Okay, I've heard from many readers and editors there needs to be a lot more humor in YA, and well, I've found it! LEXAPROS AND CONS (Farrar Straus Giroux, April 2012) by Aaron Karo, a well known comedian, is hilarious and touching. This is his debut novel and it will appeal to guys and girls equally--though girls might blush a little at some of the wordage, though they'll be laughing while they they turn beet red! Read the opening paragraph and you'll know what I'm talking about! ;)
The book blurbage:
Chuck Taylor’s OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy.
Chuck Taylor’s OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy.
In this hilariously candid debut novel from comedian Aaron Karo—who grew up with a few obsessions and compulsions of his own—very bad things are going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that’s a good thing. Because with graduation looming, Chuck finds himself with one last chance to face his inner demons, defend his best friend, and win over the girl of his dreams. No matter what happens, though, he’ll have to get his hands dirty.
Okay, first off the MC's name is Chuck Taylor. Yep, just like the shoes. You've got to love that! Secondly, this is an accurate, yet hysterical depiction of OCD. It's perfect, not just for kids who might have OCD, but anyone who'd like a better understanding of it. I've personally never known anyone with OCD, so this book really opened my eyes to what it's all about. Lexapro, by the way, is a drug used to combat OCD symptoms.
Karo's candid and genuine writing style will resonate with kids, namely guys, but it's hilarity will attract all types of readers. Coming in at 230 pages, this is actually a quick read. The witticisms and easy language will make this book fly by. I recommended this to any reluctant reader and to any writer who's interested in writing a uniquely funny book. I think of this as a teen version of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Karo is going to amass a huge fan base of teen readers.
Now for the good stuff, the GIVEAWAY!
I will be giving away a brand new ARC of Lexapros And Cons to one lucky reader! The book doesn't release until April, so this is a great opportunity to be one of the first readers!
To enter the LEXAPROS AND CONS giveaway:
1. Follow this blog, because I will be soooo happy that you did. ;)
2. Leave a comment.
3. Reveal your favorite color of Chuck Taylor shoes! (this rule is optional). Mine was pink, by the way!
4. Winner will be announced on Wednesday of next week!
Check out more bookaliscious Bookanista Reviews and Giveaways!
1. Follow this blog, because I will be soooo happy that you did. ;)
2. Leave a comment.
3. Reveal your favorite color of Chuck Taylor shoes! (this rule is optional). Mine was pink, by the way!
4. Winner will be announced on Wednesday of next week!
Check out more bookaliscious Bookanista Reviews and Giveaways!
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Katy Upperman raves over JELLICOE ROAD
Carolina Valdez Miller talks about the tremendous cover of TEN
Jessica Love has high ratings for THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
hi miss hilary! i looove chucks and i got a lot of them. did you know you could design up your own at converse.com? wow! how cool is that. my favs are my black ones with red flames on them and next is my black ones with bunches of silver computer parts. for sure i could like this book even if im a mg reader. i know lots about ocd from goin at work with my brother that works with mental ill people. for sure you could put me in the shoe to win that cool book.
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
Lenny, I had no idea you could design your own shoes!! My son would LOVE that! I'll have to check it out. Yes, not knowing anyone with OCD, this book really opened my eyes! :) Here's to Chuck Talyor!
DeleteHey! thanks for the post! You can design all kinds of crazy Chucks. I rock high-tops with skulls and crossbones that I made myself!
Delete-Karo
@aaronkaro
Aaron, thanks so much for stopping by. Your book is great, not to mention downright hilarious! Funny is so important! Okay, at least to me! :)
DeleteI adore the cover of this book, and I can't wait to get my hands on it when it comes out (or perhaps sooner... :))!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite chucks are black, but they have sequins on them. I'm a sequin kind of girl. For boys, though, I love red.
I know! The cover is brilliant. You know it's going to be a funny book! Sequins? Oh, that sounds super fancy! If only Chucks came with a heel, I'd be in! ;)
Deletehi miss hilary! you gotta get up on chucks cause they do come with high heels. go at google images and type in converse high heels and you could see bunches of them. to me they look pretty strange. be kinda hard to play basketball or soccer in them. ha ha.
Delete...hugs from lenny
Lenny, I will so check that out! I don't know that I can pull off high-heel chucks though! ;)
DeleteWould love to win that book.
ReplyDeleteSequins on shoes is always nice. : )
I too like shiny things! :)
DeleteChuck Taylor's are the second coolest sneaker in history, FWIW IMHO.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine whore them to our senior prom with his tux! It was awesome! :)
DeleteThis looks like something my son will love! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBoys are going to eat this up, Martin!
DeleteGoogle Friends Connect - following you publicly as (Louis)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this giveaway
my first pair of chucks were red, now I own a pair in hounds thouh design
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I LOVE hound's tooth! :)
DeleteI've found another great blog to follow!
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out my blog awhile back, it's so special when a writer you read and love comes across you on their own.
Take Care,
Taurean
P.S. You've been tagged, and here's why-
http://www.talkinganimaladdicts.com/2012/02/okay-im-tagging-myself.html
Very cool, Taurean! Thanks for tagging me! :)
DeleteI have got to get a copy of this book! I totally get OCD behavior...everything has a place and there is a place for everything (and it should be in that place). If I don't win, I will buy Lexapros and Cons.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm too old and out of touch to have any chucks, but if I did I'd have purple and white checkered ones. :)
Sharon, it's a riot!!!!! :) Oh, and your NEVER too old!!
DeleteA YA book with a male POV AND his name is Chuck Taylor?? Sold. Fave color of Chucks:Okay this sounds so boring, but I LOVE my gray chucks. They go with everything:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
I know right, a male POV, whohoo!! ;) Hey, all my shoes are black, so gray is fine with me! :)
DeleteOMG! This screams male POV. The last time I enjoyed a good male pov was while reading FLASH BURN OUT.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great giveaway. :)
So right! We need more humor in YA. I'm not particularly good at writing the light stuff, but I enjoy reading it. And I enjoy a good pair of chucks myself ;) This puts me in mind of Matt Blackstone's book which also deals with OCD, but I suspect the execution is very different.
ReplyDelete