Happy Monday! Today I have a review and giveaway of The Martin Chronicles, now available from Grand Central Publishing, so please make sure to read all the way to the bottom to check it all out! P.S. I’ve been without home internet all weekend. Wow, does that ever mess with blogging plans!
My Thoughts:
A coming-of-age novel always gives me a sense of nostalgia, especially when set in a time period of which I’m familiar. The Martin Chronicles is set in 1980s New York.
Martin “Marty” Kelso is eleven years old, and life is changing quickly. He feels differently about girls, is confused by them, and he’s no longer sure how to act.
Times are different with his friends, too. Playing cops and robbers is losing its appeal, and one day, on their walk to school, he’s in a group of children who are attacked.
Marty is forced to grow up and feel more prepared for the real world. And while the world is opening up and becoming more enticing, it’s also scary as heck.
Following Marty from ages eleven to seventeen, we experience his firsts right along with him, and relive our own firsts. That nostalgia brings emotions, and I found The Martin Chronicles poignant, funny, and honest. I never tire of these types of stories because there’s always something to relate to.
Fried writes in a subtle and engaging style that added to the simple profundity. Each chapter has the feel of its own story, but each is a building block in Marty’s road to adulthood.
Overall, I found The Martin Chronicles memorable and relatable with a heart of gold.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A powerful and heartfelt novel that follows one boy as he grows up in 1980s Manhattan, bringing the magic of first experiences and the brutal truth of hard lessons to life on the page.
In sixth grade, eleven-year-old Martin Kelso’s world starts to change. Girls get under his skin in ways he never noticed before. Even his cousin Evie, who taught him the right way to eat pizza and how to catch tadpoles, has grown wild, unpredictable, and mysterious. Mugger was once just a game played by Marty and his friends, but now real muggers are targeting them on their way to school. Marty used to feel secure in his own skin; but as he grows up and life changes too quickly around him, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to choose right over wrong-or to even tell the difference between the two.
This moving debut perfectly captures the intense emotion, humor, and earnestness of young adulthood as Marty ages from eleven to seventeen and navigates a series of life-changing firsts: first kiss, first enemy, first loss, and ultimately, his first awareness that the world is not as simple or safe a place as he had once imagined.
*****Book Giveaway*****
Simple entry! For a chance to win a physical copy of The Martin Chronicles, please make sure you are following my blog and comment below! You must be a resident of the United States or Canada to enter, per the publisher. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for sponsoring the giveaway! The book will be mailed by the publisher to the randomly chosen winner. Good luck and thanks for entering!
I’m running two giveaways, and for a second chance to win the book, please visit my instagram page here (giveaway will be posted on Instagram later today): GIVEAWAY on Bookstagram (another chance to win!).
Have you read The Martin Chronicles, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
I want this book, loved your review you made me to grab this book.
I’m Indian I can’t enter the giveaway. 😦 😦 😦
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Aww, I’m sorry, Ashi, but thank you, and I hope you get a chance to read it! It’s a terrific story! ♥️
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Fab review!
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PS I’m from the UK so don’t add me to the giveaway!
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I have a giveaway that includes the UK and is for a histfic book coming up on Wednesday! YAY! ♥️
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Fantastic!
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Thanks, Nicki! ♥️
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Thank you Jennifer. I am starting a 2019 tbr list. Happy New Year.
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Thank you, Brigid! Happy New Year, my friend! 🌸
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This sounds like an interesting coming of age story and the setting just makes it more intriguing (early 1980s NY was not safe). Thanks for a lovely review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Jonetta! I’ve heard that, and it was sad that these children couldn’t walk to school safely. I enjoyed this one and gave it a hug at the end! ♥️
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I’m intrigued 🤔
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It’s a lovely story, Jaymi! I’m so grateful I read it!
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I didn’t realize you were a former New Yorker. My children all grew up in this time period. It seemed to be a simpler time than today. Lovely review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Marialyce! I didn’t word that the best- not a New Yorker, but familiar with the 80s. Loved the 80s! It was a simpler time, but not necessarily a safe one, at least where this character was living in Manhattan.
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An enjoyable review about a difficult time in any person’s life – I love that cover, Jennifer:)
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Thanks, Sarah! Yes, it really could be anyone’s story! The cover is quite charming.
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Lovely review for a lovely book! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Norrie! ♥️
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Another great review Jennifer!! I love coming of age books as well!
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Thanks so much, Heather! I think you’d find so much to love here! ♥️
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Wonderful review Jen! 1980s New York would have been an interesting time for a young boy to grow up and navigate his way through his through that time.
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Thank you, Rose! Absolutely! The time and setting added so much to this story.
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You’re welcome.😊
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I would love to read this! Thank you for the chance! 🍀📚😃
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Yay, Christina! Thanks for entering! ♥️
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Great review
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Thank you, Priyasha! ♥️
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You know it’s the right book when you can relate. Nostalgia is another hint.
Great review.
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Thanks, Jina! I agree- those two elements really connect you to the book!
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Wonderful review Jennifer – this one sounds endearing!
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Thank you, Mackey! It definitely is an endearing read!
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Great review and beautiful picture. It sounds like a fun read. I added it to my tbr list. Happy Monday. ♥️📚🌹
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Thank you, Virginia. I had so much fun with this one. ♥️ Happy Monday to you too!
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Good review, sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Thanks for the opportunity!
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Thank youa nd thank you for entering, David!
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Sounds like a good read, Jennifer! Wonderful review.
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Thanks, Chrissi! I enjoyed it so!
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! I had not heard of this one but I can definitely remember being a child in the 80s! I can’t imagine growing up in NYC. We visited there when I was 6 or 7, and wow, I was just overwhelmed, lol. Have a happy Monday! ♥
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Thanks, Steph! I was happy this one was shared with me because I ended up loving it. It would be a busy place to grow up but so many fun learning opportunities! I hope you had a great Monday! ♥️
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You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It definitely would! I did and hope you did too! 🙂
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This sounds like such a great read, and I can never resist books set in the 1980s so this one is going on my list! Wonderful review 🙂
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Thank you, Hayley! The 80s is such a good time to set a book- so many fun pop culture references!
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Wonderful review Jen! This sounds like something I would devour especially as I was living across the river fom NYC at the time! You were quiet this weekend and then I saw your internet was down. Ugh!! Hope it’s back to normal now!
Have an awesome night and a gorgeous Tuesday!😊💜
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Thanks, Sus! Gosh, it messes me up to be without internet. I feel like I’m two days behind on life. 😂 What did I do before I had internet? This was such an endearing read. I think you might like the bits about the city and the time period too. Internet is back to normal now, but now I’m scared it will happen again! And they did credit me for the missing time! Happy week ahead, my friend! 💗
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Lovely review. I need to read about Marty. This sounds like an emotional coming of age story. Glad you loved it.
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Thank you, Diana! It was emotional and Marty is a wonderful character!
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This sounds wonderful! I must enter. Thanks for offering the giveaway, Jen! ♥️ xoxo
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Thanks for entering, M! It’s such a good read! ♥️
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Reading this review alone made me feel a sense of nostalgia and longing for that time in my life where I was really growing into young adulthood. This sounds like a fantastic read and if the giveaway is open still, then I’d love to be entered! 💜
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You are entered, LP! Thank you! Yes, that sense of nostalgia is present in this book, and it’s honest and relatable. I hope you enjoy this one if you get a chance to read it some time.
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Lovely review Jenni, looks like such a touching read! 😍
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Thanks, Beth! It was lovely! ♥️
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