Showing posts with label Swoon Reads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swoon Reads. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday: Bridge of Souls & Lost in the Never Woods


Bridge of Souls
(Cassidy Blake #3)
by Victoria Schwab

Expected publication: March 2nd 2021
by Scholastic Press

Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows ... unless it's the other way around?

Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents' TV show.

But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city's biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.

Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet...


Add to Goodreads



Lost in the Never Woods
by Aiden Thomas

Expected publication: March 23rd 2021
by Swoon Reads

When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.


Add to Goodreads

•     •     •

Two more awesome upcoming releases this week!

I absolutely adore Victoria Schwab's Cassidy Blake series, and I feel like I have been waiting forever for this third book to release! I am very excited to check it out!

And Lost in the Never Woods sounds absolutely fantastic as well! I can't wait to read it.

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


Friday, May 24, 2019

My Thoughts: Fake It til You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40848323-fake-it-till-you-break-it
Fake It Till You Break It
by Jenn P. Nguyen
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: May 28th 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 308
ISBN: 9781250308016
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They’ve endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can’t stand to be in the same room together.

After Mia’s mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they’ve have had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time—and then they’ll be free.

The only problem is, maybe Jake and Mia don’t hate each other as much as they once thought... (Goodreads)


The first thing that drew me to Fake It Till You Break It was the absolutely adorable cover, and once I read the summary, I knew I would have to read this book ASAP. I love a good rom-com, and this sounded right up my alley. I was also really looking forward to finally reading something by Jenn P. Nguyen, so there was that as well!

Fake It Till You Break it was a very fast-paced, fun read. One of the things that I liked most about this book was the storyline. Not only was it an enemies-to-lovers story, but it was also a neighbors/ex-friends-to-lovers story. Needless to say, I was hooked as I flew through the pages. There were a few things in the story that I wish had been a little more detailed, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!

Another thing that I liked about this book were the characters. Jake and Mia were super cute, and it was fun watching their relationship grow over the course of the book. I loved that their moms wanted them to be together so much, but they did everything they could to resist. (I am a mom and I could totally see me doing this if I were in this situation. Ha!) I do wish we had gotten to know them a little bit better, especially Jake’s love of music and Mia’s love of theater, as well as some of the secondary characters, as they all seemed like so much fun.

Overall; Fake It Till You Break It was a super quick, adorable read, and I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read the book! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Jenn P. Nguyen, and will most definitely be checking out her previous book, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame, which I’ve had on my TBR for a while now! If you’re looking for a quick, fun rom-com, do check out Fake It Till You Break It!

Monday, June 5, 2017

My Thoughts: The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31145157-the-truth-about-happily-ever-after
The Truth About Happily Every After
by Karole Cozzo
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 16th 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781250127976
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Chin up, Princess, or the crown will slip.

A theme park princess must put her life back together after her happily ever after falls apart in this contemporary YA romance from Karole Cozzo, author of How to Keep Rolling After a Fall and How to Say I Love You Out Loud.


Everything was supposed to be perfect. Alyssa has a job she loves, working as Cinderella at her favorite theme park; a fantastic group of friends; and a boyfriend who will no longer be long distance. But as the summer progresses, her prince becomes less charming and more distant, and Alyssa's perfect summer falls apart.

Forced to acknowledge that life is not always a fairy tale, Alyssa starts working to pull her herself back together. Fortunately, she doesn't have to do it alone. With her friend Miller's support, she's determined to prove that she's more than just a pretty princess. And with his help, maybe she's finally ready for something better than dreams. Maybe she's ready for something real. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I was super excited to reading The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo, as I read her two previous books, How to Say I Love You Out Loud and How to Keep Rolling After the Fall, and really enjoyed them both. I was looking forward to seeing what Karole had come up with next!

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the setting. It's in a THEME PARK!! I can't say that I've read too many books with this setting before, and I kind of loved it. And the main character probably has one of the coolest jobs ever, working as Cinderella in said park. Ok, I say this is a cool job, but it probably sounds cooler than it actually is. I can't imagine being around so many people all day long, AND working outside in the heat. No thank you! But, it was definitely interesting to read about. And, I have to wonder if Karole has done Alyssa's job before, or if she just did a really good job at researching it. The details were insane!

