Book Beginnings is a book meme hosted by Rose City Reader where participants share the first sentence (or so) of the book, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice, and the rules are quite simple: Grab a book, any book, and turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader. Find any non-spoilery sentence(s) and post.
This week’s book: Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
Title: Top TenAuthor: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart are the unlikeliest of friends. Introverted, anxious Gabby would rather do literally anything than go to a party. Ryan is a star hockey player who can get any girl he wants—and does, frequently. But against all odds, they became not only friends, but each other’s favorite person. Now, as they face high school graduation, they can’t help but take a moment to reminisce and, in their signature tradition, make a top ten list—counting down the top ten moments of their friendship:
10. Where to begin? Maybe the night we met.
9. Then there was our awkward phase.
8. When you were in love with me but never told me…
7. Those five months we stopped talking were the hardest of my life.
6. Through terrible fights…
5. And emotional makeups.
4. You were there for me when I got my heart broken.
3. …but at times, you were also the one breaking it.
2. Above all, you helped me make sense of the world.
1. Now, as we head off to college—how am I possibly going to live without you?
Thoughts
I have just started this one, but I am really enjoying it so far. Katie Cotugno is one of my favourite contemporary authors, and I have been looking forward to this one for a while. I am loving the format of the characters reliving their top ten moments together, and their experiences are so real. I am excited to keep reading about Gabby and Ryan’s memories together!
Book Beginning:
Sitting with his ankles crossed in Gabby’s leafy green backyard two hours after their high school graduation, Ryan tilted his head back and squinted up at the proud June sun.
Friday 56:
It wasn’t a thing a lot of people knew how to accomplish, and she doubted he’d done it on purpose or even with any awareness that that’s what he was doing, but there it was.
About Katie Cotugno
Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of messy, complicated, feminist love stories. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University.
Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, among others.
The great loves of her life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston with her husband, Tom, and her dog, Avon.
I haven’t read anything by Cotugno yet. You’re reminding me that I need to!
The author is new to me but the book sounds like one I would enjoy. I am featuring The Hunt by Chloe Neill this week. Happy reading!
Sounds like an entertaining young adult story with appealing characters. I hope you enjoy it.
My Friday post features Half Broke Horses.
I love coming-of-age stories and this one looks like it might be a good one! Happy weekend!
I have seen this book around, I think I’ll it to my tbr, sounds good!
Here’s myFriday Reads
I haven’t read a book by this author… yet. But I like the teasers you featured. And it sounds like a pretty great read too.
I’m glad that you’re enjoying this one! I read Fireworks and while I liked it, I didn’t fall in love with that one, so I’m kind of hesitant to read this one. I have an eARC of it though so I might just go for it!
Now THIS is one that I definitely want to read. Like, asap!
This is a new to me author, but I like the sound of this one. I am glad it’s gotten off to a good start. I look forward to reading your thoughts on it when you are done. Have a great weekend!
I haven’t read any of her books yet. Now I’m putting this in my TBR list! thanks, dear <3