Read the full first chapter of THE EDUCATION OF KIA GREER
My debut novel comes out in a month! Here's a sneak preview :)
Ohhhh man have the past few years been a JOURNEY. The idea for The Education Of Kia Greer first came to me during a pandemic isolation re-watch of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. The idea bopped around my mind for a while, and then I joined the writer’s room for season one of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spin-off XO, Kitty. Being around legendary YA authors like Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian made my dream of writing this book — and any book, really — feel possible. So I dove in. In a stroke of luck I sold the book just before the 2023 writers strike kicked into gear, giving me a juicy world to immerse myself in after days on the picket line. In many ways this is the book that helped deliver me from a burn-out that felt like it was killing me. Kia took my hand and guided me through. I love this sweet, anxious girl so much. I am rooting for her so hard.
Now we are one month out from The Education Of Kia Greer hitting bookstores all over North America. I cannot WAIT. I also feel a dull — well, sometimes it’s acute — panic just under the surface at all times now. I want people to love Kia like I do. I want this book to succeed. This, from reader [at]myblackbookish_life on Instagram, made my day this morning, because it’s exactly how I feel:
“In about a month, Kia Greer will hit shelves and libraries and grace electronic screens, and I desperately want her to reach her intended audience and be loved as fully and as fiercely as she deserves.”
This is a book for fans of Casey McQuiston, Jenny Han, Mary H. K. Choi, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is a book for teens and adults alike, for those who love a reality TV binge and those who turn their nose up at all the goings-on around the Kardashians.
It would mean the absolute world to me if you would pre-order this book. If you follow literally any authors you know how important a pre-order is. Here’s something else, though: Pre-orders for debut novels are usually practically non-existent. Most people don’t pre-order unless the author’s on their list of do-not-miss. I totally get that. But if you’re comfortable doing so, a pre-order of The Education of Kia Greer would make a huge difference.
I don’t want or need you to go in blind, though. Today, here and now, I’d like to share a bit of Kia with you. I’d like to share the full first chapter. Her prologue. Kia at her beginnings.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FULL FIRST CHAPTER OF THE EDUCATION OF KIA GREER HERE:
I’d love to know what you think. And if you’ve already read the book, I’d be so appreciative if you’d leave a review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or even Amazon.
As a reminder, here is some of the love that’s been heaped on this book so far:
“At once warm and incisive, meticulously exploring first love, heartbreaks, and joy with a gentle tenderness that belies a vigorous understanding of the nuances of a heart. A coming of age must read.” - Bolu Babalola, author of Love In Color and Honey & Spice (as well as the upcoming Sweet Heat!)
“What a privilege it was to get to meet Kia. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down..Heartfelt, funny, romantic, and insightful at the same time, The Education of Kia Greer is a delicious read that should come with a warning label because it kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. I cared so much about these characters - and you will, too. Alanna Bennett is one to watch." - Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries
“An absolute knockout of a debut. Heartfelt, wildly clever, and deeply relatable, Kia is a must-read coming-of-age story about finding your voice in a world determined to take it from you, and how love—messy, beautiful, and complicated—shapes every step of the way." - Emma Lord, author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again
“Alanna Bennett has been one of my favorite voices for a long time now. Her work is thoughtful, joyful, and necessary. The Education of Kia Greer feels like a gift." - Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & the Six
"A tender exploration of trying to survive in a spotlight you never asked for while finding your place in the world. Stunning from start to finish! Equal parts moving and effervescent, Bennett’s masterful writing wraps its poetic arms around your heart and squeezes tight. Kia Greer has my whole heart." —Farrah Penn, author of Cancelled and Twelve Steps to Normal
“A must-read for pop heads, reality bingers, blind item guessers, and anyone who's ever owned a Kylie Lip Kit. Kia Greer pulls you into the hyperreality and humanity of fame like an irresistible celebrity memoir. Kia [is] a girl in glittering shadow, full of resilience and vulnerability, always looked at but never seen. This book is smart, fearless, romantic, and so very alive." - Casey McQuiston, author of Red White & Royal Blue and The Pairing
“If you love any books by Jenny Han or Casey McQuiston then I highly recommend picking this one up!! This was my first book by Alanna Bennett and I am excited to see what is next!”- Temi O. on NetGalley
“I was coming in with pretty high expectations for Bennett's novel debut and she absolutely delivered!!…Bennett has such a strong voice and lovingly writes Kia, Cass, and all of the characters that make up this world. I was so totally swept up in this world and no spoilers but I love the whole journey and I desperately hope that this gets a 6-8 episode adaptation on Netflix!” - Harper T. on Goodreads
“The author’s skills as a screenwriter really shine through here. This read like a movie and fully enthralled me in the story. There was so much drama, tension and character growth. I laughed and I cried multiple times. I love a YA book that makes me feel seen as an adult remembering my late teens and early twenties and all the hard stuff that came with it - Bennett does such a beautiful job describing those universal or unique experiences with authenticity and emotion. I loved so much of the messaging of this book, the societal commentary, and the beautiful friendships and sisterhoods.” - Amy D. on Goodreads
“I would definitely be one of those people judging Kia Greer. I dislike reality TV and the culture that surrounds it…And yet, Alanna Bennett has made me care about these characters. I found myself invested in the story of Kia and her sisters and drawn into their world as I hungrily turned the pages to find out what would happen next. Half the time I forgot I was reading the book and found myself thinking of the characters like I was really watching a TV series.
I found Kia heartbreakingly relatable at times despite her circumstances. She is such an endearing character. Her story really makes you think about fame, our relationship to it, and through it how we see ourselves.” - Britt R. on Goodreads
“In about a month, Kia Greer will hit shelves and libraries and grace electronic screens, and I desperately want her to reach her intended audience and be loved as fully and as fiercely as she deserves. the story of a young biracial (queer!!) black girl thrust into the spotlight and the plastic, perfect world with her younger sister, and following her older sisters, I couldn’t help but be captivated by and root for Kia. the book reads like a movie —which given the author’s screenwriter background makes total sense—the one I desperately need Netflix and CO to start adapting asap.” - [at]myblackbookish_life on Instagram