CAN I GET A SHOUT-OUT AND A
HOORAY FOR THE START OF CONTEMPORARY SEASON!?!?
Whoop Whoop! Yep, I just said that.
So, this is the second year I’ve joined Evie and Bonnie in our little contemporary lovefest, and I think I can safely say that we’re all really excited about it this year. Last year was our first attempt at this event, and while it was a huge success, we’re doing things a little bit differently this year. For example, we’re stretching the event over two months, and we’re posting on a more laid-back basis. This is very exciting.
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To recap my humble contemp beginnings:
My beginnings with the contemporary genre were reluctant at best.
I wrote a little blog post in November 2011 called
Why I {Am Learning To} Love Contemporary
and I think that thing may have been the start of something bookishly life-changing for me, although I may not have realized it at the time. I challenged myself to read 12 contemporary books in 2012 and actually ended up reading 50. Part of the reason for such a high number was the first Contemporary Month event. Aaahhh, such fun times. But I digress.
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This year on Into the Hall of Books:
- I will continue to read and share my thoughts on Young Adult contemporary. I am excited about this!
- I am adding a ton of New Adult contemporary to the mix this year. The reason for this is simple: I love New Adult books – but in talking with some of my reading friends, I don’t really feel like people really have a good grasp on exactly what ‘New Adult’ means. Is it a real thing or not? Is it just YA with more sex? It is an excuse to read more raunchy books? I want to address these questions by highlighting a ton of New Adult contemporary during the next two months and letting you guys see that New Adult is broad – just like Young Adult – and that within that subgenre, there is a niche for everyone if you’re interested.
- I am going to also be reading and sharing my thoughts on some Adult Contemporary books that I think have some crossover appeal. It’s the truth that a ton of my readers are adults, so I want to showcase some really great adult contemporary on this blog as well. I’ve wanted to for awhile and this event is the perfect way to just slide it right on up in here. (Awww, I see you smiling, Estelle.)
ALSO:
As before, I will be doing some giveaways. There will be different types of giveaways, but you can generally expect:
- A TON of ebook giveaways. You guys, I am PASSIONATE about my giveaways being open to everyone, worldwide. This isn’t always possible with print copies, although in a perfect world I would be able to hand them out like candy. Expect a ton of ebook giveaways. *It’s important to note that you do not have to own an ereader to win an ebook, you can download a Kindle app to your phone or read on a computer.*
- ARC giveaways.
- Finished copy giveaways.
As always, I promise to make each of these giveaways open internationally when possible. My goal is to share as many books with as many people as possible, and I think I can share more this year than I did last year!
*There may be some other things too. You’ll just have to wait and see.*
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I have tried to ask around to some of my reading friends to find out what their favorite contemporary titles are. I know some people well enough to know favorite authors, favorite titles, etc – but I really want to know more about you all. Leave me a comment and let me know which contemporary books and authors are your favorites – perhaps they’re on my list of possibilities or on my schedule. I’ve already specifically chosen a few to read and even give away because some of my very best reading friends love them so much.
Events like this are so much fun but they can be tough to keep up without the support of this wonderful community. I’ve mentioned on Twitter and I’ve mentioned before – without you guys interacting with me, this whole event will be much less fun.
- I really want to know if a book looks interesting enough to you that you may or may not give it a shot!
- I really want to know if you have read a particular book and loved/not loved it. Or even hated it.
- I ALSO want to know your thoughts on the covers, because Y’ALL I AM A COVER GIRL. I don’t know why, but I judge books by the covers and I know I’m not the only one.
- I want to know if you are interested in the new adult and adult contemporary titles I’ve chosen to highlight because this is a departure from this event since last year and it is important to me!!
- Also, I always want recommendations!
Most of all, you guys, let me know you stopped by and what you think of what I have to say. I have already read some of these books and I didn’t like them all! Some of them have been print and some have been audio. Some of them I want to push into your hands, and some of them are those “meh” books. DO NOT be afraid to talk to me about what you think! (Just be nice, m’kay?)
TALK TO ME
during this event, you guys!
I’m counting on you. No pressure or anything.
There is a Twitter hashtag: #CFMonth
have to say as well. I will be
promoting their contemporary posts too. 🙂
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ONE MORE THING:
I know that some of you don’t always enjoy when bloggers post multiple posts per day. For me, this event will have multiple posts per day on lots of days. So PLEASE just try to go with it, enjoy it along with me, and realize that I’m trying to put something out there for everyone. Equal opportunity Contemporary Month, right? Let’s all have fun with this thing, shall we?
GIVEAWAYS BEGIN TOMORROW!
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Also, in case you missed the opening post about the
Summer Series Challenge, you can check it out HERE.
You can even link up if you think you want to join!
I’m combining Contemporary Month with the
#serieschallenge for the month of June! Woot!
About Asheley
Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.
You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.
Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!
I AM VERY EXCITED FOR THIS and heck yes I will be promoting it! As you already know, contemporary (whether that be YA or Adult) is something I hold very near & dear to my heart. I have read quite a few in the genre and have had lots of things to say about them, haha. I get passionate dang it! Really looking forward to this Asheley and I am so so happy you have fallen in love with contemps. They are amazing!
THANK YOU GINGER!! You're part of the reason I love contemporary to begin with. PLEASE say ALL THE THINGS.
