Welcome to my stop on The Libby Garrett Intervention blog tour hosted by YABound Tours!

Today I am excited to share my review, Libby's playlist, as well as a giveaway with you all!

 

 

The Libby Garrett Intervention
    by: Kelly Oram

Publication Date: Oct. 24, 2015
Publisher: Bluefields
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via YABound Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 244 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Libby Garrett is addicted to Owen Jackson's hot lovin'. But the sexy, popular college basketball player doesn't appreciate all of Libby's awesomeness. He refuses to be exclusive or even admit to people that they're dating. The relationship is ruining Libby and she's the only one who can't see it.

When Libby's behavior spirals completely out of control, her best friend Avery Shaw and the rest of the Science Squad stage an intervention hoping to cure Libby of her harmful Owen addiction. They put her through her very own Twelve Step program—Owen's Anonymous—and recruit the help of a sexy, broody, hard as nails coffee man to be her official sponsor.

...

Adam Koepp has watched Libby Garrett for years. How could he not notice the sassy girl with the purple skateboard and helmet plastered with cat stickers? But in all the years he's crushed on her, Libby has failed to take notice of him. Why would she when he was just a nobody high school drop out who served her apple cider several times a week? Especially when she was hooking up with a guy like Owen Jackson—a guy with a college scholarship and more abs than Kyle Hamilton.

Adam finally gets the chance to meet Libby when his co-worker Avery Shaw recruits him to take Libby on the journey of a lifetime. With his ability to play Bad Cop and his experience with the Twelve Step program he's the perfect candidate to be Libby's sponsor. But will he be able to keep his personal feelings out of the matter and really help her the way she needs? And will Libby hate him when he forces her to take an honest look at herself?

This follow-up companion novel to The Avery Shaw Experiment can be read as a stand alone. (But where's the fun in that?)

 

 

I was hoping Kelly Oram would write a Libby and Owen book! The idea of them was so appealing after finishing The Avery Shaw Experiment, so it completely blew my mind to see that they were NOT going to be the ones getting their HEA here. My first thought was "Who the heck is this new guy and why is he encroaching on Owen's territory?" I have to admit I was bummed at first, but quickly changed my tune (especially after seeing how Owen treated her). It's official. I love Adam Koepp. He may have stuck his foot in his mouth in the beginning, but he quickly redeemed himself. He was such a great guy and I was ready to knock some sense into Libby!

 

I'll be honest. Libby drove me pretty nuts in this book. But she was so relatable at the same time. She has always struggled with her insecurities, so when sexy, basketball playing Owen Jackson takes an interest in her, I can't really blame her for becoming addicted to him. I hate that it ended up bringing the people she cares about pain because of how much she let him change her, but at the same time- I got it. She doesn't have much self-worth and so Owen's interest in her gives her some validation, which she desperately craves. However, her obsession with Owen is unhealthy and it's unfair to her. Owen isn't interested in a relationship with her. He makes her feel like crap because he won't go out in public with her in front of their friends, he won't meet her parents, etc. He uses her for sex and that killed me because she deserved so much more. After blowing off an important science event, her friends decide to stage an intervention, which is where Adam comes in. Avery asks him to be Libby's sponsor, as Adam knows his fair share about addiction and how detrimental it can be.

 

Adam and Libby do not get off on the best foot though, as he catches her and Owen in a very compromising position at his workplace (where Avery also works). He says some things he can't take back, but the truth of the matter is Adam has always liked Libby and he hates how much she's changed. Libby has never really noticed the sexy, tatted up barista before, but he definitely has her attention now. Adam was just an all-around good guy. He has his work cut out for him because he has to try and keep his emotions in check while being with her. He is supposed to be her sponsor but sometimes it's hard to keep his feelings for her out of the mix.

 

Libby has to WANT to change though and it definitely takes some soul searching on her own part before it happens. I liked seeing her get to that point because it's so important for her to own who she is and not give a crap what others think about her. Oram handled that so incredibly well and it made the ending so much sweeter because Libby really comes full circle.

 

It was great to see Avery and Grayson again, as they are precious together. I also really enjoyed how much of a presence Libby's parents had, as well as Adam's younger sister, Kate. This was just such a good read with memorable characters and a slow burn romance that will make your heart skip a beat because of how genuine it is. I am so glad we ended up getting Libby's story!

