Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Velvet Undercover, Teri Brown
Release Date: October 20, 2015 

Summary from Goodreads:

Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a Girl Guide and messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, high-level mathematics, and complex puzzles and codes, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche she’s torn—this could be the adventure she’s dreamed of, but how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband to the war? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes there’s no way she can refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known to the members of LDB only as Velvet. Deep undercover within the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Samantha must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she finds herself forming a forbidden attraction to the enemy-a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Samantha discover the truth and find Velvet before it’s too late…for them 
both?

Why I'm Excited: This looks like the perfect mix of girl-power and drama. I love historical fiction novels, and the spy aspect of this one sounds really interesting. 

Hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Fans of the Impossible Life, Kate Scelsa 
Release Date: September 8, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

This is the story of a girl, her gay best friend, and the boy in love with both of them.

Ten months after her recurring depression landed her in the hospital, Mira is starting over as a new student at Saint Francis Prep. She promised her parents she would at least try to act like a normal, functioning human this time around, not a girl who sometimes can’t get out of bed for days on end, who only feels awake when she’s with Sebby. 

Jeremy is the painfully shy art nerd at Saint Francis who’s been in self-imposed isolation after an incident that ruined his last year of school. When he sees Sebby for the first time across the school lawn it’s as if he’s been expecting this blond, lanky boy with a mischievous glint in his eye. 

Sebby, Mira’s gay best friend, is a boy who seems to carry sunlight around with him like a backlit halo. Even as life in his foster home starts to take its toll, Sebby and Mira together craft a world of magic rituals and secret road trips, designed to fix the broken parts of their lives. 

As Jeremy finds himself drawn into Sebby and Mira’s world, he begins to understand the secrets that they hide in order to protect themselves, to keep each other safe from those who don’t understand their quest to live for the impossible.

Why I'm Excited: Now this is an interesting and new take on the love triangle! This sounds like it will be the perfect mix of humor and touching emotion. Plus I love the pastel colors on the cover. 

Hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Illusionarium by Heather Dixon 
Release Date: May 19, 2015 

Summary from Goodreads:

From the author of Entwined, a brilliantly conceived adventure through an alternate London. This sweeping, cinematic tale of an apprentice scientist desperate to save his family—and his world—is The Night Circus meets Pixar.

Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that is breathtaking and wholly original.


Why I'm Excited: This one sounds like a really fun read. Alternate London, parallel worlds, action, and humor? I'm in. I'm excited to get a little more information on this one soon.

Hosted by: Breaking the Spine  

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

The Uninvited Guest, Cat Winters
Release Date: August 11, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.

But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.

Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.

Why I'm Excited: I loved The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters and I really want to pick up In the Shadow of Blackbirds, so of course I'm excited for her new novel. I love the historical atmosphere Winter's creates and how her books always have a great visual element to them- usually in the form of black and white photos. This one takes place during the influenza scare of 1918- so I'm expecting the creepy atmosphere Winters is so great at creating.  If you're looking for some historical fiction or paranormal stand-alones, I recommend checking out Cat Winters.  

Hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
Release Date: March 31, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Emilia and Teo's lives changed in a fiery, terrifying instant when a bird strike brought down the plane their stunt pilot mothers were flying. Teo's mother died immediately, but Em's survived, determined to raise Teo according to his late mother's wishes-in a place where he won't be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. But in 1930s America, a white woman raising a black adoptive son alongside a white daughter is too often seen as a threat.

Seeking a home where her children won't be held back by ethnicity or gender, Rhoda brings Em and Teo to Ethiopia, and all three fall in love with the beautiful, peaceful country. But that peace is shattered by the threat of war with Italy, and teenage Em and Teo are drawn into the conflict. Will their devotion to their country, its culture and people, and each other be their downfall or their salvation?

In the tradition of her award-winning and bestselling Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein brings us another thrilling and deeply affecting novel that explores the bonds of friendship, the resilience of young pilots, and the strength of the human spirit.

Why I'm Excited: Okay, admittedly I haven't read her other two books yet, but I'm going to ASAP- like the minute I'm settled into my new semester and have time to read again. I love how her books are historical fiction stories full of girl power! This one sounds so unique- Ethiopia in the 1930's? I've never read a book with this setting, and I really want to read more YA with settings other than America and the U.K. This one is highly anticipated.  

Hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Love Hurts, Edited by Malorie Blackman
Release Date:  January 29. 2015

 Summary from Goodreads:
Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak and Patrick Ness, and with a brand-new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

Why I'm Excited: I LOVE tragic love stories and star-crossed lovers. I just cannot resist a good doomed love. This is a book full of them- and the author line up is great- Maureen Johnson, Patrick Ness, Gayle Forman, Phillip Pullman, e. Lockheart, David Levithan, and Marcus Zusak are among the contributors. 


Hosted by: Breaking the Spine

October Wrap-Up

October was pretty busy for me. I had midterms, papers, and speeches, and I suspect that November will be even busier because we are in the second half of the semester now. This wasn't my best reading month, But I really enjoyed what I did read. Quality over quantity right?

Reviews: 
My reread of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Dracula by Bram Stoker: Review and Brief History
Gris Grimly's Frankenstein

Favorite Book of the Month: I really loved rereading The Bell Jar, but Gris Grimly's Frankenstein was such a beautiful and poignant adaption of the original that it takes the top spot as my favorite book of the month.


