Now that it's nearly the middle of September (sigh), let's all dish on what we did, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" style!

I actually didn't go anywhere over the summer, which has been making me a bit antsy for a getaway. But in all fairness, 1) summer's actually awesome where I live, and 2) earlier this year, I went to Europe for the very first time and spent over three weeks there! Let me tell you all about it so we can hate April Me TOGETHER.

But first! A LadyNerd dareth not venture into the world unprepared! Or at least this one doesn't. Here's an example of the number of travel books I had borrowed at any given time. Because when I do something, there's no halfway; I use my full ass!

Not to sound like a complete shill (not like I even could, since I have yet to receive a free basket of champers -- hint, hint), but the TripAdvisor apps were SUPER useful in planning, navigating, and -- most importantly -- finding tasty business. The Bookstore Guide was also a great resource in finding bookstores that carry English titles.

Another unintentional product placement pro-tip: If you've got a Paper Ink ereader, download some city/museum maps and change your lock screen image to whichever one you need as you travel! The battery should last you much longer than any LCD device, plus you'll look and feel a little less touristy. But! Be smarter than me and test the images out beforehand, so you don't have issues with contrast, zoom, etc. And also have a paper backup, just in case technology hates you. 

Since I was going to be alone-ish for the first week (business trip, WHAT WHAT), I also took a self-defense course before I left. It was a bit "That's my purse; I don't know you!", but still a worthwhile experience. Although I always felt perfectly safe in all of the places that I visited. (Of course, I was a day vampire, i.e. mostly going out during daylight hours, so.)

And now the actual trip! Which included going to Texas for the very first time! Because layovers in my own country would make too much sense. (OMG terrible pun alert: it actually would have made too much cents.)

Amsterdammit

So what does one do in a hedonistic destination like Amsterdam? If you said "pancakes and museums", then LET'S BE TRAVEL BUDDIES.

My arrival coincided with the opening of the renovated Rijksmuseum, which was a BFD. And y'all, I was within 20 feet of ROYALTY. Sure, the since-abdicated Queen Beatrix was in a car and I had no idea what was going on. And I was much more preoccupied with hunting down a restroom. Sorry, Q -- your presence was not worth peeing my pants over. Although ironically, I later spilled a glass of water on myself when I was having pannenkoeken for dins, so it did look like I peed myself. THE QUEEN IS ALL-POWERFUL.

Afterwards, I wandered over to the fine folks at The American Book Center. (I decided that my new travel souvenirs for myself would be translated books and nail polishes. In addition to all the extra lb.'s from fooding.) I picked up Winter in Wartime, which will surely make me cry, and Joe Speedboat, because I'd like a book that I can read without blubbering.

Speaking of uncontrollable sobbing, I also went to Anne Frank House. I ugly-cried all over the dang place. But if there's ever an appropriate place for excessive emotions in public, this is it. (Though full disclosure: I had been traveling for over twenty-four hours and I was alone on another continent, so I was an emotional wreck to begin with.) The second I stepped inside the museum, my eyes already swelled with tears. It was devastating and heartbreaking. And horrifying that we're only seventy years removed -- or none at all, in some places -- from treating each other with such cruelty. And so I cried for Anne, and I cried for all the lives lost during the Holocaust. I cried for all the shitty things that people do to each other. I cried for how unbelievably lucky I am, and how I need to appreciate everything more. And yes, I even cried for Hazel and Augustus. Given the incredibly strong emotions I felt during my visit, you'll understand why I was absolutely livid to learn that the Biebs had been there a day before I was and somehow made the experience about himself. This was also the weekend before the Boston Marathon, so my faith in humanity was rather shaky during that stretch of time, to say the least.

But on a much happier note, here are some of the tasty things that I ate: 

Eat. Prague. Love.

Then I took an overnight train to Prague! (And almost missed it due to a detour for apple pie, because of course I would.) And you guys -- Prague is now officially one of my favourite places on Earth. The gorgeous architecture, the cobblestone streets... I loved just wandering aimlessly and exploring the beauty and the history of the city.* I know I'm romanticizing Prague from being there for all of a week, but it really was the quintessential European experience for me.

*All that wandering on cobblestone streets also made me go crying to my mommy to bring me a pair of comfy tourist shoes. Which I ended up wearing only once, but still. Choose your footwear wisely.

I was also fortunate enough to visit Prague before it suffered from significant flooding. I sincerely hope the city is recovering well, and that -- if it hasn't already -- it'll soon be restored to its full glory.

Anyway, I did a TON of bookish things in Prague! I had a pretty decent book haul (which is what happens when I'm left to my own devices in a foreign city): 

•  Of Kids and Parents, from The Globe Bookstore
•  How I Came to Know Fish, from Shakespeare & Sons
•  Gargling With Tar, from Karolinum Bookstore (the university press -- I think? -- has some great-looking covers, BTW)

Plus! One of the hotels that I stayed at was in Karou's neighbourhood! And yes, that means I jotted down her addy and tried to figure out where she lived. But my navigational skills were telling me that her apartment was either a shopping centre or in the middle of the road (although Google Maps swears it exists), so here's a picture of a nearby street.

But the best thing I did in Prague -- bookish or otherwise -- was the extended tour of the Strahov Monastery Library. It's often listed as one of the world's most beautiful libraries with good reason. We were led around by this sweet little old lady, and we all had to wear these giant slippers over our shoes. Here's the theology wing, which houses most of the oldest books: 

And here's the wing for science (and philosophy? It's been like five months, you guys). LOOK WHERE ALL THE BOOKS LIVE!

SO PRETTY.

There are even secret staircases!

And LOOK! Rolling library ladders! That's some real Beauty and the Beast shizz, y'all!

I also took in pretty much all of Prague's famous sights -- including Petřín Tower. Fittingly enough, it was at this Czech version of the Eiffel Tower that I got to speak un petit français! Granted, all I said was "For thirty minutes?" and "You're welcome." Although out of context, I kind of sound like a hooker.

And on the topic of languages: I got by everywhere just using English. Even though I made vocab cheat sheets, I was too scaredy-pants to whip out phrases in the local languages. Which is surprising, since making an ass of myself rarely stops me in other instances, e.g. all over the pages of FYA. 

Prague also turned me into a HUUUUUGE hot chocolate snob! Like, seriously -- best I've ever had. And trust -- I had A LOT.

Needless to say, I freaking loved Prague. Here's a photo that perfectly sums up my favourite things from this entire trip:

V for Vienna

The next stop was Vienna! Palaces, music -- and, of course, 'ZERTS!

I also happened to be at the Hofburg Palace when the Czech prime minister rolled into town. I don't know how I kept finding myself at these things, and I'm sure this stuff happens all the time in Europe, due to the close proximity between the countries and all. But I still thought it was pretty neat.

And I had originally taken this for Megan no h. But upon further examination, I realized that I was looking at it backwards and that it was not a unicorn horn hat.

Hungary Like the Wolf

I also went to Budapest for a day! I tried finding more modern, YA-ish books, but didn't have much luck with bookstores from here on out. Which is to say, there were no giant kissyfaces or neon pink covers in the translated section. 

But! Budapest does have prettiness! And castles!

Rome, If You Want To

And then I went to ROME! Y'all, that was the number one place I wanted to go to, EVER. Although I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. (So yes, I was whelmed in Europe.) But it was also super busy when I went, due to a national holiday. So it's not surprising that the coolest thing I did was also the least crowded -- the arena and underground tour of the Colosseum! Plus: IT'S THE FREAKING COLOSSEUM.

Let me tell ya -- it took a lot of restraint not to run around yelling, "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!"

SO. FREAKING. COOL.

I also went to all the big attractions: the Forum, the Pantheon (The Mark of Athena, HOLLA!), the Vatican Museums... and the pizza place near Vatican City! SO MUCH TASTY BUSINESS.

And here's some fake tasty business that reminded me of Posh, because obvs.

And one last political sighting: I was outside the Palazzo del Quirinale when Italy's new government was formed, ending a two-month stalemate. Apparently, I'm just a magnet for dignitaries and heads of state. OMG WHY DIDN'T I GO TO LONDON!?

I'm On A Boat

.... Oh wait, that's because I was too busy going on a cruise! The nerd-tivities were minimal, but I did find this gem in the library: 

Speaking of, here's the Library of Celsus in the ancient city of Ephesus! 

And see the perfectly clear sky? The blinding sunlight reflecting off the pillars? 'Twas a scorcher, y'all.

The cruise also made stops in Sicily, Mykonos, and Crete. (No Athens, though that's a grumbly story for another time.) But the biggest discovery was my new FYA office! Please forward my mail accordingly, KTHX.

And now it's YOUR turn! What did y'all do over the summer? Share it in the comments!

Okay, it's time to get real, y'all. Who else went to see the Backstreet Boys on tour this summer?

I'll be honest, I hadn't planned on going, because I've already seen them twice (NO BIG DEAL). But then my husband, Henri, decided that a life without seeing BSB perform "I Want It That Way" is a life half lived, so we bought tickets and, a few days later, headed to the concert. Also, am I the only girl whose husband was the deciding factor FOR going to a Backstreet show? Let's take a quick poll.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely still count myself as a BSB fan, but I was never a swimfan like this guy.

So while I wasn't over the moon excited, I was still looking forward to a shame-free night of singing along to "Larger Than Life" and doing my best monster dance to "Everybody." I thought I knew what to expect, given my previous BSB concert experience (NO BIG DEAL), but the band managed to teach me a few things about being a Boy Band Professional. And I will pay it forward now by sharing those lessons with you.

1. Know Your Audience, i.e. Convert Men's Restrooms Into Women's Restrooms

This was awesome. And also, super necessary.

2. Make Eye Contact With Every Single Person in the First Ten Rows

I swear, each Backstreet Boy managed to individually make eye contact and wave to the entire first ten rows of the concert. Those guys are professional eye f*ckers.

3. Accentuate All Sexual Lyrics With a Pelvic Thrust

Obviously, this rule is used to great effect with, "Am I sexual?" (Yeah, yeah!)

4. Show a Little Shoulder Now and Then

Every time one of the boys pulled down the arm of his shirt, the entire arena burst into flames.

5. Follow Up Each Question to the Audience With, "Are You Sure?!!!"

This is a simple yet genius move to bait the audience into giving you more applause. Example:

"Austin, are you ready to party?" [Applause]

"ARE YOU SURE?" [MEGA APPLAUSE!]

or

"Austin, do you want to hear another song?" [Applause]

"ARE YOU SURE?" [MEGA APPLAUSE!]

The Backstreet Boys are reeeeeally good at using this tool.

6. If You Were a '90s Bad Boy, Transform Yourself into a Modern Hipster

Wow, when did William Fitzsimmons join Backstreet? Wait, THAT'S A.J. MCLEAN? Sorry, dude, I didn't recognize you with that bushy beard and those glasses. Looks like somebody bought an Urban Outfitters Hipster Kit!

In other news, Henri, in mid-concert, decided that if he was a Backstreet Boy, he would want to be "that bearded guy." Should I be upset?

Honestly, all members of the BSB seemed to have aged pretty well.* Even Nick comes across as less skeezy than he did ten years ago, which is more than I can say for Paris Hilton.

*Or selected skillful plastic surgeons.

Brian was always my favorite, and I was relieved to see that he still seems boyishly charming and sweet. But what about y'all? Have your BSB preferences changed over time?

Overall, I had a blast at the show, and my husband did too. He even bought a t-shirt, and when I told him excitedly that that was totally a Marcus Flutie thing to do, he just looked at me and said, "You're talking about YA again, aren't you?"

So did any of y'all check out the Backstreet tour? Gimme your feedback in the comments, and enjoy having this song stuck in your head all day.

Elisa Nader’s debut novel Escape From Eden is an action-packed story of two teenagers’ escape from a religious cult in the jungles of South America. (You can read my review here.) Elisa’s real life is a little less harrowing, but with the results of her MASH (below), still pretty exciting.

Elisa stopped by our lockers to discuss her writing process, her high school self and how she’d make a most-excellent FYA slumber party attendee; she even provided us some awesome photos/videos to go along with her answers. (Including one of an unfortunate fashion faux pas by a young Jon Bon Jovi.) Check out the interview below!

THE ACTUAL BOOK RELATED QUESTIONS

There’s a lot of action in Escape from Eden, and some of it is even a little bit gruesome. What inspired you to write such real action scenes?

When I’m really working on a manuscript, in the nuts and bolts of it, I try to be good to myself and allow plenty of treats—adult beverages, cheesy snacks, and my favorite shows.

I love the first season of Spartacus (the other seasons pale in comparison, IMO). I re-watched some of those episodes while writing Eden. It’s twisty, violent, and full of shirtless dudes sweating next to each other while wearing skirts and/or booty shorts. (So many of us win here, people.) The biggest action scene in the book was really a tribute to the Roman arena.

