surprising each other. I started with David’s voice. And then Kit popped into my head. It was a lot of fun to sit back and watch them interact.

Alyssa: How was writing What to Say Next different compared to writing Tell Me Three Things?

Julie: What To Say Next required way more research than Tell Me Three Things. I knew that if I was going to represent someone on the spectrum, I needed to make sure I did so respectfully and responsibly. 

Alyssa: I personally think you did just that. =) I know the publishing house has complete control over covers and designs. Do you know what went into the decision to change the color of the cover of What to Say Next? What are your thoughts on the covers (old and new)?

Julie: I much prefer the new cover. The purple on the ARC, while pretty, felt a little too muted to me. With book covers sometimes it’s not about what looks best, but what will pop on a table full of other books. I was worried that the original cover wasn’t loud enough. The final is bright—I love that blue—and the font is cleaner. 

Alyssa: How about the evolution of the title—were you calling the book something else at any point?

Julie: This book has had a million different titles! My personal favorite, that everyone else uniformly hated, was Instructions for Dancing, which was taken from the Magnetic Fields’ song The Book of Love. Still, I think What to Say Next ultimately really suits and fits the book.

Alyssa: LOL! Agreed! What’s another 2017 YA contemporary that you’ve really enjoyed and would recommend for fans of your YA books?

Julie: I really enjoyed When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon!

Alyssa: I loved that book so much. :D What is one message that you’d love young readers to take away from What to Say Next?

Julie: This is essentially a story about two people finding the person they need the most in the place they least expect to find it. I’d love for young readers to realize how important it is to look beyond first impressions and judgments.

Alyssa: Can you tell us anything about any new YA projects you’re working on?

Julie: AHHH! I’m on deadline for a revision for my next book, which will hopefully come out Spring 2018. All I can say at this point is that it’s another YA standalone. 

Alyssa: Thank you so much, Julie! Congratulations on the publication of What to Say Next. =)

Julie: Thank you so much!!!!

About the Author:

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, and the critically acclaimed novels The Opposite of Love and After You.  Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children, and an immortal goldfish. Visit Julie online at www.juliebuxbaum.com and follow @juliebux on Twitter.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

About the Book:

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.

KIT: I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.

DAVID: In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her. 

When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out Tell Me Three Things:

(Click on the cover for more information!)

Swoon Thursday (#221): What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum!

I am kissing David Drucker. I am kissing David Drucker. I am kissing David Drucker.

I  was wrong. I had assumed this would be his first kiss, that it would be fumbling and a bit messy but still fun. No way. Can't be. This guy knows exactly what he's doing. How to cradle the back of my head with his hands. How to move in soft and slow, and then pick up the pace, and then slow down again. How to brush my cheeks with even smaller kisses, how to work his way down to my jaw, and to soften the worry spot in the center of my brown. How to pause and look into my eyes, really look, so tenderly I feel it all the way down in my stomach.

He even traces the small zigzag scar on my eyebrow with his fingertips, like it's something beautiful. 

I could kiss him forever.

I'm going to kiss him forever.

I am kissing David Drucker, and yes, I've forgotten everything else.

Because his lips are back on mine.

Because this, right here, is the best kiss of my life.

- ARC, pages 233-234

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

What to Say Next | Tell Me Three Things

I loooooooved this book! David is 😍 and Kit is 💜 and David and Kit are 😍💜😍💜

Review: What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.

KIT: I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.

DAVID: In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her. 

When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?

What I Liked:

My sincerest apologies to the publisher, who sent a review copy to me, probably with expectations of me reviewing this book about a month before publication. It is April 18th and I hate to review a book almost three months in advance, but I had been dying to read this book for so long and I've had it for months and I couldn't wait any longer! I had fairly high expectations for this standalone, after the perfection that was Tell Me Three Things, and I was not disappointed.

David can best be described as a loner in high school - he is always by himself, in his own world, with his headphones and his notebook and his incredible IQ. David is on the autism spectrum, with high-functioning autism, possibly Asperger's. No one outside of his family and his guitar tutor really talks to him. Until one day, when Kit Lowell sits at his table at lunch. Kit's father died a month ago, and she is grieving in her own way. She pulls away from her friends and wants peace and quiet - which is why she chooses to sit with David, on the day one month after her father died. David is incredibly honest and he doesn't quite have social skills like everyone else. But Kit likes this about him, and realizes that she enjoys his company. And David - David realizes that he enjoys talking to Kit. He has always liked her, but talking to someone like they do is new for him. This unlikely friendship blossoms, but it's not without its problems. But both Kit and David will learn things that they were not expecting, when it comes to Kit's father's death, and they may not be prepared to deal with what comes next.