Other Posts:
Waiting on Wednesday: We Should Hang Out Sometime
Fun and Light Reads: Recommendations and TBR
Stacking the Shelves: Libraries are a Beautiful Thing
TTT: Character Driven Novels
Perfect October Reads
Stacking the Shelves: Fun Reads
TTT: Book Places I want to Visit
Before the End of the Year TBR (Which I'm making really good progress on!)
Stacking the Shelves: I Earned it. Right?
My Favorite Epigraphs: Part 1
TTT: Series I Want to Start
Announcement!
TTT: Halloween Reads
Waiting on Wednesday: In a World Just Right

Favorite Post of the Month: I really enjoyed making the post on My Favorite Epigraphs because I loved going through my books and searching for great epigraphs. Keep your eyes peeled for a part two soon! I also loved writing and researching my Dracula Review and History post.


Most Popular Post of the Month: Libraries are a Beautiful Thing and Perfect October Reads



Looking Ahead: Later this week I'm going to be posting about an exciting event I went to that really inspired me, along with reviewing a YA fantasy novel and a Classic novel.

Don't forget to friend me on Goodreads!
Happy November!

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks
Release Date: April 28, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

High school senior Jonathan Aubrey creates worlds at will. In Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend, he’s given himself everything he doesn’t have in real life-–the track team, passing grades, and his dream girl–-until one day he confuses his worlds and almost kisses the real Kylie Simms. Now his girlfriend Kylie and the real Kylie are changing, and Jonathan must solve the mystery of his own life to save his love from a gruesome fate.


Why I'm Excited:
This book is getting amazing reviews from those who have read an advanced copy, and alternate worlds are something that are not very common in YA books. This sounds like a really interesting blend of contemporary and fantasy. The concept and plot sound fresh and I love the blue cover. 

Hosted by:Breaking the Spine 

September Wrap-Up

Welcome to October! September went by so fast, I have to sign up for my Spring Semester classes this month already which is crazy! So here's a wrap-up of my September posts.

Reviews:
Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
The Time Machine by HG Wells
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos

Favorite book of the month: I would say this is a tie between Heir of Fire and Midwinterblood 

Other Posts: 
TTT: Authors at my lunch table 
Stacking the Shelves: New Semester Treat
TTT: Underrated books in two genres
State of Mind
Stacking the Shelves: Nook Purchases
Love Lost
TTT: Authors I want to read more from
Waiting on Wednesday: Belzhar
Literary Look: The Harlem Renaissance
TTT: Fall TBR
Currently Watching: Monarch of the Glen
Happy Banned Books Week
TTT: Difficult Reads

Favorite post of the month: I have been really enjoying doing my Literary Look series, and this month's post on the Harlem Renaissance is my favorite post of the month.

Most popular post of the month: TTT: Fall TBR 

Looking Ahead: Hopefully I will be reading lots of Fall and Halloween appropriate books this month and doing lots of reviews. Watch out for a list of perfect October reads as well as my thoughts after rereading one of my favorite books later this week.

Happy October!

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

We Should Hang Out Some Time by Josh Sundquist 
Release Date: December 23, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

A bright, poignant, and deeply funny autobiographical account of coming of age as an amputee cancer survivor, from Josh Sundquist: Paralympic ski racer, YouTube star, and motivational speaker.

Josh Sundquist only ever had one girlfriend.
For twenty-three hours.
In eighth grade.

Why was Josh still single? To find out, he tracked down the girls he had tried to date and asked them straight up: What went wrong?

The results of Josh's semiscientific, wholly hilarious investigation are captured here. From a disastrous Putt-Putt date involving a backward prosthetic foot, to his introduction to CFD (Close Fast Dancing), to a misguided "grand gesture" at a Miss America pageant, this story is about looking for love--or at least a girlfriend--in all the wrong places.

Why I'm Excited:
I saw this while browsing the pre-orders on my nook and thought it sounded like a cute contemporary read. Not until I was putting this post together did I learn that it's an autobiography! This sounds like the perfect reading for winter break from school, which is when it's released. I'm usually not interested in non-fiction about relationships, but this one has definitely captured my interest it sounds like it's going to be really cute and really heartwarming. 

What are you waiting on?  

hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

I thought I would do a Waiting on Wednesday this week, and possibly do some more in the future whenever I'm interested in a new release.

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer 
Release Date: September 30, 2014

Goodreads Summary:
If life were fair, Jam Gallahue would still be  at home in New Jersey with her sweet British  boyfriend, Reeve Maxfield. She’d be watching  old comedy sketches with him. She’d be kissing  him in the library stacks.

She certainly wouldn’t be at The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school in rural Vermont, living with a weird roommate, and signed up for an exclusive, mysterious class called Special Topics in English.

But life isn’t fair, and Reeve Maxfield is dead.

Until a journal-writing assignment leads Jam to Belzhar, where the untainted past is restored, and Jam can feel Reeve’s arms around her once again. But there are hidden truths on Jam’s path to reclaim her loss.

Why I'm Excited:
I love, love, love The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath which this novel connects too. I know the main character studies Plath's works in her English class, and the tittle of the book is meant to sound like The Bell Jar. I have been seeing some good reviews of this book by those who have read it early, so I have high hopes for it. 

I love when Young Adult literature can appeal to those who read Classics, and since I love both genres, I'm hopefully going to enjoy this book. 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by: Breaking the Spine