If I Fix You by Abigail Johnson (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Published by Harlequin on November 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Emotions & Feelings, Family, Friendship, Parents, Romance, Social Themes, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 304
When sixteen-year-old Jill Whitaker’s mom walks out—with a sticky note as a goodbye—only Jill knows the real reason she’s gone. But how can she tell her father? Jill can hardly believe the truth herself.
Suddenly, the girl who likes to fix things—cars, relationships, romances, people—is all broken up. Used to be, her best friend, tall, blond and hot flirt Sean Addison, could make her smile in seconds. But not anymore. They don’t even talk.
With nothing making sense, Jill tries to pick up the pieces of her life. But when a new guy moves in next door, intense, seriously cute, but with scars—on the inside and out—that he thinks don’t show, Jill finds herself trying to make things better for Daniel. But over one long, hot Arizona summer, she realizes she can’t fix anyone’s life until she fixes her own. And she knows just where to start . . .
Describe IF I FIX YOU in 5 words.
Arizona, broken boys, cars, kissing.
How did IF I FIX YOU come about, what was your inspiration? What made you think you had to write this story?
It started out with a scene in my head of a girl sitting on her roof at night talking to the boy next door. I started wondering why she wasn’t in her house at night and what they were talking about, and the whole book grew from there. I had to write this story because I fell in love with these characters and, at the time, I was the only one who knew they existed. I needed to find out what happened when she got off the roof J
What was the hardest scene for you to write in IF I FIX YOU and why?
Oh, man. There were a lot. I don’t know if it was the hardest scene to write because it just poured out of me, and the final version is nearly identical to my first draft version, but the scene where Jill sees her mom for the first time since she left was very emotional to write. My relationship with my own mom is the polar opposite so I really had to dig into a lot of intense and unfamiliar places to write it.
Can you share (without spoilers) a line or section of IF I FIX YOU that is your favorite?
Stretched out on my roof, I searched the sky for more stars when all too familiar sounds punctured the silence. For a moment I thought the fighting was coming from below me. I shot up like the shingles had shocked me, but the voices weren’t coming from my house.
It was so messed up that that realization disappointed me.
Since we’re talking 2016 books, what upcoming 2016 release (besides your own) are you most excited to read and fangirl over?
I’ve already gotten a sneak peek at a few, but for ones I haven’t read yet, I’m dying for THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon, HEARTLESS by Marissa Meyer, and FLASHFALL by Jenny Moyer.
People often say that you should write what you know, did you do that with this story?
Yes and no. I’ve lived in Arizona since I was twelve, so a lot of the locations and details about the setting are real or based on things I’ve done (my mom was slightly horrified when I told her that my sister and I used to go wall walking like Jill does in the book). But the characters and relationships are almost based on the opposite my life. My parents are still happily married and the issues of parental abandonment and abuse explored in If I Fix You were drawn from second hands sources. I also, sadly didn’t know a Sean or Daniel in real life J
When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
What do you mean when I’m not writing? I read all the time. I also enjoy messing around with graphics and web design, playing video games, and buying way too much makeup.
What are you currently reading?
SLEEPING GIANTS by Sylvain Neuvel. I heard it was chock full of sciency goodness like THE MARTIAN. Plus it has giant, possibly alien, artifacts in it. I’ve only just started it, but I’m loving it so far.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Read all the things. Seriously, read as much and as widely as possible. Connect with some writers who are at roughly the same stage in the writing process as you are and start giving and receiving constructive feedback. Also, don’t let writer’s block keep you from writing. If you ever feel stumped or stuck, write through it, even if you know you’re writing garbage, keep writing garbage until you come out of it. The worst thing you can do is to stop writing.
What one YA Novel that’s out now, do you wish you had when you were a teen?
Everything that Kasie West has ever written. Seriously. I love her books as an adult, but teen me would have been screaming into pillows and dancing around my bedroom. I don’t think anyone writes better romantic comedies than Kasie.
Tell us 3 random facts about you.
I have a serious crush on Oliver Peck from Ink Master.
I will never admit to how many Tag-a-long Girl Scout cookies I can eat in one sitting.
I can recite the entire script from the movie Jurassic Park.
Favorites
Favorite Song (right now): Always and forever, it has to be Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Favorite Book (right now): It’s still THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir. Sooooo good.
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Gilmore Girls. I cannot wait for November 25th!
Favorite Word: According to my current WIP, my favorite word is just :p
Favorite Color: Green
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