Waiting on Wednesday (86)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:

SWAY BY KAT SPEARS

High school senior Jesse Alderman, or Sway as he’s known, could sell hell to a bishop. He also specializes in getting things people want—term papers, a date with the prom queen, fake IDs. It’s all business with Jesse. He has few close friends and he never lets emotions get in the way.

But when Ken, captain of the football team, leading candidate for homecoming kind, and all around jerk, hires Jesse to help him win the heart of the angelic Bridget Smalley, Jesse finds himself feelings all sorts of things. While following Bridget and learning the intimate details of her life, he falls helplessly in love for the very first time. He also finds himself in an accidental friendship with Bridget’s younger brother who’s belligerent and self-pitying after spending a lifetime dealing with cerebral palsy. Suddenly Jesse is visiting old folks at a nursing home in order to run into Bridget, and offering his time to help the less fortunate, all the while developing a bond with this young man who idolizes him. The tin man really does have a heart after all.

A Cyrano De Bergerac story with a modern twist, Sway is told from Jesse’s point of view with unapologetic truth and biting humor. His observations about the world around hi are untempered by empathy or compassion—until Bridget’s presence in his life forces him to confront his quiet devastation over a life changing event a year earlier and maybe, just maybe, feel SOMEthing, again.

Ever since I first heard about Kat Spears' Sway, I have been wanting to read it. First it's a contemporary story. Second, it's a contemporary story from a guy's perspective. And third, it just sounds awesome. Honestly, though, it just sounds like my kind of story and I can't wait to read. And I'm even hoping to be able to snag a copy of the book while at BEA this week.

Sway by Kat Spears will be published September 16, 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin.

Waiting On Wednesday (85)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
#SCANDAL BY SARAH OCKLER

Lucy's learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart's all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don't feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole's date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she'd rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she's been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it's everything Lucy has ever dreamed of…and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole's lingering sweetness, Lucy knows she'll have to 'fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy's own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students' party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy's been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy's been battling undead masses online long enough to know there's only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend's trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There's just one snag--Cole. Turns out Lucy's not the only one who's been harboring unrequited love...

So this is the part where I admit that the only one of Sarah Ockler's books I've read is Twenty Boy Summer. Considering how much of a contemporary lover I am, that fact surprises even me. But regardless, I'm really excited about #Scandal. It sounds like just the kind of story that will draw me in and I just can't wait to read it. 

#Scandal by Sarah Ockler will be published June 17, 2014 by Simon Pulse. 

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
KISS KILL VANISH BY JESSICA MARTINEZ

Valentina Cruz no longer exists.

One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio's arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind. 

She doesn't know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio's love was real.

She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can't run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangles the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

I've read some of Jessica Martinez's other books and really enjoyed them, so I was really excited when I first heard about Kiss Kill Vanish. It's definitely different from her other books, but it sounds really awesome all the same. I can't wait to see how this will all play out and it definitely sounds like a story that will be filled with action and mystery. I can't wait!

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez will be published October 7, 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books.

Waiting on Wednesday (83)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
TAKE ME ON BY KATIE MCGARRY

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kick boxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her--fighting for her--is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

At some point in the last two years, you've probably seen me fangirling over Katie McGarry and her books at some point or another. So really it shouldn't be that much of a surprise that I am BEYOND excited at the prospect of being able to read her next book, Take Me On. I've loved everything I've read of her's so far, and I can't wait for me. Katie McGarry also has this ability to write characters that feel like real people and every time, without fail, I fall completely in love with them (don't even get me started on Isaiah). I can't wait to have that feeling again.


Take Me On by Katie McGarry will be published May 27, 2014 by HarlequinTEEN.

Waiting on Wednesday (82)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
BREATHE, ANNIE BREATHE BY MIRANDA KENNEALLY

From the best-selling author of Catching Jordan comes a brand new contemporary YA you won't forget. 

Eighteen-year-old Annie Winters can barely run a mile without wheezing. Still, she's training to run the Music City Marathon in October. That's only seven months away. Running is so not her thing, but she has to finish what her boyfriend started…before he died.