I think I loved pretty much everything about this book. David, Kit, David and Kit, friendships, family, the "story" (that's a vague term) - everything about this book clicked for me. I don't usually like tough-issue YA contemporary novels, but I really enjoyed this book. Though the book should have carried a dark, depressing tone, it didn't, and I think this definitely boosted my enjoyment. This is a light book (though not fluffy), but it also addressed the deeper issues with a more serious tone. I also loved that it was written in alternating POVs (David and Kit's first-person POVs). 

I'm going to start with David. Ahhh, David! I adored David. You can tell right from the start that he is different. He is incredibly intelligent, and extremely literal, and his social skills and mannerisms are very different compared to many of the other high school students. David has high functioning autism, but you might never know. Unfortunately, the kids at school have always known, and in middle school, many boys were really cruel to him. But David has really grown since then, and he is doing much better in terms of discerning "good" people from "bad" (in terms of their intentions toward him). David is a sweetheart! He is also kind of a superhero - he practices karate and krav maga (though why he learns/practices is heartbreaking). 

Also, I think Buxbaum really captured the struggles of being autistic (David) and having an autistic child (David's parents). So much prejudice and judgment rolled off everyone around David, which infuriated me - but it happens in real life all the time, which is a big part of why it made me mad. The author included so many obvious and subtle reminders of the way society treats those who are intellectually different or "weird".

On the other hand, we have Kit Lowell. Her father died a month ago in a car accident, and Kit has not been handling his death well (that sounds insensitive, I'm sorry!). Kit shuts out everyone, including her best friends and her mother. Talking to David helps Kit, and his friendship matters a lot to her. Kit is such a strong and tough girl, and my heart hurt for her over and over. But I also loved how kind and "normal" she was with David (i.e. she didn't really treat him any differently compared to anyone else). Kit is a good person as well.

And what's neat is that Kit is half-Indian! Her dad is (was) white, and her mom is Indian (as in India). I'm Indian and I always get tickled pink when I stumble upon an Indian main character. You wouldn't  be able to tell (sorry to stereotype, but "Katherine Lowell" doesn't scream Indian girl), and she's half-Indian (as opposed to "full" Indian),  but I love how important her's mother culture is to Kit. Well, the food definitely is. But there are lots of sprinkles of Indian culture and Sikh religion throughout the story, which were subtle and much appreciated. Kit's identity isn't really part of the story (meaning, she isn't struggling with her mixed ethnicity), but I like that it comes up every now and then. 

Also, it's cool that the author did her research in terms of Indian culture, to really nail down Kit's mom. Kit herself isn't as "Indian" as her mom, but the author still made a point to make Kit's mother's culture and past a part of the story. I think the author did just fine with that.

I loved seeing David and Kit's friendship develop! At first it's tentative and awkward, with the two of them trying to navigate each other's worlds. But they fit well together, and they understand each other. I've not read too many books with a protagonist with autism (of any part of the spectrum), so it was very interesting for me to read from David's POV. I loved seeing Kit through his eyes, as odd as his mind is. The progression of their relationship is sweet, from friendship to something more. 

The romance was swoony in a subtle way. There isn't a ton of kissing in this book, but it's a swoony book nonetheless. David is such a sweetheart. Kit is great, but guys, DAVID.

Did I mention that David is seriously good-looking and tall and super muscly from all of that karate and krav maga? Yeah. Intelligent, sweet, tall, muscular? He's my type, I can tell.

Another thing worth pointing out is Kit's relationship with her (existing) friends. She pushes them away, and you would have thought that they would turn into mean girls and ignore her and whatnot. And they did for a second, but I love that they were patiently waiting for her to come back to them (so to speak), and they stuck with her. And they eventually accepted David, which was nice (although took them long enough). I hate Kit's male friends - they are walking cliches of high school douchebags that I hated (sorry not sorry). Buxbaum captured those guys pretty well.

The climax comes up pretty quickly, and it involves something about Kit's father's death. Buxbaum put the together such that Kit's father's death was slowly unveiled to readers, and you knew a big thing was going to be revealed at the end. It seemed periphery compared to all of the changes happening to and between Kit and David, so the big thing took me by surprise. It was heartbreaking, but it made sense. The ending in general is bittersweet, but also hopeful. It made me smile. It's the type of ending that is incredibly realistic, but also very satisfying. I loved it - and the book!

