Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

Book review #31
Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems.

I just spent the last hour or two curled up into a ball, complete with a cup of tea, totally engrossed in the life of Nicolette Antonovich. I really needed a lighthearted fun read too escape from the real world for a bit, and that's just what I got. What I loved the most was that Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress was light and fluffy, but at the same time realistic.

Nicolette has quite a bit going on with family issues on the side, two very handsome boys fighting for her, and friendship problems to top it all off. The one thing that helps her get through it all is the "magical" unworn prom dress. See,as a sophomore, Nic got asked out by her longtime crush Rascal to the prom. Nic couldn't have been happier, she bought her dress and everything. Then Rascal's actual girlfriend moves back to town. Leaving Nic with no date to the prom, a broken heart, and an unworn prom dress. She doesn't really know how she feels about Rascal now and then there's Jared who makes things even more complicated.

I absolutely adored Nicolette. I just liked how everyone knew she was great, except the only person that really mattered-herself. As for Jerad (her best friend's older brother) I  fell in love with him the second he was introduced. I always secretly wanted them to get together. Rascal, I definitely did not like. I mean at first I was just as blinded as Nic, but after his true colors came out I finally came to my senses.

The top ten uses for an unworn prom dress were spread out throughout every few chapters. They were so fun and made me love the book even more. That along with the pacing of the book really made this an enjoyable read. You become so engaged and attached to the characters you almost feel like your watching a sitcom.

You can't help but smile while reading this book. It is most definitely one of those feel good books. It certainly made my day a lot better. Romance, drama, and light-hearted all wrapped up in one perfectly describes this book. Find a comfortable spot because once you start this you'll probably be there for awhile :)

*An extra special thanks goes out to Tina Ferraro for sending me a copy of this!

Author Interview: Tina Ferraro

I'm very excited to host my very first author interview. Thanks to Tina Ferraro, author of The ABC's of Kissing Boys, Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress, and How To Hook a Hottie, for donating her time!

What are some of your favorite books?

I love a variety of genres and authors, but favorite young adult books include A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

How did you come up with the idea for The ABC's of Kissing Boys?

Well, I'd had an idea about how horrible it would be to have your whole JV team promoted to varsity without you...and the title struck me while I was watching a local parade...so my problem was mostly how to connect the two.  Then I got the idea for a kissing booth, and then a sports fair...and the book was off and running.
  

If you could choose any theme song for The ABC's of Kissing Boys what would it be and why?

My daughter just told me that Kanye West has a song called "Heartless," and of course, that's what Parker calls her coach, so while I have not heard it, I'm going to say that.

If you could speak to any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Stephen King.  Not for his horror element, but his ability to create such realistic characters who make the reader feel.  Plus, I hear he's a humble guy, and in this day and age of big celebrity egos, I find that refreshing.

Describe your typical day work day as an author.

No two days are the same, but often my days starts and ends with e-mail and Facebook, and the writing is sandwiched in the quieter moments in between.

What can your readers look forward to next?

My agent is currently shopping a book called Half-Life, and while it is set in contemporary times and is humorous like my other three books, this one's got some paranormal and deeply emotional elements, too.  I am hopeful that editors and readers will feel as strongly about it as I do!

Would you like to add anything?
I love hearing from readers!  Please find me on Facebook or write to me at admin@tinaferraro.com. And check me out at my blogs at www.yawriters.blogspot.com and www.yafresh.blogspot.com, where we do lots of book giveaways!

Thanks, Sara!

P.S. Have you heard about the mudslides in California?  I live in that area and keep getting evacuated from my house...in fact...I am on alert right now.  So if I suddenly don't respond, that's why, okay?  I don't always have internet access.

Thanks again to Tina Ferraro for a wonderful interview! I can't wait to read more of her work :)

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

Book Review #16
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from back of the book)
Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. Anyway, the coach moves everyone from JV up to varsity. It's just what happens. But that’s not what happens. This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. 
Parker has spent her life being a team player, but as soon as school starts, she's stuck with (horrors of horrors) the freshman, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. Worse? Her friends her own age are cutting her loose, and now the freshman kid across the street is the only person who'll give her the time of day.
But Parker's determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team and she has the perfect plan. The only catch? She has to trick her way into place in the kissing booth at the school's annual sports fair, then pull a stunt crazier than any she could dream up on her own. But that kiss has to look real. And Parker is less than experienced in playing that sort of field. Parker knows that practice makes perfect. Now she just has to find the right coach... 

After just reading a pretty intense read, The ABC's of Kissing is just what I needed to lighten the mood. I loved the setup of the book, the chapters were labeled in alphabetically order and had words revolving around kissing/kisses. I didn't even know some of these terms, they were really fun, like "butterfly kiss" and "caterpillar kiss". Not only did the book focus on the kissing aspect, but also the true meaning of friendships, popularity, and finding yourself. Parker losing her spot on the varsity team, resulted in losing her "friends". Parker will do just about anything to get her old life back, even if that means resorting to getting help from the freshman next door. I really enjoyed Tristan's character, he was cute, funny, and oddly mature for his age. The fact that their dads were feuding, added the perfect touch. When Parker's plan starts to unravel, she finds out who her real friends are and realizes that, maybe, possibly, it's worth it to to be seen with the freshman. In the end, Parker falls for the wrong guy, the last guy in fact she ever thought she’d like. Although the end, was a bit predictable, the romance was definitely real. The ABC's of Kissing was a very cute, sweet, even funny, and a very fluffy read, that well undoubtedly leave you smiling by the end. It was a short, fun book that was just prefect for relaxing with after a long day.