Annie feels guilt that she's still alive and blames herself for his death; she has to do this to honor him. Plus training gives her something to do, it's a distraction. So is Jeremiah Brown. He's an adreline junky who runs marathons backwards. He flirts with Annie on the trails and it makes Annie feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time. She wants to race into his arms and print in the opposite direction--because loving is a risk she's not ready to take again.

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Miranda Kenneally fangirl. Every book of her's that I read just makes me love her even more and those books are among my all-time favourites. So really it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm beyond excited at the prospect of reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe (this excerpt might also have had something to do with it). At any rate, July just can't come soon enough so I can get my hands on this book! 

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally will be published July 1, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire.

Waiting on Wednesday (81)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRUE BY HUNTLEY FITZPATRICK

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony, summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and had questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she fails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past--or the island--Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true--about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself--with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

This book has "Emilie" written all over it. I'll admit that I still haven't read Huntley Fitzpatrick's My LIfe Next Door, but I plan to get to it in the very near future. Regardless, I can't wait to read What I Thought Was True. I'm a sucker for summer stories that are more than just about people enjoying their time in the sun. So yeah, I will be reading this one as soon as I can. Or at least I'll try.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick will be published April 15, 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers.

Waiting on Wednesday (80)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
LET'S GET LOST BY ADI ALSAID

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes ever Tuesday--and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth--sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

I'm a sucker for a good road trip story and Let's Get Lost sounds like just that. Plus it's contemporary and we all know I'm a sucker for that too (and apparently that's all I'll be reading this spring/summer). This story sounds like it has so much potential and I can only hope that it can live up to what I have built it up to. Either way, I'm really looking forward to reading Let's Get Lost.

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid will be published July 29, 2014 by Harlequin Teen.

Waiting on Wednesday (79)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:

SAY WHAT YOU WILL BY CAMMIE MCGOVERN

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

I have been wanting to read Say What You Will ever since I first heard about it. The premise sounds so interesting and unlike anything I've read before. At the same time, the synopsis doesn't really give much away so it's hard to tell exactly what is going to be happening in this book. Regardless, I can't wait to read it. And it's contemporary and we all know how I feel about contemporary. 

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern will be published June 3, 2014 by HarperTeen.

Waiting on Wednesday (78)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE BY MORGAN MATSON

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend--the one who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There's just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try…unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple picking at night? Ok, easy enough. Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a stranger? Wait…what?

Getting through Sloane's list would me a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny dipping? Um...

Morgan Matson's Second Chance Summer broke me when I read it two years ago and I can't wait to read more from her. Since You've Been Gone sounds like it has so much potential both when it comes to making me smile and breaking my heart. And the premise makes it sound like it will be lots of fun. I honestly cannot wait to read it. 

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson will be published May 6, 2014 by Simon & Schuster.

Waiting On Wednesday (77)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:

EVERYTHING LEADS TO YOU BY NINA LACOUR

A love letter to the craft and romance of film and fate in from of--and behind--the camera from the award-winning author of Hold Still.

A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world.

Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She's enigmatic…She's beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi's understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.

As some of my blogger & bookish friends would say, Everything Leads to You sounds like a total "Emilie book" and I would have to agree completely. Though I still have read to Hold Still (I'm working on it!), I absolutely loved reading Nina LaCour's The Disenchantments and I can't wait to read more from this author. Just from the synopsis, I know there is going to be so much for me to love about this story! And call me shallow, but that cover is just absolutely GORGEOUS and I haven't stopped starting at it since it was revealed.

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour will be published May 15, 2014 by Dutton Juvenile.

Waiting on Wednesday (76)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski
September 24, 2013
Greenwillow Books

On the morning of his eighteenth birthday, Jack Polovsky has just taken a handful of pills when his cell phone rings. Here's some news: his ex-girlfriend has given birth and Jack is the father. Jack hasn't spoken with Jess in about nine months--and she wants him to see the baby before he is adopted. Maybe it's the pills. Maybe it's Jack's general state of mind. But Jack needs to introduce the baby to his grandma--and tell him a few important things along the way to Grandma's house. Then, maybe everything will be all right. Then at least he will have had a day or two with his son and done his best to shape him. Jack kidnaps the baby, names him Socrates, stocks up on baby supplies at Wal-Mart, and hits the road with his best friend Tommy and with the ex, Jess. As they head to Grandma's house (eluding the police at every turn), Jack tells baby Socrates the Greek myths--because all stories spring from those stories, really. Even this one.

