Kelly Approves is a new feature I’ll be doing every two weeks or so where I’ll either recommend a book I absolutely loved and convince you guys to read it or introduce you guys to a book I’m really looking forward to reading and explain why. There will be giveaways and even some author interviews to help get to know the authors behind their books included in this feature!
Today, I’m introducing a book I’m really looking forward to reading, THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE along with an interview with Jennifer Mathieu! Make sure to enter the giveaway for an ARC of THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE, courtesy of Macmillan!
The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Summary:
Why I Approve:
It’s no secret that I am in love with books that deals with secrets and the truth. The synopsis of The Truth About Alice leaves me wondering why does everyone want to bring Alice down? Is she a horrible person or is there a darker, more sinister reason why? I can go on and on with all my questions, guessing about what’s going on like crazy.
Add a gorgeous cover into the mix and I am sold on the book.
Interview with Jennifer Mathieu:
1. Tell us something we don’t know about you, something we won’t discover from a simple Google search.
Okay, here is a fun/weird fact. I’ve been claustrophobic most of my life, and in my early twenties I went for about two years without riding an elevator alone. It was a huge hassle and embarrassing, too. I was able to ride them with another person although it still made me nervous, but I couldn’t ride the elevator alone because I was too terrified I would get stuck in there by myself. I got over it through breathing exercises and practice. Over the years I’ve learned a lot of people struggle with this. I’m pleased to say I can now ride elevators with few issues, but I still don’t enjoy closed in spaces!
2. Did you have to do any research for The Truth About Alice and if yes, what was the creepiest/weirdest/most gross thing you had to research about?
I didn’t really have to do much research unless you count observing and listening to high school students as research! I teach high school English and just being around teenagers offers great insight into getting the high school experience to seem authentic on the page. Or at least I hope it sounds authentic. For my current project, I am doing a lot more research, but for The Truth About Alice my research basically consisted of doing a lot of observing of the teenagers I know as well as reflecting back on my own teenage years.
3. What part of The Truth About Alice did you struggle to write?
Without giving too much away, there is a critical scene at the very end of the book told from Josh’s point of view. It involves Josh and Brandon. That’s a scene I rewrote many, many times. I struggled with getting the plot points right, but I also struggled to get Josh’s voice and emotions right in that scene as well. I’m very pleased with how it turned out, but it took a lot of work and a lot of guidance from my editors Nancy Mercado and Kate Jacobs.
4. What’s your favorite line in The Truth About Alice? Why is it your favorite line?
My favorite line comes at the end of the book, and it’s part of Alice’s only chapter. Alice says, “There’s one thing I’ve learned about people: they don’t get that mean and nasty overnight. But if you give people enough time, eventually they’ll do the most heartbreaking stuff in the world.” It came to me very easily when I wrote it, and it stayed that way through all the revisions and edits. I think it’s my favorite line because it sums up so much of what I wanted to say in the book – that we are all capable of hurting one another if we aren’t careful. We can break the hearts of others if we aren’t sensitive.
5. I’m sure many people are wondering (well, at least I’m wondering), is there a love triangle in The Truth About Alice?
There is no love triangle in this book, but I promise you there is quite a lot of conflict!
My favorite things include chocolate, pepperoni pizza, and this super hilarious 1980s sitcom about four retired women called The Golden Girls. I can basically quote every episode.
I live with my husband, son, one rescue dog, one fat cat, and another cat that is even fatter than the fat cat.
When it comes to what I read, I love realistic young adult fiction (duh), creative nonfiction, super scandalous tell-all memoirs and unauthorized biographies, and basically anything that hooks me on the first page.
Terms & Conditions:
- This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY.
- The giveaway will run until May 6, 2014.
- You must be 18 years or older, or have parents’ permission to enter.
- All your entries will be disqualified if you pickup entries for something you haven’t done. (I had to do this for so many of my last giveaways, please don’t make me do this again.)
- If you only use ONE account to do all these tasks and enter under different names, they will still only constitute as ONE entry.
- If the winner does not respond to my e-mail within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner.
- I am not responsible for any items lost in the mail.
This sounds like a really good story. I’m intrigued!
Anna G recently posted…Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
I’m interested especially since secrets and truths sometimes are so intertwined! Makes me really want to read this book! Thanks for this great giveaway!
I haven’t read too much about this book but this really does sound like a great read. I’m sure she got plenty oresearch just teaching her class. Observation is a great tool!
Oh my gosh, this sounds really interesting! I love how unique the snyopsis is. Other characters writting about the main character? Now that sounds fun! I am now intrigued!
Amber @ bookish wonders
This book looks so intriguing, and went on my wishlist the first time I saw anything about it!
Sarah recently posted…Review: Wake
I am normally not a big fan of high school books but this sounds interesting…
Claire @ Bitches With Books recently posted…Casting Director: The Magicians (The Magicians #1)
This book sounds great, it has all the ingredients to make a good story. And I find it unique that the characters write about Alice instead of being her telling the story.
