Author interview & book giveaway (ends May 13)

Jamie always knew something was off about the church of the Right & The Real but she never thought too much about it because she was only there in order to spend time with her boyfriend. Josh was a member but one who claimed to also see faults with the church. A church whose leader, Teacher, sees as, literally, Jesus Christ - as do his devout followers. But Josh, the oldest son of one Teacher's disciples is also one of the high school's most popular students and star athletes and Jamie's too enamored with him to full grasp just how wrong the church is . . . even when her father starts attending.

Even as he's marrying marrying Mira, a fanatical member of the Right & the Real, she still thinks she can get him out of it.

But then he kicks her out for refusing to sign a membership pledge. Seventeen-year-old Jamie is on her own. Her father, the one person she thought would never turn his back on her has abandoned her. And Josh, the person who got her (and her father involved with the church - a cult, really - in the first place) can only see her in secret now.

With her world crumbling around her will Jamie be able to survive? And will she ever get her father back? Will she want to?


I dare you to read the first chapter - or the first two chapters - of The Right & The Real and decide to put it down. If you do a) you're possibly crazy and/or b) you have much more willpower than I.

If you do make what I consider to be the wise choice and keep reading, you definitely won't be disappointed. Joëlle Anthony's second novel is a fantastic contemporary YA that's a just a bit darker - it's also perfect for older readers.

Jamie is put into an incredibly tough situation - or situations, really - the most major of is her father kicking her out (which leads to other things). I loved how nothing ever seemed melodramatic. There were incredibly dramatic things happening for sure, but things played out incredibly realistically (or what I imagine is realistically for the given situations). While Jamie was confused as to what decision to make, what to do, I found myself confused as well. I wasn't reading each page, all the while thinking, "Why doesn't she just ...."

I loved being so drawn into the story and also being so in sync with the choices that the author made while writing the story (or perhaps just lacking in anything obvious for the character to do).

If you're looking for a contemporary YA (with a bit of an edge) where the story just works and the plot doesn't take the easy way out, please read The Right & The Real when it's out April 26th!

Rating: 9/10

I've been such a lazy reader lately. But I think this book got me out of that. Awesome. Wonderful. Nothing short of either of those words. Joelle Anthony is one of my favorite YA writers; she has a knack for creating stories that are not down and depressing, though the storylines may well be. That is pure talent. I cannot provide enough praise for this book, and Joelle. ( )

I couldn't put this one down, I read it in one go. The plotting is excellent, the protagonist clearly drawn and very believable. "Relatable", I think they are calling it these days. I was swept up and carried along, hoping for the best. I flat-out adored LaVon.

I loved the backstory, and found myself speculating about the mom, and how Jamie might be wrong about her. I'm always up for a story about an evil church, and the church in this book does not fail to disappoint.

My only (minor) complaint is that several of the adults are sketched in (mostly church people), in contrast with the easily differentiated kids- a not uncommon issue with YA books for me. I suspect that the adults are mere caricatures in the heads of many YA persons and this would not be an issue with the target audience. ( )

Anthony wrote Jamie as such a strong female character, that you can't help but want her to come out on top. Jamie's relationship with LaVon was my favorite part of the story. The writing was wonderful and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, especially toward the end. This was a quick read. The ending was perfect and was more than I was hoping for. Recommended!

*This book was provided to me via BookDivas.com and my original review was submitted there. ( )

So, cults right? Religious cults. Creepy and weird and make me feel icky. But I also find them fascinating. I was intrigued by the premise of the story and remember hearing a lot of good things about Restoring Harmony, so I decided to try this one.

I really liked it while I was reading, but there was no major wow factor for me. It might just be me because as much as I've been enjoying what I read lately, most of them lack that special something that makes me fall head over heels, obsessively in love with them. I read it like a week ago, and already it's pretty vague and the main character's just another character in my head. I can't tell you what makes her unique.

I can tell you I liked some of the side characters, the people that help Jamie out. I loved watching her relationships and interactions with them. For me, that was the more interesting aspect of the book. The fact that one of those relationships was a romantic one is not the only thing that made me feel this way, promise.

It was also well written. I'd definitely be open to reading more by Joelle, I just don't think this was the right book for me.