In turns funny, heart wrenching, and wholly original, this debut novel by Emil Ostrovski explores the nature of family, love friendship, fatherhood, and myth.

Ever since I first heard about The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski, I have been wanting to read this book. It sounds like a fantastic contemporary story that's a little out there but stil has a lot of potential. I can't wait to find out for myself.

Blackout by Robison Wells

October 1, 2013

Harper Teen

Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.

Jack and Aubrey are high school students.

There was no reason for them to ever meet.

But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger--where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all. 

Though I haven't read any of Robison Wells' other books, Blackout sounds fantastic. Just from reading the synopsis, I can tell this is going to be a crazy and intense story. Though I feel like this might also be the kind of story that is going to make me think a lot. But those are the best kinds.

Resist by Sarah Crossan

October 8, 2013

Greenwillow Books

What would you do if you were desperate? 

Bea, Alina, and Quinn are outlaws. They started a rebellion and have been thrown out of the pod--the only place where there's enough air to breathe. Bea has lost her family. Alina has lost her home. And Quinn has lost his privileged life. What will they find, now that they are refugees in the perilous Outlands? Their final safe haven may be harboring dark secrets. But together, the three teens find the will to keep fighting, to save one another, and to break free from everything that's holding them back.

Sarah Crossan has created a dangerous, shattered society, and brought to life three heartbreakingly relatable teenagers who come into their own. A wrenching, thought-provoking, and unforgettable post-apocalyptic novel.

I really enjoyed Sarah Crossan's Breathe last year, so I can't wait to see what happens next in Resist. The synopsis doesn't give too much away, but from what I remember from the first book, I just know that this is going to make me think that this is something that could actually happen.

So these are the books I'm waiting on and am excited about this week. What are you waiting on? 

Waiting on Wednesday (75)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange

September 3, 2013

Bloomsbury USA Childrens

A riddle rarely makes sense the first time you hear it. The connection between Dane and Billy D doesn't make sense the second time you hear it. But it's a collection of riddles that solidifies their unusual friendship. Dane is a bully with two rules: don't hit girls and don't hit special kids. Billy D has Down syndrome. When Dane doesn't hit him, Billy sees a sign of friendship and reaches out for help. Billy is sure the riddles his missing father left in an atlas are really clues to finding him. Together, Billy and Dane piece them together, leading to unmarked towns and secrets of the past. But they're all dead ends. Until the final clue…and a secret Billy shouldn't have been keeping. 

As a journalist, Erin Jade Lange is inspired by hot button issues like bullying, but it is her honest characters and breakneck plotting that make Dead Ends a must read.

Right when I first heard about Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange I knew it was something I wanted to read. The story just sounds so different from what's out there in YA already and from the synopsis I gather that it deals with a lot of issues that don't necessarily get enough attention, whether in society or in books. So all that to say that I'm really excited about Dead Ends.

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

September 24, 2013

Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she'd like to forget completely. But when Callie's mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie's real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Dollar writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

I'll admit that I still have to read Trish Doller's Something Like Normal (it's on my shelf, I will get to it soon I promise), with all the good things I've heard about it, I can't help but be excited about Where the Stars Still Shine as well. The story sounds really interesting and like it has the potential to really do damage to my hear--and I love when stories do that.

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

October 1, 2013

Walker Childrens

Another year, another move--with a Dad in the military, starting a new school in the middle of the year doesn't faze Derek. But moving with his new step-mother to live with the father and sister she hasn't seen in years? Awkward. Even worse--his new step-aunt Ashtyn, is seventeen, hot--and the kicker for the high school's football team. A football prodigy, Derek has stayed as far as possible from the field since his mom's death--and not even an infuriatingly sexy housemate who talks stats and reams of a Division I scholarship can change his mind. But when Ashtyn's quarterback boyfriend bask out of their road trip to a prestigious summer football camp run by top recruiters, Derek and his car become Ashtyn's only route to making her dreams of playing college ball com true. Four nights. Multiple star lines. Football. Secrets. Sex. This is one road trip neither of them will forget.

