That Time the Publisher's Weekly People Said Really Great Things About "Friended"...

First things first: Friended is highly unlikely to win the Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction, even though I entered it this year. One thing I love about entering this award is that, win or not, the Publisher’s Weekly folks take the time to write a critical review! After the very odd situation I was in two years ago with the BookLife Prize and Snapdragon, I didn’t know what to expect from the process. But they reviewed Friended and I’m A-OK with the result.

Without additional preamble, I will sit back and eat popcorn while I reread—and let you read for the first time—the very kind things the Publisher’s Weekly BookLife people had to say about my book. Much kinder, actually, than the reviews I got on Snapdragon. If you haven’t read this wonderful gem of a book, what are you waiting for?

Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction Critical Review of Friended by Kilby Blades

Plot: Blades delivers a light, appealing story of unlikely romance and music. Te novel moves briskly and evenly, while maintaining romantic tension throughout.

Prose: This YA novel features clear, engaging first-person prose that allows readers full access to the emotional lives of the protagonists. The romance is sweetly developed and the integration of song lyrics further enlivens the writing.

Originality: While the romantic storyline has familiar elements, Blades's protagonists have particular chemistry. The novel's musical focus is similarly distinctive.

Character Development: Blades's protagonists are well established and charismatic; readers will easily relate to their contemporary predicaments and shared love of music. Roxy's complex relationship with her mother provides her with additional depth that is not always readily apparent in her interactions with her peers.