Item: The Way You Make Me Feel
Author: Meg

Welcome to Swoony Boys Podcast! This is our stop on the The Way You Make Me Feel Blog Tour! When our friends over at Macmillan asked if we wanted to be a part of this tour, our answer was a big YES.

We have a super fun character interview to share with you today and we can’t wait for you to get to know more about this book, its characters and author, Maurene Goo! Before we get to that, let’s learn a little more about the book first…

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The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan on May 8th, 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 288
Goodreads Buy the Book

From the author of I Believe in a Thing Called Love, a laugh-out-loud story of love, new friendships, and one unique food truck.

Clara Shin lives for pranks and disruption. When she takes one joke too far, her dad sentences her to a summer working on his food truck, the KoBra, alongside her uptight classmate Rose Carver. Not the carefree summer Clara had imagined. But maybe Rose isn't so bad. Maybe the boy named Hamlet (yes, Hamlet) crushing on her is pretty cute. Maybe Clara actually feels invested in her dad’s business. What if taking this summer seriously means that Clara has to leave her old self behind?

With Maurene Goo's signature warmth and humor, The Way You Make Me Feel is a relatable story of falling in love and finding yourself in the places you’d never thought to look.

Character Interview

Today we’re sitting down with Clara, Rose, and Hamlet from The Way You Make Me Feel. Hi, guys! Welcome to Swoony Boys Podcast! We can’t wait for our readers to get to know you all a little better and hopefully have some fun too! Ready to get started? Let’s do this…

The two of you are so different and yet there’s something about your friendship that we can’t get enough of. So let’s talk a little about what makes the two of you work. What makes your friendship unique? What’s the easiest part about being friends? What’s the hardest?

Clara *makes face*: Are we friends?

*Hamlet laughs*: Yes. You’re like my cool friend who finds me good music.

Clara, pleased: Good answer.

Hamlet: No, but really we’re good friends because I’m a good listener and patient. You need a lot of patience with Clara.

Clara: True. Being different helps us with each other’s problems. You know, so like, we don’t go around in circles with the same tedious issues.

Hamlet: That’s so smart.

Clara: Also he tells me that I’m smart.

Hamlet: You are! Okay, the easiest part is…hanging out. We have lots of fun.

Clara: The hardest part is…wanting to make out with your friend all the time. *Hamlet nods*

Clara and Hamlet, we want to know how you’d each describe your perfect date.

Hamlet: Uh. I thought it would be a fancy restaurant and a movie or something but we both realize that we—

*Clara, interrupts*: Like playing video games together and eating shrimp chips.
They both nod in agreement.

If you had to describe each other using just three words, what would those words be?

Hamlet, *immediately*: Funny, smart, kind.

Clara *tries not to look pleased*: It’s weird how he thinks I’m kind. For him? Loyal, joyful, and…well, hot.

What do you guys think is the toughest part about being a teenager in today’s world? Do you have any advice for teens who might be dealing with things similar to you or with any other problem they might be facing?

Clara: Um. I know high school is lame and boring but it’s not gonna last forever. So find people that will make it bearable and be good to them.

Hamlet, *reaches over and kisses Clara quickly*: Sorry. Had to do it. I would say if you feel different or alone—know that the world is about one bazillion times bigger than where you are at that moment. There is no way that you don’t belong somewhere.

Clara, Your story is all about friendship, family, and love– and all the emotions that go along with them. What makes each of these elements important to you?

Clara: Well they’re all wrapped up in each other, in a way. Friends can be family. Family is complicated but rooted in so much love. I don’t know, it all seems to be the foundation for like…happiness? Is that gross or what?

Alright, these next few questions are just for Hamlet so you’re off the hook Clara. These are the five questions (Our Swoony 5) we ask every guy who stops by Swoony Boys. Are you ready?

The Swoony 5

Boxers or Briefs? (We know it’s cliche’, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to know!)

WELLLLLL I wore boxers until I met Clara and then she made fun of them because they would show creases in my jeans and so now I wear boxer briefs. She calls them “hot boy undies.” Haha. She’s funny.

Do you think you’re a good kisser? What’s the best kiss you’ve ever had?

I’m a good kisser. It has been confirmed. And of course the best one was the first one I had with Clara. I know she’s in the next room but also I don’t lie.

What’s your favorite book?

This going to be cliché because I box, but it’s The Fight by Norman Mailer. About the INFAMOUS Ali vs. Foreman fight! But also, it’s like for real literature.

If someone made you your favorite meal, what would be on the menu?

Suan Cai Yun, it’s a sour fish soup and super hard to find here, even in the SGV!

Okay, last question. Since we’re all about the swoon here at Swoony Boys Podcast, we have to ask. What do you think makes you swoony?

Haha. Um, I don’t know? Am I swoony? Oh, your hair is caught in your earring, let me remove that for you.

You were saying?

♥♥♥

Meet Maurene Goo

Maurene Goo grew up in a Los Angeles suburb surrounded by floral wallpaper and piles of books. She studied communication at UC San Diego and then later received a Masters in publishing, writing, and literature at Emerson College. Before publishing her first book, Since You Asked, she worked in both textbook and art book publishing. She also has very strong feelings about tacos and houseplants and lives in Los Angeles.