Liza Palmer Party: The Favors (Giveaway)

Liza Palmer Party: The Favors (Giveaway)

Jan 30, 2015

Every party has to end, and I'm sad to see this celebration of Girl Before a Mirror come to close. For this final day, Cassie's talking about the sweet treat we're serving at our party. And I figured that that I ought to be a good hostess, so I won't send you home empty-handed... I've prepared the favors! Once you read Girl Before a Mirror, chances are you'll be craving more. So, here are fifteen books I recommend after you're done:

If you liked the WRITING, try...

If you like the writing style, your next step is to read more books from Liza herself! DUH. She's got a great backlist, which I've been slowly working my way through. I don't want to devour them all and have nothing left! Here are the three I've read so far - all of which I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.

Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer 

Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer (Review)

If you liked FAMILY dynamics, try...

Family plays a huge role in every Liza Palmer book I've read so far, and the relationship between siblings Anna and Ferdie was one of my favorite storylines in Girl Before a Mirror. You'll find an interesting sibling relationship Garden Spells and unforgettable family dynamics overall in Saving Francesca. 

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (Review)

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (Review)

If you liked the FRIENDSHIP, try...

Anna has a small group of close friends in Girl Before a Mirror, but I think I loved the friendship that develops between her and Sasha even more! The friendship in Open Road Summer was one of my favorite elements of that book, and the "work friendship" in Attachments is what made it a favorite read.

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord (Review)

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Review)

If you liked the ROMANCE, try...

You know I can't resist a good love story! I loved the romance in Girl Before a Mirror, and I won't soon forget this couple. Here are three "I never saw you coming" romances, but each depicts that in completely different ways. You'll definitely swoon, but you might cry a little, too. Don't say I didn't warn you!

The First Husband by Laura Dave (Review)

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (Review)

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith (Review)

If you liked the PERSONAL GROWTH, try...

My absolute favorite part of Girl Before a Mirror was watching Anna come into her own. Seeing her bring ideas to life and take charge of her story was amazing! The heroines in all three of these books have a lot to learn about life, love and themselves. It's probably why they're three of my all-time favorite books...

The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum

Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Review)

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Review)

If you liked the WAR backstory, try...

Although it's a small element of Girl Before a Mirror, one character's story made me wish he had his own book. There's a lot of pain and heartbreak there, and it reminded me of these two books. I'll Meet You There and Something Like Normal depict the aftermath of war on a solider in an unforgettable way.

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Win a signed copy of Girl Before a Mirror! (3 Winners)

Open to US only. | All entrants must be 13 or older to enter.

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Liza Palmer Party: The Music

Liza Palmer Party: The Music

Jan 29, 2015

The Liza Palmer Party in honor of the release of Girl Before a Mirror continues today with an important part of any celebration: the music! One of my favorite moments in this book is a scene where Anna talks about music. She prides herself on listening to a certain kind of music and sneaks "guilty pleasure" songs into her respectable playlists. I'll let you read the book to find out how another character reacts to that little secret... 

This book was just calling for its own soundtrack, so Cassie and I got to work. Girl Before a Mirror opens with the lyrics from the song below, so we obviously had to highlight this beauty first. And below that you'll find a playlist of twenty songs we felt represented emotions or scenes in this book. The playlist follows the order of the book, but I'm sharing the lyrics for the last ten songs and Cassie has the lyrics for the first ten songs.

