Waiting on Wednesday (162) Grendel's Guide to Love and War

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Grendel's Guide to Love and War

Author: A.E. Kaplan
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: April 18, 2017

Goodreads:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds in this tale of a teen misfit who seeks to take down the bro next door, but ends up falling for his enemy’s sister and uncovering difficult truths about his family in the process.

Tom Grendel lives a quiet life—writing in his notebooks, mowing lawns for his elderly neighbors, and pining for Willow, a girl next door who rejects the “manic-pixie-dream” label. But when Willow’s brother, Rex (the bro-iest bro ever to don a jockstrap), starts throwing wild parties, the idyllic senior citizens’ community where they live is transformed into a war zone. Tom is rightfully pissed—his dad is an Iraq vet, and the noise from the parties triggers his PTSD—so he comes up with a plan to end the parties for good. But of course, it’s not that simple.

One retaliation leads to another, and things quickly escalate out of control, driving Tom and Willow apart, even as the parties continue unabated. Add to that an angsty existential crisis born of selectively reading his sister’s Philosophy 101 coursework, a botched break-in at an artisanal pig farm, and ten years of unresolved baggage stemming from his mother’s death…and the question isn’t so much whether Tom Grendel will win the day and get the girl, but whether he’ll survive intact.

Why I'm Excited:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Revenge of the Nerds?! How could you ignore that comparison. I love, love, love funny stories with a male lead, and this one sounds amazing. I adore this cover, too, with the mowing of the boy's hair. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Weekly Rewind 8.27.16

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

My Life and Blog

Life: I'm typing this up on Thursday night because I'll be doing the four hour drive home to PA tomorrow. One of my favorite parts of just being home for the summer was not worrying about being on the road for eight hours almost every weekend. At least it's a pretty drive. This week was chock-full of PD (personal development) days. I still have a few things to wrap up tomorrow to get ready for the first day of school Monday, but I'm about as ready as I'm going to be. The first week of school is pretty exhausting. As a teacher I know I need to go over the rules and expectations and the getting to know you activities, but all I really want to do is dive into the curriculum. It has been rough transitioning back to a normal (read: early) schedule after literally sleeping in until about 10am every single day this summer. I'm such a night owl and my sleep schedule will automatically revert itself if you give me even three days off in a row. I've taken an afternoon nap every day after work this week. 

Blog and reading: This week I posted a WoW and I featured Nevernight on my feature The Grass is Always Greener. I am currently listening to Amy Schumer's book, The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, and am still rereading Second Helpings. I started Sometimes We Tell the Truth last night, but didn't get very far before passing out (despite the nap). 

New Books: September has some beautiful titles, and I'm excited about all the pretties I have to share today. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

    

   

Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

I was so excited when I got my hands on this one, but have to admit that my excitement has cooled a bit after seeing some pretty middling reviews. I am going to go in with an open mind, though, because I love this cover and DC has become more important to me this past year.  

The Graces by Laure Eve

To be honest, I usually like the idea of witch books more than I like reading witch books, but I've been excited for this one for awhile. 

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Gordova

So, yeah, see above, but isn't that cover striking?

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

I just bought this author's debut (I believe) a couple of weeks ago. I haven't delved into it yet, but both it and this one look deliciously creepy and I'm excited to read both. 

Sometimes We Tell the Truth by Kim Zarins

This is a modern retelli

ng of The Canterbury Tales. How could I say no to that?

The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts

I often turn to fluffy contemporary when I'm feeling overwhelmed by my TBR and this one looks adorable. 

The Magic Words Cheryl B. Klein

I love reading writing advice and love the cover of this one. I am determined that this is the year that I write the novel I've been sitting on for years. Taking naps every day isn't helping that goal. At all. 

TV (the Book) by Alan Sipenwall

Two experts discuss and debate 100 of the best TV shows of all time. I love nonfiction books like this.

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! 

