THE GIRLS AT 17 SWANN STREET by Yara Zgheib {Book Blog Tour}

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Fiction
Publication Date:	February 5th 2019
Format:	Digital
Published By:	St Martins Press
Goodreads:	The Girls at 17 Swann Street on Goodreads
My Review Copy:	Thanks to Clare at St Martins Press for my review copy

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The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists� list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.

Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears � imperfection, failure, loneliness � she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.

Yara Zgheib's poetic and poignant debut novel is a haunting, intimate journey of a young woman's struggle to reclaim her life. Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.

                                

Certainly not a light read, The Girls at 17 Swann Street deals with anorexia; a disease that is very real and can take your life if you aren't careful.

The Girls at 17 Swann Street is an honest, unflinching, but fundamental hopeful portrayal of anorexia and the struggles of recovery. Anna enters treatment at the beginning of the novel primarily at the persistence of her husband, who is at the end of his rope and fearful that he wouldn't be able to keep her alive on his own. She is resistant to the idea of treatment at that time, filled up with fear and denial.

Anna doesn't feel the treatment center really knows what she needs. After all, she's been fine up till now. So what that she doesn't eat. So what that she doesn't find anything fun anymore because she's so worried about the food she isn't eating. She can handle it on her own. That is just the attitude she goes in with but what comes after will bring tears to your eyes. For Anna's bravery, is beautifully written and portrayed by the author.

I fell hard in love with this book and the writing style. The emotional connection I felt toward Anna was instant. There was no judgement towards her; just sorrow, encouragement, and joy. Everyone from the staff to Anna's husband, Matthias, as well as the other girls, were all so supportive of each other. They really looked out for one another and that made me smile. Through all the emotions you feel as a reader while reading Anna's story, you also feel joy and happiness at all the things she goes through. Every mountain she climbs is just another reminder that anything is possible if you just give yourself a chance.

Such an amazing story I will read over and over again.

About the Author

Yara Zgheib is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a PhD in International Affairs in Diplomacy from Centre D'�tudes Diplomatiques et Strat�giques in Paris. She is fluent in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Yara is a writer for several US and European magazines, including The Huffington Post, The Four Seasons Magazine, A Woman�s Paris, The Idea List, and Holiday Magazine. She writes on culture, art, travel, and philosophy on her blog, "Aristotle at Afternoon Tea" (http://www.aristotleatafternoontea.com/).

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Handle with Care by Helena Hunting {Cover Reveal and Excerpt}

I�m startled out of my thoughts when my brother jumps up and shouts a bunch of profane nonsense, hands flailing like he�s trying to swim on land, or approximate the chicken dance while on an LSD trip.

�You can�t do this! It�s absolute bullshit!� Armstrong yells.

I look around the table, trying to piece together what I missed.

�I�m sorry, Armstrong. I know this is a shock, but we feel it�s in the company�s best interest to put Lincoln at the helm during this transitional stage,� G-mom says firmly.

At the helm? I look to G-mom who�s busy not looking at me.

Armstrong jabs at finger at himself. �But I�m the one who�s put in all the time here! I deserve to run the company! Lincoln doesn�t know the first thing about Moorehead. All he knows how to do is dig wells and forage for food in the wilderness. How are those valuable assets here?� He turns his attention to our mother. �Did you know about this? How can you let this happen? Look at him. How can that be the face of our company? He looks like he crawled out of a gutter and mugged a twenty-year-old college kid on a bender. How is this better for our bottom line?�

My mother clasps her hands in front of her. �I�m sorry, Armstrong, but this decision wasn�t mine to make. I know this is hard for you, but your grandmother and fath��

Armstrong stomps his foot, exactly as a toddler would. �The company is mine! Lincoln can�t have it!�

I raise a hand, half to quiet my brother and also to find out what the freaking deal is. �Whoa, let�s back this bus up. Can someone explain what�s going on?�

�You�ve been appointed as the CEO of Moorehead Media, according to the will,� Christophe�no R, because that would make it far too pedestrian a name�my father�s lawyer says.

I�m working on trying to remain calm as I address my grandmother. �You didn�t say anything about me being CEO. You said you needed my help.�

�Running the company, yes,� she says through a practiced, stiff smile.

