32 Comments
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Maggie North's avatar

“…he kept his wants and needs small enough that they didn’t take up too much room.” OH I can already feel the wreckage and it’s going to be so sweeeeet

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

oooof it really is!

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Sarah Zachrich Jeng's avatar

That line got me too!

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Stephanie M's avatar

I haven’t heard “Ants Marching” in FOREVER and your sheer mention of it always has me mentally hearing the first 10 seconds of it. 😅

Took weeks can’t come soon enough!

Also putting my guesses for the tv shows mentioned in chapter one.

- “Supernatural”

- “One Tree Hill”

- “The OC” although they weren’t brothers, the dad with the eyebrows steered me in that direction.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

you nailed it!

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Lauren Kung Jessen's avatar

Alicia, thank you so much!! What a delight it is for YYLS to get a shout-out here 💚

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I loved it so much!

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Julie Tieu's avatar

I love this first chapter. It set up the book so well and we really get to know John through this scene. Love this book so much

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Thank you, Julie!! That means a lot.

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Sarah Zachrich Jeng's avatar

Can’t wait for this book! I love that you started with John’s POV (since readers of COLD WORLD will be familiar with him, and we already know he’s full of angst and longing). And best of luck on your aspiring Telecaster brand ambassador journey 😁

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

FULL of angst and longing!! the way I'm angsting and longing to become a Squier Tele brand ambassador lol

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cara carmichael's avatar

so excited for this book!! it's gonna be the first romance i read where the MMC has the same name as my husband 🥰 (seriously, john is so common in real life but authors stray very far from the name)

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Ha -- I will say, I chose his name when he was a side character and so didn't know for sure I'd ever write his book! It teaches you to be careful when naming side characters . . . but it all worked out because I actually love the name John and it fits him very well.

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Kelly's avatar

Oh no I think I'm in love with him already??????

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I am SO in love with him tbh

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Liesl's avatar

Today is my birthday and this excerpt served as an excellent inadvertent gift. I'm so excited to read the rest! And a reference to The OC, one of my very favorite guilty pleasures? Oh, my heart!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Happy (now belated) birthday!!

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Gina Banks's avatar

THIS OPENING. uuuugghhhh I want to read the whole book so so badly. I'm going to be blocking off my calendar as soon as my pre-order arrives.

Also, I love that you will find any excuse to brag about your (seriously impressive) typing skills. I'm over here, having never mastered Mavis Beacon and having to muddle through.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

lol do you remember when Anne Frank is like "Mrs. Van Daan just won't stop showing off her legs and bragging about them all the time" well that's me with my typing

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Gina Banks's avatar

LOL never change, Alicia

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Mara Williams's avatar

I cannot wait for this book!

I’ve also spent a lot of time in music stores like this. My brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and stepson are all guitarists. Every birthday, I wander in to seek help from some patient employee to help me choose strings, picks, and pedals. Proximity to music has not made me less clueless. But I felt the scene here. The perfect acoustics of a music store. The colors and scents. I’m so ready for this book.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

They really do have a certain vibe! And thank you, Mara :)

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Julie Cook's avatar

The joy of recognizing Sandy Cohen! You pulled me right in! Now I have to go listen to Nada Surf for the next eight hours.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

oh no what a hardship :)

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Janelle's avatar

Every time Johnny Boy comes up on shuffle I am tempted to skip but then I remember it's a banger so I feel you and am so excited to revisit it *on purpose* when reading Never Been Shipped!! :)

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

it *is* a banger!!! it deserves to be revisited on purpose :)

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Regina Black's avatar

Remember when I told you I really love your MMCs? This opening with John is exhibit A of why I fall for them so quickly.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I so appreciate that from you because I fALWAYS fall for your MMCs!

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Cath's avatar

My family all love American Ninja Warrior, to the point where they have favorite competitors. I...am also there watching it, lol. It's all upper body and grip strength! No wonder women hardly ever finish, when the spider climb assumes everyone is a thousand feet tall! That's obviously the only thing holding me back from winning, not my fondness for sitting.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

we comment on the gender disparities, too!

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Bo Frazer's avatar

So that's TWO of my go-to authors mentioning telecasters two days in a row! In Carl Hiaasen's latest, there's a scene in which rednecks rush the stage at a Key West drag show, and justifiably get their asses kicked. One of the queens later says

“What would Keith Richards do? A telecaster to the balls, that’s what!” 😱😂

https://youtu.be/caomi015PXk?si=CfKUBeUaF-rtZf9K

I can't explain how personal it feels that you guys both specifically used the tele as the ax in question. I have a pantload of instruments here in my music room, several of which I use on paid gigs (I specialize in pedal steel and fiddle), but I only have the one actual electric guitar, a G&L ASAT tele with a b-bender. I feel seen!

Can't wait until I get my email from Libro.fm that my pre-order is ready <3

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

me and Carl!

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