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Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming releases we're anxiously awaiting!
January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
WHY DID A SPOT OPEN UP AT MANDERLEY ACADEMY?
I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.
It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley-the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.
Then, there's the name on my lips-Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, wat
Today I am happy to host Paige Harbison, author of Here Lies Bridget, on the blog for an interview!!
Kate: For those who haven't read your book yet, can you give them a short synopsis?
Paige: Basically an awful girl--awful by means of snide comments, disinterest in the people around her, and a willingness to shove blame from herself at the cost of anything--gets into a car accident and finds herself face to face with five people from her life. They don't speak to her or even acknowledge her, but she soon finds herself in their heads seeing herself through each of their eyes and getting a little insight into the experiences they've lived through.
Kate: Where did the initial idea for this book come from?
Paige: It just kind of came to me. I had a random idea for a series with each book focusing on one of the seven deadly sins, and from that I wrote about a girl who suffered from several of them.
Kate: In school or even outside of it, did you have any experience with 'mean girls'?
Paige: Everyone does. And mean guys. But I know, especially now that I'm a little older (practically geriatric at the age of 21), that I was pretty mean too sometimes. There are a few things that Bridget did (none of the worst things) that I did, and there are things done to the people around her that I've seen around me. There are always mean people like her. The trick is to remember that she's only like that--they're all only like that--because they're miserable and/or terrified.
Kate: Did you have an inspiration for Bridget from real life? How did you develop this intricate character?
Paige: Like I said, just from people around me. I've seen people be just horrible to each other--and sometimes it seems like no one is worse than kids--and it was not hard to make a realistic character out of those things.
Kate: Where did you come up with the idea about Bridget being in limbo?
Paige: It just seemed the best way to put her in a dramatic situation where she really felt like something hu
Publisher: Harlequin Teen (January 18, 2011)
eGalley: 208 Pages
Genre: YA Paranormal
Book from Netgalley*
From Goodreads. Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination.
Review by Kate
HERE LIES BRIDGET, by Paige Harbison, is a story about a girl who dies and is judged by those she has wronged during her short life. Reminiscent of
A Christmas Carol's past/present/future ghosts but with a different and modern twist.
Our MC, Bridget, was merciless with her peers and her family. An event in her past and absent father turned this once nice girl into a cold-hearted you know what. Harbison must have channeled 'mean girl' very well for this character. But that was only Bridget's outward appearance. Inside she still knew what her actions meant but she did not hint to caring what anyone else felt. Issues of bullying and self-destruction were prevalent. Harbison did a great job honing in on the teenage-psyche.
My only problem was when Bridget relived her past actions through her peers who were judging her. Some of the scenes were repetitive from previous chapters. But on the flip side, it was interesting getting into the other person's head and feeling how much Bridget's words and actions hurt him/her.
Overall, this was a pretty good book. For me it was a quick read and Harbison kept me interested until the very end.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this eGalley from NetGalley. I do not receive payment of any kind in exchange for a review. I do not receive monetary compensation from any book links in my review.
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Wow, this sounds really, really great. Have to add this to my to-read list immediately.
Thank you so much for sharing,
Carina @ Fictional Distraction
Very interesting book! The cover looks intriguing. Great pick! Thank you for sharing!
Sam
This one sounds really good! I hope it's as good as it sounds!
Feel free to check out my WOW
Krazyyme @ Young Readers
I haven't read Rebecca but I'm really intrigued by it it's been on my TBR list for months. This one sounds wonderful as well.
Giselle
Xpresso Reads
This one sounds good! Thanks for sharing.
Here's MY WOW POST and
MY WEBSITE
I haven't read Rebecca, so I'll still have the element of surprise, luckily! New Girl sounds really creepy! Definitely looking forward to it. :)
WOW. I love the blurb for this book. Sounds wonderful. Great choice. Come visit me as well.
Livre De Amour-Books of Love Blog
Is this a companion novel to Rebecca? Sounds like it. This sounds creeptastic, and I'm going a little gag for the possible romance (really, is that anything new? Wait, how would you know? *lol*). Excellente.
- Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)
how did you get the NaNoWriMo word count button thingy? I can't find it!! :D
LOL, I've read this description before and apparently didn't clue into the fact that it was a retelling of Rebecca. *facepalm* Now I am definitely more interested!!
@eden -- I found the word count bar here: http://www.languageisavirus.com/nanowrimo/word-meter.html
They should have one up on the NaNo site eventually, but so far no dice :\