The Year of Luminous Love

by Lurlene McDaniel

Overview

For fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, this inspirational novel is set in Tennessee horse country, as well as the historic cities and picturesque countryside of Italy. As the story unfolds, three girls, recently graduated from high school, plan the next phase of their lives while dealing with complicated issues. Author Lurlene McDaniel subtly explores the many types of love—including love for one's family and friends, and intimate love—and the sacrifices the girls face.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385741712
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/14/2013
Series:	Luminous Love
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Lexile:	HL700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

LURLENE MCDANIEL began writing inspirational novels about teenagers facing life-altering situations when her son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Her novels are hard-hitting and realistic, but also leave readers with inspiration and hope. Her books have received acclaim from readers, teachers, parents, and reviewers. Her bestselling novels include Don't Die, My Love; Till Death Do Us Part; Hit and Run; Telling Christina Goodbye; True Love: Three Novels; and The End of Forever.

Editorial Reviews

McDaniel's (Red Heart Tattoo) latest drama centers on the tumultuous lives of three best friends during the summer after their high school graduation. Ciana is contending with an alcoholic mother and trying to take care of her family farm. Arie has been fighting cancer (and a smothering family) for years. And Eden is weighed down by her possessive drug-dealer boyfriend, her impulses to harm herself, and a mother with bipolar disorder. When Ciana's grandmother leaves her a large college fund, Ciana invites her friends to leave their small Tennessee town to vacation at a villa in Tuscany. There, they discover that some relationships and realities will follow them anywhere, including a romantic conflict between two of the girls. In Tuscany and Rome, the girls encounter worldly men, explore historical sights, and reassess their priorities. The emotional chemistry between the friends can be slight at times, but the story's themes of escape, freedom, horse riding, and finding love should have a strong pull for romance fans. Ages 12–up. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Seventeen.com, April 10, 2013:
"The Year Of Luminous Love will definitely tug at your heart strings, and will make you so grateful for your friends....If you've ever wanted to start a book club with your friends, this is the read to go for! You'll love it if you're a fan of Eat, Pray, Love. You'll devour this pick!"

Romantic Times Book Review, April 2013:
"The Year of Luminous Love expertly pulls at readers' heartstrings and wrings emotion. Vintage McDaniel!"

Publishers Weekly, April 29, 2013:
"In Tuscany and Rome, the girls encounter worldly men, explore historical sights, and reassess their priorities...The story's themes of escape, freedom, horse riding, and finding love should have a strong pull for romance fans."

Booklist, May 1, 2013:
"McDaniel’s breathless saga takes readers from picturesque Tennessee horse country to sun-washed Tuscan vineyards, all the while establishing characters worth caring about. McDaniel fans won’t want to miss this age-appropriate Eat, Pray, Love—well, it has the eating and the love at least—and they’ll eagerly await the follow-up, The Year of Chasing Dreams."

School Library Journal, May 2013:
"Will tempt teens seeking a dramatic summer read."

From the Publisher

Gr 8 Up—While this novel lacks substance and the characters are stereotypical, readers who clamor for pure escapist chick lit might like it. The plot centers on the friendship and growing pains of three friends in Tennessee trying to figure out what to do with their lives after high school. Ciana's once-prominent family now has little money since her father and grandfather died in a plane crash. Her grandmother is near death and her mother is an alcoholic, so Ciana runs the family's massive property. Arie has a huge family and no money, and has been battling cancer off and on since she was five years old. Eden's mother is bipolar and left Eden to raise herself through much of her formative years. Eden is attached to Tony, who is a drug lord and very controlling. Arie is infatuated with Jon Mercer, a horse trainer, but Ciana met him and the two became attached before Ciana knew about Arie's crush. Instead of starting college in the fall, Ciana decides to take her friends to Italy for three months to help Eden escape Tony and give Arie her dream of travel and art. This slight, accessible story will tempt teens seeking a dramatic summer read.—Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA

School Library Journal

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