What I Did Not Like:

More kissing! This book is fairly short (though incredibly dense), and what better to plump it up than with kissing scenes? (This is most definitely an Alyssa complaint, don't mine me!)

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book, YA contemporary fan or not. Guys, I'm not a YA contemporary fan. I haven't read anything by Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Niven, or any of those other powerhouse "tough-issue" YA contemporary authors. I haven't read anything by Jennifer E. Smith or Sarah Dessen or John Green or Morgan Matson. YA contemporary is not my thing. But Julie Buxbaum's YA books are so wonderful and so touching. Her books explore so many issues (grief, friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships), and are always very engrossing. This book is different compared to other YA contemporary novels, and not just because of its autistic lead.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I'm a picky rater. I can't wait to read more from Buxbaum! She is wonderful and so are her books. I think I may try her adult books, though I am on cloud nine with her YA books and might stay content with just these. Heart eyes for days!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday (#211): What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

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


This week, I'm featuring:

What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes a charming and poignant story about two struggling teenagers who find an unexpected connection just when they need it most. For fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Niven, and Rainbow Rowell.

Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.

KIT: I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.

DAVID: In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her. 

When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Honestly this sounds wonderful! I'm not a YA contemporary person, but I loved Buxbaum's YA debut Tell Me Three Things, and I am so excited about this new standalone. 

2016 Debut Authors Bash, Featuring Julie Buxbaum!

Hi bibliovores! Welcome to the 2016 Debut Authors Bash. Today, I'll be hosting Julie Buxbaum, author of Tell Me Three Things! 

My review | Swoon Thursday

Meet Julie!

Alyssa: Hi Julie! Thanks for joining me today! And congratulations on becoming a New York Times Bestselling author, with Tell Me Three Things! How does it feel to have your YA debut on that list?

Julie: Thank you! It was ridiculously exciting. When my editor called to tell me, I cried. Like a baby. It was a little embarrassing. But though Tell Me Three Things is my YA debut, it’s not my first novel. I have two adult book out, and so I’ve been writing and part of the publishing community for a long time. And so it was particularly wonderful and validating to have this book, which feels deeply personal to me, make the List! 

Alyssa: Well-deserved, lady! Did you always plan for Tell Me Three Things to be a standalone novel?

Julie: Yes. I don’t think it would have been fair to not reveal the identity of SN in this book, and force readers to wait to find out. As a reader, I always find those sorts of endings frustrating and also I felt like I’d tortured my main character enough. It would have been cruel to keep Jessie from the truth. That’s not to say I may never revisit these characters again--who knows what the future holds--but the book was definitely written as a standalone.

Alyssa: Were you able to give your input on what you wanted to see in the cover? I know authors don’t get much say in covers. Your book’s cover is so perfect for the story!

Julie: Thanks so much! I love, love, love this cover. There was a previous cover that I liked, but did not feel nearly as passionately about, that almost ended up on the book, and at the last minute, I got an email from my editor saying, “We’ve decided to go in a different direction and we hope you like it!” attaching this final cover. And I was so happy, I sent about five million emojis back. I wish I could say the idea to put waffles on it was mine, but it wasn’t. It was all the designer’s. His name is Ray Shappell and he rocks.

Alyssa: And how about the title – was this the original title you had for the story?

Julie: Nope. The book was called Somebody Nobody for a while, and then one day in the shower it hit me that it should really be titled Tell Me Three Things. I pitched it to my editor and agent, and luckily they loved it as much as I did. It just felt right for the story. 

Alyssa: What is one message that you’d love young readers to take away from Tell Me Three Things?

Julie: If just one or two teenagers see their own feelings of isolation or loss or heartbreak reflected in Jessie’s story and find comfort in the fact that they are not alone, then I will be happy. This book was very much written for sixteen year old me, who was grieving the death of my mom and didn’t have any books to turn to that mirrored my own experiences. And it was very much written for all the figurative sixteen year old mes that are out there now. 

Alyssa: What’s another 2016 YA contemporary debut novel that you’ve really enjoyed?

Julie: I loved Jeff Zentner’s debut The Serpent King which is a beautiful contemporary coming of age story.

Alyssa: Do you have plans for more YA books? Contemporary? Anything related to Tell Me Three Things?

