Stacking the Shelves (33) 11.30.13

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews. This meme allows us to share the books we've recently added to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! *Clicking the link of a book's title will take you to Goodreads.


I've been enjoying my break so far although I've been completely useless. I had all these optimistic plans of cleaning the house, getting all of my grading done, finishing my last paper and my portfolio presentation, starting the mountain of paperwork I'm going to need to do in order to get my teacher certification, but so far, I've been completely worthless. This semester has burnt me to a crisp, so whenever I get any time off, I immediately turn into a sloth. I need to suck it up and get some shit done! I only have 5 more school days left before I'm done. I graduate in less than 2 weeks! So exciting!

I've figured out how to see both my family in FL and my best friend and in-laws in WY over Christmas break this year. I'm going to be in 4 different places over 10 days and am taking 3 one-way flights, but it will be totally worth it. I'm also going to NY in 2 weeks as my last hooray with the high school where I'm doing my student teaching. My co-op offered me the opportunity to help chaperone the trip. How could I say no to that? We are seeing 4 Broadway shows in 3 days and are going to the MET and other such places. I've never been to the city, so I'm beyond excited. I'm barely going to be home in December, but after this semester, I'm definitely looking forward to some traveling and seeing the folks and my BFF.

On the blog and book front, I'm in the middle of a couple of books I'm enjoying and am already plotting what I'm going to take with me on vacation. My Kindle is stacked, of course, but I'll need to take a couple of physical books, too. I'm not stressing about the blog for the next month. The next few weeks are going to be crazy! I'll be back in January on a full-time basis, I think. If this semester has taught me anything, it's that my real life is more important than this blog, and that the friends I've made through blogging will continue to stop by, no matter how much or how little I post.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you are having a nice, restful break!!

For Review

  

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This Titanic meets Cast Away in space novel has been topping my most anticipated releases list for months now. That may be the prettiest cover of all time. I've started reading this and am about a quarter of the way through. I like it, but I'm not bowled over. I'm really more of a contemporary girl, if I'm honest, but I've heard nothing but praise for this so far, so I'm hoping I start liking it a bit more as I get further into it. 

What I snagged from the library

Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel

This book about a female spy in the queen's court sounds adorable. 

The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

I was beyond excited to get my hands on this book based on that cover and the Stepford Wives sounding synopsis, but I've only read bad things about it, so now I'm not sure I'll even pick it up. We'll see. I'm going to have some time to read in December. 

The One I Want by Jennifer Echols

I've had okay experiences with J. Echols' books. I know that she is much loved, but the two I've read by her were so-so. I'm going to give this one a shot. The cover's cute (even if it is a kiss-y cover which I normally hate).

So that's it for me this week. I'm pretty excited about what I added to my shelves. What did you add to your shelves? Link me up!

 

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

That pretty much says it all. I meant to post something earlier, but I got caught up in the laziness of a day off. The hubby and I don't have family in the city we live in, and our schedules just didn't allow for any travel this year. I'll see my family over Christmas which will be here before we know it. I wanted to do this week's Top Ten Tuesday because I have a lot to be thankful for, but I just couldn't get it together in time. So I decided to post something today.

The things I'm thankful for. In no particular order. 

1. My husband

 My awesome, kind, handsome, funny, loving husband. Seriously, this guy is amazing. We've been together for 16 years (yes, really, and yes, we were young when we started dating), and I'm so thankful for him every day. 

2. My family 

 

This is a few years old, but I love this photo. My grandma passed away about a year ago at 100 years-old. We were all so happy that she made it to 100 and threw a huge party to celebrate. My sister has 3 lovely children that I love to visit, and my parents have been married for over 40 years. I could not ask for a better family. 

3. My cat

This fat bastard. I've had this cat for 15 years. He has a cancerous tumor on his neck, but he's still doing ok for now. I love this animal more than most people (I mean not my family, of course...well sometimes, maybe). 

4. My friends

I have some seriously great friends. My best friend and I have been friends for well over 20 years, since we were little girls, and she is the best person on the planet. We live thousands of miles from each other now, but whenever we are together it is like no time has passed. I'm so thankful for all of my blogger friends, too. You all rule!

