A Country of Their Own by Hope Bolinger Blog Tour

About the Book

Book: A Country of Their Own

Author: Hope Bolinger

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 4, 2023

THE NOTEBOOK meets SEVENTEEN AGAIN

Priscilla is an old soul. Carter can’t wait to leave Florida, a haven for the elderly.

Together they’re forced to do community service at a retirement home. But all the residents look like teenagers. Are they meant to bring together the lovable residents Scarlett and Paul—who are actually 80 years old? Or is it too late for them to find love?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a very interesting novel woven around the theme of giving value and quality time to the elderly and marginalized. It is sort of a combination romance and fantasy. It deals with a number of issues including second chances for true love, letting go of past mistakes, inter-generational relationships, thinking young even though in an old body, activities in assisted living facilities, and much more.

Bolinger's writing style was different than I am used to. The text often contained incomplete sentences (“Weird flex.”). Dialogue was often in fragments. Actions were often overly described (“She triangled her elbow on her hip...”). I have no idea what “purpling” is, the deed for which Carter got into trouble, mixing pink and blue in the parking lot. I guess it means an immoral act but that whole thing was confusing to this septuagenarian. In that respect, perhaps Bolinger's writing style would be better understood and appreciated by youth.

Writing style aside, this novel has a good message to young and old alike. It starts out a little rough with Carter's hangover and Priscilla's grandfather trying to get her to drink alcohol, though she is underage. A ways into the story, however, behavior settles down and the novel's message begins to take form. The second half of the novel forms a tender story definitely worth reading.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Hope Bolinger is a Managing & Acquisitions Editor at End Game Press and the Founder of Generation Hope Books.

More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids to HOOKED to Crosswalk.com.

She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams.

Twenty-one of her books are under contract or out now with traditional publishers, and she hopes more of her stories will find a home soon. She has also contributed to twelve other books.

More from Hope

Can you write a book based on a photo series.

I did. I stumbled across this photo series in my college days and it never let me go: https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/reflections-of-the-past-tom-hussey/

It made me think about how all people, young and old, are young at heart and wise beyond their years. In the publishing industry, I have experienced a great deal of ageism. You can seldom go to a conference without someone telling you something along the lines of, “Wow. I had no idea that you were so wise. I assumed because you are young that you know nothing.”

And I know that many of my fellow writers who are older have experienced ageism to the same degrees.

So I wanted to write a book that would level the playing field.

I wanted to have two teen main characters who end up good friends with two characters who are well into their 80s—who simply look like teens thanks to the funhouse mirror effects of Country Acres (a retirement home in which the 80-year-old characters are residents).

What made the book hit even closer to home was that I wrote it right after my grandma passed away—and right as the COVID shutdown took effect in 2020.

Grandma had played a huge role in my writing. She and I read my first book together. She owned a bookstore in which, when I was eight, I helped her to run the cash register. And she always supported me in my publishing dreams.

I am sad that she and Grandpa passed long before they could read this. But this book also encapsulates them. That my grandma tap danced well into her eighties, and that my grandpa would ride the waves on a boogie board.

We’re all young, we’re all wise … let’s listen to one another.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 7

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, April 8

Texas Book-aholic, April 9

Guild Master, April 10 (Author Interview)

Library Lady's Kid Lit, April 11

Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, April 12

Artistic Nobody, April 13 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 15

For the Love of Literature, April 16 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 17

Holly's Book Corner, April 18

Beauty in the Binding, April 19 (Author Interview)

Deb's Book Review, April 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Hope is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25497/a-country-of-their-own-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)