Waiting on Wednesday (128) Summer in the Invisible Summer

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.

Summer in the Invisibe City

Author: Juliana Romano
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: June 21, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A sparkling coming-of-age story about self-discovery, first love, and the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Bell has this summer all figured out: She’s going to befriend the cool girls at her school. She’s going to bond with her absentee father, a famous artist, and impress him with her photography skills. And she’s finally going to get over Noah, the swoony older guy who was her very first mistake.

Sadie wasn’t counting on meeting Sam, a funny and free-thinking boy who makes her question all of her goals. But even after a summer of talking, touching, and sharing secrets, Sam says he just wants to be friends. And when those Sadie cares about most hurt her, Sam’s friendship may not be enough. Sadie can see the world through her camera, but can she see the people who have loved and supported her all along?

Set against a glamorous New York City backdrop, this coming-of-age romance is a gorgeous summer read—one whose characters will stay with you long into the fall.

Why I'm excited:

It's always around this time of year that I start yearning for summer (who am I kidding, I always want it to be summer). Honestly, it has been pretty mild weather-wise so far this year, which is awesome. Regardless, this sounds really cute. I love a good contemporary and "coming-of-age" romance, so this sounds right up my alley. 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 12.5.15

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


Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. 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.

My Life and Blog

Life: I'm sticking around VA this weekend instead of driving home. I was there for five days last week for Thanksgiving break, and just need a relaxing weekend without an eight-hour round trip drive. My throat started hurting yesterday, and feel even worse today, so I have a feeling I'm going to spend the entire weekend in bed. I hate being sick, but at least I have the weekend to hopefully just get through it. I honestly couldn't believe how quickly this week went. I thought these three weeks between breaks was going to crawl, but this week flew by. We are currently working on non-fiction texts and organizational patterns. They did a small research project this week and presented to the class, which they pretend to hate, but I think most of them enjoyed it.

Blog and reading: I posted a TTT and a WoW this week. I was hoping to get a review up, but just couldn't get my shit together. This week I finished reading Career of Evil and finished listening to Wildflower. I'm currently reading Killer Instinct and am listening to Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl.

New books: Just a couple of review books to share this week, as well as a handful of library books. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

 

Half in Love With Death by Emily Ross

I was immediately drawn to this cover, title, and synopsis about being: "Inspired by the disturbing case of Charles Schmid, ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson'" (which is, admittedly, not a case I'm familiar with.

This is Why You're Single by Laura Lane and Angela Spera

So, I'm not single (and haven't been for going on two decades now), but this is written by two sketch comedy writers and sounds pretty funny, so I decided to give it a try.

What I snagged from the library

   

          

Books:
Killer Instinct (The Naturals #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The fairly recent release of the third book reminded me that I never read the second one. Currently reading. While I don't really LOVE her books, I just find her writing immensely readable. She always sucks me in and I do like this series (although I could seriously do without the love triangle).

The Explorer's Guild by Jon Baird

This book is gorgeous. Part graphic, part text, on these beautiful thin, yellowed pages. I'm pretty excited for this book.
Audio:

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein

I had this book a few weeks ago, but decided to wait until the audio came in to read it. I love Carrie's voice, and always prefer to listen to memoirs.
Movies:

Paper Towns
I've tried to read this book a couple of times. I made it most of the way through the audio before I just couldn't do it anymore. I'm hoping this will be one of those rare movies where I like it more than the book.
Clouds at Sils Maria
I've heard nothing but good things about this movie, especially about Kristen Stewart's performance. I'm really excited. This will definitely happen this weekend and will write a review for next week.   

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 (127) The Inside of Out

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.

The Inside of Out

Author: Jenn Marie Thorne
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: July 12, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Meg Cabot meets Glee in this breezy, hilarious, deceptively smart YA about privilege,
pretense, and realizing that every story needs a hero. Sometimes it's just not you.

