The Lexie Project: On BFFs

When I started blogging, I'll be honest – I had no know idea there was a whole community out there. I just figured I'd share my thoughts and maybe a couple of people would read my posts. I never expected to meet fellow book lovers like myself who would eventually become some of my closest friends. But I did! And I am so grateful for that. Alexa of Alexa Loves Books is one such friend, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows me since she's a familiar presence here on the blog as my constant collaborator and, if you know either of us in person, we're almost always together at book events (and dinners and Argo Tea!). So when Heather Demetrios asked us to talk about our friendship as we celebrate the launch of The Lexie Project, we couldn't be more excited to say yes!

LET'S START AT THE VERY BEGINNING...

Rachel: I don't remember when we started following each other on Twitter or even each other's blogs but, as I was telling Alexa a few days ago, I vividly remember the first time we ever chatted online. (Don't ask me how or why. But I knew I was right about this so I found proof! See below.) I had tweeted about waiting on yet another long line at Port Authority and almost immediately, Alexa responded to me. She realized I worked in NY, Throne of Glass came up, we thought we should meet and a month later we did at Books of Wonder. We went to a Melina Marchetta + Gayle Forman event and afterwards got dinner with two other friends, Estelle and Sash. We ended up sitting next to each other, talking for most of the night and the rest was history! We've talked almost every single day since. 

Alexa: I honestly can't tell you when I started following Rachel on social media or reading her blog. But I do remember, in full detail, the first time we ever met in person! Our paths crossed at Books of Wonder during the Gayle Forman/Melina Marchetta/Kristin Cashore event. We had dinner (along with two more of our friends Estelle & Sash), found out we were both Filipino, and basically bonded for life after that. We slowly but surely began to talk/tweet/text every day since then, which led to collaborations on the blog and our regular hangouts.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT FINDING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT. 

Rachel: When you're younger, I don't think you (at least I didn't!) give much thought to how friendships change as we get older and that meeting new people might get harder. So when I meet someone I immediately click with, it really means a lot to me to have yet another person I know I can run to with anything, from silly every day stuff to something super important. Alexa and I hit it off right away and while the basis for that was our mutual love of books, our friendship eventually evolved into the kind where we constantly talk about all the things going on in our lives.

Alexa: It's different being friends as adult women, mostly because we're both of an age where mutual respect and honesty are what we crave and what we have to offer. I certainly don't feel insecure when it comes to our friendship; I don't need to "please" Rachel or act a certain way, as she accepts me exactly as I am. I also don't feel silly asking her questions, because she's always giving me thoughtful advice and her honest opinion!

LEXIE & NOELLE ARE THE BFFS IN THE LEXIE PROJECT AND WE'RE THINK THEY'RE PRETTY GREAT. 

Rachel: I am a huge fan and supporter of positive female friendships in books and the tiny glimpse I got of the friendship between Lexie and Noelle makes me believe these two fit that mold. Lexie is a lifelong reality TV star and Noelle is an up and coming YouTube celebrity (see her first video here!). That just sounds like a recipe for fun and crazy times right? It's clear they understand one another and share a love of Hollywood (they mentioned Audrey Hepburn and Clueless - how could I not love them?). I'm looking forward to seeing more of them both!

Alexa: I've always loved reading about BFFs in YA fiction, and Lexie and Noelle are quickly making a good impression. Lexie, a reality TV star all her life, of The Lexie Project, has never been able to really call anyone her best friend until Noelle, an up and coming YouTube star. It's a fun dynamic, and from what I've read so far, she and Noelle are meant to be BFFs in the way that Rachel and I are. They have personalities that click together perfectly and a strong interest in each other's lives. I can't wait to read more about Lexie and Noelle!

OK, FAVORITE YA BFFS. READY, SET, GO! 

Rachel: And my favorite YA BFFs are... Reagan and Dee from Open Road Summer. Bridget, Carmen, Tibby and Lena from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables. Karou and Zuzana from Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Sam and Jules from A Time for Dancing. 

Alexa: There are quite a few friendships I've enjoyed reading in YA novels, but here are a few of my all-time favorites (and they're all from books that I personally think YOU should read):

Reagan & Dee from Open Road Summer

Harry, Ron & Hermione from Harry Potter

Ismae, Sybella & Annith from His Fair Assassin

Allyson & Dee from Just One Day

Callie & Kat from Where the Stars Still Shine

Bridget, Carmen, Tibby & Lena from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

***

Lexie Baker is ready for her close up and nobody’s gonna get in her freaking way.  Nearly a year after graduating high school and taking a hiatus from her family’s reality TV show, "Baker's Dozen," Lexie is in Los Angeles, on a mission to take Hollywood by storm. From red carpet premiers to helping her YouTube star roommate film weird videos, Lex fits right in with the droves of girls just as hungry as she is for some screen time. When Jax Wilson, a young, hot producer, offers to launch The Lexie Project, a reality show that will chronicle Lex’s adventures trying to make it as an actress in LA, she jumps at the chance. It isn’t an Oscar-winning role, but it’s a start.

Then she meets Liam, a film student who brings books to parties and is one of her twin brother’s closest friends. When it becomes clear that her brother, Benny, has a serious drinking problem that's causing his life to spiral out of control, Lexie relies on Liam to help protect her brother from the media…and himself. But spending time with Liam soon makes Lexie question if the life of a starlet is really what she wants. And if it is, how far will she go to get it? 

This companion novel to Something Real features several major characters from the novel. Lexie's novelized memoir is a multimedia, multiplatform storytelling experience told in real time that reaches readers through social media. Weekly chapter installments on Wattpad are free and daily updates on Lexie’s social media accounts will give readers the chance to interact directly with Lexie and have opportunities to influence the course of the story.

You can read The Lexie Project via Wattpad, where a new chapter will be uploaded every Wednesday for the next year! Since this is a story being told on various platforms, you can also experience more with Lexie on her website, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. You can also check out Noelle's YouTube channel and blog page. For more details, check out this post from Heather Demetrios or the graphic below.

Now, head over to Alexa's blog
to see the rest of our conversation!