Interview with Leah Konen for Happy Messy Scary Love

Happy Messy Scary Love

by Leah Konen
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: May 14th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

As everyone at her Brooklyn high school announces their summer adventures, Olivia harbors a dirty secret: Her plan is to binge-watch horror movies and chat with her online friend, Elm. Olivia and Elm have never shared personal details, apart from their ages and the fact that Elm’s aunt is a low-budget horror filmmaker. Then Elm pushes Olivia to share her identity and sends her a selfie of his own. Olivia is shocked by how cute he is! In a moment of panic, assuming she and Elm will never meet in real life, she sends a photo of her gorgeous friend Katie. But things are about to get even more complicated when Olivia’s parents send her to the Catskills, and she runs into the one person she never thought she would see. This sweet and funny summertime romance is perfect for fans of Love and Gelato and The Unexpected Everything.

Can you briefly describe Happy Messy Scary Love and their main characters?

Happy Messy Scary Love follows Olivia and Jake, aka Reddit nicknames “Carrie” and “Elm,” as they navigate the sometimes-crazy world of social media, Reddit, and real-life romance—with a dose of horror-movie obsession and mistaken identity thrown in. 

The two teens meet in an anonymous Reddit community for horror-movie lovers, often spending hours a day trading movie recs. All goes well until Elm asks Carrie for a photo—in a moment of low self-esteem, she freaks and sends a pic of her best friend—of course, things only get messier when she ends up meeting him—and falling for him—in real life. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

Olivia/”Carrie” is truly a girl after my own heart. She’s a budding screenwriter and horror-movie addict. Her ultimate goal is to make horror movies, but she needs to learn to trust herself and her own creativity before she can take even the first step down her path. 

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

In addition to horror movies, I’m a huge fan of 90s rom-coms, particularly the work of Nora Ephron. Happy Messy Scary Love is my ode to You’ve Got Mail and Cyrano de Bergerac, as well as all my favorite horror flicks. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

I’ll give you a whole soundtrack! The score to Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti. I listened to it nonstop while writing. 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

I think Kiernan Shipka would make a perfect Olivia. 

Since it is still cold outside, what hot drink do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

Given that Happy Messy Scary Love is all about horror movies and set at a zip-line camp in the woods, I would have to go with some hot apple cider. Although it takes place in the summer, I think you can still sip on cider at night around the campfire. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish Happy Messy Scary Love?

I’m a huge fan of anything by Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han. I think they both understand teen romance like no one else.

What’s next for you?

Some big changes for me! My next book will actually be for adults. It’s a thriller set in upstate New York, called Broken People. It follows a 28-year-old woman who reluctantly agrees to help the couple next door fake the husband’s death—but when he turns up dead for real, she realizes she’s the prime suspect in his murder.

Leah Konen is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied journalism and creative writing. She’s the author of the forthcoming HAPPY MESSY SCARY LOVE, LOVE AND OTHER TRAIN WRECKS, THE ROMANTICS, THE LAST TIME WE WERE US and THE AFTER GIRLS. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, NY, with her husband and their dog, Farley.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz: Effortless With You series by Lizzy Charles

Effortless With You (Effortless With You #1)

by Lizzy Charles

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Publication Date: August 12th 2013

Synopsis:

School is out and Lucy is ready for the perfect summer: lazy days at the pool, invitations to the most exclusive parties, and romantic dates with her hot new boyfriend. That is, until she lands in trouble one too many times and her parents issue the ultimate punishment: a summer job. Suddenly, the summer can't end fast enough.

To make matters worse, the job is painting houses with Justin, the most popular, egotistical guy in school. Spending all summer with Justin might be other girls' dreams, but definitely not Lucy's. After all, Justin is cocky, annoying, and a jerk. So what if he's the most beautiful jerk Lucy's ever seen? Or that his grin makes her forget she’s mad at the world? Or that maybe, just maybe, there's more to Justin than Lucy realizes. Only one thing is certain: it won’t be the summer she wanted, but it might be exactly the one she needs.

Perfectly Messy (Effortless With You #2)

by Lizzy Charles

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Synopsis:

Popularity isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Justin Marshall knows this better than most. For the captain of the basketball team, small business owner, and son of Minnesota’s next governor, life can get pretty overwhelming. But Justin can handle anything as long as he has Lucy, the girl who fell for the man he’s trying to be.

But for Justin and Lucy, finding time together proves challenging. Stolen kisses and whispered promises just aren’t enough. That is, until scandalous photos of the couple are leaked to a press intent on creating a juicy scandal during Justin’s dad’s gubernatorial campaign. And when Lucy becomes fair play for the tabloids and gossip pages, Justin does the only thing he can to protect her: he breaks her heart.

For Lucy, junior year is everything she hoped it would be: new friends, second chances, and a boyfriend she can’t stop kissing. That is, until the boy she’s pretty sure she loves chooses the life his family wants for him, over her.

Now it’s up to Lucy to teach him what it really means to have everything. Because for Justin, being who everyone needs him to be just might cost him the one person he can’t live without.

Effortless With You

by Lizzy Charles

I really can wait. I have nowhere to go until the party.

