Waiting on Wednesday (217)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Coming up for Air by Miranda Kenneally (7/1/2017):

Description on Goodreads:

Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win?

Why I’m Waiting:

I’ve come to accept that I’ll always be waiting on the next Miranda Kenneally book. I love her books. I love the focus on girl athletes. I love her strong characters and their sense of family. And I always love the romance too. I cannot wait to read her next book! And this one is about a sport I actually partook in for a few years (I have not an ounce of athletic blood left in my body, but I once did…kind of/maybe).

What are you waiting on this week?

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon And Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale

Summary from Goodreads:

Once upon a time, in a land you only think you know, lived a little girl and her mother . . . or the woman she thought was her mother.

Every day, when the little girl played in her pretty garden, she grew more curious about what lay on the other side of the garden wall . . . a rather enormous garden wall.

And every year, as she grew older, things seemed weirder and weirder, until the day she finally climbed to the top of the wall and looked over into the mines and desert beyond.

Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale teams up with husband Dean Hale and brilliant artist Nathan Hale (no relation) to bring readers a swashbuckling and hilarious twist on the classic story as you've never seen it before. Watch as Rapunzel and her amazing hair team up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) to gallop around the wild and western landscape, changing lives, righting wrongs, and bringing joy to every soul they encounter.

Review:

This was pure joy to read. This was a recipe for success in my book: fairytale turned revenge story, girl hero with lots and lots of hair, monsters, adventures, western setting, and even a little romance thrown in. I seriously want more books like this. And only in finding the picture of the cover to post in this entry just now, did I even realize there’s a sequel! I must get my hands on Calamity Jack.

I’ve been on a reading frenzy kick lately. This is good because for months, I was in a slump. Basically, I’ve been putting down books I’m not feeling. I’ve been reading what I want when I want and paying less and less attention to library wait lists and books for review. I’m not sure this is the best plan, but I’ve certainly been a lot happier with my reading choices.

I’m also not going to lie; I was one book shy of my yearly goal and the morning of Dec 31, I pulled off this graphic novel from my TBR shelf, knowing I’d be able to read it quickly. Sadly, I wish it was bigger and that it took me longer to read because I loved it so much.

I love traditional fairytales that are turned upside down and usually involve a girl main character who saves the day, instead of the prince. This one was that but so much more. Rapunzel is on a mission to save her birth mom, someone she didn’t even realize existed until too late.  She’s a naïve character who has to learn how the world truly is. Instead of then wanting to take advantage of the world (like her “adoptive” mother wants”) she instead decides she’d rather fix it. I also loved Jack, the thief/best friend/love interest. Their chemistry is fantastic.

I was also a fan of the art. It was bright and fun, and easy to follow. Someone not experienced with graphic novels would have an easy time reading it. I also love that Rapunzel wasn’t hyper sexualized or even always pretty. She was dressed strangely through most of it, and her hair was always in practical, and sometimes violent braids. I really enjoyed this. I give it a 10/10.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Summary from Goodreads:

In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving New York Times bestselling-debut—also called “mandatory reading” and selected as an Editors' Choice by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx.

In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again—but he's still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he's slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely.

When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron's crew notices, and they're not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can't deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.

Why does happiness have to be so hard?

Review:

I knew I was going to love this one. I attended a “We Need Diverse Books” panel at a library conference about a year ago, and Adam Silvera was one of the speakers. First off, after listening to him speak for about 30 seconds, I wanted to be this man’s best friend. And after I heard him talk about his book, I knew I needed to get my hands on his novel immediately. I bought the book when it came out in paperback. And it took me way too long to get to it. What was I waiting for?

I guess I was technically waiting for a vacation so I’d have an opportunity to pack several paperbacks and take a break from ARCs and library books. I’m so glad I did because I loved all the books I read on vacation, particularly this one.

This was the kind of book that gives goosebumps. It’s dark, twisted, authentic, incredibly sad, harsh, and beautiful all at the same time. When explaining it to people, I have to bring in the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” It’s like a better, more YA version of that movie, with a gay love story attached.

This book deals with heavy things: suicide, hate crimes, growing up poor, grief, depression, and pain. But, it’s also about falling in love for the first time. It’s about art. It’s about learning who you are and accepting who you are. It’s about growing up in the worst of circumstances and making the best of what you have.

I cried at several different moments while reading this. I have to admit that some of the plot was a little bit spoiled for me by the author during his panel…Yet, if it wasn’t, I might not have read it, so I’m 100% okay with it.

If a surgery existed that could erase the most painful memories from your life, would you have it? And would it work to change your sexual orientation? Could a guy forget that he was gay? Could forgetting crucial memories make you a happier/better version of yourself?