The Reverend Elias is a frightening character. Did you base him on anyone you know in real life? (I hope not!)

No one I know in real life!

But he’s sort of based on a real person: Jim Jones, the People’s Temple cult leader. He created the Jonestown compound back in the seventies. In my first draft, the Reverend resembled Jim Jones, physically: dark hair, dark glasses, wide collar ’70s shirt. But I thought that was way too similar, and that was way too creepy for me to write. 

I got the mail one day and saw Zach Galifianakis on the cover of GQ (yes, we get GQ along with Food & Wine because aspirational fancy folk) and I wondered, in the Eden movie in my mind, what it would be like if he played the Reverend? Would it be less creepy or more creepy? So I rewrote with Zach Galifianakis as the Reverend. And it was more creepy.

That photo definitely makes it more creepy.

Where did the basic idea for the cult in the jungle come from? Have you had any personal experiences with religious sects of this sort?

I don’t have any personal experience other than being really freaked out when I saw photos of the Jonestown Massacre. Those images are haunting and disturbing and obviously stuck with me because when I watched the video for “Go Outside” by Cults, the idea for the book hit me and I started writing the manuscript that night.

I’d love to know more about the reasons why people traveled to Edenton and Gabriel’s backstory. While you were writing Escape from Eden, did you craft any “pre” stories?

Every character had a backstory, but I didn’t put them all into the book. In the research I’d done, people tend to join cults for similar reasons or circumstances. Most are going through a difficult time in their lives: loss of a job, a breakup, failure in school, or during big transitions—like graduating college and trying to find a place win the world. Most of the characters in the book have pretty tragic or unfortunate backstories that lead them to Edenton. They were desperate for help, desperate to be someplace they considered safe, with like-minded people.

Do you imagine that the characters who made it out of Edenton by the end of the novel—I’m being purposefully vague as to avoid spoilers—lived long, happy lives? Do you have any post-book stories for your characters that you’d like/be willing to share?

I actually had planned for a sequel, but my editor didn’t think the book needed one. I think the ending still reads like there should be a sequel (Kirkus does, too). I may write one and publish it myself just because, why not? Authors can do that now! **Goes mad with perceived power**

I can tell you this, though: The hospital at the end of Escape from Eden is not what it seems.

Wait—what does that mean? Don’t leave us hanging!

THE YA QUESTIONS

What would you, the main character, be like?

Not as cool as she thinks she is.

Who is your secret crush?

The boy who lived down the road who I only saw once. I had a vivid imagination.

What is your number #1 source of angst?

Hair. Always hair.

At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?

Upon being accepted into art school with a shoddy portfolio and a questionable set of essays.

And who would play you in the film adaptation?

Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir (Freaks and Geeks) as Me.

The actual Elisa.

THE SLUMBER PARTY QUESTIONS

What is your secret power?

The ability to avoid cleaning the house.

What is your #1 favorite food?

Cheese.

Tell me about your area of expertise.

Please see my secret power.

If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick and why?

11. & 10. Ellen Ripley from Alien and Roland Deschain from The Dark Tower because we need a couple of bad asses.

9. & 8. Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly (and Serenity) and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice because they’re chock full of charm.

7. & 6. The White Witch from Narnia and Alex from A Clockwork Orange because of their effortless creepiness.

5. & 4. Aragorn from Lord of the Rings and Mystique from X-Men. I know have many qualities besides hotness, but damn, they’re hot.

3. & 2. Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple because: BRAINS!

1. Katniss, as played by Jennifer Lawrence, but not in character. Which means, I just want Jennifer Lawrence in the group so we can hang out and drink wine.

Can I join your crew? I could be the official team biographer.

What is your best karaoke song?

Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

Tell me something scandalous!

I’m answering this question braless but that doesn’t matter because you can’t stop glancing up at Jon Bon Jovi’s Man-el Toe.

Geez … I totally didn’t notice that until you pointed it out. There’s just so much going on in that photo.

What is your favorite adult beverage?

I went to Austin recently to visit friends and discovered Tito’s Vodka. It’s really good (And gluten-free! Healthy!). But then my friends were trying to sell me on the Deep Eddy, but I said, “No. It’s Tito’s or nothing for me!” (Disclaimer: It’s never nothing for me, and I did drink the Deep Eddy.)

What book have you read the most number of times?

Escape from Eden. I’ve read that crap like fifty times. And there’s still a typo in it. 

As an editor (in my day job), I know how badly this must bother you. (Also as an editor, I hate to admit that I didn’t notice this while I was reading the book.)

YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?

Of course to my critique partner Nina Berry (this is where I blatantly promote her series, Otherkin) and Bennett Madison who has helped me navigate the weird, wild world of publishing with soothing words and the occasional, “Eh, fuck it.”

Out of all of the characters you’ve written, which one do you most wish you could be?

There’s a manuscript I wrote about a band that goes on the road the summer after they graduate high school. The drummer, Truvy, was my favorite character. She was loosely based on a friend from college, and named after the character in Steel Magnolias, as played by Dolly Parton.

If you were invited to the FYA slumber party (and obvs, you ARE), what is the most crucial snack food and/or movie/or anything you'd bring?

Movie: A Knight’s Tale. How can anything be better than a Queen/Jousting mash up?

Song: “Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground. I don’t think I need to explain my reasons. 

Hair Product: Living Proof® Prime Style Extender because I’m totally doing your hair.

Snack: My friend Jenna and I share a love for Buffalo Chicken. We have a Pinterest Board. I’ll make a recipe from that.

Mother of God … following now. I am obsessed with buffalo chicken-flavored things.

And now: MASH! In which Elisa’s future shall be predicted with absolute accuracy. Elisa made three picks for each category, and we added the fourth. The magic number (chosen by a random number generator) was 5:

M A S H

Spouse
Anna Kendrick
Current Spouse (I had to put this, right?)
Chris Hemsworth (In Thor costume)
George Clooney
   
Honeymoon
A Cabin in the Woods
Oceanic Airlines flight 815
Titanic
The jungles of South America

# of Kids
So many I don’t know what to do (Didn’t the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe beat her children?)
Weasley Style Seven 
The Tami Taylor—One perfect child to marry Matt Saracen.
Your 14 goldfish are your children.

Job
Professional Lounger
Professional Wine Drinker
Professional Wine Drinker and Lounger
New York City cabbie

Income
Bacon-laced Gouda
Havarti with Dill
Sharp Cheddar
Paid in gold doubloons

Hometown
D.C.! 
Just north of D.C.!
Just west of D.C.!
Portland, OR

Pet
Can I write-in Henry Cavill here? 
What about here? Can I write Henry Cavill in here?
I think I’ll write him in here, too. So, yes, Henry Cavill.
Grumpy Cat

Car
Chevy El Camino in Deep Chestnut Metallic
Ford Ranchero in Musky Sunset Gold
AMC Caballero in Tan
A brand-new BMW convertible

Thanks for stopping by, Elisa! (And thanks for the fun photos!) Sadly, no cheese or Henry Cavill for you, but gold doubloons, Grumpy Cat and George Clooney sounds like a pretty decent life to me.

Escape From Eden is available now. You can get to know Elisa better on Twitter @elisanader and at elisanader.com.

BOOK REPORT for Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Cover Story: You're Kind of Good-Looking, I Guess
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Poetically Beautiful
Bonus Factors: The School of Life, οικογένεια, Cliff Huxtable Award for Awesome Dadhood
Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting (sort of)
Relationship Status: I Will Try to Fix You

Cover Story: You're Kind of Good-Looking, I Guess

This is one of those books that's difficult to convey in a single visual. So, uh, kudos for trying? It's pretty enough, and it's in my favourite colour. I personally don't like flowery flourished fonts, although I understand the appeal. Putting all these things together, this becomes one of those instances where there's practically an unofficial consensus on someone's hotness, yet I feel like screaming, "I DON'T GET IT." (I tried coming up with a more specific example, but apparently I think a lot of celebs are hot.)

The Deal:

Over the past twelve years, Callie has constantly been on the run with her mom. That means no home, no school, no friends -- no sense of normalcy. And no respite from haunting memories of her childhood. But when her mom is arrested, Callie is finally reunited with her real father -- who's far from the villain she had always believed him to be. As Callie adjusts to life with her long-lost family, can she also find a way to leave her painful past behind? 

BFF Charm: Let Me Love You

Oh, Callie. To say that you've been through a lot is a severe understatement. You may not have a lot of possessions due to all the moving, but you sure have baggage. Extremely justified baggage. I know you think otherwise, but you are so, SO worthy of being loved, Callie. I just want to give you all the hugs. Or at least a hug machine, so I don't creep you out with my stranger hugs. (On second thought, the hug machine would be much better than real ones.)

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

One person who Callie def. wouldn't mind getting hugs from is Alex Kosta. (And they end up doing a looooot more than just hugging, too.) Alex is the hotness personified that works down at the docks -- and totally off-limits. He's also super understanding and respectful of Callie, which only adds more fuel to their sizzling chemistry. But I just can't give this book a higher swoon score, because... well, trigger warning (NOT because of Alex, though).

Talky Talk: Poetically Beautiful

I'm not talking about REAL poetry (because omg no thanks), but Trish Doller has a gift for crafting gorgeous sentences. She also has a knack for pulverizing my heart into hamburger meat. And THE FEELS OMG THE FEELS. But they never come off as insincere or unearned. Just raw, devastating emotions.

Here's Callie with a shout-out to me on her books: 

... my favorite novel in the world -- a kids' book called Mandy, about a little orphan girl who wants more than anything to have a home and a family. I've read it so many times the pages are falling out, but I can't leave it behind. I can't leave any of my books behind. They're the only friends I've ever really had.

And ARGH, OK -- there are a ton of other passages that I'd love to share, but it's better that you discover them on your own. 

Bonus Factor: The School of Life

(Omg I had no idea this was a movie -- let alone a Ryan Reynolds joint -- when I came up with the name for this bonus factor.)

Callie has been self-taught ever since kindergarten. She's studying to get her GED, but college isn't necessarily the next step. Getting a post-secondary education is great, but it's also not for everyone. And it's nice to have reminders that a formal education isn't required for being smart (or vice versa).

Bonus Factor: οικογένεια

When Callie goes to live with her dad in his hometown, she also gets reacquainted with all the Greek relatives on his side -- most notably, her cousin Kat, who had been her childhood BFF, and her grandma Georgia, who is pretty kickass. And, of course, there is Greek FOOD. Which Callie doesn't really care for (and to be honest, neither do I), but in my mind, IT ALL SOUNDS SO TASTY.

Bonus Factor: Cliff Huxtable Award for Awesome Dadhood

OMG GREG! How do I love thee? He may not have had any practice being a father to a teenager, but he does it so well! He's so loving and he never gives up on Callie, no matter how much she pushes him away. If he wasn't already someone else's husband (and, y'know, fictional), I would marry the shizz out of Greg. 

Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting (sort of)

Yikes, OK. This is a tough one, since it's unclear how much of the choices made by Callie's mom Veronica could be attributed to actual shitty parenting. Though I'll cut her some slack, since she had Callie when she was so young herself. I feel for Veronica -- but at the same time, I still hold her responsible for her own actions, to some extent. 

Casting Call:

Jennifer Lawrence as Callie

Y'all, I normally try to cast characters as faithfully as I can (shallowly speaking, I mean). But the only actress of Greek descent that I could think of is the girl from Revolution. And why settle for a second-rate Katniss instead of choosing the real deal? (Callie is also a knockout, so obvs.)

Hugh Jackman as Greg

This is also admittedly all wrong: he's too old to be a Teen Dad to a teenager, and he only has very distant Greek ancestry. But you guys! Hugh Jackman is like my absolute favourite human in Hollywood! I wouldn't bestow this casting call honour lightly, but Greg is just THAT amazing. (Plus: KATNISS' FATHER IS WOLVERINE. But ewww Wolverine is Mystique's father?!)

Young Debbie Harry as Veronica

Give her a pixie cut, and she's EXACTLY how I pictured Callie's mom.

Relationship Status: I Will Try to Fix You

OK, two Coldplay references may be too many for one book report (but another not-so-secret: I love Coldplay, so this is also a positive). And I don't mean "fix" in the way that there's something wrong with you, Book. But your story is heartbreaking and all I want is for you to heal and mend. I'd gladly join your support system on your way to doing so. 

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Bloomsbury. I received neither money nor Coldplay CDs for writing this review (dammit!). Where the Stars Still Shine will be available on September 24th.

And y'all -- I am so not a fan of pimping things, but if you're planning on buying this book anyway, pre-order it to help out a great cause (or just help out RAINN anyway!). 

Follow along the whole rewatch here!

Previously, on Veronica Mars...

A lot to get to today, Marshmallows! And libations are deffo appreciated, because UGH JACKIE.

