My Thoughts: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

Hang the Moon
(Written in the Stars #2)
by Alexandria Bellefleur

Publication Date: May 25th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780063000841
Genre: Adult Ficiton / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films...

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or... has he? When his sister's best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie... wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies... as long as you think your partner hung the moon. (Goodreads)

Hang the Moon is the absolutely adorable sequel to Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, and also one of my most anticipated reads this spring! I loved Written in the Stars when I read it last year, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this sequel… Especially since it’s Annie and Brendon’s story!

So, if you’ve never read my review for Written in the Stars, let me tell you … It was one of my most favorite reads of 2020. It was a sapphic, fake dating, Pride and Prejudice retelling, and I loved every minute of it. Elle and Darcy were fantastic, and I loved their story.

Hang the Moon is all about Annie and Brendon. Annie is Darcy’s best friend, and Brendon is Darcy’s brother. We meet them in the first book, where we discover that Brendon had a huge crush on Anne when they were younger. They reconnect in Hang the Moon, and let me tell you, the sparks… they FLY!

Annie and Brendon were SO ADORABLE! They are definitely now on my list of favorite couples. The chemistry between the two is fantastic, and I loved their interactions with each other. (Did I mention that they were adorable? Because they are!) They have the absolute best storyline with Brenden trying to prove to Annie that love still exists by wooing her, using some of my most favorite rom-coms ever as inspiration. This book had it all and I was so here for it!

Oh and I also love that Darcy and Elle were in this book as well! It was so fun to catch up with them to see what they’d been up to since the last book ended!

Overall; If you can’t tell from above, I really loved Hang the Moon! This was a fantastic sequel that made me laugh and smile SO much, and it was just an all-around enjoyable read. And I’m SOOOO excited to discover that there is going to be a third book, Count Your Lucky Stars, which will be Margot’s story, and is set to release in February 2022!

Waiting on Wedesnday: Hang the Moon & Just Last Night

Hang the Moon
by Alexandria Bellefleur

Expected publication: May 25th 2021
by Avon

In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films...

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or... has he? When his sister's best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie... wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies... as long as you think your partner hung the moon.

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Just Last Night
by Mhairi McFarlane

Expected Publication: May 4th 2021
by William Morrow Paperbacks

Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too.

But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever.

In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction...

They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night?

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•     •     •

These are two awesome upcoming romances that I am looking forward to!

Hang the Moon is the sequel to Written in the Stars, which is a book that I read recently and LOVED! I absolutely can't wait to devour the book!

And Just Last Night will be my first experience with Mhairi McFarlane, but I hear good things about her books, and I am excited to check this one out!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Waiting on Wednesday: Witches Steeped in Gold & Realm Breaker

Witches Steeped in Gold
(Witches Steeped in Gold #1)
by Ciannon Smart

Expected Publication: April 20th 2021
by HarperTeen

Divided by their order. United by their vengeance.

Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance.

Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power.

Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game.

This Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut about two enemy witches who must enter into a deadly alliance to take down a common enemy has the twisted cat-and-mouse of Killing Eve with the richly imagined fantasy world of Furyborn and Ember in the Ashes.

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Realm Breaker
(Realm Breaker #1)
by Victoria Aveyard

Expected Publication: May 4th 2021
by HarperTeen

A strange darkness grows in Allward.

Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage—and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won’t be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions:

A squire, forced to choose between home and honor.
An immortal, avenging a broken promise.
An assassin, exiled and bloodthirsty.
An ancient sorceress, whose riddles hide an eerie foresight.
A forger with a secret past.
A bounty hunter with a score to settle.

Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.

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•     •     •

Do these two upcoming fantasy novels sound fantastic, or what??
I definitely need to read more fantasy books, and these sound like the perfect ones to add to my list.

Add them to your TBR today!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Waiting on Wednesday: Skyhunter & Among the Beasts & Briars

Skyhunter
(Skyhunter #1)
by Marie Lu
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Publication Date: September 29th 2020
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
ISBN: 9781250221681

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A broken world.
An overwhelming evil.
A team of warriors ready to strike back.

Talin is a Striker, a member of an elite fighting force that stands as the last defense for the only free nation in the world: Mara.

A refugee, Talin knows firsthand the horrors of the Federation, a world-dominating war machine responsible for destroying nation after nation with its terrifying army of mutant beasts known only as Ghosts.

But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front to Mara's capital, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? What secrets is he hiding?

Only one thing is clear: Talin is ready to fight to the death alongside her fellow Strikers for the only homeland she has left . . . with or without the boy who might just be the weapon to save—or destroy—them all.

Loyalty is life.

