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Monday, May 13, 2024

Blog Tour- DON'T by @GabriellaBatel With The Book Playlist & A #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DON'T by Gabriella Batel Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: DON'T

Author: Gabriella Batel

Pub. Date: October 31, 2022

Publisher: Crown of Thorns and Roses Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 326

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/DONT 

A heart-pounding debut ready for fans of Cory Anderson's What Beauty There Is and Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends.

"This ambitious debut novel...marks this young author as one to watch." —Corinna Turner, author of the Carnegie Nominated I Am Margaret series

Don't play. I saw you.

Paityn’s awake. Her near-terminal lupus keeps her that way. That’s how she crosses Tony Suarez again. That’s how she becomes the only witness to something she wasn’t supposed to see.

The first time, Tony shot Paityn’s stepfather. Now he wants Paityn. He wants to keep her quiet about what she saw. And the best way to keep Paityn quiet is to silence her family.

But Paityn’s not going to let Tony touch her family—not while she’s still alive. And she’s not dead yet.

 

 

Book Playlist

First, I’d like to take a minute to appreciate how hard it is to make a playlist without giving spoilers! I did manage it (barely), but there are a couple songs where I think you’ll get more out of it with an extra piece of information…but that information might give a minor spoiler—it happens pretty early in the book, but it’s still a thing. So I decided to let you choose. If you want the extra piece of info and a (very) minor spoiler, it’s at the bottom, and it only applies to the songs with an asterisk after them.

“Hero” (Orchestral) by Faouzia

This song nails the beginning of Don’t. Paityn and Tristan are each other’s heroes, there for each other “at five a.m. on the weekend, through the thick and the thin,” even when it seems like it might not last.

“Arcade” (feat. FLETCHER) by Duncan Laurence

This was actually a recommendation from a friend and beta reader! I didn’t even know this song existed until she said, “Hey, have you heard ‘Arcade’ by Duncan Laurence? I think it fits some of Paityn’s relationships.” And then I listened to it and thought, YES! A couple of people Paityn loves most keep bringing her pain, but she’s still there for them so fiercely. And the music part feels as gutting to me as I want those relationships to feel.

“Déjà Vu” by Dionne Warwick

Besides Dionne Warwick’s lovely voice and the soothing arrangement as a break from the past to heart-jerkers, this one’s a direct nod to Paityn’s interaction at the cemetery with the nameless ‘Man from the Cemetery’ (no spoilers!). She knows she recognizes him from somewhere but—and knows it’s a good recognition, not foreboding—but can’t put her finger on it. The déjà vu (*winks*) nags her until the very end…

“Speechless” (from the Aladdin OST) by Naomi Scott

Paityn and Jasmine from 2019’s Aladdin have something in common: the antagonists want them quiet. In Paityn’s case, it’s Tony, the perpetrator of a crime she caught him in—he wants her to keep her mouth shut, or he’ll come after her and her family. But Paityn won’t be intimidated, she “won’t go speechless,” and she’s not going to let Tony get away with it. She’ll bust him and protect her family too.

“This Mountain” by Fouzia

Back to Faouzia’s stunning songs and deliveries, “This Mountain” encapsulates Paityn’s attitude. Everyone against her thinks she’ll buckle and fail—she’s a frail, sick girl. But Paityn has news for them: she’s unbeatable.

“Strange Sight” (from the Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast OST) by KT Tunstsall

If you’ve seen the movie, this song takes place when the main character is relentlessly trying to make a connection with a closed-off newcomer. It reminded me of Paityn’s and Tristan’s relationship: he’s closed himself off from Paityn for reasons she can’t figure out, but Paityn’s not about to let this treasured friendship. No matter how much loving persistence it takes, she’ll break through to the boy she knows. Plus, the music gives me chills.

“I Will Survive” (Epic Trailer Version feat. Blu Holliday) by J2*

Paityn’s survived a deadly disease, and she’s not about to die of heartbreak. And this cover brings out the epic proportions of Paityn’s rising up.

