2015 Most Anticipated ........ Joyride

My next selection is a novel that has midnight pranks, romance, and has been called Pretty in Pink meets Bonnie and Clyde. Sign me up. Immediately.

Just check out this Goodreads synopsis and you'll be counting down the days until you can get your hands on this fun, sweet sounding contemporary...

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh. 

This is a must read for contemporary fans. I have high hopes for an incredibly cute romance. It also has the added bonus of some diverse characters.

I got Anna to discuss one of her own pranks, ice cream and more in this Q and A she was gracious enough to answer.

1 Describe Joyride in Twitter format (140 characters or less)

Bonnie & Clyde meets Latina Pretty in Pink

2 If someone were to make an ice cream flavour to represent your book, what might be included?

Mint Chocolate Chip--Refreshing mint, and little chunks of chocolate sweetness scattered throughout.

3 Can you share a secret about your book (either it's world, it's characters, or something that helped inspire the story)?

When I was a teenager I used to waitress at a restaurant where there were some undocumented Mexican immigrants working there as well. They were, by far, the hardest working employees in the entire place and I always admired their work ethic. As I began to get more acquainted with them, and learn their story of the difficulties of making it across the border and the constant struggle to stay here in order to make a better life for their families...It really touched me. I know people are ready to riot, screaming that the US should deport undocumented immigrants and such, but the truth is, coming from a human standpoint, and not a political standpoint, I feel that if I were in that same position, where I could move to a better place and help my family pull out of the grasp of poverty and suffering, then I would do it too. I always wonder how many teens I went to school with at the time were struggling with this kind of problem, while all I struggled with was how much money I was going to have for prom. I want to open eyes, to help people peer into a world different from their own and to look at the situation as a human and not whatever their political party demands.

4 The synopsis mentions midnight pranks. Which of the pranks included in the story would you be most likely to do?

Honestly, I did ALL the pranks in this book (I could write a how-to guide for pranking, seriously), but the one I will tell you about is driving around town and shooting firecrackers out of the window with my slingshot. Very effective way to produce a bowel movements for pedestrians who may have been previously constipated...

5 If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel? 

I would go back to the 1700s because chunky pale chicks like me were in high demand and I would for sure snag a prince or some sort of royalty. :)

6 What three things do you need while revising?

1.) I need to sort out the changes into a checklist to break my edits down into doable chunks.
2.) Wine for the funny parts.
3.) Coffee for the serious parts.

7 If possible, please share the first line of Joyride. (only answer if not too spoilery).

Mr. Shackleford shuffles in the front door of the Breeze Mart, jingling the bells tied to a red velvet string on the handle.
Please don't die on my shift.
Please don't die on my shift.
Please don't die on my shift.

This sounds both funny, and heartfelt and the combination could create a really amazing read. I am really curious about the pranks that these two characters pull off during the novel.

Joyride is released June 2nd but you can pre-order it now

Amazon USA/Canada // Chapters // Barnes and Noble // 

Be sure to check back later on during the event for a chance to win a copy of Joyride (or any of my featured titles).

You can follow Anna Banks on Twitter, visit her official website, and learn more about the book from the publisher website.

NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012) OF TRITON (2013) OF NEPTUNE (2014). Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency. I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can't walk in high heels, but I'm very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.

Have you ever pulled a prank? What is your favourite prank in a movie or book? Let me know in the comments.