Monday, June 29, 2015

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway ~ Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway

 Source: Received a paperback ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.


About EMMY & OLIVER:
Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.


Links for EMMY & OLIVER:

Review:

Totally loved this book.  It's funny, sweet, serious and perfectly YA.  

I love Emmy.  She's so funny and I found myself giggling at her so much.  Her response to her parents over protectiveness was adorable.  And her unique style was so much a part of helping Oliver.  She cares about him.  She always has and that hasn't changed.  But it is awkward at first.  Of course, Emmy has a way of dealing with that that was just perfect! Tongue out and eyes crossed, she draws the smiles out of him.  Perfect.

And, of course, I love Oliver.  He was dealt a raw hand.  He feels like he's been punished twice and for things he didn't do.  I never really thought about how someone would handle being returned after so long of being gone from their family.  It was interesting to watch Oliver as he tried to deal with going to high school through this painful period of his life.  Oh, and the teacher in me?  I thought I was going to go ballistic on some milk carton bullies!  I would have brought those brutes down if that happened in my school.

I loved Drew and Caro too.  This whole story is so much about friendships and the strength and pain from them during some of the hardest times of our lives, high school.  This is my first book by this author and I was impressed with her teen voice.  Funny and tortured at the same time, but totally believable. 

The romance in this one is sweet and perfect.  I loved all the stolen kisses, whether is was Emmy and Oliver or Drew and Kevin.  Very high school.  

I don't read as much YA as I have in the past but this is the kind of YA books I love.  It's real and it's, at times, emotional but it's also light and sweet.  It's that perfect time of life where everything feels so much bigger than it is and yet all the world stand before you.  I raced through it, thoroughly enjoying every page of it.      

 



About Robin Benway:
I'm the author of "Audrey, Wait!", "The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June", and the AKA series. My new book "Emmy & Oliver" will be released on June 23, 2015. I live in Los Angeles with my extremely stubborn shih tzu, Hudson. I've gotten a lot better at cooking. I still love coffee. We should be friends.

Also, I never use this Goodreads account, so if you'd like to contact me, feel free to find more info at my website!

Links to Robin:



Giveaway:
2 upcoming fall ARCs from HarperCollins:
Galley of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson
Galley of WHAT WE SAW by Aaron Hartzler
*US Only*


a Rafflecopter giveaway





11 comments:

  1. I am very eager to read Emmy & Oliver of course -- that's why I stopped to read this post and take a look at the giveaway opportunity. I cannot believe my good fortune however in finding here a chance to win What We Saw -- that is one of the must reads of the year for me! Thanks for this great feature and amazing contest. Cheers, Kara S

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  2. I am so glad you wrote this review. I was put-off by E&O because I thought it was a knock-off of Eleanor and Park. I loved E&P and just didn't want anyone messing with that formula. Sounds like this is a book that stands all on its own. Thanks for reviewing!

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  3. This one seems more cutesy than I first thought it would be. Great review- Emma seems like my type of person.

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  4. This book sounds so good and the perfect YA read. I gotta check it out. Great review!

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  5. As a mom of a teen who loves to read YA and is pretty opinionated herself this books sounds like one we would both really love to read!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  6. This book sounds like such a sweet story, and I can't wait to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  7. I've been watching for reviews of Emmy and Oliver. Thanks for reviewing it. And what a treat of a giveaway, two fall ARCS!

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  8. Wonderful review,thanks!

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  9. Emmy & Oliver sounds like a story that I would really enjoy. I love when an author can write Y.A. and give their characters a teen voice. I think it's wonderful that this story had emotional moments, as well as light-hearted and humorous ones. This story sounds like it focused on friendship, as well as how difficult life can be during the teen years when we are growing up. Beautiful Review Val :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  10. After reading dystopian YA almost exclusively, I have been reading other YA genres, especially contemporary. Emmy and Oliver is definitely on my to-read list. As for the fall books, I devoured the Girl of Fire and Thorns series, so I cannot wait to read the new Gold Seer Trilogy. Not too familiar with the other book/author but I always love finding new books.

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  11. (Alisha Sienkiel in rafflecopter)

    Emmy & Oliver sounds like such a sweet story! Thanks!! :)

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