David Levithan's 'Every Day' Is A Different Kind Of Love Story

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David Levithan's 'Every Day' Is A Different Kind Of Love Story

If you're wondering just how wildly original the premise of David Levithan's "Every Day" is, here's a good indicator: Among other things, the acknowledgements contain a thank-you to the people he discussed it with for not stealing the idea and writing it themselves. And no doubt, they would've been tempted.

In the life of the narrator, known only by the initial "A," every day is an experiment in non-demonic possession—with the sensitive, thoughtful A waking up each morning as possessor, in the body of a teen the same age. This has been A's life for as long as he (or she, what with the genderfluidity of being bodiless) can remember: a life in constant motion, of strict observation, and in which human connection is dangerous if not downright impossible.

After 16 years, A has ceased to wonder about his predicament and focuses strictly on making his day-long stay as non-disruptive as possible to the life of his unwitting host. But when he wakes up as Justin, an insensitive, selfish 16 year-old boy, he finds himself suddenly yearning to reach out—to Rhiannon, the gentle, sweet-natured girl who loves Justin in spite of herself, and who might just be the one person who could offer the lasting love A yearns for.

Despite the "Freaky Friday"-esque possibilities, "Every Day" never descends into slapstick or goes for a cheap laugh. Instead, Levithan has written a thoughtful and fascinating story; funny moments are few, far-between and bittersweet, and the net effect is a convincing portrait of what it might be like to be a homeless human consciousness. A's memories of how he came to understand his predicament are realistic and heartbreaking, and the rules that govern his life are cruelly arbitrary while being entirely believable. (A is, admittedly, remarkably well-adjusted for a soul who's had such an unstructured childhood.) And although the "It's what's on the inside that counts" messaging can get heavy-handed at times—and A's impassioned insistence on the irrelevance of the physical is somewhat belied by the fact that the object of his affections is a conventionally pretty girl—the questions it raises about why, how and whom we love are poignant ones.

"Every Day" might have a fantastical premise, but it's a study in the most real and human of concerns: the importance of empathy, the value of friends and family, and the beauty of permanence that we have the luxury of taking for granted.

Have you read "Every Day"? Tell us what you thought!

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Happy Birthday, Hilary Duff!

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Happy Birthday, Hilary Duff!

Quarter-life crisis, what? Not for Hilary Duff, who turned the ripe ol' age of 25 today. Happy birthday, Hilary! The singer/actress took to Twitter today to thank her fans for all of the well-wishes that made her feel oh-so loved on her special day.

Woke up to so many awesome birthday messages! Love you guys so much! Thank you for making me feel so special! Xx

— Hilary Duff (@HilaryDuff) September 28, 2012

The last year has certainly been a big one for the actress. In October, she released her second novel, "Devoted," a sequel to the best-selling "Elixir." Then, in March, she gave birth to her first child, son Luca Cruz Comrie, with hockey-player husband Mike Comrie. And just last night, the new mom appeared on an episode of "Project Runway" to judge the contestants' baby outfit designs. (Busy mama!)

So what will 25 hold for Hilary? We can't wait to find out!

Leave your birthday wishes for Hilary in the comments!

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Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow Explain The 'Pitch Slap'

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Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow Explain The 'Pitch Slap'

When we sat down with the cast of the upcoming a cappella comedy "Pitch Perfect," we came with a reporter's notebook full of inquiries for stars Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp and Skylar Astin. And you better believe at the top of that list was: "What the f--- is a 'pitch slap?'"—that mysterious maneuver referenced in the movie's tagline.

While the cast mates couldn't agree on its precise definition (answers varied from acts of violence to Justin Timberlake's falsetto), they did address the question gamely and with aplomb worthy of the Barden University Bellas and Treblemakers.

Click play on the video above to get pitch slapped. Or something.

"Pitch Perfect" opens in limited release today, going wide October 5.

Do you plan to see "Pitch Perfect"? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

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We're Obsessed With 'The Mindy Project'

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We're Obsessed With 'The Mindy Project'

Welcome to Obsessed, a new weekly feature in which we shamelessly gush about our latest pop-culture preoccupation. This week, we're fangirling over "The Mindy Project."

There's no shortage of TV series chronicling the romantic misadventures of single ladies in the city (see: "Girls," "New Girl," and, of course, the perpetually re-running "Sex and the City"). And to say Mindy Kaling's new Fox sitcom, "The Mindy Project," is fundamentally different would be disingenuous. But the series does boast one thing the others don't: Mindy Kaling.