I close my eyes and tilt my head back, enjoying the cooler evening sun on my face and praying it will calm my frizz. I hold my cell, waiting for it to vibrate with his response. As the minutes pass, I toy with the idea that maybe he forgot …

But he planned this. He wouldn’t do that.

A light laugh interrupts me. My eyes jolt open and I gasp. I hate how easily I startle.

“Sorry, Lady,” says a deep, smooth voice behind me. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You just look so funny all dressed up but relaxing in the sun.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” Great. I pull at the bottom of my white tank. I look funny.

He clears his throat, waiting for me to do the social thing. Interact.

Not in the mood. Not now. The dent in my phone demands study. If I turn the phone upside down, the dent looks like a cow. I shift, making sure my back faces the voice. Maybe the guy’ll take a hint? My bench creaks with newly added weight.

Nope.

“So?” he says.

I force myself to glance up. My throat closes. Marissa would freak.

Justin stares back with that fake smile. “Who are you waiting for?”

“My boyfriend, Zach Filman.” Confidence, yes.

Justin nods. “Oh, Zach.” He looks at his watch and snickers. “I bet he’s late, huh?” His eyebrow flicks up with his smile.

“No. I’m a bit early.”

 “You’re lying.” He moves closer to me.

Shaking my head, I focus on the lined pavement. The lines aren’t parallel at all. I really suck at lying, but the most popular guy in school doesn’t need to know my boyfriend’s late.

“Well, then,” he continues. “I’ll just wait here with you. You don’t mind.”

I do.

He taps his finger on the bench’s armrest. “Shouldn’t be long now.” His voice is thick with sarcasm which he pairs with his flashy, stupid smile. Justin may be gorgeous, but he is super annoying. He clears his throat. “Might as well get to know one another. I’m Justin Marshall.”

No kidding.

“I’m Lucy.” He doesn’t need to know my last name.

“Well, Lucy.” He pulls out his phone. “It’s six fifty-two. When’re you going on that date?”

“For real?” The heat from the sun must’ve fried my brain-to-mouth filter.

He claps his hands together, leaning back, enjoying my outburst. “Well, I’m bored. Jennifer doesn’t get off for another twenty minutes. I need a little fun.”

 “Well, in that case, I’m pleased to entertain you.” Sarcasm rolls thick off my tongue.

“Wonderful.” His hands fold behind his head and his muscles twitch. But I’m steady, not a flinch and not even close to his regularly received swoon.

“So, where’re you love birds going?” he continues.

“Romano’s.”

“Right, Italian food. How romantic. Very original, Zach.”

Blood rushes to my face. I don’t care if it is the typical place. This is my first fancy, romantic date and it’s going to be perfect. I glare back, replying with silence.

“Okay, okay.” He throws his hands up. “It’s a good place. Great food, actually.”

I ignore him, glancing back at my phone. An hour late. Maybe he got in an accident?

“Can I ask you two questions?” Justin prods.

 “No.” My filter’s gone now. He’s beyond irritating. Just because everyone worships him doesn’t mean he gets to know everyone’s business. Of course, he ignores my answer.

“First, why are you being picked up for a date here?”

I answer without thinking. “Zach thinks my mom’s weird.” My tongue thickens, making it hard to speak. Crap, shouldn’t have said that.

“Oh? Should that matter if he’s dating you? I mean, shouldn’t he want to get to know her if he’s dating you?”

He looks at me with a soft expression, like the ones people use on injured puppies on those Emergency Vet shows.

 I press my lips together. He doesn’t know my mom. This time he accepts my silence.

            “Secondly, don’t you think you deserve someone who respects you enough to either show up on time or at least call and let you know why he’s late?”

            Whoa, who is he to give me relationship advice?

“You’ve got to be kidding, right?”

            “No. I’m dead serious. You deserve better.”

             “You don’t even know me.”

            “No, but I know Zach.”

“So do I. He’s my boyfriend.” I refuse to look at him, instead watching a group of ants pour out of a crack in the pavement. “You know you’re a real jerk, right?” I add.

            Justin lets out a long whistle. “Wow. I haven’t been called a jerk since I was, like, eight?”

            I don’t care how hot he is. Why Marissa wants him blows my mind.

            He pulls out his phone. “Let me show you something.” He dials and flashes me his outgoing call: Zach F.

            No. This is not happening.

 I launch at his phone but he’s too quick. He jumps off the bench and I eat pavement.

“It doesn’t matter. He isn’t going to answ—” I say as I scramble up off the ground.

            “Hello?” a familiar voice booms. Speaker phone. Crap.

            “Hey Zach! It’s Justin.”

            “Hey Man. What’s up?” My gut relaxes. Zach’s okay.

            “Not much. Just waiting to pick up Jennifer.” Justin paces, circling the bench and me.

            “Right on, man!” Zach is always so positive. His attitude is contagious. I can’t help but smile when I’m around him.

            “What are you up to?”

            “Disc golf with Tater.”

My chest squeezes. How can Zach be playing a game with his cousin Tater? An I-Told-You-So expression sits in triumph on Justin’s face.

