Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hopping and I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Book Blogger Hop

If you're stopping by from the Hop, say hello so I can be sure to find your blog! This week's question comes from Elizabeth who blogs at Silver's Reviews.


When you write reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you have read the entire book?
I nearly always write them after I've read the entire book. Sometimes even a few days later, but I like to do the review within 24 hours, even if I can't publish it for a while. On occasion, for the sort of book that gets a midnight release party, I'll take notes as I read (though I usually just immerse and worry about analyzing later); on occasion, I'll take notes if I'm not enjoying what I'm reading because that sometimes helps me figure out if there's a pattern, a hidden reason for my lack of enjoyment.


I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Earlier this month, I wondered if YA romance was really romance, because romances in YA are usually accompanied with a self-growth story that's as important as, if not more important than, the romance. I'm not trying to say that characters in adult-marketed romances don't experience character growth, just that character growth is so very vital in YA stories that I usually see that as the focus, with romance secondary, or because I don't usually see the self-growth serving the romance in such a focused way as an obstacle, as an adult romance might use it.

Between then and now, I read I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan  (Scholastic - Arthur A. Levine), and it's probably one of the closest-to-romance-as-in-adult-marketed-romances I've read. Bronwen Oliver wishes she'd find out that she's Phoebe Lilywhite, switched and birth and someday to be reunited with her real family. At least she'll be getting away soon to go to college. But the summer before senior year, she starts dating college senior Jared Sondervan, and they're engaged before she goes back to school. It's perfect: his family is perfect for her, and Jared is--mostly--a loving and lovable boyfriend. Bronwen's senior year goes by in a blur, and she is focused like a laser on her love and her wedding plans, even to the detriment of her friendships.

This plan, to live in wedded bliss near Grand Rapids, Michigan, works for her. (I understand that this captures the people and area pretty well.) When Jared changes the game, will Bronwen play by the new rules, or will she have to leave true love behind to follow her dreams? Yes, there is a part of this story that focuses less on romance and lots on Bronwen finding out who she is as a person who exists as part of and separate from her family, but it's bookended with romance. And I'm not going to spoil the ending! I thought this worked as a romance, definitely.

Have you read it? What did you think?

14 comments:

  1. Hello! Found you through the Hop. :]

    I haven't had a chance to read I Now Pronounce You Someone Else yet. It sounds pretty interesting, though.

    Hope you have a good weekend!

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  2. Hi, I am hopping on by and now following your blog.
    Hope you can pop by mine as well.

    Chazz
    http://chazzhart.blogspot.com

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  3. Hey, found you through the hop! Happy friday! I'm a new follower! I look forward to reading your review's! This is me: http://thethoughtsofabookjunky.blogspot.com/

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  4. Hi there just stopping by from the hop and Iam your newest follower. Have a great weekend.
    bookbee

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  5. Notes are always a must when you decide to review a book. It is always easy to remember, same as bookmarking :) Dropping by via the hop. If you have the time, come visit me over Cladestine Sanctuary and don't forget to enter the giveaway.

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  6. I should really take notes on things I'm not particularly enjoying and see if it helps break it up a little... I'm having that problem right now with the second Temeraire book by Naomi Novik.

    Check out my Hop here:
    Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a Giveaway!

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  7. Hello, Happy Friday!

    I'm stopping by to say hello on Follow Friday and the Blog Hop. TGIF!!

    Have a awesome weekend!

    http://romancebookjunkies.blogspot.com

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  8. Hi Hallie! Just stopping by from the Blog Hop.
    I'm a new follower, and I'd appreciate if you follow me back!
    Hafsah
    IceyBooks

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  9. Hopping by...

    I love your blog and your reviews! You read a lot of similar books as I do. (I loved the Tomorrow series -- I read it when I was younger but they had only released the first 2 books in the US--I am hoping now to get my hands on more of them)

    Congrats on being on the Cybils panel! If you have time, stop by my blog. I would love to have you visit :)

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  10. Just hopping by... I'm a new follower.

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  11. I'm a follower.

    45 Book Bloggers have joined our
    Follower Appreciation Hop.
    Come join us!!

    If you love giveaways like I do or have a giveaway on your blog then stop by and check out my new giveaway linky:
    Got Great Giveaways?

    Have a great weekend!
    ~Inspired Kathy
    I Am A Reader, Not a Writer

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  12. Hi there! *waves*

    Just making my round via hop! Lovely blog you have here. This week I'm trying really hard to reach 375 followers so for every follower I get this week they will get one too! So hop on over!

    Til next time,
    Lisa (Badass Bookie)xx
    http://badassbookie.blogspot.com/

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  13. Hopping through! I've heard good things about this book.
    My Hop

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  14. Thanks, everyone! If I'm not already following you, I'll be checking things out this week.

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