When her best friend Hannah comes out the day before junior year, Daisy is so ready to let her ally flag fly that even a second, way more blindsiding confession can't derail her smiling determination to fight for gay rights. Before you can spell LGBTQIA, Daisy's leading the charge to end their school’s antiquated ban on same-sex dates at dances—starting with homecoming. And if people assume Daisy herself is gay? Meh, so what. It's all for the cause. What Daisy doesn't expect is for "the cause” to blow up—starting with Adam, the cute college journalist whose interview with Daisy for his university paper goes viral, catching fire in the national media. #Holy #cats. With the story spinning out of control, protesters gathering, Hannah left in the dust of Daisy’s good intentions, and Daisy's mad attraction to Adam feeling like an inconvenient truth, Daisy finds herself caught between her bold plans, her bad decisions, and her big fat mouth 

Why I'm excited:

I'm always drawn to books about "privilege." I've probably read the book Prep a dozen times because I find the examination of class so interesting. This sounds adorable to boot. I love a good Meg Cabot book, so any reference to her will give me pause. I've actually gotten away from cutesy contemporaries lately (they used to be my go-to), but I still like a fluffy read every once in awhile. So 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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TTT: 2016 Debuts I Can't Wait to Read

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.

TTT: 2016 debuts I can't wait to get my hands on

2016 is shaping up to be a great year for debus. There are a lot of books I'm looking forward to. I have some of these already, but haven't read any of them yet (and some are books I'm hoping to snag).

    
    
   

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

I love pirates. This book, about a young Blackbeard and the girl he falls for, sounds amazing.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

A new take on Sherlock Holmes. It looks very charming.

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

I have no idea what this is about, but it sure sounds interesting.
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Strike
I'm always such a sucker for covers like this with wonderful sounding worlds, but I rarely actually read or enjoy them. This one sounds pretty awesome, though.
This is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
As a teacher, I cannot help but be terrified by books like this. It isn't a fear I deal with on a day-to-day basis, to be honest, but every once in awhile I'll hear about a shooting and will be struck dumb with fear.
Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw
This book that follows a fanfic writer who turns her writer's gaze onto the people in her high school sounds right up my alley.
Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard
Best friends lives become complicated when a third girl comes into the mix. I love complicated friendship stories.
The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood
This is about a 17 year-old physics prodigy. Physics was never my strong suit, but I love books that follow brilliant people...because if I could wish for any improvement I would like to be smarter. Screw thinner or taller or prettier. I would love to be intimidatingly   smart.
The Darkest Corner by Kara Thomas
I love a good murder mystery, and this one sounds intriguing.
Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey
I'm so in love with this cover. I don't even really care what it's about (although it does sound really fun).
Doreen by Ilana Manaster
An update on "The Picture of Dorian Gray." To this I say: Gimme. Gimme, now.
The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen
Again. This cover is amazing. But more than that, the synopsis kind of reminds me of Ten Things I Hate About You, one of my all-time favorite films.


That's it for me. What debuts are you looking forward to? Link me up!

Hey lovely readers. I love meeting and connecting with new bloggers. If you decide to follow, my preferred method is Bloglovin'. Let me know if you are a new follower as I follow back. Thank you!

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Weekly Rewind 11.28.15

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


Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. 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.

Life and Blog

Life: This is going to be short and sweet today. I've been home for the past couple of days and have plans with friends tonight that I need to start getting ready for (thankfully they are good friends and we are just going over to their house). Thanksgiving was awesome and being home has been exactly what I needed. I can't believe in just three weeks it will be time for Christmas break! (And then a loooong 3 months before Spring Break...but I won't think about that quite yet.) 

Blog and reading: Just a WoW this week. I love this cover, and the story sounds really fun. I'm currently reading Shallow Graves and Gena/Finn, and am switched to the audio of Career of Evil.

New books: Just a handful today, but I'm excited about all of them. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous (hopefully long) weekends!

For Review

Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace

I'm about 70% through this, and it is bizarre. I'm definitely curious to see how it ends, but I'm not loving it (I am enjoying it, though). It's certainly interesting and original.  

The Trouble With Destiny by Lauren Morrill

How charming is that cover? I haven't read Meant to Be, but I really liked Being Sloane Jacobs, so I have high hopes for this one. 

Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain

A girl tries to survive in the wilderness about her survivalist father leaves her and her sister. I've been wanting to read this one, and was lucky to win a copy. This one is probably next. 

 What I snagged from the library

Books:

Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius

This is truly one of my favorite covers ever. So charming.

Movies:

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

I was hoping to reread this before this came in for me, but just didn't get to it. I started to reread it and then got distracted, and frankly I just have so many books waiting for me that I'll probably end up watching this on Sunday night when I get back into town because this is due on Monday, and I don't want to put my name back on the reserve list and wait for it to come back in. So. 

