Spending time in France with Kristin and Sarah...plus a book giveaway

This is not the first time we've featured books by Kristin Harmel and Sarah Jio together. Melissa A reviewed both of their books in a post back in 2015. This is the first time they're doing an interview together, as their latest novels, which published on Tuesday, have some similar characteristics:

• Both take place in France
• Both take place during WWII/Holocaust
• Both have characters named Céline who are Jewish to some extent
• Both switch between the past and the present

Melissa A has read The Winemaker's Wife (Kristin; see review) and is excited to read All the Flowers in Paris (Sarah) soon. Thanks to Gallery and Random House, THREE lucky readers can win copies of both novels!

Kristin Harmel is an international bestselling novelist whose books have been translated into numerous languages and are sold all over the world. A former reporter for People magazine, Kristin has also freelanced for many other publications, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Glamour, Woman’s Day, Travel + Leisure, and more. Her latest novels — The Room on Rue Amélie, The Sweetness of Forgetting, The Life Intended, How to Save a Life, and When We Meet Again — were published by Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster. Kristin grew up in Peabody, Mass.; Worthington, Ohio; and St. Petersburg, Fla., and she graduated with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida. After spending time living in Paris, she now lives in Orlando, Fla., with her husband and young son. Visit Kristin at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bio adapted from Kristin's website.)

Photo by Brandon Ebel

A #1 international, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Jio has written nine novels with Penguin Books (Plume) and Random House (Ballantine). Her novels include THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (a Library Journal Best Book of 2011 and a USA Today bestseller), THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER (an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller, as well as an international bestseller), THE LAST CAMELLIA (a Kirkus Books Most Anticipated Book of 2012), MORNING GLORY, GOODNIGHT JUNE, THE LOOK OF LOVE (an iTunes Best Book of November 2014), ALWAYS, which debuted in hardcover from Random House (Ballantine) on February 7, 2017 and in paperback a year later. To date, Sarah’s novels are published in more than 25 countries, including Italy, France, Brazil, Turkey, Slovenia, Russia, China, Norway, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and many others. A magazine writer and former columnist for Glamour magazine, Sarah has written thousands of articles and blog posts for national magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, Redbook, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Marie Claire, The Nest, The Seattle Times, Parents, Woman’s Day, Parenting, and many others. She has also appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition. Sarah lives in Seattle with her husband and three young sons. Visit Sarah at her website, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bio adapted from Sarah's website.)

Synopses (both courtesy of Amazon):

The Winemaker's Wife:
Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, half-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate.

When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the champagne house that ties them together.

New York, 2019: Liv Kent has just lost everything when her eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.

All the Flowers in Paris:
When Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of her past, she’s confused to learn that for years she’s lived a sad, reclusive life in a sprawling apartment on the rue Cler. Slowly regaining vague memories of a man and a young child, she vows to piece her life back together—though she can’t help but feel she may be in danger. A budding friendship with the chef of a charming nearby restaurant takes her mind off her foggy past, as does a startling mystery from decades prior.

In Nazi-occupied Paris, a young widow named Céline is trying to build a new life for her daughter while working in her father’s flower shop and hoping to find love again. Then a ruthless German officer discovers her Jewish ancestry and Céline is forced to play a dangerous game to secure the safety of her loved ones. When her worst fears come true, she must fight back in order to save the person she loves most: her daughter.

When Caroline discovers Céline’s letters tucked away in a closet, she realizes that her apartment harbors dark secrets—and that she may have more in common with Céline than she could have ever imagined.

All the Flowers in Paris is an emotionally captivating novel rooted in the resiliency and strength of the human spirit, the steadfastness of a mother’s love, and the many complex layers of the heart—especially its capacity to forgive.


What inspired you to write a novel about WWII/Holocaust that takes place in France?

Kristin Harmel: This is actually my third WWII novel set in France (and my fourth overall novel set in France), so you could definitely say I've found something I'm very passionate about! I actually lived in Paris in my early twenties, and it was while living there that I made my first real attempt at writing a novel. (Several re-starts and revisions later, I finished HOW TO SLEEP WITH A MOVIE STAR, a chick lit novel, which was published by Warner Books (now called Hachette Book Group) in 2006.) Since that time, Paris--and France as a whole--have always meant a great deal to me; it's my favorite place in the world, the place where I feel most creative, and even the place where my now-husband proposed (back in 2013). I set my 2008 chick lit novel, THE ART OF FRENCH KISSING in Paris, and in 2010, when I knew I wanted to be writing books that were a bit more serious, I came up with the idea for THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING (which was published in 2012), which centered around a real-life escape line that operated through the Grand Mosque of Paris and ultimately saved around a thousand Jewish refugees. It was an extraordinary story that I knew about because I had spent so much time in Paris and fallen in love with the city and its history. Paris will always hold a special place in my heart, and because of that, I find myself coming back to it--and to the stories of WWII heroism among its ordinary citizens--again and again. It was while researching that novel that I had the idea for my 2018 novel, THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE, and in turn, it was while researching RUE that I began to look into what had happened in the Champagne region of France (which I had fallen in love with on my honeymoon in 2014) during World War II. When I discovered that the French Resistance had been very active there, I knew it would be the perfect place to set a novel, and voila! THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE was born!