 

 

 

by: Kelly Oram

 

Music says so much about a person. Or, in this case, a book. I generally have a soundtrack or playlist for all of my books that I will listen to over and over again as I work on a project. I need quiet when I'm doing the actual writing part, but I still wear my playlists out all other hours of the day.

 

It's usually a combination of things that will draw a certain song to a book playlist—a sound, or a line of lyrics, or it reminds me of a certain scene or character. For my Libby Garrett Intervention soundtrack, it was definitely all about the Character.

 

Libby Garrett is a one-of-a-kind girl. Her personality is so big, that she tends to be a spotlight hog. It was no different when I put together my playlist for The Libby Garrett Intervention. The songs on this list don't so much remind me of the book as they just feel like Libby. That said, check it out and give it a listen. I guarantee you will come to understand Libby just a little bit better.

 

Here they are in my actual playlist order. Drumroll please...

 

I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You ...... Leon Haywood

It's a Beautiful Day ..... Michael Buble

Lets Get it On ..... Marvin Gaye

Burning Love ..... Elvis Presley

Take Me To Church ..... Hozier

Am I The Same Girl ..... Swing Out Sister & The Fall

Walking On Sunshine ..... Katerina & The Waves

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' ..... Nancy Sinatra

Barracuda ..... Heart

Dancing Queen ..... ABBA

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) ..... Michael Jackson

Wicked Game ..... Chris Issac

I'm Every Woman ..... Whitney Houston

I Will Survive ..... Gloria Gaynor

Respect ..... Aretha Franklin

 

 

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Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children.

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The Avery Shaw Experiment
     by: Kelly Oram

Publication Date: May 4, 2013
Publisher: Bluefields
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Purchased for Nook
Page Count: 278 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

 

 

Hello cutest book ever. I never ever wanted you to end! It's books like these that completely rejuvenate my reading soul. Seriously though. I read this book from start to finish with the biggest grin on my face. It's THAT cute! AND it's dual POV! *cue flailing*

 

How would I describe Avery Shaw in one word? Adorkable. She loves science and learning, but that doesn't make her a total nerd. She does not run with the popular crowds and is not considered drop dead gorgeous. Instead, she has this cuteness and sweetness about her. She's a bit shy and is a little socially awkward. She doesn't do well with change and she has been best friends with Aiden Kennedy since birth. The two have always been inseparable- doing everything together. Her and her mom are very close with the Kennedy family, so when Aiden drops the bomb that he needs some space from her on New Years Eve, she is wrecked. Not only is her best friend saying this, but the guy she has secretly hoped would confess he has more than friendly feelings for her.

 

Of all the people to run to, Grayson Kennedy, Aiden's older brother, is the last person whose arms she should seek comfort in. Everyone knows Grayson Kennedy's name. He's popular, good-looking, athletic, and a bona-fide womanizer. Don't let that fool you though. Deep down, Grayson is a GOOD guy. He hates seeing Avery hurting, so he does whatever he can to cheer her up and try to get her mind off his brother. He never expected to actually fall for the sweet, shy, science geek and he certainly never expected to help Avery with her science fair project. However, her project is one that intrigues him and one he thinks he could be extremely helpful with.

 

I loved watching Grayson help Avery navigate the seven stages of grief. He does so much more for her than just help her with a project. He helps her with her social anxiety, become more confident as a person, and makes her feel special and wanted. People might think there's a love triangle at work here, but honestly? There's no doubt in anyone's mind who the best choice for Avery is.

 

I thought Aiden was a coward. He really treated Avery poorly after so many years of doing everything together. He didn't have to reciprocate her feelings, but to let himself hurt her the way he did was really not fair. I get that he was under the influence of one Mindy Perez, but still. Man up Aiden! His character is not beyond redemption though. However, his and Avery's friendship will never be as it once was after everything they've gone through.

 

Grayson and Avery's friends were great in this book. I like the blurring of the social lines and seeing the jocks hang out with the nerds. Owen and Libby were hilarious together and really provided some great comedic moments.

 

If you're looking for a light, fun read, I highly suggest this book. You will fall in love with Avery and Grayson's characters, and be rooting for them to get together sooner rather than later. I love how sweet Grayson is and how he really likes her who she is, nerd and all.