I really enjoyed reading the story from Alyssa's point of view. As I mentioned above, some of the things she had to go through for her job sounded pretty grueling at times. But she had a great attitude, and definitely played the part of Cinderella perfectly, even when life threw her some lemons. She has some pretty awesome friends as well, though I did like her work friends a whole lot more than her school friends, and my favorite friend would have to be Miller. Miller! Everyone needs a friend like Miller.

Overall; The Truth about Happily Ever After was definitely an interesting read, and I’m glad that I managed to work it into my TBR this month. I’m super curious to see what will be coming out next for Karole, as I’m sure I’m going to enjoy it as well!



Monday, April 24, 2017

My Thoughts: Meg and Linus by Hanna Nowinski

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29102794-meg-linus
Meg & Linus
by Hanna Nowinski
 Twitter
Publication Date: April 18th 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781250098603
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Can friendship, Star Trek, drama club, and a whole lot of coffee get two nerdy best friends through the beginning of their senior year of high school?

Meg and Linus are best friends bound by a shared love of school, a coffee obsession, and being queer. It’s not always easy to be the nerdy lesbian or gay kid in a suburban town. But they have each other. And a few Star Trek boxed sets. They're pretty happy.

But then Sophia, Meg’s longtime girlfriend, breaks up with Meg. Linus starts tutoring the totally dreamy new kid, Danny—and Meg thinks setting them up is the perfect project to distract herself from her own heartbreak. But Linus isn’t so sure Danny even likes guys, and maybe Sophia isn't quite as out of the picture as Meg thought she was. . . .

From crowdsourced young adult imprint Swoon Reads comes Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski, a fun friendship story about two quirky teens who must learn to get out of their comfort zones and take risks—even if that means joining the drama club, making new friends, and learning how to stand on your own. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

To be completely honest, the first thing that drew me to Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski was the absolutely adorable cover. (I can’t help it, I adore a good cover.) Then I read the summary for the book, and knew that it was something that I needed to read. This book was super cute; a diverse story of love and friendship. I really enjoyed reading it!

In the story we follow Meg and Linus, who happen to be the bestest nerdy friends ever, through the first half of their senior year of high school. The story is told from the alternate perspectives of Meg, who just broke up with her long-time girlfriend, and Linus, who is experiencing his first ever crush on the new boy Danny. I really enjoyed reading the story from the alternative perspectives, as Linus was absolutely adorable experiencing his first crush ever, and my heart completely went out to Meg as she learned to cope with her breakup. I love these two characters, and their friendship was something super special. There were a lot of really great secondary characters as well.

The storyline for the book was super cute. It was about friendship, and being nerdy, and first loves and losses. But mostly it was about the friendship between Meg and Linus, which was great, and had its ups and downs just like everything in life. And I love that while the story had swoon-worthy moments for the characters, it was mainly about their friendship. There should definitely be more books in the world like this!

Overall; Meg & Linus was a super cute read, and I’m glad I was able to fit it into my TBR this month! I’m super curious to read more by Hanna Nowinski in the future! Do check out Meg and Linus for a super cute, diverse story of love and friendship!!


Monday, August 22, 2016

Review: How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall
by Karole Cozzo
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 2nd 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781250079282
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

After a cyber bullying incident turns her life upside down, a handsome wheelchair rugby player shows a former mean girl that everyone deserves a second chance.

The party was at her house. The photos were posted to her Facebook account. That's all the evidence anyone needed to condemn Nikki Baylor for a cyberbullying incident that humiliated a classmate and nearly resulted in the girl's suicide. Now Nikki's been expelled from her old school, her friends have abandoned her, and even her own parents can't look her in the eye. With her plans for the future all but destroyed, Nikki resigns herself to being the girl everyone hates - almost as much as she hates herself. But then Nikki meets Pax, a spirited wheelchair rugby player who knows what it's like when one mistake completely shatters your life. Refusing to judge her because of her past, he shows her that everyone deserves a second chance... and everyone deserves to be loved.
(Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall is the second book I've read by the super talented Karole Cozzo. I read her previous book, How to Say I Love You Out Loud last year when it first came out, and really enjoyed the story, so I was super excited to read something new by her. How to Keep Rolling After a Fall definitely did not disappoint!!

Nikki was a mean girl through and through, and one night things went too far, which resulted in the complete humiliation of one of her classmates. Now she's been abandoned by her friends, expelled from her school, and even her own parents don't look at her the same way anymore. But then she meets Pax, a rugby player in a wheelchair, who shows her that second chances really can happen.