Sarah Jio: This book was born out of both my longstanding love of Paris and fascination with the ins and outs of the World War II era. First, Paris: I’ve visited many times, and especially loved the two trips I made researching this book. (Funny confessions: I once tried to devise a (totally impractical) plan where I lived in Paris every other weekend.) I always wanted to set a book in my second favorite city (next to my hometown of Seattle, of course) and this story provided the perfect opportunity. As for the 1940’s setting, all I can say is that I am endlessly smitten with this decade—the fashion, music, lifestyle, and also the strength and resilience of the people, most especially those who encountered Nazi terrorism as my characters in ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS did.


What do you feel the symbolism is in using wine/flowers throughout your novel?

KH: I'm not sure that wine is symbolic in the book, exactly; the novel centers around a champagne house (and the wine making that takes place there), so the wine is really quite literally at the center of nearly everything the characters do. For me, though, it's fascinating to now know the history of what happened in Champagne during World War II (which you'll learn about in THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE). That knowledge adds a great deal of symbolism and meaning to every glass of champagne I have today. There's extraordinary bravery, heroism, and love behind those bubbles, and that makes every sip special in a way I never understood before.

SJ: As you might have guessed, I love turning to nature for symbolism and layers of meaning in my novels. In this new novel, my character and her father own a flowers shop on the rue Cler. Flowers are so delicate, just as humans are, and yet I loved writing about the lotus flower, in particular, and its shocking bold journey to survive. For me, that became an important metaphor for my characters.

If you could cast three of the lead characters from your novel in a movie version, who would you choose for those roles?

KH: I am TERRIBLE at this; I never visualize actors as my characters as I'm writing (they exist entirely independently in my head!), so it's very difficult for me to "cast" actors in roles that still feel to me like real people. It's kind of like asking who should play me in the biopic of my life (which, if you're asking, would be Reese Witherspoon or Kristen Bell, both of whom I adore!). On this one, I'm going to take the easy way out and hand the casting director role over to Melissa Amster, who always has incredible casting ideas: her ideas for Courtney Eaton as Ines, Mathilde Olivier as Celine, Jeremy Irvine as Michel, John Reardon as Julien, and Katherine Waterston as Liv are spot on! (Also, Melissa, why are you NOT working as a casting director? You're amazing at this!)

SJ: Oh goodness, I hate to say this but I’m so out of touch with the latest actresses these days. I read more than I watch (in fact, if you ask my husband, he’ll tell you that movie screens are a sure-fire way to get me to fall asleep, ha. No, really, I’m fun! I promise! Zzzzzzzzzzz.) In that sense, I don’t know that I’d have a good cast in mind. But for some reason, I feel like Reese Witherspoon would make a fabulous lead for Caroline!

Which is your favorite of each other's novels? If you haven't read any yet, which one would you want to start with?

KH: I loved BLACKBERRY WINTER, Sarah's 2012 book (I think), which takes place in two time periods and concerns a missing child cold case. I liked the dual timelines and the way Sarah always writes so beautifully about the Seattle area. I've never visited, but I feel as if I've traveled there through her books. I'm looking forward to seeing her take on my beloved Paris in ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS!

SJ: I’m certain that Kristin Harmel and I would be great friends. She writes about the same kinds of topics that I do with a special interest in topics of love, which I’ve always been drawn to in my stories. I have a copy of THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING on my bookshelf the is beckoning me to be read! I plan to pack it along on my next beach vacation, along with her latest.

What is your favorite WWII/Holocaust novel that you did not write?

KH: Of course THE NIGHTINGALE and SARAH'S KEY are both brilliant, as are Kate Quinn's THE HUNTRESS, Ann Mah's THE LOST VINTAGE, and Pam Jenoff's LOST GIRLS OF PARIS. I also loved the YA novel CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein, as well as Irene Nemirovsky's SUITE FRANCAISE, written during the early years of the war; the real story behind it is tragic, as author Nemirovsky, who was Jewish, was arrested in 1942 and deported to Auschwitz, where she died.

