#Review | Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat
Leah on the OffbeatLeah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (Creekwood #2)
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 24th 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT+
Pages: 343
Format: Hardcover

Continue reading #Review | Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

#QuickThoughts – The Poppy War, Leah on the Offbeat, and Immortal Reign (05/27/2018)

Poppy War Leah on the Offbeat, Immortal Reign,

Hey Bookworms!

I’ve deciding to do a new weekly round up post for the books I’ve read each week and I’m calling it – QUICK THOUGHTS! Since it usually takes me forever to write reviews I thought this would be a nice way to get my quick little thoughts out about the books way before a review is posted.

So let’s get into it!


Continue reading #QuickThoughts – The Poppy War, Leah on the Offbeat, and Immortal Reign (05/27/2018)

Top #Autumn 2017 Reads!

Top 2017 Autumn Reads!

Hey, Bookworms!

The leaves have fallen and the air gets cooler by the day as we usher in a new season. I love Autumn and everything that comes with it. Beautiful colors, warmer clothes, hot beverages, and shorter days.

Just because Winter is right around the corner doesn’t mean that I don’t have books to recommend! Over the last 3 months, I have read some amazing books. So I wanted to take this opportunity to showcase them for you all to possibly add to your TBR’s!

Continue reading Top #Autumn 2017 Reads!

April 2017 Releases

ANTICIPATED RELEASES

Hey guys!

Every month I post the books that I’m most excited about that are going to be released. For April I’m bringing you seven exciting releases. Let’s check them out:


Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Release Date: April 4th, 2017

Defy the StarsNoemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that’s now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth’s robotic “mech” armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel’s programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis–even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel’s devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: April 4th, 2017

ShadowcasterAlyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn’t pay off, she could lose her queendom before she even ascends to the throne.

Across enemy lines in Arden, young rising star Captain Halston Matelon has been fighting for his king since he was a lýtling. Lately, though, he finds himself sent on ever more dangerous assignments. Between the terrifying rumors of witches and wolfish warriors to the north and his cruel king at home, Hal is caught in an impossible game of life and death.

Letters to the Lost Brigid Kemmerer

Release Date: April 4th, 2017

Letters to the LostJuliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they’re not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

Blacklist by Alyson Noel

Release Date: April 4th, 2017

BlacklistLayla Harrison has finally found herself in the middle of a celebrity story worth reporting. Aster Amirpour’s name is in every tabloid—even if it isn’t the good kind of publicity she hoped for. Tommy Phillips is inches away from getting the girl of his dreams, which may be harder than scoring a VIP ticket to an Unrivaled nightclub.

But Layla, Aster and Tommy never imagined it would be because they’re entangled in the disappearance of Madison Brooks—a story that’s blinded the world like a starlet blinded by the flash of a paparazzi camera.
Now, Layla is receiving mysterious messages from an anonymous source, Aster’s looming murder trial is so huge even her parents’ lawyer can’t save her, Tommy is retracing his steps as the last person Madison saw alive, and Layla’s ex Mateo finds himself lured into the fold.
You can dig up dirt about celebrities that the tabloids miss if you search long enough. But when Layla, Aster, and Tommy team up with an unsuspecting insider to unearth the truth, they’ll find that some secrets are best kept in the grave.

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

Release Date: April 11th, 2017

Spindle FireIt all started with the burning of the spindles.
No.
It all started with a curse…

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.

And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood–and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

As the faerie queen and her army of Vultures prepare to march, Isabelle must race to find a prince who can awaken her sister with the kiss of true love and seal their two kingdoms in an alliance against the queen.

Isabelle crosses land and sea; unearthly, thorny vines rise up the palace walls; and whispers of revolt travel in the ashes on the wind. The kingdom falls to ruin under layers of snow. Meanwhile, Aurora wakes up in a strange and enchanted world, where a mysterious hunter may be the secret to her escape . . . or the reason for her to stay.

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis

Release Date: April 11th, 2017

Given to the SeaKhosa is Given to the Sea, a girl born to be fed to the water, her flesh preventing a wave like the one that destroyed the Kingdom of Stille in days of old. But before she’s allowed to dance – an uncontrollable twitching of the limbs that will carry her to the shore in a frenzy – she must produce an heir. Yet the thought of human touch sends shudders down her spine that not even the sound of the tide can match.

Vincent is third in line to inherit his throne, royalty in a kingdom where the old linger and the young inherit only boredom. When Khosa arrives without an heir he knows his father will ensure she fulfills her duty, at whatever cost. Torn between protecting the throne he will someday fill, and the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent’s loyalty is at odds with his heart.

Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race whose dwindling magic grows weaker as the island country fades. Animals cease to bear young, creatures of the sea take to the land, and the Pietra – fierce fighters who destroyed the Indiri a generation before – are now marching from their stony shores for the twin’s adopted homeland, Stille.

Witt leads the Pietra, their army the only family he has ever known. The stone shores harbor a secret, a growing threat that will envelop the entire land – and he will conquer every speck of soil to ensure the survival of his people.

The tides are turning in Stille, where royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the rising sea calls for its Given.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Release Date: April 11th, 2017

The Upside of UnrequitedSeventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker, Reid. He’s a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?


Let me know if you guys are looking forward to any of these books this month! I really can’t wait to get my hands on them.

Until next time,

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The Upside of Unrequited | Waiting on Wednesday [#50]

Waiting on Wednesday

Hey guys!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights highly anticipated upcoming releases.

So here’s what I’m waiting on this week!


The Upside of Unrequited

Author: Becky Albertalli
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 11th 2017

goodreads

The Upside of UnrequitedSeventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker, Reid. He’s a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?

Why I’m Waiting

I fell in love with Albertalli’s first book so much so that will give any book she puts out now a chance. Although this sounds nothing like her first one, I am still excited to read it!

P.S. Becky Albertalli is the author of Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda.


What has you guys waiting this week? Let me know down below!

Until next time,

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LGBTQ+ Love Recos

 

LGBTQ+ RecosHey guys!

As it is almost Valentine’s Day for most of the world, I thought it would be a good time to give out some recommendations for LGBTQ+ love stories! As the years go on we are beginning to get more and more LGBTQ representation in young adult novels. As a teen growing up, there wasn’t many characters/stories that I could relate and connect with. But nowadays I am glad there are more authors telling their stories through fiction!

Here are 5 LGBTQ+ young adult novels that I read and loved, and 5 LGBTQ+ novels that are coming out this year that I am super excited to read!


Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry OnSimon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here – it’s their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a love letter to love stories and the power of words – to every ‘chosen one’ who ever had more on their mind than saving the world…

Type of Representation:

G – Simon and Baz

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

We Are the AntsThere are a few things Henry Denton knows, and a few things he doesn’t.

Henry knows that his mom is struggling to keep the family together, and coping by chain-smoking cigarettes. He knows that his older brother is a college dropout with a pregnant girlfriend. He knows that he is slowly losing his grandmother to Alzheimer’s. And he knows that his boyfriend committed suicide last year.

What Henry doesn’t know is why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn’t know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship. He doesn’t know why the world is going to end or why the aliens have offered him the opportunity to avert the impending disaster by pressing a big red button.

But they have. And they’ve only given him 144 days to make up his mind.

The question is whether Henry thinks the world is worth saving. That is, until he meets Diego Vega, an artist with a secret past who forces Henry to question his beliefs, his place in the universe, and whether any of it really matters. But before Henry can save the world, he’s got to figure out how to save himself, and the aliens haven’t given him a button for that.

Type of Representation:

G – Henry and Diego (Jesse too)

The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine

The Cursed QueenAnsa has always been a fighter.

As a child, she fought the invaders who murdered her parents and snatched her as a raid prize. She fought for her place next to Thyra, the daughter of the Krigere Chieftain. She fought for her status as a warrior in her tribe: blood and victory are her way of life. But the day her Krigere cross the great lake and threaten the witch queen of the Kupari, everything changes.

Cursed by the queen with fire and ice, Ansa is forced to fight against an invisible enemy—the dark magic that has embedded itself deep in her bones. The more she seeks to hide it, the more dangerous it becomes. And with the Krigere numbers decimated and the tribe under threat from the traitorous brother of the dead Chieftain, Ansa is torn between her loyalty to the Krigere, her love for Thyra, and her own survival instincts.

With her world in chaos and each side wanting to claim her for their own, only one thing is certain: unless Ansa can control the terrible magic inside her, everything she’s fought for will be destroyed.

Type of Representation:

L – Ansa and Thyra

Boy Robot by Simon Curtis

Boy RobotSeventeen-year-old Isaak discovers the truth about his origin and the underground forces that must come together to fight against a secret government organization formed to eradicate those like him in this high-octane science fiction debut.

There once was a boy who was made, not created.

In a single night, Isaak’s life changed forever.

His adoptive parents were killed, a mysterious girl saved him from a team of soldiers, and he learned of his own dark and destructive origin.

