Outlander is the story of Claire Beauchamp Randall, a military nurse who is vacationing with her husband in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. Claire sets out on her own one day and finds herself transported back in time to 1743. I know, it sounds strange, but stay with me! Claire immediately encounters Jonathon Randall, her husband’s ancestor, who turns out to be the opposite of the hero Claire and hubby thought. His nickname is “Black Jack” and he is as terrifying as he sounds. Claire is semi-rescued by another clan and finds herself taking care of Jamie Fraser, an injured soldier. Claire’s nursing experience comes in handy and she finds herself living with the clan, tending to their wounds and developing a romance with Jamie.

This is the 20th anniversary of Outlander! I mentioned to my mom that I was reading it and she said, “Oh, have you met Jamie yet?” I asked her if she enjoyed it when she read it and she replied that she had never read Outlander. Well that was confusing; how did she know about Jamie then? Turns out that 20 years ago, Jamie was a bit of a literary legend and the subject of many fantasies for the women who did read the book. I can’t believe that after 20 years, she still remembers her friends swooning over him! Just goes to show you how fantastic this book actually is.

Outlander is great adventure story. It’s quite different from most of the books aimed at women nowadays. Claire is not a shrinking violet – she’s a tough lady who throws herself into situations wholeheartedly. I hate reading a book about a girl who can never manage to stand up for herself or what she wants! Chick lit is full of accidental heroines, who seem to have no hand in their own fate and I’m sick of it. The writing is fast-paced and fun, albeit slightly hard to understand at times, as it is written with a Scottish accent. And as for the Scottish setting; it almost completely fulfilled my travel needs. Gabaldon doesn’t overlook the lush, Scottish highlands and the role that they play in the story.

I loved Outlander and definitely recommend it to you! It’s not only inspiring to see a young women who kicks butt, but may also inspire some Scotland-longings in you travel newbies.

Get more Saturday Reads right here!

I hate feeling like I need to justify a choice, but I think this one may garner plenty of dirty looks. After the movie version of this novel (starring none other than Zac Efron) was released a year or so back, to not-so-good reviews, the book has received some of the same undeserved flack. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud is the story of Charlie, a man who survived a terrible accident that claimed the lives of his younger brother and dog when he was a teen. Ever since that night, Charlie has lived with not only guilt, but the haunting of his brother. Charlie takes care of the local cemetery, and every evening, goes into the woods to play catch with the ghost of his little brother. He organizes his life around this ritual, never missing a night for years. Then, Charlie meets Tess, a free-spirited sailor who wants to see the globe and everything changes.

This one has a bit of a twist, so I won’t say anymore than that. I know the ghost thing may seem a bit strange, but it really fits with the novel and doesn’t come off as odd. I actually found the plot to be quite unique; sometimes characters are haunted by memories and regrets, but Charlie is literally haunted by his brother. The book is written like a Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult novel, full of heartstring-tugging moments. However, I never once felt like it was cheesy or trying too hard. The emotions are honest and real and I found myself really wrapped up in this one.

If you’re looking for something to settle your brain before the long haul of the school year, check out The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.

Happy Saturday everyone! My pick this week was chosen solely because of the wild praise it received on Amazon. Even though I’m a former book snob, I’ve learned that a book with plenty of good reviews is unlikely to let me down. The book lovers of the world came through for me again and helped me land a winner with “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive” by Steve Earle.

This novel is set in the time shortly before and long after the assassination of JFK, in San Antonio. The main character, known mainly as Doc, is a former MD who has lost his license to practice. He’s also acquired a nasty drug habit and now works out of a decrepit boarding house, mostly performing illegal abortions to pay the rent and satiate himself. Not only is he haunted by drugs, but as the alleged last person to see Hank Williams alive (yes, as in Hank Williams, the country singer), Doc is haunted by his ghost. Throw in Doc’s latest patient, an illegal immigrant by the name of Graciela, who ends up possessing strange, healing powers and a whole cast of quirky cameos and you’ve got the basic plotline.

I know, I know – it sounds very weird. But I find that weird books are often the most moving! Apparently Steve Earle is a musician and actor, and quite an artsy one at that, so it should be no surprise that his debut novel is a tad off the beaten path. I’m sorry for not hearing of him sooner but promise to download some stuff and give it a listen) Anyways, it’s also not shocking that a musician (the ghost of Hank) has such a prominent role in the story. Steve Earle also has an album with the same title as this novel, which apparently draws on many of the same things. I do my research!