5. Books, my Kindle, NG & EW.

I love spending my time with a good book or watching a movie or my favorite TV show. NG and EW are my crack. Is there anything better than getting approved for a book? Or getting white listed! I almost passed out from happiness when that happened. 

6. Movies and TV

As much as I love to read, sometimes I just want to veg in front of the TV watching a movie or one of my favorite shows.

7. Music 

There is nothing I like more than discovering a new favorite song or artist. I can't imagine a life without music.  

 

8. My job, my house, and my car. 

I'm so thankful to have a roof over my head and a car that gets me around. I'm thankful to have a job that helps pay for these things as well as helping me get through grad school.

9. The fact that I'll have my M.Ed in 2 weeks! 2 weeks! 

10. MY LIFE 

I'm so thankful for my health and the fact that I get to live this blessed life. So, so thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful day wherever you are!

Waiting on Wednesday (32) Welcome to the Dark House

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.



Welcome to the Dark House

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: July 22, 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What’s your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.

Why I'm Excited:

Let's start with that cover. The colors, the font, the carousel. My friend Christine from The Bookish Daydreamer featured this last week and mentioned that nothing is scarier than a carousel at night, and I have to agree. It's the music, I think, plus it's just such an iconic horror image. I love that this sounds a bit like the movie Scream. It's like a wink to what it is that scares the shit out of us...while scaring the shit out of us. I'm basically in love with Disney Hyperion at this point. Everything they have put out lately has been amazing and whoever is in charge of their cover design department deserves a medal. I'm going to be checking NG like a fiend 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 as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Stacking the Shelves (32) 11.23.13

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews. This meme allows us to share the books we've recently added to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! *Clicking the link of a book's title will take you to Goodreads.


So I just had the last meeting for one of my classes! I still have a paper due for the class, but not for a couple of weeks. That class is just with the 4 other graduate students who are student teaching semester (my other class has the undergrads, too). We've been a cohort for the past year, so we've all become friends. We went to lunch afterwards, where I may or may not have had a margarita at 11 in the morning. This week should be a pretty easy one. We are just showing a movie as so many of our students will be traveling and it would be a nightmare to catch them all up, plus the students need a break. I have about 160 one-page essays I need to read (I assigned another one before I could start grading the first one), but my co-op is giving me the break to get through them. I have two major projects/papers for my own classes I need to work on, but at least I'm off for 5 glorious days. As we don't have family here, it should be relaxing and I'll have plenty of time to work--although seeing some family would be nice, of course. Christmas break will be here before I know it, though, so I'm not too worried about it. I really do need to use the time to get all of this stuff done!

On the blog front, I didn't get a whole lot done this week. I posted my normal memes, but just didn't have the time to sit down to write any reviews or discussion posts. I really only have about two weeks left in this semester, so after that the blog should be back to normal. Thanks for still taking the time to drop by to see me even though I'm not putting a lot up lately!

On the book front, I did snag a few things I'm excited to talk about, so without further adieu. Hope you are all having a great weekend!

For Review

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

I still need to read Falling Kingdoms, but I've heard good things. I love these covers. I can't give you the synopsis of this one because I didn't read it...because I haven't read the first book.

The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith

How adorable is that cover? I love it. This nonfiction book just sounds fun.

What I bought

A Half Price Book trip.

Confessions of a Hater  by Caprice Crane

I remember being excited about this book when the cover was first revealed because, seriously, that cover is amazing. Then I completely forgot about it until I found it at Half Price Books the other day. 

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

I read this book about a girl whose ex-boyfriend becomes a rock star and writes a song about her years ago and cannot really remember it. I plan to give it a second look over Christmas break.

Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Again, I've already read this, but it was $2. I vaguely remember this story about a girl who falls for her friend's boyfriend. The story has been done, repeatedly, but I do like Elizabeth Scott.

What I snagged from the library

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

I'm excited to start this fantasy series about battling kingdoms.