There are so many layers to this book that I wish I could dissect right now, but I then would be giving too much away. Just know that reading this felt different. It felt like when I read Fight Club for the first time as a teenager. I knew I was reading something special and that I might not figure out why it was so special until the end, and maybe not even then. This is a book that I can’t get out of my head, nor do I want to. It would make for a great book club book. I can’t recommend it enough. I give it a 10/10.

Compulsion by Martina Boone

Summary from Goodreads:

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead—a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

Review:

I loved this book. It was the right book at the right time for me. I needed something a little lighter to read while on vacation. And this was it. It’s been a while since I got to sit down with a good paranormal romance. Reading this felt like a treat.

Not only was it my favorite kind of slow-building/friendship-first kind of romance, but it was sizzling too. Also, this book just had so many things in its formula that added up to a good book for me. It took place somewhere I’ve never been (nor know too much about): a plantation in South Carolina. Magic is real. Ghosts are real. It is a twin story. And it all takes place in a crazy small town where everyone knows each other. It felt like the small town in the show Hart of Dixie. I could honestly see it being quirky enough for a tv show.

Also, the main character’s one sane relative/godfather is a drag queen who makes her promise to wear gorgeous shoes and travel the world. Unfortunately, he’s dying from cancer –hence, her being sent to live with her aunt. Couldn’t this be a tv show?

Needless to say, I read this book in one sitting. The characters were great. The strange family mystery was so creepy and fun. I was maybe a little too invested in the drama of the past. I needed to know why Barrie’s mother told her nothing and what exactly happened in that fire? What a good story!

The crippling plantation setting was wonderful. I felt like I was there. The house felt like a character that was always out to get the women who lived there. There was an almost gothic, Bronte type feel to the whole story. I was sad when it ended. I’ll definitely need to get my hands on book 2. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (216)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (8/15/2017):

Description from Goodreads:

Sometimes it’s not the kid you expect who falls through to magicland, sometimes it’s . . . Elliott. He’s grumpy, nerdy, and appalled by both the dearth of technology and the levels of fit-ness involved in swinging swords around. He’s a little enchanted by the elves and mermaids. De-spite his aversion to war, work, and most people (human or otherwise) he finds that two unlikely ideas, friendship and world peace, may actually be possible.

Why I’m Waiting:

So, I have no idea what this book is supposed to really be about…Does an introverted gamer fall into Wonderland by accident? I don’t care. I want to read this now. I want to read it so badly. I love this author. I love her character-driven books, and this sounds like it will be something along those lines. I also love this author’s sense of humor, and I feel like this sounds like one, sarcastic fairytale. I’m all there, even it ends up being something totally different. I’ll read any of Brennan’s books at this point.

What are you waiting on this week?

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Summary from Goodreads:

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Review:

I devoured this book. I really needed it too. I was stuck in Logan airport waiting an extra seven hours for a delayed flight. I read the whole book (and had a lot of food and wine that night). Any way, I really needed a good book to distract me from the awful waiting. This was perfect.

The idea for this book was unlike anything I’d read before. It was so cool to see a world where mortality wasn’t an issue. This author really came up with some amazing side effects for a world where this could be possible. He created kids who purposely did stupid things, so they could “splat” and be put together again. He created “turning the corner” so all people could become younger again. He  thought about things like art and music and how nothing would be quite as good without the fear of death.

This was a well thought out world. I loved getting the snipbits from othe scythe’s journals. I loved seeing how each scythe had their own method of handling the worst job ever. I loved the idea of power hungry scythes taking advantage of their power (in a world where power kind of ceased to matter).

I also loved the super fast-paced plot. I needed to know what would happen the whole time. Who was going to make it? Would my ship happen? Would one of them really have to die? And what on earth happened to their first mentor? I had so many questions. And there were so many twists and turns. I called some of them, but not all of them and I was pleasantly surprised overall by how much I got into the plot.

The one thing I wished was a little better was the character development. I never really felt like I knew either main character too well. Maybe I knew Rowan a little bit more. And at first I thought this was intentional because I thought one of them would have to die and maybe I wasn’t supposed to get so attached, but I kind of wished I was a bit more attached. I did ship the characters more than I thought I would. And I liked how that was setup.

There was a definite Hunger Games feel, with some background noise of Shusterman’s famous Unwind. It both felt like a familiar dystopia and something entirely its own. And I liked this a lot. All in all, this was great. I loved the world, the fast paced plot, the twists and turns, and all the layers to this story. I would have given this a slightly higher score if the characters were developed a bit more. But, really, this was a fantastic read. I give it a 9/10.

A Good Week in Books (150)

Happy New Years everyone! I’ve been a little MIA lately. I spent the holidays in Chicago with my family. Then, I came back to celebrate New Years with my boyfriend and best friends. I’m so tired from the all celebrating! I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to work yet, though I do tomorrow. I did read a lot of books. And I received some great gift books, along with some fun, new ARCs for review. Thank you, Penguin Random House!

The books:

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante
City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie Anderson
As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka

How was your week in books?