Waiting on Wednesday: Viola in the Spotlight

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today I am very excited about the April 5th release of Viola in the Spotlight, the soon-to-be-established-as-amazing sequel to Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani. Check out the blurb!

Viola is finally where she belongs—back home in Brooklyn, where there are no khakis or sherbet-colored sweaters and people actually think her yellow flats are cool.

But her BFFAA, Andrew, has started acting weird around her, and a new boyfriend has her friend Caitlin ditching her every chance she gets. When Viola’s roommates from Prefect Academy show up for a visit, she starts to wonder—is Brooklyn where she wants to stay? When a tragic event shakes everyone’s world, Viola realizes it’s not where she belongs that matters—it’s who she’s with that really counts.

From Goodreads

After the loads of fun & character-changing events in the first book (my review here) this one seems to be taking a more somber tone. Viola will face some tough decisions in this book & I'm actually not certain how things will turn out. Here's hoping it's all for the best! What are you waiting on this week?

We have a winner!

Congratulations are due to Alessandra who won the signed copy of New York Times Best-Selling Author Adriana Trigiani's debut teen novel Viola in Reel Life. Thank you to all who entered. Your comments and words of enjoyment mean that I am doing something right. Thanks again and stay tuned for my next giveaway!

Win a signed copy of Viola in Reel Life

As many of you know, I had the wonderful opportunity a few weeks ago to meet Adriana Trigiani at a book signing for her debut YA novel Viola in Reel Life. Let me tell you, that if she ever comes near your town, you must go see her! She was an absolute blast; very real and down-to-earth and the funniest woman I have met in a long time. She has graciously donated a signed copy of her book to be used as my very first giveaway on my blog along with a set of dog tags specifically designed to go with the book!

The contest is closed. Thank you for all those who entered!

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Somehow I managed to talk about a book signing, without talking about the book! Viola in Reel Life was an amazingly accurate representation of what it's like to be a young teen.

The story follows 14 year-old, aspiring film maker Viola Chesterton as she navigates her way through her first year at an all-girl, boarding school in South Bend, Indiana. This 180 from her life in Brooklyn, New York coupled with her parents' absence while making a film overseas causes Viola to shrink in on herself. Lucky for her though, her new roommates won't allow her to do that. Suzanne, Romy, & Marisol are a varied and colorful cast who allow Viola her space, while helping her to understand that she can learn a lot from each of them.

And what would a teen novel be without a little romance? Viola's best friend Andrew was sadly left behind in Brooklyn, but they keep in touch while she's in South Bend. When Viola starts seeing her first real boyfriend Jared, Andrew magically starts seeing a girl back home and has little time to commiserate with Viola. What's a girl to do?

Witty, comical, heart-felt and very understanding, Adriana Trigiani has really found a calling in young adult literature. The characters are believable and engaging, although not all of them are in-depth. Relationships are formed and fall-through just like they would in real life. The best of all though is the language used. I have a hard time getting in to some books who don't quite get the lingo and Adriana Trigiani does not have that problem at all. A necessity for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Adriana Trigiani Book Signing

Tonight was just full of fun and excitement! I went to our local independent bookstore to meet New York Times Bestselling author Adriana Trigiani. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it definitely wasn't the 50 or so people that showed up. Most of them were older women, and while I knew that this was her debut YA novel, I didn't realize just how popular her books were to the local people.


Let me tell you, I was absolutely floored when she came waltzing down to where we all were sitting. She just absolutely becomes the life of the party! Ms. Trigiani is a very loud and proud Italian full of humor, memories, and stories that she shared in abundance. While Viola in Reel Life is her debut YA novel, she has decided to make it into a series. The story, set in South Bend, Indiana where Ms. Trigiani went to college, follows a 14-year-old, aspiring film maker Viola Chesterton as she adjusts to life at the all girl Prefect Academy.


Ms. Trigiani went on to tell us that her 7-year-old daughter was her main inspiration for writing the book. She finds that while many teen reads on today's scene consist of shopping, the paranormal, or more adult themes, Ms. Trigiani really wanted to make a book that most regular kids could relate to on a personal level. She hit the nail on the head as the characters are very authentic and believable as are the storyline and locations. Her goal was to engage kids in reading as the YA age group (6th-12th grade mostly) are just beginning to make their own individual reading choices.

A riot in person and a fantastic author, Adriana Trigiani has brought poignant and powerful storylines to the forefront of her work. With memorable characters and a true-to-life understanding of what it means to be a teen in this day-in-age, Viola in Reel Life is sure to become a teen classic.

Bringing in the Loot

This week I hit the book jackpot between winning a book, receiving my first ARC, my holds came in at the library, and I bought myself some birthday books. Hooray for birthdays!

The top row is loot from the library and when it rains, it pours.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange, The Immortals: Evermore by Alyson Noel, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Ring of Fire by Pierdomenico Baccalario is an ARC I received.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier I won in a contest over on Book Divas.

So it looks like I will be a busy little blogger for at least the next few weeks. Also, Adriana Trigiani will be in town next Friday to promote her new book Viola in Reel Life so stay tuned for that update!