Blog Tour [ Guest Post] XOXO by Axie Oh

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Title: ‎ XOXO
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ Axie Oh
Publisher : ‎HarperCollins (July 13, 2021)
Release Date ‏ : ‎ (July 13, 2021)
Pages ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

Where to buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Synopsis

Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.

Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

Praise for XOXO

“A dreamy dose of K-pop idols and secret romances.” —Maurene Goo, author of Somewhere Only We Know

“With fun K-drama vibes, XOXO delivers a lot of heart and warmth in its protagonist who stays true to herself to the very end.” —Lyla Lee, author of I’ll Be the One

“When it was over, I immediately wanted to read it for the first time again.” —Kasie West, author of The Fill-In Boyfriend

“Simply put, this book made me happy. I guess you could say . . . I’m just a big fan.” —Emery Lord, author of The Map from Here to There

“A handwritten letter to falling in love and opening yourself up to the world. A delicious treat!” —Aminah Mae Safi, author of Tell Me How You Really Feel

“A feel-good, page-turning, swoony read!” —Gloria Chao, author of American Panda and Rent a Boyfriend

“A sparkling story of self-discovery—I was utterly charmed.” —Sarah Kuhn, author of I Love You So Mochi

“An utterly delightful love song dedicated to the intersection between dreams and romance.” —Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running with Lions

“Immensely fun, funny, and romantic.” —Emma Mills, author of Lucky Caller and First & Then

“K-pop helps a cellist develop musically and emotionally in this novel filled with humor and theatrics. Themes of responsibility, regret, and reconciliation weave through the intergenerational dynamics in Jenny’s family, adding dimension and depth.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Oh’s narrative reaches an enjoyable clip that is both accessible to readers unfamiliar with K-pop and pleasing for fans of K-dramas as well as anyone who enjoys a breezy contemporary romance.” —Publishers Weekly

And now – Get to know the members!!

XOXO Member Profiles

Stage name: Sun
Birth name: Oh Sun
Age: 19
Position: Leader, Lead Rapper
Hometown: Seoul
Blood Type: O
Hobbies: Cooking, archery, video games

• Sun is fond of cooking and often goes on variety shows like Cooky’s Cooking Show
• His favorite foods to eat include: Hansik (Korean Cuisine) and pears
• He was offered a position on the junior men’s archery team, but turned it down to pursue music; he consistently scores high marks at the Idol Olympics in archery
• Sun is famous for his iconic long hair
• He speaks Korean, Japanese, and Mandarin
• His favorite season is fall
• If he wasn’t an idol, he’d be an actor
• He studies film at Chung Ang University
• Sun’s closest friend is Jun from 95D
• His ideal type is someone who loves to eat

Stage name: Nathaniel
Birth name: Nathaniel Lee
Korean name: Lee Jihyuk
Age: 17
Position: Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist
Hometown: Flushing, NY
Blood Type: B
Hobbies: baseball, chess, video games, annoying his noona (older sisters),

• Nathaniel has four older sisters
• His favorite food is pizza
• He speaks English and Korean
• His favorite season is spring
• He plays the piano, guitar, and drums
• If he wasn’t an idol, he’d be a professional baseball player
• Though he considers Jaewoo his rival, he also considers him his closest friend
• His ideal type is IU, but specifically her character Jang Man-wol from Hotel Del Luna

Stage name: Jaewoo
Birth name: Bae Jaewoo
Age: 17
Position: Main Vocalist
Hometown: Busan
Blood Type: A
Hobbies: soccer, songwriting, reading manhwa (comic books), video games

• Jaewoo has one younger sister, Bae Joori
• He speaks Korean, Japanese, and English
• He’s 182 centimeters tall
• Though he prefers soccer, he was in a little league when he was in elementary school
• His favorite foods are street foods
• His favorite seasons are spring and summer
• He plays the piano and guitar
• He was born in Busan, but lived in the U.S. for several years while in elementary school before moving back to Busan in middle school
• He’s the senior class president of his high school
• His nickname is “Prince” among idols because of his charming manners
• Jaewoo enjoys games and puzzles and has made several appearances on the mission-based variety show Catch Me If You Can
• Jaewoo’s best friend is Nathaniel
• Jaewoo’s ideal type is someone who is independent

Stage name: Youngmin
Birth name: Choi Youngmin
Position: Main Rapper
Age: 15
Hometown: Seoul
Blood Type: AB
Hobbies: swimming, reading manhwa, video games

• Youngmin is the youngest of five siblings so being the maknae (youngest member) of XOXO is familiar experience for him
• His favorite food is tteok-bokki
• His favorite season is summer
• His favorite artists and role models are G-Dragon, Zico, and RM
• He enjoys fashion and his favorite brand is Nike
• When he was younger, he wanted to be a professional video game player
• He’s friends with several idols who are born in the same year as him, including the maknae of 95D. They have a group chat.