SJ: There are so many good ones, but one that has stayed with me all these years later is SARAH’S KEY. It was so touching and emotional, I even had to set it down for a few days to recover before reading further. When a book makes you feel that deeply, you know it’s excellent.

What is the strangest thing currently residing in your purse/handbag?
KH: Oh my goodness, everything in there is strange; I have a three-year-old! But at this moment, it would have to be the pirate-themed rubber duck that is squished between my wallet and hairbrush, courtesy of our trip this morning to an indoor bounce house park!

SJ: I love this hilarious question! I have three boys (ages 12, 10 and 8) so you know that on any given day, I have the most bizarre things in my bag (a giant Louis Vuitton Neverful bag, which my boys call “Louie.”) Presently, I’ve been carting around two lemon cucumbers a friend gave me from her garden, which I’m just now realizing I forgot to put in the fridge! I’m also pretty sure I have nine pairs of sunglasses, four dozen Band Aids and at least enough snacks to feed a small army. Mom life!

Thanks to Kristin and Sarah for chatting with us and to Gallery and Random House for sharing their books with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends August 20th at midnight EST.

Book Review: The Last Dance

By Sara Steven


Ambri and Henry have been best friends forever. They've been through the highs and lows of life with each other by their sides. The worst? When Henry's wife, and Ambri's sister, died. Together, they can face it all. Until one night destroys everything.

Two years after he stepped out of it Henry walks back into Ambri's life and she's more than a little shocked. But as old friends fall into even older habits they need to decide whether they can forget the past and embrace their future. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

The Last Dance is an intricately complicated love story, the kind that sinks in and has you questioning your own choices, if put into a similar circumstance. In choosing love, what is right and wrong? And, to what limits? I couldn’t help but feel for Ambri and Henry, yet I understood the seriousness in the relationship forged between Henry and Ambri’s sister, too. A deep delicate balance, where the lines are blurred and the answers aren’t clear cut and well defined.

Ambri and Henry were so well written, I felt the hurt and the tension, the deep-seeded wounds that both have to recover from. Even with time, there are a lot of issues that need to be dealt with, and both have tried hard to sweep everything under the rug and carry on, unsuccessfully. The flaws for both characters are realistic and human, adding to the depth of the story. I also appreciated the friendships, the secondary characters who act as windows into learning more about Ambri’s and Henry’s motivations. Having been in situations where I’ve retained friendships with estranged relationships, I could understand where Ben and Claire were coming from, the go-betweens who are only trying to do right by everyone involved. They were a wonderful support system and added to Ambri and Henry’s story.

As much as I loved the characters and the deep story line, what I loved most about The Last Dance were the emotional elements; moments that had me teary-eyed, even when I didn’t want to be. It sort of snuck up on me, leaving me in wonderment. But, it was hard not to feel that way, given how close I felt to Ambri, and to the relationship she has with her sister, and Henry. Even in the darkest times, there were glimmers of hope. I knew that, no matter what the outcome, Ambri and Henry were going to be all right. In the unraveling, we learn more about who Ambri and Henry really are, and more importantly, who they are together, and what works, and what doesn’t.

Thanks to Aimee Brown for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Also by Aimee Brown:

Spotlight and Giveaway: Because You're Mine

Rea Frey's latest novel, Because You're Mine, published last week. We're excited to feature it today and thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

Single mother Lee has the daily routine down to a science: shower in six minutes. Cut food into perfect squares. Never leave her on-the-spectrum son Mason in someone else’s care. She’ll do anything—anything—to keep his carefully constructed world from falling apart. Do anything to keep him safe.

But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood to recharge her batteries, Lee gives in to a weekend trip. Surely a long weekend away from home won’t hurt? Noah, Mason’s handsome, bright, charismatic tutor—the first man in ages Lee’s even noticed—is more than happy to stay with him.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden. As the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light, perhaps it's no mystery someone is gone after all…

BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE is a breathtaking novel of domestic drama and suspense.

Praise for Because You're Mine:

“Lulls you into a false sense of security and then pulls the rug out from under you—more than once...will appeal to readers of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.”
—Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-in-Law and The Family Next Door

“Dark, intense and gripping, full of secrets and lies, with a shocker of an ending you won’t see coming.”
—Michele Campbell, author of It’s Always the Husband and She Was the Quiet One

"An edge-of-your-seat voyage.”
—Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of The Good Liar and I’ll Never Tell

Photo by Alex Holguin

Rea Frey is the author of several nonfiction books and two novels. When not writing, reading, or editing, she can be found traveling, homeschooling her daughter, or planning her next adventure.

