Happy Tuesday! This is my very first TTT post for this year! Yey! ♥
Top Ten Tuesday : 2016 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To
Top Ten Tuesday : Books and Bookish Items I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree
Happy Tuesday! It’s time for TTT again and today’s topic is “Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree (or non-book bookworm items)”. I listed my top 5 books and top 5 bookish items below and I’ve been good this year so Mr. Santa, you know what do. 😀
Top Ten Tuesday : Books I’m Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017
Wow! I can’t believe that my last TTT post was in June! How time flies. I miss posting TTT so I’ve decided to join this week. The topic is Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017 and here are they:
Top Ten Tuesday : Favorite 2016 Releases So Far
Hi guys! How is everyone? I’m typing this while watching the EURO 2016 on TV. Germany is playing against N. Ireland. I’m not really into European Football (or any sports) but it’s fun watching the game and the fans. I’m cheering for Germany by the way. 🙂
Waiting On Wednesday : Holding Up The Universe
Holding Up The Universe
by Jennifer Niven
Expected Publication : October 4, 2016
Edition : Hardcover (400 pages)
Publisher : Knopf Books for Young Readers
Book Synopsis
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything in new and bad-ass ways, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. . . . Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are—and seeing them right back. x
Why Am I Waiting For This?
Right after finishing All The Bright Places, I promised myself that I’ll buy the next books of Jennifer Niven. I loved everything about ATBP and Niven is one if the nicest author I know even I haven’t met her yet in person. You can find an exclusive excerpt of Holding Up The Universe here. I don’t want to read the excerpt because it will just make me more excited. I don’t even want to read the blurb. All I know is it’s the story of Libby and Jack. And yes, I admit that I am envy with those who have the ARC. 😀 You lucky guys!
Are you also waiting for this book? Share your WoW below. ♥
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights
upcoming releases that we are excited for.
Top Ten Tuesday : Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year
Hi guys! I’ve noticed that my last TTT post was in March! Wow! It’s been really a long time. So, this week’s theme is “Most Anticipated Releases For the Second Half Of The Year” and here are the books I can’t wait to have.
Waiting on Wednesday : Valentina
VALENTINA
S.E. Lynes
Expected Publication: July 1, 2016
Edition: Paperback (280 pages)
Publisher: Blackbird Digital Books
When Glasgow journalist Shona McGilvery moves with her partner Mikey and their baby to an idyllic cottage in rural Scotland, they believe that all that lies ahead of them is happiness.
But with Mikey working offshore, the frightening isolation of the Aberdeenshire countryside begins to drive her insane…
That is, until she is rescued by a new friendship with the enchanting Valentina.
She has the perfect home, the perfect man, and a charismatic new best friend – or does she?
As her fairytale life begins to unravel, the deep dark wood becomes the least of her fears…
A hauntingly intelligent, addictive psychological thriller from debut author S. E. Lynes.
Big thanks to Blackbird Digital Books for sending me an advance copy. Valentina will be released on July 1st this year but it is already available for pre-order in both digital and print formats. (Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles)
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights
upcoming releases that we are excited for.
Friday Finds : The Wander Society by Keri Smith
WANDER
by Keri Smith
Edition: Hardover (208 pages)
Publisher: Penguin Books (March 29, 2016)
wan·der
verb \ˈwän-dər\
to walk/explore/amble in an unplanned or aimless way with a complete openness to the unknownSeveral years ago when Keri Smith, bestselling author of Wreck This Journal, discovered cryptic handwritten notations in a worn copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, her interest was piqued. Little did she know at the time that those simple markings would become the basis of a years-long, life-changing exploration into a mysterious group known only as The Wander Society, as well as the subject of this book.
Within these pages, you’ll find the results of Smith’s research: A guide to the Wander Society, a secretive group that holds up the act of wandering, or unplanned exploring, as a way of life. You’ll learn about the group’s mysterious origins, meet fellow wanderers through time, discover how wandering feeds the creative mind, and learn how to best practice the art of wandering, should you choose to accept the mission.
Few weeks ago, I got an email from Ms. Nora of Penguin Books about Keri Smith’s new book called The Wander Society. I have Smith’s Wreck This Box (Wreck This Journal, Mess, This Is Not A Book) and totally love it so I got excited about TWS. The idea of the book is fascinating and I want to know more about the group and meet other wanderers. I’m happy to be an official member of TWS (you can see the I.D. on the photo above) and I can’t wait to start wandering.
Friday Finds is hosted by the awesome Jenn of Books and a Beat. It showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library – wherever! (They aren’t necessarily booky you purchased)
Friday Finds : Dreamology
DREAMOLOGY
by Lucy Keating
Edition: Hardcover (336 pages)
Publisher: HarperTeen (April 12, 2016)
Vibrantly offbeat and utterly original, Lucy Keating’s debut novel combines the unconventional romance of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with the sweetness and heart of Jenny Han.
For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together, they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.
But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. Real Max is nothing like Dream Max. He’s stubborn and complicated. And he has a whole life Alice isn’t a part of. Getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.
Alarmingly, when their dreams start to bleed into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough?
Feel free to share your finds below. ♥ Happy Friday!
Friday Finds is hosted by the awesome Jenn of Books and a Beat. It showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library – wherever! (They aren’t necessarily booky you purchased)
Friday Finds : Young Adult / Contemporary Edition
WHEN WE COLLIDED
Emery Lord
Edition: Hardcover (352 pages)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children (April 5, 2016)
We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…
Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.
Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.
Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.
In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever. x
THE SERPENT KING
Jeff Zentner
Edition: Hardcover (384 pages)
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Leader (March 8, 2016)
Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.
The only antidote to all this venom is his friendship with fellow outcasts Travis and Lydia. But as they are starting their senior year, Dill feels the coils of his future tightening around him. The end of high school will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is happy wherever he is thanks to his obsession with the epic book series Bloodfall and the fangirl who may be turning his harsh reality into real-life fantasy. Dill’s only escapes are his music and his secret feelings for Lydia—neither of which he is brave enough to share. Graduation feels more like an ending to Dill than a beginning. But even before then, he must cope with another ending—one that will rock his life to the core. x
I love reading Young Adult and Contemporary books and these two are on my list.
Friday Finds is hosted by the awesome Jenn of Books and a Beat. It showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library – wherever! (They aren’t necessarily booky you purchased)
Friday Finds : Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman
HONEY GIRL
by Lisa Freeman
Edition: Hardcover (288 pages)
Publisher: Sky Pony Press (March 2015)
I got this gorgeous book 2 days ago in the mail. First, I’d like to thank Ms. Lauren and Ms. Lisa for providing me a copy. I really appreciate it. The cover is so pretty and I was thrilled when I saw that the author signed the book. This is definitely on my Summer TBR.
How to survive California’s hottest surf spot: Never go anywhere without a bathing suit. Never cut your hair. Never let them see you panic.
The year is 1972. Fifteen-year-old Haunani “Nani” Grace Nuuhiwa is transplanted from her home in Hawaii to Santa Monica, California after her father’s fatal heart attack. Now the proverbial fish-out-of-water, Nani struggles to adjust to her new life with her alcoholic white (haole) mother and the lineup of mean girls who rule State Beach.
Following “The Rules”—an unspoken list of dos and don’ts—Nani makes contact with Rox, the leader of the lineup. Through a harrowing series of initiations, Nani not only gets accepted into the lineup, she gains the attention of surf god, Nigel McBride. But maintaining stardom is harder than achieving it. Nani is keeping several secrets that, if revealed, could ruin everything she’s worked so hard to achieve. Secret #1: She’s stolen her dad’s ashes and hidden them from her mom. Secret #2: In order to get in with Rox and her crew, she spied on them and now knows far more than they could ever let her get away with. And most deadly of all, Secret #3: She likes girls, and may very well be in love with Rox. x
Friday Finds is hosted by the awesome Jenn of Books and a Beat. It showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library – wherever! (They aren’t necessarily booky you purchased)
Waiting On Wednesday : Sunday’s on the Phone to Monday
Sunday’s on the Phone to Monday
Christine Reilly
Expected Publication: April 5, 2016
Edition: Hardcover (336 pages)
Publisher: Touchstone
The Middlesteins meets The Virgin Suicides in this arresting family love story about the eccentric yet tight knit Simone family, coping with tragedy during 90s New York, struggling to reconnect with each other and heal.
Claudio and Mathilde Simone, once romantic bohemians hopelessly enamored with each other, find themselves nestled in domesticity in New York, running a struggling vinyl record store and parenting three daughters as best they can: Natasha, an overachieving prodigy; sensitive Lucy, with her debilitating heart condition; and Carly, adopted from China and quietly fixated on her true origins.
With prose that is as keen and illuminating as it is whimsical and luminous, debut novelist Christine Reilly tells the unusual love story of this family. Poignant and humane, Sunday’s on the Phone to Monday is a deft exploration of the tender ties that bind families together, even as they threaten to tear them apart.
