Celebrating Dia De Los Muertos with Lauren Sabel!

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Happy Day of the Dead, y'all!

I'm so excited to be celebrating with the amazing Lauren Sabel! Keep scrolling for a review of Vivian Divine is Dead, an interview, and a giveaway!

Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary

[Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo]

Filled with surprising twists and poignant moments,
Lauren Sabel brings a fresh new voice to
contemporary fiction with Vivian Divine Is Dead. Creepy, clever, funny, and romantic.

When a death threat arrives with teen celebrity Vivian Divine's fan mail, Vivian has no choice but to go on the run to Mexico. She soon discovers, though, that her Oscar-nominated performance killing villains on-screen did nothing to prepare her for escaping a madman in real life. Some people say he's a hero, others tremble in his presence, but one thing is clear: he won't stop until Vivian is in his grasp. Why didn't she pay more attention during those judo lessons for her role in Zombie Killer?

Vivian finds an ally in the mysterious and charming Nick. He is everything Hollywood boys are not-genuine, kind, and determined to see Vivian for who she really is. But even he seems like he can't be trusted-what could he be hiding?

Beat up, hungry, and more confused than ever about who she's running from, Vivian is living in a real-life blockbuster horror flick. But there's no option to yell "cut" like there is on set....

Lauren Sabel's Vivian Divine Is Dead is a creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure about family, fame, and having the courage to save yourself.

   Talk about a book that makes you sit up and pay attention! Lauren Sabel was quick to capture my interest with this original tale. From the opening when we're introduced to the darker side of life in Hollywood, you're left with a lot of questions that you want answers to. The suspense in Vivian Divine is Dead kept me riveted and on the edge of my seat!

  Vivian was such a dynamic character! I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse into her life. It's not a life that many of have experience with, so it was intriguing to get a behind the scenes look. The one thing that made me really like Vivian was her honesty. Yes, she whined her fair share. But she wasn't afraid to admit and own it. I'll take that over the psuedo-badass main characters who whine and pretend to be something that they're not.

  All in all, I was enthralled with Vivian Divine is Dead. The ending was not what I had hoped for. I feel like there's so much more to the story. I didn't want to be finished with Vivian and Nick. (Speaking of Nick, you slayed me, Lauren. I need to know where he is!) My fingers are crossed that Lauren Sabel will be able to tell more of Vivian's story.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

1. Describe Vivian Divine is Dead in one word.
Alive.

2. We’re introduced to the very glitz and glam world of Hollywood in the beginning of Vivian Divine is Dead. What inspired you to write about a teen star?
I used to work for a film festival in New York, and I briefly took care of one of the child stars that came to the festival. I got to see up close how fame had stunted his young life. He did not act like a kid, but like a miniature adult. I was fascinated by his story, and I wondered what he thought of his young life as a movie star. I saw how everyone fawned over him, and I learned about many of the exciting things he got to participate in because of his fame, but I wondered what the drawbacks were to living his childhood in front of the camera. What was he afraid of? What was painful for him?

3. If you could have dinner with just one character from your book, who would you choose?
Nick. He’s sexy and compelling and completely delicious.

4. I have to know; did you know how Vivian Divine is Dead would end whenever you started writing it?
I didn’t. I started writing the book because I heard a character speak one line in my mind. She had a sassy, cryptic voice, and she said: “I have a secret. I know how I die.” I was fascinated by the girl behind that voice, and I spent several years trying to dig her story out of my mind. I never thought about the ending; I just took notes as she told me her story. Like a voyeur, I followed her wherever she went. When she climbed up that mountain in Mexico, I was surprised, and when she discovered the shocking truth about her history at the end, I was shocked by it too.

(*This is not necessarily the most efficient way to write a book, and I don’t suggest it; but it sure was fun.)

5. Without giving anything away, I have to ask. The cliffhanger was brutal, Lauren! Will you write about Vivian Divine again?
I would love to. Vivian is a character that is near and dear to my heart. She is so spoiled and yet she has this innocence to her that you wouldn’t expect. I also want to find Nick. He’s out there somewhere, and I don’t know where; it’s like he’s stuck in character limbo. However, I haven’t been offered a sequel yet, so I’m encouraging all of my readers to hashtag #VivianSequel or #helpsavenick or #letnicklive (a big thanks to the readers who started this movement!) in order to allow me to pull Nick out of limbo and reunite him with Vivian.

6. Tell us a random fact about yourself that we won’t expect!
I'm obsessed with rollarcoasters.

When I lived in Denver, I had an apartment a few blocks from an amusement park. Before I taught my afternoon English class at the local community college, I would go over to the amusement park and ride all five rollarcoasters.

Connect with Lauren Sabel:

[Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook]

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