Visit Rea online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram




How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends August 18th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Lock Every Door

By Jami Deise

While the haunted house story may be the oldest horror trope there is, the haunted building story is just as compelling. The difference? While haunted houses are inhabited by ghosts, in haunted buildings, the worst crimes are committed by the living. From Rosemary’s Baby to 666 Park Avenue to those jerks who live above you in 3C and scream at each other every night, anyone who’s lived in shared housing knows that hell is other people.

In New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager’s latest, Lock Every Door, the building in question is one of New York City’s oldest and finest – the Bartholomew. For Jules Larsen, unemployed and homeless after a painful breakup, it’s a dream come true. An orphan whose sister went missing years ago, Jules accepts a dream job as an apartment sitter – four thousand a month for an amazing apartment that looks onto Central Park. Sure, the rules are a bit chafing – don’t talk to the other residents; spend every night in the unit; no visitors ever – but she can’t turn that money down. She has no choice.

As the book begins with Jules in a hospital bed after being hit by a car trying to escape the Bartholomew, readers know from the get-go that Jules’s dream job will turn into a nightmare. But are the villains the rich eccentric residents, or the other apartment-sitters?

Admittedly, the book is predictable and formulaic, but so are roller coasters, and both Lock Every Door and the roller coaster deliver a fun ride perfect for the summer. Alone in the world, Jules is a heartbreaking protagonist, desperate for connection and drawn to the building as her favorite childhood book took place there. Her desperation for funds – a predicament all too common for millennials like her -- makes it impossible for her to leave her job when she begins to suspect she could be in danger. The novel’s structure is strong as well, with its back-and-forth timeline creating tension in the present and breathing space in the past as Jules slowly gets to know her neighbors. Even with the two timelines, the entire book takes place in less than a week; reading it takes less than a few hours. Sager saves his best for last with the climax, writing Jules into such a tight box, it seems impossible for her to escape.

My one quibble is that for all of Jules’s wild fantasies about what was going on in the building, the revelation was all too mundane. A thriller like this should conclude with a truth that is beyond the protagonist’s imagination, not smaller than it. I was left feeling less like “No way could that ever really happen!” and more like “That’s probably happening somewhere right now.”

Bookbub and Parade magazine have named Lock Every Door as one of the summer’s hottest beach reads. Pack this book in your tote bag this vacation; if you’re not into actual roller coasters, you’ll get just as many thrills reading it.

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Riley Sager:

What's in the Mail

Melissa A:
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn from Lake Union (E-book via Netgalley)
It's a Whole Spiel by Katherine Locke from Knopf (E-book via Netgalley)
Holly Banks Full of Angst by Julie Valerie from Lake Union
The Second Life of Nathan Jones by/from David Atkinson (E-book via Netgalley)
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal from Lake Union (E-book via Netgalley)

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown from Kathleen Carter Communications
Good Girls by Amanda Brookfield from Boldwood Books (e-book via NetGalley)
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson from Cindy Reads & Writes (won in a giveaway)
The Accidental Life Swap by Jennifer Joyce from HQ Digital (e-book via NetGalley)

Sara:
She's Got Game by/from Laura Heffernan (e-book)
The Worst Couple in the World by Holly Tierney-Bedford from Rachel's Random Resources (e-book)
Thirty-Life Crisis by Lisa Schwartz from Grand Central Publishing (e-book via NetGalley)
The Trouble With Becoming a Witch by Amy Edwards from Wildbound PR (e-book)

Book Review: Fifty, Four Ways

By Sara Steven

What happens when four middle-aged baseball moms with kids on the same team begin reading the sex-fueled book Fifty Shades of Grey? As countrified Lynn would say, they get "hotter than a June bride" and are catapulted into unexpectedly assessing their sex lives, desires and satisfaction with their husbands.

Kelli feels neglected by a spouse who'd rather prep for doomsday than be intimate. Her best friend Mel struggles to find the courage to overcome her shyness and body issues in the bedroom and reach the promised land. Candy, already isolated with her trophy wife status, suspects her husband is having an affair. Lynn, whose candid confessions in the concession stand got the whole ball rolling, wants to take things to a kinkier level but will have to convince her man to go along for the ride. Inspired by true events and told from each woman's perspective, you'll experience their lives firsthand-including that delicious peek behind closed doors! (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Steamy in its own right, Fifty, Four Ways starts out with four women who bond over a shared interest in the Fifty Shades of Gray book series, yet their own personal stories come into play between the lines and scenarios that made Gray the sensual hit it is. As indicated within the synopsis, all four give us their own perspective, offering the reader a deeper and more honest take on what can happen when the edges of fantasy begin to blur within the realm of reality.