Speechless (from the Aladdin OST) (Epic Version) by Frostudio Chambersonic

The stakes are upped now, and so we had to kick Naomi Scott’s awesome rendition up another notch!

“Enemy” by Tommee Proffit, Sam Tinnesz, Beacon Light*

It’s excruciatingly hard for me not to spoil something right now, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, it captures the journey of Paityn and one of her enemies throughout the entire story, sometimes almost word for word, right down to the end. And the vibes, between the rapping and score, are flawless.

“Gangsta’s Paradise” (Escape Velocity Cover) by 2WEI

Tony’s trying to start his own fledgling gang when he crosses Paityn: what better song than ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’? And 2WEI gave me the enormous excitement of making it BEYOND epic.

“No Time to Die” (from the No Time to Die OST) by Billie Eilish*

This song is the anthem to Don’t. Its story is Paityn’s story.

“Dynasty” by MIIA

“Dynasty” is when we finally see Paityn’s heartbreak. She’s been indomitable the whole time, but at some point, she’s still a person with a beating, bleeding heart. She’s been hurt, and it all pours out in this song.

“I Have Nothing” (from The Bodyguard OST) by Whitney Houston

Without giving too much away, I’d like you to change the connotation of this song from romantic to the tightest friendship. I’d also like you to think about a key event in the music video—a bit of foreshadowing there while Whitney Houston plucks out heartstrings.

“Gone” (from the Snow White and the Huntsman OST) by Ionna Gika

You know that bit in every single story where something devastating happens? That’s this.

“Sacrifice” by John Lennon

John Lennon, without lyrics, managed to embody the rise to the grand finale. Everything’s gone quiet after that last song, but it isn’t over yet, and Paityn isn’t done. She’ll do whatever it takes.

“Hero” by Elizaveta

I could swear this song was written for my climax. It’s all about Paityn protecting those she loves most—convince me otherwise. If you look, a couple references apply directly to the rest of the book (*cough* “let the fever rise”).

“Survivor” (Sequels Cover) by 2WEI and Edda Hayes

Before, Paityn survived grief. Now she’s surviving for her actual life. And every hit makes her stronger. (*Squeals as 2WEI hits us with another starstriking epic cover.)

“Strange Sight Reprise” (from the Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast OST) by KT Tunstsall

I really will spoil something if I explain this one too much. Let’s just say the same love of the original ‘Strange Sight,’ but the tone’s different. And if you’ve seen the movie, you might be able to guess what’s going on. Iykyk.

“Dos Oruguitas” (from the Encanto OST) by Sebastian Yatra

Here’s the hope at the end of the story. Yes, there’s been pain and fear and loss, but Paityn gets to heal and flower into something new and beautiful.

“Thick and Thin” by Faouzia

We started with Faouzia, and we’re ending with Faouzia. And if “No Time to Die” was the book’s anthem, “Thick and Thin” is the anthem to the theme and ending of the book. Paityn has been and always will be there for the people she loves, not matter what they do. And someone’s been there for her too…

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/78P4kzaQyXOgrRqgcqVXhq

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj2XloVubqxUyH2pfxkN-QCn41J4Cug3C

*These songs apply to Paityn and Luiz’s relationship.

 

  

About Gabriella Batel:

Gabriella Batel is a vibrant young Catholic woman with an adrenaline craving and a passion for God, her family, movies, and all things YA fiction. Don't is her debut novel, and she's already working on the next thrill ride.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon

 





Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of DON'T, US Only.

Ends May 31st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/13/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Playlist/IG Post

5/13/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Top 5 Scenes

5/14/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Top 5 Books

5/14/2024

@kaylyn_s_booknook

IG Post

5/15/2024

@niks.bookshelf

IG Post

5/15/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Post

5/16/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

5/16/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post/TikTok Post

5/17/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

5/17/2024

@amysbookshelf82

IG Review

Week Two:

5/20/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/Top 5 Movies/IG Post

5/20/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/Fan Cast/IG Post

5/21/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

5/21/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

5/22/2024

anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

5/22/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

5/23/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

5/23/2024

@dreaminginpages

IG Review

5/24/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

5/24/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post


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