THE OFFICIAL FYA VERONICA MARS DRINKING GAME

Take a drink every time:

•  Someone says "Veronica Mars", even when they know full well who she is and there's no other Veronica in all of Neptune

•  Veronica uses her camera

•  Mars family members hug (Backup counts!)

•  Backup appears (take an extra drink when Backup gets recast)

•  Someone mentions the 90909 zip code or '09ers

•  Someone uses a disguise/alias/fake voice

•  A character, initially introduced as good, turns out to be a baddie (or vice versa)

•  Fisticuffs occur

•  Veronica has a meeting in a bathroom

•  Logan's voicemail greeting is heard

•  A Taser is used

•   Veronica mentions ponies or unicorns

•   The communal argyle shirt appears

• Season 2 specific: Someone says "bus crash"

Onto the episodes!

MARS INVESTIGATIONS, CASE 2x03: "Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang"

Beaver suspects stepmom Kendall to be a cheating gold digger, because duh she totally is. Veronica follows Kendall to a motel room meeting with some dude -- but for bribing and not boning. Casablancas Enterprises has been paying off the county assessor and committing big-time real estate fraud. Proving that it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy when you call yourself Big Dick.

How many Trips to the Dentist did I take? (drink count) 15

Greasers vs. Socs:

No big developments.

File Under the Bus Crash:

In light of a body washing up on a beach with her name written on the hand, Veronica is brought down to the Sheriff's Department. Either Lamb is getting better at his job (LOL unlikely) or V. needs to work on her p-p-p-poker face, because she totally lets on that she recognizes the dead guy. She only ran into him once, but it was at the bus memorial. When veronica does a little more digging into David "Curly" Moran, she discovers that he had a criminal record and he used to be a stunt coordinator -- for movies like Aaron's! Veronica is convinced that the bus crash was orchestrated to kill her. Because when you're already responsible for the death of one teenage girl, what's another? (Er, FYA does not condone murder, y'all.)

Life on Mars:

Veronica needs to pad her resumé, so she joins the Future Business Leaders of America, aka a convenient gathering of the white male teen-playing cast, that has a year-long stock market competition. Teacher advisor Mr. Pope also invested a bunch of his money in Casablancas Enterprises -- enough for early retirement! Which should have been a dead giveaway that Pope's savings would later be wiped out when the real estate fraud was exposed. Veronica had tipped Pope off to dump his Casablancas stock beforehand, but Pope chose to be all noble and hung onto them anyway (dammit, conscience!).

Another piece of fallout from the Casablancas scandal is Veronica finding out that Logan has been sleeping with Kendall. Veronica also accuses Logan of behaving like he has a death wish. Hard to argue with that, since he went to a shooting range with the man he cuckolded and still continued with the affair.

Meanwhile, Logan and Duncan finally have a long overdue confrontation. With fisticuffs! (Drink!) Both are butthurt by the other: Duncan, because Logan's dad killed his sister; and Logan, because his bromance partner didn't have his back during the Felix trial. As much as it sucks to hear Logan say Veronica's in the rear-view mirror (STOP LYING TO YOURSELF, LOGAN), I like that the show hasn't forgotten that, a long time ago, they used to be (best) friends, and that their estrangement is not geometry related. Not entirely, anyway.

In Grownup Land, Keith is now officially running for Sheriff. If only he had done so like he was challenging Lamb to a duel. Keith has also offically filed for divorce. (Took you long enough, bro.) He goes on a Chicago getaway with Alicia, where she gets recognized by a man as someone named Cheri. The guy's actually a cop, who follows Alicia back to Neptune and looks up her addy in the phone book... (But c'mon, Alicia -- if you're trying to hide from someone, why would you list your phone number!? Amateur.)

MVP (Most Marshmallow's Valuable Player): Not Jackie, That's for Damn Sure

No one had a super stellar episode, but UGH JACKIE per yoohz. She totally crashes the sanctity of the Veronica and Wallace BFF luncheon, by bitching about Pride & Prejudice. (OH NO SHE DIDN'T.) She also blames getting off on the wrong foot with Veronica on being a New Yorker, which is a crock of bull. UGH JACKIE -- your shitty attitude is no one's fault but your own. STFU.

And in a move to further exacerbate the haterade, Veronica, Duncan, Wallace, and Jackie get together to watch the P&P BBC miniseries. Even though Jackie proves that NO ONE CAN RESIST THE POWER OF FIRTH, DONNEVEN TRY, she's all gross and name-droppy about how cool she is. Worse yet, Veronica and Wallace get into a tiff over the shittiness of Jackie. Also: DUNCAN THINKS JACKIE IS COOL. THIS IS THE MOST DAMNING EVIDENCE OF ALL TIME THAT SHE IS HORRIBLE.

Veronica also spots Jackie on a date with Not-Wallace. Which I actually can't fault Jackie too much for (at this point, anyway), because we totally don't know if she and Wallace have DTR'ed yet. So FINE, JACKIE -- that's one point in your favour. Or at least, one less point being deducted from your score of negative eleventy bazillion.

Best Reminder That It's 2005 (That Hasn't Been Replaced by Something a Smartphone Can Do):

Kendall wears an iPod Shuffle like a necklace, and Veronica compares Lamb to a "mildly-constipated David Caruso."

And the Snark Award Goes To...: Logan

Logan has some choice words when he's getting under Duncan's skin. He makes a crude innuendo with "Didn't plug her right the first time, huh?", instigating their brawl in the hall. And afterwards, when Duncan suggests that Logan is overplaying his cards and exposing his soft underbelly, Logan retorts, "My underbelly is rock-hard. It can go all night." (Yeah -- just not with the right person ughhhh. Cordelia is obvi hot, but BORED NOW with all her nudiepants.)

Neptune Cameo:

Cress Williams as Carl/Nathan

It's not revealed in this episode, but whatevs -- WALLACE'S FATHER IS LAVON HAYES.

Song for a Spy's Soundtrack: "I Turn My Camera On" by Spoon

Oops -- looks like I was a week too early with the recap photo, since "Love Hurts" totally gets covered during Karaoke Night at Java the Hut. But no matter, since I totally dig the song below.

MARS INVESTIGATIONS, CASE 2x04: "Green-Eyed Monster"

BLERGH I don't even want to recap this client, she's so awful. Bitchy Rich Julie wants to snoop into her potential fiancé Collin, because she's sooooo loaded and wants to be loved for her shining personality. But Collin proves Julie's hunches to be wrong, time and time again. Julie is her own worst enemy and a hypocrite too, when she breaks up with Collin for having the AUDACITY of looking into her background. Which he had done so, because Collin is actually even wealthier than Julie. But the unsolved mystery of the episode remains: WHAT DID COLLIN EVER SEE IN JULIE?

How many Trips to the Dentist did I take? (drink count)  6

Greasers vs. Socs + Jets vs. Sharks:

The plot thickens! Perhaps unnecessarily, based on how much I still have left to recap, but thickens nonetheless! We get our first mention of the Irish Catholic Fighting Fitzpatricks, by way of the late bus crash victim Cervando's feud with Liam Fitzpatrick.

File Under the Bus Crash:

Veronica notices that an earring found at the last place that Curly Moran was seen looks an awful lot like the one Weevil used to wear. Weevil explains that he received an anonymous call, claiming that Curly was behind the bus crash, and that he had been hired by the Fitzpatricks to get back at Cervando. And that phone call came from none other than Logan's house. Dun dun dunnnnnn...!

Life on Mars:

Meg's condition has improved, and Veronica finally musters up the courage to pay her a visit. But Duncan's already there, and the presence of the two of them together enrages the house of Manning. Duncan gets all defensive about his visiting Meg every day, which Veronica wasn't even going to call him out on (omg just break up with him already!).

Anyway, Meg's now demurely attired sister Lizzie approaches Duncan for help in clearing the personal seeeeecrets off of Meg's secret laptop. Meg's emails are just put on a USB stick and left out in the open in Duncan's care. And COME ON -- I love Veronica, but she is nosy as fuck, and who would be stupid enough to leave that kind of thing lying around in her presence? (Oh, wait -- DUNCAN OBVS.) But to V's credit, she shows some restraint for frigging once and doesn't take the bait.

Back at home, Veronica is having another disagreement with Keith on her working at Mar Investigations: she should be studying, she's prone to taking on more than she can handle... but Keith relents, because hello this is Episode 4.

As for Wallace, there's no ambiguity re: his relationship with Jackie anymore. Just as long as he's not GASP a geek or some other kind of unworthy being. While Wallace is cool with Jackie dating someone else before J+W were officially a couple, she's def. not OK with Wallace having Veronica as a BFF. (Man, what is it with the ladies in Wallace's life harshing on Veronica!?)

MEANWHILE. Cress Williams has found the Fennels! Alicia claims that he's just an old bf, but Cress Williams is actually drug dealer Carl Morgan! Who's actually undercover cop Nathan Woods! Who's actually Wallace's fatherrrrr...!

MVP (Most Marshmallow's Valuable Player): Mac

Yeah, her minute-long glorified cameo handily beats everyone else in this episode.

Best Reminder That It's 2005 (That Hasn't Been Replaced by Something a Smartphone Can Do):

Collin is housesitting for Nicolas Cage, then husband of Lisa Marie -- and yet-to-be the face that launched a thousand memes.

And the Snark Award Goes To...: Logan

This rewatch feels lonely without a LOGAN GIF!

And honourable mention to Keith, who took a bunch of surveillance photos of Carl/Nathan and then tells the guy to take a hike: "The next time I shoot you, it won't be digitally. Unless I hit you in the finger and then we'll have a big laugh about it."

Neptune Cameos:

Laura Bell Bundy as Julie

This lady can be such a delight. NOT HERE, THOUGH.

Geoff Pierson as Mr. Manning

He's played a lot of dad types, including in the That's 70's Show rip-off and in the Married... With Children rip-off.

Song for a Spy's Soundtrack: "So Jealous" by Tegan and Sara

Hot damn, did the songs go way overboard with the theme (the others being "Jealousy" by Stereophonics and "Jealous Love" by Robert Cray). I almost gave the nod to Stereophonics, but Tegan and Sara will win every.single.time.

MARS INVESTIGATIONS, CASE 2x05: "Blast from the Past"

UGH Jackie has her credit card stolen and maxed out, and she asks Veronica to prove that her friend Cora didn't do it. The only thing that's suspicious is why anyone would want to be Jackie's friend in the first place, but Cora is just guilty of being fiscally responsible -- she works hard for the money, unlike Madame Sophie the phony psychic that's been scamming clients like Jackie.

How many Trips to the Dentist did I take? (drink count)  8

Greasers vs. Socs + Jets vs. Sharks:

Everyone's keeping coolly cool, Ponyboy.

File Under the Bus Crash:

Madame Sophie also has a TV show, and she's not above exploiting the friends of bus crash victims for it. One of them has a saved voicemails from crashee Rhonda at the time of the crash, on which an explosion can be heard prior to the bus hitting the railing.

But because Keith Mar Is A Good Person, he refuses to use this to defend himself against Lamb's attack campaign, on how Keith let bus driver Ed Doyle go off with a warning instead of a DUI once upon a time. Lamb is so adamant on winning the freaking election that he's doing a shit ass job of investigating. (Although Lamb choosing prestige and power over truth and justice? SHOCKING.) He's also preoccupied with blackmailing baseball legend (and father of Jackie) Terence Cook over a huge gambling debt that would tarnish the latter's chance of making it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. UGH LAMB.

Life on Mars:

Homecoming is upon Neptune High, and Wallace is on the royal court! Except he couldn't care less, with the recent revelation that Nathan Woods is his father. Plus, he breaks up with Jackie -- yay!! (Enjoy it while it lasts, amirite?)

But Homecoming stops for no one! Veronica attends with Donut Dolt Duncan, but she unleashes on a self-medicated loopy Jackie who's dancing with an equally out-of-it Logan (NO LOGAN NO!). Wallace catches all of this and leaves; Veronica tries to go after him, but UGH DUNCAN tells her to let Wallace go. STFU, DUNCAN. And then Wallace goes missing after the dance. FUCKING DUNCAN.

In other news: Logan and Duncan are reconciling, but Alicia and Keith are on the outs, when the Nathan debacle leads to greater conflict. Wallace isn't happy with her either, for having kept his bio dad away from him for his entire life. So the newly reacquainted father and son leave Neptune together and NOOOOOOOO WALLACE COME BACK!!!!!!!!

MVP (Most Marshmallow's Valuable Player): Anyone But Jackie

Yeah. I needed another space entirely dedicated to complaining about Jackie. (And ironically, someone finally takes the low road that I'm always clamouring for, and I hate them for it. Maybe this revenge thing ain't so hot after all... )

In a bonding attempt to get to know her BFF's girlfriend better, Veronica shares an embarrassing story with Jackie. Which Jackie then gave to the psychic to share on her show when Veronica is posing as a guest. And when Veronica tells Wallace about it, he stands up to her in defense of freaking Jackie. Who fully admits to humiliating Veronica because she tattled about Jackie's date with that other guy. SERIOUSLY? And how old are you, Jackie? Tattling? Maybe he felt differently on the inside, but Wallace sure seemed like he was cool with the sitch.

