Ana of California Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway


Ana of California by Andi Teran

 Release Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Penguin Books
Rated: YA/Adult 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository ● B&N ● Kobo 
Goodreads ● Website
A modern take on the classic coming-of-age novel, inspired by Anne of Green Gables.

 In the grand tradition of Anne of Green Gables, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and The Three Weissmanns of Westport, Andi Teran’s captivating debut novel offers a contemporary twist on a beloved classic. Fifteen-year-old orphan Ana Cortez has just blown her last chance with a foster family. It’s a group home next—unless she agrees to leave East Los Angeles for a farm trainee program in Northern California.

 When she first arrives, Ana can’t tell a tomato plant from a blackberry bush, and Emmett Garber is skeptical that this slight city girl can be any help on his farm. His sister Abbie, however, thinks Ana might be just what they need. Ana comes to love Garber Farm, and even Emmett has to admit that her hard work is an asset. But when she inadvertently stirs up trouble in town, Ana is afraid she might have ruined her last chance at finding a place to belong.

When I found out that Ana of California was based on L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, I knew I HAD to sign up for the blog tour. Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the books in the series are some of my favourite books that I read when I was younger. I loved reading about Anne’s adventures as she grew up, that all starts at Green Gables. I even went to Prince Edward Island, where the book is set, when I lived in Canada, and visited the house that inspired Green Gables. It was closed though at the time, but my mom and I kinda just went past the ticket booth just to get a glimpse of the house. I loved visiting PEI–it was such a magical place and I could totally envision the setting mentioned in the series as my family and I drove around the area. Anyway, that being said, I was also a little afraid going into Ana of California because Anne of Green Gables is such a treasured classic (for me as well as plenty of others) and sometimes retellings can go wrong. I was so happy that this wasn’t the case. I enjoyed Ana of California immensely, and loved the parts of the book inspired by the original classic as well as Teran’s own spin to the story.

 I haven’t read Anne of Green Gables in a long time, but I don’t think much is mentioned about Anne Shirley’s past. What I liked about Ana of California is that Ana does have a past, which is slowly unveiled as the book goes on. It was a slight mystery to begin with but of course, learning about it later on in the book also supports the idea that Ana opens up to these people in Hadley. I also liked the diversity featured in this book–Mexican heritage, Native American heritage, a character who’s a lesbian–the characters in this book come from all walks of life. In this book we also get to see a bit more of Abbie’s story, which was pretty interesting. I think that’s why this book, despite having a fifteen/sixteen-year-old protagonist, was marketed as an Adult book–although it’s very clearly a YA book despite the label. I just wish we got to see more from Emmett’s point of view, but there’s also a bit of mystery to his character that is revealed towards the end of the book.

 As I mentioned before, I haven’t read the classic in a while, but some things that did pop up in Teran’s reimagining reminded me of Anne Shirley’s story. For instance, the hair incident? That’s truly a part of the original story that I can’t forget! So glad that it was included in this one–I was hoping it would be when I started it. There’s also the argument Anne has with Mrs. Rachel Lynde, who spurs this hatred from Anne because she calls her ugly, in Anne of Green Gables. Ana has a similar spat with a similar woman, and seeing the parallels between the two situations, in this novel and in the classic, made me nostalgic. All the references to Montgomery’s book just made me want to re-read the series even more!

 Ana of California was a real treat: I savoured this book from start to finish. From the beautiful descriptions of the farm to Ana’s wonderful musings to the intertextual allusions to various rock songs, Andi Teran’s fantastic debut has rekindled my love for Anne of Green Gables, making me fall in love with Ana’s story as well. Can’t wait to read more from this author–hopefully, it’ll be another delightful reimagining.

If you like this, try...


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 ANDI TERAN
Andi Teran is a writer and performer originally from the deserts of West Texas. She has written about fashion, film, and culture for Vanity Fair, MTV, New York, and Monocle, as well as written and performed for various New York stages. She lives in Los Angeles. Ana of California is her first novel.

 Website ● Goodreads ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Instagram
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Giveaway time!
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(1) of (5) finished copies of ANA OF CALIFORNIA by Andi Teran!


US ONLY

Enter via the Rafflecopter below:

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Click on the button above to follow the rest of the tour!

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Thank you so much to FFBC Blog Tours for having me along!
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Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

 Release Date: March 10, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rated: YA 15+
Format: eGalley
Source: Edelweiss
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website
Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

 In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

Even though I’ve only read two of Lauren Oliver’s books, she’s definitely an author that’s an automatic must-read for me. After finishing Vanishing Girls, it made me want to pick up the Delirium series where I left off–I never got around to reading Pandemonium and Requiem despite loving the first book. Other than the one big thing I just didn’t understand with this book, this book was amazing. Yup, you heard me. One problem, but the rest was fantastic. The writing is impeccable: Oliver truly has a way with words. She makes writing look seamless and easy, but if you look closer it’s really a complex story that I don’t think anyone else could have written.

 This story, in essence, is about sisters–Lauren Oliver makes this very clear from even before the book starts. I have a younger sister (and a younger brother as well, but this book is about SISTERS so I’ll leave him out of this), and because I’m the oldest child and older sister I felt like I could relate more to Nick. I mean, I’m sure other people would as well because her POV pretty much dominates the book, but just the way that she always has to look out for Dara even if she doesn’t want to, or being frustrated with Dara a lot of the time. Obviously, my sister and I are nothing like Nick and Dara, so there’s really no comparison. Anyway, even though you don’t really hear much from Dara’s perspective you still do get quite the picture of her from Nick, which truly helps with seeing how different and how similar they both are. Parker is another character who is heavily featured–and causes some conflict and makes things a LOT more interesting–and I really liked his character. His character that changes the relationship between Nick and Dara, and it’s a pretty unsettling atmosphere between all three characters when he’s thrown into the mix.

 The eGalley I had was missing artwork–there would be spaces in the text where it would say ARTWORK TK. It was kind of sad for me, because I love books with photos, illustrations, maps, etc., and missing out on it in an eGalley takes away from the experience of reading such a book. I tried finding out what the missing “artwork” was and I believe it’s photos? I don’t know, because the only one I found was a photo of two sisters at the beginning of the book. It was just a small thing, but I just wished the eGalleys and early copies would have the artwork present just for the experience or to add to the tone of the book.

 As I mentioned before the main problem I had with this book was the end. Don’t get me wrong, the end was a HUGE twist that I didn’t see coming. At all. I didn’t have a problem with how it ended, but more with how it actually works out with the book. It’s more to do with the whole story surrounding the big twist. I’ll probably have to re-read this book just to see how it all plays out because, despite the shock from the twist making my mind go nuts trying to figure out how I didn’t guess what was going to happen, I need to figure this out on my own and take into account all the warning signs and foreshadowing that occurs beforehand.

 Vanishing Girls is a riveting psychological thriller that will capture readers from the start and won’t let go even past the end. Lauren Oliver is a master of her craft and has created a novel that will be difficult to forget. Dark, tense and mesmerising, do not hesitate to pick this one up: it’s beautiful, it’s sharp, and it’s absolutely extraordinary.

If you like this, try...

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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 147

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It’s to spotlight upcoming books that I’m DYING to get my hands on!
This week’s WoW is:
Hunter by Mercedes Lackey
Centuries ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were slashed open allowing hideous fantastical monsters to wreak havoc; destroying entire cities in their wake. Now, people must live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the evil creatures constantly trying to break in. Only the corps of teen Hunters with lightning reflexes and magical abilities can protect the populace from the daily attacks.

 Joyeaux Charmand is a mountain girl from a close knit village who comes to the big city to join the Hunters. Joy thinks she is only there to perform her civic duty and protect the capitol Cits, or civilians, but as cameras follow her every move, she soon learns that the more successful she is in her hunts, the more famous she becomes.

 With millions of fans watching her on reality TV, Joy begins to realize that Apex is not all it seems. She is forced to question everything she grew up believing about the legendary Hunters and the very world she lives in. Soon she finds that her fame may be part of a deep conspiracy that threatens to upend the protective structure built to keep dark magic out. The monsters are getting in and it is up to Joy to find out why.
September 1, 2015 ● Goodreads

Hunter sounds kind of like The Hunger Games with a fantasy aspect. I’m really looking forward to this book–it sounds pretty original and topped off with a gorgeous cover, so it’s no wonder why I can’t wait to have this book in my hands. I got approved via NetGalley so I can’t wait to start it! :D

What are you waiting on?
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Summer Reading #3

I’ve decided to start sharing what I’ve read this summer! BECAUSE THERE IS ACTUALLY MORE TIME TO READ :D Here’s what I’ve read these past two and a half weeks:
Most of the books I read were from Pansing–as they’d sent me a big box with a ton of books for review earlier in June–with a few other books for review here and there. Still nothing for pleasure, I’m afraid!

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender ••• Goodreads
Every Day by David Levithan ••• Goodreads
Six Earlier Days by David Levithan (a novella in the Every Day paperback) ••• Goodreads
Another Day by David Levithan ••• Goodreads
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten ••• Goodreads
Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall ••• Goodreads
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine ••• Goodreads
Here are the books I read on my Kindle:


Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn ••• Goodreads
Ana of California by Andi Teran ••• Goodreads

 Tons of great books here (and some not-so-great) and I can’t wait for you to read my reviews of them! Some of them won’t be coming out until late July, unfortunately :( Oh well, better to be ahead than behind!

Have you read any good books recently?
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