#novlers

[thenovl]

Check out Megan’s full Defy the Stars review here.

[sincerelykarenjo]

Instructions for a Secondhand Heart by @tamsynmurray absolutely broke my heart and then wonderfully pieced it back together. It’s painfully real, incredibly affecting, and just so beautifully written that I still can’t stop thinking about it. Tamsyn Murray created such a lovely story about loss, self-discovery, second chances, and love. The emotions I felt while reading this book made my heart hurt, but also filled it with so much hope and joy. @thenovl #Secondhandheart #LBYRPartner #novlbooksquad #novlers #thenovl 💕 . Read my full review here - https://sincerelykarenjo.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/review-instructions-for-a-secondhand-heart-by/ OR click the link in my bio 💕 . Huge thanks to @thenovl for sending me an advance readers copy! 💕 . #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #booklover #bookphotography #bookreview #bookreviewer #booknerd #bookworm #reading #yabooks #ireadya #yalovin #contemporary #bookislove #readallthebooks #igreads #booksofinstagram #instabooks #instareviews

[chriscolfernews]

Win the February NOVLbox curated by Chris Colfer

Rabbit rabbit, NOVLers! It’s February!

And it’s going to be a very happy February for ten lucky readers…because this month’s NOVLbox is curated by Chris Colfer, award-winning actor, bestselling writer, and author of the new YA book, Stranger Than Fanfiction (out February 28th and if you pre-order now, you can get a free magnet. More details here). Chris has written some amazing middle grade fantasy with his Land of Stories series, but now he’s back with another little something for an older audience, AKA you guys! Stranger Than Fanfiction is the tale of one TV star and four super fans on an epic, bumpy road trip across the country. It’s a hilarious and honest look at life in the spotlight and discovering your true self. We can’t wait for everyone to read it—And we just might be able to help a bit. You’ll have to enter to find out! 😉

[dailychriscolfer]

Win the February NOVLbox curated by Chris Colfer

Rabbit rabbit, NOVLers! It’s February!

And it’s going to be a very happy February for ten lucky readers…because this month’s NOVLbox is curated by Chris Colfer, award-winning actor, bestselling writer, and author of the new YA book, Stranger Than Fanfiction (out February 28th and if you pre-order now, you can get a free magnet. More details here). Chris has written some amazing middle grade fantasy with his Land of Stories series, but now he’s back with another little something for an older audience, AKA you guys! Stranger Than Fanfiction is the tale of one TV star and four super fans on an epic, bumpy road trip across the country. It’s a hilarious and honest look at life in the spotlight and discovering your true self. We can’t wait for everyone to read it—And we just might be able to help a bit. You’ll have to enter to find out! 😉

[ketabism]

• بابا گفت: فقط یک گناه وجود دارد. آن هم دزدی است. هر گناه دیگر هم نوعی دزدی است. می فهمی چه می‌گویم؟ مأیوسانه آرزو کردم کاش می‌فهمیدم و گفتم: نه، باباجون! بابا گفت: اگر مردی را بکشی یک زندگی را می‌دزدی. حق زنش را از داشتن شوهر می‌دزدی. حق بچه هایش را از داشتن پدر می‌دزدی. وقتی دروغ می‌گویی حق کسی را از دانستن حقیقت می‌دزدی. وقتی تقلب می‌کنی حق را از انصاف می‌دزدی. می فهمی؟ متن از @novler www.ketabism.com #کتابیسم #کتاب #بادبادک_باز #خالد_حسینی (at Tehran, Iran)

[thenovl]

Happy Galentine’s Day, NOVLers! Today we’re celebrating friendship in all its forms, from unexpected connections to complicated high school cliques to closer-than-siblings bonds and more. In case you need a little themed reading material or a last minute Galentine’s Day gift for your BFF, we’ve compiled a list of our six favorite friendship reads:

1. The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone

Summer in the Hamptons isn’t looking so dreamy for Sadie, whose BFF is away at camp. But after she rescues a baby and a video of her good dead goes viral, she meets five very different teens also heralded as “hometown heroes”. Together, can they actually make the world a better place?

2. Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer

Bestselling author and actor Chris Colfer’s funny and fast-paced novel is all about the power of fandom to create friends for life. The four protagonists are a  band of misfits linked by their love of the hit television show Wiz Kids. When one of them jokingly invites the star of the show on their road trip, they’re shocked when he actually agrees. The vacation quickly becomes a messy whirlwind adventure that will put their bond to the test.

3. Those Girls by Lauren Saft

With a tagline like “Some girls will always have your back, and some girls can’t help but stab you in it”, you already know this book isn’t pulling any punches. But the truth is, the closest of friendships can get messy—especially in high school. Alex, Mollie, and Veronica may be BFFs on the outside but deadly secrets and drama just might tear them apart unless they can confront their demons.

4. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Read about the adventures of the students at a boarding school for young ladies, where they learn all about dance, dress, death, and diversion. To make it as a spy in this steampunk Victorian world, Sophronia won’t just have to ace her very unusual lessons—she’ll have to learn rely on her fellow classmates and new friends.

5. Define Normal by Julie Anne Peters

From National Book Award Finalist Julie Anne Peters comes a quick read about a very unlikely friendship between a punk and a prep—perfect if you’re busy but still want to squeeze in some Galentine’s Day reading!

6.  Invictus by Ryan Graudin

There are crews and there are crews. Farway Gaius McCarthy, captain of a black market time-traveling space ship, puts his life in the hands of his loyal squad every day as they traverse the galaxy. But when a mysterious girl sabotages a mission on the Titanic, this colorful cast has to really stick together to unravel the conspiracy threatening to tear them apart.

[thenovl]

Me, My Shelf, & I | Stef

Introduce Yourself | I’m Stef and I’m the Marketing Manager here at LBYR! 

Favorite Book of All Time | AKA the worst question in the world. However it always comes down to choosing between children’s books—adult books don’t even make the semi-finals! I probably have to say Charlotte’s Web. I have vivid memories of my Dad reading this to me and helping me learn to read at the same time. Or Jenny’s Birthday Book. It’s a picture book about a little black cat named Jenny Linksy, who lives in NYC. It was out of print for a long time and I was so obsessed my mom photocopied pages at the library until she could track down a copy. Luckily now it’s back in print! 

Favorite LBYR Book | The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns. While the entire series is great, Book 2 made me adore The Land of Stories. It’s accessible and fun for young readers, but it’s still hilarious and exciting for adults too! It’s one of my favorite books to convince people that children’s books aren’t just for children.

Book You’ve Been Meaning to Read for a While | Gone With the Wind. To be fair, I’ve been reading this for about two years. I refuse to get the ebook edition of it but that means I also am reluctant to carry around a 900+ page tome. So I decided to leave it at my family’s house and when I go home for vacation/holidays I get to read a chapter or two. I actually kind of like savoring it in this way! (Although I PROMISE I will finish it one day!)

A Signed Book on Your Shelf | I used to work at an Indie in my hometown that held a lot of book signings so I’m very lucky that I’ve met some amazing people over the years. I could never pick a favorite but a new addition to the collection is Lindsey Vonn’s Strong is the New Beautiful. I’ve been a skier and racer my entire life and it was the first time I met someone and couldn’t control my inner fan girl. I was speechless (which as you can see from my wordy responses is VERY rare)!

Unexpected Book that You Love | Crime & Punishment. I took a Russian Culture class in college which ended up having a focus on Russian Literature. I think a lot of it had to do with the Professor, but I ended up loving this book. I’ll admit it’s a little slow in the beginning but totally worth it! This is still my college copy, notes included, that I saved from multiple garage sales, donation boxes, etc. since my parents (and some well-meaning roommates) think that I couldn’t possibly care about holding onto such a dry book. 

