Be sure to come back on Saturday for my character guest post and giveaway of Blue Sky Days!
Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry
Pages: 207
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Age Group: YA
Source: Author for Blog Tour
Series: none
Challenge(s): Ebook challenge, Young adult reading challenge, 150+ reading challenge, Debut Author Challenge, Just Contemporary challenge, Standalone Challenge, ABC challenge
Buy this Book: Amazon Kindle
Summary(from Goodreads):
A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother – studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing – and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn’t have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn’t know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn’t helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it’s time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she’s stepped back in time.
When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes – he’s unlike anyone she’s ever met before, the kind of man she didn’t even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don’t always need a plan – sometimes life steers you where you’re meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it’s time for her to help Nicholas the way he’s helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.
Holy Cow! This book is so good. Seriously, I NEED to read more contemporary! What I liked the most about Blue Sky Days is the writing. Marie Landry tells a story with her writing. It is not just words on a page, it is a living breathing story that unfolds right before your eyes. This is what books should be like. Blue Sky Days had me laughing, crying and smiling at all the sweet moments. It is truly an awesome and powerful book. And to think this is a debut book for Ms. Landry! Really impressive. I loved it.
When Emma moved to a new town to stay with her Aunt, I wasn’t really sure what direction the story was going to take. And then when she met Nicholas, I thought for sure he was way too good to be true. So I became skeptical. But even though I was a little doubtful of Nicholas I could not help but fall in love with him and his relationship with Emma. He was always so enamored by her and always so good to her, it was hard to not fall under his spell a bit.
Even though I knew this book dealt with Cancer, it still struck me hard when I read about it. I had a family member lose his battle with Leukemia at such a young age that it was hard for me to see Nicholas go through it too. The maturity that both Emma and Nicholas showed in such a tough time was so inspiring to read about. (It kind of reminded me of A Walk to Remember, which was another emotional book/movie for me.) I loved seeing their never ending patience with each other and their steadfast loyalty. We can learn a lot from them. It was really refreshing to see such maturity in people so young. (I have come to notice that immaturity bugs me…a lot!)
I loved the recurring theme of “blue sky days”. I thought that was the cutest phrase for having a good day. And it is so true, not every day can be a blue sky day. But This book made me want to take advantage of them when they do show up. Such a great message and a valuable lesson. Blue Sky Days is a beautifully written book. It grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until long after I finished reading. This book is just as powerful as it is sweet and romantic. Amazing read, everyone should check out this book!
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| 4.5/5 Gavels. |
Marie would like to thank the people who have supported her by showing her appreciation in some small way. So, for every person who buys a copy of Blue Sky Days during the tour and sends Marie proof of purchase via email to irishstar_83{at}hotmail{dot}com she will enter you into a giveaway to win a book of your choice up to $12 CAN from The Book Depository.
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SweetMarie83
Thank you so much for the beautiful review, Michelle! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the book, and I’m so happy that you’re part of the blog tour. There were times when I worried that the characters might be a little too mature for 19 and 22, but I don’t think you can live a life like Emma did and not be mature…plus, I was very mature at 19, since I had gone through the cancer thing with my dad and had to grow up very fast. And I’ve discovered that immaturity bugs me a lot, too! lol
Thanks again! 🙂
Britta
This book was never really on my radar, but your review makes me want to read it! Thanks.
Missie, The Unread Reader
Yay! I love books that take you through a wide array of emotions. Characters you can laugh and cry with are the best kind.
IdentitySeeker
The synopsis really got me excited the first time I read it because I identified with Emma so much. I’m a little like her in that I sacrifice my social life and a great deal of leisure for my studies in the hope that one day it’ll pay off. My family keeps telling me that I should learn to trike a balance because I’ll only be young once. I expect there are a few lessons to be learned from this book and I’m sure it’ll elicit a tear or two from me. I look forward to reading it! Thank you for sharing your review:)
Sarah B. Setar
Sara Kovach
I have looked at this book so many times & have seen so many rave reviews. I think your review finally pushed me to getting it. Heading to iBooks now!!!