Julie: My next book is another standalone YA contemporary and it is set for release in Spring of 2017 and is currently titled What To Say Next. It is my favorite thing I’ve ever written, so I’m particularly terrified for it to come out in the world. 

Alyssa: That sounds awesome! I'll definitely be on the lookout for it next year. And that is it from me! Thank you again for doing the interview, Julie!

Julie: Thank YOU so much!!! 

About the Author:

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, and the critically acclaimed novels The Opposite of Love and After You.  Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children, and an immortal goldfish. Visit Julie online at www.juliebuxbaum.com and follow @juliebux on Twitter.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

About the Book:

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: April 5, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Review: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: April 5, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

What I Liked:

I took a chance with this book; I'm not a YA contemporary person, and I knew that the romance in this book could go in several different directions. Obviously we all want her to end up with her secret emailing admirer (even without reading the book, you're rooting for him!), but we also know that the person emailing her might not be someone she likes away from the screen. So, I was worried about a love triangle or something of the sort. I am very happy to report that there was a very linear romance, and the story was beautiful and heart-wrenching and lovely!

Jessie's mother died two years ago. Her father remarried, and now she and her dad are living in L.A. with his new (rich) wife Rachel, and Rachel's son Theo. Rachel is paying for Jessie to attend a very fancy and preppy private school, Wood Valley High School. Jessie's first week is a disaster, and most people noticed - specifically, an anonymous person referred to as Somebody/Nobody, who emails Jessie, encouraging her and telling her details about Wood Valley High. Jessie is wary at first, but finds herself chatting online with SN more and more. She wants to meet her peer, who knows who she is, and has been a friend throughout the rough transition. But what if the person behind the screen isn't someone she likes in real life?

This book was absolutely stunning, inside and out. Can we just talk about the cover for a second? I thought it was interesting, when I first saw it, and that was one of the reasons why I accepted the book for review. But now that I've read the book, I can appreciate the cover even more. "Waffle" is Jessie's favorite word, and it has another significance in the book (several, actually). Love!

Oh Jessie. Her pain and anger and frustration and numbness felt so real and tragic. I could see myself reacting exactly as she did, in terms of the big move, her father ignoring her feelings, her new stepmother, her new stepbrother, her new school. I love Jessie so much - she is someone to whom I can relate, someone real, someone likable. Even if you aren't entirely like her, you can relate to her on some level. Jessie is down-to-earth (especially compared to these snobs in Wood Valley High), intelligent, determined, hard-working, smart with money, humble... someone that I would be friends with, in real life. 

I LOVE how real all of Buxbaum's characters seemed to me! Wood Valley High is very different from my high school, yet the high school experience is (for the most part) is at least similarly and generally understood by most. This high school is filled with rich snobs, with perfect hair, model good looks, weird organic food... I've never been to L.A., but I can stretch my imagination and believe it. 

Anyway, secondary characters. Jessie's new friends Dri and Agnes are so sweet. Agnes is a little strange at first, but I liked her. Theo, Jessie's stepbrother, seems like a tool at first, but I warmed up to him quickly. He's actually a nice guy (though I still refuse to think of him as a "decent" guy). 

We have our potential SN guys: Caleb, a rando who doesn't really play a big role throughout the book, but is very convincingly like SN. Liam, a senior, who plays a larger role in the book, and has been nice to Jessie from the start. And Ethan, Jessie's English partner for a project, who is good-looking but also a bit cold. Distant? He plays a huge role in the book, especially as Jessie's partner for the English project. 

I'll just say it - there is no love triangle. Or square. Or pentagon, pyramid, rhombus, whatever. No geometry whatsoever, except for a straight line. The romance in this book is VERY linear. I love the romance, honestly. Jessie falls for this certain guy in real life, and she also develops a strong connection to SN. Whoever is behind the screen is someone that understands and cares about her, and by the climax of the book, Jessie is convinced that it's one of those three boys. I really like how the romance turned out. TRUST ME when I say that there is no love triangle. There is emotional and physical interaction only with one guy... the right guy. *wink*

So that's the romance. And I mentioned the characters. I also loved the "tough-issue" story, how heartbreaking and inspiring the story is. Loving a parent, and then the other (to a stepmother), moving cross-country, starting over in a school filled with people that look down on you... nothing comes easy, for Jessie. I love her strength of character, and how she grows as the story continues. This book isn't so gritty and difficult to read that a non-contemporary person like me would stop reading. No, this book was beautiful and achingly sweet to read.