I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive was one of the quirkiest novels I’ve read in a long time, but it breezed by. At a short 250 pages, this one won’t take you long to devour. The language made for easy reading and the fast-paced story ensured that I never got bored. I didn’t know that Steve Earle was a first time novelist when I began reading the book and honestly couldn’t tell. He’s a great writer and I can’t wait to see more.

Do yourself a favor and step out of your comfort zone to try this one out!

Imaginary Girls is the story of two sisters: Ruby and Chloe. Ruby is older and the typical girl everyone wants to be or be with. She’s captivating, but also dark and mysterious. Chloe looks up to her big sister and totally emulates her, going so far as to be blind to her Ruby’s shortcomings. One evening, Chloe is hanging out with Ruby and her friends at the reservoir, when Ruby dares Chloe to swim across it. In the middle of it, Chloe discovers the body of London Hayes, her classmate, floating in the water. As a result of this, Chloe is whisked away to live with her father in another state. She desperately misses Ruby and 2 years after moving, ends up making her way back. However, the reunion with Ruby isn’t exactly what Chloe imagined and as she delves deeper into the secrets Ruby has been keeping, the image of her perfect big sister begins to unravel.

I picked this up because of the beautiful cover. I’ll admit, despite the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, I usually do. The picture is stunning and doesn’t get any less stunning the more I look at it on my nightstand. But besides the cover, the book it holds is equally stunning! Nova Ren Suma has written a completely magical thriller. Even though this is labeled teen fiction, it’s so outside the realm of any teen fiction I’ve ever read (in a GREAT way!). You really never know what Ruby is actually up to or actually thinking. She is an incredibly complex character, but one that just jumps of the pages.

I did get slightly frustrated along the way, with all the mystery surrounding Ruby and London Hayes. Ruby does things that seem completely out of character and since the motives are hidden, you are constantly confused by her. Chloe is a decent narrator, but very naive and the reader suffers through some irritation as a result. This sounds annoying, but only contributes to how amazing the book is as a whole.

I know I have to be a bit vague, considering that this is a thriller, but trust me, this one is golden. If you’re looking to shake up your summer reading and take a break from mindless chick-lit, definitely pick up Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma.

Steve Berry is a master of mystery and has written tones of novels in the genre. The Jefferson Key is the latest of his most popular series, featuring agent Cotton Malone. Just a note: as in most mystery series, you really don’t have to read any of the previous books to enjoy or follow The Jefferson Key. Remember how everyone read The Da Vinci Code and then Angels and Demons, even though A&D took place before The Da Vinci Code? Same thing going on here.

The Jefferson Key starts off with an attempt on the life of President Andrew Jackson and then quickly moves forward in time to an attempt at modern-day President Danny Daniels. Cotton Malone is luckily able to thwart the would-be assassination and, from there, is dragged into the world of the Commonwealth, a band of privateers (basically fancy pirates) who have been operating since the American Revolution. Berry adds a few intelligence agencies, all with different motives, into the mix and interesting historical facts along the way serve as the cherry on top! Obviously, I don’t want to go into too much of the plot, but trust me, it’s great!

Steve Berry is a great writer, mixing action and history. It’s nothing new, but I really enjoyed his take on it and his meticulous research of the subject matter. Despite a huge cast of characters, I never found myself confused about who was evil, who was working with who, etc, which is a feat in itself! The story hooked me right from the get go and threw you for a loop at all the best times.

The really unique part, that makes this story stand out in a sea of United States historical fictions is the pirates. I never knew that privateering made such an impact on the development of the US and loved learning about it! Berry chose the perfect topic and maybe we’ll see a new wave of pirate-fiction (similar to the new Vampire genre) emerge as a result.

Basically, if you enjoyed any of Dan Brown’s novels or the National Treasure movies (whatever, Nicolas Cage is a guilty pleasure!), you will love The Jefferson Key. It’s gritty, full of suspense and keeps you guessing until the end, just as a good mystery should! History buffs will also love the interplay between actual events and facts and fiction.