I really have fallen quite hard. <3
YESSSS! TOTES FUN TIMES ABOUND! I'd actually love for you to try other Sarah Dessen books. I know you've read Just Listen, and Lock & Key wasn't a pleasant read for you, but I'd love for you to try This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, or Along for the Ride. 🙂
I definitely plan to read more Dessen. I know I have a few of her books in there on my shelf, but I don't have them all. I need to take a look-see and check out what's available on my own shelves and see what the library has too. She's for sure on the list! I'm DETERMINED to click with her!
I seriously feel like I've been waiting since LAST year's event for this year's. 😉 For realsies. The more contemps I read, the more I love them. <3 I am excited for ALL the posts! I'm still on the fence about New Adult (because of the super-steamy-ness you mentioned!), but I'm sure I'll find some more to love. Bring on Contemporary Months! 😉
I have a ton of stuff this year, Randi, and I'm glad it's gonna be two months instead of just one. About the New Adult, I actually have a post planned (hopefully) to explain all about it – that it isn't all steam and swoon. I've read so many that are regular, kind of like YA-with-issues. Such good stuff. So I thought I'd write something up and share it since you aren't alone in that feeling. Be watching for it!
Sounds like fun. I don't read a lot of contemp romance, but a few days ago I finished one by a favorite author of mine and I loved it. I'll definitely be looking for new recommendations.
Oooh, I wonder who it was? I definitely have some recommendations and can't wait to share what I love (and didn't really love so much) PLUS what is new to me!
For contemp author, I'd have to go with Elizabeth Scott-huge fan of her and I don't feel she's gotten enough love!
Also excited to read more about New Adult-I've mostly seen it as steamier YA but I'm sure it's much more nuanced than that.
Oh thank you! I need to look up some of Elizabeth Scott's work and see if I can get my hands on some. Wait – I think I may actually have one of her books! I need to check on that…but I do need to read more of her stuff.
And I can't wait to share more about New Adult with everyone. I'm definitely doing a discussion post about it VERY soon.
Woo Hoo, contemporary month!!! You know I LOVE my contemporaries, Asheley! And I'm glad that you guys are spreading it out over 2 months this year because I was EXHAUSTED last year after your whirlwind contemp month. Not for ME but for YOU, because girl, you were hardcore reading, reviewing and posting! I know it was a lot of work for you, I hope this year is more lax and laid back for you all too:)
And I love that you are including New Adult and Adult Cont. Romance too, YAY for more variety and more exposure of these oft misunderstood genres!
Btw, this line regarding New Adult:
"Is it an excuse to read more raunchy books?"
That just makes me laugh. Pfft. Like we need an excuse:)
I think May will be pretty hardcore whirlwind for me, but June will be a little bit less so – at least I think so. I have so much that I want to do. We'll see how much I can fit in! I hope everyone enjoys it.
I'm THRILLED about making it a broad "contemporary fiction month" vs a contemporary ya month. That just gives me/us so much more to discuss, and since so many of us are older than teens, it makes it more fun.
🙂
Oh, oh!! I am going to participate! I have a ton of contemp books that I'm REALLY excited about, just sitting around waiting not-so-patiently for something exactly like this. WOO!! Now I get to pull them out and READ THEM!
That's awesome, Ems!! If you read something contemporary, make sure you let me know so I can promote your post! I hope everyone has as much fun with it as I plan to. 🙂
YAY. *runs around in circles* Just a few weeks ago I was wondering to myself if you guys were going to do the contemporary event again and nearly sent you a tweet to find out so I'm glad to hear it's happening again! I love contemporary and thing it's so awesome it's turned into an annual event, especially it being helf over a two month period – the longer the better, right? Can't wait!
P.S – Just did a quick scan of your to-read to find out that you haven't read My Life Next Door. I thought I had read a review you wrote for it but I must be mistaken. I think it's a book you would really enjoy. Lot's of swoony god times and I personally loved it – just putting it out there 😉
You know, last year I did POORLY at keeping up with my crossposting and I actually did read My Life Next Door, and it was one of my favorite contemps – and still is. I am anxiously awaiting something new from that author! I LOVED it to pieces and realized that an audiobook has just been published, so I want to do an audiboook re-read soon. Thanks for the recommendation, though – one of my goals for the upcoming weeks/months is working on my updating goodreads – it's something I've been doing a little bit here and there and trying to catch up slowly.
So glad you're excited about Contemporary Month(s) – two months this time!
I am seriously excited! Like you, I'm relatively new to reading contemporary (since I'm primarily a fantasy girl at heart), so it makes me happy to see that you guys are doing this event again! I'm going to hop in and join ya'll whenever you discuss stuff. 😀
Honestly, Alexa, if I wouldn't have done this event last year, I wouldn't be able to say how much I love this genre. Really making myself sit down and take some time to move around within the genre and see what all is in there – I was able to find out what parts I liked and just absolutely loved, and now this year I'm eager to share it with everyone else. But I'm also to expand it to more than just YA contemporary.
Oooh, I might hop in, too! I'm a fantasy/paranormal reader first, but I also really enjoy reading certain contemps and there are a few contemporary titles that have been on my reading list for some time. 🙂
I've ALWAYS been such a big fantasy/paranormal gal at heart – still am – and I was absolutely petrified last year to open myself up to "real life" stories. But I was able to find some areas within the genre that I really loved and now I almost read more contemporary than anything – or at least I think I read it evenly among everything else. I LOVE it. Can't wait to share it with you and perhaps have some good discussion and get some recommendations from you. 🙂
I'm so excited to see what books you find! I will probs be adding many of your books to my TBR list.
I hope so, Ash!