Demonosity byAmanda Ashby

An ancient myth + a mean girl + a reluctant warrior = a lively take on good vs. evil. It looks pretty cute.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

A female football quarterback has to deal with the hot new boy who's after her spot on the team.

So that's it for me this week. I'm pretty excited about what I added to my shelves. What did you add to your shelves? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Waiting for Wednesday (31) Buzz Kill

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.



Buzz Kill

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Publisher:HMH for Young Readers
Release Date: May 6, 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this fresh and funny teen mystery, seventeen-year-old Millie joins forces with her classmate, gorgeous but mysterious Chase Albright, to try to find out who murdered Coach Killdare.

Putting the dead in deadline
To Bee or not to Bee? When the widely disliked Honeywell Stingers football coach is found murdered, 17-year-old Millie is determined to investigate. She is chasing a lead for the school newspaper - and looking to clear her father, the assistant coach, and prime suspect.

Millie's partner is gorgeous, smart-and keeping secrets
Millie joins forces with her mysterious classmate Chase who seems to want to help her even while covering up secrets of his own.

She's starting to get a reputation…without any of the benefits.
Drama-and bodies-pile up around Millie and she chases clues, snuggles Baxter the so-ugly-he's-adorable basset hound, and storms out of the world's most awkward school dance/memorial mash-up. At least she gets to eat a lot of pie.

Best-selling author Beth Fantaskey's funny, fast-paced blend of Clueless and Nancy Drew is a suspenseful page-turner that is the best time a reader can have with buried weapons, chicken clocks, and a boy who only watches gloomy movies…but somehow makes Millie smile. Bee-lieve it.

Pair with Fantaskey's best-selling Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.

Why I'm Excited:

A blend of Clueless and Nancy Drew?! Sold! This sounds really cute. I love--love--this rise of the YA mystery that has been occurring over the past year or so. This sounds breezy and fun, with a cute boy and a girl detective trying to clear her father's name. Definitely looking forward to this one.

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

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Top Ten Tuesdays (27) Top Ten Books I'd recommend for lovers of boarding schools

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.

Today's topic is: Top ten books I'd recommend for lovers of boarding schools

I don't know why, but I just love books that are set in boarding schools. Love them. Growing up in small town Wyoming I dreamed of the East Coast and ivy covered walls. That love never went away, so if I see the words: boarding or prep school, or the word academy, you bet I'm picking the book up. Here are my favorites.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by e. lockhart

I LOVE this book. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Frankie is not only who I wish I had been when I was in high school, she is who I wish I was now.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Cutest contemporary romance. Ever.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

It's hard to explain my love of this book. It's amazing and well written and, yeah, it's awesome. If you haven't read this and you love boarding school books, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Harry Potter (all of them) by J.K. Rowling

Like I could do this list without including some HP.

Catcher and the Rye by J.D. Salinger

You either love it or you hate it. I love it.

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Pride and Prejudice retellings are a dime a dozen. This one isn't all that special, but it's pretty cute and I love the author's other works.

Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller

This book is so hard to sum up in a sentence...so I'm not going to try. The link is there if you are interested.

Mind Games by Kiersten White

I really enjoyed this book about sisters with special abilities who end up at a sinister school after the death of their parents.
Winger by Andrew Smith
I absolutely loved this book that follows a 14 year-old junior as he makes his way through boarding school. Funny and heartbreaking. Highly recommend. 
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
So this is really more about boarding school boys than it is about boarding school, but nothing beats a boy in a blazer, right?

There a bunch of books about boarding schools I need to read like Vampire Academy and Percy Jackson, both of which are on my TBR, but I love these boarding school books and would recommend all of them if you are looking for a good book to pick up. What did you do your list on? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Stacking the Shelves (32) 11.16.13

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews. This meme allows us to share the books we've recently added to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! *Clicking the link of a book's title will take you to Goodreads.

