Unexpected Treasure- on day three of Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Ok, so I did day one, but didn't have a partner for day two....so here I am back on day three!  This was the easiest of all the posts, the question was:

We invite you to share with us a book or genre you tried due to the influence of another blogger. What made you cave in to try something new and what was the experience like?

Now I have two books that fall into the Unexpected Treasure category.  Book one, ironically, lead to book two and introduced me to an author I now truly admire.

As a relatively new book blogger I quickly realised that Presenting Lenore was my kind of girl (as mentioned Monday).  This was further solidified when I won a lovely little package from her including a signed copy of before i fall.
Now I had noticed it on the shelves, and I think I had even picked it up at some point, but I wasn't in any hurry to add it to the collection.  I really didn't know much about it, and there were so many books I was dying for it likely would have taken me months more to finally add it to a shopping trip.  Which would have been a disaster for three reasons.
1. Lauren Oliver rocks my world, that sounds tawdry but it's true.  Uber accessible, very talented writer who inspires me at least once a week to get involved in my promise to myself which is sit down and write already, lets see what comes of it! 
2. Along for the Ride.  I never would have ever picked this up in a million-trazillion years.  It's not my usual genre, it wasn't on my radar and it has a ridiculously cutesy looking cover. 
3.  Most importantly, it was way too awesome and thoughtful a book to be put off for any length of time, no matter what the reason.  Seriously.  before i fall made me think about the important little things, the ones you never appreciate, and at a time when I needed something to appreciate.

Which leads to the previously mentioned book 2.  Along for the Ride. 

By winning and falling for before i fall, I was spurred on to follow lovely Lauren's blog. Through which i came to win a summer read from her, Along for the Ride, during a great little summer read contest she had. 

Now I'm rude enough to admit that the cover is some kind of average girl repellent, which I can't even begin to guess why or how a publishing company would ever, ever, pick.  And I am just that vain folks, it is the biggest reason why I would never have picked up the book on my own.  Coupled with the fact it was a contemporary YA book (not my genre since I was 10, hello Sweet Valley High!), this book was the equivalent of dead to me until Lauren Oliver awarded it to me. 

Ok, so I respected her work enough to give the book a chance, though I was still hesitant (did i mention the cover is average girl repellent? The Barbie shade of pink alone, ugh!).  But once sunny hot day I cracked it open, and low and behold!  Turns out I loved it, loved the genre, loved the sweet summer escape it gave me!

So thank you Lauren and Lenore, you opened my eyes to two amazing books this year, books I was far from picking up myself!
For my reviews of these two wonders, see Along for the Ride and before i fall