Non-Book Bookish Item | A miniature Max from Where the Wild Things Are. This book technically also ranks in my top favorites of all time, and I could probably recite it by heart, but Max actually hangs out on my office bookshelf. His mischievous grin always makes me smile!

Currently Reading | Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld and Mad Enchantment by Ross King. Mad Enchantment is about Claude Monet and the painting of the water lilies. I visited Paris for the first time last year and seeing Water Lilies at Musée de l’Orangerie, displayed as Monet intended, was the first time I actually got teary-eyed over a piece of art. I had to learn more! And then I wanted some fun fiction too so I picked up Eligible, the modern take on Pride and Prejudice.

Thanks, Stef, for a peek into your bookish world! NOVLers, thanks for joining us once again for Me, My Shelf, & I. If you want to meet more team members, check out the rest of them here. As always, stay bookish! See you in the next installment.

[thenovl]

Hey there, NOVLers! Or should we say NaNoers? If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo this year, we’re sure you already know you have two weeks left to write your novel! And whether you’re right on track or desperately avoiding contractions to up that word count, chances are your brain’s a little fried.

Well, here at NOVL, we believe books are the perfect cure for that! Sure, reading takes a backseat during NaNoWriMo, but there’s no reason to totally drop this stress-buster even if you’re busy furiously typing away. So here are our five reading recs to unscramble your NaNoWriMo brain:

Nonfiction

Chances are you’re writing fiction—and we love novels! But switching it up with a little nonfiction might give your idea generator some time to recharge, whether you reach for a moving story of friendship, a laugh-out-loud journey of self discovery, or a powerful historical graphic novel.

Novellas

Pressed for time but still want to read? How about a novella? You can get lost in Prague for a night, read a swoony book from inside the world of Famous in Love, or fill in the blanks between books in a series.

Short Stories

Okay, so you’re really pressed for time? Just grab a collection of short stories and tear through a couple—take your pick from honest and real LGBT+ tales, funny, geeky fics, or sweet holiday romps. 

Picture Books

So you’re hopelessly behind, huh? Well, there’s always picture books! Don’t laugh—they’re perfect for a quick pick-me-up. Lemony Snicket just published a funny story of bad moods and ice cream, or you could read a hilarious poetry collection that has plenty of clever jokes for grown ups. And don’t forget about the beautiful art many of these books contain.

NaNoWriMo Books

Ready for hard mode? This one’s not for the easily intimidated...but if you want some serious motivation, read a book that started as a NaNoWriMo project! It’s mind-blowing to look at published novels that began as frenzied November drafts, but maybe that’s just the inspiration you need. There are so many to choose from—so get reading and get writing! We’re rooting for you over at NOVL!

[thenovl]

Six Things We Learned at YALLFest 2017

Hi NOVLers! YALLFest has come and gone, and we had such an awesome time running around Charleston, South Carolina at the YA event of the season. Three members of the NOVL team were in attendance—Elizabeth from marketing, Valerie from digital marketing, and Katharine from publicity. We spent our time giving out swag, organizing ARC signings, and feeling the bookish love from all the amazing fans in attendance. Give us a shout if you’re a blog reader who was in the crowd!

But if you didn’t make it, don’t worry—we’ve condensed our weekend of nonstop excitement into six things we learned at YALLFest this year:

1. The YALLFest team knows how to make us feel welcome!

We spent Friday afternoon scoping out the scene and wandering Charleston...and what did we stumble upon but a beautiful NOVL tent with a big sign! And check out our yellow goody bags, courtesy of the YALLFest organizers. Yes, there was food inside. Cheesy popcorn and cookies to be exact. A promising start to the festivities.

2. NOVL colors look amazing even when it’s cold, windy, and cloudy.

Even though we flew south for YALLFest, the weather was cold—in the 40s without a lot of sunlight! But nothing brightens up a booth like NOVL colors. Hot pink and bright blue for life! 

