Cover Love: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Yesterday, Rainbow Rowell revealed the cover of her upcoming novel Landline, which will be out next July from St. Martin's Press:

I like the design, is very "Pop", reminds me of the 90's, for some reason. 

Here is the summary per Rainbow Rowell's site:

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if they never got married at all?


I'm very excited!! So far Rainbow Rowell hasn't failed me in the awesome department and I can't wait for what comes next from her.

Speed Date: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Plot: Cath feels like she's starting college all wrong: she's in a semi-fight with her twin sister Wren (who decided she doesn't want to be Cath's roommate anymore), they are leaving their unstable Dad to his own devices back home and she just doesn't feel like she fits in at school.

Her only refuge is Simon Snow. As kids, both Wren and Cath were huge Simon Snow fans - they read and re-read the books, saw the movies and even wrote fanfiction about it - but as they grew up, only Cath stuck to the fandom, becoming The Fanfic Author of Simon and Baz Romance. Cath loves Simon and Baz so much that she much rather live in their world (or stay in her room writing about them all the time) than anything in the Real world.

Still, with Wren partying hard and getting lost in the "college experience", Cath is forced to come out of her shell a little bit: striking a writing partnership with fellow classmate Nick at Fiction Writing class; sharing diner with her roommate Reagan and almost-accidentally hanging out with Reagan's boyfriend  Levi, who is so nice Cath doesn't know if he's flirting with her or just being kind.

First Date: All right, Cath, you're a little neurotic but I dig that. No, scratch that, you're a lot neurotic but is okay, I am too. The beginning is a little slow for me but I can't put this book down anyway, even if Cath makes me feel bad about my fanfiction skills with her stats. 

Second Date: I don't like this Nick-person. But I LOVE REAGAN. Seriously, I'm forming a Reagan fanclub!! Things are moving at a better pace now. Sometimes I do feel almost too identified with Cath, is scary.

Third Date: I've cried and I've laughed... and I HAVE SHIPPED!!!!!!

Relationship Status: Riding off into the Sunset Together. 

Fangirl gave me book hangover and put me in such a good mood at the same time. It broke my heart wide open and made it all better, is so strange for me to describe. Granted, maybe I was the perfect target audience for this book: I am a fan girl, and when I love a fandom I'm Obsessive about it. 

That and many other things about Cath resonated with me so much, particularly in her relationship with her sister. I have a sister and there were some parts where I just felt this feeling of deja vu watching Wren and Cath fight because I've been in fights like those. 

As I said I love Reagan, she's such an awesome character. I loved every scene she was in!! and I loved Levi! I didn't at first but by the end I was shipping hard. He's so nice, and I dig me some nice. Honestly. Plus he says this thing in the book.. and it's my second most favorite quote that a guy has ever said to a girl in a book. (First place goes to Jonah Griggs, of course, in case you were wondering ;) ). 

To miss-quote Eleanor (of Eleanor & Park), I want to break this book into pieces and love them all to death.

Favorite Quotes (THEY WERE SO MANY!!!)

"No," Cath said, "Seriously. Look at you. You've got your shit together, you're not scared of anything. I'm scared of everything. And I'm crazy. Like maybe you think I'm a little crazy, but I only ever let people see the tip of my crazy iceberg. Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and mildly socially retarded, I'm a complete disaster"

"Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy," Wren said, "It's the noblest, like, the most courageous, thing two people can shoot for." 

"I don't have to forgive you," Cath said, "It's not like that with you. You're in with me. Always. No matter what happens."

"Even without her makeup, and hair, the girl was terrifying. There was just no fear in her. No hesitation. Talking to Reagan was like standing in front of an oncoming train." 

  (totes made of awesome sauce)

What's a Book Speed Date, you ask? It's a quickie review--about 150 words or so--of any genre book (variety is the spice of life, after all).

If you want to join in or just read other speed date reviews, check out The Book Swarm

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

At First Sight: The year is 1986 and Park Sheridan was riding the bus to school when a new girl came on. She's big, redheaded and awkward... and no one wants to let her sit; so Park does.

He isn't happy about it, and he isn't gracious - he was quite happy flying under the bullies radar, somewhat protected by the fact he has been next-door-neighbor to Chief Bully since they were kids and that they are sort of friends but not really - but he does what's right.

