Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to my stop for One Week Girlfriend. Don't forget to check out the awesome guest post from Monica as she answers my question, New Adult: Why is it the next big thing? And, of course you won't want to miss my
review and the two awesome giveaways.
Thanks for stopping by!
One Week Girlfriend
ebook, 185 pages
Published January 11th 2013
GoodreadsNew Adult Contemporary Romance
**Mature situations and sexual content - recommended for ages 17+**
Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I’m working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I’m my little brother’s temporary mother since our mom doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I’m that temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least.
But now I’m the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He’s beautiful, sweet—and he’s hiding way more secrets than I am. He’s brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is…
Me.
I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him.
Forever.
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Bio:
Monica Murphy is a writer, a wife and a mom. She drinks too much coffee and spends too much time in front of her computer. She likes to read, she watches bad reality TV and she sometimes acts younger than she really is. Though most of the time she's sure her kids think she's a complete buzz kill.
One Week Girlfriend, a new adult/contemporary romance, is Monica's first book
New Adult: Why is it the next big thing?
New adult. I remember hearing this word buzzing around as the latest and greatest new subgenre back in 2009 (I think St. Martin’s had that contest?). They tried to make it happen and it failed. Epically.
Fast forward to now. The new adult craze exploded in 2012. Self-publishing helped make it happen (I’d go as far to say that it literally did make it happen). Both traditional and digital-first publishers followed suit, snapping up those self-published books or putting out submission calls asking specifically for them. Now you can’t avoid hearing the words new adult buzzing around. It’s an entirely new subgenre that is hot, hot HOT and it doesn’t seem to be dying any time soon.
Thank goodness. Not only do I love reading new adult, I love writing it. Of course, it has its roots in YA. I remember reading Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles almost three years ago. They were seniors in high school but damn. Alex Fuentes was seriously hot. I always wished the author could’ve taken it a lot further…
Okay yes, fine I’m a pervert. I can’t help it. I like the sexxin’.
Thinking back on that book though, I realize it straddles the line between YA and NA—at least in my opinion. Bump the couple up in age to being in college and bam. There ya go, instant new adult. There are other YA books that are similar (a more recent one is Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry—gah, I loved that book so much!), that straddle that line with the main characters being almost adults, but not quite.
I think that’s what I enjoy most about new adult. Those first few years after high school, your late teens to early twenties, are somewhat turbulent times. You’re trying to figure out what you’re going to do with your life. You’re usually in your first relationship. You’ve moved out of the house, you’ve made new friends, you’re in college, you’re working, you’re trying to be responsible but failing miserably. You’re making mistakes…lots of them.
There’s a certain desperate vibrancy to those years. Hey, they might’ve happened to me a long time ago but I haven’t forgot what those years were like. You feel invincible. Yet you’re also extremely vulnerable. You’re afraid to go after what you want yet…you are balls to the wall sometimes and say or do something really crazy. It’s confusing. And exhilarating.
To a writer, it’s filled with material for an endless amount of stories.
Readers in this age group have gone from some fabulous YA books to…hmm. What exactly? I mean, most of the NA books have romance in them and most offer a happily ever after for the couple but not always. So there are some fabulous romances out there but maybe they don’t feel ‘young’ enough for those readers. They want to be able to relate to characters that are going through the same experiences and struggles they are.
Enter new adult.
I had a realization last week while watching Bravo (go ahead, make fun of me, I deserve it). I was addicted to the reality show Gallery Girls which ran a few months ago. I’m now addicted to Vanderpump Rules. What do these shows have in common? Young (early twenties, most of them), beautiful, messed up people trying to figure out what the hell they’re going to do with their lives. They’re new adult for television! No wonder I love them so much.
And no wonder I love both reading and writing new adult so much. The characters are usually young, beautiful, messed up people trying to figure out what the hell they’re going to do with their lives. I mean, who can’t resist that?
Not me.
I have a feeling new adult will be around for a long time…what do you think?
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A Pretty Woman vibe, that is a quick read with great drama that slowly is uncovered and is shocking! With secrets, a growing relationship, and a wicked, wicked step-mother. One Week Girlfriend is a drama filled read!
Fable and Drew, are basically two strangers who come together over strange circumstances.
What are those circumstances, you ask? Well Drew is in college, a seemingly all-American guy. Quarterback star, in college, rich, and good-looking, he seems to have it all. He doesn't have a current girlfriend and never really dates. He is heading home over Thanksgiving break and needs a fill-in "fake" girlfriend.
