Literally Covered

Last week's Literally Covered had you divided - was it Rachel Caine's Black Dawn or Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse? Well congratulations to Team Black Dawn, you're correct. Shout out to Lux, who guessed correctly first.

What could this literal cover be?

News from the BTL Desk

Look what just arrived from the printer! The long awaited Gabrielle Williams book hits stores on 22 February!

Aussie YA Week Flashback Read: Raw Blue

When Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue hit shelves in 2009, people weren't sure what to expect from this debut novelist. Very quickly though, the Eagar bandwagon started rolling. Every month, more fans began to read the dark and intense story of Carly and her troubles in dealing with a horrific past and her passionate love of surfing. Then it took on another level and US book bloggers came to party, with stunning reviews and Raw Blue praise posts, practically begging a US publisher to recognise this gem of a book.

'When Eagar’s talent for stunning prose meets a protagonist whom we love despite her best attempts to dissuade us, the result is a beautiful and lingering story that reinfuses life into us.' Steph Su Reads

'Kirsty Eagar writes in a raw, stark style that sneaks up like a building wave and crashes down on you with cascading emotion.' Forever Young Adult

In this Aussie YA Week flashback extract we meet a raw and distracted Carly, wild and desperate to forget a unknown memory that haunts her.

Happy Release Day

Welcome the world, Born Wicked and Jessica Rules the Dark Side. Congrats to Jessica Spotswood and Beth Fantaskey.

Which one will you read first?

The TBR Shelf

Tuesday TBR Shelf time. The TBR Shelf is our weekly To. Be. Read (TBR) Shelf sharing session.

Tell us what you're reading?


1. What's new on your Shelf?

2. What have you just finished on The Shelf?

3. What book are you most desperate this week to get on The Shelf?

BTL's answers 1. Final finished copies of Outpost arrived! 2. Losing It by Julia Lawrinson, and it's an Aussie story for sure! 3. The French covers for Morganville have made us eager for Black Dawn.

The Fault In Our Stars Quote Cards - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 for the TFIOS Quote Cards and in case you missed them: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are also available!

And from the world of awesome, we bring you a 'The Fault in Our Stars' fan song, created from some of the amazing TFIOS quotes. It's not plot spoilery but uses quotes from all over the book, so if you're holding strong then maybe don't click!

Bonjour Morganville Vampires

Or should we say: Vampire City. Check out these amazing covers for the French editions of Morganville Vampires. Where do these covers sit for you in the Morganville cover world: Love, Hate or Wish You Spoke French?

Aussie YA Week Flashback Read: Looking for Alibrandi

It was the book that started it all for Melina Marchetta and in the early 90's in Australian high schools, you were either a Jacob Coote or John Barton girl. In the middle Josephine Alibrandi, who is not only dealing with her feelings for both boys but handling with her final year at school, a returned father figure, a stormy relationship with her mother and secrets that frame who she is.

Aussie YA Week gives us a flashback to a sexy bus stop smooch with Josie and Jacob as they try and get their relationship off the ground. After a horrendous first date, they catch up at the bus-stop and try again; full of Australian shout outs including Harley's in Sydney and 'wagging school' (skipping school).

Aussie YA Week

This week in Australia, we celebrate Australia Day - our official national day of Australia. YAY!

Looking for Alibrandi Flashback
Raw Blue Flashback

Of course, that means we're celebrating our AMAZING Aussie YA Authors this week at BTL - so tell us, who is your favourite Aussie author and what is your all time favourite Australian YA book?

BTL Challenge

Another post theme coming out of retirement this week: The BTL Challenge.

For those without super long memories, each week, we offer you a BTL Challenge. You can join in, or not - it's completely up to you. The BTL Challenge varies wildly from reading and writing to cooking and stamp collecting (some people enjoy it!) We want to give you ideas that might inspire you to see the world differently, participate in or learn new things or just relax and have fun! If you want to participate in the BTL Challenge, feel free to post updates in the comments section/or on our Facebook page. We'll also be participating in each Challenge so you won't be alone!

The BTL Challenge: Finish It!

Yes, this sounds a little abstract and vague but that's why it works. It can be applied to anything! From finishing that book you are reading, to the back to school stationery shopping, to drawing the piece of art you've imagined to writing that fan-fiction piece you've had sitting on your computer. Finish It Challenge means you'll finish it and then enjoy the weight lifted off your shoulders!

So come on, let's get our BTL Challenge on - who is with us?