3. YA fans bring the love for debut authors.

Emily X.R. Pan was scheduled to sign ARCs of her debut novel, The Astonishing Color of After, for an hour…but we gave out all one hundred copies in thirty minutes! So many people came by to chat with Emily and commented on the gorgeous cover.

4. Book dads are the real MVPs.

YALLFest brings YA fans of all ages to Charleston, but we have to give a shout out to all the parents who showed up on behalf of their bookworm kids! There’s just too much going on for one person to wait in all the ARC lines, and that’s when a book dad steps in. Literally.

5. YA authors have the best hair.

Okay, we’re sure many of you are already aware of this, but seeing Laini Taylor and Ryan Graudin side-by-side really sends the message home. They stopped by the NOVL booth with Laini’s husband Jim Di Bartolo—illustrator of Night of Cake & Puppets! Cue a surprise mini signing of NOVL notebooks for some lucky fans.

6. YALLFest is exhausting but definitely worth it.

At last, the day was over. We packed up our things (there wasn’t much since all the swag had vanished), and took one last booth pic. Val had repurposed a tablecloth as a blanket, Katharine was using an empty box as a chair, and Elizabeth was so tired she tried to read the YALLFest program upside-down. But hey…if you aren’t ready for a nap after YALLFest, you’re doing it wrong!

And that’s that! Another YALLFest in the (NOVL) bag. Now who’s ready for YALLWEST 2018?!

[thenovl]

Me, My Shelf, & I | Nisha

Introduce Yourself | Hiya, I’m Nisha. I’m the Associate Director of Creative Services. I head up the design team and manufacture all the great swag the marketing teams come up with. I used to make books, but this is so much more fun!

Favorite Book of All Time | Pride and Prejudice. And yes, I know choosing a classic may be a cop-out, but I refuse to pick a favorite, there are just SO many, I can’t be expected to choose! To be fair, I love it so much that rereading it a ton of times just isn’t enough…nope, I’ll read prequels, sequels, retellings, um, pretty much anything to do with P&P (and yes, I’ve read fanfiction–don’t judge me).

Favorite LBYR Book | Hands down, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. I’m a long-time fan of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice and refuse to stray from her version of vampire canon…until we published this book.

Book You’ve Been Meaning to Read for a While | Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Highly recommended by several coworkers–it’s currently sitting on my to-read pile.

A Signed Book on Your Shelf | Not just one, but I have a signed copy of every book Lee Child published after 2004.

Unexpected Book that You Love | World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. So much more than just a zombie story (side note: though I enjoyed the movie, it has NOTHING to do with the book).

Book(s) that You Think Everyone Should Read | The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Currently Reading | I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. I’m about a quarter in and so far it’s pretty creepy.

Another one! Thanks for stopping by NOVL, Nisha. And NOVLers, thanks for reading—if you missed the previous ones, check them out here. Stay tuned for more installments of Me, My Shelf, & I, and as always, stay bookish!

[thenovl]

What was inside the October NOVLbox?

Hey NOVLers! We’re back with another reveal, and this time we’re sharing the contents of the October NOVLbox, curated by Sherman Alexie. Sherman picked out some amazing bookish goodies in honor of the 10th anniversary of his modern classic, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. So what was inside it?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (10th Anniversary Edition)

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Ash by Malinda Lo

Banned books mug

Hamster eraser (According to Sherman, just because!)

Shakespearean insult bandages

Like what you see? The next one won’t be the same, but we can promise that it will be just as awesome! Enter to win the November NOVLbox, curated by A Clockwork Reader, booktuber extraordinaire!

[thenovl]

What was inside the August NOVLbox?