The book begins by introducing you to each of the girls’ new lives. Carmen is a semi-famous actress and now a size 0. She lives in New York City with her fiance, Jones, and is obsessed with her iPhone. Tibby has run off to Australia with Brian and hasn’t kept in touch at all. Lena is an art instructor and spends her time with Drew, a sandwich-maker who she isn’t really interested in, but he’s better than no one. And Bridget is still her free-spirited self, with nothing steady in her life except Eric, her longtime boyfriend who supports them both. All 4 girls miss their friendship and close bond and hope is renewed when each receives a plane ticket from Tibby to meet at Lena’s grandparents house in Greece. They all set off, looking forward to getting their friendship back on track, but a tragedy so unthinkable shakes them to the core and sends them on a tailspin that tests them like nothing yet.

I’m not going to say any more about the story line of the book. I don’t want to accidentally hint at anything, because I think the surprises are what hit your the hardest in this one. However, I will say that this book could not have come at a more perfect time in my life.

At the core of this, and all the Traveling Pants books, is friendship. The boyfriends, the careers and even family all come second to this unbreakable bond between 4 girls. I’ll admit that my priorities have become slightly skewed in recent years and I’ve put school before everything and then fit the other aspects of my life into that, often leaving friendship for dead last. Like I said, it’s so hard to maintain something with someone who you have nothing in common with except each other. This book takes me back to when my friends meant everything to me and makes me nostalgic for the simplicity of high school. It makes me appreciate the good friends I have and remember great times with friends of my past.

Ann is a wonderful writer and I feel like she finished off the series perfectly. She tied up all the loose ends for each girl, often in the happiest way possible. I finished this book feeling satisfied with the direction of each girl and a little bit more at peace with myself. No matter what happens, true friends are there for you and even if you reconnect 10 years down the line, things will be like they always were.

Alex: So what was the inspiration behind Beauty Queens?

Libba: Well it was kind of funny because it was different than anything I’ve written before in that . David Levithan who is an amazing author and also an editor at Scholastic is a really good friend of mine and year’s ago he called me up and said, “I have this crazy idea for a book, but I think you should write it. Let’s talk about it over lunch.” Well, pretty much the minute you mention food, I’m so there. Because I’m really that easy. So, I was like, you’re going to buy me a burrito? I’m yours! So we went and had lunch and he said, “Okay, here’s the pitch: a plane-load of teen beauty queens crash on an island. What can you do with that?” And I thought, oh my god, I would kill to write that book! But I was under contract to write two more books and had other things to do, so I put it aside for a few years. In the meantime, I became aware of a lot of misagonistic things in our culture. One day I was at the 7-11, where all my great ideas come, waiting for the icey machine and I saw the tabloid stories. I saw that every single cover had something like “Is so-and-so dating so-and-so?” or “Angelina’s beauty secrets and perfect body two weeks after baby!” There wasn’t one with “Beyonce is at the top of the Forbes list and makes awesome new record”. It was all that reductive stuff. And I thought, why is this going on now? What is happening at this moment in time that is so limiting for women? So I wanted to explore that. And  I wanted to explore what it is to grow up female in this society.

A: So you’re tackling women growing up in this superficial kind of world?

L: Even more than that. It’s also about the ways in which we passively accept limitations that are put on women. Because sometimes it’s so superficial. Women are judged on how they look; it’s their currency. But it’s also all the subtle messages that are directed at us, say from the beauty industry. I always say you need to follow the economics of it. There are corporations that make billions of dollars off of women and they have a vested interest in you staying insecure. And listen, I love me some lipstick. You will pry my MAC Viva Glam Lipstick  from my cold, dead hands. If you ever really deconstruct those messages like “Is your skin looking tired?”or “Cellulite got you down?”, you see it just feeds on itself. And they start to get to worry about things you never even thought to worry about! Do I have cellulite on my knees?! I don’t know – now I’m paranoid! They make money off of that because they can sell you a product. You can buy them anyways, but it’s just about being aware of that. And there’s the deeper stuff to be aware of. Having our rights taken away – that’s something to really be aware of. It’s really important to be aware of what’s going on in politics and disagree and fight back. It’s everything from the superficial and insidious to the really important stuff. You may want to be aware of all these things and then make your decisions.

A: If you were stranded on a desert island like the heroines in Beauty Queens, what 3 things would you bring?

L: Clearly, some snacks and some water because I really like my snacks and I don’t want to die of dehydration. My joke is that I live in New York City and I’m so used to calling someone to bring me burrito, so I would spend the first two days on the island punching imaginary numbers into a tree phone asking, “Hi, what’s your delivery zone?” Toilet paper – just saying. And then a boat-building manual so I could get myself off that island as fast as possible. I’m not sure I’d survive, I’d probably be giant snake food.