Next week is my last full week of student teaching. I still have a little over three weeks to go, but the week after will only be a 3 day week and then a 4 day week because of Thanksgiving, and then, that's it. I seriously cannot believe how time is flying by right now. I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the holidays. My family is in Florida and my hubby's family is still in Wyoming (where we are both from). We'd like to hit both...and not having a job certainly won't hinder me (or though the lack of money probably will). To try both states. To drive or fly. We'll see how it all plays out. I need to apply to as many school districts as possible before the break to put my name in the substitute pool. I'm hoping if I hit enough districts I'll be able to sub every day for the Spring semester and then I'll have the summer to find a real job. Not that subbing isn't real, I just want a classroom to call my own. That's the dream anyway. 

As far as book news is concerned. I don't have a whole lot going on. I did get a review up for The Naturals up on Thursday. It's a fun and quick read and if there's a sequel I will be picking it up, but I didn't love it as much as wanted. I didn't finish anything this week. Nothing has been holding my attention. Honestly, I'm so stressed out between getting papers graded and tests written and presentations ready, not to mention my own homework, that I just can't seem to concentrate. Subbing for a semester would actually be ideal just because I know that I'll have plenty of time to read.  And I plan to do A LOT of reading in December. I got a few books this week I'm excited for. I hope you all are having a spectacular weekend!

For Review

 

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

So I've never actually read anything by Ms. Kenneally although I know that she as a lot of fans. I fell in love with this cover--those boots!--and decided to request this thinking there was no way I would get approved...because I didn't get approved for the third book. So imagine my surprise. It's my understanding that the books are not a series in the normal sense of the word. I'm excited to read about horse racing. I don't remember every reading anything about the subject. 

What I bought

Adorkable by Sarra Manning

I've been meaning to read this book for forever. A girl who is a blogger and a popular boy in her school fall in love...I'm assuming. It looks so cute. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I read this when it first came out, but had borrowed it from the library. I wanted to give it a second look and decided I should just own a copy. 

What I snagged from the library

Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce

I've been wanting to get my hands on this one for awhile. I actually haven't read anything by this author, but I'm intrigued by a story based on "The Snow Queen." 

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I picked this up when it first came out, but couldn't get into it because it reminded me too much of Dexter which is one of my all-time favorite shows. I picked it up again last night, and while I still kind of feel like that, I'm still going to give it a try. I only read about 30 pages or so, but I'm hoping it will hold my interest throughout.

The Naturals (Book Review)

The Naturals

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Number of Pages: 304
Release Date: November 5, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

******************************************************************************

MY THOUGHTS:

I wanted to read this book from the minute I read that synopsis--even when the cover was just another boring blonde looking directly at her audience...and then even more so when it turned into this simple, magnificent cover with that box tied with a police ribbon bow. So curious what's inside:

 

Oh Se7en. So in love with Brad Pitt back in those days. Anywho, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this book and jumped for joy when I was approved for the ARC. Like many Americans, I have a weird fascination with serial killers. I don't watch NCIS or any of those other cop dramas, but I can watch the ID channel all the live-long day (with its fun shows like Wives with Knives and Southern Fried Homicide--how fun to get to name those shows). Plus I, you know, love reading YA--especially YA mysteries--so when I heard of this book that had teenagers with special abilities who are tapped by the FBI to solve cold cases I almost swooned. 

Was it worth my excitement? Yes and no. The Naturals is certainly an immensely readable book that I read (relatively) quickly--I'm not getting a whole lot of reading done these days due to my crazy student teaching schedule. It kept my interest the entire time and I found it to be really fun. But, this book certainly isn't changing the world. It has a triangle that I didn't love and the rhythm of the book seemed...off sometimes, although that is sometimes the case with ARCs. That's the downside of reading them over the finished book.

What I really liked was that the teens don't have special powers, they have special abilities. When I first heard of this, I was expecting mind-reading and walking through walls, but that isn't what this is. Cassie, our main character, is a natural reader. Her mother was a "fortune teller" and Cassie picked up on how to read people's body language and facial expressions. Other members of this make-shift task force know when people are lying or are especially mathematically inclined. As much as I love the X-Men, I'm glad this wasn't the X-Men.

When we first meet Cassie, she is living with her grandmother. Her father, a member of the military, is out of the country and her mother is dead, or at least assumed to be. Her mother's body was never found, but the crime scene she left behind was so bloody that the cops don't believe she could have possibly survived. When Cassie is offered a place in the program she cannot help but dream of finding her mother's killer. 

