Hey Robyn!
If you’ve been hanging around this blog for some time, you probably have read about how I’m not really a YA contemporary fan, how some authors are exempt and more recently, how I’m rediscovering my love for YA contemporary.
Robyn Schneider and her books are the exemption, since even when I was barely reading YA contemporary, except from a select few authors, I always looked forward to her books.
I discovered Robyn and her books back in 2013. I know she has written some other works, and sadly I’m not familiar with them. I found her with her first YA contemporary. I was sitting in my local Barnes and Noble, either writing or doing homework…or writing instead of doing homework, and I saw this bright yellow book on an end cap display.
Bright yellow, with orange and blue – causing it to stand out.
I don’t think I even looked at the synopsis, I wanted the book based on the cover alone. It was different and gorgeous, and this was a time I bought books solely because of the covers and it didn’t matter about the story.
(Obviously the story does matter, but at the time I didn’t care)
This book is obviously The Beginning of Everything and I remember loving it. I honestly don’t remember much from it, just bits and pieces – it’s been 7 years. But I instantly became a fan.
Fast forward about about 8 months and I’m at my first Apollycon – well, the first Apollycon ever.
Now, maybe you’re asking or wondering how Apollycon ties into a post about Robyn Schneider and her books. I’ll explain.
On the last night of the event, we got Swag bags – the first iteration of the ones Sammy and I are giving away in this post, check it out – and they were full of books. My friend and I had met this other girl and her husband at the event, and we were swapping pictures of what we got in our bags, after we’d gone back up to our rooms. In this girl’s pictures of books, I see a familiar name – Robyn Schneider, and I freaked out. I hadn’t heard that she had a new book coming, or that she had been working on one.
This was Extraordinary Means and the girl didn’t know the author and gave it to me. So now I had an ARC of Robyn’s second book and I had zero chill.
No chill to be found.
At all.
I took the book to campus (UMBC) with me and I remember sitting on the top floor of the PAHB (Performing Arts & Humanities Building) reading it, as sun rose, and the morning fog cleared and Baltimore appeared on the horizon.
I’m so annoyed that I read all these books before I consistently reviewed books, because I only have vague memories to look back on – I guess it’s time for a reread. I loved this book. And then I wanted more. I wanted more books written by Robyn.
Little did I know that in a couple more years, one of my all-time favorite contemporary novels would come out.
Somehow, once again, I was kind of blindsided by Robyn having a new book out, and somehow, I managed to snag an early copy. Invisible Ghosts is an absolute favorite. I remember when I read it for the first time.
I was dog sitting for my Aunt and Uncle, and I brought the book with me. I was sitting on their couch, in their living room. I read the book in one sitting, and went through a range of emotions, and I cried. I sobbed through the last part of the book. I had to stop reading because I couldn’t stop crying. I loved everything about this book and the relationships in it are what killed me.
Now, I do have a full review, with some spoilers at the end, posted on this blog – I’ll link it here – so feel free to check that out. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s easily my favorite, and I’ve actually reread it a few times since I go the ARC.
Then I learned that Robyn was working on a new book and I knew I needed it. I didn’t care what it was about, I just wanted it.
So, you can probably imagine my excitement when I was able to trade for a copy of the ARC on Facebook.
I’m starting You Don’t Live Here tonight, and I’m freaking pumped. Though, I’m not going to lie, I’m a little terrified that it won’t hold up to Invisible Ghosts, just because I love that book so much. But if the pattern holds, I could have a new Robyn Schneider favorite by the time I’m done. I have no doubt that I’m going to love this book. I’m also kind of terrified to start it, thought that might be entirely on me having built up my excitement for just having an early copy of the book. And if I finish it, then I have to wait for her next book and the waits for her books are always torturous because I just want more.
I have a feeling once I start You Don’t Live Here I’m not going to stop until I finish it, it’s the way I tend to read Robyn’s books.
Now you have some backstory on my history with Robyn’s books, let’s take a look at my mini, but treasured collection.
The Beginning of Everything
Extraordinary Means
Invisible Ghosts
You Don’t Live Here
I have the standard US hardcovers for each of these books, and I can’t wait to add the hardcover for You Don’t Live Here to this stack. I’ve loved all the covers, and The Beginning of Everything as an embossed blue foil rollercoaster under the dust jacket. I actually forgot that was there until I was taking photos.
Pictured (top to bottom): US HC Invisible Ghosts / US HC Extraordinary Means / US HC The Beginning of Everything
Links:
I have US ARCs for each of the books. I was trying to complete my collection and another blogger was willing to send me a TBOE ARC for the cost of shipping, and the day I received that in the mail I freaked out. You can see the picture I took the day I received in the mail, above. I wish I had the ARC that had the original title, Severed Heads, Broken Hearts on it, but those are super rare. And honestly, I’m happy I just have one to completely the set.
Pictured (top to bottom): US ARC You Don’t Live Here / US ARC Invisible Ghosts / US ARC Extraordinary Means / US ARC The Beginning of Everything
Links:
I love these books and I cannot wait to see and read what Robyn comes out with next. I’m super excited and if you haven’t, you should definitely check out these books. They’re so worth it and so good.
Who is one of your favorite authors?
Writing The Universe 
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