Today’s post by Allie Larkin | @AllieLarkin
Allie Larkin
Update: the winner of of this giveaway is Annee. She has been notified via email. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please check back soon for more great book reviews and giveaways!
At my very first book event for STAY, my friend Katherine, who I’ve known since nursery school, made a poster of my book cover and had our friends sign it. She framed it, sent it to Rochester, and colluded with the bookstore staff to have it presented to me with a note that read, “From your oldest friends.”
A few months into my book tour schedule, I did an event near our hometown, and my oldest friends came out in force. After the reading we crowded around a table at a nearby restaurant, dragging up ancient inside jokes and laughing until our faces hurt. I was overwhelmed by the depth of our shared history, and the comfort of such longstanding familiarity.
Growing up, we had our tiffs and hurt feelings, of course, but we were kind and careful with each other when it mattered most. They are the stars of my favorite childhood memories.
I spent a lot of time while writing WHY CAN’T I BE YOU in Jenny Shaw’s shoes, thinking about who I would have been without my oldest friends, and what might compel Jenny to pretend to be Jessie Morgan when given the chance.
While none of the characters in WHY CAN’T I BE YOU are based on real people, the warmth and heart of Jessie Morgan’s group of friends is inspired by the way it feels to have friends who saved me and challenged me and gave my teenage-self a world to fit in and people to belong to when nothing else felt right. So this book is a love letter to the people who knew me when and love me anyway, the ones I’ve known forever and hold so dear in my heart: my oldest friends. I am lucky to have grown up with them, and to know them still.
We’ve got a copy of WHY CAN’T I BE YOU up for grabs today. Just leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered in our drawing!
At one time or another, everyone has wished they could be someone else. Exploring this universal longing, Allie Larkin follows up the success of her debut novel, Stay, with a moving portrait of friendship and identity.
When Jenny Shaw hears someone shout “Jessie!” across a hotel lobby, she impulsively answers. All her life, Jenny has toed the line, but something propels her to seize the opportunity to become Jessie Morgan, a woman to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. Lonely in her own life, Jenny is embraced by Jessie’s warm circle of friends—and finds unexpected romance. But when she delves into Jessie’s past, Jenny discovers a secret that spurs her to take another leap into the unknown.
About Ariel Lawhon
Ariel Lawhon is the co-founder of She Reads, novelist, blogger, storyteller, and life-long reader. She lives in Texas with her husband and four young sons (aka The Wild Rumpus). Ariel believes that Story is the shortest distance to the human heart.
I would love to win!
I think we have all been tempted to want the chance to be someone else! Looking forward to the opportunity to read Why Can’t I Be You!
Thanks for the giveaway!
What wonderful friends you have. That card with all those signatures is priceless. Wish you well with that book. As a child, I often wished I were someone else, so I could escape the terrible home I lived in. Sometimes it was kids with seemingly happy parents or even book characters. Have a blessed day.
HM at HVC dot RR dot COM
The book sounds like a fun read! I loved the story of the author’s friends.
Sounds like a great read!
Now this is a compelling story…
The book sounds great! Who doesn’t remember the pain of being a lonely teenager and wanting to fit in.
This sounds like a great read!!
This sounds like an intriguing premise for a story. “The Talented Mr. Ripley” had a similar premise, and it’s one of my favorite movies. I look forward to reading Allie’s new book!
Book sounds very interesting.
The book sounds great!
This sounds like a great read! I would love a copy!
Would love a copy of this book!
I’d love to win one to give to a friend!
Would love to win to send to my sister!!
Sounds fascinating!
First- what great friends. I love hearing stories about women really supporting each other. Yes, life gets in the way sometimes; but it’s important to remember the people that were there in your life for the big, little, and in-between!
Secondly- how wrong is it of me to say how much I want this book? Like on a scale of 1-10- I’m hovering around a 9. The title alone has me very curious!
The opening scene for this books sounds like it is perfect start of a great adventure. It sounds like a satisfying read and one I would read and review with pleasure. Please add me to those ready for the adventure of reading this book.
Such an intriguing premise! Please toss my name into the hat.
I received a happy surprise in the mail this week from my friend Sheila in Rochester — an autographed copy of Allie’s book! Great surprise !
This book sounds terrific! Aren’t we all a little bit like Jenny.
I think it’s “the grass is always greener” syndrome…but alas it is not…:) And if we are lucky we will find that out sooner rather than later. 
Thanks for the opportunity to win this interesting book!
Susan
I heard about this book. Now I doubly want to read it.
Another good one to add to my wishlist.
Sounds like a masquerade of pretending to be someone else. It could work if the main character possessed an intimate knowledge of the person but seems she will find out more than she bargains for. I would enjoy reading how the heroine pulls this off.
This book sounds so interesting and I would love to read it.
Thanks
Saw this at B&N today! Totally want to read it!
What an intriguing concept for a book! I’m so glad I found this website–you all always feature the most interesting novels. Would LOVE to be entered in the drawing! My email is heatherdaygilbert (at) gmail (dot) com.
Looking forward to reading this book
I used to want to be just like my best friend, Gloria. She had it all…good looks, boyfriends, the ideal family ~ until I finally figured out she had a heart of stone. Now I just want to be ME!
Friends are sooooo important! Would love to win this book!
Thank you for sharing this suggestion. Looking forward to reading.
I would love to win this book to add to the Church Library.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Looks great!
LOVE the cover! Sounds awesome.
This rings so true.
I like the theme of this book. I hope to win a copy of it. Thanks. God bless you.
Linda
Sounds like a great read!! Please add my name to the pot! Thanks for the giveaway!
This book sounds very intriguing and I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
I would love to win a copy of this book.
This sounds like a good book. My old friends stay forever with me and are always at the top of my list.
I’d love to win a copy of this book.