About the Author

Axie Oh is a first generation Korean American, born in NYC and raised in New Jersey. She studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California – San Diego and holds an MFA from Lesley University in Writing for Young People. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea. She currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with her puppy, Toro

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

Giveaway!

3 Winners will receive a Copy of XOXO by Axie Oh.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter | Click Below

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Blog Tour [Review]: The Queen will Betray You by Sarah Henning

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Title: The Queen Will Betray You
Author: Sarah Henning
Release Date: July 6, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 352

Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Indigo

Rating: 4 stars

Thank you Book Terminal Tours and Tor Teen for providing a review copy and the opportunity to be a part of this tour.

Publisher links: Tor Teen Instagram | Tor Teen Twitter

Synopsis

The breathtaking sequel to The Princess Will Save You in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky duology — a brilliantly-executed YA fantasy homage to The Princess Bride

To stay together forever, Princess Amarande and her stableboy love, Luca, must part: Amarande to reclaim her kingdom from usurpers, and Luca to raise a rebellion and find his destiny. Arrayed against them are all the players in the game of thrones for control over the continent of The Sand and Sky. Facing unspeakable betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and insurmountable odds, their only hope is the power of true love…

Review

The Queen will Betray You, sequel to The Princess will Save You continue to not disappoint. It was a fast-paced but well written continuation to Princess Amarande’s story. I specifically enjoyed how the book took a larger focus towards the adventure part of the plot. While the romance is good, I am always a sucker for more than just a forbidden love story. As with the princess will save you, it’s sequel continued the vivid backdrop and magical settings of the kingdom. The queen will betray had some twists and turns that kept you on your feet, and rigorously turning each page to find out what would happen next. Sarah Henning did a great job of expanding the story and building on the characters we were already rooting for.

Speaking of characters, I am so happy Luca received more of a story and voice in this the sequel. I honestly really enjoyed seeing more of Luca than just as Princess Amarande’s love interest. There was an added depth to his story that made him a more powerful character. He complimented Amarande so much more because of it. With Amarande , we continued to get that fierce, determined protagonist that many of us are always rooting for. If you want someone that is loyal and when thinking, thinks about everyone she loves, Amarande is that someone. Along with the two main characters you get a sprinkle of a lovable yet evil character in Tallifer – believe me when i say I didn’t want to like Tallifer, but ultimately they warmed up to me.

Overall, The Queen will Betray You is a sequel that brought all the missed moments of book one into one magnificent story.  It is a story I would definitely recommend.

About the Author

Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.

Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter

Blog Tour [Review]: Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos

Click here to follow the tour: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2021/05/23/tour-schedule-eat-your-heart-out-by-kelly-devos/

Publisher : Razorbill Books
Title Eat Your Heart Out
Author : Kelly deVos
Genre: Young Adult Horror
Pages: 352 Pages
Release Date: June 29, 2021

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Rating: 4 stars

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours and Razorbill Books for providing a review copy and the opportunity to be a part of this tour.

Synopsis

Content Warnings: Fatphobia (challenged), gore and blood

Shaun of the Dead meets Dumplin’ in this bitingly funny YA thriller about a kickass group of teens battling a ravenous group of zombies.

In the next few hours, one of three things will happen.

1–We’ll be rescued (unlikely)
2–We’ll freeze to death (maybe)
3–We’ll be eaten by thin and athletic zombies (odds: excellent)

Vivian Ellenshaw is fat, but she knows she doesn’t need to lose weight, so she’s none too happy to find herself forced into a weight-loss camp’s van with her ex-best friend, Allie, a meathead jock who can barely drive, and the camp owner’s snobby son. And when they arrive at Camp Featherlite at the start of the worst blizzard in the history of Flagstaff, Arizona, it’s clear that something isn’t right.

Vee barely has a chance to meet the other members of her pod, all who seem as unhappy to be at Featherlite as she does, when a camper goes missing down by the lake. Then she spots something horrifying outside in the snow. Something…that isn’t human. Plus, the camp’s supposed “miracle cure” for obesity just seems fishy, and Vee and her fellow campers know they don’t need to be cured. Of anything.