Then at Homecoming, Jackie accuses Veronica of stringing along all the boys -- Wallace included. Which leads to some ambiguous looks between the besties and NUH-UH, DON'T GO THERE. They're like brother and sister -- and not the Duncan kind of brother and sister, either. Anyway, this plotline would have fit in well with the last episode, because Jackie's jealousy is outta control.

Best Reminder That It's 2005 (That Hasn't Been Replaced by Something a Smartphone Can Do):

Madame Sophie has a cable-access show. There are Youtube channels for that now.

And the Snark Award Goes To...: Keith

Not snark, but I love Keith's reaction to Veronica in her Homecoming dress. The words really don't do the moment justice: "You look beautiful." SUCH great father-daughter chemistry, these two!

Neptune Cameos:

Dana Davis as Cora

It's Chastity from TV 10 Things! She also played a not-shitty character on Heroes, so of course she didn't last long there.

Christine Estabrook as Madame Sophie

She's been in a lot of things, but I recognize her the most as a nosy neighbour from Desperate Housewives.

Song for a Spy's Soundtrack: "Whatever It Takes" by The Faders

Wallace crooooons! But for a full song, I like the second Homecoming song.

That's it for this week, Marshmallows! Come back next week for "Rat Saw God", "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner", and "Ahoy, Mateys!".

So does anyone want to defend Jackie against my vitriol? As commenter AnimeJune pointed out, her arc is remarkably similar to Logan's; while he gets to be forgiven for his many transgressions, Jackie is shown no leniency for doing wayyyy less. My gut reaction was that Logan Echolls is the quintessential charismatic redeemable asshole, so there's no fair comparison. And Logan never showed jealousy towards Veronica's platonic, opposite sex friendships ('cause he has, like, REAL angst!), which just makes Jackie seem petty and insecure. AnimeJune also proposes an unsettling hypothesis: are we viewers just holding female characters to a higher standard than we do for male ones?

Welcome back to the YA Movie News Roundup, in which BIG things are happening, so let's hasten!

We've already delved into this at length, but in case you've been in a cave: J.K. Rowling is screenwriting a new Harry Potter movie! Minus the Harry Potter, plus the elusive Newt Scamander, the author of the Hogwarts first year textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (which also happens to be the title of the new film). It's the first in a series, it takes place seventy years before we meet Harry in the cupboard under the stairs (so 1921), and the action kicks off in New York City! Yes, New York City in the Roaring '20s PLUS MAGIC. Let's all go stand in line at the multiplex for the next couple of years, okay?

The great Julianne Moore has been confirmed as President Alma Coin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and the also great Lily Rabe (whom I ADORE on American Horror Story) is confirmed as Commander Lyme. I swear I read this book, but I have trouble remembering some of the characters, so in case you have the same problem, here's what Vulture says about her:

[She's] a District 2 victor who — spoiler alert — helps lead the rebellion from District 13. District 2 fun facts: It is located in the Rocky Mountains, and its major industry is mining. (Okay, fun is an overstatement, but maybe you needed some Hunger Games reminders.)   

Here's what Lily Rabe looks like (SO PRETTY):

Were you a fan of The Nine Lives of Chloe King? You can read the screenplay for the movie (which isn't happening, so don't get your hopes up) here. 

Robert Zemeckis is in negotiations to direct Chaos Walking, the script of which is currently being genius bombed by Charlie Kaufman. Let's hope for Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit Zemeckis, rather than Polar Express and A Christmas Carol Zemeckis. So help me god if you make Manchee a creepy dead-eyed motion capture monstrosity, Zemeckis, I WILL CUT YOU. 

Wow, Mortal Instruments: City of Bones really REALLY screwed the pooch at the box office, and now plans for its sequel City of Ashes - which was already in development! - have been put on indefinite hold. That doesn't sound good. 

Goosebumps: The Movie?? Can the universe really be so good to us? Shark Tales and Monsters vs. Aliens director Rob Letterman is on board. 

"Meet The If I Stay Cast So Far." Okay!

That's all the news you can use this week - meet us back here next week when Mandy Curtis will take over the reins!

BOOK REPORT for This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Stuart Smalley
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factors: Underground Dance Club, Musical Education, Non-After School Special
Relationship Status: Dancing Queens

Our gal Leila Sales is back and better than ever with her third release. Cue up the playlist and read the rest of this review over at our series on Kirkus!

BOOK REPORT for This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Stuart Smalley
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factors: Underground Dance Club, Musical Education, Non-After School Special
Relationship Status: Dancing Queens

Our gal Leila Sales is back and better than ever with her third release. Cue up the playlist and read the rest of this review over at our series on Kirkus!

Follow along the whole rewatch here!

Last week, on Gilmore Girls...

We're very nearly done with Season Three, and things are going a little haywire around Stars Hollow. Fisticuffs ensue, running away commences, idiotic engagements arise!

So let's hop to it, but first! A reminder of our drinking game rules:

The Gilmore Girls Drinking Game Rules

Drink once every time:

Lorelai or Rory drinks coffee.

Emily gets flustered by Lorelai's bizarre sense of humor.

Sookie is controlling about food.

Paris is controlling about anything.

Michel snubs a customer.

Luke is crotchety.

Taylor has an absurd scheme for Stars Hollow.

The girls acquire massive amounts of food and then fail to take even one bite.

Drink twice every time:

Kirk has a new job.

You see a town troubadour.

Emily gets a new maid.

You see a moment from the credits.

On to the episodes!

3.19 "Keg! Max!"

I'm allowed to hate Jess now, right guys? RIGHT GUYS? 

So it's the first gig for Lane's as-yet-unnamed band, at a house party - at Kyle's house party, actually, the adorably brace-faced little weirdo played by Chauncey Leopardi (what a name!), who pops up here and there in future episodes as Dean's friend. (He also played Alan in Freaks and Geeks and Squints in The Sandlot.) Everyone's very excited about the gig, but Dave is starting to get pretty fed up with Young Chui and Lane's fake relationship, and it's causing some tension. Their first set goes great, but then Dave gets mad at Lane for allowing Young Chui to fall in love with her and continue being her fake boyfriend. Lane finally snaps under the oppressive parentage of Mrs. Kim and downs a beer and a half, and then she calls her mom! She tells Mrs. Kim that she drank beer at a party at which she's been drumming in a rock band and that she's in love with Dave Rygalski. Dave hears and panics, hanging up the phone, but too late - the damage is done! We'll see how bad that damage is in the next episode, but Lane's feeling it already - she ends the party vomiting in the bushes. 

Jess is supposed to take Rory to Stars Hollow High's prom, and he's only a little bit Grumpy Rebel about it, which is nice. But then he's called into the principal's office and told that he's flunking out and therefore isn't allowed to attend the prom. Jess is shocked - shocked! - that Stars Hollow High could dare to flunk out its most brilliant and absentee student, and he gets all "Thanks for warning me!" about it before the principal reminds him that they tried to warn him dozens of times and he just didn't give a shit. So he arrives at the party in an incredibly foul mood and won't tell Rory what's wrong. She finds him in an upstairs bedroom and tries to cheer him up, and he attempts to distract himself by making out with her. He starts moving pretty fast, reaching for her belt buckle in spite of Rory's protests, and honestly? It's really upsetting. She finally shouts at him to stop and he gives up in the cruelest way possible, acting disgusted with her. Rory starts to cry and runs out of the room, and seriously, I HATE JESS SO MUCH RIGHT NOW. He fails out of school because he's an irresponsible, self-absorbed flake, he spends the entire night taking it out on his girlfriend, and then he tries to make himself feel better by pushing her to have sex with him when she isn't ready, and THEN when she stops him he blows up at her. This is inexcusable, despicable behavior, the very root of all of my bad feelings about Jess. This scene upsets me so much that nothing but this gif could make me feel better. 

Rory, still crying, runs right into Dean on the staircase, and he tries to comfort her. As Jess runs out to apologize (too little, too late, you little punk), he sees Rory and Dean and mutters, "Figures." Then Dean loses his temper, throwing a well-deserved punch Jess' way, and they fall into an all-out fistfight, breaking a bunch of furniture in Kyle's house and ending up rolling around in the yard as poor Rory tries to stop them. Only the arrival of the cops can break them up, and I honestly don't like either of these macho jackasses right now, but at least Dean was always a gentleman to Rory, even if he was clingy and boring. 

In Lorelai news, she and Rory have no idea how to spend their Friday nights now that Friday night dinner is off the table, and she's dismayed to discover that her parents are throwing parties while she and Rory sit in the dark on the couch. She gets a letter scolding her for her paucity of participation in Chilton parent activities, so she grudgingly attends a booster club meeting where she runs into - you guessed it! - Max. He treats her with polite distance, which is of course unacceptable to Lorelai because dammit, he's supposed to be in love with her! She corners him in his classroom and is pretty inconsiderate to his feelings here, considering she broke his heart. It's clear that Max wants to keep his distance because every time he's around Lorelai, he does something stupid (like kiss her), and she keeps forcing him to be near her despite his obvious discomfort. But she finally gets it when he tells her (very nicely, because this is Max, after all) that he never wants to see her again, and while she looks hurt, she also seems to understand that this is what he needs. Bye Max!

And as if that weren't awkward enough for Lorelai, fire-induced layoffs at the Inn mean they're short-staffed, so she's doing the night's turndown service. Of course, she forgot she told Luke and Nicole they could stay there to get some privacy from Jess, and now she's tasked with turning down their bed. It's all very uncomfortable and embarrassing and I feel for her, even though she of course makes it even weirder than it needs to be. 

How many times do I have to drink?

10.

How many cups of coffee do the Gilmore girls drink?

3.

Flirtation quota:

I refuse to list Jess in this section. And Lorelai and Max certainly aren't doing any flirting as long as he's maintaining his 10-foot-minimum rule. 

Thank goodness for this: Sookie accidentally touches Luke's butt while he's investigating the fire damage at the Inn, and he overhears Lorelai and Sookie discussing how shapely it is. "It's all positive!" Lorelai counters when he tells them to stop talking about it. Later, Lorelai says: "No, Luke, thanks for doing this. It's exactly what the contractor said. We just wanted a guy with a good butt's opinion." Sookie adds, "Yeah, Tom has a terrible butt." hah! Luke is so uncomfortable. Then, when Lorelai offers for him and Nicole to stay at the Inn for free, she says, "It's my way of saying thanks for parading that nice butt around here." More jokes about how great Luke's butt is, please!

Best/most dated pop culture reference:

During the most awkward turndown service ever, Luke reminds her that they're not paying so she doesn't need to cater to them, and Lorelai mutters, "No, no, but this is where you start paying - in sweat." Nicole knows the quote - Debbie Allen in Fame - and Lorelai seems a little disgruntled that her romantic rival (not that she'd ever admit it) caught one of her obscure pop culture references.

Sookie's best dish of the episode:

How can the woman be asked to cook a meal while she's so preoccupied with fondling Luke's nice ass?

Lorelai's craziest outfit:

Lorelai, you are no Samuel L. Jackson. Lose this Kangol hat immediately. 

Kirk insanity:

We  hear that he's in charge of the Friday night video trivia at the pizza place now (drink!). 

Michel madness:

This is where he adopts Pau-Pau and Chin-Chin! He is in love! Pau-Pau fell into her water bowl so he had to blow-dry her. Also "the Chow book said they need love and stimulation or else they'll murder you later on." Chow Chow daddy Michel is my favorite Michel. 

Best Gilmore Gal witticism:

I just love Lorelai's advice to Rory upon her first big high school house party: "Your shoes okay? You got good traction?...Well, there'll be liquids of various textures and disgustingness. You eating there?...Do not eat chips out of a communal bowl. You might as well stick your hand in a toilet. If you're desperate, offer to be the person who replenishes them with new bags and grab a handful out of the new bag and dump the rest in the communal bowl." Brilliant! 

Random observation:

I honestly think Jess is complete scum here. There is no legitimate excuse for his behavior. 

3.20 "Say Goodnight, Gracie"

When Lorelai learns that Rory's party was broken up by the cops, she's proud. But when she further discovers that the cops broke up the party because Jess and Dean were fighting over Rory, she is overwhelmed.