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The Grass is Always Greener (Episode 2) Nevernight

The Grass is Always Greener 

Is there anything worse than seeing a drop-dead beautiful cover only to find out that it is from another country? (Ok, yes, there are way worse things, but can we all agree that it is at least a little heartbreaking?) Like my Why, Publishers, Why?! posts this won't be a weekly feature, but every once in awhile I'm going to be focusing on beautiful covers I covet but can't have because I don't have the money I spend on books as it is, let alone books from other countries that come with international shipping charges (yet...I will be rich someday...right?). 

Today's focus: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

  

I don't hate the US cover for this book, but the UK edition is just so stunning. I seriously love everything about it: The white background, the dynamic and detailed bird (raven?), the font used for the tagline. Just everything. The font for the US title is interesting, and I like the wings, but in my mind bird > person on covers. Every time. (I'm definitely thinking about the original Raven Boys cover vs the PB edition here--that might have to be one of my Why, Publishers post). 

As always, I'd love to hear from you! Which cover do you prefer? 

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Waiting on Wednesday (161) Just Another Girl

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Just Another Girl

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: March 28, 2017

Goodreads:

You resent her. You can't stand her. You might even hate her.

But you don't know her at all.

Hope knows there's only one thing coming between her and her longtime crush: his girlfriend, Parker. She has to sit on the sidelines and watch as the perfect girl gets the perfect boy . . . because that's how the universe works, even though it's so completely wrong.

Parker doesn't feel perfect. She knows if everyone knew the truth about her, they'd never be able to get past it. So she keeps quiet. She focuses on making it through the day with her secret safe . . . even as this becomes harder and harder to do. And Hope isn't making it any easier. . . .

In Just Another Girl, Elizabeth Eulberg astutely and affectingly shows us how battle lines get drawn between girls -- and how difficult it then becomes to see or understand the girl standing on the other side of the divide.

You think you have an enemy. But she's just another girl.

Why I'm Excited:
I'll always pick up an Elizabeth Eulberg book. They are always cute and quick, and this one (clocking in under 300 pages) doesn't look like it will be an exception. I like that she is highlighting the trouble between girls. While this sounds a bit young, I've been trying to read more younger YA and MG that I can actually recommend to my honor-level 6th graders who like to read about older kids. I can't wait to dive into this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Weekly Rewind 8.20.16

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: So my summer is officially over and I am back in VA. As truly thankful as I am to work for such an awesome school in such an amazing school district, I am bummed that I was yet again unable to find a job in my PA city. If you are reading this, you probably know that my husband owns his business in PA and that I have spent the past two school years apart from him because it is basically impossible to secure teaching positions there. It has been extremely hard on us and our marriage, and I am so thankful to have a partner who has been so amazing about our unfortunate situation. These last couple of days have been full of PD and teacher planning, which continues all of next week, as well. 

Blog and reading: Due to moving and going back to work, I didn't do anything with the blog this week. I have a couple of posts I hope to work on this weekend, though, so hopefully I'll have some posts up next week. I am almost finished with my re-listen of Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld and am still in the midst of my reread of the Jessica Darling series (still on Second Helpings). I started reading Think Twice, the sequel to Don't Even Think About It, last night. 

New Books: I have a handful of pretties to share with you this week. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

   

  

Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall

This is a LGBT romance between a boy and his bi best friend. It's getting pretty middling reviews, but almost all of them echo the sentiment of short and cute. 

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

So from what I can gather, this book is basically Gossip Girl in the future in a building with a thousand floors. 

Running Girl by Simon Mason

I love a murder mystery, and this one sounds fun. 

Just Kill Me by Adam Selzer

I was immediately drawn to this cover, plus the MC has a job with a ghost tour. 

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown

An out and proud girl agrees to lay low for the rest of her senior year after her family moves to a small Georgia town, but then she falls in love. 

The Fixes by Owen Matthews

This is about rich kids and the rich kid ennui that takes a dark turn. It sounds interesting. 

What I Bought

99 Days  by Katie Cotugno

I read this book as an arc and really liked it. I loved the way that it was told over the course of 99 days (you know, hence the title). I couldn't wait to snag the PB. 

What I snagged from the library

  

Audio:

I absolutely adore Amy Schumer. I've been a fan for years and saw her live a few years ago. I'm cheating a little bit because this is actually on hold shelf for me at the library and I didn't get there before it closed today, but this will definitely be in my hot little hands tomorrow (Sat) and I cannot wait to read it. 