The former "Office" writer-performer is having a moment—one that's been years in the making thanks to entertaining entries like Subtle Sexuality, the best-selling memoir "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)," and a nearly 2-million-strong Twitter following. To wit, New York magazine's recent cover profile of the star was simply (yet aptly) titled "The Cult of Mindy Kaling." But, I don't think you have to guzzle a gallon of the Kaling Kool-Aid to truly appreciate her self-titled show. (And, really, your doctor wouldn't recommend it anyway.)

In the pilot, we meet 31-year-old OB/GYN Mindy, who was raised on the false promises of romantic comedies starring Tom Hanks. Yet, it looks as though she may indeed find her Nora Ephron-approved happy ending when she meets-cute with fellow doctor Bill Hader in the hospital elevator. But, alas, he falls in love with a Ukranian bagel girl, ditching Mindy for a younger model. All of this is relayed through a flashback as our heroine sits in a police station, arrested for several disorderly conduct charges (an ex's wedding will do that to a girl). When Mindy is bailed out by her BFF ("Pitch Perfect" star Anna Camp), she has one final request: "Before I leave, would it be possible to get a tour of the Special Victims Unit?" Yes, a pop-culture-loving protagonist after our own hearts.

As the episode unfolds, we're introduced to her cute colleagues played by Ed Weeks and Chris Messina—the former, her f--- buddy, and the latter, her potential romantic foil à la Jim from "The Office" or perhaps, more likely, Adam from "Girls." But you'll have to stay tuned.

Admittedly, "The Mindy Project" tugged at me in a way I had hoped "Girls" would. Yes, I enjoy Lena Dunham's oft-cringeworthy take on the young urban female experience, but I just don't relate to it much. And after a little reflection I realized why: I'm getting old. Not old old. But older. And unlike Hannah and her cohorts, I'm no longer an early-20-something struggling with my career or inhospitable living environment. Like Mindy, I've mostly got my sh-- together, except, you know, that whole relationship thing. I'm still making plenty of bad decisions. And so is she. And that's why I'll give "The Mindy Project" a season pass.

Did you watch "The Mindy Project"? What are you obsessed with this week? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

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J.K. Rowling Says The Door Is Open For More Harry Potter Stories: How About These?

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J.K. Rowling Says The Door Is Open For More Harry Potter Stories: How About These?

Put down the butterbeer, launder your dress robes and climb out from beneath that pile of chocolate frog wrappers, Potter fans—because J.K. Rowling just gave an interview to the BBC pegged to her first adult novel, "The Casual Vacancy," in which she admitted to having "left the door ajar" for another book or two in which wizards are front and center.

Which, in case you've failed to grasp the gravity of this situation, is fancy English-person-speak for OMG YOU GUYS THERE COULD BE MOAR HARRY POTTERS.

Or at least, more stories from the Potterverse; Rowling has been pretty clear that as far as future books are concerned, Harry and his contemporaries have run their course as characters. But that doesn't mean that Hogwarts couldn't give birth to a new legend—or an old one—that would satisfy the yearning of Potterheads everywhere who just can't accept that it's over. And because we're obsessed to the point of madness slightly intrigued by the possibility of more Potter, we went ahead and came up with three ideas for Rowling's re-entry into the wizarding world. Check them out after the jump!

1. "Salazar Slytherin and the Snake Who Loved Him" (and other origin stories of the Hogwarts founders)

"Batman Begins," "X-Men Origins," "Star Wars" Episodes I, II, and III—there's no more popular way to breathe new life into a beloved franchise than with a return to the bare beginnings. And best of all, the world of Harry Potter is tailor-made for such a treatment; who hasn't wanted to know more about the dirty youthful dealings of Salazar Slytherin, or the sordid family drama that was the Ravenclaws' undoing? Not to mention that an inventive author could get four books out of the deal, one for each Hogwarts house namesake.

2. "Amazing Animagi, Illustrated"

A companion text to the Potter series, this collection of stories would introduce readers to the world of magical shapeshifters, from famous animagus Sirius Black, to crafty sometimes-beetle Rita Skeeter, to the unfortunate and oft-forgotten Anna Lidicus, who tragically melted to death when she unthinkingly morphed into an earthworm on a New York City street in the middle of July.

3. "Margaret Thatcher and the Magic Wand"

Trading on both the unexplored potential of the oft-mentioned relationship between the prime ministers of both the ordinary and wizarding worlds, as well as the popularity of erotic trilogy "Fifty Shades of Grey," this steamy offshoot featuring sex, lies and political intrigue would be a perfect follow-up to the Potter series for now-adult readers who like their reading material to mature along with them.

Would you read one of these books? What story ideas do you have? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

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