Blog Tour: Black Iris by Leah Raeder

Welcome to our stop on the Black Iris tour for Leah Raeder.

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Black Iris
Author: Leah Raeder
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: April 28, 2015
Review Source: Atria Books

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

She's not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it's time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

Which was the plan all along.

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

She's going to show them all.

I cannot properly tell you all the ways that I loved Laney, and Black Iris. But, I'll try…

Let's start with this captivating book cover! *Swoons* It's quite simple, but hard to miss. Now on to Laney and this freaking amazing story, for lack of better words. Black Iris has earned it's spot in my favorite read of 2015. Yup, I said it! Mark my words! Leah Raeder's writing is beyond perfection. Every. Single. Word. In this book did things to me. If I were sitting there highlighting beautiful lines, the entire book would be highlighted.

Black Iris is a dark and beautiful story about a messed up girl. While this sounds too common, I guarantee you it is anything but. I have never met a character like Laney. I have never wanted to personally meet a fictional character so much. Laney has a hard exterior with no cracks and she likes it that way. And, the strange thing about her is that I didn't want to "save" her. In most books where a girl is broken I am always rooting for her saving moment. In Black Iris, I loved Laney through and through the exact way that she is. In all her exterior coldness, and interior struggle.

The story itself is also brilliant. Without saying too much, it's a story about revenge, and about self discovery and exploration. Raeder's words are like magic and she will have you engaged and obsessed within seconds.

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About the Author

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago.