Last week I received 4 Advanced Reader Copies of my January 13, 2009 release, THE ABC’S OF KISSING BOYS. (Yay!) Just 4...but Kelly’s been kind enough to pass on her copy and let me offer it up to a YA Fresh reader.
Leave a comment telling us what you think of the cover and/or the story, and you’ll automatically be entered to win. The contest will close at 6 pm PST this Sunday, June 22, following which I will chose and announce the winner.
So, about the cover...those of you who know my books are going to be surprised. Very surprised. Gone is the playful cartoon look, and in its place, a close-up photo. The reason for the change is that Random House wants to attract a broader, older range of teens for this book. Great, huh? This is eye-catching, too!
About the book, well, I re-read it last weekend. And I realize I’m being totally immodest, but I actually thought it was a fun read. I not only liked the way it turned out, I even laughed a few times at my own stupid jokes!
Here is the back page blurb:
Parker has played soccer practically since she could walk. Now she’s a high school junior and a shoo-in for Varsity. I mean, the coach moves everyone up from JV to Varsity. It’s just what happens.
But that’s not what happens.
This year Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two--and Parker was half of that unfortunate equation.
School starts, and she’s stuck with (horror of horrors) the freshman, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. Worse? The friends her own age are showing signs of cutting her loose, and now the freshman guy across the street is looking like her only companion.
But Parker’s determined to get her life back. She concocts the perfect plan to get on Varsity. The only catch? She has to trick her way into the annual kissing booth, then pull a stunt crazier than she could ever possibly dream up on her own. Only the kissing booth kiss has to look real. And Parker is less than experienced in playing on that sort of field.
She knows that practice makes perfect, now she just has to find the right kind of coach...
If you want to read the first chapter, check it out on my website, www.tinaferraro.com. Meanwhile, I hope you leave a comment...and good luck!
Ooo... loving the cover! It's awesome :) Story sounds like fun! Thank you for the chance!
ReplyDeletebunnybox9 at gmail . com
Yep, we're a little sorry for not seeing another illustrated cover by the same artist, but I know this cover will really grab attention and fly off shelves to find another wonderful story from Tina Ferraro!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI Love The Cover and It sounds Awsome!!
ReplyDeletePot17ter@aol.com
I think it looks great - I love the lipstick color. Going off to read the first chapter now!
ReplyDeleteI think using photography is a great step. It will attract a broader audience for sure. And the fact that it's not just any photo but a very close up one like that gives you lots of brownie points! If I saw that in a store I'd pick it up and read the back cover for sure!
ReplyDeletealeareads@gmail.com
This cover is soft and pretty. I really like it! I think it's a step in a nice direction. :D
ReplyDeletepsst...my bday is on the 22nd! Pick me, Pick me!
I think the cover looks great! It really is eye-catching. I'd pick it up in the store for sure!
ReplyDeletefashionable.librarian@gmail.com
The cover is amazing. I can't wait to read it. The books sounds great. Please enter me for the contest.
ReplyDeleteOMG. LOVE the cover. and the story sounds great. really can't wait to read this one! great work Tina!
ReplyDeletexo,
jennifer
Oooh, I'm a huge fan of the cover. It's glossy, pretty and the colors are easy on the eyes. :) I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. This sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThe cover's cute, too :] not what I expected.
Another vote for loving the cover!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover! I want lipstick like that! :0)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading it! Sounds great!
Christy
I like the cover. It's a good photo and the cropping is attracting. I like the font of the title, but I don't like the little bubble they put Tina's name in. It's off-centered when the title is center and the background color contrasts but doesn't pop.
ReplyDeleteThe blurb works because I want to know how kissing boys will get Parker on Varsity.
Tina! Wow-- you are right, such a grown up cover! I LOVE IT!! And the back copy sounds fun for sure- soccer was my game back in the day, now I'm resigned to watching as many professional European games on ESPN as I possibly can (have you had a look at the most gorgeous men who play soccer these days? Unbelievable!)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new book and I can't wait to read it! Count me in for the contest =)
~Emily in AZ
The cover looks great but I'm missing the cartoon! The story looks just as great as your others.
ReplyDeleteRachel R.
mybkclub.com
mybkclub@aol.com
I have been thinking about going through my old journals and short stories of my youth to see if there is a teen novel in the making... but I'm NOT a writer... just a painter... hmmmm... if ntohing else it should make for some good laughs! LOTS of laughs... I used to write VOLUMES... so I guess I was a writer in my youth ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. It instantly got my attention!! It also sounds so great I cannot wait to read it:)
ReplyDeleteI confess I miss the cartoon covers! (I have always been a huge fan of them.) But I love the new one, too -- it's very eye-catching.
ReplyDeleteSo...ARCs already? Wow...the YA book world is so different...
Cara
i think the cover is cute...and very eye catching in a kinda "whoa!" way :D and that's a good thing!!
ReplyDeletei like the cover. it's pretty cute!
ReplyDeleteSamantha
ssclarinet@hotmail.com
The cover is defintely different from the other books, but I like it. It catches your eye right away.
ReplyDeleteThe story looks great. I can't wait to read it!
~Meredith
rosesaremyfavorite@hotmail.com
Oh, I definitely like the cover on this one. It's probably my favorite of your three books, Tina :) As for the plot, well, let's just say that anything involving kissing is of interest to me ...
ReplyDeleteSteph
Wow! This cover makes me very excited! The story, well, it sounds like something I would do! I can't wait to read it! I think this cover will make a lot of people take notice who aren't already addicted to Tina Ferraro's novels!
ReplyDeleteaddicted2edward@yahoo.com
Wow Tina! I liked all your other covers but this one i absolutely love! And your right, it is very eye-catching and i can't wait till it comes out!
