Grenade Bouquets (Runaway Train, Book 2)
by Lee Matthew Goldberg
Publisher: Wise Wolf Books (August 5, 2021)
Series: Runaway Train, Book 2
Category: Young Adult, Runaways, Outcasts, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Depression, Mental Illness
Tour dates: August31-September 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1953944078
Available in Print and ebook, 286 pages
Description Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg
I had stars in my eyes and I couldn't see around them...
The year is 1995 and my parents have finally allowed me to take the summer to tour in a VW van across the country with my boyfriend Evan and our band. Yes, my dream to be a singer became reality. Even with Clarissa, Evan's jealous ex-girlfriend, as the lead singer, it's my presence on stage that led us to a major record deal. There are moments you'll always remember in life, but I can't imagine anything more cool than hearing your song on the radio for the first time.
But being a Rockstar isn't as easy as it sounds. Using alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, nothing but tension surrounded me, hurting my still blossoming relationship, and continued grieving over my sister's death.
A love letter to the nineties and a journey of a girl becoming a woman, Grenade Bouquets charts the rollercoaster ride of a band primed to explode on the scene, as long as they keep from actually exploding.
Guest Review
Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg
Guest Review by Suzie M.
A rock and roll coming of age story for
anyone that misses the 90's-- 'Grenade Bouquets' is the second installment in
the 'Runaway Train' series by the author Lee Matthew Goldberg.
Although this is the second book in this young
adult series, Goldberg catches the reader up very quickly. Basically, the
series revolves around Nico, a teenage girl who has had a rough few years in
her life.
After losing her sister and running away
from home in the first book, Nico has been trying to earn her parents trust
again. And she must have been successful, because both parents agree to let her
go on tour with her band, the Grenade Bouquets, around the country.
Promising to call home from every city
that they stop in, Nico takes off, first to Las Vegas, performing as a back up
singer with the band. However, things begin to get tense as the lead singer,
Clarissa, realizes that Nico is garnering more attention than her.
On her own, and without the support of her
friends back home who are slowly beginning to pull away from her, Nico must
find a way to resist the darker temptations of fame and secure her relationship
with her boyfriend, Evan.
This story is a whirlwind of heartbreak
and triumph. I felt so strongly for Nico as she struggled with the demands of
young adulthood during such a crazy time in her life. Her fracturing
relationship with her best friend, Winter and having to defend herself against
Clarissa's little attacks were particularly relatable.
Goldberg writes from the perspective of a
teenage girl in the 90's in such a realistic way. I loved all of the chapters
being named after classic grunge and rock songs from the 90's and loved all of
the references that were peppered throughout the book. 'Grenade Bouquets' is a one-of-a-kind
story all around!
Praise Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg
"An engaging '90s pastiche with an earnest heart beating at its center."-
Kirkus Reviews
"Runaway Train is a high-energy testimonial to the redemptive power of a road trip with an awesome soundtrack. Lee Matthew Goldberg balances the urgency of youth with a whiff of anticipatory nostalgia for the music and misadventures of late adolescence. Attuned to way distinctions between music genres and teen idols can feel like impermeable walls worth defending, and then crumble as a teen like Nico Sullivan finds her own voice."- Jenn Stroud Rossman, author of The Place You're Supposed to Laugh
"Raw. Riveting. Runaway Train stays true to its title as it explores the deep pain of a teenager desperately trying to find peace in a world full of pain. Lee Matthew Goldberg is a master at bestowing sympathy and strength on deeply flawed characters. Realistic and shocking, hopeful and satisfying, Runaway Train will keep readers turning the page."- USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Forster
"It's an incredibly challenging task for an author to utilize a darkly comedic tone without coming across as disingenuous--but Goldberg executes it here with expert precision. Brimming over with the visceral atmosphere of the early 90s grunge era, RUNAWAY TRAIN is a must-read for those willing to buckle up for the ride."-Peter Malone Elliott (Director of Operations, Book Pipeline)
About Lee Matthew Goldberg
Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of seven novels including THE ANCESTOR and THE MENTOR, currently in development as a film off his original script, and the YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the Prix du Polar. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, Hypertext, If My Book, Past Ten, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press and others.
His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.
Buy Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg
Giveaway Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg
This giveaway is for 3 print or eBook copies, 1 each per winner. Print is open to the U.S. only, eBook is open worldwide. This giveaway ends on September 25, 2021,midnight pacific time.
Thanks so much for hosting!
ReplyDelete