Luke is less pleased when he has to pay a bunch of money for Jess' tornado of destruction (Dean, of course, has already worked out a payment schedule), and he's extra displeased when he learns that Jess' dad is in town and wants to meet him. Jimmy's a loser who walked out on Jess and his mom seventeen years ago, but now he wants to make amends. Luke goes to his hotel room and tells him off in the coolest way possible, saying he's doing his best to make sure Jess graduates and Jimmy's just going to screw it up if he sticks his head in now. (And sure enough...) Luke doesn't tell Jess about it, so when Jimmy approaches Jess and introduces himself, Jess is furious with Luke for keeping it from him. He tells Luke he's not going back to school and continues to show nothing but disdain for the man who has turned his life upside down so he could care for Jess for the past two years, and can we be done with Jess already? I am so ready for him to be gone. 

Well...he is. He and Rory go the entire episode without speaking (although they both make a few halfhearted attempts before chickening out), and Rory spills everything to Lorelai, even admitting that she became "that girl" who just lets her boyfriend treat her like dirt, and she's finally grown sick of it. She's heartbroken and furious and I feel so awful for her - particularly when Dean corners her to tell her that HE AND LINDSAY HAVE GOTTEN ENGAGED BECAUSE THEY ARE IDIOTS. Rory thinks they're idiots, too, but while I'm polite enough to not say that to Dean's face, Rory does. She reminds him that college is quite a commitment, that he and Lindsay haven't been together that long and that there's no reason for them to get married this young (ALL GOOD POINTS), and Dean grows angry at her lack of support. He talks some 100% true smack about what a crappy boyfriend Jess is and tells Rory to have a nice life, then lumbers off. Poor Rory is suffering a rough week with the fellas. 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Kim has been giving Lane the silent treatment since her drunk dial, when out of nowhere Dave Rygalski shows up and wins all of our hearts for 100,000 years. I will not even attempt to do this scene justice with mere words; only YouTube can properly contextualize Dave's wonderfulness. 

DAVE. RYGALSKI. COME BACK. DON'T EVER LEAVE US AGAIN. WE LOVE YOUUUUUU. 

Lane's not the only one whose dreams are coming true. Fran from Weston's bakery - also known as the sweetly stubborn owner of the Dragonfly Inn - passes away, and after Lorelai and Sookie grieve an appropriate twenty seconds or so, they start looking at their options for purchase. At the funeral they struggle to hear what's going on with the Dragonfly, when they're directed toward Fran's family attorney - played by Melissa McCarthy's real-life husband Ben Falcone! - and they hit him up for details as he's carrying poor Fran's casket. Look, it's gauche, but these ladies have been chasing that dream for years, and they have every intention of recapturing the Dragonfly's glory days as an inn. It's better than letting some corporate suits march in and turn it into a dentist's office just because Lorelai and Sookie were too polite to make a move first. Ben Falcone tells them that if the check clears, the Dragonfly is theirs. IT'S ALL HAPPENING - and what convenient timing with the Independence in ashes!

And finally, as Rory takes a later bus than usual to Chilton the following morning, she sees Jess sitting at the back of the bus. She sits next to him and they make strained small talk. He tells her he can't go to prom, and she doesn't look surprised. At her stop, she asks him if he's going to call her, and he says he will - then as she exits the bus, he pulls out his duffel bag from under the seat. Good riddance, you little pip squeak.

How many times do I have to drink?

8.

How many cups of coffee do the Gilmore girls drink?

3.

Flirtation quota:

No one but Lane and Dave get to flirt this week, which is only fair because their flirtation is so planet-shakingly significant that all other flirty efforts would tremble and shrink in comparison.

Best/most dated pop culture reference:

Well it's hard to imagine THIS was unintentional:

I call this piece "The Ungraduate." 

Sookie's best dish of the episode:

She makes some chocolate muffins so delicious that the guests want her to teach a cooking class. Hard to do when the Independence doesn't have a kitchen, but Sookie's willing to work around that for a compliment.

Lorelai's craziest outfit:

Nice mourning bucket hat, Lor.

Kirk insanity:

Oh no big, he just drops Fran's casket and manages to pin himself under it. Rory: "Man, it's bad enough this had to happen, but his pants splitting on top of it?" Lorelai: "Yeah. I hope he never takes too close a look at his life."

Michel madness:

Nope.

Best Gilmore Gal witticism:

Lorelai, joking with Rory about the party: "Did they bring the paddywagon?" Rory: "Yeah, but then we snuck out the backdoor of the speak-easy and headed straight for the Algonquin." 

Random observation:

Lorelai's missing her parents, although she'd never admit it. She calls her mom just to say hi, but Emily is still very angry with her. While last week I came down on Team Lorelai, I'm starting to see more of Emily's point of view, as she reminds Lorelai that before Friday night dinner their entire relationship consisted of Emily tricking Lorelai into talking to her on the phone. They're both so stubborn - they're spiting themselves more than each other with this rift.

Also - we finally meet Caesar at Luke's!

3.21 "Here Comes The Son"

Let's make this quick, shall we? Half of this episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a new Jess spinoff called "Windward Circle." It features East Coast Teen Rebel Jess Mariano as he travels to wacky Venice Beach, California to get to know his father Jimmy (played by Melrose Place's Rob Estes), Jimmy's girlfriend Sasha (a bleached blonde Sherilyn Finn from Twin Peaks and Dawson's Creek - and who also pops up in Gilmore Girls Season 6 as the awful mother to one mouthy, bookish little Rory stand-in named April), and Sasha's daughter, who is a quiet, bookish little Rory stand-in named Lily. The whole thing is very cornily fish-out-of-water; in fact, the below image tells you everything you need to know about what "Windward Circle" would have been:

Sasha and Jimmy know everyone on the boardwalk, Jimmy runs a hot dog stand, Sasha has lots of pets, Jimmy isn't ready to be a dad, Jess is trying to find his way, blah blah blah. The show would have been excruciating and I'm glad it never took off - the studio says it's because of budget concerns with filming in Venice Beach, but I think it's more likely that not even Jess fans would want to watch this show. So let's move on!

Back in Stars Hollow, where things we actually care about are happening: Rory is freaking out. (Almost as much as poor Lane, who has the unbelievably strict Seventh Day Adventist college life to look forward to. Separate parks for boys and girls!) She has one hundred million things to do before graduation, and even though she's already been accepted to Yale, she's panicking about finals because she wouldn't be Rory otherwise. So when Luke comes over to tell Lorelai that Jess split, Lorelai is reluctant to share the news. Luke tells Lorelai sadly that he failed Jess, which gives me one more reason to want to punch Jess in the face. Lorelai is absolutely right when she counters, "You did not fail him. You supported him, you defended him, you gave him a chance, and if he chose not to take it, there's nothing more you could do." But Luke of course doesn't believe her, and it breaks my heart. 

Rory's going to panic even more when she learns what Lorelai already knows: she hasn't qualified for Yale financial aid. Apparently, that $75,000 check that Richard gave Lorelai last week and that Lorelai promptly returned to her parents to reimburse them for Chilton? It's disqualified Rory from any sort of tuition assistance. Lorelai's keeping that from Rory, too, because the girl certainly has enough on her mind.

In the midst of everything else going on in Rory land, Emily is wigging over what to wear to graduation, so she forces Rory to come over and help her choose. And we finally get to meet the wonderful stylist Miss Celine, played by Alex Borstein who also played the grouchy harpist in the first few episodes of the series. She's one of Amy Sherman-Palladino's best friends, and she's married to Jackson Douglas, who plays Jackson on the show. She was originally supposed to play Sookie, but her MadTV commitments got in the way. I love Miss Celine - she's so grand and dramatic and she talks about dressing celebrities from seventy years ago, yet she looks utterly ageless:

When Lorelai goes to pick Rory up from Richard and Emily's, she attempts to be cordial but Emily is still giving her the cold shoulder. Emily makes up some elaborate excuse to get out of inviting Lorelai to stay for dinner, which Lorelai promptly debunks using an unsuspecting Richard, and she storms out, declaring to Rory that she is finally DONE with her parents. Emily sniffs to Rory that she has no idea why Lorelai made such a scene, and Rory replies abruptly, "I think you're being really stupid" before stomping off. Emily is flummoxed. Gah, Rory doesn't have enough going on that she has to be in the middle of you two crazy broads?

Finally, Luke's bizarre behavior forces Lorelai to spill the beans to Rory about Jess, and her reaction crushes me. She's silent, resigned, quietly devastated. I hate you, Jess. Rory's so bogged down in Jess stuff and her crazy schedule that she neglects to tell her mom the huge news: she's Chilton's valedictorian! Right now she's just viewing it as one more speech she has to write, but Lorelai's tearful reaction touches Rory, and okay, it also makes me cry. 

Oh wait! This most important thing also happens: Lorelai gave Paris some advice and they shared the world's most hilarious hug.

Love this!

How many times do I have to drink?

5.

How many cups of coffee do the Gilmore girls drink?

4.

Flirtation quota:

It's not quite flirtation, but when Luke confides in  Lorelai about Jess and she sticks up for him so fiercely...sigh. 

Best/most dated pop culture reference:

Two! Lorelai, about Lane's college brochure: "Every kid in that brochure was awkward and panicked. It looked like the Academy Award audience during Michael Moore's speech."

And Paris, discussing her college choices with Lorelai: "Princeton's a good school, but Jamie goes there...He goes there, and if I go there, it's going to look like I went there just to be with him. Suddenly I'm Felicity without the hair issues and I'm not terribly comfortable with that."

Sookie's best dish of the episode/Kirk insanity/Michel madness:

Oh we're too busy meeting the zany townies of Venice Beach to spend any time with the far superior zany townies of Stars Hollow.

Lorelai's craziest outfit:

She looks hot, because she is hot, but this leopard print dress topped with a floral cardigan would be a nightmare on anyone else:

Best Gilmore Gal witticism:

Lorelai and Rory are planning their Europe trip. Lorelai: "When we're in Spain, we need to know how to say 'Does Antonio Banderas live near here?' When in France, 'Does Johnny Depp live near here?'" Rory: "When in Rome, 'Does Gore Vidal live near here?'" Lorelai: "You know, you look like me, yet my ways are completely lost on you."

Random observation:

Aaaand now I'm back to being on Team Lorelai in her argument with her mother. She has made several conciliatory gestures - calling, dropping by - and Emily continues to treat her like garbage. Emily is creating the distance and blaming Lorelai for it.

--

And that's it! Next week we're giving the Season Three Finale, "Those Are Strings, Pinocchio," its very own post, and my good friend and yours Mandy J is going to cover it for me since I'll be out of town. So drop back by here next Wednesday morning and join her for a cry-fest during Rory's graduation speech!

And I leave you with a question, dear FYA readers:

We hate Jess now, right? Officially? And did anyone actually want "Windward Circle" to become a real show? I promise we won't taunt you in the comments if you say yes. 

Because Emily and I are so very dedicated to you, dear FYAers, not only did we bring you the juicy deets on Fall TV’s new class, but also we will be sitting down over the course of the next few weeks to check out the pilots/premiere episodes of said new shows. Some of them will be good. Some of them will be bad. Some of them will be so bad, they’re good. It is our hopes that together, we can make educated decisions on whether these new shows reach “record this series” status, if they’re better left for On Demand, or if watching just once was more than enough.

We hope you’ll join us in our research!

(Warning! Possible spoilers ahead.)

Sleepy Hollow

Premiered: Sept. 16 on Fox (Watch it online.)

Elevator Pitch

Imagine, if you will, this scene: A group of people at a television company are sitting around a large conference room table, bouncing ideas for new shows off each other. “Mermaids!,” someone shouts. “They’re the next big thing!”

“Stop trying to make mermaids happen,” a tired voice replies.

Mermaid Guy—because, really, we all know it’s guys who are trying to make mermaids the next big thing—opens his mouth for a rebuttal when someone else interjects: “Revolutions! Revolutions are huge right now. Fighting ‘The Man’ is young. It’s sexy.”

“But it’s been done!” A lady who used to work for NBC cries.

Revolutions Guy continues, unperturbed. “Dystopian revolutions, sure. Been there, done that. But what about THE revolution? As in, our fight against our British oppressors? The Revolutionary War! It was a revolution before revolutions were cool*.”

“Yeah, ‘cause history is so hip,” Mermaid Guy mumbles under his breath.

“But we need a hook,” a lady known for her love of Johnny Depp says. “There was this one movie Johnny was in …” A collective groan rises from the group. “No, no—hear me out. Johnny played a character called Ichabod Crane who did battle with a supernatural serial killer called the Headless Horseman who is the ghost of some dude who was killed during the Revolutionary War. I think it was based on some old story**. What if we took that story, added time travel and witches, and then turned it into a crime procedural?”

Revolutions Guy’s eyes grow wide. “It would be like CSI meets The Vampire Diaries—minus the vampires, of course, they’re so over—and we can throw in some secret societies and a good old fashioned Bible story for good measure! It’s perfect. Let’s get to casting.”

*Revolutions Guy isn’t History Guy for a reason.
**Johnny Depp Lady is also not Literature Lady for a reason.