In a steamy new series featuring a new, irresistible band of teammates, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles blends the romance and drama of Friday Night Lights with her signature explosive storytelling.

In all honesty I don't even need to know what this story is about, I just needed to know that Simone Elkeles wrote it in order to be excited about it. I absolutely LOVE Simone Elkeles' other books (Perfect Chemistry anyone?) so I'm beyond excited to have more from her to read. Plus Wild Cards sounds really awesome and is getting compared to Friday Night Lights. How could I not be excited about this?

As you can tell, I'm already getting excited about fall books and it's only March. It's a good thing there are plenty of awesome books coming out in the meantime--it will definitely make waiting for these ones easier!

Waiting on Wednesday (74)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

I'm With Stupid by Geoff Herbach
May 1st, 2013
Sourcebooks Fire

It's nerd-turned-jock Felton Reinstein's last year before college, and the choices he makes now will affect the rest of his life. That's a lot of pressure. So, he's going to make a list. What would he be if he weren't a jock? He'll try everything--comedian, partier, super student--and which ever identity he likes best he'll stick with. Poof. Stress gone.

Except not…Because the list leads to:

1. The whole state of Wisconsin hating him.

2. His track coach suspending him.

3. Hi mom moving out.

Before leaving home forever, Felton will have to figure out just who he is, even if, sometimes, it sucks to be him.

The other two books in this series made me laugh so much so I can't wait to be back in the world of Felton Reinstein. Seriously, if you are looking for some boy YA that will make you laugh while also tug a little at your heartstrings you should definitely check out Geoff Herbach's books.

How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

May 1st, 2013

Sourcebooks Fire

There are a few things Grace Anderson knows for sure. One is that nothing will ever come between her and her best friend, Kya Kessler. They have a pact. Buds Before Studs. Sisters Before Misters. But in the summer before senior year, life throws out challenges they never expected. And suddenly the person who's always been there starts to need the favor returned. Grace and Kya are forced to question how much a best friend can forgive. And the answer is not what they expected.

Despite having a few of her books on my shelves, I have yet to read any of Janet Gurtler's books. But seeing as I've been on a major contemporary binge lately, I just felt drawn to How I Lost You. Maybe this will be the book that finally makes me pick up something by Janet Gurtler.

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

July 16, 2013

Sourcebooks Fire

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

This book sounds absolutely fascinating to me. Again, I love contemporary so this sounds right up my alley. But Truly, Madly, Deadly also sounds quite dark and mysterious which just makes me want to read it even more. July can't come soon enough so I can find out more about this book!

Sourcebooks Fire definitely has some exciting books coming out in the next few months. These all sound like they have the potential to be truly great reads so I can't wait to find out more about all of them!

Waiting on Wednesday (73)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
May 7, 2013
Simon Pulse

First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she's on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel's packed with drama and romance!

Rosie's always been impulsive. She didn't intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend's car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So whens she's served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she's heartbroken--and furious.

To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie's parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie's spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Right when I first heard about How My Summer Went Up in Flames I knew I had to read this book. This story just sounds like an incredible amount of fun but also like one where there might be something a little more serious going on. Also there's a road trip. That's all I really needed to know in order to know I have to read this book.

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

May 14, 2013

Disney-Hyperion

She's been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky…But now that she's been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last. 

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they've given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do--or see--that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits' rules--and her dad's silence. If he won't help, it's time she got some answers for herself. 

But Meg isn't counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who's too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there's only one rule that really matters--survival.

This story sounds like it has the potential to have the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The synopsis for The Rules for Disappearing truly has me intrigued. I want to know why this girl is in the Witness Protection Program and I want to know why she's in danger. I guess I'll have to wait until May to figure it out!

Five Summers by Una LaMarche

May 16, 2013

Razorbill

Four best friends, five summers of camp memories.

