Book Journey

Eighteen year old Gia Winters really could be defined as having it all.  She lives in a beautiful Hollywood home, has a movie star father and an ex-playboy bunny for a mother.  Her closet is stocked with high-end clothing and shoes and she will be graduating soon from her prestige High School.

Yet when Gia’s father receives a disturbing envelope in the mail everything changes.  Suddenly Gia and her brother Mike have body guards to be by their side 24/7.  And while Jake, Gia’s bodyguard is in his early 20’s and is definitely easy on the eyes, he puts a large cramp in Gia’s style.  On top of it all, they have to keep the whole body-guard thing a secret, so Jake is introduced at school as a family friend who has come to stay with them; something that does not sit well at all with Gia’s boyfriend Branden.

Then Gia starts receiving the mysterious texts and eventually phone calls…. someones says they are watching her and they do seem to know a lot about who she is with and where she will be.  When Gia is asked to be a host at the Golden Globes she is thrilled; but is she making herself an easy target for the creepy stalker who has said in not so many words that he will be at the Globes event and that he will be getting his revenge.

Revenge? 

For what?

 

 

This is one of those books that I don’t think I would normally pick up.  It’s a little YA meets Valley girl…. it’s lite and fun and about rich kids and their families….. but what sold me on this one is the witty dialogue that runs throughout this entire book.  Saba Kapur writes in a way that makes me smile and she had me from the synopsis.  And just the starting paragraph of this book let me know that I was in for something a little different, but I was pretty sure I was going to like it:

There comes a point in everyone’s life where you need to step back and consider the hand you have been dealt.  I’m not going to lie to you; some people have it way easier.  I am not going to sit back and tell you the world is fair, because truthfully, you’s laugh your head off and throw a drink in my face.  I guess it probably won’t hep to mention that I’m someone who has it fairly good in the luck department.  At least I suppose that is what you would call someone who’s been born and raised in a world of glitz and glamour.  Lucky.  So before you go and complain about how I’ve got it all, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

 

This book seriously was a joy to read.  Protagonist Gia is witty and funny.  The dialogue is amazing in this book and I have to hand it to author Saba Kapur who has written this book at the age of twenty and is releasing this as her first novel.  I enjoyed getting to know Gia very much.  The playful banter between her and Jack is a lot of fun to read…. add Milo to the mix and well…. yeah.  Even better.   At moments I felt a few vibes from the movies Clueless and Legally Blonde…. but also a sense of a younger Janet Evanovich series….  (I think it is the whole Jake, Milo scenario…. it felt like rooting for Morelli or Ranger)

Admittedly there are several moments that I had to suspend belief while reading this book.  There were times I though “that could not happen”, but all in all I really enjoyed reading this fun lite book and reality be dammed; I enjoyed it. I read this book in two days curious about what was going to happen.  I had a hard time putting it down.

I recommend giving this book a try.  I for one will be curious as to what this young author comes up with next.  I would not mind seeing some of these characters revisited.

 

A little Author Q and A

1. What inspired you to write Lucky Me? Where were you when the idea came to you? When did you decide to write it?

The idea for Lucky Me actually came to me in the shower! I was in tenth grade, and had been spending a lot of time in the library. High school drama was at its peak, and I found my solace among books. I think that’s where most of my urge to write came from. This idea just popped into my head and I typed up a rough first chapter, and decided to continue from there. I never wrote it with the intention of having it published; it was initially just a hobby. The idea for the book developed from various places. I had noticed that, particularly among my generation, the focus on young celebrities was growing in Hollywood, which really intrigued me. I wanted to write something that was funny but also had an element of mystery, as those are my favorite kinds of books to read.