An origin he doesn’t want to believe, but one he cannot deny.

Isaak is a Robot: a government-made synthetic human, produced as a weapon and now hunted, marked for termination.

He and the Robots can only find asylum with the Underground—a secret network of Robots and humans working together to ensure a coexistent future.

To be protected by the Underground, Isaak will have to make it there first. But with a deadly military force tasked to find him at any cost, his odds are less than favorable.

Now Isaak must decide whether to hold on to his humanity and face possible death…or to embrace his true nature in order to survive, at the risk of becoming the weapon he was made to be.

Type of Representation:

G – Isaak

T – Ariel

Simon VS. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens AgendaSixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Type of Representation:

G – Simon and Blue


At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

At the Edge of the UniverseTommy and Ozzie have been best friends since second grade, and boyfriends since eighth. They spent countless days dreaming of escaping their small town—and then Tommy vanished.

More accurately, he ceased to exist, erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew him. Everyone except Ozzie.

Ozzie doesn’t know how to navigate life without Tommy, and soon suspects that something else is going on: that the universe is shrinking.

When Ozzie is paired up with new student Calvin on a physics project, he begins to wonder if Calvin could somehow be involved. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is for him to deny the feelings developing between them, even if he still loves Tommy.

But Ozzie knows there isn’t much time left to find Tommy–that once the door closes, it can’t be opened again. And he’s determined to keep it open as long as possible.

Type of Representation:

G – Ozzie and Tommy

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

The Love InterestThere is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.

Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection. Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome. The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?

Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be – whoever the girl doesn’t choose will die.

What the boys don’t expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.

Type of Representation:

G / B – Caden and Dylan

Perfect Ten by L. Philips

Perfect TenWho is Sam Raines’s Perfect Ten? 

It’s been two years since Sam broke up with the only other eligible gay guy in his high school, so to say he’s been going through a romantic drought is the understatement of the decade. But when Meg, his ex-Catholic-turned-Wiccan best friend, suggests performing a love spell, Sam is just desperate enough to try. He crafts a list of ten traits he wants in a boyfriend and burns it in a cemetery at midnight on Friday the 13th.

Enter three seemingly perfect guys, all in pursuit of Sam. There’s Gus, the suave French exchange student; Jamie, the sweet and shy artist; and Travis, the guitar-playing tattooed enigma. Even Sam’s ex-boyfriend Landon might want another chance.

But does a Perfect Ten even exist? Find out in this delectable coming-of-age romcom with just a touch of magic.

Type of Representation:

G – Sam and other boys

Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and VirtueAn unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Type of Representation:

G – Monty

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the EndSet in a near-future New York City where a service alerts people on the day they will die, the novel follows teens Mateo and Rufus, who meet using the Last Friend app and are faced with the challenge of living a lifetime on their End Day.

Type of Representation:

G / B – Mateo and Rufus


I hope this helps you guys branch off into reading more LGBTQ+ themed books!

Until next time,

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Most Anticipated 2017 Stand Alones (Jan-June)

most-anticipated-stand-alones

Hey guys!

Welcome back to part 5 of my 5 part anticipated releases of 2017 series. I thought it would be fun to put together a couple of most anticipated lists for some amazing 2017 young adult books that I am thoroughly looking forward to.

Part 1: Debuts

Part 2: New Series

Part 3: Sequels

Part 4: Finales

Part 5: Standalones

I hope you stayed tuned over the last couple weeks. You can look back at all the other lists above! Let’s move on to the Most Anticipated 2017 Stand Alones from January to June!


History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

Release Date: January 17th, 2017

When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course…

At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

Release Date: February 7th, 2017

Tommy and Ozzie have been best friends since second grade, and boyfriends since eighth. They spent countless days dreaming of escaping their small town—and then Tommy vanished.

More accurately, he ceased to exist, erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew him. Everyone except Ozzie…

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Release Date: June 27th, 2017

An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way…

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

Release Date: January 10th, 2017

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera…

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Release Date: February 21st, 2017

Mira and Francesca Cillo—beautiful, overprotected, odd—seemed untouchable. But Ben touched seven parts of Mira: her palm, hair, chest, cheek, lips, throat, and heart. After the sisters drown themselves in the quarry lake, a post-mortem letter from Mira sends Ben on a quest to find notes in the seven places where they touched. Note by note, Ben discovers the mystical secret at the heart of Mira and Francesca’s world, and that some things are better left untouched…

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

Release Date: February 14th, 2017

The youngest daughter of a proud Celtic king, Fallon has always lived in the shadow of her older sister Sorcha’s legendary reputation as a warrior. But when Fallon was a young child, the armies of Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain and her beloved older sister was killed in battle…

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

Release Date: February 21st, 2017

Freya was never meant be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne…

The Sand Castle Empire by Kayla Olson

Release Date: June 6th, 2017

Before the war, Eden’s life was easy—air conditioning, ice cream, long days at the beach. Then the revolution happened, and everything changed.

Now a powerful group called the Wolfpack controls the earth and its resources. Eden has lost everything to them. They killed her family and her friends, destroyed her home, and imprisoned her. But Eden refuses to die by their hands. She knows the coordinates to the only neutral ground left in the world, a place called Sanctuary Island, and she is desperate to escape to its shores…

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Release Date: March 7th, 2017

Can a text message destroy your life?

Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, there could be a criminal investigation into the deaths…

The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins

Release Date: January 24th, 2017

For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire…

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Release Date: April 11th, 2017

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back…

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Release Date: May 30th, 2017

Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app…

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Release Date: April 4th, 2017

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past…

To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

Release Date: February 7th, 2017

Erin Blake has one of those names. A name that, like Natalee Holloway or Elizabeth Smart, is inextricably linked to a grisly crime. As a toddler, Erin survived for three days alongside the corpse of her murdered mother, and the case—which remains unsolved—fascinated a nation. Her father’s identity unknown, Erin was taken in by her mother’s best friend and has become a relatively normal teen in spite of the looming questions about her past…


Well there you have it! My most anticipated stand alones for the first half of the year. Are you guys looking forward to any of these ones too? Stay tuned coming in the summer will be the second half of the year anticipations!

Until next time,

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I Need a Sequel! | Top 5 Wednesday [#29]

NEW-TOP-5-WEDNESDAY

Hey guys!

Welcome back to another Top 5 Wednesday! This fun weekly meme was created by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. If you want to join in the fun and be apart of the #T5W … you can find all the details at the GoodReads page.

This week’s topic is Top 5 Books You Wish Had a Sequel.

I read a lot of books that are in the fantasy / sci-fi genre. Typically that means there is usually a sequel to them. So this week was a bit of a hard choice. I had to find the contemporaries that I loved enough to warrant a sequel. But I did it, and I would be forever a happy guy if they did get sequels! Some of you will notice some of these books, because I talk about them the most. So it should come as no surprise I chose them!


5. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

I am aware of the upcoming spin-off The Upside of Unrequited, BUT it doesn’t follow my beloved Simon. I want to see the relationship blossom more with him and Blue. The ups and the downs! I need to see the cuteness overload!!

4. The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley

The ending was bitter sweet. I know there is more to Andrew’s story, so much so that I wish there was a sequel. He has a lot he needs to overcome still, and that would make for a great story!

3. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King

The gang is going off to college now. That’s a whole different ball game. Something Dill never thought he could achieve. I want to see more of them!

2. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not

The ending broke me… I am very curious to see how Aaron will navigate his life after the events at the end. My curiosity levels are high with this one!

1. We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

We Are the Ants

I was left wanting more from the ending. Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing and there is nothing I would change. But there is more story to be told. Especially what happens after January 29, 2016. I feel like that is very pivotal to the story!!


I hope you enjoyed my Top 5 Wednesday this week. What books do you wish had a sequel?

Until next time,

Sig New

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Outside of My Comfort Zone | Top 5 Wednesday [#28]

NEW-TOP-5-WEDNESDAY

Hey guys!

Welcome back to another Top 5 Wednesday! This fun weekly meme was created by Lainey over at GingerReadsLainey. If you want to join in the fun and be apart of the #T5W … you can find all the details at the GoodReads page.

This week’s topic is Top 5 Books Outside of My Comfort Zone.

As most of you know, or have noticed, I am a Fantasy / Sci-fi reader and reviewer on the most part. So some genres that fall out of my comfort zone would be romance, contemporary, mystery, or classic fiction! Now I’m not saying I don’t like those genres, I’m just saying I enjoy and I am more comfortable in the SFF spectrum. So here are 5 books that I enjoyed that are out of my comfort zone!


5. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything was cute and unique. It follows a girl who is allergic to the world. Because of this her mother has to keep her inside their sanitary house at all times. That is until a boy moves in next door, and she begins to wonder what it’s like to live on the outside. With unique writing, and illustrations and a twist at the end, Everything, Everything should be your next read!

4. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not

More Happy Than Not follows a boy, Aaron, who is affected by the events of his father’s suicide. He lives in a low income family and neighborhood. Life seems pretty shitty until a new boy moves into the neighborhood. When his girlfriend goes away to art camp, he befriends the new kid. But the lines begin to blur with their friendship and Aaron starts to have feelings for him. A truly touching and sad coming of age story with LGBT+ themes!

 

3. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Tell Me Three Things

Tell Me Three Things follows Jessie, as she is uprooted from her life to move to California with her dad and new step mother. After her mom dies, all Jessie can do is count the days since she was last happy. Now that she is in a new home, and a new school, with no friends, things only start to become more difficult for her. But then she receives and anonymous email from someone at her new school that  wants to help her out, but also wants to remain secret. You spend the whole novel trying to figure out who this person is. It’s a cute contemporary debut you guys might enjoy!

2. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is about a boy named Simon. As per the book up above, Simon is conversing in secret with a boy from his school over email. They don’t know who each other is. But one day Simon leaves his email open on the school computer and an unlikely bully begins to blackmail Simon with threats of outing him and his email companion. It’s an adorable coming of age LGBT+ book. It had me guessing until the end who this mysterious “Blue” is!

1. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King

The Serpent King is about three friends. Dill the son of a preacher who is in jail for child pornography, Travis, a fantasy book lover and victim of parental abuse from his father, and Lydia, the fashion blogger with big dreams and a great home life. It’s a great story of dreaming bigger then what people tell you you can! Perfect for all contemporary lovers!


I hope you enjoyed my Top 5 Wednesday this week. What are some of your favorite books that were out of your comfort zone?

Until next time,

Sig New

Weekly Cover Reveal Recap | June 20 – June 26

Weekly-Cover-Reveals

Hey guys!

Here are the covers that were revealed during the week of June 20 – June 26. Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you’re TBR!

FANTASY

A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Published by St. Martin’s Griffin

March 28th 2017

When Gauri, the princess of Bharata, is captured by her kingdom’s rivals, she can only find help in Vikram, the cunning prince of an enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with royal life, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. They set aside their differences and team up to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, wherein the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

Shadowcaster (Shattered Realms #2) by Cinda Williams Chima

Published by HarperTeen

April 4th 2017

Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn’t pay off, she could lose her queendom before she even ascends to the throne…

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

Published by HarperCollins

April 11th 2017

Half-sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close…

The Ship Beyond Time (The Girl From Everywhere #2) by Heidi Heilig

Published by Greenwillow Books

March 28th 2017

Nix has spent her whole life journeying to places both real and imagined aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. And now it’s finally time for her to take the helm. Her father has given up his obsession to save her mother—and possibly erase Nix’s existence—and Nix’s future lies bright before her. Until she learns that she is destined to lose the one she loves. But her relationship with Kash—best friend, thief, charmer extraordinaire—is only just beginning. How can she bear to lose him? How can she bear to become as adrift and alone as her father? …

CONTEMPORARY

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Published by Balzer + Bray

April 11th 2017

What does a sixteen-year-old girl have to do to kiss a boy? Molly Peskin-Suso wishes she knew. She’s crushed on twenty-six guys…but has kissed exactly none. Her twin sister Cassie’s advice to “just go for it” and “take a risk” isn’t that helpful. It’s easy for her to say: she’s had flings with lots of girls. She’s fearless and effortlessly svelte, while Molly is introverted and what their grandma calls zaftig…

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Published by Balzer + Bray

February 14th 2017

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—the good life. But after leaving Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud, American cousins—Chantal, Donna and Princess—the grittiness of Detroit’s west side, a new school, and a surprising romance, all on her own. Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola must learn that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato

Published by Balzer+Bray

March 21st 2017

Megan Brown’s brother, Tyler, is dead, but the cops are killing him all over again. They say he died of a drug overdose, potentially suicide—something Megan cannot accept. Determined to figure out what happened in the months before Tyler’s death, Megan turns to the things he left behind. After all, she understands the stories objects can tell—at fifteen, she is a gifted collage artist with a flair for creating found-object pieces. However, she now realizes that her artistic talent has developed into something more: she can see memories attached to some of Tyler’s belongings—and those memories reveal a brother she never knew…

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Published by Bloomsbury

February 14th 2017

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods

MYSTERY / HISTORICAL

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

January 24th 2017

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: A white baby had died while under the care of a church-going black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it? She wouldn’t say…

Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

Published by HarperTeen

January 31st 2017

Can their love survive a war?

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country? …