I really didn't think I was going to like Nikki when we first met in the book. Her past definitely made her one of those people I always tried to avoid in high school. But as the story went along, I realized that she was a person that had remorse for what she did, I felt she truly regretted her actions. She definitely grew on me as the story went along, and it was interesting to read the story through the eyes of the bully, and not the victim.

There were some really great secondary characters in the story as well, including Pax, who I loved from the beginning. *Wink*I have to admit, I absolutely adore the relationship between Nikki and Pax, not only because there were lots of swoon-worthy moments between them, but because I felt like they totally understood each other in a way a lot of people don't. Even after finding out what Nikki had done, he gave her a chance to prove who she really was, and he liked her despite her past. And, as I mentioned before, the romance between the two was super sweet, and I really loved it.

I love that the storyline for the book has a great message about cyber bullying and the consequences of the actions you make in life. I love so much that there are books like this in the world, for people who may be going through something similar, as either the one being bullied to show that there is hope, and to a would-be bully, to show that there are definitely consequences to any action you make.

Overall; How to Keep Rolling After a Fall is definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year. I loved everything from the characters, to the story, and definitely the message it sent out. Karole Cozzo is definitely an author I'm keeping my eye out for in the future. I'm really looking forward to reading more by her soon!!


Monday, April 18, 2016

Review: No Love Allowed by Kate Evangelista

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23288804-no-love-allowed
No Love Allowed
(Untitled #1)
by Kate Evangelista
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: April 19th 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781250073907
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: For Review

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

It's all fun and parties until someone falls in love in this modern fairy tale from author Kate Evangelista.

Caleb desperately needs a fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties for his father’s law firm with a pretty girl on his arm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly, the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, recently fired waitress and aspiring painter, is open to new experiences. As the summer ticks by in a whirl of lavish parties, there’s only one rule: They must not fall in love!
(Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

The first thing that drew me to No Love Allowed by Kate Evangelista was the gorgeous cover. I'll admit it, I can't resist a stunning cover! It looked so fun, and once I read the summary for the book, I knew I would have to add it to my to-be-read list. This book was fast and fun, and will make a great summer read!

The characters in this book were a lot of fun, especially the two main characters, Didi and Caleb. Although I worried that I wouldn't like Caleb when I first met him in the book, he definitely grew on my as the story went along, and I'm glad that he had so many different sides to him. Didi was lively and outgoing, and was what sounded like a pretty great painter as well. Together, they made the story a really interesting read.

No Love Allowed is the second book I've read this month that has had mental illness in the storyline, and a character with bipolar disorder. It was interesting to see another authors take on the illness, and the similarities as well. I'm so glad that these books are being written, so people will know they are not alone, that help is out there.

While the story ends in a satisfying way, I was a little concerned about a few things that were left wide open.  I was pleased, however, to discover that there will be another book in the series coming soon, one that will have the secondary characters from this novel as the stars of the story. I'm super curious to check it out!

Overall; No Love Allowed was a quick and fun summer read, that also has a message about mental illness. I'll definitely check out the next book in this series, No Holding Back, when it's released in October!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Review: These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23688792-these-vicious-masks
These Vicious Masks
(These Vicious Masks #1)
by Tarun Shanker (Website | Twitter | Facebook)
& Kelly Zekas (Website | Twitter)

Publication Date: February 9th 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781250073891
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Historical Fiction
Source: For Review

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

Described as Jane Austen meets X-Men, I knew These Vicious Masks would be a book that I absolutely HAD to read. I pretty much adore anything Jane Austen, especially the descriptions of the time period, and when you add in the supernatural abilities, you can bet I'm going to be curious. That is exactly what you get with These Vicious Masks, and I really enjoyed the story.

Evelyn is a pretty awesome heroine, willing to do just about anything to find her sister who mysteriously disappeared one night. With the help of the charming Mr. Kent, and the reserved Mr. Braddock, Evelyn does whatever she has to do to track down her sister, and finds out something shocking about herself in the process. I really love how headstrong Evelyn was, and I especially loved how she stood her own against Kent and Braddock, who were both charming as well as completely insufferable at times. They all made me laugh more than a few times throughout the novel, and I really enjoyed the many different sides of these characters.