Familiar Faces

Clancy Brown as Sheriff August Corbin

John Cho as Andy Dunn

Orlando Jones as Captain Frank Irving

Faces That Will Become Familiar (If You Keep Watching)

Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane

Nicole Beharie as Abbie Mills

Katia Winter as Katrina Crane

Redeeming Qualities

Emily: I have to say, the trailers don't really give you a full view of what the show is about. I obviously knew there was a fantasy element, but there's a whole mythology that's been laid out, and the pilot gave me just enough information to make me want to keep watching (without leaving me completely confused). I think the chemistry between Ichabod and Abbie is pretty similar to Elementary's Sherlock and Watson (which I find very appealing), and the rest of the supporting cast doesn't bug me, but I'm not sure I like any of them enough to care if they stick around … which so far shows there are no guarantees. Bonus factor: I enjoy a good jumpy moment or two mixed with a few good one liners, and the pilot definitely delivered on that.

Mandy: I’m on the same page as Emily; Sleepy Hollow’s trailer definitely didn’t give away the actual feel of the show. The show is a lot more spooky than I expected—like, I’m not going to be watching it alone, or in a dark room—but it mixed that seriousness with light (not slapstick) humor in a great way, particularly with Ichabod’s commentary on the future. I, too, loved the immediate chemistry between Ichabod and Abbie (good call on the Elementary comparison, Emily!) and the ridiculousness of the Headless Horseman made me laugh out loud. Neither Ichabod nor Abbie are hard on the eyes, either, which doesn’t hurt.

It's Not Me, It's You

Emily: I'm sorry, but if I woke up 250 years in the future, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be about 100x more freaked out than Mr. Crane seems to be. Hello, the cars alone should have terrified him, not to mention what people are wearing, and I don't know … electricity? I did enjoy some of the one liners, but there were also a few cliches (like the jab at Starbucks, we get it, joke’s been made a few thousand times). Also, and this might just be me, but I really need for him to take a shower. The previews for the season don't seem to be moving in that favor.

Mandy: I found myself thinking that he needed a change of clothes while watching the season preview, too! I understand that the man is from the past … but wouldn’t someone give him another set of clothes? Or do they hit up the costume store at some point, so he feels more comfortable? I digress, however. The most straight-up silly thing in the pilot for me what the glowing red eye of the Horseman’s possessed horse. Really? Really?

Let's Do This Again

Emily: I'm definitely counting myself in for Monday date nights in the town of Sleepy Hollow, though if the demon makes too many appearances, I might have to save it for Tuesday morning when there's daylight and the Headless Horseman can't get me. I have to reiterate that I love the fact there seems to be a pretty deep mythology being built here. As long as they don't break their own rules, I'm going to stick around for awhile.

Mandy: The show’s combination of secret societies, fictional and biblical stories, fish out of water tropes and crime procedural makes for a complex bunch of ideas mashed into one. And yet, it seems to be working (so far). I’m definitely going to need to watch on a weekly basis to figure out how all of these ideas will work together. Sleepy Hollow, consider yourself on series order.

COMIC BOOK REPORT for The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, created by Gilbert Shelton

Cover Story: There's Some Kind of Theme Here
Drinking Buddy: I'll Have a 'Cold' 'Frosty' 'Beer' With You Guys
Testosterone Level: It Lowers Testosterone Levels
Talky Talk: It Was Totally, Like...What Was I Talking About?
Arty Art: (Stoned Laughter)
Bonus Factors: Cat, Underground Comix
Bromance Status: Those Guys I Lived With In College and Still Do

A Special Message From Former First Lady Nancy Reagan

"Just say 'no' to drugs!"

Cover Story: There's Some Kind of Theme Here

Can't put my finger on it.

It'll come to me...

I got nothing.

The Deal: The year is...some time in the sixties/seventies/eighties. Maybe the nineties. The fifties once. Three roommates share an apartment in the Basura Vista neighborhood of San Francisco. There's Freewheelin' Franklin, the older, hardened, ex-biker cowboy. There's Phineas, the radical activist and scientist. And Fat Freddy, who likes to eat and occasionally bust heads. There's also Fat Freddy's nameless cat, and the cockroach military dictatorship that has evolved under the fridge.

They boys sit around, do a lot of drugs, do a lot of drugs, and stay one step ahead of Notorious Norbert the Narc. When the landlord eventually evicts them, they go on adventures, such as running a shuttle service to New York, selling plutonium, fighting right-wing radicals in Mexico, and attempting to buy cheap dope in Colombia. Sometimes they do drugs.

Drinking Buddy: I'll Have a 'Cold' 'Frosty' 'Beer' With You Guys

Pass me that 'can' of 'Bud', would you? Get it? Bud? (laughs uproariously).

Actually, the boys do like to relax with a keg of beer or two.

Now I've 'drank' a lot of 'beer' with a lot of different people, in both the US and Mexico. However, no one could ever measure up to these three. Like the time they though Freddy OD'ed and they accidentally buried him alive. Or when Phineas won the deed to a head shop in a contest and blew all the profits on making a Star Wars knock-off. Or when Franklin robbed the grocery store by pretending it was all an episode of Candid Camera.

It certainly beat the heck out of my evenings of 'Let's watch Lifetime Television for Women because it's the only thing on in English.'

Testosterone Level: It Lowers Testosterone Levels

Smoking marijuana actually does depress testosterone levels. At least that what I told her that one time.

Seriously, though, the guys have nonstop adventures, such as Fat Freddy becoming an anti-drug spokesman, Phineas taking on the John Birch Society, and Franklin getting sold into slavery in North Africa. Plus they sit around and get high a lot.

Also, they are a big fan of the ladies, so I do have to warn you: there's cartoon wieners.

Talky Talk: It Was Totally, Like...What Was I Talking About?

Now obviously, this is not the sort of comic that will resound with everyone. It helps if you've 'drank' a lot of 'beer' in your time. In fact, the comics are a lot funnier if you've been 'drinking' 'beer' while you read them.

Still, these comics aren't just about drugs. They are the epitome of the screw the system, turn on, tune in, drop out attitude that recent generations have missed. I like to think that had I been born in the fifties, I could have been the fourth brother.

Arty Art: (stoned laughter)

Okay, we're not talking phenomenal art here. Hey, they're underground comics, what do you expect?

These comics were created by Gilbert Shelton:

After the Freaks sold his house to buy drugs.

Later issues were drawn by Dave Sheridan and Paul Mavrides. Mavrides, by the way, is a member of my church.

Bonus Factor: Cat

Fat Freddy has a cat with no name. Many of the strips are dedicated solely to this feline, his secret work for the federal government, his battles with aliens, and the way he craps outside the box. Freddy is too stoned to realize that the cat he abandons after each eviction, and the cat he adopts at each new apartment is the same one.

Bonus Factor: Underground Comix

In an age where comic books are now graphic novels and are becoming library staples, it's nice to go back to the age where these books were dirty, anti-espablishment, filthly little pieces of counter culture.

Bromance Status: Those Guys I Lived With In College and Still Do

Hey, remember that time when we all drove down to Gruntville, and...you know (laughs). Pass the chips. Hey, did you know if you play Dark Side of the Moon over The Wizard of Oz, there's some seriously freaky stuff going on?

Dudes, you guys are the best. Totally. Damn, I've got the munchies...

Title: Nature: Animal Odd Couples
Year: 2012
Fix: Squee!

Netflix Summary:

Enter stories of the most unlikely cross-species relationships imaginable: a chimp bottle-feeding a tiger cub; a giant tortoise snuggling a baby hippo; a black crow parenting a meerkat. This film will look at these remarkable relationships first hand, and through caregivers, biologists and animal behaviorists, explore what they suggest about the nature of animal emotions.

FYA Summary:

You guys. This is a documentary about DIFFERENT ANIMALS BEING FRIENDS. WHICH IS THE CUTEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO SCIENCE. AND ALSO OUR LIVES.

I mean, what more do you need to know? Except for the fact that the Netflix Summary is a total lie, because there is no chimp bottle-feeding a tiger cub, there is no giant tortoise snuggling a baby hippo, and there is no black crow parenting a meerkat. So yeah, in spite of Netflix being a lying liar, this is still a totally adorable documentary.

Familiar Faces:

The only human being you might recognize is Temple Grandin, a.k.a. the autistic woman that Claire Danes portrayed in an HBO movie.

She's a total badass and animal expert, and I think it's pretty cool that she's in this documentary.

Animal-wise, you might recognize these cuties from YouTube:

Pip the deer and Kate the dog!

Riley the coyote with Anthony the lion!

Kasi the cheetah and Mtani the dog!

Charlie the horse and Jack the goat!

Has your heart exploded yet? Don't worry, IT WILL.

Couch-Sharing Capability: The More, The Merrier

This movie is like chicken soup for the soul, which means you can watch it by yourself and still feel uplifted. But I recommend viewing it with a couple of bosom buddies, because you're gonna want to turn to someone and say, "OMG! THIS REMINDS ME OF OUR FRIENDSHIP! Like, we're so different, yet we totally share a bond, and even if we were born as natural enemies, I got your back in the wild." You will especially need someone to hug after you watch the story of Charlie, the blind (!) horse and Jack, the goat that leads him around, because TEARS.

Recommended Level of Inebriation: Inverse Relationship to Your Education

I'll admit, I usually head to Netflix when I want to fill my brain with cultural cotton candy. But this documentary actually has a bit of science to it, especially the section about monkeys.* If you want to get your learning on, skip the cocktails and just let the inherent cuteness of the show intoxicate you. But if you don't care about anything more than DIFFERENT ANIMALS BEING FRIENDS OMG, bottoms up!

*Which I found to be the most boring part, so you can tell how my priorities line up.

Use of Your Netflix Subscription: Squee-Worthy

This documentary isn't mind-blowing, and it's certainly not intellectually compelling. But it's probably the most adorable thing living on Netflix right now, and it sure beats having to click around YouTube and wait through 15 second advertisements just to get your cute fix. I wish there had been more baby animals because BABY ANIMALS, but overall, this show made my heart happy, and with all of the shizz going on in the world, that's a pretty major accomplishment.

In Scorched, “normal” teenager Trinity finds herself thrown into a world filled with the unexpected—dragons, time travel, genetic manipulation and more. (Check out my review of the book here.) Author Mari Mancusi stopped by our lockers to talk about what inspired Trinity’s story, what we can expect from the rest of the series and her brilliant idea to bring Pixie Sticks to our sleeopver. (Sugar high, what what!) Read the interview below.

THE ACTUAL BOOK RELATED QUESTIONS

Scorched is a book full of both fantasy and sci fi themes—from dragons to time travel to telepathy. What made you decide to include all of these things in one book?

I’ve always been a huge fan of mash-ups. My very first published book was a chick-lit/time travel mash-up called A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur’s Court. And if you’ve read my Blood Coven “vampire” series, you’ll find all sorts of paranormal tropes mashed in—from werewolves to zombies to Greek mythology to, yes, even some time travel. It’s fun to combine things that don’t normally go together and see what you get.

For Scorched, I wanted to do something with dragons, but I didn’t want to create an entire fantasy kingdom. I wanted to explore what would happen if they came here—to our present day world. And so the seed of the idea began to form.

The way the dragons in Scorched connected to their riders reminded me of a favorite series of mine—Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern. Have you read this series, and was it, perhaps, a bit of your inspiration? (If not, what inspired you to write about dragons?)

Good catch! I always loved the Pern series—it made me want my own dragon! In fact, when my editor pitched Scorched to the committee before acquiring it, she dubbed it “Terminator meets Anne McCaffrey” which I think is a pretty awesome description. McCaffrey also had a tradition of mixing sci-fi with fantasy. For those who don’t know, her dragons lived on another planet in the future!

Although there wasn’t a true love triangle in Scorched, there was definitely some inner turmoil regarding the brothers on Trinity’s part. Which team—Team Connor or Team Caleb—would you rather your readers be on?

I’m hoping for a tie! But seriously, I think both boys have aspects that will appeal to readers and I purposely wrote the book hoping they would keep swapping teams, not sure who to believe or root for. Connor is brave and steadfast and honorable to a fault. But he has deep issues dealing with his father’s death and the guilt from his involvement. Caleb comes off as cocky and arrogant, but deep down he’s dealing with some pretty severe scars of his own. Both want to do the right thing—that’s the key. But it’s up to Trinity (and the reader) to decide between them.

I’m still torn between the two. I just suppose I’ll have to keep reading the series!

Are your characters based on any real life people you know? Who was the most fun to write?

Trinity and I share a love of videogames, but other than that, I think everyone comes from imagination. Caleb was probably the most fun to write. He gets all the best one-liners. And who doesn’t like to write a bad boy?

Will we get to see more of Trinity, Connor, Caleb and Emmy in future books? (I hope so!)

