Waiting on Wednesday: the STAR cover love edition*

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine
meant to highlight an upcoming release we're excited for!

Across A Star-Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars #2) by Diana Peterfreund
Balzar + Bray (an imprint of HarperTeen), 464 Pages
Expected US Release Date: October 15, 2013

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.
-----------------------------Goodreads summary
Did you read my review of For Darkness Shows the Stars (if you haven't, you can here!)? Because you will know how much I love and adored and went crazy for and generally just gushed and made a fool of myself for it. I loved it, and I love that Diana is continuing on with this world. Her writing makes me feel ALL THE THINGS and oh my god I cannot wait to get swept up again. (I HEART PUNS.)

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

Disney Hyperion, 384 pages
Expected US Release Date: December 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever? 

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

-------------------------Goodreads summary

Because this seems like Across the Universe by Beth Revis and For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund mashed together, but with its own twists and elements thrown in. How could I not want to read that?! I also quite like the name Tarver - it's one I haven't heard before and I'm curious about him.

*see what I did there with my post title? Ya like that?!

What book(s) are you eagerly awaiting?

Leave your link and I'll hop by!

Review: Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland (ARC)

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
Disney Hyperion, 304 Pages
Expected US Release Date: May 7, 2013
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours - thank you!
Challenges: Contemporary Challenge, Stand-Alone Reading Challenge, Debut Author Challenge

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.
---------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

I felt another kick of sadness, right in the stomach. I was realizing that loss has a kind of violence to it.

San Diego had a fantastic bout of weather recently; even though it was early March, the entire week was in the high-70s to mid-80s, and it was absolutely glorious. And it was the perfect time to read Nantucket Blue, because it made me yearn for beachside reads, romps in the ocean and bonfires below a star-speckled sky.

Nantucket Blue follows Cricket as she heads to Nantucket for her summer in order to follow and be there for Jules, her best friend, whose family suffered a devastating tragedy. But Jules turns into someone Cricket barely recognizes, and she's left to make her summer into more than a support system.

I was a little surprised at how sad this entire book is. I mean, I know it starts with a horrible tragedy, and of course I expect that to permeate a lot of the thoughts and actions throughout. But there was a small line of sadness that seemed to snake through all the words, all the thoughts, and it was a little startling that I'd be laughing with Cricket and Zack and still feel a little morose. I'm not saying this is a depressing, ugly cry book, not at all; but there's always something lurking behind the blue ocean.

Can I say how little I liked Cricket and Jules? Jules especially - I just didn't understand her character. yes, I get why she acts the way she is, but I never got the sense she was a great friend anyway. In the memories she was fine, but nothing worthy of how much Cricket is willing to do for her. As for Cricket, she was so slow on the uptake that I was entirely too frustrated with her the entire novel. There were so many different instances I wanted to yell at her to get there quicker, that she was missing vital parts and only seeing such a small version. I know that's often how it is in real life, but some things were unforgivable to me. Perhaps the only element I liked with Cricket was the romance she was struggling with - which is weird, since I wasn't a fan of the boy she was with. He was sweet, but his entire plotline was very formulaic to me. I didn't get the chemistry between the two. Cricket's thoughts and feelings towards him though were the most real part about her, and one I enjoyed seeing on the page.

Something I did love? The Cranberry Inn where Cricket starts to work and everyone that came out of there! I absolutely adored George, Gavin and Liz; enough where they made this entire story worth it for me. They were such fantastically developed, completely unique characters and I wanted nothing more than to check into the Inn and join them. They have such distinct voices and interactions, I wish I knew them in real life.

And not surprisingly after declaring how little I liked the main characters and how much I liked the secondary ones - my favourite part to this entire novel was the secondary storyline! I can't say much about it since it's not in the synopsis, but there's an underlying plot that intertwines a little with the main one, and I love it. It's such a fun story to learn about and read along to, and I liked how we slowly get varying perspectives. Perhaps it's the journalist in me that liked to go deeper into the history and find out the stories behind others; whatever it was, I found myself flipping past Cricket's dramas to get to the work she was doing.