ReplyDeleteBianca :]
You guys are fantastic! I wish I had ARC's for all of you. Thanks so much for your excitement and support. And yeah, I am really excited about this book!
ReplyDeleteTina....I love the cover! I loved the old cartoon ones because they are so adorable but there is nothing not to like about the change! I think it will definitely help attract and older audience and draws us teenage girls in :). I am so excited to read it! I always enjoy reading your very realistic teen novels because they are so easy to relate to!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love to read & I think your cover will go excellent with the rest of the book! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for the chance to win a copy :D
Oooh, Tina, I LOVE the cover...definitely very eye-catching and cool!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's very suitable for today's teen audience :)
I like the cover. If it was on a shelf with a bunch of other books, I'd notice it first.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a good book too.
I think it sounds great, Tina -- and I love the cover. :)
ReplyDeleteHeath
You already know that I love the cover, Tina! I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe new blog format looks amazing! :)
I adore the cover! Especially the pretty font. The book sounds very cute and I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeletelivsbookreviews@yahoo.com
I love the cover and the book sounds amazing. I can't wait until it comes out.
ReplyDeleteBtw I love the new blog look.
=D
i am sooo lovin' the cover! very eye catching! and the story.... sounds lip-smackin' delicious!
ReplyDeletesign me up for that ARC!
Oh My Gosh! Tina I love the new cover style. I love your cute little sassy looking cartoon covers too, but this is just really hot!
ReplyDeleteAlso, ever since I heard the synopsis of this book a couple months ago I have been dying to read it!! It's still forever away though! I can guarantee that if I don't win a copy I am buying one!
It sounds like it is everything in a book I love from sport references, to major scheming, to (the obvious) KISSING!!! Haha
I can't wait to dig into it, good luck.
<3
Chantelle
The cover is amazing! Actually, close up pictures do really catch my eye, especially if it's a face! :]
ReplyDeleteI adore the cover... and the lip gloss color! Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteYou know when you get really excited about something and you breathe short quick breaths? Totally just happened when I saw the cover! It's great and I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteOoh la la! The cover looks amazing and it really grabbed my attention. I can't wait to read the new book.
ReplyDeleteairellesawesome@hotmail.com
When wife has become a little suspicious since I've started reading "How to Hook a Hottie", and she'll really be concerned if I'm seen reading "The ABC'c of Kissing Boys"
ReplyDeleteAh, what the heck! Let's mess with her!
SIGN ME UP!!!
OMG! LOOOOOVE it! And I love the new look of your blog, ladies.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work.
OMG, everyone, I can't tell you how I've been smiling at these comments. And may I tell you that as of this morning, we broke our YA FRESH record for the most comments ever posted to a blog post???
ReplyDeleteI even called my editor and had her take a peak to see how well the cover is going over.
Thanks bunches!
The photo cover, combined with the title, will definitely snag readers.
ReplyDeleteohhh this book looks amazing! i love the cover!
ReplyDeleteavni fieldhockeyluver25@gmail.com
I like the cover. Might not be something I'd normally pick up...but that's just me and the type of things that grab my attention, but I really do like it. I think it will attract an older audience and that's good. The story sounds awesome though. Fun and original. Very cool!!!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I like the cover. Might not be something I'd normally pick up...but that's just me and the type of things that grab my attention, but I really do like it. I think it will attract an older audience and that's good. The story sounds awesome though. Fun and original. Very cool!!!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I love the cover! Definitely something I would pick up. I also like the lipstick shade. It's a nude color which usually for a cover it's a bright shade. I like that it breaks the mold.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the idea of the book. (I play soccer and I have a feeling the same thing will happen to me!) I'm sure it'll be GREAT! And the cover is totally cute. I really want that now!
ReplyDeleteOh I love the cover! it's definitely eye catching. It's great. And I liked the blurb, sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me!
-Breanna
I love the cover <3 <3 <3 and all the other books you have written... I can't wait to get my hands on the ABC's... Keep the books coming..
ReplyDeleteCaitlin
Haha, I would probably pick this book up based on the cover itself, its just so...*dreamy sigh*...lovely!
ReplyDeletehaha.
I wasnt expecting the story to the kind it is based on the cover...but it seems amazingly good =]
P.S...I live in Japan...is that a problem?
--Rachel
(Simply-chillin@hotmail.com)
Thanks again, everyone, and to answer Rachel's question, I have no problem mailing to other countries. BTW, one of the characters in the book is named Rachel!
ReplyDeleteThe cover is SO eye-catching. And the story sounds really fun!
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds so interesting. With every book I've read you haven't let me down in the teenage drama. Oh how i sort of miss it. Better to read about it then experience it.
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks great,very eye-catching! It definitely will attract a broader audience. Can't wait to read it! Love the lipstick color, btw! :)
ReplyDeleteThats quite the cover! And while I know next to nil about soccer, I think I might just have to find out. I'll have to pick up a copy either way! Looks like a great story,
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh!! This book sounds so interesting!!!! and i love the cover
ReplyDeleteenter me please!
Grace L
Okay, it's past 6:00 pm PST, and the contest is closed...
ReplyDeleteBut this has been an AMAZING response--thank you all so much!
Yes, wow!! Thank you all for entering in Tina's giveaway!! You guys are awesome!!
ReplyDeleteGreat cover - totally different from your other look but still so fun!
ReplyDeleteJanuary? Seriously?
*sigh*
Can't wait!
bria
Hey, Tina! I adore the illustrations on your previous books, but the picture on your latest cover is gorgeous. The premise is fab too.
ReplyDeleteVanessa