That's where Fable comes into play. She's a bartender at the local "college" bar hang-out. Drew has seen her around and some of his friends have bedded her. She's attractive but doesn't have the life Drew has. She comes from the opposite side of the tracks. Poor, not in college, and having to be a mother figure to her thirteen year old brother. Fable has a lot of responsibility, because her mom is less than stellar. She's a drunk and barely keeps a job. So, when Drew approaches her, with his crazy scheme of having her be his "One Week Girlfriend", she's hesitant, at first but when he offers her money in exchange for being his girlfriend, it's an offer she can't refuse, knowing that every dollar will help her household situation.
What happens when Drew takes her home to meet his Father and step-mom turns out to be a strange situation. Drew's father seems distant, and his step-mom fits the term "wicked step-mother" to a tee.
What at first turns out to be Fable thinking she'll have a pretty good time with "faking" there relationship, quickly turns out to be the least she expects, as secrets are unfolded, and we learn there is so much more hidden behind that good ole American boy's life, and why he chose to "fake" a relationship in the first place. But after a week of faking it, it seems their relationship could be so much more, and maybe they could have a chance at being together.
This book was full of surprises and SECRETS!!! I was thrown at all the drama that slowly unfolds from it, as we learn of Drew's past, and why his step-mom is so creepy, and vile! Without spoiling the rest for you I can say that when you learn of all the secrets from Drew's life, you will be SHOCKED, and emotional.
Drew's step-mom was all sorts of bitchiness. She was totally manipulating. She is the type of person who is a cold, calculating, and a conniving bitch. She deceived everyone, and YES, I HATED HER! By the end you really wanted to see her go down on her sorry ass! I'm really hoping she does go down in the next book in the series.
I liked Fable, she was a great character. She took care of her family and was responsible. I don't think of her any less because of her decision to be Drew's fake girlfriend. I didn't even think it was weird to do what Drew did when he "hired" Fable. I liked how she was thrown in a situation and stood for herself and fought for Drew. I also loved how she was trying to be there for her brother, and take care of him.
I will most definitely be continuing on with this series. Not only to see where these two will go from here, but I NEED/WANT to see the B*tch go DOWN!
Tour Schedule:
January 12th – Shh Moms Reading
January 13th – Sugar and Spice Book Reviews
January 14th –Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews
January 15th – I Love Indie Books
January 16th – Whirlwind Books
January 17th – Stick Girl Book Reviews
January 18th – The Boyfriend Bookmark
January 19th – The Autumn Review
January 20th – Books Over Boys
January 22nd – Shh Moms Reading
Giveaway for this stop is an e-book copy of One Week Girlfriend
Monica will be giving away a $25 amazon gift card to one winner selected from all stops.
I think New Adult will only grow and like that these books are getting their own classification.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one to come out!
ReplyDeleteLove fun books like these
ReplyDeleteFable sounds like a great character to read about, as well as taking care of responsibility.
ReplyDelete(not entering, just saying hi)
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I've been hearing a lot of good reviews about this book. Usually I'm not into this kind of reads, but it does sound interesting. That cover is sexy =) What are my thoughts on New Adult? It's still new to me and I guess it'll take some time to get use to that genre.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any New Adult yet, actually. It's on the to-do list. You know how that list is. I've seen review for this book around a few places, though, and I have to say, I am itching to read it. Must work through that to-do faster.
ReplyDelete~ Lindie
I love that it isn't a predictible story, looking forward to checking it out
ReplyDeleteI bought OWG a couple weeks ago and can't wait to read it! I'm so glad you liked it, Lisa. Great review and great guest post!
ReplyDeleteI think it will stick around i look forward to reading it
ReplyDeleteI love NA and I think it will stick around -- it's such a good blend of adult and YA!
ReplyDeleteI really like NA because since I'm 18, I feel like I'm stuck in the in-between stage. I can't really relate to the ones set in highschool and I'm not really ready for the adult ones yet, so I think i'll stick around for the NA.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, thanks for the chance to win!
Am quite excited by the idea of New Adult, I mean YA books with sex? Yippee my ideal combo in a good book, lol!!
ReplyDeleteOooh! This looks so good! I haven't really jumped into the New Adult genre, but this is tempting.
ReplyDeleteI personally love the idea of New Adult. I have been reading YA since i was 17 and now i am at that age that i want a little more sex and adult content without going to full adult books. I hope it sticks around because they have a follower in me. Thanks for the giveaway..
ReplyDeletejenna :)
Well I'm welcoming all sub-genres of Romance.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Adila (from Azerbaijan)
adilasblog(at)gmail(com)
Sorry I missed the giveaway at your stop, but I'm catching up on all the posts for this tour. I love what you had to say about the NA genre. I'm super thrilled because I felt like some of the YA books were just a little too PG for me and I wanted more.
ReplyDelete