I have to note though, I really liked Leila Howard's writing. I can't quite pinpoint what it is specifically, but I was very attracted to her words and structures. There's something very relatable about her words, and that was a treat.

Nantucket Blue had several misses for me, but completely made up for it with secondary characters and storylines. Though it is a sweet, summery novel about defining yourself without others, I found the background to shine much brighter. And even though that's frustrating sometimes, I am completely content to look at the scenery more than the play.

3.5 Stars

The Weekly Wrap-Up (26)

It's been a rough week, guys. Work was really long and for some reason it hit me hard - I had problems sleeping every night, so everything seemed to drag. It took it's toll on my mood, which is why I tried not to review, tweet, or instagram anything because I could feel all my negativity and didn't want to take it out on anyone or anything. I still feel like I'm in recovery mode, but I'm seeing a little sunshine at least - which counts for everything.

In case you missed it...

> I reviewed The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, which was...quite different than expected.
> I also broke every rule possible in my Top Ten Tuesday by choosing SIXTEEN boys, and doing an extra bonus part. But how do you expect me to whittle down book boyfriends?! Impossible, I tell you.
> April is also looking to be a relaxing reading month, filled with some great contemps.

Notable...
My Birthday Celebration/Blogger Love Giveaway is still going on!

Tell me your favourite book blog/gers to win 2 signed books! Or at least one, if you're international.

Coming up...

A petite revue of Butter by Erin Jade Lange, regular reviews of How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler and Nantucket Blue by Leila Howard, and a fantastic Waiting on Wednesday post.

Onto the books!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Birthday Gifted

from the ever-amazing Sierra @ Yearning To Read - thanks girlie!

Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fischer

Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols (my first J. Echols!)

100 Cupboards by ND Wilson

Purchase

This Lullaby and Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen

They were both on sale at Ralph's, and they're 2 of my favourite Dessens - couldn't pass it up!

Around the World ARC Tours

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown 

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

Won

Icons by Margaret Stohl - thanks so much Little, Brown and Shelf Awareness!

NetGalley

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry - thank you Harlequin Teen!

What books came into your possession this week?

Leave your link and I'll hop by!

Monthly Reads: April 2013

Monthly Reads highlights the books I've got in my TBR for that month. It's a way of sharing the ones I'm excited for and trying to relieve the pressure of "having" to read an ARC or new release.

Happy April, all! Every month, I do an absolutely insane amount of books I want to read, and I can never, ever get there. And that's fine, that's the point of the monthly reads. Some I'll get to, others I will that aren't there - there's no pressure. March was such an insane month (there wasn't even a Monthly Reads post because I knew it would be impossible) that I kind of lost a lot of reading mojo. Which is also fine! But I'm approaching April with a revised outlook: a simple amount of books because I need to find my flow again. Very few obligation/review books.

Currently reading:
  Belonging (Temptation #2) by Karen Ann Hopkins

To Read:
  Rootless by Chris Howard
  Out of the Easy by Rutya Sepya
  The After Girls by Leah Konen
  This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
  Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
  The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher
  Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
  Adorkable by Sarra Manning

NetGalley (I forgot my iPad in the picture!):
  Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
  The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
  Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
  The Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance
  The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos

Do you ever take a month to just chill?

What books are you reading this month?

Review: The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise (ARC)

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
Balzar + Bray (an imprint of Harper Collins), 320 pages
Expected US Release Date: April 30, 2013
Format: Print ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Challenges: Contemporary Challenge, Standalone Challenge

In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can’t wait to get out of high school. Her father’s death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.

But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler—and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she’s the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?
-----------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

In math or code, these sorts of anomalies don't happen. Formula + Predictable Outcome = Safe.

I wanted to love this book so much, guys. It seemed like such a fun concept, and I loved the idea of an app that would match you with your perfect guy/person. I mean, I was also super glad it didn't actually exist when I was in high school because there was already enough drama without that technological enhancement, but in my reading? Love it. Thought it would be fantastic and funny and playful.

I think you can seen an "unfortunately" coming, right?