I love all things Jane Austen, and because of that, I adored the setting for the book. It felt very much like the setting in an Austen novel, which I loved. However, it also left me a little frustrated, because there were SO many things that women weren't allowed to do during that time period. How can you be an awesome heroine when you're expected to be like a proper lady all the time?? LOL!! The storyline for the book was very fast paced, and I really enjoyed all of the action and suspense throughout the novel. I kept wondering what was going to happen next for Evelyn and her crew.

Overall; These Vicious Masks was a fun and interesting read. I'm really glad that it's going to be a series, as I'm super curious to see what's going to happen in the future for these characters, and I'll be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the next book(s)!! Definitely check it out!


https://www.instagram.com/p/BBn0RNkDMew/


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #215 - These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23688792-these-vicious-masks
These Vicious Masks
by Tarun Shanker (Twitter)
& Kelly Zekas (Website | Twitter)

Publication Date:
February 9th 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
ISBN:
9781250073891


Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository


Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared. (Goodreads)

First, the cover for this book is GORGEOUS!!
Second, the story sounds super awesome.
Jane Austen meets X-Men???
Count me in!
I just got a review copy of this book earlier this week,
and I can't wait to dive into it!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, August 10, 2015

Review: How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718802-how-to-say-i-love-you-out-loud
How to Say I Love You Out Loud
by Karole Cozzo
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781250063595
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Source: Publisher

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Words are strong. Love is stronger.

When Jordyn Michaelson’s autistic brother joins her at her elite school, she’s determined not to let anyone know they're related. Even if that means closing herself off to all her closest friends, including charming football stud Alex Colby. But despite her best intentions, she just can't shake the memory of kissing Alex last summer, and the desire to do it again.

Can Jordyn find the courage to tell Alex how she really feels—and the truth about her family—before he slips away forever? (Goodreads)
I was really intrigued when I first discovered How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo. There just aren’t enough books out in the world with autistic characters, so I’m always very interested in reading a new one when it crosses my path. I really, really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud!

I have to admit, it was kind of hard to like Jordyn in the beginning of the book. She came across as very selfish and self-absorbed.  I’m not sure if I felt this way because I have firsthand experience with autism, and it made me kind of angry about how she felt about her brother. Over the course of the story, we start to understand her reasoning for the way she feels, and you’re definitely able to empathize for her because of it, but she still came across as really selfish throughout most of the story. She does have moments, however, where we get to see the ‘real’ Jordyn, and these are the moments where she shines, and I really like her in those moments.

There are SO many secondary characters in the story that I really love. Jordyn’s mom was amazing, the woman definitely had the patience of a saint, and I loved her so much for that. Her brother, Phillip, was so well characterized, and so very much autistic, and you can’t help but love him. Jordyn also has a really great best friend, Erin, as well as another best friend-turned-love interest, Alex, who was all kinds of swoon-worthy. Also, the romance in the book was very swoon-worthy as well. Wink.

I’m always a little weary when I start reading a book that deals with autism. I have an autistic niece, so I know all the little things that make an autistic child perfect and special, and I’m always worried how an author is going to portray the disorder. Cozzo did a wonderful job describing not only the characteristics of an autistic person, but also described perfectly what parents and other family members endure as well. I was pleasantly surprised by this, and it made me enjoy the book so much more.

Overall; I really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud! I’m so glad to see more and more of these books being published, as I think it really to help people understand more about the disorder, and just like the book says, the Autism Awareness really helps!! I really enjoyed the book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Cozzo’s next book, How to Keep Rolling After a Fall, out in 2016!!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Review: Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718710-love-fortunes-and-other-disasters
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters
by Kimberly Karalius
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 12th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781250047205
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Publisher

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

In the tradition of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, one girl chooses to change her fortune and her fate by falling in love.

Love is real in the town of Grimbaud, and Fallon Dupree has dreamed of attending high school there for years. After all, generations of Duprees have successfully followed the (100% accurate!) love fortunes from Zita’s famous Love Charms Shop to happily marry their high school sweethearts. It’s a tradition. So she is both stunned and devastated when her fortune states that she will NEVER find love.

Fortunately, Fallon isn’t the only student with a terrible love fortune, and a rebellion is brewing. Fallon is determined to take control of her own fate—even if it means working with a notorious heartbreaker like Sebastian.

Will Fallon and Sebastian be able to overthrow Zita’s tyranny and fall in love? (Goodreads)
The first thing that drew me to Love Fortunes and Other Disasters was the adorable cover. I am a sucker for cute covers, and I just couldn’t resist this one. The summary for the book sounded really cute as well, so I couldn’t wait to check it out.