Like I said, there is a bit of a triangle. Michael is the boy who first makes contact with Cassie under orders from an agent. Cute and mysterious, Michael can "read" anybody's emotions, and is quite adept and keeping his own hidden. Dean is a natural profiler, like Cassie, he is broody and intense and simultaneously pushes and pulls Cassie, leaving her confused and, of course, completely attracted. 

I loved the idea of the special program that uses teenagers. I loved all of the characters and definitely want to read more. The novel read like an introduction to a series, and I'm assuming it is even though it doesn't say #1 behind it on Goodreads. I'm hoping its a series because even though there wasn't a cliff-hanger, it didn't feel like a complete story. I will definitely pick up the sequel if there is one as this book ended up being a lot of fun.

If you enjoy easy YA mysteries, I would definitely give this one a try. It is interesting and original, and even though I didn't love every aspect, I did enjoy it quite a bit. It is fun, fast and fresh. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book from this author...which will hopeful be The Naturals #2.

Waiting on Wednesday (30) Free to Fall

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.



Free to Fall


Author: Lauren Miller

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: May 13, 2014

Link to Goodreads; synopsis from Edelweiss:

The Adjustment Bureau meets Matched in this high-stakes romance set in a near-future world where the entire population is controlled by its personal electronic devices.

Sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn has always consulted her Lux for everything. Like everyone else, Rory knows the key to a happy, healthy life is doing whatever the decision-making app on her Lux tells her to. When she's accepted at her dream school, the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems assured. But it doesn't take long for her to realize something is wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious school. Then she meets North, a handsome hacker living without a Lux, and she begins to fall for his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux's recommendations and instead listening to the voice within (the voice that kids are taught to ignore).

Free to Fall is a smart, romantic, and twisty novel from the author of Parallel.

Why I'm Excited:

I was impressed and really enjoyed Lauren Miller's Parallel and am a sucker for the movie The Adjustment Bureau (although I despised Matched, so points off for that). I really need to write a review on that movie--the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt is absolutely incredible. Anywho, this sounds really intriguing. I'll read just about anything set in a boarding school, and when you add in the word "twisty", I'm sold. I'm crossing my fingers this one pops up on EW.

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

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Top Ten Tuesday (26) That's one ugly cover

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.

Today's Topic is: Top ten nine books covers I would love to redesign

So there are some seriously disturbing and ugly covers in the world. I could show you a whole bunch, but I'm not going to. I chose these books because I have either a) read them or b) will be reading them. I couldn't care less about ugly covers for books I have no actual interest in.

 

 

 

Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Is that supposed to be Morpheus? WTF. Morpheus is supposed to be dark and mysterious. Not some emo dude. A six year-old girl could kick this guy's ass. Seriously. 

Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn't have) by Sarah Mlynowski 

This is a cute, fluffy read about two girls who end up living alone during their senior year. I don't understand why it is a kiss-y face cover. 

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

I just. What is this? Where is her nose? Why would you give a fun book such a scary-ass cover?

The Book of Love (Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers #2) by Lynn Weingarten

I don't understand this redesign at all. The first book of this series is awesome with a girl blowing all these sparkling stars out of her cupped hands. This is so boring and lame!

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

I really enjoyed this author's The List and I love the Burn for Burn books, but this cover is so hideous that I just cannot pick this one up. Enough with the kiss-y covers.

Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray

What is this?! Seriously: Stop redesigning series when the original cover design is vastly superior. 

Lonesome Young by Lucy Connors

I'm intrigued by the description of Romeo and Juliet meets Justified, but that is one ugly cover. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Listen, I understand this cover. I do. It doesn't make it any less hideous. 

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

I love this book and its companion, Something Blue. This boring, pink cover does absolutely nothing for the story within.

I'm sure I could find one more, but it will just be another boring kiss-y face one. So those are the sequels and series starters I cannot wait to get my hands on. What books made your list? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all know Google Reader has gone/is going by the wayside. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!