WHY AM I WAITING FOR THIS?
The lovely Ms. Christine provided me a copy of her debut novel in exchange for an honest review. I gave up and read the synopsis. I haven’t read The Middlesteins nor The Virgin Suicides so I’m still not sure what to expect. I’m just glad that the synopsis is not that detailed. I don’t really like detailed synopsis because it affects my reading experience, a lot. I’m planning to read this next week and I’m excited. ♥
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights
upcoming releases that we are excited for.
Top Ten Tuesday : Spring TBR
My last TTT post was in January? Woah. How time flies. So, this week’s theme is quite simple, Ten Books on my Spring TBR. I don’t really do a monthly/seasonal TBR list so I will be sharing my top ten “priority” reads.
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab – The sequel of A Darker Shade of Magic series. Of course this is the first one on my priority TBR list. I’m so excited and terrified to read this one. Also, Schwab started writing the 3rd book.
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – The third book of the Throne of Glass series. I’ll be reading this with Joyce soon. I can’t wait to meet Chaol Westfall again.
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs – The third and final book of the Miss Peregrine’s series. I’ve watched the movie trailer of Miss Peregrine’s Home for the Peculiar Children and it looks so awesome! What to expect? It’s with Tim Burton. I have some concerns though. I’m not the only one who’ve noticed the major changes and I really hope that it’ll not affect the whole story. I’m still excited to watch the movie on September.
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer – Collection of short stories of our beloved characters of The Lunar Chronicles. I just got my copy last week and I’m trying to control myself not to leave the one I’m reading right now.
Emotions by Arnulfo Cantarero – The author provided me a copy in exchange of an honest review. The story is intriguing and I want to read this because I haven’t read a lot of sci-fi books.
Sunday’s on the Phone to Monday by Christine Reilly – I honestly don’t know what to expect from this book because I didn’t read the synopsis. I got a review request from the author and I agree because she’s so nice. Yep. There are some authors who cannot even include a simple “Hi” or “How are you?” on their email when sending a review request and it’s a minus for me. This book will be released on April 5 and I’ll be posting a review before the released date.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin – The third book from A Song of Ice and Fire series. I haven’t finished reading A Clash of Kings yet. I know! It’s been 6 months now. I’m still hoping to finish it this month. Ha!
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while now and hopefully I’ll be able to read it this time.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – Gillian Flynn is one of my favorite Mystery/Thriller authors. Her stories are dark and so twisted that it will make you feel like you are also losing your mind like the characters on her books.
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin – A historical fiction book set in 1956, Germany. I’ve just found out that this is a first book in a series. The sequel will be out later this year.
Have you read any from the books on my list? Feel free to share your TTT below. ♥
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme hosted by Broke and Bookish.
Stacking The Shelves #1
Hosted by TYNGA’S REVIEWS. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
It’s my first time participating this meme and I’m excited! This is normally a weekly meme but I wouldn’t be able to do it like that because I don’t really buy/get books on a weekly basis. I’ll be posting probably once a month or whenever I get more than 2 new books. So, here are the books I got:
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE by JK Rowling and Jim Kay
This was a gift from my husband. He was so happy when I reached 20k on my bookstagram and he bought me this as a congratulation gift, aside from the surprise breakfast buffet. This edition is a must-have even if you’re not a HP fan. The illustrations are so perfect! (February 5/Amazon)
Friday Finds : Historical Fiction Edition
I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak in 2014 and it became one of my all-time favorite books. It also made me want to read more historical fiction books especially those who were set in WWII. I’ve been seeing a lot of positive reviews of Salt To The Sea after it got published. The cover of Anna and the Swallow Man reminds me of The Standover Man (an illustrated story in The Book Thief). I’ve recently added these two books on my TBR list.
SALT TO THE SEA
by Ruta Sepetys
Edition: Paperback (400 pages)
Publisher: Puffin (February 2016)
It’s early 1945 and a group of people trek across Germany, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories. Fans of The Book Thief or Helen Dunmore’sThe Siege will be totally absorbed.
This inspirational novel is based on a true story from the Second World War. When the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in port in early 1945 it had over 9000 civilian refugees, including children, on board. Nearly all were drowned. Ruta Sepetys, acclaimed author of Between Shades of Grey, brilliantly imagines their story.
ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN
by Gavriel Savit
Edition: Hardcover (232 pages)
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (January 2016)
Kraków, 1939. A million marching soldiers and a thousand barking dogs. This is no place to grow up. Anna Łania is just seven years old when the Germans take her father, a linguistics professor, during their purge of intellectuals in Poland. She’s alone.
And then Anna meets the Swallow Man. He is a mystery, strange and tall, a skilled deceiver with more than a little magic up his sleeve. And when the soldiers in the streets look at him, they see what he wants them to see.
The Swallow Man is not Anna’s father—she knows that very well—but she also knows that, like her father, he’s in danger of being taken, and like her father, he has a gift for languages: Polish, Russian, German, Yiddish, even Bird. When he summons a bright, beautiful swallow down to his hand to stop her from crying, Anna is entranced. She follows him into the wilderness.
Over the course of their travels together, Anna and the Swallow Man will dodge bombs, tame soldiers, and even, despite their better judgment, make a friend. But in a world gone mad, everything can prove dangerous. Even the Swallow Man.
Have you read any of these? Can you recommend some historical fiction books aside from All The Lights We Cannot See and Between Shades of Gray. These two are on my TBR list already. Happy Friday! ♥
Friday Finds is hosted by the awesome Jenn of Books and a Beat. It showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library – wherever! (They aren’t necessarily booky you purchased)
WWW Wednesday – March 9th
A weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Worlds. Everyone can join. Just simply answer the three questions and share the link of your post in the comment section of Sam’s blog. This is also a great way to share your weekly reading updates.
The Three Ws are:
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?
I’m currently reading…
I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN BY JANDY NELSON
Jude and her twin Noah were incredibly close – until a tragedy drove them apart, and now they are barely speaking. Then Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy as well as a captivating new mentor, both of whom may just need her as much as she needs them. What the twins don’t realize is that each of them has only half the story and if they can just find their way back to one another, they have a chance to remake their world.
I’m still on page 13 but I already love the author’s use of words and his style of writing. Plus, the messy drawings/illustrations look pretty cool. I have a feeling that I’ll end up loving this book.
Waiting On Wednesday : Wink Poppy Midnight
WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT
BY APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE
Expected Publication: March 22, 2016
Edition: Hardcover (352 pages)
Publisher: Dial Books
Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.
What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.
Why Am I Waiting For This?
I first saw this on Goodreads and it caught my attention. I haven’t read any of April Genevieve Tucholke’s books so I’m not sure if i would love this one. The synopsis is intriguing and the cover is lovely. I’ve read an exclusive excerpt online and it made me want to read more.
What books are you waiting? Feel free to comment yours below. ♥
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights
upcoming releases that we are excited for.
Teaser Tuesday : March 8th
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat. Everyone can join. Just grab your current read and open it to a random page, choose two sentences (without spoilers!), share them on your blog together with the book title and author. Don’t forget to comment your link to MizB’s blog.
I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN
by Jandy Nelson
“This boycott isn’t whimsy. To me, boys don’t smell like soap or shampoo or cut grass or sweat from soccer practice or suntan lotion or the ocean from hours spent in the green curl of wave anymore, they smell like death.” – p.63
What are you reading this week? Feel free to share some teasers on the comment below. Happy Reading. ♥
Waiting On Wednesday : Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge
BRIGHT SMOKE, COLD FIRE
by Rosamund Hodge
Expected Publication: September 27, 2016
EDITION : HARDCOVER (448 PAGES)
PUBLISHER : Balzer + Bray
When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.
The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.
Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.
Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.
Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting.
I love Romeo and Juliet and this retelling looks interesting. Plus, the cover is gorgeous. ♥
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights
upcoming releases that we are excited for.
WWW Wednesday – March 2nd
A weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Worlds. Everyone can join. Just simply answer the three questions and share the link of your post in the comment section of Sam’s blog. This is also a great way to share your weekly reading updates.
The Three Ws are:
- What are you currently reading?
- What did you recently finish reading?
- What do you think you’ll read next?
I’M CURRENTLY READING…
THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion
Love isn’t exact science – but no one told Don Tillman. A handsome thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don’s never had a second date. So he devises The Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie – ‘the world’s most incompatible woman’ – throwing Don’s sage, ordered life into chaos. Just what is this unsettling, alien emotion he’s feeling? x
My first read for March. This book was originally included on my #5books7days readathon but I wasn’t able to read it within the schedule. I’ve decided to join #2books7days readathon hosted by @theheavenofbooks and @someotherstories. It’s from Feb 29 to March 4.