The Art Of Making A Book Boyfriend - Blog Tour Post

Today, Paula tells us all about crafting that perfect book boyfriend. Micah totally deserves to be on some end of the year swoon worthy book boys lists, and here is how Paula created him!

Deconstructing Micah

Kathy asked me to talk a little bit about how I crafted the my perfectly delicious book boyfriend, and of course I never miss an opportunity to blather on about Micah. He is so awesome he has his own book boyfriend post over at Reading Lark! Here are a few reasons I think he works so well as the swoony guy in THE ART OF LAINEY.

1. He’s awesome. Micah possesses the four most important traits a guy can have— kindness, honesty, a sense of humor, and a mohawk. Okay, maybe the mohawk is optional. Maybe. Bonus factor: he can bake.

2. He’s not too awesome. I love a guy with magical powers who speaks six languages and owns a mansion as much as the next girl, I’ve just never met one. I worked hard to make Micah feel like a real teen boy, with real teen boy habits and flaws. He tapes sheets over his windows, skips the occasional shower, and says inappropriate things without thinking. He snaps at his mom, acts out when he’s upset, he even smokes! (He’s totally trying to quit, though.) And like most guys, he’s not good at expressing his feelings. It’s easier for him to give Lainey a cookie at work or pretend a kiss is part of a game than it is to just tell her that he likes her. Basically, I wanted Micah to be an awesome guy, but still feel attainable. You, reader-person. You can absolutely have your own Micah. You deserve your own Micah. 

3. He’s a little bit real. So yeah, unfortunately Micah doesn’t exist. Most of him is completely made up, but tiny parts of him were inspired by four different guys I dated or used to know. A coffee shop barista shared the story behind his Roky Erickson pyramid tattoo with me. The mohawk was (is? I hope is, but I can’t say for sure) sported by one of the funniest guys I ever knew. Micah’s sweet side comes partially from the Perfect Ex-Boyfriend who shall remain nameless. And then there’s the Musical Genius, who taught me so much about music. It can be scary to use real-life people as inspirations, but I also think it can add a layer of authenticity. Fun fact: When Lainey’s mom talks about seeing a guy in a movie cutting up six-pack rings to save baby animals? Yeah, I saw the barista doing that one day and was instantly charmed.

4. He grows. A lot of readers have come down hard on Lainey for being judgmental in the beginning of the story, and I understand why. But Micah is just as judgmental (as you’ll see in the novella INFINITE REPEAT if you didn’t see it in Lainey) when it comes to Lainey and her “popular friends.” She thinks he’s weird. He thinks she’s made of plastic. I’ve actually experienced the whole book from Micah’s POV, too, and he’s just as freaked out by the idea of dating someone so radically different as she is. He goes through really similar questions—Is it just a physical attraction thing? Would we get along if we dated for real? Am I just rushing into something new?—and comes to the same conclusion as Lainey does: he no longer wants what makes sense for him, what he’s sure he can make work. He wants what he wants, even if it feels a little crazy to him.I’ve seen a lot of readers use the L-word to describe these two, and that makes me kind of happy because Micah and Lainey do not say “I love you,” and will not, for several months. They’re just more guarded than that. Yet when I finished the book, it felt like the beginning of love to me. Seeing so many people agree makes me feel like I did a good job showing instead of telling.

If you’re interested in getting to know Micah even better, definitely check out his e-novella, INFINITE REPEAT. It features Micah, Amber, and Trinity most prominently, with just a few dashes of Lainey for comedic relief.

Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where she graduated from Washington University and the Goldfarb School of Nursing. When she's not writing, she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. Paula loves interacting with readers! Find her online at www.authorpaulastokes.com or on twitter as @pstokesbooks.

