Moving on to day 17 and another awesome guy story, this one by J. A. (Jon) Yang.
Anthology story: Perfect Firsts
First line:
You’d think it gets easier each time, but you know what that song says: breaking up is hard to do.
The premise of this story is incredible. And the ending … aw, *sniff*.
2009 Debut: Exclusively Chloe
Catch up with Jon: visit his blog. And when you do, make sure to read his post on The Game of Publishing.
Up today is Lauren Bjorkman!
Anthology story: The Shark King
First line:
My phone pings–a text from my friend Emilia: Caught a boy yet?
Oh, you will not believe what she does catch! Another sweet story that will make you want to book airline tickets to Hawaii.
2009 Debut: My Invented Life
Forthcoming: Miss Fortune Cookie ~ look for it in 2012!
Catch up with Lauren: visit her blog
Moving on to day 8 of 25 Days of Debs. Today’s featured Deb is Jennifer Brown. Something you may not know about Jennifer. She’s a two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award.
Anthology story: Against The World
First line:
Dear Sugar,
You were born on December twenty-first.
Like all of Jennifer’s YA fiction, this one tackles a emotional subject.
2009 Debut: Hate List
Most recent: Bitter End (nominated for a YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults)
From Booking Through Thursday:
What’s the best book you read this year?
Worst?
Favorite?
So many books (I’m at sixty for the year, not sure I’ll make it to sixty one). But let’s drop them into a hat and pull out some winners.
Best book goes to: War by Sebastian Junger.
Worst book goes to: one I read for the Ritas that I cannot (fortunately) disclose. Sorry, I’m not allowed to. Honest.
Favorite book goes to: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Yes, it’s a re-read. I read it last year. In fact, I’m thinking of making it a traditional December read, I love it so much.
Other great books I read this year:
Young adult fiction:
What I Saw And How I Lied by Judy Blundell Post WWII. Deception! Lies! Best meeting the love interest scene ever!
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta I think I liked Jellicoe Road a little bit better but I ❤ Melina Marchetta.
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson Road trip romance! Inner and outer journeys! Good stuff!
Young adult fantasy:
Plain Kate by Erin Bow Make this my second favorite book of the year. Loved it. Loved. The. Cat. Cried like a baby at the end. *Sigh*
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. Melina Marchetta does fantasy! Is there nothing she can’t write? Excellent fantasy.
Incarceron (Incarceron, Book 1) by Catherine Fisher More good YA fantasy. I’m looking forward to book 2.
Young Adult mystery:
The Agency 1: A Spy in the House and The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee. Victorian era young adult mystery with an intriguing and smart heroine and the swoon-worthy James. And yes, I’m looking forward to book 3.
Other good books:
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees Intriguing, and now I’m on a LMA kick, so naturally I had to read:
Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen
I read all three Tana French novels this year:
In the Woods
The Likeness
Faithful Place
I think Faithful Place was the best written of the three, but I enjoyed all them.
Writing Wrongs 