Waiting on Wednesday #8: Cities I’ve Never Lived In: Stories

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for Cities I’ve Never Lived In: Stories by Sara Majka

Publication:
February 16th 2016 by Graywolf Press
Genre:
Short Stories, Fiction, Adult Fiction

Fearlessly riding the line between imagination and experience, fact and fiction, the linked stories in Sara Majka’s debut collection offer intimate glimpses of a young New England woman whose life must begin afresh after a divorce. Traveling the roads of Maine and the train tracks of Grand Central Station, moving from vast shorelines to the unmade beds of strangers, these fourteen stories circle the dreams of a narrator who finds herself turning to storytelling as a means of working through the world and of understanding herself. A book that upends our ideas of love and belonging, and which asks how much of ourselves we leave behind with each departure we make, Cities I’ve Never Lived In exposes, with great sadness and great humor, the ways in which we are most of all citizens of the places where we cannot stay.

Wow. I think I just lost the ability to write properly because of the beauty of this cover and the synopsis. I’m out of words; I really need to get this one before anyone else does! It sounds promising and it seems like something that is guaranteed to make me sad, so I really want to read it ASAP. I’m very intrigued by how the author created a seemingly sad story in just a few pages.

Also, this could be the perfect choice for “A book set in Europe” in my 2016 Reading Challenge! SO EXCITED.

Are you adding this to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #7: All the Birds in the Sky

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for All the Birds in the Sky  by Charlie Jane Anders

Publication:
January 26th 2016 by Tor Books
Genre:
Fantasy, Science Fiction

From the editor-in-chief of io9.com, a stunning novel about the end of the world–and the beginning of our future.

Childhood friends Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead didn’t expect to see each other again, after parting ways under mysterious circumstances during high school. After all, the development of magical powers and the invention of a two-second time machine could hardly fail to alarm one’s peers and families.

But now they’re both adults, living in the hipster mecca San Francisco, and the planet is falling apart around them. Laurence is an engineering genius who’s working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention into the changing global climate. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world’s magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world’s ever-growing ailments. Little do they realize that something bigger than either of them, something begun years ago in their youth, is determined to bring them together–to either save the world, or plunge it into a new dark ages.

A deeply magical, darkly funny examination of life, love, and the apocalypse.

This book had me at “Childhood friends who didn’t expect to see each other again…”. I like the whole premise of science and power, it’s really interesting to see an author play with these concepts. So excited for this one, I hope my local bookstore has it so I could get my hands on it as soon as possible!

Are you adding this to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #6: The Land of 10,000 Madonnas

 

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for The Land of 10,000 Madonnas by Kate Hattemer

Publication:
April 19th 2016 by Knopf
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary

Five teens backpack through Europe to fulfill the mysterious dying wish of their friend in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy.

Which would you choose: a long, quiet life or a short, heroic one?

Jesse Serrano has always been drawn to this question, but he’s never really had a choice. He’s known since birth that a hole in his heart would render his life a short one, whether he likes it or not.

As his dying wish, Jesse sends his cousins, best friend, and girlfriend on a trip across Europe — a mysterious mission that seems more harebrained with every leg of the journey. Following Jesse’s vague instructions, they trek across the continent, unsure if they should be basking in a backpacking trip before heading off to college or searching for something deeper. Through the museums, ancient ruins, landmarks, and more religious iconography than could fill a Holy Ark, they begin to wonder if they’ll ever be able to complete the passage that Jesse laid out for them — and if they even want to without him along for the ride.

In turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Kate Hattemer’s new novel chronicles an unforgettable journey of lost and found, laughter and tears, and a myriad of Madonnas.

This cover is too beautiful. Now, calm down, folks. I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but books with nice covers are so attractive! They’re marketing the book to us readers, they should know what we want.  

Woops. Sorry. End of rant.

Anywaaaaay. . . A road trip book! It kind of reminded me of Megan Bostic’s Never Eighteen (which I really enjoyed) and so I thought, why not?

The title is so catchy as well – it’s like that One Direction song you can’t get out of your head for days. Don’t fight me on this.

Are you adding this to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #5: The Unexpected Everything

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Publication:
May 3rd 2016 by Simon & Schuster
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

From Morgan Matson, the bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone, comes a feel-good story of friendship, finding yourself, and all the joys in life that happen while you’re busy making other plans.

Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.

Future? A top-tier medical school.
Dad? Avoid him as much as possible (which isn’t that hard considering he’s a Congressman and he’s never around).
Friends? Palmer, Bri, and Toby—pretty much the most awesome people on the planet, who needs anyone else?
Relationships? No one’s worth more than three weeks.

So it’s no surprise that Andie’s got her summer all planned out too.

Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?

I mean… aren’t we all?

By the power vested in me, I now proclaim Morgan Matson as the Queen of Summer Books. #AMIRITE

She’s so good with characters. The protagonists are always so relatable and real whereas the love interests are swoon-worthy. And this book includes DOGS. WHAT IS THIS LIFE.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love Morgan Matson and her writing and her stories and just everything about her. Since You’ve Been Gone has got to be one of my favourite YA contemporaries of all time. No summer is complete without Morgan Matson, and I can’t wait for whatever she’s cooking next!

Are you adding this to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #4: The Way Back To You

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for The Way Back To You
by  Michelle Andreani and Mindi Scott

Publication:
May 3rd 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Travel/Roadtrip

 

For fans of Jenny Han and Morgan Matson, a witty, poignant novel about second chances, letting go, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.

Six months ago, Ashlyn Montiel died in a bike accident. Her best friend, Cloudy, is keeping it together, at least on the outside. Cloudy’s insides are a different story: tangled, confused, heartbroken.

Kyle is falling apart, and everyone can tell. Ashlyn was his girlfriend, and when she died, a part of him went with her. Maybe the only part he cares about anymore.

As the two people who loved Ashlyn best, Cloudy and Kyle should be able to lean on each other. But after a terrible mistake last year, they’re barely speaking. So when Cloudy discovers that Ashlyn’s organs were donated after her death and the Montiel family has been in touch with three of the recipients, she does something a little bit crazy and a lot out of character: she steals the letters and convinces Kyle to go on a winter break road trip with her, from Oregon to California to Arizona to Nevada. Maybe if they see the recipients—the people whose lives were saved by Ashlyn’s death—the world will open up again.

Or maybe it will be a huge mistake.

A ROAD TRIP BOOK. HOLLA @ MY BANK ACCOUNT, MICHELLE AND MINDI, TAKE MY MONEY!!!

Okay…

I love road trip books! What more if it’s a road trip book + twists?! This book seems like the lovechild of Morgan Matson and Melissa Kantor. So excited for this one! May, please come nearer.

Are you adding it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #3 | Please Don’t Tell

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we’re eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for Please Don’t Tell by Laura Tims

Publication:
May 24th 2016 by HarperCollins
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller/Suspense

Debut author Laura Tims writes an intense and utterly gripping contemporary YA tale perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars.

Joy has done everything to protect her twin sister… including murder.

Joy killed Adam Gordon for what he did to her sister, Grace. At least, that’s what she thinks happened. Now Adam can’t hurt anyone ever again, and her sister can be free from the boy who harmed her.

But someone else knows what Joy did, and they’re going to out her as a cold-blooded killer if she doesn’t expose the scandalous secrets bubbling just below the surface of her mundane town. As the demands escalate, and she finds herself falling for Adam’s half brother, Joy must figure out the blackmailer’s identity before everything spirals out of control.

This book intrigued me from the moment I saw its cover until I read the synopsis. As much as I don’t want to admit this, I’m a sucker for good-looking covers! I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but what better way to catch the reader’s attention than to sell them a really good-looking book? Amirite.

I’m really into suspense/thrillers, so I’m looking forward to reading this book! I’m also a fan of books that make me question my own beliefs like this one probably would.

And did I already mention that Laura Tims is only 23 years old? Oh, I haven’t? ARE YOU PANICKING RIGHT NOW? CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS

(At first, I thought the title was “Please Don’t Tell Laura Tims” and I kept looking for the author’s name! Ha.)

Are you adding it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday #2 | This Is Where It Ends

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we are eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Publication:
January 5th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Thriller

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

A fact about me that only a few people know about: I love action movies, and one of my favourite ones just happened to be the 2008 film Vantage Point starring Dennis *swoon* Quaid, Forest Whitaker and Matthew Fox. The story follows different witnesses’ points of view as they try to unravel an assassination attempt on the U.S. President.

This book reminded me of that freaking good ol’ movie AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR IT TO BE RELEASED!

This Is Where It Ends is the debut novel of author Marieke Nijkamp.

Are you adding it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday | The Last Time We Were Us

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers can showcase books that we are eagerly waiting for.

This week I’m waiting for The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen

Publication:
May 10th 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A passionate summer love story about a girl, her childhood best friend recently released from juvie, and the small-town lies that have kept them apart. A teen romance debut with a dark edge.

Liz Grant is about to have the summer of her life. She and her friend MacKenzie are getting invited to all the best parties, and with any luck, Innis Taylor, the most gorgeous guy in Bonneville, will be her boyfriend before the Fourth of July.

Local teen convict released early.

Jason Sullivan wasn’t supposed to come back from juvie. A million years ago, he was her best friend, but that was before he ditched her for a different crowd. Before he attacked Innis’s older brother, leaving Skip’s face burned and their town in shock.

“Everything is not what you think.”

Liz always found it hard to believe what they said about Jason, but all of Bonneville thinks he’s dangerous. If word gets out she’s seeing him, she could lose everything. But what if there’s more to that horrible night than she knows? And how many more people will get hurt when the truth finally comes out?

“You’re the one person who believes in me.”

Leah Konen’s southern romance swelters with passion as it explores the devastating crush of lies, the delicate balance of power and perception, and one girl’s journey to find herself while uncovering the secrets of so many others.

A little back story: Last week, Ms. Leah Konen followed me on Twitter and that’s how I knew about her book. I checked it out on Goodreads and immediately added it to my tbr because duh! I fell in love with the cover and the blurb so I tweeted her something along the lines of “I need this book!” She saw it! Which means it was too late for me to notice I had a typo. I was so embarrassed that I deleted the tweet!

Anyway, it’s been awhile since the last time I read a contemporary romance. I’ve just been not up for it, but when I saw this book I knew that I needed it. I’m really looking forward to this one because, as much as I don’t want to admit, I’m a sucker for bad boiz. I NEED THIS BOOK! 

In other news, look at that cover. And that font! Holy meatballs. Please be mine.

Are you adding it to your tbr? Let me know!