This book was surprising, in both a good and bad way. It's a bit weird to me, actually - it went in a direction I did not expect, and while I get it, I thought it was a strange direction to go in. I would never have even thought to take on a more scientific route, and I kind of question it. At the same time, it wasn't done poorly or anything - in fact, it was pretty interesting and I kind of liked getting to see the intelligence behind these nerds (or Trogs, as they are called in the novel). Just unexpected, and a little weird.

And I have to mention that there were some scenes that were so...awkwardly violent. I mean, it begins with Audrey getting her head shoved so hard into a trash bin she passes out. And with a cover like that? So out of place. There were a few other scenes where girls were throwing punches, and it was just...I didn't like it. I'm not adverse to some violence, but only when it makes sense. I feel like this book could still have had the action at the core, but perhaps different word choices to make it less cruel. I definitely cringed whenever these scenes came up, no matter how few they were.

Despite all this, I actually enjoyed The Boyfriend App. I loved going through the process of creating this app with Audrey and seeing it through, and I really appreciated that it wasn't an immediate success. There was an element of reality and truth throughout this entire story that I really appreciated, and really made me like it. Audrey is actually a pretty good character herself, well rounded and quirky, with her own unique brand of endearing. She's a lot like me, and a lot like many people I know - a great character to really connect with.

In fact, probably the best thing about this book were the characters and the relationships. There are a few villains in it, and even though they are pretty stereotypical, they are still great characters to hate and the reader completely feels towards them. The friendships Audrey had were also fantastic. I loved her fellow nerds, especially Mindy - who is brilliant because you learn to love her when she doesn't even talk for 85% of the book! I was surprised to figure out that Lindsay was definitely my favourite female character - she's nothing like me, but I still loved her all the same. She's a bit flighty and a fashion blogger who appears so vain it hurts...but as you get to know her, you discover she is smart, and loyal, and funny and open an a real friend.

Of course, I have to mention the boys in this novel, who are all fine in their own way. I wasn't a fan of Xander, even though I felt like he was trying to be painted as a decent guy. I wanted to cry every time Briggs Lick appeared on the pages, because that name is so ridiculous I can't even. And of course, I loved Aiden - he's amazing and perfect and a little too perfect but I'll take him anyway. A fantastic friend, super cute love interest, and great character to want and love.

There are two books this one reminded me of: Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair (read my review here!) in that I was so surprised by all the science and intelligence in the book. It's unexpected and a little odd, but I really appreciate that the authors are trying to put this in books that could be simple contemporary romances. And the book Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer (read my review here!), in that it's about strong, smart girl characters who find something lacking in their life and go after making it better. The Boyfriend App is missing the heart that I loved so much in Smart Girls Get..., but it's still a good attempt, and I don't regret reading it.

The Boyfriend App is a bit weird, in a way I'm not certain it should have been - but it's got some fantastic characters, an interesting storyline, and surprising intelligence to it.

3 stars / 5

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Boys I'd Date (and a bonus top 5!)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fab ladies at The Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Characters
I'd Date In A Heartbeat

In no particular order...

1. Ben | Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
2. Prince Maxon | The Selection by Kiera Cass (even though he's a dummy in The Elite)
3. Will Herondale | The Infernal Devices by Cassie Clare (I haven't read CP2 yet, NO SPOILERS!!)

4. Oliver | The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
5. Alex Fuentes | Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
6. Cricket Bell | Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (SWOON. Stars alllll over my hand for him.)

7. Travis | Pivot Point by Kasie West
8. Harley | Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Tortured soul and all.
9. Chaol | Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

And the ultimate boy...

10. Mr. Darcy | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


BONUS SECTION
Top Five Book Boys I Would Date...
Except I Love Him With His Pair Too Much.

1. Perry & Roar | Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Perry + Aria, Roar + Liv. They are never to be broken up.

2. Joe Fontaine | The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
I love him, but I love what he does for Lennie, too.

3. Park | Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I want him to say sweet nothings to me, except I love E&P together too much.

4. Augustus | The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
AUGUSTUS + HAZEL FOREVER.

5. Adam | If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Adam and Mia belong together. 

Who are your book boyfriends?
(PS. I am totally ready to fight for any of these boys. Bring it.)

Leave your link and I'll hop by!