Thanks for the giveaway! :)
I’ve heard that this book is really awesome so I can’t wait to read it. High school was the worst and I am so glad that there wasn’t social media when I was a teen. Rumors were bad enough without the electronic means to spread like crazy!
I have an eARC of this one, and I’m really excited to read it as well! I’ll admit it, that cover totally drew me in and was probably 75% of the reason I requested it. But now that I’ve read the synopsis fully, I’m actually looking forward to reading it!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…Top Ten Characters Who Influence Me
I totally agree with you on the cover part Kelly! Since the first time I saw it, it just drew me in! And this was an awesome interview. I can’t wait to read more of these on other authors. There’s definitely a lot to learn about the people who write our favorite books, but other than the mini bio at the back, there’s not much else to learn about them unless you read interviews, but sometimes even those don’t offer a lot of insight into the writer. I’m glad I’m not the only one who had the problem with the elevators. Their good for taking short cuts, but there’s always a chance in getting stuck in one. And those movies where elevators drop down super fast make it worse! :P
I read this last month and it was amazing. There’s so much about this book that I love that I cannot really get into it without spoiling. But just know, it’s fantastic.
Ashley recently posted…Discussion : Blogging and The Real World
I actually have this as an e-arc, but I don’t tend to carry my iPad every where I go since its such a hassle. It would be great to own an actual physical copy since I much prefer it than an e-book version. This book has also been on 2014 anticipated list and I’ve been wanting to read for such a long time! Thank you so much for the opportunity! :)
Kharthiyaa recently posted…My Reading Life #3
I’m really excited about this book, and you’re right that cover it fricking’ awesome! This is probably one of the first author interviews I have read and it was great, I should really read them more :)
Georgie @ What She Reads recently posted…STORYBOARD: N’2
Aww I loved The Truth About Alice and I have to just say, that scene that she’s talking about that was the hardest to write in Josh’s POV, I thought that part was done so well because I really did believe it :) Ugh I just hope everyone loves this book because it was seriously so honest and not anything that I was expecting :) Thanks for sharing, Kelly! <33
Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday (6): Funniest Characters
This sounds so good!
Can’t wait to get my hands on this book!!! Everyone’s raving about it!!!
Aneli Navarro recently posted…krisswy:
#prayforsouthkorea
I’ll just snatch the ARC from my friend once she completes reading it. I just love the cover, it’s really unique. :-D
I’m sure I’ll love it. Great interview Kelly!!!
Satty recently posted…ARC Review: Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike !!!
I’m really looking forward to read this book. It seems intriguing. Good luck to the author!
I’ve been stalking this book for so long just waiting to buy it! I loved finding out that Alice has a chapter I was wondering what her say would be in the book!
Thanks for the great post!
Katie McCue recently posted…Book Review: Don’t Even Think About It – Sarah Mlynowski
I love books told from multiple perspectives! This looks interesting!
No love triangle? On the TBR list it goes! :)
I’m definitely intrigued. Thanks for sharing!
Danielle @ Love at First Page recently posted…Waiting on a Southern Gothic Romance
I was interested in this book and now I am even more keen. Jennifer seems so lovely, and I am keen to read that chapter between the boys that she spoke about! :D
I feel so special that I knew about this feature early. <3
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity recently posted…A Letter To: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Truth about Alice seems really interesting. It’s refreshing, told from the perspective of people around alice, all very different people from the same school :) Can’t wait to read this!!!
Hello, I was interested in this book and now with the interview and your review I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
carine verbeke recently posted…Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L armentrout
This book looks so amazing! Jennifer Mathieu is such an awesome writer!
This sounds like it would be a great read.
Informative interview
I really want to read this book! I keep seeing it around, and each time, I want to read it more and more!!
Heather C. recently posted…Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Orenda by Ruth Silver
This book sounds amazing! And the author seems so nice! I loved that quote that she chose as her favorite. Can’t wait to read it!
It sounds amazing and I really love how it was written in multiple points of views so we get to hear everyone’s perspective.
You are lucky to be able to interview Jennifer Mathieu. I actually like the idea of a mom-author. Haha. If you know what I mean. It’s cool!
Clarisse recently posted…Book Release- Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Well I haven’t previously read anything by Jennifer Mathieu, but the synopsis for this sounds so intriguing – I can’t wait to pick it up!
This book has been on my wish-list for a while! Thanks for sharing the interview, also so good to gain some insight from the author. :)
Joy @ Thoughts By J recently posted…Book Review: Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) by Victoria Scott
So, so , so, so exited for this one . Eeeep . Aaaaaaaah contemporary love
Roro recently posted…REVIEW: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
the story sound really good!
thanks for making this international!!
I’m so excited to read this after reading the interview and seeing everyone’s comments!
Also Jennifer, I definitely feel you on the claustrophobic part. I am too, not enough that taking the elevator is difficult, but once I had 5 MRIs in one week and it was AWFUL! It’s so tight in the machine, my heart is beating fast just thinking about it!
I am looking forward to this book now that I’ve read the synopsis… I don’t knpw why but I get a Thirteen Reasons Why vibe from this book… I need to get my hands on this NOW!