Friday 25 October 2013

Special Guest Post: Easy by Tammara Webber

Hello everyone today I have a very special post to share with you. Last month you all voted Easy by Tammara Webber as the book I should read this month, and can I just say thank you to all of those who voted for this book, as it was exactly what I needed! So instead of just giving you a post with my review, the lovely Siiri over at Little Pieces of Imagination who is a huge fan of this book, you can read her review here came up with the idea of doing a question and answer post. Siiri came up with some wonderful questions, which I had a lot of fun answering, before our post here's a bit about the book. 



When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life. Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound. When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Guest Post with Siiri! 

Siiri: I know I basically forced you into this reading book. Plus, it won with a huge lead in front of the others in your poll on what to read next. What kind of expectations did you have prior reading Easy? Did you feel an obligation to love it? The hype is a dangerous thing sometimes…

Jasprit: I normally hate going into a book which has had so much hype especially more so now because the last couple of books I’ve gone with have been really disappointing. But with Easy it was different. I knew everyone loved it and I was incredibly happy to see so many readers vote for it in my poll, but I decided to go into it with no expectations whatsoever. I didn’t even read the blurb beforehand. But at the back of my mind, I had the small hope that Easy would deliver something different from the NA genre that I hadn’t been enjoying very much lately.

Siiri: Throughout the book, for me, Jacqueline grows a lot. By the time you finished the book, had your thoughts on her character changed from how you saw her at the beginning? How so? 

Jasprit: I think that break from Kennedy, despite it being so heart breaking at the time for Jacqueline, is exactly what she needed. It was like being with Kennedy and his friends Jacqueline wasn’t really being her true self. Without him she was able to find more time for what things mattered to her the most like focusing on being a bassist. Before she decided to do things because of Kennedy, go to this college because of him, but now she was able to think for herself and not feel bad about it. I liked how by being “independent”, (without Kennedy) she was able to meet new people she wouldn’t have normally chatted too. But most of all stand her ground on a lot of things she felt important about. I’d always appreciated Jacqueline’s character in the beginning, I guess by the end I appreciated the direction which Jacqueline decided to go.

Siiri: Girl talk!!! I L-O-V-E a good friendship between girls. That’s hard to find and one of my favourite relationships in this novel was Erin and Jacqueline. How do you feel about their relationship? 

Jasprit: I love a good friendship between girls too, it’s always hard to find one in a YA or NA books these days for me. For me a decent best friend will always have her friends back no matter what and that’s exactly what Erin did. She always wanted what was best for Jacqueline, she rooted for her   relationship with Lucas and she even decided to drop people that mattered a lot to her who questioned Jacqueline’s accusations. Erin was a sweetheart through and through, she would push Jacqueline to go for something which she knew in her heart was right, and she was able to bring light and fun whenever Jacqueline was feeling low.

Siiri: OK. So.. You know that guy Lucas who appears repeatedly in this novel? On the scale of 10, how much did you like him? I think for me it was about 12. You know... that smart brain of his, witty remarks, art skills and of course there is the material arts stuff. What’s not to like! How big of an influence do you think he make on Jacqueline’s growth? 

Jasprit: I simply adored Lucas he would definitely get about a 9 or 10 from me. I love a guy who doesn’t beat around the bush; he was clear from the beginning how he felt about Jacqueline. I also loved how honest he was about how he had felt about Jacqueline before he knew her. He knew it could make her feel awkward around him, but he did it in such a sweet way. I think Lucas being around did contribute significantly to Jacqueline’s growth. She still wasn’t properly over her ex, but indirectly Lucas began helping Jacqueline out of her shell without her realising it. He was the one that helped her when she needed him most, but most of all he continued to give her a helping hand afterwards. Lucas was one heck of a talented guy and definitely one of my highlights of this book.

Siiri: The way attempted rape and rape were included in this novel was portrayed in a really realistic way. We saw reactions from different personalities and also from both genders. What do you think of Kennedy and his influence on Jacqueline’s decisions regarding these incidents? 