#1 New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu is back with an adrenaline-laced novel about the lengths one warrior will go to fight for freedom and those she loves. (Goodreads)

Ahhhh, a new book by Marie Lu?!
Count me in! This one sounds fantastic!
I'm definitely enjoying fantasy books at the moment, so I'm excited to check this out.

Among The Beasts & Briars
by Ashley Poston
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Publication Date: October 20th 2020
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
ISBN: 9780062847362

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Cerys is safe in the kingdom of Aloriya.

Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting. It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden. Cerys knows this all too well: when she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed her friends and her mother. Now Cerys carries a small bit of the curse—the magic—in her blood, a reminder of the day she lost everything. The most danger she faces now, as a gardener’s daughter, is the annoying fox who stalks the royal gardens and won’t leave her alone.

As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions the small fox from the garden, a strange and powerful bear, and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home. But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive. (Goodreads)

And here is yet another book that sounds fantastic!
I have only read one of Ashley's books so far,

but I am really excited to read something new by her!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Waiting on Wednesday: The Roomate & Tools of Engagement

The Roomate
by Rosie Danan
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Publication Date: September 15th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9780593101605

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House Rules:
Do your own dishes
Knock before entering the bathroom
Never look up your roommate online

The Wheatons are infamous among the east coast elite for their lack of impulse control, except for their daughter Clara. She’s the consummate socialite: over-achieving, well-mannered, predictable. But every Wheaton has their weakness. When Clara’s childhood crush invites her to move cross-country, the offer is too much to resist. Unfortunately, it’s also too good to be true.

After a bait-and-switch, Clara finds herself sharing a lease with a charming stranger. Josh might be a bit too perceptive—not to mention handsome—for comfort, but there’s a good chance he and Clara could have survived sharing a summer sublet if she hadn’t looked him up on the Internet...

Once she learns how Josh has made a name for himself, Clara realizes living with him might make her the Wheaton’s most scandalous story yet. His professional prowess inspires her to take tackling the stigma against female desire into her own hands. They may not agree on much, but Josh and Clara both believe women deserve better sex. What they decide to do about it will change both of their lives, and if they’re lucky, they’ll help everyone else get lucky too. (Goodreads)

Does this sound super cute, or what??
I am SO into cute rom-coms and contemporaries right now, 

and this sounds right up my alley.
I'm super excited to check it out!

Tools of Engagement
(Hot & Hammered #3)
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Publication Date: September 22nd 2020
Publisher: Avon Books
ISBN: 9780062872937

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Hair, makeup, clothing, decor... everything in Bethany Castle's world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family's real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She's on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother's construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany's skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It's a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany's perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

In Tessa Bailey’s latest rom-com, two enemies team up to flip a house... and the sparks between them might burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore! (Goodreads)

Ahhhh! I am so very excited for this book!
I have loved Bethany from the very beginning of the series,

and I am so excited to finally read her story.
I hope it's great!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

My Thoughts: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown (Audiobook)

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
(A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1)
by Roseanne A. Brown
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Publication Date: June 2nd 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780062891495
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Narrated By: Jordan Cobb & A. J. Beckles
Audiobook Length: 12hrs 4min
Audio ASIN: B07XM8PJ9B
Source: Own, Library Borrow

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The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death? (Goodreads)

I ran across A Song of Wraiths and Ruin one day while scrolling through Twitter, and while that absolutely stunning book cover drew me in, the summary sold the book! This is the first book in brand new duology by debut author Roseanne A. Brown, and it was an absolutely fantastic read!

To be quite honest, I don’t read nearly as much fantasy as I used to. The few fantasy novels that I have tried to read have failed to really capture my attention, and it’s not usually the book's fault, as much as it is mine. (I’m seriously having the hardest time reading lately.  Thanks 2020.) But this book... well, this book was different. It was absolutely fantastic!

I loved so much about this book. The characters were awesome, I absolutely adore both Malik and Karina! I love how their paths started off so differently, yet intertwined over the course of the book in a way that will have you completely hooked. (It’s the best kind of enemies-to-lovers trope, you guys!) I am super curious to see what’s in store next for Karina and Malik.

I also l really loved the magic and fantasy aspects of the book. And the setting was fantastic as well, especially the festival! I definitely am in the mood to read more fantasy now, and if I could get my hands on more fantasy books like this one, I would definitely pick up the genre more.

Also, Jordan Cobb and A. J. Beckles did an amazing job of narrating the audio for this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my library and read along with the book, and these narrators made it such a good read. I hope they will be in the narrators in the second book as well!

Overall; A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was such a great read! The story was unique, and the characters were fantastic, and the book just left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the duology, A Psalm of Storms and Silence, which is set to release in 2021 by Balzer + Bray!

