Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1)by Isabel Bandeira
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Release Date: January 12th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins’ life would be a book. Preferably a YA novel with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn’t even qualify for a quiet contemporary. But when Phoebe finds out that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her, she turns to her favorite books for advice. Phoebe overhauls her personality to become as awesome as her favorite heroines and win Dev’s heart. But if her plan fails, can she go back to her happy world of fictional boys after falling for the real thing?
Hello Isabel! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours.
Thank you! I’m excited to be here!
Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about Bookishly Ever After?
BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER is about a girl who decides to turn her favorite books into advice manuals in an attempt to turn herself into the perfect YA heroine and make her own happily ever after. I like to call it my ode to all things bookish.
I think everyone is dying to make this question. Can you tell us a bit about Phoebe and Dev and their relationship? What makes them the perfect YA couple?
I don’t know about “perfect” because the best part about people and relationships is that they are so wonderfully imperfect—and it’s wonderful when you find someone who loves you for both your perfections and imperfections.
Phoebe and Dev were a lot of fun to write together. This relationship starts as a friendship that grows into something more, so they have a nice, comfortable banter right from the start. Things get a little awkward when Phoebe realizes that she might actually like Dev as more than just a friend, and I loved exploring how they learn about each other throughout the story. There’s a scene I really love late in the book where the two take a walk in the woods and Dev talks about his grandfather—it’s not a big moment, but it’s a moment that highlights how Phoebe and Dev constantly discover new facets in each other and their dynamic as they spend more time together.
Can you tell us who would be Phoebe’s favorite fictional boyfriend and what qualities must he have?
Phoebe has a lot of book boyfriends, but, if she has to pick, her favorite is Cyril from the Hidden House series. She said it best in a character interview a few months ago: “He’s just so sweet and swoonworthy and I really love the way he talks and how, even though he’s from the nineteen hundreds and they were pretty sexist back then, he loves Marissa specifically because she’s strong, sassy, and independent.”
How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?
The first bit of inspiration for B.E.A. came while I was writing a short little scene for a blog hop. In that scene, a bookish girl tried to channel her favorite heroines in front of the guy she liked as she was crossing a two-rope bridge at camp. It was so much fun, and the characters kept bouncing around in my head, begging to tell their story, that I had to write it out.
As for outside inspiration, when it came time to create Phoebe’s “books,” I drew upon a lot of common tropes that I loved in some of my favorite YA books—especially paranormal and contemporary fantasy, which Phoebe then used for inspiration in some of her plans for becoming the perfect YA heroine.
If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for Bookishly Ever After – Which one would you pick?
“Dear Mister Darcy” by Marian Call. It’s nerdy and wonderful.
Is there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read Bookishly Ever After (specific music, snacks…)?
Every reader has his or her own perfect set-up for reading, so I say go with what works for you! I’ve seen a few reviews where the reader is craving gingerbread lattes after reading BEA, so that would probably work. Also, if you’re really going for a BEA feel, I’d suggest a cozy knit blanket and a comfy chair.
What’s next for you?
The next book in the Ever After series is a companion novel to BEA and I can’t wait to share the description and main character when I get the green light from my publisher. I’m currently writing book 3 in the series and writing some non-“Ever After” books on the side (I VERY appropriately refer to one as “procrastination book” on twitter).
Thank you so much for everything, Isabel!
Thank YOU for hosting me!
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Isabel Bandeira grew up surrounded by trees and lakes in Southern New Jersey, right on the edge of the Pine Barrens. Her summers were always spent in Portugal, where the cathedrals, castles, and ancient tombs only fed her fairy tale obsession. Between all those influences and her serious glitter addiction, it wasn’t a surprise when she started writing stories of her own.
In her free time between writing and her day job as a Mechanical Engineer who designs and develops medical devices, she reads, dances, figure skates, and knits.
Isabel lives in New Jersey with her little black cat, too many books, and a closetful of vintage hats. She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson. BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER is her debut novel.
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