Even worse, it’s not long before Camp Featherlite’s luxurious bungalows are totally overrun with zombies. What starts out as a mission to unravel the camp’s secrets turns into a desperate fight for survival–and not all of the Featherlite campers will make it out alive.

A satirical blend of horror, body positivity, and humor, Kelly deVos’s witty, biting novel proves that everyone deserves to feel validated, and taking down the evil enterprise determined to dehumanize you is a good place to start.

Review

A group of teens, a fat camp and a new diet bar that had bizarre side effects- what do the three have in common? They are part of Kelly deVos’s story Eat Your Heart Out. Part action – Part horror satire, Vivian, Allison and the rest of the crew take on a camp zombie apocalypse. I enjoyed every moment of the story, including the very campy vibes it gave off.

Before I dive in, remember when there were fat camp shows on TV that were just -ughhh? Well, Eat Your Heart Out created a setting that was not the focus of the story, which I welcomed wholeheartedly. Yes, there are a bunch of teens and young adults at a fat camp and yes they are considered fat, but that wasn’t all there was to the story. The story focused more on the zombie defeating action, the witty ways the characters worked together mixed with a ode to slasher movie stereotypical characters. It talked about fatphobia but also showed that being fat wouldn’t stop these teens from kicking zombie butt and figuring out how that nasty diet bar is related to the new zombies. In short, Eat You Heart Out portrays the message of how harmful society can be towards people they consider fat and the toxicity of diet culture. It was done well and while important did not take shine from the focal point of the story.

One thing I loved most about this story and am a general fan of is the use of multiple point of views. It was great to hear form many characters and always have a fresh look into what was happening next. I tihnk Kelly did well in making sure that although there were multiple point of views, the plot did not get away from that. When thinking of characters, I can’t say I have favorite because I enjoyed each character I was able to read about and how their part in the story complimented the protagonist[s]. What I did enjoy most about the characters were their sense of humor in an otherwise pretty dreadful situation.

Overall, Eat Your Heart Out was a campy horror story that I didn’t know I wanted and needed. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who may want to venture out of their comfort genres like myself [I am a huge fantasy girl] and to anyone who wouldn’t mind escaping to become a part of a team of zombie fighters.

About the Author

Kelly deVos is from Gilbert, Arizona, where she lives with her high school sweetheart husband, amazing teen daughter and superhero dog, Cocoa. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. When not reading or writing, Kelly can typically be found with a mocha in hand, bingeing the latest TV shows and adding to her ever-growing sticker collection.

Kelly is represented by Chloe Seager of the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency in London. Her work on body positivity has been featured in the New York Times as well as on Vulture, Salon, Bustle and SheKnows. Her debut novel, Fat Girl on a Plane was named one of the “50 Best Summer Reads of All Time” by Reader’s Digest magazine. Her second book, Day Zero, is available now from Inkyard Press/HarperCollins.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway!

(Open Internationally):

One winner will receive a finished copy of Eat Your Heart Out. The giveaway starts on June 28^th and ends on July 5^th.

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fc15a59534/?

Blog Tour [Review]: Gold Spun by Brandie June

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Publisher : Camcat Publishing, LLC (June 8, 2021)
Title : Gold Spun
Author : Brandie June
Pages: 368 pages
Release Date:

Where to buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Rating: 4 Stars

Thank you Jean BookNerd and CamCat Books for providing a review copy and the opportunity to be a part of this tour.

Synopsis

If Nor can’t spin gold, she can always spin lies.

When seventeen-year-old Nor rescues a captured faerie in the woods, he gifts her with a magical golden thread she can use to summon him for a favor. Instead, Nor uses it for a con—to convince villagers to buy straw that can be transformed into gold. Her trick works a little too well, attracting the suspicion of Prince Casper, who hates nobody more than a liar. Intent on punishing Nor, he demands that she spin a room of straw into gold and as her reward, he will marry her. Should she refuse or fail, the consequences will be dire.

Review

Gold Spun is a face paced Rumplestilksen retelling you didn’t know you needed. Brandie June created world that was equal parts magical and corrupt. Talking about the worldbuilding, it was so well written with the intention that every detailed of the setting described was important to the story. At times, the powerfulness of the worldbuilding spoke for itself, making the story all the more attractive. It had a strong fairytale feel to it that I welcomed from the first page opened to the last page closed. Although a retelling of a very popular Grimm Fairytale, Brandie managed to take this classic tale and spin it completely around into a unique story full of characters you find yourself fighting to figure out which is your most favorite. Let’s not forget that this tale had Fae and I am honestly a sucker for any story has has Fae included in a different way.