My Thoughts: Love, Creekwood by Becky Albertalli (Audiobook)

Love, Creekwood
(Simonverse #3.5)
by Becky Albertalli
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Publication Date: June 30th 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 111
ISBN: 9780063048126
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary

Narrated By: Adam Crouch, Bahni Turpin, Kate Rudd, James Fouhey
Audiobook Length: 2 hours 47 minutes
Audio ISBN: 9780063048157
Source: Own / Audio from Library

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Fall in love all over again with the characters from the bestselling Simonverse novels in this highly anticipated epilogue novella. Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, the movie Love, Simon, and the new Hulu series spin-off, Love, Victor!

It’s been more than a year since Simon and Blue turned their anonymous online flirtation into an IRL relationship, and just a few months since Abby and Leah’s unforgettable night at senior prom.

Now the Creekwood High crew are first years at different colleges, navigating friendship and romance the way their story began—on email. (Goodreads)

Love, Creekwood is a brand new novella in the Simonverse world by Becky Albertalli, and I’m so thrilled to have this book in my collection! It’s no secret that I’m a pretty big fan of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Leah on the Offbeat, so I was very much looking forward to reading the story.

What can I say about this novella?? It was SO nice to get a little check-in with Simon, Blue, Abby, Leah, and all of the rest of the Creekwood High Crew. They have all graduated, and we get to see a little of what their lives are like now that they are in college. It was so nice to get to spend a little time with these characters again! My only complaint was that it was way too short. I was enjoying it so much, and I totally didn’t want it to end.

Also, while I had a physical copy of the book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead. One reason was totally because of the narrators. Michael Crouch narrated Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and he was the perfect *voice* for Simon. (He also narrated the Magnus Chase books, which I also adore, and SO many other great audiobooks as well.) Bahni Turpin, (who I LOVE), is also a narrator in the book, along with Kate Rudd and James Fouhey. SO many great voices! I am definitely glad that I decided to listen to the audio.

Overall; Love, Creekwood was way too short, but I loved it so much. Catching up with all of the characters in the Simonverse was awesome, and the story left me with a smile on my face. (And wishing that I had more!) This definitely makes me want to re-read the original books and watch the movie, and TV show, again as well!

My Thoughts: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (Audiobook)

Take a Hint, Dani Brown
(The Brown Sisters #2)
by Talia Hibbert
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Publication Date: June 23rd 2020
Publisher: Avon Books / Harper Audio
Pages: 361
ISBN: 9780062941237
Genre: Romance

Narrated By: Ione Butler
Audio Length: 10 hours
ISBN: 9780062941268
Source: Own

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Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral...

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint? (Goodreads)

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert was at the top of my list of most anticipated reads to check out this summer, and I, of course, dropped everything and started reading the book the moment it was in my hands. I have absolutely no regrets – this book was fantastic!

I was admittedly super late to the party when it came to reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown, the first book in the Brown Sisters trilogy, but once I finally read it, I was HOOKED, and I knew this was a book series that I was going to love. I adored Chloe and Red from the first book, and I was so excited to get started on Dani and Zafir’s story!

There are so many things that I loved about this book, but one of the main things were the characters. Dani is brilliant, and confident, and curvy, and SO much fun! (She’s also a vegetarian, like me, AND struggles with anxiety, also like me!) And then there’s Zafir, the romance reading, audiobook listening, emotions feeling Zafir. (Yes friends, he’s super dreamy.) Zafir has definitely earned a spot of my favorite fictional men list. When you put Dani and Zafir together, wonderful things happen!

I also really, really loved the storyline for the book as well. It’s the fake dating trope, and I don’t read nearly enough of those! Dani and Zafir are *really* good at fake dating, you’ll have a hard time believing that it’s fake. (Seriously, adorable!) I definitely need to read more books with this kind of storyline!

And while I own the physical copy of the book, I opted to listen to the audiobook for Take a Hint, Dani Brown, since I listened to the first book on audio. Both audiobooks are fantastic! The narrator for this book, Ione Butler, has a beautiful voice! Not only was her accent completely charming, but her voices for the characters were fabulous as well! I could definitely listen to her narrate books all day long, and I will for sure be checking out more audiobooks narrated by her soon!

Overall; If you couldn’t tell by this super gushy review above, I really, REALLY loved Take a Hint, Dani Brown! The characters were so much fun, and the storyline completely captivating, and I loved every minute of it. Now I will be over here patiently waiting for the third, (and final), book in this sister series, Act Your Age, Eve Brown, which is currently set to release March 2021. I am so excited for Eve’s story!

Waiting on Wednesday: 10 Things I Hate About Pinky & You Say It First

10 Things I Hate About Pinky
(Dimple and Rishi #3)
by Sandhya Menon
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Publication Date: July 21st 2020
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781534416819

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The follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie follows Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date—with disastrous and hilarious results.

