Harper Collins is going all out to make sure this book gets on the radar of every bookseller, teen girl and adult woman possible. It's pretty stunning how much money is being spent to promote an author's first book. They are marketing it as the next Gossip Girls phenomenon.
There are the Prada fragrance giveaways at http://theluxebooks.com/contests.vm, the $1000 sweepstakes to Bloomingdale's (plus a copy of the book) at http://www.harperteen-theluxe.com/contest/rules.html, the author interview podcasts at http://www.harperteen.com/features/podcast/index.asp, and apparently, when they were still promoting the book from within the industry, they hired the cover model to wear that dress and pass out advance copies at a party.
Just for kicks, here's a tidbit from the official book website:
Hey! I just wanted to say, LOVED your book and I COULDN'T put it down! Can you give us a hint to what happens in Rumors?" -- posted by: Nikki
Nikki, it makes me so happy to hear that you liked The Luxe! I'm putting the final touches on Rumors, and getting really dorkily excited about it, so I'm glad to hear you're looking forward to it too! I can promise a ton more gowns, a few big parties, the spilling of some crazy secrets, a lot of extravagant backstabbing, one good, old-fashioned makeover, and a wedding or two. I really hope you enjoy the sequel as much as you did the first book! xx
--Anna
I read a review of this book nearly a month ago, scoured western New York for a copy of it while I was on vacation, devoured and loved the book--then I completely forgot about it. I feel that is not a sign about the quality of the book, but rather, a sign of my book addiction--I'm always going to be stalking the bookshelves, looking for my next fix...
No really, this was a great YA read! Reviewers keep comparing the protagonist, James Sveck, to the next Holden Caulfield. Perhaps, but I think James is more puzzled than angered by his upscale urban world. A promising NY teen with an acceptance to Brown and a job in his mother's art gallery, he's looking instead for a "sanctuary," as the book's publisher says. He keeps trolling through the online real estate listings in Kansas, hoping to find the perfect place to get away from it all.
It's a really smart book and should appeal to most teens--guys, especially. There's some discussion of homosexuality without that becoming the primary issue; it seems to be a sign that society (and the slow-moving world of children's publishing) is accepting that this is no longer a fringe issue with a niche audience.
This is a new young adult novel that caught my eye a day or so ago. I started it last night before bed, and I got so wrapped up in it. I put it down halfway through the book and went to sleep, but I woke myself up at 2 in the morning--I must have been dreaming about it--and I just had to finish it.
It's dark and truthful and hard to read, but it's very moving. On the first page, Iggy Corso tells us that he has been kicked out of high school, and he has decided that he will do something amazing that will change the world and convince the school to let him back in. In his world of abject poverty and drug abuse closing in on everyone around him, this vague and childish scheme becomes the one thing he's desperately trying to hold onto as things fall apart.
You will cry, and not just for Iggy, but for everyone who is trapped in similar situations in the world.
Harper Collins is going all out to make sure this book gets on the radar of every bookseller, teen girl and adult woman possible. It's pretty stunning how much money is being spent to promote an author's first book. They are marketing it as the next Gossip Girls phenomenon.