Here are a few places to purchase The Art of Lainey

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Lainey-Paula-Stokes/dp/0062238426/
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Art-Lainey-Paula-Stokes/dp/0062238426/
B and N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-lainey-paula-stokes/1117005011
Chapters Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/the-art-of-lainey/9780062238429-item.html
The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Art-Lainey-Paula-Stokes/9780062238429
Or order a signed copy from Paula's favourite indie, Left Bank Books. More info here: 
http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/2014/04/win-win-win-get-signed-books-and-help.html

Here is a rafflecopter for you to win a copy of The Art of Lainey! It's open internationally as well. Other giveaways are included with other posts on the blog tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Release Date - May 20, 2014
Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 384 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

Authors who have the ability to write in multiple genres always impress me. Paula Stokes proves that she can move easily from historical mystery to contemporary with the delightful The Art of Lainey. It's a novel that is fun, humourous, and filled with heart.

Lainey is a complex character. She's not someone I would be friends with when we first meet her. She's judgmental, and a little selfish. I, sadly, predict many will find her 'unlikeable'. Lainey, for all her faults, is something more than that though. She's a character that you understand. Her motivations, her intentions, and even WHO she is (even at the beginning) are not only recognizable, but all too real. We know people like Lainey. Perhaps have even been friends with people like Lainey. Paula Stokes uses her flaws to allow for a stunning transformation that happens slowly, and realistically.

Plenty of gushing will be had of the romance, and more specifically Micah. All of it totally deserved but, in my opinion, the bright spot of the novel is Lainey herself. Her character growth and transformation is the heart of the story. It's what makes you want the romance. It is what makes you want to keep reading. She changes, and it's a joy to read. Her progression and eventual self awareness are what, in my opinion, make this story.

The secondary characters provide the necessary plot progression but there is one worth noting. Bianca, Lainey's best friend. This friendship is one of the best I've come across in a really long time. Bianca's unwavering support, and gentle nature contrast with Lainey. Through Bianca we get to see Lainey's growth all the more clearly. The ups and downs of the friendship only serve to strengthen the bond that these two young women have. I wish more novels would showcase friendships like this. Ones free of the typical cliche ridden drama so often found plaguing them. While they do sometimes hurt each other, there is no willful maliciousness. The message of finding who is truly important, and not taking them for granted is speckled throughout the novel, and it's even woven into this friendship. With all that said, Bianca is basically one of the best 'side kick best friends' I've had the pleasure to read about.

Micah, and the romance itself, are both very adorable and swoon worthy (as previously mentioned). Love should let you grow, and introduce you to new things. It shouldn't define you, but rather help you see new things about yourself that you never knew were there. Micah and Lainey both challenge each other to go outside their comfort zone. They broaden each other's experiences, and help them find out who they truly are. Lainey's someone that has always defined herself through her friendships and relationships. Micah helps her see that there is someone she'd been ignoring along the way - herself.

The Art of Lainey won me over with it's charm, heart, and it's sweet, almost John Hughes like nostalgia. It's a read that left me smiling and giddy. It's a perfect read when you need cheering up, and I recommend it for anyone who loves cute contemporaries with a little more character development.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Another awesome mailbox this week. Pretty much feeling like one of the luckiest book nerds ever!

The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh (goodreads) **Adult Novel**
The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Random House Canada for The Lemon Grove. I was visiting my favourite gossip website Lainey Gossip and saw a mention of it, and knew I had to read it immediately.

A huge thank you Harper Collins Canada for a copy of The Art of Lainey. Jess from Read my Breath Away and I are hosting the Canadian Blog tour for this title, and if you're a Canadian blogger you should SIGN UP!

I also have some incredible e-books for review from Harper Collins as well.

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (goodreads)
After The End by Amy Plum (goodreads)
Wicked Games by Sean Olin (goodreads)

Hope you had a fantastic book haul this week too!

Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOK

Cover of The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Cute right? Totally cute. Mix this cover with a fun synopsis and you have the makings of a perfect summer beach read. I hope it's as adorable as I think it's going to be!

Cover of Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Read the synopsis...I'll give you a second. HITLER IS HER UNCLE! I am sold. Sign me up. May I have this book now please?! Yup, it's going to be an intense historical. Super excited.

OTHER

Ontario Blogger Meet Up

Less than a month until the Ottawa blogettes all travel to Toronto for an amazing weekend of bookish fun with the other Ontario bloggers. Super excited to see so many of the Toronto bloggers again!

So what are you obsessed with this week?