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The Year We Fell Apart

Author: Emily Martin
Page: 320
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 26th 2016
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In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn from—and fix—her past. Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan. Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis. While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from. As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all. In this honest and affecting tale of friendship and first love, Emily Martin brings to vivid life the trials and struggles of high school and the ability to learn from past mistakes over the course of one steamy North Carolina summer.

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Thoughts and Story Behind the Cover for The Year We Fell Apart

Emily Martin

So, I haven't exactly made it a secret that I'm completely smitten with my cover. I was very fortunate in that my editor and the team at S&S kept me in the loop o Martinn cover design, and I had the opportunity to see it evolve from sketch to final product, which was awesome. 

This was the second "final" iteration of the cover--the first was lovely as well, a different take on an illustrated tree, with the title carved into the stump. But ultimately it was decided that the first cover was a bit too young and didn't capture the depth and scope of the story. On to version number two! 

I'll admit, I loved the first iteration, and was super sad to lose it. ...Until I heard what they had in mind for the new cover design. The design team was able to work with the artist Sarah Dennis, who creates her illustrations using cut paper, which I adore. I pulled a bunch of images from the story that felt particularly relevant, including the oak tree leaves from Harper and Declan's treehouse, and the water image representing the quarry where they go swimming. Developing the final product was a very collaborative process between my editor, the S&S design team, and the incredible illustrator. And in the end, it turned out more beautiful than I could have imagined! I couldn't be happier, and feel the wonderful details perfectly reflect the history between Harper and Declan.

I hope you like it, too!

Emily Henry

Emily Martin lives and writes in the Greater Boston area, though she will always call Michigan home. She has a penchant for impromptu dance parties, vintage clothing, and traveling to new places. When not writing, she can be found hiking New England’s peaks, searching for the perfect cup of hot chocolate, or baking something pumpkin-flavored. Emily’s debut young adult novel, THE YEAR WE FELL APART, comes out January 26, 2016 from Simon Pulse. Her work is represented by Lara Perkins of Andrea Brown Literary.

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