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 Wednesdays (126) Little Black Dresses Little White Lies

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.

Little Black Dresses
Little White Lies

Author: Laura Stampler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: July 19, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Harper Anderson always believed she belonged somewhere more glamorous than her sleepy Northern California suburb. After all, how many water polo matches and lame parties in Bobby McKittrick's backyard can one girl take? That's why Harper is beyond ecstatic when she lands her dream internship as a dating blogger at the elite teen magazine Shift. Getting to spend the summer in New York City to live her dream of becoming a writer? Harper's totally in.

There's just one teeny, tiny, infinitesimal problem: Apart from some dance floor make-outs, Harper doesn't have a lot of - or, really, any - dating expertise. In fact, she might have sort of stolen her best friend's experiences as her own on her Shift application. But she can learn on the job...right?

From awkward run-ins with the cute neighborhood dog-walker to terrifying encounters with her crazed editor, from Brooklyn gallery openings to weekends in the Hamptons, Harper finds out what it takes to make it in the Big City--and as the writer of her own destiny.

Why I'm excited:

Graphic black and white covers are one of my favorites. Beyond that, this kind of reminds me of one of my favorite chick-lit novels from the early 2000s when I was huge into that genre called Fashionistas. I hope I love this one as much. 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 (11.21.15)

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


Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. 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.

Life and Blog

Life: My honey is coming here this weekend. Our hockey team, the Avs, are playing the Capitals on Saturday. I LOVE seeing new stadiums, and am so excited! He'll be here on Friday thru Sunday, and then I'll be home on Tuesday for Thanksgiving break. So we'll have almost a full week together. Then just three weeks until we'll have a full TWO weeks together. This year is SO much better than last year, but it still sucks to not see each other every day. This weekend is going to be so fun, and next week I have plans to see a lot of my friends I haven't been able to see since the summer, so good stuff coming up.

This week has gone pretty quickly. Tomorrow is "STEM" day, so I don't have to teach any classes. Some teachers are presenting lessons, while others are going with a homeroom from room to room to help out. I'm a floater--which is awesome because I didn't have to prepare anything, and I get to see different lessons. Plus, the lovely people that be gave me last block planning, so I get to just chill for the last hour of the day. They took a quiz today, so I'll have some time to sit down and do some grading. Next week is going to be pretty lax. It's a two day week, and on Tuesday especially, I know I'll be missing students, so I'm not planning a huge lesson. I'll have some fun activities, and then will just let them read. For the most part, my students love to just read silently. People assume that they wouldn't, but besides a couple of outliers, they really do.

Blog and reading: This week I posted a WoW set during WWII with a group of girl spies. I also posted a somewhat rambling post about reading schedules and how it relates to Modern Romance. It does, I promise. This week I read Wink, Poppy, Midnight. It reads like a modern fairy-tale and I loved it. Review next week. I'm on the last CD of Drew Barrymore's Wildflower. I'm currently reading Gena/Finn, but just started it so I don't have much of an opinion so far. I'm trying this new thing where I just read one book at a time...so we'll see how that goes.

New books: Just a couple of books to share this week. Hopefully I'll get some reading done next week during break, but I really have planned something for almost every night I'm home, so we'll see. Regardless, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

 

Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson

Two women bond over fanfic of their favorite show. Told in emails and blog comments. I've just started this, but it's cool so far.

Forbidden by Eve Bunting

I adore this cover. The story, about an orphan who moves to a New England town with her aunt and uncle who is drawn to a boy she is "forbidden" from seeing has me a bit skeptical. Has anyone read this one?

What I snagged from the library

   

 

Books:

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

I used to dye my hair that color. Every time I see this book, it makes me want to do it again...but the upkeep was such a pain in the ass--and I worked at a salon at the time. Also, I may have requested to sequel to this (I did), so now I need to get on it. I've heard good things.

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

I've never read anything by this author. I've heard some good things about this one, and I almost always connect with thrillers, so I hope I love it.

Audio:
The Martian by Andy Weir

Despite owning this, I just can't seem to get to it, so I decided to go the audio route.

Movies:
The Gift

I cannot WAIT to watch this. I actually debated seeing this in the theater alone when this came out, and then just got to it. It looks so intriguing.

The Man from UNCLE

I've heard this movie is all style and no substance, but the style is so amazing (60s mod is my all-time favorite), so I'm honestly ok if that's true.

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!

Read More