BLOG TOUR: BLUE by L.E. DeLano

Welcome to Official Blog Tour for Award-winning Author L.E. DeLano's new YA contemporary and recognized as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Young Adult Fiction at the 2021 NYC Big Book Awards, BLUE. Today, on our tour stop, we are kicking off this tour with a guest post featuring the topic: 10 Reasons Why to Read BLUE, a book trailer, and a tour-wide giveaway to share! So... Be sure to check it out and grab your copy now! Follow the tour, HERE.

Genre:

Young Adult

Contemporary

Publish Date:

October 26, 2021

Publisher:

Gaze Publishing

Synopsis:

When Blue Mancini’s mother picked her name, it ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy.

A year ago, Blue’s brother, Jack, was involved in a car accident that killed the father of her classmate, Maya Rodriguez. Luckily for Jack, he got out of a manslaughter charge and into a plea bargain thanks to the top-notch lawyer hired by Blue’s wealthy parents.

The fallout is now affecting Blue as Maya returns to school determined to carve out a pound of flesh from the only member of the Mancini family she can reach. On top of that, Blue has a demanding mother, a father who’s never around, a drama-addicted best friend, and a secretive new guy who’s determined to make Blue his own personal cheer-up project. It’s a perfect storm of misery.

When Maya’s social media taunts and in-person digs finally push Blue to retaliate, they find themselves in afterschool detention and forced into a project meant to foster cooperation and civility. As the layers of their tangled drama unravel, Blue learns more about Maya’s life—and her own sense of privilege—when secrets are revealed that cast a new perspective on everything in Blue’s world.

              

*10 Reason to Read BLUE*

1. It’s not all about the angst. BLUE’s cover is stunning and instantly gut-punches you, but it’s more than just a book about a girl working her way through a depressing time in her life. Like ogres and onions, BLUE has layers, and you’ll be laughing a lot in between the heartfelt moments, before it all comes together in a way that leaves you believing in the power of “if.”

2. You’ll meet imperfect characters who screw things up and struggle as they try to make things right. Blue begins the story in a very self-centered place, and she and Maya create their own perfect prison of misery. Devon doesn’t handle his own secrets well, and all three of them say things in anger that they wish they’d never said. I wanted them to all feel genuine as we take this journey with them.

3. White Privilege is a thing – a real and hurtful thing. BLUE has some frank conversations about underlying things that many people just shrug off. It’s not a story with racism as a central theme, but that white privilege colors parts of Blue and Maya’s interactions in some very important ways.

4. BEST BOOK BOYFRIEND. Seriously. You’re going to love Devon!

5. Blue’s mom is an Entrepreneur MLM-loving Boss Babe who’ll make you LOL while simultaneously making your eye twitch with irritation. She’s ready to empower you with motivational quotes, serenity candles, “lifestyle” shakes, and funky leggings.

6. Blue has a BFF who has no filter. Zero. Jules is crass and coarse and alternatingly hilarious and maddening. She may seem too rude to be of much help, but she’s there for Blue in every way she knows how to be.

7. A beloved children’s book will become an existential epiphany. I felt such a sense of peace writing that scene. 

8. There’s a major plot twist that you will NOT see coming. Not a single beta reader or reviewer (so far) has figured it out before it bowled them over. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back for that one.

9. You will read a thorough scientific examination of “Frito Theory.”

10. Get ready to experience what could be one of the funniest “first kiss” scenes in the history of YA.

Praise for BLUE

Overall: 10.00 out of 10 “DeLano has an excellent ear for teens' idiomatic speech . . . This is a fast-paced novel focused more on feelings and the social world of teens . . . An easy read for its intended audience.”- BookLife Prize by Publisher's Weekly

“Blue is a complex YA novel that challenges the reader to look at multiple perspectives of a difficult situation. Blue as a main character is really well-written, and the reader can feel her emotions and struggles. Several supporting characters help carry the book, make it easy to stay engaged with the story. . . I think YA readers will really appreciate Blue, and I encourage them to check it out.” – Jennifer C., NetGalley Reviewer

L.E. DeLano lives and writes in Pennsylvania with two hilarious kids and two ridiculous cats. Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and voted one of the 20 Most Beautiful Books of 2017 by MTV UK.

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**About the Author**

L.E. DeLano comes equipped with a “useless” Theatre degree that has opened doors for her in numerous ways. Though mostly raised in New Mexico, she now lives in Pennsylvania with two adventurous kids and two ridiculous cats. When she’s not writing (which is almost never), she’s binge-watching Netflix and planning road trips.

Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone To Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and also voted one of The 20 Most Beautiful Books in the World for 2017 by MTV UK.

Stay connected with L.E. DeLano

     

  

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***The Giveaway***

Giveaway Open to the U.S. Only

- ends November 11, 2021

Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box

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