Boys Like You by Juliana Stone (Interview/Giveaway)

Picking up a hardcover book instantly raises the expectations. You feel the weight, the strength of the spine and pray it translates into an equally powerful story. But who releases hardcover books anymore? Let’s ask our guest today. Welcome Juliana Stone!

Lexi: Congrats Juliana on your release of Boys Like You which happens to be available in hardcover! That’s a nice pat on the back I would say. Are you going to keep one of the first copies in pristine condition in your office?

OMG for sure! A little secret? I cried when the cute UPS man dropped my box of author copies off. I mean, it’s always been a dream you know?  To write a young adult but to have that pretty hardcover in my hands filled me with a lot of emotion.

So yes, I’ve got one on display in my office!

Lexi: Boys Like You is a new direction for you. We all know we love your shifters and League of Guardians, but now you are venturing into YA waters. What drew you to this story?

I’ve always had that goal in the back of my mind…to write a book that my daughter and her friends can read. She’s 15, so a little young for my adult books.  I’ve recently migrated to contemporary adult romance so when I decided to take a stab at young adult, I wrote a contemporary book with real issues.

Lexi: Was it a challenge to write YA after Jaxon, Logan and Mac?

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  The thing that really makes contemporary adult and young adult novels different from say, one of my League of Guardian books is that they’re really character driven. You can’t have magic take care of an issue, or call up a demon to help you out, LOL. That just doesn’t happen in the real world. I think my paranormal books really use my imagination well, the contemporary books helped me to become a better character driven author.

Lexi: We do love our men hot and...sometimes furry. But Boys Like You sounds heart wrenching and moving. Monroe and Nathan have both lost and need to move past guilt. A very difficult thing to do as it is in your mind. Were you challenged as a writer when you pushed Monroe and Nathan through difficult conversations and realizations?

I thrive on angst. I don’t know what it is but I always tend to write dark. So this book has some lighter moments for sure, some swoon worthy moments too….this is first love at its best, but the real issues are dark and angst ridden and these two kids have to deal with. Those kinds of things I love to write.

Lexi: Being young is difficult. The older and wiser of us can enjoy this book, sit back and be happy we don’t have to live through it again. Congrats on your release of Boys Like You! We wish you success!

Thanks so much! I’m so in love with these characters and I hope Monroe and Nathan find their way into your hearts!

Boys Like You

by Juliana Stone 

eBook/Hardcover, 288 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Sourcebooks

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | B&N | BAM | Google Play | iBooks | Indie Bound | KOBO

One mistake.

And everything changes.

For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that…

Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that…

Captivating and hopeful, this achingly poignant novel brings together two lost souls struggling with grief and guilt – looking for acceptance, so they can find forgiveness.

GIVEAWAY:
The publisher is giving away one copy of BOYS LIKE YOU to one US/CA reader. To enter, just leave a question or comment for Juliana on this post and then fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway