Waiting on Wednesday (163) Wesley James Ruined My Life

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.

Wesley James Ruined My Life

Author: Jennifer Honeybourn
Publisher: Swoon
Release Date: July 18, 2017

Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick’s having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad’s gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley Boyle, former childhood friend—until he ruined her life, that is.

So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn’s going to do is forgive and forget. She’s determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once—by getting him fired.

But getting rid of Wesley isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it. 

Why I'm Excited:
So this sounds adorable. I love a cute, fluffy read--especially in the summer (yes, I already have next summer on the mind--lol). I love the setting of the medieval themed restaurant. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

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

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As I Descended (Release Day/ARC Review)

As I Descended

Author: Robin Talley
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: September 6, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily.

Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school.

But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line.

From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

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

My thoughts: 

I imagine this review is going to be fairly short. This was easily in my top five most anticipated books of 2016. As such, I read it months ago pretty much as soon as it was mine...and then just kept putting off reviewing it. For no reason beyond the fact that I've become an incredibly lazy reviewer. I didn't want to let this one pass by completely, though, because people should definitely know about this one. 

What I loved about this book:

• It is a Macbeth retelling with a lesbian couple in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. 
• It is a Macbeth retelling with a lesbian couple in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. 
• It takes place in a boarding school, which is my all-time favorite setting for books.
• Not only are "the Macbeths" a lesbian couple, one is Hispanic and the other is physically disabled. 
• It is seriously eerie. If you are familiar with Macbeth (and I'm going to assume that you are), you know that ghosts abound in the play. They are prevalent in As I Descended, too, and I was legit freaked out by parts of the story.
• The sense of dread starts at the beginning of the book and doesn't let up.
• The "descent" of both Maria (Macbeth) and Lily (Lady M) are realistic. 
• I didn't really like either of the girls, but I was rooting for them regardless. 
• I seriously love that cover. 

I love Shakespearean retellings. I just love Shakespeare, period. What I really enjoyed about this retelling is that it didn't cling too tightly to the original play, but the dread you feel while reading the story is the same as the one you get when reading (or seeing) the play. I loved the idea of setting the story at a boarding school--a place where racism and classism can run rampant. I loved that what Maria wanted wasn't the "kingdom", but the top spot in school which would give her a real chance at going to university with Lily. I loved how absolutely creepy this story was and that I can remember the feeling I felt even though I read this months ago. 

There are things I didn't love. I thought the second half started to drag a bit after a fast-paced start that I immediately fell into, and I wasn't crazy about the ending. Both of those are very small complaints, though, and as I type this months after reading it, the good things are definitely the ones that are standing out to me. 

True story: I truly remember staying up until midnight reading this book one night and then waking up at 1am because I could have sworn--sworn--that somebody was whispering in my ear. This story really messed with my mind. I'm not easily spooked, either. I often watch scary movies alone because my husband doesn't like them. 

There are a lot of people this book would appeal to: Shakespeare nuts, those seeking true diversity in their stories, those looking for the perfectly eerie fall read. 

Definitely recommend. 

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Weekly Rewind 9.3.16

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: Whew! This has been a week. The first week of school is always so crazy, but this one was especially so. Because my school has more English teachers than English classrooms, I'm on a cart and travel between rooms. I did this last year, so it isn't really a big deal, but it's still an adjustment of being in the right place at the right time. We also had back-to-school night with the parents on Wednesday, which made for an extremely long day. I'm so glad this is Labor Day weekend. My kids seem like they are going to be a great bunch this year, though, and I'm excited to get to know them better. I'm slowly learning their names and personalities. With 75 students, it usually takes me a couple of weeks before I remember all their names. I haven't had any free time, so I'm sorry I didn't make it back to most of your blogs last week. If you left me a comment last week (or you do this week), I promise to make it by your blog this weekend.  

I am headed home for the long weekend. My husband will be gone the next couple of weekends, so I definitely want to spend what time I can with him since we will be spending the next three apart. I don't plan on doing a whole lot this weekend beyond catching up on sleep. We ended up going to see the newest Star Trek film last weekend which we both enjoyed, but neither of us loved. It was worth seeing in the theater, I think, but I liked the second film more. 

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I started and finished listening to The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close. As much as I like her writing (Girls in White Dresses is one of my all-time favorites), I was disappointed in the story. I hope to sit down and write (a short) review this weekend. As far as non-audiobooks are concerned, I've very much struggled to want to read this week. I'm in the middle of several books right now, but have only been able to read a page or two before my mind starts racing and I have to put it down. Next week I'll start getting into the swing of actual lessons/content (most of which are already completely planned), which will help free up some mind-space. I hope to read An Ember of Ashes (finally) this week and I have A Darker Shade of Magic on audio waiting for me at my PA library. 

New Books: I have a handful of lovelies that I'm excited to read this week, both for review and from the library. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

   

   

The Forgetting  by Sharon Cameron

So from what I'm gathering from the synopsis, this is a story about a town whose residents forget everything about their lives every 12 years unless they have their memories written down. I think this cover is just lovely. 

Going Geek by Charlotte Huang

This takes place at an East Coast boarding school which is all I need to know to be interested. 

A Song to Take the World Apart by Zan Romanoff

About a girl with siren-like powers. The reviews for this one are unfortunately pretty middling, but I'm going to give it a try. 

Pasadena  by Sherri L. Smith

A noir about a girl trying to understand her best friend's murder. 

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

This is one of those girl returns years after being abducted but is t really her books. 

Cradle and All by James Patterson

I'm so intrigued by this YA rendition of a book that was published 15 years ago about girls around the world who are getting pregnant despite being virgins and a former nun turned detective. (On a related note, I'm also intrigued by the YA rendition of The Da Vinci Code. It's an interested trend, no?)

When They Fade by Jeyn Roberts

Reading the synopsis I'm not exactly sure what this is about, but I know it follows two girl, one living and one dead and it looks intriguing. 

What I snagged from the library

Book:

A Torch Against the Night  by Sabaa Tahir

Confession time: I still haven't read An Ember in the Ashes (despite having an ARC). I started it before its release date and got decently far...before putting it down. I started it again a couple of night ago and am determined to finish it this time. (I know. I know.)

Audio:

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

I'm about halfway through this and am certainly intrigued. 

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 (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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