Yes! Scorched is a trilogy so there are two more books to come. The second book, Shattered, will be out next September, and I’m working on that now. The stakes are getting higher and Emmy’s getting bigger and harder to hide. And then comes a viral video …

THE YA QUESTIONS

If your real life adolescence was a YA book ... What would you, the main character, be like?

A slightly awkward goth girl who hangs out in coffee houses and writes really depressing poetry.

Who is your secret crush?

The skateboarder I met down under the parking garage downtown that my parents don’t want me to date. He has tattoos. Lots of tattoos.

Yum.

What is your number #1 source of angst?

Middle class suburbia is so not cool. Especially with my super strict parents who won’t let me express myself by dying my hair blue.

At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?

When said tattooed skateboarder pulls me behind the signpost and gives me a tender kiss.

And who would play you in the film adaptation?

Taylor Momsen from Gossip Girl.

The actual Mari.

THE SLUMBER PARTY QUESTIONS

What is your secret power?

To make sushi out of marshmallow peeps.

Uh, yes please! That sounds amazeballs. Well, without the whole marshmallows + raw fish thing. I’m guessing your version is more candy, less typical sushi.

What is your #1 favorite food?

Mashed potatoes.

Tell me about your area of expertise.

Arthurian legend.

I took an Arthurian legends class in my senior year in college. I had high hopes … until we were assigned the first (of two) essay … “Who’s your favorite knight and why?” I felt very cheated.

If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick?

Jace from The Mortal Instruments, Aerin from Robin McKinley’s Hero and the Crown, Katniss from The Hunger Games, Cameron from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Spike from Buffy.

(Aerin illustration source)

What is your best karaoke song?

“Total Eclipse of the Heart”

Tell me something scandalous!

I once dressed up as a Japanese schoolgirl for a Romance Writers of America conference and got scolded online by Nora Roberts herself for being “cute but inappropriate.”

What is your favorite adult beverage?

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

What book have you read the most number of times?

Mists of Avalon

YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?

Author Diana Peterfreund, my partner in YA-writing crime, able to cosplay in a single bound.

Out of all of the characters you’ve written, which one do you most wish you could be?

Trinity (cause she gets to have a pet dragon).

I don’t know that there was really any other choice here.

If you were invited to the FYA slumber party (and obvs, you ARE), what is the most crucial snack food and/or movie/or anything you'd bring?

Pixie Sticks (the sugar will help us stay up all night!) and some random scary/cheesy horror movie.

And now: MASH! In which Mari’s future shall be predicted with absolute accuracy. Mari made three picks for each category, and we added the fourth. The magic number (chosen by a random number generator) was 9:

M A S H

Spouse
Brad Pitt
John Stamos
Jaime Campbell Bower
Brandon Flowers from The Killers
   
Honeymoon
Tokyo
New Zealand
The Outer Hebrides
Antarctica

# of Kids
1
10
7
No kids, just a herd of goats

Job
MI:6 agent
Writer
Actress
President of the My Chemical Romance Fan Club

Income
Paid in marshmallow Peeps
Paid in Fabergé eggs
Paid in solid gold
Paid in dragon scales

Hometown
Mars
Medieval Europe
Manhattan
Austin

Pet
Cocker Spaniel
Bunny rabbit
Fish
A dragon. (Had to pick the easy one here, sorry!)

Car
BMW convertible
DeLorean
A Vespa scooter
Porsche SUV

I really hope they’ve terraformed Mars, since you’ll be living in a shack and driving a convertible. I like that you’re living efficiently, however, because you certainly could probably afford a larger home if you’re getting paid in solid gold …

Thanks for stopping by, Mari! Scorched is available now and you can find Mari on Twitter @marimancusi and at marimancusi.com.

BOOK REPORT for Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young

Cover Story: Playing Card Big Face
BFF Charm: Roger Murtaugh
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Sliding Doors
Bonus Factors: Kickass Gram, Fate
Relationship Status: Thanks For The Memories

Cover Story: Playing Card Big Face

If someone were to create a deck of playing cards using YA covers, this would be a perfect start for the Queen of Hearts. The girl is super pretty, however, and I love her freckles (and the fact that the cover designer didn’t photoshop them away).

The Deal:

The most important person in Caroline’s life is her grandmother. When Gram has a stroke and is put into hospice care, Caroline practically starts living at her bedside. One Friday night, however, Caroline is faced with a seemingly innocent decision—stay with Gram or attend a party with her best friend Simone. Either choice will have a ripple effect on the rest of Caroline’s life. And we, dear readers, through the magic of the written word, get to see both sides.

BFF Charm: Roger Murtaugh

Don’t get me wrong—Caroline’s a pretty cool chick. She’s smart and funny, and can be a devoted and loyal person. But her penchant for running away from her problems and not wanting to have to make the hard decisions made me feel, for much of the book, more like a mom older sister than a BFF. Girl also makes some seriously poor choices when it comes to the male species.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

One decision leads Caroline to meet Christopher Drake, a college student and musician from a neighboring town. Chris is a little bit of a dudebro at first, but he’s goofy in a sweet kind of way, and totally hung up on Caroline from the start. The swoon is strong with this one.

The other decision creates an opportunity for a relationship with a guy that Caroline has lusted over for much of her life: Joel Ryder, an emo-light kid who attends her high school and is really good at art. The two have been acquaintances for ages, but Caroline’s love has always gone unrequited, due, in part, to the fact that Joel has a girlfriend. When circumstances change, however, Caroline’s eager to test the waters … even if those waters aren’t what she thought they would be. The sleaze is strong with this one.

One gets high marks, the other gets low—which results in that middle score you see above.

Talky Talk: Sliding Doors

Just Like Fate was written by two authors—Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young. The two wrote the opening and epilogue together, but split the rest of the chapters up, each taking one path as determined by Caroline’s decision to either stay with Gram or head to the party. Had I not known this, I never would have realized that the chapters were written by different people. Patrick and Young obviously know each other well and are familiar with each others’ writing styles.

The separate chapters, which alternate between “Stay” and “Go,” can get a little confusing at times. I often found myself checking the bottom of the page to see which path I was on. And since both of the the paths do have similar characters and events, I occasionally got confused on which event happened in which path. That said, I’m very impressed with Patrick and Young’s ability to craft two stories that are so different and yet connect back together (at the end of the book) so well. 

Bonus Factor: Kickass Gram

Caroline’s Gram is only in the book for a short while, but she makes an impact. And gives really great advice.

Bonus Factor: Fate

Just Like Fate has some pretty strong opinions on fate (obvs) and how the choices in our lives affect some things, but others are predestined—the path we take to get there just might be a bit different depending on other factors. Although I’m a total believer in free will, I am also a hopeless romantic, so it’s kind of fun to think that there are some things that you’re just destined to do. (If they’re good, that is. If you’re predestined to, say, destroy the Earth, then I might consider this one an Anti-bonus Factor.)

Casting Call:

Shailene Woodley as Caroline

I know, I know. She’s in everything these days. But I needed someone for Caroline who can pull off the innocent, “I could burst into tears at any moment,” look, but still have an actual personality underneath.

Adam Brody as Joel Ryder

Wes Aderhold as Chris Drake

I flipped the typical roles of these gents (although I’ve only ever seen Wes in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) for this casting, having Adam play the the dud and Wes the guy with a heart of gold.

Relationship Status: Thanks For The Memories

It was fun getting to know you, Book, in the short time we spent together. You told me an interesting story in an unique manner, and I do appreciate your views on fate. I don’t know that I’ll be revisiting you any time soon, but it was nice while it lasted.

Want to win your own copy of Just Like Fate? Leave us a comment below, letting us know if you believe in fate or telling us a story about something you might have been destined to do! One lucky winner will be randomly chosen Sept. 26. Make sure to check the comments/your email next Thursday to claim your prize!

The giveaway open to U.S. residents only, sadly. (Sorry non-U.S. friends!)

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free review copy from HarperTeen. I received neither fresh-baked brownies nor money for this review (dammit!). Just Like Fate is available now.

When I first decided to write a post -- a single post! -- about diversity for FYA, I never planned for it to become an entire series. But the more I thought about it, the more ideas I wanted to address. And the more I realized that, hey, I'm totally in way over my head here. Which is where all of the awesome contributors came in, with far greater eloquence and understanding on their topics than I have. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from potential writers, there was enough steady content to bridge the gap between TV seasons. And three months later, that's where we are. 

I'm not saying that FYA's diversity series is coming to an end because TV vampires are returning (but that's also kind of what I'm saying). Although this series has to vacate its time spot, it is NOT gone for good. There are still a few pieces in the works -- one maybe even as soon as next week -- but they won't be appearing on a regular schedule anymore. For now, anyway. Think of it as a pause rather than a stop. Because the discussions are far from over. 

As long as characters of colour, LGBTQ characters, and characters with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in YA lit, we need to keep the dialogue going -- here or otherwise. I know these are just books (ha -- "just" books), but they can also be such powerful instruments for understanding the unknown. It may be just one small step, but it's still a step closer towards affecting real change.

And now for the real talk liner notes about running this series. Of the criticism I've received, the harshest of all came from myself. (I know; way harsh, Tai self!) Trust -- any concerns you may have had, I already agonized over them a thousand fold, long before a single word had even been published. (And major pants to Poshdeluxe for talking me down during my many moments of panic.)

"Do I have enough writers of this background? Should I include more XYZ?" Clearly, these discussions needed to feature POCs.* But I didn't want to seek out writers of colour thinking, "I need a perspective from someone of this descent." That mentality felt too much like tokenism and filling quotas for me, and I didn't want the series to turn into a "Look at these POCs on display! There's one of every kind!" spectacle. (I do want to celebrate POC writers and characters, but not like that.) What ended up happening was the "I need a perspective on this topic" mindset coinciding with "The person interested in writing about that just happens to be a POC."

* Only using race as an example, since determining white versus probably-not-100%-white is easier than probing into a stranger's sexuality and possible disability. And also far less intrusive and freaking rude. 

Which ties into the issue of white people talking about race. Y'all -- I may be a POC, but I've only ever lived in places as a part of the racial majority or in a highly mulitcultural community. Suffice it to say, I've been pretty flipping sheltered. I definitely don't feel that my skin colour alone gives me any great insight on race (which is why I struggled to talk about it on my own in the first place). And to quote someone I had a discussion with on this topic: "OF COURSE white people should be in the conversation, they live in this society too! They have a perspective and a point of view. And people of color need white allies if there can be change."

Ultimately, the only criteria that mattered to me became:

1) Does this person know what they're talking about?, and  
2) Do they want to write about it?

If it's a yes to both, then OK AWESOME. But THAT begat its own problems, too. When I approached potential contributors for this series, I thought about how I was contacting some of them primarily for their thoughts on diversity and not a specific work of theirs. And sometimes, not even having read any of their work yet.* Even with good intentions in mind, I was still a bit uncomfortable with doing that.** Because I'm probably not the first to have contacted these writers to only talk about diversity. A cause extremely worthy of discussion -- obvs -- but one that often overshadows the actual writing. (Focusing on just the differences and overlooking the person behind them. Sound familiar?)

* In those instances, I was given suggestions through brainstorming seshes at FYA HQ. And I wasn't, like, grossly picking names just because they were POCs.

** Ideally, I would have personally read at least one example of everyone's work before asking them to participate, so I could provide a few relevant examples of topics for them. But that just wouldn't have been feasible, with the series being uninterrupted since launching within two weeks of being conceptualized, and me having other weekly commitments for the site. (And also, y'know, a life.)

Another troubling thought: I've met ("met') SO many amazing writers because of this series, but would I have looked them up on my own otherwise? Would I have paid closer attention to my reading choices if diversity wasn't constantly in my forefront? It's saddening to think about how much I could have missed out on. 

And scarier still -- sometimes I come across scenarios in books (or cough, cough the internets in general) that are easy for me to say, "Oh, that's the wrong way to react." But really, I have no idea if I'd be as noble and nonjudgmental as I think myself to be, unless I'm actually in those situations. It's scary to think that I could be harbouring a secret asshole inside (well, aside from the asshole tendencies that I've made peace with). But at the same time, I'm glad to have been made aware of these flaws, so that I can work on them and not be such a jerk. 

Or, in the more succinct words of Edward Murrow: 

Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices — just recognize them.

As the person who shared that quote with me said, "that's step one at least." So thank you all for taking it with me.

For further reading that hasn't already been covered in Heck YA, Diversity! or the links round-up, check out the CBC Diversity Committee for their current It's Complicated series; School Library Journal's resources for finding diverse books for teens and kids; as well as Disability In Kidlit and, of course, Diversity In YA (which has been mentioned before, but is too awesome not to bring up again).

HAPPY FRIDAY, friends. It’s been a busy week, and I, for one, couldn’t be more excited that the weekend is mere hours away. But first: The News.