A: Wow the boat-building manual is a good idea. No one ever says that!

L: I can barely put together an Ikea chair so it might no be a very sea-worthy craft, but I could try!

A: Which of the Miss Teen Dreamers is your favourite and why?

L: I loved writing all of them, but the character that surprised me the most was probably Miss Texas, Taylor Renee Krystal Hawkins. In a way I fell victim to my own trap. People have pre-conceived notions about these girls and I wanted to start with sterotypes and then subvert them. So I let you think what you wanted and then midway through, whoa, you’re wrong! There’s more to this girl. But she was the one who surprised me the most, especially when I figured out her backstory. She has a lot of interesting vulnerabilities about her and also, she kicks some serious butt. That was really fun to write.

A: Did you find yourself laughing out loud writing Beauty Queens? Seriously, lines like “ his most trusted advisor is a taxidermied former pet named General Good Times”! Where does that come from!?

L: I’m really that weird. Someone who read my last book, Going Bovine, was like where did you come up with that? And that was my answer – I’m really that weird. Sometimes I don’t think I’m that weird and people let me know that, no, no you ARE that weird. That’s how my brain works. Like what is he has a stuff lemur named General Good Times and he has Silent Killah written on his pyjamas! And then everybody kind of moves away from me and won’t let me have anymore sugar.

A: Well I loved Going Bovine!

L: Thank you! See, you wouldn’t take the sugar away from me, would you, Alex?! Growing up on an awful lot of Monty Python and Mad Magazine and Mel Brooks had a part.

A: What would your talent be if you were to compete in a pageant?

L: Oh my gosh! I feel like I should have a ridiculous talent! Oh man, that is such a good question and you would think I would have thought about that! I know – I can sing an ABBA medley! It might not be a good talent, but I would go down trying.

A: Would you have a nice disco outfit on?

L: Oh for sure! I can see the white fringe already, Fernando. SOS Dancing Queen! And some serious platforms too. And lots of dramatic posing.

A: I think you would blow the judges away!

L: Or they might try to medicate me before the Top 10.

A: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

L: There was a very serious moment actually. I had no idea that I was going to be a writer, even thought I was writing through my childhood and adolescence. I just never thought about it. And then, when I was 18, I had a really serious car accident. I demolished my face, I had to have to kind of re-built over a period of years. And I lost my left eye. This was the summer before I went to college, so a particularly sucky time to have this happen. My first year of college was the worst year of my life. I had some surgery done, but I felt broken on the inside as well as the outside. It was a really awful, rough year. As a graduation gift from high school, someone had given me this little, yellow journal. And I began to write down everything. It was sort of my lifeline. Everything that I felt I couldn’t say out loud, all those thoughts of feelings were written down. And it saved me. I say it with all sincerity that I know writing can save your life because it saved mine. That was it! At first, it was a way to stay alive and then eventually it became pretty empowering. I enjoyed the writing for it’s own sake and looked forward to writing in that journal. Then I started thinking that I kind of liked it. That was the beginning. I transferred to the University of Texas, down in Austin and a friend of mine asked me to write a monologue for a show that he was doing. I did and he said it was really good and asked if I had ever thought about writing a whole play. So that was what sparked it and made it happen.

A: You won the Printz Award for one of my favourite books, Going Bovine. How did that feel? Was that your “I made it” moment?

L: I don’t think there’s ever an “I made it” moment because there’s always another book. And every time you sit down to write that book it’s like “Wait! I don’t know how to write a book! You can’t make me do this!” And it was such an amazing feeling. I was so blown away and so surprised. Part of it is that I always wrote these really weird things and to have the weirdest thing I ever wrote and have someone say, “We really like this book and we get it” was such an amazing moment. I really am so grateful to the Printz committee. And then you know what? The next day I had to get up and start working on the next book.

A: What’s your favorite book? Like all-time, forever and ever.

L: Oh! That’s so hard! You’re cruel! Maybe Charlotte’s Web. If it was just an adult book I would pick The Hotel Newhampshire by John Irving. But you know, there’s something about that book that you read as a child. I read it on my own when I was like 8 maybe and I felt like I entered that world so completely that I felt like I was Fern and I was Wilbur and I was Charlotte. And I sobbed at the end! It took me somewhere. It did all those things that great books do. It was transformative.

A: We are College Candy, do you have any advice for college-age women?