Book:

Think Twice by Sarah Mlynowski

The first book in this duality, Don't Even Think About It, was really fun. These books are about a group of high school students who developed ESP after their homeroom got a bad batch of the flu shot. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Weekly Rewind 8.13.16

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

My Life and Blog

Life: Sorry for the absence. I was on vacation last weekend and am going through some personal stuff that I'm not ready to talk about yet, which has put this blog on the back-burner. I head back down to VA on Tuesday. I have to report back to the school on Wed for a week and a half of planning and PD days. I love my school, but summer went so quickly, and I frankly don't want to spend yet another year apart from my husband. That's all I'm going to say about that. 

I did a massive clean-out of my shelves and donated a hundred books to the library. I was going to take them to Half Price Books, but knew they would probably give me, like, $15-20, and the library will be able to make much more from them during their book sale or if they put them in the system. I'm still double stacked on all four of my large bookcases, though. So. Many. Books. 

Blog and reading: I haven't posted anything in almost two weeks. I'll get back into the swing of things. I started a reread of the Jessica Darling series last week. I finished Sloppy Firsts and am on to Second Helpings. I also finished Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda this week. I'm still listening to Eligible, which I loved as an arc a few months ago, and am loving as an audiobook, as well.

New books: I have a handful of lovelies to share with you this week. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

 For Review

Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor

A boy escapes his con-ridden family for an elite boarding school. His family finds him, though, and demands him help them with one last con or they will ruin his new life. 

Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer

This is about human combustion. So, yeah, I'm intrigued.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

This is a twisty novel about a crime that occurs when a couple leaves their baby while having dinner with the couple next door. 

What I Bought

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

I couldn't pass this one by. I snagged this from the library when it came out and was intrigued by the story-telling, which is done through interviews and journals and other such stuff, but I didn't finish it before it was due. It came out on PB recently. 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke 

I read this as an arc a few years ago and wanted to reread it before reading the sequel that I never got around to. I also adore this cover and wanted it for my shelves. 

What I snagged from the library

Books:

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  by J.K. Rowling

So...I'm not loving this so far, but I'm also only about 30-40 pages in...

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I have an arc of this, but never got around to it. I have to be honest that I'm super wary of this one. I hate starting series until at minimum the second book is out and some of my trusted peeps are not loving this one. We'll see. 

Movie:

Hologram for the King

I don't have any idea what this is about, but Tom Hanks.  

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Waiting on Wednesday (160) A Psalm for Lost Girls

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

A Psalm for Lost Girls

Author: Katie Bayerl
Publisher: G.P. Putnam
Release Date: March 14, 2017

Goodreads:

I'll Give You the Sun meets True Detective in this brilliant YA debut about saints, sisters, and learning to let go.

Tess da Costa is a saint — a hand-to-god, miracle-producing saint. At least that's what the people in her hometown of New Avon, Massachusetts, seem to believe. And when Tess suddenly and tragically passes away, her small city begins feverishly petitioning the Pope to make Tess's sainthood official. Tess's mother is ecstatic over the fervor, while her sister Callie, the one who knew Tess best, is disgusted overcome with the feeling that her sister is being stolen from her all over again.

The fervor for Tess's sainthood only grows when Ana Langone, a local girl who s been missing for six months, is found alive at the foot of one of Tess's shrines. It's the final straw for Callie.

With the help of Tess's secret boyfriend Danny, Callie's determined to prove that Tess was something far more important than a saint; she was her sister, her best friend and a girl in love with a boy. But Callie's investigation uncovers much more than she bargained for: a hidden diary, old family secrets, and even the disturbing truth behind Ana's kidnapping.

Told in alternating perspectives, A Psalm for Lost Girls is at once funny, creepy and soulful; an impressive debut from a rising literary star.

Why I'm Excited:
True Detective, eh? I loved the first season of that show (and liked the second more than most--although the first was far superior). The idea of sainthood is intriguing to me. I grew up in a Christian household, but not a Catholic one, so while I find saints incredibly interesting, I don't know as much about it as I'd like. Isn't there always so much more you could know?! I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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