Book-related Things

The Parents Action League of Minnesota's Anoka-Hennepin school district is working to ban Eleanor & Park—a book supposedly “littered with extreme profanity and age-inappropriate subject matter”—from the high school reading list. Here’s what author Rainbow Rowell had to say about the situation. NPR even weighed in on the issue.

Kirkus Reviews is turning 80 this year! The company is celebrating  with 80 days of giveaways, literary trivia … and a chance to win a New York City Literary Tour (including airfare, lodging and tickets to NYC literary hot spots)!

Let’s put James Franco on the covers of ALL THE BOOKS!

Here’s a list of 25 must-read YA titles that prominently feature gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning characters. And a look at the diversity in the books featured in the American Library Association’s list of Best Fiction for Young Adults.

Maggie Stiefvater recently picked her top 5 “most epic couples” in YA.

Rick Yancey has revealed the title of the sequel to The Fifth Wave in this interview with EW.

Movie-related Things

Want to be a part of the first Divergent teaser posters? Post Vines, GIFs, photos or artwork explaining what makes you different on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or Vine and tag them I AM #DIVERGENT for a chance to be featured. (More info here.)

No one messes with HRH J.K. Rowling’s ideas: Part of her contract for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them stops Warner Bros from altering the screenplay.

Here’s a great guide to the characters and cast of the upcoming film version of Into the Woods.

Check out this trailer for the new Great Expectations adaptation starring Helena Bonham Carter (as Miss Havisham, natch) and Ralph Fiennes (as Magwich):

Julianne Moore and Lily Rabe have signed on to The Hunger Games series as President Alma Coin and Commander Lyme, respectively. Be sure to check out the great Capital Couture portraits of Caesar, Johanna and Effie, along with some information on the actual fashion line from the series' costume designer (being released via Net-A-Porter in November), here.

TV-related Things

The CW is working on a new series called ZE about a transgender teen. It’s being described as a “quirky, yet raw” family drama.

“Virginia Woolf” will be making an appearance on the fourth season of Downton Abbey.

Marvel might be working on another show for the small screen, this time based on/around the “Agent Carter” short that will be released on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray.

Supernatural gag reels are some of my favorite things ever. Here’s the latest (from season 8, so possible spoilers if you’re not caught up):

Glee-alum Grant Gustin will be playing Barry Allen—better known as The Flash—on the upcoming season of Arrow. There has been talk that he’ll get his own spin-off show.

This poster for NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! is terribad.

See?

Miscellaneous Things

Richard Schaefer, a costume design student, dresses up as Disney princes … and their princesses. I would totally give him a BFF charm. Kid’s got skills.

Regardless if you disagree with the statement that “Prince Eric is the best Disney prince” (I do), we can all agree that it’s OK to be attracted to cartoons.

This new Kickstarter will help you achieve that lifelong goal of marrying Mr. Darcy—in a strategy card game for 2–6 players, at least.

Kuzya is a cat who lives in Russia, wears bow ties and works in a library.

Did we miss anything amazing? Let us know in the comments!

Dear Those Of You Who Are Excited As I Am About Next Week’s Premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to cope with the loss of a hero. For me, that moment came in May 2012 right before the the Avengers took part in the Battle of New York. When Loki stabbed Agent Phil Coulson through the heart, it was my heart that stopped.

To digress for a moment: When Coulson made his first appearance in the Marvel movie ‘verse (in Iron Man), I didn’t take much notice. He was just another suit being eclipsed by Tony Stark’s brilliance. With every additional role, however, Coulson became an integral part of the story—and with “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer,” Coulson skyrocketed to the top of my fictional fancies list.

Although Nick Fury told the Avengers that Coulson had died, I never truly believed it. When friends would loudly state that there was no way he could have survived such an impaling, I whispered “Coulson Lives!” underneath my breath. Regardless that he wasn’t the eye-patch-wearing face of S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson had a lot to do with the Avengers getting together, and even in “death” was a driving force in why they did what they did.

In October 2012, my beliefs were vindicated—and my heart unbroken—when it was announced that not only was there going to be an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, but also … AGENT COULSON WOULD BE THE STAR.

I’m still unsure of a lot of things—how Coulson survived that massive injury, what part this S.H.I.E.L.D. show will play in the larger Marvel universe, if the show will even be any good, if Joss Whedon will kill him off for good because that’s just what he does—but I know that because Coulson is alive, we’re all the better for it. (And to the naysayers: I told you so!)

I can’t wait to sit down Tuesday night and revel in all of Coulson’s (very much alive) glory.

Welcome to Level 7, friends.

Sincerely,

Mandy C.

(Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)

A few months ago, FYA reader Nicole posted an awesome idea to our Facebook page: Create a challenge using our Cover Story feature posts for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Brilliant! We at FYA HQ cried. We know that if anyone can do our wholly ridiculous serious book premises justice, it would be FYA readers.

Unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo? Officially started in 1999, NaNoWriMo is an annual internet-based writing project that takes place every November; participants are challenged to write 50,000 words of a new novel between Nov. 1 and 30.

We’re putting a bit of a spin on things by offering you a choice of 20 story prompts culled from our Cover Story archive, but the rest of the guidelines are the same as the official NaNoWriMo ones:

1. Write a 50,000-word (or longer!) novel, between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30.
2. Start from scratch. None of your own previously written prose can be included in your NaNoWriMo draft (though outlines, character sketches, and research are all fine, as are citations from other people’s works).
3. Write a novel. We define a novel as a lengthy work of fiction. If you consider the book you’re writing a novel, we consider it a novel too!
4. Be the sole author of your novel. Apart from those citations mentioned two bullet-points up.
5. Write more than one word repeated 50,000 times.
6. Upload your novel for word-count validation to our site between Nov. 25 and Nov. 30.

FYA note: Our ideas would be considered research.

You can get more information on the official project and sign up to get access to word count widgets, forums and more on the project’s official website.

Here are the stories we’re hoping you’ll choose from, but if you happen to have a personal favorite we didn’t list here, feel free to go for it!

Click to Subscribe

Dark Kiss

Elegy

Fearless

Fuse

Glitch

Havoc

The Innocents

Ironskin

Kiss of Steel

The Lost Prince

Lucid

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

The Program

Such a Rush

The Thing About the Truth

Timepiece

The Unfailing Light

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy

Vortex

Here are the rules for our challenge:

1. Choose one of the story ideas above. Write a rough draft of a novel by Dec. 1. Follow all of the NaNoWriMo guidelines to get it approved/validated/etc.
2. Send a link to where we can access your finished draft to foreveryoungadult@gmail.com with “Cover Story NaNoWriMo Challenge” in the subject line by Dec. 7.
3. We’ll create a post with links to all of the entries, and we’ll randomly pick one person to receive an FYA T-shirt!
   
If you have any questions, hit us up in the comments.

Happy writing!

Welcome to the Just One Year blog tour! After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Allyson’s journey in Just One Day ended. In honor of the world-spanning romance, we asked author Gayle Forman to share her memories for 12 different cities, each of which is featured in either Just One Day or Just One Year (or both!). Follow along on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout September as Gayle tells her story in anticipation of the October release of Just One Year!

Boston

I know you all think Allyson goes to Harvard. I suppose it’s the default for Good, Hard School Near Boston. But no, it never occurred to me that she’d be at Harvard. Allyson is smart, smarter than she knows, but the Allyson who applied to college—the AP automaton—I don’t think she’d get into Harvard, legacy or not.

I actually chose another Boston-adjacent school to base Allyson’s college on. It’s big enough, and academically challenging, one of the best in the country, if not tippy-top-tier Ivy League. And while I didn’t name it, for the same reasons I didn't name her specific hometown, I struck fairly strictly to the school’s geography—close enough to the Charles to run there—its schedule—with breaks and reading weeks before finals—and class offerings—most of the classes Allyson—were grabbed from the course listings. I’m not entirely sure why I do this, obsess about accuracies when I’m fictionalizing a college, in a novel. But this is me.

The only thing that is pure fantasy is Allyson’s Shakespeare Out Loud class, and its teacher: Professor Glenny. If any of you happen to find him, teaching at any school, anywhere, do let me know. I will be up front, auditing his class, “I love you” scrawled over my eyelids like that swoony coed in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Just One Year Synopsis

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem's story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson's own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

About Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman (www.gayleforman.com) is an award-winning, international bestselling author and journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of the companion title Just One Day, as well as New York Times bestsellers If I Stay and Where She Went, and Sisters in Sanity (HarperTeen). Follow Gayle on Twitter @gayleforman.

Follow the Just One Year blog tour to see all of Gayle’s posts!

9/2: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
9/4: The Compulsive Reader
9/6: Alice Marvels
9/9: Yareads
9/11: The Flyleaf Review
9/13: The Young Folks
9/16: The Story Siren
9/18: Cuddlebuggery
9/20: Books With Bite
9/25: Once Upon a Twilight
9/27: Me, My Shelf, and I

Exciting news, y'all! Last week, I had my very first FYA Book Club meeting! Which is pretty ironic, since I've been overseeing the book clubs without ever having been to a meeting. BUT NO LONGER. Here's how the Edmonton FYA Book Club came to be!

1.  Write for FYA, take over book club responsibilities, and publish a lot of book club posts.

Well, I didn't say all of these steps would be applicable to you.

2.  Start an FYA Book Club.

For everyone who's not gunning to Single White Female me, here's the scoop on starting a new book club.

If there's no book club in your area and you're interested in joining one, just send us an email at foreveryoungadult [at] gmail [dot] com! (All our book club locations are listed here. You can also view them on a map -- including chapters in Australia and Europe!)

3.  Start recruiting!

Heh, I cheated here because I... didn't actually do most of it. The credit belongs to one of my fellow local bloggers, Elizabeth/AnimeJune of Gossamer Obsessions. Even though leading a book club doesn't require a two-person effort -- it typically just involve making executive decisions and (optionally) maintaining a social media presence -- our chapter is a little different, since I handle all correspondence with FYA, i.e. er, myself. 

Anyway, I'm grateful to have Elizabeth's help, since I'm keeping track of 120 (and counting!) full-fledged and potential FYA Book Clubs! Here's a map of all the active U.S. chapters by state -- currently in 34 of 'em!

4.  Read the current month's book club pick.

For reals -- READ THE 5TH WAVE.

5.  Attend the meeting.

For our first meeting, Elizabeth and I were joined by Beth and Caitlin. Here we all are, trying our hardest not to devour the spicy perogy pizza before us. 

(l-r) Caitlin, Beth, Mandy W., Elizabeth

To kick off our meeting*, we went around choosing which book we'd include in our apocalypse survival backpacks. Anddddd most of us cheated by choosing a series: Elizabeth picked Anne of Green Gables; Beth chose Lord of the Rings; and I took Harry Potter. However, Caitlin couldn't choose, since "how do you pick between your favourite children?"

*Well, the book discussion portion of our meeting, since we had already been gabbing about everything else before we remembered, "Oh right, book."

We all really enjoyed The 5th Wave, although Beth felt that she liked the book more while she was reading it than she did afterwards. But we're all planning to check out its sequel, The Infinite Sea, and we did tons of speculating on what it'll be about. 

The rest of our book chat was pretty spoilerific, but we did some fantasy casting for the main characters. As you'll soon see, we reaaaally didn't cast age appropriately. (Sorry, Hollywood peeps producing the film adaptation -- you'll have to do your own work!)

Caitlin picked Anna Kendrick for Cassie, and Beth cast Zefron for Zombie because Zreasons. Elizabeth suggested Alexander Koch for Evan, which fine OK, I'll admit that he's objectively handsome. But his character on Under the Dome was still horrrrrrible when I stopped watching, so NO NO RUINING IT. Esp. since we all thought Evan is hotter than Zombie. 

Our convo also veered off-topic a time or twenty. We reveled in being the third Canadian FYA Book Club, and, most importantly, beating our provincial rival Calgary in getting a book club. (To Calgarian readers who'd like to retaliate by starting a book club: GO AHEAD. Make my day. (No, really; that would make my day. Same goes for anyone else who wants to start a new chapter!))

We went through the shows we love (Scandal, Parks and Rec, Orphan Black) and the ones that we just can't quit (Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother). We talked YA adaptations -- Divergent! Catching Fire! -- in which I came up with the narcissistically-described great idea of Sam Claflin swapping roles with My New Husband Theo James . Because omg Theo James in strategically draped fish net. And to lessen that age gap between the Four actor and Shailene Woodley. But mostly that first reason. 

And I've already forgotten what cracked our shizz up, but I think we can all agree that this photo is THE BEST. 

6.  Repeat Steps 4-5 for every month afterwards.

I had such a fun time at our first meeting. Can't wait to do it all again next month!

If you're in the Edmonton area, OMG JOIN US! Check out our Facebook or Goodreads group, or email us at yegfyabc [at] googlegroups [dot] com. 

Want to join an FYA Book Club? We've got locations worldwide! Don't have one near you? Grab a cocktail, send us an email and start one today!