It�s her warning face, but seriously, when she said she needed my help for a few months I figured it meant I�d be keeping Armstrong in line while she sorted out who was going to take over the company, which I realize now was a stupid assumption.

�I didn�t think that meant CEO. How am I going to run a company with this dickhead on staff?� I motion to my brother.

�The name calling is unnecessary,� G-mom replies.

�Lincoln�s not even part of this family! He hasn�t attended one event in the past five years except for Dad�s funeral. He didn�t bother coming to my wedding and now he�s going to run the company? How is that fair?�

I snort. �Your wedding was an expensive joke.�

He crosses his arms over his chest. �I was set up. Amalie had cold feet and made me out to look like the bad guy.�

The woman beside him shoots him disgusted look.

Armstrong clears his throat and tugs at his collar. �My wedding is not the real issue. The point is that you�ve never involved yourself in any part of this family and now you think you can come in and take over. I will not stand by and let this happen!� He keeps jabbing his finger at me, as if he�s engaged in a finger sword fight.

I lean back in my chair and lace my fingers behind my neck. Armstrong has always been reactive. And self-absorbed. For a while it seemed like he finally had it together�back when he was engaged. But ever since that fiasco of a wedding he seems to have come completely unglued. Again. But worse this time. �Someone needs a timeout.� 
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About the Author

New York Times  and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Social Media Links:

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The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend's Sister by Meghan Quinn { Book Review Blog Tour}

   How do you date your best friend's sister? Easy. Step one: Pretend you want her to set you up with someone else. That will bring the two of you closer. Step two: Go on date with lots of random women, proceed to get stupid drunk and talk about your best friend's sister, thus gaining the courage to finally make a move. Step three: Randomly show up at her apartment and confess your love. Women love that, right? It all seemed so simple. A fool-proof three step process that will guarantee the love of you life to fall madly in love with you. At least--that's what I thought was going to happen. But my attempts to win over Julia Westin backfired in more ways than I can count. The thing about Julia? She's smart--really smart--and her wicked gaze cuts through all the charm I've tried slinging her way. She's not interested in games, my gifts, or my stories. She might want me too; but she's not giving in that easy... ADD TO GOODREADS  

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One guy, Bram, totally in lust with his best friends sister Julia. He first noticed her in college when his best friend invited her to one of their fraternity parties. Instead of wearing what every girl wears, something slutty, Julia wears tube socks and an even uglier outfit. Something about it gets to Bram though. He knows she's trying to make sure no one comes near her, but somehow it makes her more of a  catch to him. Bram buys his time though and comes up with the BEST PLAN EVER to start dating her. So what if it is several years later and he had to lose a bet to make the plan work.

One girl, Julia is smart as hell and very organized and meticulous. She doesn't like surprises and she knows what she wants at least until Bram throws her for a loop. Julia is the owner of her own business. She matches introverted professional woman like herself with guys who understand them. Since she is so meticulous, all her clients must pass a series of personality tests to see who their perfect match will be. The test is a bit detailed and some of the questions don't make since but Julia is convinced this method works perfectly. So what if she hasn't found her perfect someone and has never taken the test herself. She doesn't need to be dating to find others their soulmates right? Once Bram walks in with his sharp suits, rugged good looks and sarcastic commentary, Julia is sure she can find him someone but what if she wants him for herself? Is that allowed?

Meghan Quinn has done it again! She has this amazing knack for making me swoon over EVERY SINGLE guy she writes about. Bram is no different. I was at the edge of my seat to see what he would do next. He is sexy with a BIG CAPITAL S. Meghan made this story pop off the pages for me with the chemistry these two had. I loved every minute of these characters and getting to see what would happen next. Do yourself a BIG favor and pick up this read SOON!

 

And just like that, I feel my heart leap out of my chest and right into Julia�s hands. She holds it; she has it all to herself. But I don�t think she realizes that mine beats because of her�that she has the potential to crush it more than anyone else in my life�and I hope she doesn�t throw it back at me. Ever.

 

About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book. Facebook | Follow on Goodreads | Website | Amazon Author Page | Instagram | Follow on BookBub