Waiting on Wednesday (183) Top Ten

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.

Top Ten

Author: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray 
Release Date: October 3, 2017

Goodreads:

From Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of 99 Days, How to Love, and Fireworks, comes Top Ten—the top ten best moments in the best friendship—turned potential romance—between a couple who should have nothing in common.

Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart are the unlikeliest of friends. Introverted, anxious Gabby would rather do literally anything than go to a party. Ryan is a star hockey player who can get any girl he wants—and does, frequently. But against all odds, they became not only friends, but each other’s favorite person. Now, as they face high school graduation, they can’t help but take a moment to reminisce and, in their signature tradition, make a top ten list—counting down the top ten moments of their friendship: 

10. Where to begin? Maybe the night we met.
9. Then there was our awkward phase.
8. When you were in love with me but never told me…
7. Those five months we stopped talking were the hardest of my life.
6. Through terrible fights…
5. And emotional makeups.
4. You were there for me when I got my heart broken.
3. …but at times, you were also the one breaking it.
2. Above all, you helped me make sense of the world.
1. Now, as we head off to college—how am I possibly going to live without you?

Why I'm Excited: Ok, this sound so adorable. I love a good friends-to-more lovestory, and really enjoy Ms. Cotugno's writing. I've been in the mood for something light and sweet. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one.  

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

Weekly Rewind 2.25.17

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: Beside the year I spent in FL, I don't think I have ever experienced a warmer February. It hit almost 80 degrees here today. If we aren't going to get any snow days this year (and it doesn't look like we will), then I will 100% take these sunny, warm days. It's amazing what some sunshine and warmth does to my mood. Nothing really to report (obviously, as I just talked about the weather). My husband is coming down this weekend, but not until tomorrow. I love the weekends I don't have to do that four hour drive. I took a nap this afternoon and am spending the evening in with some mindless tv and maybe some reading. 

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I was ecstatic to snag Ramona Blue which was one of my most anticipated of 2017. I started reading it immediately and am enjoying it so far. I've mainly been focusing on The Roanoke Girls, though, because I'm buddy reading it. It is seriously disturbing.

New Books: I small handful of new lovelies to share. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

   

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Like I said above, I've been dying to get my hands on this one, and was so excited when I snagged it. I really like Julie Murphy's writing, and am bummed that people are vilifying the book based only on the synopsis. I'm enjoying it so far. 

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

I just kind of glanced at the synopsis of this one before downloading it. Dark family secrets. Blah, blah. When I saw that my friend Christina was about to start it, I asked if she wanted to buddy read. Neither of us were prepared for how fucked up this book is. It's compulsively readable, but I don't like any of the characters. 

Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

I've been excited to start this book. I love anything to do with witches, and necromancy is so intriguing, but some pretty middling reviews has me nervous. I do hope to dive into this one next, anyway. 

Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister

This is inspired by a true story, and follows the first female detective during the Civil War, which sound awesome. 

What I snagged from the library

 

City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Giving a shout-out to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl is definitely a way to grab my attention. 

Movie:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I haven't read this book (I know), but I'm excited to watch this. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!

Waiting on Wednesday (182) Genuine Fraud

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.

Genuine Fraud

Author: e. lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: September 5, 2017

Goodreads:

From the author of the unforgettable New York Times bestseller We Were Liars comes a masterful new psychological suspense novel—the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. 
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. 
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. 
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

Why I'm Excited: I love e. lockhart. She's one of my very favorite authors (The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is in my top 3 of all time). It's intriguing to me the new path her writing seems to be taking with We Were Liars, and now this. I'm know I'm not introducing you to a book you haven't seen yet this week, but I simply cannot wait to get my hands on this book. This is truly a book I am very much waiting for. 

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

Waiting on Wednesday (181) This Darkness Mine

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.

This Darkness Mine 

Author: Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Release Date: October 10, 2017

Goodreads:

Sasha Stone knows her place—first-chair clarinet, top of her class, and at the side of her oxford-wearing boyfriend. She’s worked her entire life to ensure that her path to Oberlin Conservatory as a star musician is perfectly paved.

But suddenly there’s a fork in the road, in the shape of Isaac Harver. Her body shifts toward him when he walks by, her skin misses his touch even though she’s never known it, and she relishes the smell of him—smoke, beer, and trouble—all the things she’s avoided to get where she is. Even worse, every time he’s near Sasha, her heart stops, literally. Why does he know her so well—too well—and she doesn’t know him at all?

