Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel (Playlist and Giveaway)

Hey everyone! A blessed Sunday to all!

Today for Celebrating Debutantes 2017, I am featuring new author Julie Israel and her debut contemporary novel, Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index.

Julie was so nice as to put together a playlist to help us get in the right mood for this new contemporary novel Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index. She explains each songs below with specific scenes that occur in the book. It is like a soundtrack for the novel. I actually just started reading the book, and I can easily picture some of the songs in the background. I’m only few chapters in but I can already say that this is a fun read. I’ll let you know my whole thoughts once I’m done reading.

In the meantime, listen to the playlist below and experience the feel of the story through each songs.

Following the playlist are some information about the author, Julie Israel along with places where to find her online, as well as the book‘s description and where to get copies of Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index. So don’t forget to grab your copies.

Also, there’s a giveaway at the bottom of the post for a chance to win a copy of Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index and signed bookmarks from the author.

Here’s Julie with Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index Playlist. Happy listening!

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index Playlist

“The Winner Is” by DeVotchKa

Opening scene. Juniper is numb, forever changed, but life marches on with a new school year.

“Hang Me Up To Dry” by Cold War Kids
There is a particularly destructive scene after school early on and I wanted a song that sounded like losing control/breaking things—“the muck and the mire” is just right, because Juniper is up to her elbows in wet clay!

“Without You” by Oh Wonder
At Pippa’s, a local café, Juniper remembers something she and Camilla left on the bulletin board and finds it buried under layers of fliers. It’s a fond memory, but Juniper hates the hole it makes when she takes it, so she leaves a Dala horse (which reminds her of her sister) in its place.

“Bicycle Race” by Queen
When Juniper confesses that she doesn’t remember the whole night of the accident, Brand fills her in on what happened at the party they both attended beforehand, and where the two had an epic musical battle to this Queen hit.

“Ways To Go” by Grouplove
Is setting up squads a thing? Juniper and Kody wander through a da Vinci exhibit, Juniper ebulliently trying out every contraption and marveling at each piece as she secretly stalls and looks around for a classmate—a loner she hopes to pull into their friendship fold.

“Secrets” by One Republic
This may or may not be a kissing song (it may). In the minutes leading up to midnight on New Years Eve, Brand and Juniper are talking. Things get real and vulnerable between them just before the (actual and figurative) fireworks. :39 seconds, baby.

“Knee Socks” by Arctic Monkeys
Brand kidnaps Juniper (i.e., shows up at her house unannounced and introduces himself to her parents) for a date, and then on said date, where his band is opening for an event, attempts to seduce her with music – a song much like this one. It works.

“400 Lux” by Lorde
Brand + Juniper have become BRUNIPER and have a happy, if thus far private, relationship. When he visits her up in the art loft, Juniper invites Brand to be her public +1 for a scavenger hunt that weekend.

“You Could Be Happy” by Snow Patrol
Kody tries to cheer Juniper up and encourages her to reach out to Brand after a fight with him.

“No. 1 Party Anthem” by Arctic Monkeys
Brand and the rest of Muffin Wars are playing a slow song like this when Juniper slips quietly in to the school dance to finally talk to him.

“Love Illumination” by Franz Ferdinand
I always imagined the Muffin Wars rendition of Sponge’s poem, “Crush,” to be upbeat and sexy like this. When they play it at the Shaker, it’s Brand’s revenge for a misunderstanding and ruins Juniper – but damn if it isn’t catchy until it all goes sideways.

“The Funeral” by Band of Horses
Lost and alone, Juniper visits her sister’s grave.

“So Here We Are” by Bloc Party
Juniper and Brand make up. Brand inadvertently gives Juniper the solution she needs to deliver the letter to You, and we transition to J rallying the troops to work on it. As the song fades out, Kody arrives for a heart to heart after their falling out at the Shaker.

“Float On” by Modest Mouse
After executing her special project, Juniper appears to be in serious trouble with the school principal – but Juni’s mom, having just read 65, laugh-cries off Juniper’s offense and throws her arms around her daughter’s neck. Juniper laugh-cries and hugs back.

“The Universe Expanded” by Franz Ferdinand
This song has been the outro/roll credits in my mind since the first time I heard it (really heard it) after finishing the book. The sorrow-touched sweetness is just right for the final scene in Juniper at the beach, and way the lyrics line up to it is UNCANNY. If you only listen one song from the playlist, let it be this!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Israel lives in Portland, Oregon and holds a B.A. in Creative Writing. After a stint teaching English in Japan, she returned to her native state to write fiction full-time. When not writing, she is likely reading, making art, or learning one of too many languages to keep straight. Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is her first novel.

Find Julie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

---

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book Details:

Title: Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index
Author: Julie Israel
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audio

It’s been sixty-five days since the accident that killed Juniper’s sister, and ripped Juniper’s world apart.

Then she finds the love letter: written by Camilla on the day of the accident, addressed mysteriously to “You,” but never sent. Desperate to learn You’s identity and deliver the message, Juniper starts to investigate.

Until she loses something. A card from her Happiness Index: a ritual started by sunny Camie for logging positives each day. It’s what’s been holding Juniper together since her death – but a lost card only widens the hole she left behind. And this particular card contains Juniper’s own dark secret: a memory she can’t let anyone else find out.

The search for You and her card take Juniper to even less expected places, and as she connects with those whose secrets she upturns in the effort, she may just find the means to make peace with her own.

This is a smart, funny, poignant book guaranteed to make you laugh and cry – and maybe even take notes.

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | BookDepo | Goodreads | IndieBound | Publisher

Giveaway:

What’s up for Grab?

• Either US or UK Edition of Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel
  
• Signed Juniper Postcards
  

The Rules:

• Open to International where Book Depository ships
• There will be one (1) lucky winner
• Winner will be chosen and announced by rafflecopter
• Winner will be contacted thru email & should response within 48 hours
• Ends July 2nd, 2017
• Prizes will be sent by the author

To enter fill out the rafflecopter form

Good Luck!!!

Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2017 experience. Click the image below for the full list of schedule and links to each feature post or check out twitter and facebook using #CelebratingDebutantes2017.