Hey NOVLers! We’re back with another reveal, and this time we’re sharing the contents of the August NOVLbox, curated by Ryan Graudin. Ryan picked out some amazing bookish goodies in honor of her newest book, Invictus, a  time travel sci-fi adventure. When you finish reading it, you’ll be dying to join Farway and his crew for a journey across the galaxy. But until time travel is invented, ten lucky winners will be able to keep themselves busy with these prizes!

Invictus by Ryan Graudin + Invictus swag

Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Mini Rubik’s cube

Red panda bookmark

Time travel pen

“Pastport"

Like what you see? The next one won’t be the same, but we can promise that it will be just as awesome! Enter to win the September NOVLbox, curated by Jennifer Rush, author of the Altered saga and Devils & Thieves!

[thenovl]

Happy last-month-of-summer, NOVLers! Doesn’t it seem like the season is just racing by? Well, never fear– You still have some time left to soak up the sun, and what better way to do that than by lying outside, getting lost in a great read?

So who’s picking out the great reads and other goodies for this NOVLbox? None other than the amazing Ryan Graudin! Her newest book Invictus is a space odyssey unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Think Joss Whedon’s Firefly meets Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger with some extra mind-bendy moments thrown in for good measure. After all, this is the author of Wolf By Wolf we’re talking about. Invictus isn’t out until September 26th but in the meantime, maybe Ryan’s NOVLbox will tide you over!

What’s a NOVLbox? It’s a care package curated by one of our favorite authors. What’s inside? It’s a mystery! If we told you, we’d ruin the fun. But… we’ll give you a hint of what to expect. Check out the archive to see what curators have included in the past!

How It Works:

Enter HERE for a chance to win.

We’ll select & notify 10 lucky winners at the end of the month.

A surprise will be waiting in the winners’ mailbox!

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

[thenovl]

Happy September, NOVLers! Autumn is here, and as much as we love summer, we couldn’t be more excited for all the awesome things that fall brings-- the return of pretty scarves and boots, cute school supplies, pumpkin flavored treats, and more. Things get a bit dark, but there’s plenty of excitement in store... sort of like Devils & Thieves!

That’s right, Jennifer Rush is the curator of this month’s NOVLbox! In honor of Devils & Thieves, the author of the Altered Saga has picked out bookish prizes galore, and we can’t wait for you to see them. Devils & Thieves is one part Beautiful Creatures, one part Sons of Anarchy, and many parts mystery, action, and swoony romance. The book is out October 3rd, but if you win Jennifer’s NOVLbox, you just may find it waiting for you inside...

What’s a NOVLbox? It’s a care package curated by one of our favorite authors. What’s inside? It’s a mystery! If we told you, we’d ruin the fun. But… we’ll give you a hint of what to expect. Check out the archive to see what curators have included in the past!

How It Works:

Enter HERE for a chance to win.

We’ll select & notify 10 lucky winners at the end of the month.

A surprise will be waiting in the winners’ mailbox!

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

[thenovl]

What’s Inside the July NOVLbox?

Attention all NOVLers! It’s time to find out what was in the July NOVLbox. This box was curated by Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Hearts We Sold, a paranormal tale of deals and demons that will suck you in from page one. She picked out some awesome prizes related to the book, so without further ado, here’s the big reveal!

The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones (and a bonus pin). Of course Emily’s new novel makes an appearance-- and it’s sure to steal your heart.

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones. X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat YA sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

Ash by Malinda Lo. A lyrical and riveting queer retelling of Cinderella. Ash is a fairy tale about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Titsy Totsy bath bomb. Chosen for both the shape and the scent! Did you know that Portland is the rose city?

Berry tea. Perfect for tea addicts just like Emily!

E. E. Cummings art print. "I carry your heart with me” takes on a whole new meaning here...

NOVL tote. So you never have to leave home without all these goodies!

Want to win your own NOVLbox? We’ve just opened entries for the month of August! This time, Ryan Graudin has put together a box of bookish prizes in honor of Invictus, an epic adventure through time and space, full of colorful characters and plot twists.  Fill out an entry form here for a chance to win!