 

2.  How did your love for fashion influence the characters and story?
Fashion is something that I’ve always been interested in, and because of the setting of the novel, it was easy to incorporate it throughout the book. There is no singular definition of fashion, and I love that it’s so subjective and fluid, because it allows you so much opportunity for fun and creativity. I tried to integrate this sentiment into Gia’s personality, but of course tailored (no pun intended) to suit her lifestyle. The importance of looking good is extremely influential among my generation, especially with young celebrities as role models. I felt that Gia would be incomplete or inauthentic without including her love for fashion

 

3. Did you base Gia’s character off of anyone in particular?
Gia is a product of many influences. I tried to develop her as a combination of some of real-life celebrities and my favorite female characters, taking a few personality traits from each one. Gia definitely has elements of Cher Horowtiz (from one of my favorite movies, Clueless) with her love for fashion, and Blair Waldorf (from the books and TV show, Gossip Girl) who I spent most of high school pretending to be! In reality, Gia is really a heightened depiction of my own personality. We are different in so many ways (namely, I don’t make as many poor life choices and do not own a single pair of Louboutins). But we are very similar through our sarcastic and witty personalities. Gia also shares my love for Audrey Hepburn, who I have idolized ever since watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in seventh grade.

 

4. What authors do you look up to and why?
This may sound a little clichéd, but I try to learn something from every book I read. If there’s a particular writing style I like, I try to incorporate it into my own writing. I have such respect for so many authors, particularly those who write in my preferred genre, such as Meg Cabot, Janet Evanovich and Sophie Kinsella. They have completely mastered the art of mystery, humor and romance.

 

5. What are your favorite books? In what ways have they influenced your writing?
It’s a little ironic that I couldn’t even get through a novel without giving up out of boredom, until about sixth grade. I truly owe J.K. Rowling a lot, as Harry Potter was probably the first series of books that I decided were just too good to give up on. Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella are the authors who have had most influence over shaping my writing style. Every time I read one of their novels, it really motivates me to make my writing as endearing as theirs. That being said, my favorite book of all time is The Godfather, by Mario Puzo. It’s my father’s favorite book, so it’s extra special to me that we can share our appreciation for the story.

 

 

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Amberjack Publishing (April 5, 2016)

 

 

Peter the star basketball player for his High School works hard to keep his grades up and keep his high maintenance girlfriend happy.  He is not sure if it is love, but she is the cutest girl in the school and any guy would love to be in his shoes…. but is he doing what he wants, or what everyone expects of him?

Eliza just wants to graduate and escape.  Her mom left a long time ago, her father is slowly dying and she is tired of it all.  Escape is the answer.  Escape this town, these people, and her reputation.

Anita is the perfectly put together straight-laced student.  She doesn’t party and she is on the fast track to Princeton,  She has dreams but her parents have done what they can to squash them.

Andy lives to skateboard, drink, and smoke it up.  He doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about planning for the future by knowing what he wants to do with his life.  He has years to decide.

Or does he?

A blue star seems to have ripped its way into the atmosphere.  Experts say it is an asteroid on a collision course with the earth that will have the effect of a million nuclear bombs.  As the time ticks down to the asteroids arrival, for these seniors as well as the rest of the world, suddenly everything that was once important… grades, futures, statistics, college…. none of it really means anything at all.  So what, when it comes down to it is really important?

 

 

 

This book had me from the cover.

I was in a book store looking for a different title when this one called to me.  I loved that mysterious cover.  What are they looking at?  And I loved the title.  The synopsis, a “Breakfast Club” type grouping of misfits int here own way, and an end of the world scenario.  SOLD.

There was much to love about We All Looked Up.  I loved that Peter is a jock with a heart and a conscience, I loved Eliza’s black and white look at the world…. nothing gray.  Anita with her hidden passion, Andy who goes along with the wrong crowd even when he knows he should choose better for himself.  Underneath it all… these kids have heart.

As much as I want to gush over this book…. I admit I might have been a bit started for a good sort of YA potential dystopian read.  AND there was much I did love about it.  Unfortunately there was so much put into this book so much happening in such a short time frame that I have to admit I don’t think it was fully flushed out.  This could easily have been broke down into a three book series and dealt with the many loose ends to keep the reader engaged all throughout the countdown.

I did pass this book on to a friend and I am curious as to what she will think.  I still love the book…(there are great literary references!)I just feel there could have been more to it.  In the end I had questions about many things unanswered in the book.  The book was still a win for me, I am just a little disappointed that it had all the makings of a home run read and I feel left between second and third base.

 

 

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 24, 2015)