Stupid face.

            “Sweet. Awesome day for a game.”

            “I know, huh?”

Justin drags his shoe through some sand.

            “Will I see you at the party tonight?”

            “Hell, yeah!”

            Maybe he didn’t forget? He knows we’re going to the party together. He must have gotten the times mixed up. Assumed he had time to play disc first.

            “Sweet. I’ll see you there. Got to run, Jen’s done. We’ve got a great date night planned before the party and all …”

No Justin, don’t do this. I want to die.

            “Oh shit, dude. I was supposed to pick up that Lucy chick for a date too.” Zach laughs.

            Three skipped heartbeats.

            Zach forgot.

He forgot about me.

My nose begins to itch. Tears are inevitable. But I won’t cry in front of Justin. I focus on my cuticles, trying to hold off tears while Zach’s voice continues to boom from the phone. Justin finishes circling the bench, now standing next to me. So I can hear everything Zach says.

            “Eh, she’ll understand. It’s a gorgeous day. I mean, who can remember a date when disc golf calls?”

             “Well, good luck with that.” Justin taps my shoulder. I want to break his fingers.

            “Right on, man.” Beep.

            My eyes are heavy, probably now red and puffy too. I take a deep breath, trying to hold off the emotional impact of the moment. Justin’s moved in front of me, waiting for my reaction. He’s so rude. I glare daggers into his green eyes. Hate him.

My phone finally vibrates.

           Zach: hey sorry work’s crazy. Meet u at party L8R.

            My gut twists inside out. Zach lied. He forgot about me and lied. Why did he ask me out if he didn’t like me? I grab my bag. I need to get away from Justin before I break down.

“Let me guess,” Justin says, “he lied?”

Prying ass.

A ruthless fire burns inside me, made especially for him.

“Can I ask you something?” I don’t wait for an answer. “Why are you so unbearably rude?”

 “Listen,” he begins, “you deserved to know.”

“No. That wasn’t your place. Do you think you’re like a god or something? ‘You deserved to know.’ Total bull. Don’t I deserve to be treated with respect?” I pause for effect. His eyes widen and he opens his mouth to speak, but he doesn’t have a word to deliver. “Right. You dish out Hallmark wisdom but don’t follow it yourself. Don’t be a hypocrite.”

            The tears are rolling down my cheeks but I don’t care anymore. Now I want him to see it. Staring into his green eyes, I search to see if he understands what he’s done. But his eyes are blank. Not even a hint of remorse. The pool gate jingles and Jennifer steps out. I quickly distance myself from the bench and start the walk of rejection back home.

            I don’t look back. I never want to see Justin Marshall again.

by Lizzy Charles

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to be on the blog today! My Amazon best selling novel, Effortless With You, a sweet young adult romance series, is on sale this week! I'd love to celebrate with sharing my top five kissing scenes! xxxxx!

One of my favorite parts about writing young adult romance is when I finally get the chance to write the big kissing scene. You know, that one kiss that makes everything feel right in the world? Yeah. That one.

Well, whenever I’m about to write that scene, I do some research. I make sure I watch at least one of the following scenes to get my heart in the right place before I make my main characters lip lock.

Here are my top five favorite kissing scenes!

5) Romeo and Juliet, the Leonardo DeCaprio and Claire Danes Kiss. It’s so sweet. So filled with life and energy. That kiss makes me feel like anything is possible!

4) The Pride and Prejudice hand kiss. It’s amazing how such a small gesture can signify so much. I never want to forget as a writer how important a kiss to the hand can really be. That look in Mr. Darcy’s eye … Oh man. Every girl deserves a man to look at her that way!

3) The kiss at the end of Pitch Perfect. I love this kiss. It’s sweet, funny, and full of “I’m sorry, you were right. I was an idiot.” Pretty much an essential type of kiss to have in a YA romance book.

2) When Katniss finally listens to her heart in Catching Fire. She goes all out and kisses Peeta like the boy deserves! I love this kiss. It’s powerful. It’s filled with hunger for love and time. It’s fantastic!

1) The Intense Notebook Kiss. Oh man. This kiss always makes my heart kick into gear. This is the kiss that inspired the big kiss in at the end of the entire Effortless With You series (in Perfectly Messy)! I’m certain you’ll be able to figure out what kiss I’m talking about (there are many!) once you’ve read the books.

Thanks so much for having me on the blog!

Interested in Lizzy Charles' novels Effortless With You and Perfectly Messy? They are available on Amazon, Nook, iBooks, and most ebook readers. Prefer a book you can actually hold in your hand and smell? Both novels are available in print via Amazon and available to order through many local bookstores if you ask. :)

When Lizzy Charles isn’t scrambling to raise her two spunky toddlers or caring for premature and sick babies as a neonatal intensive care nurse, she’s in a quiet corner writing or snuggled up with a novel and a few squares of dark chocolate. Black tea keeps her constant and she loves guacamole. She married her high school sweet heart, a heart-melting musician, so it’s no surprise she’s fallen in love with writing contemporary YA romance novels.

a Rafflecopter giveaway