There are a wide variety of characters in the novel and each has a different personality. Some are super eccentric, while others are pretty laid-back. The main character in the story is Fallon, who for years has dreamed of attending high school in Grimbaud and finally getting her love fortune, and who is completely devastated when she receives a disheartening fortune. Fallon’s star-crossed love in the story is Sebastian. I really appreciated the relationship between these two characters, as there was no insta-love; when they first meet they pretty much hated each other! And it was fun to watch the relationship grow. Sebastian was probably my favorite character in the novel; though at first I didn’t think I’d like him much. There were a lot of interesting secondary characters in the novel as well, some who are super eccentric, and I loved them for it.

The story line for the book was cute, and despite a few slow parts, held my interest throughout the story. The world-building for the book was really creative. The city sounded very magical, especially considering all the spells that you could purchase. I found myself really wanting to visit this fictional city, although I would be terrified of actually getting any type of love fortune!

Overall; Love Fortunes and Other Disasters was a really cute read. I can tell that the author put a lot of thought into the book, and she did a good job of getting everything out in the story. I’m really looking forward to reading more by Kimberly Karalius in the future!

https://instagram.com/p/2rKKhQjMao/


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Review: The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21853719-the-boy-next-door
The Boy Next Door
by Katie Van Ark
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: January 6th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781250061461
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: From Publisher for Review

Add to Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Maddy Spier has been in love with the boy next door forever. As his figure skating partner she spends time in his arms every day. But she’s also seen his arms around other girls—lots of other girls.

Gabe can't imagine skating with anyone but Maddy, and together they have a real chance at winning some serious gold medals. So, he’s determined to keep thinking of her like a sister. After all, he’s never had a romantic relationship that lasted for more than two weeks.

But when their coach assigns a new romantic skating program, everything changes. Will this be the big break that Maddy’s been hoping for or the big breakup that Gabe has always feared? (Goodreads)
I was really looking forward to reading The Boy Next Door as it seemed like it would be a really cute read. I really enjoy contemporary novels, so I had high hopes when I started reading the book.  This was definitely a cute, fun, and at times, very dramatic read.

Maddy has been in love with Gabe for as long as she can remember, but Gabe is a player who never keeps a girlfriend longer than two weeks. Gabe considers Maddy as a best friend and neighbor and nothing more. Or does he? When their coach assigns their new skating routine to none other than Romeo & Juliet, in hopes of getting them to the world championships, everything they know changes.

The story is told from alternating viewpoints between Maddy and Gabe. I always enjoy books that have this because we get SO much more information from and about the characters. The growing relationship between Maddy and Gabe was sweet at times, and trying at others. I found myself to be a bit frustrated with both characters a few times throughout the story. At times I wanted to shake some sense into both of them and tell them to open their eyes and see what everyone else plainly saw between them. The sweet times in the novel more than made up for the frustrating times.

My most favorite character in the story would have had to have been Igor, who was Maddy and Gabe’s skating instructor. He was so unintentionally hilarious that he totally had me rolling at times. I love a character that can make me laugh.

The storyline for the book was interesting, and had quite a few twists and turns as the story progressed. I really enjoyed the theme for the book. I’ve always been a bit fascinated by figure skating, especially when I was younger, and I thought the descriptions of the performances to be really interesting. While turning the pages, I found myself wanting to ‘see’ these characters perform and experience what their audience was seeing. It would have been great, I imagine. This was a lot of fun to read.

Overall; The Boy Next Door was a cute and fun read. Although I had a few frustrations as I turned the pages, it was still a nice read to kick off the new year with.



Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #165 - Save Me by Jenny Elliott

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20945113-save-me
Save Me
by Jenny Elliott
Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: January 6th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
ISBN: 9781250061478

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20945113-save-me

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Debut-novelist Jenny Elliott’s thrilling romance, chosen by readers, writers, and publishers for the first list in the new Swoon Reads imprint, pours on the tension and danger in an addictive combination that will keep you turning pages!

Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch it—let alone knock her into the freezing water. Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined.

But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel has changed. She’s suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend….

Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and has attracted the attention of a stalker. But she’s not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect? (Goodreads)


Wow! So this book sounds pretty intense, right??
And the cover is pretty gorgeous as well.
I'm really looking forward to checking out this book and debut author!
Hurry January!!

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