Sasha discovers that her by-the-book life began by ending another’s: the twin sister she absorbed in the womb. But that doesn’t explain the gaps of missing time in her practice schedule or the memories she has of things she certainly never did with Isaac. As Sasha loses her much-cherished control, her life—and heart—become more entangled with Isaac. Armed with the knowledge that her heart might not be hers alone, Sasha must decide what she’s willing to do—and who she’s willing to hurt—to take it back.

Edgar Award–winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a dark and gripping psychological thriller about a girl at war with herself, and what it really means to be good or bad.

Why I'm Excited: I was blown away by last year's The Female of the Species. It's the only book I've read by this author so far (Not a Drop to Drink really didn't sound like my cup of tea), but I am so excited for this one. I love a good psychological thriller and based on The Female of the Species, I imagine this is going to be as dark as I sometimes crave (instead of dark-ish like so many YA novels). I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

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

Weekly Rewind 2.11.17

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: My husband and I had a wonderful time in NY. We did all kinds of things in the 2 1/2 days we had there from the Metropolitan Opera House, museums, Times Square and the Comedy Cellar. I also finally got to go to the Strand Bookstore. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.

Blog and Reading: Nothing on the blog front due to my trip and then having to play catch-up at work. I finished reading Kathy Griffin's latest book last night. I'm currently reading The Takedown, which I couldn't resist starting this week. I plan on starting (and maybe finishing) Caraval this weekend, and am also currently rereading Before I Fall. 

New Books: Just a handful of pretties this week. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

   

The Takedown by Dorrie Wang

I'm often drawn to "mean girl" books, but they can be a dime a dozen. I just started this and am very early into it, but the slightly futuristic setting is intriguing. This follows a popular girl whose life gets thrown for a loop when a video of her having sex with her English teacher quickly spreads through the school. The only problem is: she swears it didn't happen. 

Beautiful Broken Things by Kim Savage

This sounds very, very much like The Virgin Suicides. That cover is amazing, though. 

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

I have to admit that I'm pretty over fantasy books and anything to do with royalty. Add the fairly middling reviews that this is getting, and I'm not sure I'll even bother. The saving grace for this one is that this is a stand-alone. 

What I Bought

 

The Strand! It was awesome and I loved walking through the maze of shelves. I had to limit myself because the trip was getting pricey, but I adore the tshirt I picked out and am excited to finally read A Week of Mondays, which has a "Groundhog's Day"-esque premise.

What I snagged from the library

 

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Glaser

Oh, this cover, so lovely. I'm tentatively excited for this. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!

Weekend Rewind 2.4.17

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 because if I don't, I know I won't type it up it all. This is my birthday weekend, and my husband and I are headed to NYC on Saturday to celebrate. My actual birthday is Monday, and I took off both Monday and Tuesday. I've only been to the city once, and he's never been, so I'm so excited to have a couple of full days there to explore. 

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I'm currently reading Kathy Griffin's latest book and I just Caraval in today, so I imagine I will start it soon. I've also been rereading Before I Fall, which I read years ago, in preparation for the movie. 

New Books: I have a handful of lovlies I'm very much excited for today. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

   

Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up by Jessica Brody

So this is basically 13 Going On 30, except it's 13 Going On 16. Regardless, this looks adorable and is one I've been looking forward to. 

The Wish Granter  by C.J. Redwine

I've actually never read anything by this author (including the first book in this "series"), but I'm intrigued by the idea of a Rumpelstiltskin retelling.

We Are Okay  by Nina LaCour

I've also never read anything by this author, despite owning two of her other books. Sigh. That never ending TBR, you know? I've been looking forward to this one, as well, but I've heard tears will be involved, and I definitely have to be in the mood for heavier stories. 

#famous by Jilly Gagnon

So this is Alex from Target (right, that was that thing?). It looks cute, but I'm not totally sold. Anybody read this one yet?

What I Bought

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I rarely buy brand new books. One, I'm poor-ish. Two, I don't really like hardcover books. Three, I'm just naturally a bargain shopper and love scouring used book stores. I couldn't resist this one, though. I've heard nothing but raves from early readers. Then, I was number three on my library hold list (I dropped the ball on this one, I'm usually first in line)...and my library system bought TWO copies, so I was going to have to wait three more weeks. So, yeah. I broke down. 

What I snagged from the library

  

Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins by Kathy Griffin

This is a total throwaway book, but it has some fun parts. 

The Careful Undressing of Love by Corey Ann Haydu

I got approved for this book the day before it was released...and then the next day it came in for me at the library. 

Movie:
Don't Breathe

This looks like it could easily veer into cheesy territory, but I remember reading pretty positive reviews when it was in theaters, so I'm going to give it a shot. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!