L: I was such a mess at that age so you can’t possibly be more of a mess than I was! Getting back to what this book is about, it’s important to figure out who you are and that’s a lifelong process that’s hard work. But it’s ultimately rewarding! It’s good to just be aware of the messages we’re pummeled with all the time and see if you can kind of step outside of that. I always say that the hardest question for girls and women to ask themselves, because we’re not trained to ask this, is, “What do I want?”. We’re trained to think about what we want after we’ve satisfied everyone else’s expectations or think about what we can have. It’s absolutely fine and good to ask yourself what you want and go for it. It’s so easy to talk yourself out of going for it, but you know what man? Go for it! Why not? That’s one of those things in the “Do-over” column. If I could go back and just say to myself, “That guy – he’s an asshole” or “This person’s wrong” and to just stay the course. Go for what you want, ask for what you want. And if somebody says no, keep going until you find someone who says yes! Or make whatever adjustments you need to make. It’s so easy for us to back off. Don’t be obnoxious; don’t come in and say, “Give me what I want or I will fire-bomb your house!” but just keep going.

A: What are you working on now? Can you give us any hints?

L: I can! I’m working on the first book of a 4-book series called The Diviners. It’s a supernatural historical set in 1920’s New York. So full of flappers and jazz and things that go bump in the night. I say it’s sort of like F. Scott Fitzgerald meets The X-Files. There’s my pitch! And of course, when I sat down to write it I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I was like, “Are you sure I’ve written 5 books?! Really?!” I tell you, these words, they’re not cooperating. Somehow it will make a book-shaped object at some point.

Libba Bray is a literary goddess. Seriously, I cannot believe the breath of this women’s YA work! She jumped on the scene with the supernatural fiction that is A Great and Terrible Beauty (and it’s 2 sequels), then blew me away with Going Bovine (see the review here) and is now back with a hilarious romp, Beauty Queens.

Beauty Queens is a satire. As in, super duper sarcastic. The story begins when a plane of teen beauty pageant contestants (aka the Miss Teen Dreamers) crash land on a desert island. The book follows their hilarious adventures as they try to survive, all while maintaining perfect pageant poise. However, there is a second story-line at work involving a secret government arms mission!

While the story of Beauty Queens is certainly a unique and interesting one, it’s really the humor that gets you and makes this book worth the read. I read this book on the deck of my boyfriend’s cottage and was absolutely embarrassing. Snorting away, my stomach hurt from laughing so hard! Libba’s sense of humor is demented (in a VERY good way) and I couldn’t believe the material that she came up with. And the book has a strong message of feminism while being beyond funny. It tackles some tough themes and really shows you that beauty is more than skin deep, highlighting how difficult it is to live as a female in our society. While this book is marketed as a comedy, it’s an important social commentary as well!

Beauty Queens is a great summer read. Not only will it provide pure entertainment, it sends a good message and will make you think critically about all the media that’s constantly pushed in your direction. I highly recommend it!

Emma sets out to write a biography of Dr. R, but along the way she weaves in her story and discovers herself. She takes the reader through her life as a teenage journalist in Britain, her struggle with mental illness and recovery through Dr. R in New York and, of course, relationships along the way, including falling in love with one of the world’s biggest movie stars (who she calls her Gypsy Husband). All make for not only an interesting and engaging read, but one that really pulls at the heartstrings.

There aren’t enough positive words in the English language to describe this book. Staggering, beautiful, a true work of art. Every time I picked Your Voice in My Head up, I felt like I was catching up with up with an old friend. When she told about funny things, I laughed. And I cried when I shared in her sorrows. The candidness with which Emma wrote the memoir really makes it so wonderful and easy to get attached to. It’s not often that I’m genuinely sad when I finish a book, but I was when I had to put Your Voice in My Head on my bookshelf.

Everyone should read this book. I think college-age girls (or people of any age, really) will gain tremendous insight and perspective into the important things in life. Emma is wise beyond her years and so strong, and I think we can all learn some from this exemplary woman!

I was lucky enough to interview the lovely Brit about the book and her interesting life. Check it out!

Alex: I found your book to be spectacular. Almost every time I picked it up, I teared up a bit and a few times, openly weeped. I honestly felt like I was hanging out with my best friend and she was telling me about her life. As creepy as it may sound, I feel like we’re old friends now! How has the response been to it?