The summer we were nine: Emma was branded "Skylar's friend Emma" by the infamous Adam Loring…

The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth…

The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle…

The summer we were twelve: Skylar's love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us--except Skylar…

Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie's secret. Skylar did something unthinkable…and whether we knew it then or not, I've summers of friendship began to fall apart.

Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend--and for a second chance. 

Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.

Anne Brashares' Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants were among the first YA books I ever read, so being told Five Summers is perfect for fans of that author just makes me want to read it even more. The synopsis also totally piqued my curiosity--I want to know what happened that last summer that changed everything. And any book about summer camp is a good book if you ask me.

If you couldn't tell from these books or a fair amount of my posts recently, I LOVE contemporary. If anything, contemporary is probably my favorite genre so I'm excited about all the great contemps that seem to be coming out this year. Maybe this is the year contemporary makes a comeback? Even if it doesn't quite make a comeback, I'm hoping these three books won't disappoint me. 

Waiting on Wednesday (72)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer
May 28, 2013
Kensington Teen

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He's learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies.

He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he'll have to find someone he can trust...

So far I have loved the first two books in Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series. These books have proven to be quite addictive and I can't wait to find out what happens next. It will be interesting this time around to see things from the perspective of Hunter instead of one of the Merrick brothers. Regardless of it all, I am still really excited about Spirit being released.

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

July 30, 2013

Kensington Teen

Here we go again…

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities--until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast--otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins--and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there...

Have I mentioned how much I have come to love the Mythos Academy series in the past year? With each book, it seems like it just keeps getting better and better. And with everything that happened in Crimson Frost how could I not be unbelievably excited about Midnight Frost. Though I have a feeling that what Jennifer Estep will do to some of these characters will break my heart a little.

So those are the two books I'm excited about this week. If you haven't yet checked out either one of those series, I strongly recommend you do. But be warned that you may find yourself becoming addicted to them quite quickly. 

Waiting on Wednesday (71)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two contemporary titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

May 28th, 2013

Katherine Tegen Books

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.

2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.

3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest things goes wrong.

4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas 

5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.

2. He says he has her stuff.

3. What stuff? Her stuff.

4. You tell him your parents won't be able to--

5. Sukey died five years ago; can't he--

6. You pick up a pen.

7. You scribble down the address.

8. You get on your bike and go.

9. Things…get a little crazy after that.*

*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching. Hilary T. Smith's debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I first heard about Wild Awake, but ever since hearing about it, I can't help but be excited about this book. If you read my post on contemporary books you will know that I absolutely love them so all these awesome sounding contemporaries are perfect for me!

Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider

June 4th, 2013

Katherine Tegen Books

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them--a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra's knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra's ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra drives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one's singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider's Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings. 

Again, another contemporary that I can't help but be excited about. Severed Heads, Broken Hearts sounds like a really fantastic story so I can't help but be excited about it. Plus, from what I've heard, it's just as good as it sounds. 

It feels like 2013 may be the year that the contemporaries are making a comeback. I've heard of so many great contemporary reads coming out later this year and I can't help but be excited about them. If you ask me, the more contemporaries, the better! 

Waiting on Wednesday (70)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two contemporary titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
April 2nd, 2013
Poppy

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I absolutely love Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight when I read it last year. It was a fantastic contemporary read, so I can't wait for more from this author. And This is What Happy Looks Like sounds like a fun contemporary that might have something more than just fluff going on.

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

June 4th, 2013

Little, Brown BFYR

Filled with humor, raw emotion, a strong voice, and a brilliant dog named Sandy Koufax, When You Were Here explores the two most powerful forces known to man--death and love. Daisy Whitney brings her characters to life with a deft touch and resonating authenticity.

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation--the one day she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with is mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There,a kong the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harijuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Daisy Whitney has yet to disappoint me with anything that she writes. I am a big fan of The Mockingbirds & The Rivals, so I am excited simply at the prospect of getting to read more of her writing. And When You Were Here sounds like a fantastic story that will no doubt be pulling at my heartstrings.