Jasprit: Kennedy really left me conflicted, I honestly thought he was a decent guy, okay his decision for breaking with Jacqueline was one of the stupid ones ever. But when she needed him he did come through for her and I thought that his interference would help in a big way. But then at other times I just wanted to slap him upside the head. All the end of the day I think Kennedy was just out for his own interests. (He reminded me a lot of Waver from the film Legally Blonde!).

Siiri: What did you make of the writing style? I think the daily struggles Jacqueline goes through were written in such a relatable way that I felt like I was a friend of Jacqueline and the cast rather than an observer from the outside. 

Jasprit: I definitely agree with you on this Siiri, at times I was so caught up in the story and the characters that Webber had created that I forgot that I was reading an actual book. I love it when an author totally sweeps you into a book that you find yourself continually thinking about the characters and what could happen next in your every spare moment, and this is exactly what happened with Easy. Webber created a story in Easy that I’m sure my individuals could relate to. A story which was raw, honest, but most of all heartbreaking beautiful.

Siiri: Describe easy with 4 words which first letters put together make the word Easy.

Jasprit:

Emotional
Alluring
Strength
Yearning

A big thank you to Siiri for doing this wonderful post for me! If you haven't read Easy, I highly recommend that you do so right away, you can read my review for this gorgeous book here.



23 comments:

Melanie said...

Ooh, I really want to read this one now!

Fabulous discussion guest post there, girlies! <33

Keertana said...

I really love this post! I definitely think this book's message about rape is so important, not to mention I really loved the friendships in this novel too. I find those are so often sacrificed for romance, but I'm glad that wasn't the case here. Wonderful discussion, ladies!(:

Siiri said...

<3 Loved loved loved this book and I'm so glad you adored it too, my love! I agree with you that Kennedy was such a bitch sometimes (and I don't say that often about guys), but then he really seemed to care about her. Perhaps if it wasn't for Lucas, I would have liked him a little bit more, but no one can compete with Lucas in this novel. I also agree that he was magnificent in helping Jacqueline out of her shell step by step. I'm reading The Temptation of Lila and Ethan. Ethan and Lila? LOL, I don't remember which way it is. Anyhow, I didn't know anything about these characters since I haven't read the first two books about Ella and Micha yet, but I'm loving these two. Yes, they have their dark pasts and pretend faces on even though I'm already 50% through, but Ethan is helping Lila to realize she is loved by some people and they're really coming out of their shells just as Jacqueline did. It's wonderfully written and I'm glad you pointed out the coming out of one's shell thing since now that I think about it, not many books have it done as beautifully as Ms. Webber managed to write it. Also, I'm so sick and tired of these quirky best friends or hot, popular best friends to mediocre-looking girls. All of these clichés just make me want to facepalm every time I meet girlfriends like this. However, Erin was totally unlike that! She was an absolutely awesome best friend and didn't need to have a hot body, be popular, a man-eater, a quirky indie chick. No! She was an individual and stood out, but because she had a gorgeous soul and was there for her friend through and through just as you said. Also, I'm so glad you didn't feel disappointed by it. Again, I was a bit worried that I had talked you 5 feet under with all that constant "READ EASY ASAP, JASPRIT! IT'S AMAZINGLY GOOD" talk. Lol. This post was such a fun experience and thanks so much for making my day with your answers :) x

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

SUCH a great story! I highly enjoyed this one. It was one of my first (and still fave) of the NA category. Great characters that I was rooting for and a decent plot to hold it all together (always a good thing).

The Readdicts said...

I loved Easy! I had actually read the book before it got all hyped up and it was one of the firsts books on such a topic for me. Loved Jacqueline and Lucas. Thanks for sharing :)

Janhvi @ The Readdicts

Jenny said...