Emma: Oh thank you! Well you know, it varies culturally. The English response was really divided generationally. I think journalists who are old enough to remember me from my other life when I was a teenage journalist were pretty harsh on it, while younger people in England who are just discovering me have loved it. So that’s a good response! And we’ll see when it comes out here in America on May 3^rd.  Actually, the first reviews have been really good, so I think it’s sort of classic that the toughest reviews have been England because it’s English to not like whining and people who complain. There’s a sense of  “you should keep that stuff to yourself.”

A: So you started out as a bit of a teen prodigy in the journalism world. Can you tell me what that was like?

E: So, I was earning my wages from 15 and I was celebrated for being young, but that’s dangerous because you always know in the back of your mind that one day you’re not going to be a teenager and will they still want to publish me? Very consciously, at 17, after three years of being the “teen prodigy” I went to work at another newspaper where they paid me much less, but at least my work didn’t say my age. I knew that, as with Hollywood, once I aged they would have thrown me away and found someone even younger, so it was good to force myself to transition to the adult role earlier.

A: You talk about struggling with mental illness from a very young age. When did you first realize that what you were feeling may not be normal?

E: To be honest, only when I was diagnosed in New York. You just don’t know what’s inside other people’s heads. Especially when you’re 12 or 13, you don’t say to other kids, “Hey, do you do this? Do you think this?” So really, it was a long time.

A: You credit much of your recovery to Dr. R. What was so special about him and your relationship with him?

E: I think that he never thought things were as bad as I thought they were. He always thought that I was going to be fine. And that sounds simplistic but that’s really it. I liked him and I liked the way that he saw me. I had come to think that I was such a terrible person and to see myself as he saw me, such a great person, was a hell of a start.

A: Let’s move on to your ‘Gypsy Husband.’ You were a bit of a celebrity in your own right in the UK, but what was it like to being with someone so high-profile in the states?

E: It was challenging. The best place in the world to be was in his house, which was huge, so you could just sort of seclude yourself there and be completely normal and relate to each other in a very healthy way. But then, if we even went to the drugstore for a toothbrush, everything changed. So that, I think, would be a challenge for anybody, let alone someone who has this sort of fragile history. I think it was a challenge for him as well because he had a fragile history.

A: After reading the book, I wasn’t a fan of GH. I don’t think you portrayed him as particularly “evil,” but I felt so connected to this book that it was like my best girlfriend was telling me about her life and I wanted to defend her.  Did you let him read it before it went to press?

E: Yes, I asked him to. He went back and forth about whether or not he wanted to. We certainly sent him a copy and I don’t know if he did. I imagine it would have been hard for him, primarily to see how much pain I was in. He did love me and does care, but I certainly didn’t mean to portray him as the bad guy because I know the truth. I wasn’t trying to portray that this person did terrible things. So, no, I really, really didn’t mean to have any type of villain portrayal. And I don’t think that’s the way life is; people are complicated and there are bad people who do really good things and good people can do really bad things. It’s not good guys and bad guys.

A: Do you think that if you stayed with GH you would have ended up in a good place?

E: I think if I had learned to be stronger, maybe. I don’t think I was helping myself or helping him with how spooked I was by aspects of it. I don’t think we would have stayed together forever; it’s pretty rare that people stay together forever, especially with that many challenges. I will say that it was a very, very healthy relationship for both of us and an unhealthy breakup. People are relating to the book because everyone has been through a terrible breakup where they couldn’t let go, but very few people have been through that and seen it chronicled in the National Enquirer.

A: I interpreted the voice in your head to be Dr. R’s. Whose voice is in your head now?

E: Mine, but funny enough, I just had an incredibly stressful 48 hours to deal with a really, really big work decision that was hard and meant losing someone I love deeply from my life. I navigated it as best I could and my mom told me that she thinks Dr. R would have been really proud and I’m doing what he would have told me to do. Hopefully, at this point, it’s sub-conscious that he has some influence. Because of him and because of getting well, I definitely have a sense of perspective. When you’re in the depths of it, you think, “Oh I have the worst problems in the history of the world!” Now that’s just all bullsh*t. It’s hard and it’s not a great time in your own life, but on a scale of world pain, what I’ve been through is pretty minimal.

A: Because this is for CollegeCandy, do you have any advice you could give to college-age girls? Girls in their early to mid-twenties, just kind of finding themselves?

