BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

Book Description

Release Date: September 29, 2009

With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.

Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which leads to an act of total insanity. Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel.

Product Details 

Reading level: Teen 

Hardcover: 240 pages 

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 29, 2009)

Giveaway Details

$50.00 Amazon Gift Card

Kindle Fire HD

3 Finished Print Copies (all signed)

3 bookmarks

Author Details

› Visit Amazon's Lauren Bjorkman Page

Biography

I grew up on a sailboat, sharing the tiny forecastle with my sister and the sail bags. Against all odds, we are still friends. We started sailing in California and ended in Argentina. My favorite stops along the way were Costa Rica, Panama, Isla Providencia, Key West, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Brazil.

During our voyages, my sister drew beautiful paper dolls for the both of us. We sewed amazing wardrobes for our stuffed animals. We became excellent swimmers and beach combers. We made up new lyrics for old songs. Canned food dominated our meals on crossings, so we really appreciated fresh fruit when we came into port. I dreamed of ice cream on the open ocean.

We kept up with school through a program called Calvert out of Maryland.

My dad read to us at night by the light of a kerosene lamp. Since then, I've always loved stories and wanted to write my own.

I live in Taos, New Mexico with my husband, and two sons. We often see coyotes outside our window.

For more, please visit my website at http://www.laurenbjorkman.com

Please note that these prizes are for both this and Miss Fortune Cookie (toured in Dec.)

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My Thoughts:
Roz and her sister Eva have always been close if somewhat competitive, but are going through a period where Eva has pulled back and Roz feels left out of her life and wants to find a way back in. One day Roz's suspicions about what is going on in Eva's life are peaked when she does a little digging and she thinks she's worked out the secret that her sister is hiding. What follows is Roz's shock confession to her friends which ultimately has her questioning and trying to figure out different aspects of her life.

My Invented Life is told from Roz's point of view. And what a fun and quirky place her head is!!! She is witty and full of spunk. She is a master at flinging the Shakespearean insult but deep down I feel she just wants to be loved for who she is, even if she's not quite sure who that is yet.  

This is a story that has a wonderful cast of supporting characters who are all very different from each other. From Roz's crush Bryan, who is also her sisters boyfriend and although incredibly charming, he really struggles with the being faithful thing, through to  Andie, who really doesn't care what anyone thinks, Jon, who is trying to come to terms with the lack of support from his parents and Carmen who appears to be a thorn is Roz's side.

Lauren Bjorkman has done a wonderful job of capturing the struggles faced by teenagers who are trying to find their place in the world as they deal with friendship, love, bullying and sexuality, but she has done it with humour and fun!! Looking forward to reading more from this author!!

4/5 Stars!!

I was given this book for an honest review as part of a blog tour through http://www.crossroadreviews.com. Receiving this book for free in no way influenced my opinion or review.