Eleanor doesn't know what to think, and she isn't exactly gracious about Park's offer. But from then on they share their bus rides, mostly in awkward silence, until Park realizes that Eleanor is reading his comics over his shoulder, and that they both love music.

And they start to fall in love, regardless of how much as their Real Lives try to make it stop. 

Second Glance: I loved Rainbow Rowell's previous offering; Attachements, and Eleanor and Park just blew me out of the park. From the moment I started there was no stoping for me. Both of them felt so young and so alive and I loved the 80's references - and props to Ms. Rowell for making the book full of 86' references without making it dated.

Anyway, Eleanor and Park are really the stars of the book in equal measures. Both of them have family issues though in very different ways: Eleanor has trouble with her mom's new husband who's crazy and sometimes violent; Park is the product of a Great Love Affair between his parents (his dad is a war vet, his mom from South Korea) and often feels like he doesn't measure up to the ideas his father has of manhood.

It was awesome to see the contrast between both their families, Eleanor's is harsh and everyone is kind of out to get their own. Park's, whoever imperfect, was full of love. Even his parents were still totally in love and it was sweet to read about it. I loved Park's parents. They were decent people and they wanted their kids to be happy.

Also, the author totally played with my emotions near the end, I was all "what? this is how its it going to end? there aren't that many pages left" but she totes managed to turn it around and I was like "OMG!! I'm so happy!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!"* 

Bottom Line: Other than I loved Eleanor and Park, go read it, the hype is totally granted and everyone should read Rainbow Rowell's books? I got nothing. Totally recommend. 

Favorite Quote: There are so many!
"Lame and fantastic?"
"Those are your middle names."

"Eleanor wouldn't try to stop her, no matter what; she was a guest in this garage. She'd eaten this woman's food and manhandled her son - she was in no position to argue."

"I want to break that song into pieces, and love them all to death."

*Actual reaction.

Speed Date: Attachements by Rainbow Rowell

Welcome to another Speed Date, this week we are tackling Attachements by Rainbow Rowell

The Plot: Best Friends Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder work for the same newspaper, The Courier, Beth is a movie reviewer/entertainment reporter and Jennifer a copy editor. Through out the workday, they send each other emails back and forth, telling each other amusing stories, deep fears and talking about the things they can't seem to talk with anyone else. 

They know that the company monitors their work-email accounts - they monitor everyone's accounts - but they just don't care, and so far they have managed to escape all warnings. 

Lincoln works at The Courier too, he's the person who reads the emails that get flagged down as inappropriate and writes the warnings. It's not his dream job, but he doesn't know what he wants to do and the job pays pretty well. Beth and Jennifer's emails often get flagged down but Lincoln knows he's never writing them a warning. 

He likes hearing them banter, he reads about Jennifer's uncertainty about having a child with her wonderful husband, about Beth's relationship that doesn't seem to go anywhere. He knows this is a bit creepy, and he knows he's falling for Beth. But he also knows that the more time passes, the weirder it gets. 

First Date: Beth and Jennifer do sound like best friends, I like them. I want them to be my best friends. Lincoln is a very sweet guy, but his sections are a bit long compared to Beth and Jennifer's quick fire interactions. 

Second Date: For a moment there it seemed like the story was getting a little stuck, but it soon picked up steam again. Beth and Jen are hilarious, but so real. Also, Go Lincoln! He's finally making changes in his life. 

Third Date: I admit I cried a little there, I couldn't help it! I feel like I really know these people!! Wanted to hugh Jennifer so much! poor dear! But things look up! and Beth and Lincoln, so many near misses but they made me sigh happily at the end! 

Relationship Status: This might be the book I marry!

I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVED this book. There were parts that were a little slow, and sometimes Lincoln's POV went on for a little too long, but I LOVED THIS BOOK: The setting, the millenium nostalgia, the happy chatter and the sad chatter. It was all lovely. I think I have found a new favorite author! 

Favorite Quotes (among many): 

"I always knew he was selfish and self-indulgent, and kind of lazy; those are practically prerequisites for playing lead guitar." - Beth

"Things get better - hurt less - over time. If you let them." - Lincoln

What's a Book Speed Date, you ask? It's a quickie review--about 150 words or so--of any genre book (variety is the spice of life, after all).

If you want to join in or just read other speed date reviews, check out The Book Swarm