E: Stay alive, stay eyes on the prize because in my experience, and in the experience of a lot of my girlfriends, 25 onwards, life just gets better every year. I think early twenties are really, really hard – like harder than being a teenager, harder than your thirties. You know there’s Saturn Return (the first real life change) from 27-30 and it’s good times! It gets better and better and you like yourself more and know yourself more and you become more attractive to other people. So just get to 25 and it gets easier!

The Imperfectionists is an interesting read. It revolves around an English-based newspaper, founded in Rome, but is told in chapters about each of the employees. The stories do weave together slightly and you begin to recognize names, but each chapter is like its own unique short story. It has been a long, long time since I’ve read a book like this and I found it to be perfect while I was studying for my finals. Every night I could read and learn a bit more about the newspaper and characters, but I didn’t have to keep up with any plot.

The first short story was a perfect fit. It’s about Lloyd Burko, a correspondent for the newspaper based in Paris. His life in somewhat in shambles and the story itself is not a happy one, but it really sets the tone for the rest of the novel. He isn’t particularly good at his job anymore and he doesn’t make much of an effort to be involved in the lives of his now-grown children. But, just like all the other employees featured, he’s loyal to the newspaper that links them.

In between the chapters, Rachman takes you through a history of the newspaper, starting when millionaire Cyrus Ott spontaneously decided to start the paper. I found that these little tid-bits really added to the stories, especially when current characters at the newspaper started popping up in them. Rachman was careful to drop familiar names here and there, but not so often that it interferes with the character’s chapter. Again, I loved that I didn’t have to remember what I read the night before, which is so rare to find with a book.

Rachman perfectly balanced continuity and lack of coherence in The Imperfectionists. It feels like a well-organized jumble and somewhat of an oxymoron, but I think that’s why I loved it! The structure is so different than anything I’ve read lately, so it’s completely unique and exciting. Plus, the story is good, too. This would be perfect beach or vacation reading when you want something easy to read, yet meaningful.

I definitely recommend it.

If you’ve read it, share your own thoughts and opinions below!

So. over. finals? Need a little something to take your mind off those notecards? Get more great book recommendations right here!

I’m not too embarrassed to admit that I was an absolute Sweet Valley FANATIC growing up.  I’m not even above admitting that I read (and re-read) the books well into my high school and college years. While my classmates were devouring legit literature, I, the budding writer, was absolutely engrossed in the lives of two irritatingly perfect California blondes.

So you can probably imagine just how excited I was about Sweet Valley Confidential, the sequel to the iconic Sweet Valley High series and an account of what takes place “ten years later.”  The novel catches up with identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield as they navigate life on separate coasts at the age of twenty-seven.

I wish I could say that Sweet Valley Confidential doesn’t disappoint…. but that would be like saying Gossip Girl hasn’t disappointed me greatly this season.   Maybe it has something to do with my post-collegiate, highly evolved and remarkably sophisticated taste in books (yeah, right) – but I have a feeling that my discontent with this book stems from the fact that the writing is just plain awkward.  Francine Pascal is an absolute genius for creating the world of Sweet Valley, but she did the right thing by hiring a team of ghostwriters to put her idea into words.  Pascal’s writing tries too hard to do two things at once: write ornate prose and adopt vapid, twenty-first century teen speak  (do we really abuse the word “like” THAT much?).

But as cringe-worthy as the book may be, it’s every bit as comforting as catching up with old friends.  The book really forces readers to see Jessica and Elizabeth as individuals – Elizabeth has banished herself to the East Coast and is no longer in contact with her sister – and by doing this, we actually get a glimpse into who they are as people, not just as two halves of the famous Wakefield duo.  I’ve always been partial to Jessica, the “bad twin” (I’ve always seen her as more “misunderstood” than anything else, but I digress) and “ten years later,” that hasn’t changed.  Pascal still treats Elizabeth like an angel who can do no wrong, and her scenes (set apart from the Sweet Valley world) are just plain boring.  But even Elizabeth has grown up: she uses Facebook, contemplates revenge, and even has orgasms.  If that isn’t an indicator of how much has changed since high school, I don’t know what is.

In case my criticism of the book has turned you off (or if…you know, you have a life) and you’ve decided not to read it, I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide of all our favorite Sweet Valleyites.  And even though the book series was made into an oddly addictive television show with terrible plotlines and even more terrible acting, I’ve assigned modern-day celebrity equivalents to each of the major characters.