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions (aka boyfriends) she’s made, she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy, Samir—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer. As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget. (Goodreads)

I absolutely LOVE the Dimple & Rishi series, and I am SO excited for this third book!
I still need to read the novellas as well, so I'm hoping to read all of these together!

You Say It First
by Katie Cotugno
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Publication Date: June 16th 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062674128

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Meg has her entire life set up perfectly: her boyfriend Mason is sweet and supportive, she and her best friend Emily plan to head to Cornell together in the fall, and she even finds time to clock shifts phonebanking at a voter registration call center in her Philadelphia suburb. But everything changes when one of those calls connects her to a stranger from small-town Ohio, who gets under her skin from the moment he picks up the phone.

Colby is stuck in a rut, reeling from a family tragedy and working a dead-end job—unsure what his future holds, or if he even cares. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. So he says the worst thing he can think of and hangs up.

But things don’t end there.…

That night on the phone winds up being the first in a series of candid, sometimes heated, always surprising conversations that lead to a long-distance friendship and then—slowly—to something more. Across state lines and phone lines, Meg and Colby form a once-in-a-lifetime connection. But in the end, are they just too different to make it work?
You Say It First is a propulsive, layered novel about how sometimes the person who has the least in common with us can be the one who changes us most. (Goodreads)

I think it has been a while since I read a book by Katie, so I'm super excited to check this new book out. It sounds like it's going to be a very interesting read, so I'm super curious to check it out.

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Waiting on Wednesday: My Calamity Jane & Truel1f3

My Calamity Jane
(The Lady Janies #3)
by Cynthia Hand
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Jodi Meadows
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Brodi Ashton
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Publication Date: June 2nd 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062652812

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Welcome ​to 1876 and a rootin’-tootin’ America bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou.

JANE (a genuine hero-eene)

Calamity’s her name, and garou hunting’s her game—when she’s not starring in Wild Bill’s Traveling Show, that is. She reckons that if a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.

FRANK (*wolf whistle*)
Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler is the Wild West’s #1 bachelor. He’s also the best sharpshooter on both sides of the Mississippi, but he’s about to meet his match. . . .

ANNIE (get your gun!)
Annie Oakley (yep, that Annie) is lookin’ for a job, not a romance, but she can’t deny there’s something about Frank she likes. Really likes. Still, she’s pretty sure that anything he can do, she can do better.

A HAIRY SITUATION
After a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there’s been talk of a garou cure. But things ain’t always what they seem—meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they’re a day late and a Jane short. (Goodreads)

I am so excited to get my hands on this book! I have read both My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane, so I'm very excited to see what's next in the Lady Janie's series!

TRUEL1f3
(Lifelike #3)
by Jay Kristoff
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Publication Date: June 30th 2020
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781524714017

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From the bestselling co-author of the Illuminae Files comes the thrilling finale in the LIFEL1K3 trilogy--hailed by Marie Lu as "a breathless, action-packed exploration of what humanity really means."

Best friends have become enemies. Lovers have become strangers. And deciding whose side you're on could be the difference between life and death. For Eve and Lemon, discovering the truth about themselves--and each other--was too much for their friendship to take. But with the country on the brink of a new world war--this time between the BioMaas swarm at CityHive and Daedalus's army at Megopolis, loyalties will be pushed to the brink, unlikely alliances will form and with them, betrayals. But the threat doesn't stop there, because the lifelikes are determined to access the program that will set every robot free, a task requiring both Eve and Ana, the girl she was created to replace. In the end, violent clashes and heartbreaking choices reveal the true heroes . . . and they may not be who you think they are. (Goodreads)

So I'm definitely going to have to do a refresher course on this series before this next book is released, but I am super curious to see what's going to happen next in this series!

•     •     •

Those are my WOW picks for this week! What about you??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Waiting on Wednesday: Aurora Burning & The Betrothed

Aurora Burning
(The Aurora Cycle #2)
by Amie Kaufman
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& Jay Kristoff
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Publication Date: May 5th 2020
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
ISBN: 9781524720926

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Our heroes are back… kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival.

First, the bad news: an ancient evil—you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal—is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.

And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.

When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.

Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes—and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well. (Goodreads)

Is anyone else super curious for this book??
I read Aurora Rising last year, and really enjoyed the book.
I'm super curious to see what's going to happen next in this series.

The Betrothed
(The Betrothed #1)
by Kiera Cass
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Publication Date: May 5th 2020
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
ISBN: 9780008158828

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When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. (Goodreads)

Sooo, I was a little late to the party when it came to reading The Selection series,
but I finally read ALL of the books last year.
I'm curious to see what kind of world Kiera creates in this new book.

•   •   •

Those are my WOW picks for this week! What are yours??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**