The story itself is pretty great. You get Prince Casper, a war captive who is returning back to his home kingdom to take the throne and hears word of a girl who can turn straw into gold. As a Prince who despises a lie more than anything else in this world, he sets his journey to find the truth to this suspicious miracle. He gives Nor a chance to prove her magical gifts are true in exchange for his hand in marriage. Marriage to a prince would mean Nor would no longer have to commits the schemes and cons she has been doing to feed her family – so what will she do?

I love both Casper and Nor for what their characters brought to the story. Casper, a brooding now free Prince trying to navigate the responsibility of becoming a king. Nor, a young girl scheming away to feed her family and trying to survive. Both lives seemingly changed through one Fae exchange. Casper is a swoon worthy character in my book. The way he goes about important decisions and figuring out what is behind the straw to Gold tough, I couldn’t help but continue to root him throughout the story. What I enjoyed about Nor was how clever she was. She knew he con was a lie, but she became clever in figuring out how to navigate this lie to save her life. Nor is also caring, having saved a Fae even though the very kingdom she lives in wants nothing to do with them. She is the big sister who is trying her best and only hopes that she gets a happy ending.

While I did enjoy many parts of the story, I did want to see more character development between the three main characters within the story; especially with Nor and how she came into the predicament she was in. I think this addition would have definitely made it an easy 5 start read for me. Overall, Gold Spun is a fast paced red, full of so many magical unfolding and with a cliffhanger that will make you stare at the book hoping that more words would magically continue the story. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy, and/or fairytale re-tellings with a twist.

About the Author

Photo Content from Brandie June

Brandie June spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities let her live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design and playwriting. While she spends most of her free time writing, she will still take any excuse to play dress-up, especially if it involves wearing a crown. She happily promotes more stories as a marketing director for kids’ films and anime. When not writing or marketing, she can often be found doing aerial arts, playing board games, drinking too much espresso, and coming up with new art projects. She lives with her husband, two spoiled rescue pups, a spoiled cat, six fish tanks, and five bookshelves. You can find out more about her at http://www.brandiejune.com and follow her @brandiejune.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

It’s Giveaway Time!!

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Click the picture above and enter for a chance win 1 of 3 copies of gold Spun by Brandie June!

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

Blog Tour [Review]: Dino-Gro by Matt Myers

Follow the tour!: https://turnthepagetours.wordpress.com/2021/06/04/tour-schedule-dino-gro-by-matt-myers/

Book Title: Dino-Gro
Author: Matt Myers
Publisher: Random House Studio
Release Date: June 15, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Children’s Picture Book

Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound

Happy Release Day to Dino-Gro!

Special thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Penguin Random House for providing a review copy and for the opportunity to be a part on this blog tour!

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Battle Bunny comes a laugh-out-loud story of a little sponge dinosaur that keeps growing…and growing…and growing….

Cole is very excited about his new Dino-Gro toy. He can’t wait for it to reach its full size! But when Dino-Gro becomes much larger than intended, Cole goes so far as to put Dino-Gro on a liquid-free diet and an exercise regimen, which don’t seem to make a difference! As Dino-Gro becomes so big that he can’t fit in the house, Cole learns that growing up and getting bigger can have advantages too, even if you’re not a dinosaur.

For fans of Tiny T. Rex and We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, this sweet and hilarious read-aloud is fun for kids to learn the importance of growing up big and strong.

Review

Dino-Gro is such a cute story about friendship. My nephew loved it and will likely in the future dump his dinosaur toys in water.

Cole is super excited to see his dino grow but did not expect to grow as much as it did. Soon his dino becomes to large to stay in the home. Dino-Gro delivers a message that is amazing; friends will be there no matter the circumstance. It is shown during a rain storm where Cole searches and worries frantically that he has lost Dino forever. Along with the message of friendship, Dino-Gro portrays the ups and downs of size and does so in a way where no size is considered unfortunate. In fact, it shows how one can be loved in any size. The story ends in a light-hearted feel good moment.

Along with the sweet story, I was mesmerized by the simple yet vivid illustrations. I would recommend this book!

About the Author

Matt Myers is the author and illustrator of Hum and Swish, and the illustrator of many other books for young readers, including the Infamous Ratsos series by Kara LaReau, Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, A Dog Named Doug by Karma Wilson, and BB-8 On the Run by Drew Daywalt. Matt Myers lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Author Links: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Youtube [Credit: Matt Myers]