Elizabeth Wakefield:
In high school she was: In a word, perfect.  Liz Wakefield was equal parts beauty and brains, loved and respected by all.  She was a promising writer, consummate humanitarian, and loyal girlfriend to Todd Wilkins.

Ten years later she is: Living in New York City, broken-hearted, and completely isolated (as most New Yorkers are).  Surprisingly, it is Elizabeth, not Jessica, who struggles to find her professional niche; she works as a writer for a small-time theater review website.  For the first time, we get to see what Elizabeth is like without her sister and longtime love Todd Wilkins – which is probably a good thing.

Celebrity equivalent: Taylor Swift, the other golden girl who can do no wrong.

Jessica Wakefield:
In high school she was: The uber-fabulous captain of the cheerleading squad.  Jess didn’t have Elizabeth’s stellar grades, but there’s no denying that the girl had brains, talent, and charm to spare.  Jessica had a heart, but it often got lost behind her ego.  She was manipulative, self-absorbed, and more than a little shallow, but you couldn’t help but love her anyway.

Ten years later she is: Engaged (that’s all I’ll say) and struggling to adjust to life without her sister.  She’s some sort of marketing genius and a twenty-seven-year-old divorcee.  If you thought Jess would be the first Wakefield to break out of Sweet Valley and into the big city, you were wrong: she’s still living in her hometown.

Celebrity equivalent: Cameron Diaz.  Fun, flaky, and totally magnetic.

Todd Wilkins:
In high school he was: The “nice guy.”  Todd was a hunky basketball star who could have basically any girl, but he couldn’t see beyond Elizabeth Wakefield.  Often called “boring” by Jessica, Todd didn’t seem to have any real personality traits.

Ten years later he is:  Haunted by his not-so-nice past.  He’s in a committed relationship, working as a sports reporter, and still in Sweet Valley.

Celebrity equivalent: Zac Efron.  He’s hot, athletic, and when he makes a mistake, it shocks everyone.

Lila Fowler:
In high school she was: The rich girl.  Lila was a pretty, popular shopaholic.  She was often accused of being a superficial bitch, but I always thought there was more to her than that.  Lila was more affected by her runaway mother and absentee father than anyone would ever suspect.

Ten years later she is: Still the rich girl.  She’s separated from her husband (another old school character) and has fake boobs.

Celebrity equivalent: Kim Kardashian.  They share a love of football stars and designer clothes.

Steven Wakefield:
In high school he was: The twins’ older brother, and an aspiring lawyer.  He lost his first love to leukemia.

Ten years later he is: Married to Cara Walker, cheating on his wife, and hiding a BIG secret.

Celebrity equivalent: James Franco.  He’s sexy and smart, but still a complete mystery.

Winston Egbert:
In high school he was: The scrawny, nerdy class clown.

Ten years later he is: An egotistical dot com millionaire.  He’s a total mysoginistic jerk….let’s just say he gets what’s coming to him.

Celebrity equivalent: James Eisenberg, a la The Social Network.  Only nicer in the beginning and wayyyy meaner after success.

Bruce Patman:

In high school he was: the rich, good-looking tennis star.  Arrogant to the core.

Ten years later he is: A nice guy, and Elizabeth’s best friend.  What a difference ten years can make!

Celebrity equivalent: Ed Westwick.  He wears the wealthy jerk persona and the nice guy swagger equally well.

Ken Matthews:
In high school he was: Quarterback of the football team.  You know, THAT GUY…until an Earthquake killed his free-spirited girlfriend, Olivia.

Ten years later he is: An NFL star.  Naturally.

Celebrity equivalent: Kellan Lutz, the All-American jock.

Enid Rollins:
In high school she was: Elizabeth’s annoying best friend minion with a druggie past.

Ten years later she: Still sucks.  Now she’s a snooty doctor and recovering alcoholic.

Celebrity equivalent: I can’t think of anyone I hate that much.

Caroline Pierce:
In high school she was: The school gossip.  No one ever really liked her too much, not even Elizabeth.

Ten years later she is: Still putting everyone on blast.  She’s survived cancer, but still has no real friends.

Celebrity equivalent: Perez Hilton. Only without the gig on Chelsea Lately.

So what did you guys think of Sweet Valley Confidential?  Are you Team Elizabeth or Team Jessica?  What was your favorite storyline?  And HOW EXCITED ARE YOU FOR THE SWEET VALLEY HIGH MOVIE?