I got a ways to go / And I'm carrying a heavy load

But baby I want you to know / But baby I want you to know

That I never been so sure / And I never wanted nothing more

That you were who my love is for / You were who my love is for

Jill Andrews – My Love Is For

I've thrown away, I've thrown away again / The pills that make me
 I've thrown away, I've thrown away again / The chance, the want to change
TRACK 11: Edgewater – Eyes Wired Shut

There may come a time / You just can't seem to find your place 
For every door you open / It feels like two get slammed in your face 
That's when you need someone / Someone that you can call 
And when all your faith is gone / It Feels like you can't go on / Let it be me 
TRACK 12: Ray LaMontagne – Let It Be Me

Looking up, at last I found / You're never loved if you protect yourself 
Lay down, lay down your weapons boy / Right now, right now 
Under it all, you're not so tough / Everyone, everyone just wants to fall, to fall in love
TRACK 13: The Daylights – Weapons

If you were here beside me / instead of in New York / If the curve of you was curved on me 
I’d tell you that I loved you / before I ever knew you / 'Cause I love the simple thought of you 
TRACK 14: Snow Patrol – New York

I got ten fingers to the sky, / My back to the wall, my white flag high...
Put the gun down, put the gun down / Or I'mma set fire to the whole damn house
TRACK 15: ZZ Ward – Put the Gun Down

So many times it happens too fast / You trade your passion for glory 
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past / You must fight just to keep them alive 
TRACK 16: Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

Oh you got a fire and it's burning in the rain / Thought that it went out, but it's burning just the same 
And you don't look back, not for anything / 'Cause if you love someone, you love them all the same
TRACK 17: The Fray – Heartbeat

Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough / And things go wrong no matter what I do 
Now and then it seems that life is just too much / But you've got the love I need to see me through
TRACK 18: Florence + The Machine – You've Got the Love

With your eyes on my secrets, / God knows what you'll see
There's so much to my story, / But you're the perfect ending 
TRACK 19: Matthew Mayfield – Better

All of these lines across my face / Tell you the story of who I am 

So many stories of where I've been / And how I got to where I am 

But these stories don't mean anything / When you've got no one to tell them to 

It's true... I was made for you 

TRACK 20: Brandi Carlile – The Story

Check out Cassie's post to see lyrics for the first ten songs!

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Liza Palmer Party: The Gifts

Liza Palmer Party: The Gifts

Jan 28, 2015

This week, Cassie and I are celebrating the release of Girl Before a Mirror by hosting a Liza Palmer party! We both loved this book so much and wanted to do something special to mark the occasion. We sent the invites out yesterday by sharing ten reasons your book club should read this book, and today I'm talking about the gifts and she's covering the decor with some awesome wallpapers. I've been dying to create another book-inspired gift guide after doing it for a few books last month, and this was the perfect opportunity!

1. Michael Aram Black Orchid Cheese Board ($129) - While Girl Before a Mirror is an emotional read, there are also a number of hilarious scenes in it. One of my favorites is early in the book when Anna first arrives at RomanceCon and makes an awkward comment about cheese. It told me so much about her character.

2. Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend Tea ($15.95) - Anna drinks tea like I drink Diet Coke. She's definitely addicted! I was originally going to pick my favorite tea, but I ended up with this one after Anna specifically mentions it in the book. Is it bad that I want to order it just because I love the tin it's in?

3. Azure Blue Teapot Set ($59.95) - I've had my eye teapot set for ages. I don't really need it, but it's got all of my favorite colors in it. While I don't know if this is Anna's style, that's too bad. This is the teapot that I wanted to feature! Plus, it matches the Fortnum & Mason tea tin so perfectly... It's meant to be!

4. Funko POP Wonder Woman ($11.98) and Princess Leia ($16.40) - There's a wonderful (and hilarious) scene in Girl Before a Mirror where Anna and Sasha attend a work costume party. Anna dresses up like Princess Leia and Sasha dresses up like Wonder Woman, so I had to commemorate it with these figurines!

5. Minimergency Kit for Brides ($16) - Anna is the account executive on a campaign for a shower gel. I almost included one in my gift guide, but I think this emergency kit made more sense. Anna is in need of one on several occasions, and she intends to tell the shower gel company that they ought to make one.

6. I'll Eat You Up I Love You So Canvas ($29.99) - This quote from Where the Wild Things Are has special meaning for Anna and her brother Ferdie. Their relationship was one of my favorite things in Girl Before a Mirror, and it's the storyline that actually made me cry the most. And I'd totally hang this canvas in my house.