This is such a great idea ladies, love it! I'm so glad you decided to pick up Easy Jasprit, it was definitely my vote in the poll, I loved it so much! Lucas just stole my heart, and I loved Jacqueline as well, and now I kind of want to go and do a reread of this one!

And can I just say this post reminds me of everything I love about this community. We get awesome book recommendations from one another, and we get to scream our love of books from our blogs and there's a whole group of people there to scream back I KNOW THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME, I TOLD YOU THAT ALREADY! <3

Shane @ItchingforBooks said...

Cool post. Really made my day :)

Rachel said...

I love this question and answer review! So great to hear and girl friendships, captivating writing, and see a delightful acrostic poem.

Sara @ Forever 17 Books said...

This was a great way to review it! I think the four words you picked for the book were perfect. So glad you liked it!

Carina Olsen said...

Love the post! <3 sounds like an interesting book :) Glad you enjoyed. <3 thank you for sharing :)

Emma said...

This is such a clever review of Easy. I loved this and thought its one of the best books of NA at the moment. Tamara Webber is a brilliant writer. Its a refreshing way to capture the love and fangirling of book like this lovely post, Jasprit.

I'm blogging over at Girls of YA! Check out a Halloween Event kicking off with The Girl's Paranormal Boys http://girlsofya.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-girls-paranormal-guys.html

Emma said...

How is Allegiant hoing? I couldn't buy my copy today they sold out! :(

Anonymous said...

I love the format of this review, Jasprit. It's very cool idea and Siiri asked some wonderful questions.
You have no idea how happy I am that you enjoyed this so much. I completely agree with you on Erin. She's the kind of friend every girl need. And I'm so glad that you loved Lucas! :D
Great post, ladies!

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

What a great way to review the book. I have had this in my pile for too long and I must make time for it. I like that it has a solid girl friendship, you are right we don't get a lot of those. I need to start doing this poll thing in 2014!

Henrietta @ Leisure Reads said...

I haven't read Easy but after reading this post, I feel like I want to get to know Lucas. Besides, who could resist a story that sweeps us into the fictional world and makes us feel as if we were friends and not outsiders? Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Ooh, I love this discussion. Good female friendships are something I always look for in books--those are always the best parts of Jane Austen novels, in my opinion--and I really appreciated that aspect of this, too.

Kate @ The Midnight Garden

Unknown said...

What a fun review/discussion format! Siiri has such fabulous questions. I'm so happy you gave Easy a chance, and loved it.
Awesome job, Jasprit!

Rachel said...

Love this post, Siiri and Jasprit! You know this was one of my 3 top favorite books last year and so I'm just so thrilled you loved it, Jasprit. It started off with a bang and I couldn't put it down! Wonderful post, ladies! :)

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle said...

What a fun post ladies! I love this format. Isn't it wonderful when a book that's been hyped, actually lives up to expectations? In addition to a swoony guy, friendships and a great story are some sobering and really true messages about rape in college. I'm glad that Webber approaches them as she does. I think it's also good that you didn't read the description as I though it pretty much gave away the Lucas secret - or to me it did at least. Will you be polling readers for another book again?

Jasprit said...

Thanks Lauren! I love it when that happens with a book, I think I will have to go into books a lot more now without reading the blurb. We've decided to put up a poll for readers every month, our next one will be up on Friday the 1st! :)

Jasprit said...

Oh I hope you get the chance to read a copy soon! I've only been able to read a few chapters so far :(

Jasprit said...

I think I will have to listen to everything you recommend me Siiri! I'm so glad that I wasn't left disappointed, sometimes the pressure from others can put you off, also you don't want to end up as the black sheep of readers, so I'm glad that I was able to enjoy this as much as you did! Thanks again for doing this great post with me! <333

Jess said...

This was such a fun idea for a post and I absolutely loved reading it! Easy was my first NA book and I really enjoyed it. I'm glad it was a good pick for you and can't wait to see what the choices are for your read next month! :)

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