What often parallels the need to seek out alternatives in order to spice up their marriage, are the women’s own ideals and personal opinions on who they are, what makes a woman attractive. What will not only please their husbands, but bring self-fulfillment, too. I appreciated that each woman had her own insecurities and were not perfect characters, not even Candy, who has it all, given outer appearances. Everyone has baggage, and this was illuminated and only added to the realism presented for each married couple. It provided a chance to relate and identify with what they’re going through, digging into what most of us have felt about ourselves at one time or another.

Nothing said was veiled or shy. There are plenty of moments within Fifty, Four Ways that are steamy and hot and would easily push some outside of their comfort zones, which is what I appreciated most about the novel. While most of us are content to live within our own wild imaginations, we’re given a chance to live vicariously through Kelli, Mel, Candy, and Lynn. There are realistic reactions from their spouses, only adding to the depth of the story and the characters within it.

My only gripe would be Lynn’s verbiage. Given her background and, as the synopsis states, that she’s “countrified”, I understand the need to give her more of an accent, but it felt a little thick and heavy-handed in certain situations and scenarios. It distracted a bit from a few of the scenes. However, all of the primary characters are so well-rounded and well-written, it was easy to overlook that, and with good forward momentum, the story never lagged and kept me more than interested, particularly with Candy’s situation. It’s a strong, sexy, empowering story- one worth reading!

Thanks to Katherine Cobb for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Katherine Cobb:

Lots to like about Hannah Orenstein...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Elyssa Maxx Goodman

Today we welcome Hannah Orenstein to CLC. Her latest novel, Love at First Like, was published this week. Melissa A enjoyed her debut, Playing With Matches (reviewed here), and is excited to dig into this one. Thanks to Atria, we have one copy of Love at First Like to give away!

Hannah Orenstein is the senior dating editor at Elite Daily and the author of two novels. Her debut, Playing with Matches (Touchstone Books, 2018), is a rom-com about a young matchmaker at a top dating service, inspired by Hannah’s experience as exactly that. She’s currently at work on a third novel set in the world of elite gymnastics, forthcoming from Atria Books in 2020.

She has written for the Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Refinery29, BuzzFeed, and Bustle. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, The New York Post, The Cut, Us Weekly, and many more.

Hannah is a speaker and panelist, appearing at TEDxNYU, The Strand, on HLN, Bold TV, Sirius XM radio shows You Up w/ Nikki Glaser and At Least You Woke Up with Jill Kargman, Her Campus’s Her Conference, and more. Previously, Hannah was the assistant features editor at Seventeen.com. At 21, she became the youngest matchmaker at a top dating service. She lives in Brooklyn. Visit Hannah at her website, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bio adapted from Hannah's website.) 

Synopsis:
Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewelry shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper. And in real life he shows promise, too. He would be perfect, if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is “engaged”; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. She can either stay engaged online or fall in love in real life.

Written with singular charm and style, Love at First Like is for anyone growing up and settling down in the digital age. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
After my first book was published, a few readers reached out to say that it helped them get through a breakup. That was really meaningful to me. Breakups are awful and I'm glad I could help, even just a little bit!

How are you similar to or different from Eliza?
While Eliza and I have made some pretty significantly different life choices, she and I are similar in a lot of ways: We're both career-driven New Yorkers who spend too much time on Instagram and love a good piece of jewelry. I probably wouldn't have the courage to pull off a PR stunt of a relationship, though!

If Love at First Like were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Leighton Meester would do an amazing job as Eliza.

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I loved Always Be My Maybe on Netflix, starring Ali Wong. It was so incredibly funny, heartwarming, and moving.

What is the strangest date you have ever been on?
Definitely the time I accidentally bumped into the guy I was dating at a Halloween party. I had no idea that we were going to the same one! I was worried that I looked like such a creep.

What is the most exciting thing you have done this summer?
Ha, besides my book launch? I took a trip to Barcelona with my boyfriend and we had the most incredible time! Some highlights were learning to make paella (and eating so much paella), taking in the incredible architecture at Sagrada Familia, and sailing around the city at sunset.

Thanks to Hannah for chatting with us and to Atria for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends August 13th at midnight EST.