7. The Most of Nora Ephron ($22.96) and The Complete Miss Marple Stories (Similar) - Anna and Sasha are inspired by a book that has ties to a famous quote from Nora Ephron, which is why I chose this book. And Anna's Marple Theory was genius, so this was an obvious gift (though this Folio edition isn't available anymore).

8. Ladyhawke ($9.99) and Sixteen Candles ($5) - Anna is critical of romance novels, but Sasha uses an example involving Anna's favorite movie (Ladyhawke) to prove a point. It was a great moment, and I loved Anna's enthusiasm for the movie. Sixteen Candles also gets a shoutout in the book, so I had to include it here, too.

9. Trafalgar Stretch Suspenders ($49.50) and Cutter & Buck V-Neck Sweater ($78) - I had to have something on here as a nod to Lincoln! While I bet he has expensive taste, these reminded me of him. The suspenders are for a scene where he takes them off and the sweater because he loans one to Anna in the book.

10. Frette Hotal Shawl Collar Robe ($220) - Anna spends a lot of time in the hotel... I'd say she spends time in her room, but that's not quite true. And if you're hanging out in a hotel room, you better put on the hotel robe (if it's a good one). While this is more than I'd pay for a robe, I bet the Arizona Biltmore has fancy robes.

11. Apolis Chelsea Market Bag ($68) - At one point, Anna goes to see Lincoln in New York. She lets Sasha talk her into a grand scene involving a romantic picnic - the works! While you'll have to read the book to find out what happens after she visits Chelsea Market, I loved imagining Anna carrying this cool bag

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Liza Palmer Party: The Invite

Liza Palmer Party: The Invite

Jan 27, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

Top Ten Reasons Your Book Club Should Read 

Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

This week's topic is technically "Ten Books I'd Love to Read with My Book Club." However, today is also the release of Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer, which I raved about last week. To celebrate, Cassie and I have some fun posts planned for the next few days. Our first post is a twist on today's topic - so, here are ten reasons to make this your next book club pick!

1. Because everyone can relate to something in Anna Wyatt's story.

2. Because Lincoln Mallory is hot, British and loves dessert.

3. Because Sasha Merchant will surprise you.

4. Because Ferdie will make you laugh and cry.

5. Because Helen Brubaker is a total badass.

6. Because RomanceCon is a hilarious setting.

7. Because the entire book is so quotable.

8. Because there are so many themes you can discuss.

9. Because this story will make you emotional.

10. Because this book will Marple* you.

*Once you read it, you'll understand.

About the Book:

Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins | William Morrow
Pages: 384 pages
Add on Goodreads | Buy It Now

Summary (from Goodreads)

An account executive in a Mad Men world, Anna Wyatt is at a crossroads. Recently divorced, she’s done a lot of emotional housecleaning, including a self-imposed dating sabbatical. But now that she’s turned forty, she’s struggling to figure out what her life needs. Brainstorming to win over an important new client, she discovers a self-help book—Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero—that offers her unexpected insights and leads her to a most unlikely place: a romance writers’ conference. If she can sign the Romance Cover Model of the Year Pageant winner for her campaign—and meet the author who has inspired her to take control of her life—she’ll win the account.

For Anna, taking control means taking chances, including getting to know Sasha, her pretty young colleague on the project, and indulging in a steamy elevator ride with Lincoln Mallory, a dashing financial consultant she meets in the hotel. When the conference ends, Anna and Lincoln must decide if their intense connection is strong enough to survive outside the romantic fantasy they’ve created. Yet Lincoln is only one of Anna’s dilemmas. Now that her campaign is off the ground, others in the office want to steal her success, and her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, is spiraling out of control.

To have the life she wants-to be happy without guilt, to be accepted for herself, to love and to be loved, to just be—she has to put herself first, accept her imperfections, embrace her passions, and finally be the heroine of her own story.

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