What is When I First Saw You?
When I First Saw You, or WIFSY for short, is a monthly meme here on Sailing Through Books that consists of sharing a first impressions of a book in the form of a synopsis, so basically judging a book by it's cover yes. Though I started this meme alone, I now have the lovely Izel, from A Bookish Flower, as my partner in crime.
How does it work?
Every month, a set of four (4) covers is chosen. The goal is to write a synopsis for the book that inspires you the most with the cover and title as your only guide. Then, you compare it to the real synopsis and laugh at how off you were or congratulate yourself on your amazing deduction skills!
WIFSY happens on the second Thursday of each month and there is a link-up in every post for you to share your made-up synopsis.
Did you know that a baby spider is called a spiderling?
Hello cupcakes!
I am back today with the 25th edition, but also the 1rst edition of the new version, of WIFSY! With this new and improved version, you get to pick one out of four covers! This week, the choices were:
Here's my pick for this month!
Title: The smaller evil
Author: Stephanie Kuehn
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Release date: August 2nd 2016
My made-up synopsis
For a long time, humans have been genetically modifying animals. At first, it was simply to make them better food. But slowly, it turned into a more complex experiment and suddenly, the world was left with animals which intelligence was superior to humans.
Now slaves to the beings that were once their's, humans have resigned to working as servants for the animals. That is, until someone has the "brilliant" idea to recreate the same experiment that was originally done on animals, on humans.
Soon, everyone will learn that nature was never meant to be tempered with. But is it too late to put everything back to the way it was?
A book about who's smarter than who, or rather, the stupidity of the human race...
The real deal
Sometimes the greater good requires the smaller evil.
17-year-old Arman Dukoff is struggling with severe anxiety and a history of self-loathing when he arrives at an expensive self-help retreat in the remote hills of Big Sur. He’s taken a huge risk—and two-thousand dollars from his meth-head stepfather—for a chance to "evolve," as Beau, the retreat leader, says.
Beau is complicated. A father figure? A cult leader? A con man? Arman's not sure, but more than anyone he's ever met, Beau makes Arman feel something other than what he usually feels—worthless.
The retreat compound is secluded in coastal California mountains among towering redwoods, and when the iron gates close behind him, Arman believes for a moment that he can get better. But the program is a blur of jargon, bizarre rituals, and incomprehensible encounters with a beautiful girl. Arman is certain he's failing everything. But Beau disagrees; he thinks Arman has a bright future—though he never says at what.
And then, in an instant Arman can't believe or totally recall, Beau is gone. Suicide? Or murder? Arman was the only witness and now the compound is getting tense. And maybe dangerous.
As the mysteries and paradoxes multiply and the hints become accusations, Arman must rely on the person he's always trusted the least: himself.
Verdict
Beau is complicated. A father figure? A cult leader? A con man? Arman's not sure, but more than anyone he's ever met, Beau makes Arman feel something other than what he usually feels—worthless.
The retreat compound is secluded in coastal California mountains among towering redwoods, and when the iron gates close behind him, Arman believes for a moment that he can get better. But the program is a blur of jargon, bizarre rituals, and incomprehensible encounters with a beautiful girl. Arman is certain he's failing everything. But Beau disagrees; he thinks Arman has a bright future—though he never says at what.
And then, in an instant Arman can't believe or totally recall, Beau is gone. Suicide? Or murder? Arman was the only witness and now the compound is getting tense. And maybe dangerous.
As the mysteries and paradoxes multiply and the hints become accusations, Arman must rely on the person he's always trusted the least: himself.
Verdict
I was SO sure that this book was going to be about insects or something like that! I can't believe I was so off! I had this idea about humans messing with nature and animals taking over and turns out the real synopsis is about a teenage boy suffering from anxiety. Could I have been more wrong? I think not.
The real book sounds flipping amazing though! I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the info we get in this synopsis, but I'm totally adding this book to my to-read list! I was not expecting a story like this, but it sounds mysterious, and funny, and there's a bit of romance and the MC is dealing my mental illness... Basically, all of the qualities I look for in a book!
Giveaway
Izel and I host seasonal giveaway and since June 21st is coming up, here's our summer giveaway!
Enter to win one (1) of the four (4) books that were featured in this month's WIFSY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The rules:
- The smaller eveil, by Stephanine Kuehn
- Allt he feels, by Danika Stone
- All we have left, by Wendy Mills
- The bad decisions playlist, by Michael Rubens
a Rafflecopter giveaway
- Participant must be 13+ or have a parent/guardian's permession.
- Open INTL if The Book Depositary ships to you
- We are not responsible for lost package
Next month's covers:
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| July 14th |
Have a great day guys!
Sophie