I am so pleased with this book. The story is incredible, the heroine is so strong and inspiring, and the romance is really sweet, without having any physical intimacy (which is so great, in its own way). I kind of love how Jessie is able to connect with someone so powerfully, in this age of technology and behind-the screen interactions. I really adored this book!

What I Did Not Like:

I know I just said how I loved that this book had no physical intimacy in it (like the only kiss comes at the very end, in the "reveal" scene). BUT I also personally find this to be a negative because I looove physical interactions in a book that has such a great romance in it! However I can see how that wouldn't really fit, in this book. But still.

Would I Recommend It:

I so recommend this book! I'm not even a YA contemporary person, and I'm recommending it. Have you seen the amount of positive reviews on Goodreads? This book is so worth the buzz that has been floating around. Give it a chance! I tend to stay far away from YA contemporary - especially those dealing with "tough issues", but this book was really worth the read.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (I'm not really sure why I'm rounding down, but it doesn't quite feeling like a five-star read to me). Such a wonderful book, and a fast read, too! I'm glad I took a chance on this one.

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Interview with Julie Buxbaum:

Alyssa:  Hi Julie!  Thank you so much for joining me today on my blog! And congratulations on the upcoming publication of your YA debut!

Julie: Thank you so much for having me here and for the congrats! I’m super excited about this book and joining the YA community. 

Alyssa: How was writing this novel different from writing your other (non-YA) novels?

Julie:  Honestly, the experience of the actual writing of this book wasn’t all that different than with my previous novels, other than the fact that this time my main character is sixteen. I think teenagers these days are incredibly sophisticated readers and so I felt no need to adjust my writing level.  I did spend a lot of time honing Jessie’s voice and making sure it sounded authentic, but I do the same thing with my older characters too. 

Alyssa:  Did any personal experiences affect or influence this book, specifically or generally?

Julie: Yeah, this turned out to be a deeply personal book for me. The idea originally came from the fact that I once received an anonymous email which ended up having an unexpectedly profound impact on my life. But even more than that, I, like Jessie, lost my mom young (at fourteen) and that experience more than anything else shaped who I am as a person and I have to admit a lot of those feelings got poured into this book. I’m not Jessie, but I definitely understand and empathize so much with her experience with mother loss. 

Alyssa: That is so interesting, about the email! Really touching. :) How about this cover – do you think it fits the book well?

Julie: Covers are so tricky, but I like this one.  But maybe it’s because I happen to really, really love waffles... 

Alyssa: Now that I've read the book... I have an even bigger appreciation for the cover. ;D If you could recommend one YA contemporary novel that readers might enjoy if they like this book? How about the reverse – if readers enjoy _____ novel, they’ll enjoy TELL ME THREE THINGS?

Julie: I don’t know if this is a comp to TELL ME THREE THINGS, but I recently read and loved Courtney Sheinmel’s EDGEWATER, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. As for the reverse, I think if people like SIMON vs. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA, they’ll hopefully also enjoy TELL ME THREE THINGS. 

Alyssa: Julie, thank you again for taking this time to talk about your book! Best of luck with the final months to come. :)

Julie: Thank you and thanks so much again for hosting me here! I really appreciate it! 

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Check out a swoony excerpt!

(Click on the graphic!)

Swoon Thursday (#154): Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum!

(Note: I took out the boy's name! The mystery must remain alive, given the specific premise of this book.)

"Three? I don't have a three. My head is still spinning."

"I have one."

"Go for it."

"Three: I want to kiss you, like, very much, please."

"You do?" I ask.

"I do," he says, and so I turn toward him, and he turns toward me, and even though we are in this random IHOP and our table is full of the bizarre array of uneaten foods [redacted] has ordered to allow us to keep our table for the past three hours - pancakes, of course, but also pickles and apple pie - everything falls away.

It is just him and me, [redacted] is [redacted] is [redacted] and Jessie is Jessie is Jessie, ad his lips touch mine.

But sometimes a kiss is not a kiss is not a kiss. Sometimes it's poetry.

- ARC, page 325

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That is the last scene, the last lines of the book. I found that I couldn't not pick a scene from this book, even though there was a lack of PHYSICAL swoons in this book. It was very swoony in a non-physical way, this story. I ADORED this book. Seriously, go see how much I loved it. I'm not a YA contemporary person (usually) but this book was quite good!