Waiting on Wednesday #278 - Changes in Latitudes by Jen Malone

Changes in Latitudes
by Jen Malone
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Publication Date: July 25th 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062380173

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A "road" trip romance that takes place at sea!

All Cassie wants is to get some solid ground under her feet following the shock of her parents' divorce. So when she learns of her mom's plans to take Cassie and her brother, Drew, on a four-month sailing trip from Oregon to Mexico, she's stunned. There is absolutely nothing solid about the Pacific Ocean.

Cassie is furious. And nervous. It's been hard enough keeping Drew sheltered from what Cassie knows about her mother's role in breaking their family apart, but living in such close quarters threatens to push her anger past its tipping point. Enter Jonah, a whip-smart deckhand who's as gorgeous as he is flirtatious. Cassie tries to keep him at a distance, but the more time they spend together--wandering San Francisco, riding beachside roller coasters, and exploring the California coastline--the harder it is to fight the attraction.

​Cassie wants to let herself go, but her parents' split has left her feeling adrift in a sea of questions she can't even begin to answer. Can she forgive her mom? Will home ever feel the same? Should she take a chance on Jonah? With life's unpredictable tides working against her, Cassie must decide whether to swim against them... or dive right in. (Goodreads)

Ahhh, does this book sound the MOST PERFECT summer read, or what?
I read Jen's Wanderlost last year and really enjoyed the story,
and I'm super excited to check out this new book as well!!
Is it July yet??

**"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: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli
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Publication Date: April 11th 2017
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780062348708
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy/Own

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Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I, like almost every other reader I know, absolutely couldn't wait to get my hands on The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli!! I read Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda last year, and really enjoyed the story, so I just knew I would love The Upside of Unrequited as well. AND I DID!! Seriously, I'm totally giving this book ALL THE STARS!!

Can I first talk about the characters in the book, and how much I completely love them? There are SO many awesome characters for you to fall in love with, including the main character, Molly. Ah, Molly. I found her relatable in so many ways; my connection to her was super strong. I've been there, Molly, and I've felt the exact same as you did throughout the story SO many times. (And I still do.) She has an amazing family, including her twin sister, Cassie, who is also her best friend, and two amazing moms, and an adorable little brother. I love this family. I want to be a part of this family. Molly also has some really great friends as well, including some we've met before, which was a super wonderful surprise!!

Now let's talk about the story itself. The Upside of Unrequited is a companion novel to Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, something that I actually did not know when starting this book. However, you won't have any problems getting into the story if you read it before reading Simon. I totally loved this story, so much. THESE are the types of stories that I absolutely love to read. It was completely addictive, and relatable as well. It made me laugh, it made me cry. I read the whole thing in just a few hours time; I couldn't help it, I absolutely could not put the book down. And I didn't want it to end either! Can we just have more of these books, please?? Because I love the stories, and the characters, and I want ALL OF THEM to have their own books! *grin*

Overall; I totally expected to love The Upside of Unrequited, but I ended loving it even more than that! This book was seriously so good. If you're a fan of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, you're going to love The Upside of Unrequited. And if you've not yet read these books, DO IT. You won't regret it. Happy reading to you!

Sarah Dessen Readathon: Keeping The Moon

Keeping the Moon
by Sarah Dessen
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Publication Date: September 1st 1999
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 228
ISBN: 9780142401767
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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Never underestimate the power of friendship.

When Colie goes to spend the summer at the beach, she doesn't expect much.

But Colie didn't count on meeting Morgan and Isabel.

Through them, she learns what true friendship is all about, and finally starts to realize her potential.

And that just might open the door to her first chance at love... (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
Keeping the Moon is the third book I've read for my Sarah Dessen Readathon! I have to admit, this readathon is seriously the best thing ever, as the more books I read of Sarah's, the more I look forward to the next book, and that makes me even more excited for Once and For All, Sarah's newest book which is due to release in June!

Some of Sarah's books I've read before, and some I haven't. Keeping the Moon is one that I've already read, but I can't really remember much about it. Bits and pieces, yes, but not much more. I was super excited to read it again to refresh my book-filled brain, and once I started reading the book, all the memories of reading it before came flooding back. I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!

I really enjoyed both the characters and the storyline for the book. Colie, the main character, was very relatable in so many ways. I totally get her, and I loved watching her come out of her shell, with the help of her aunt Mira, and her new friends, Morgan and Isabel. I also really loved Norman, AND Cat Norman as well. LOL!

Overall; I really enjoyed rereading Keeping the Moon! It brought back a lot of memories for me from reading it before, and I really enjoyed diving back into the story. Now it's time to move on the Sarah's next novel, Dreamland, which is a new-to-me book, and I'm really curious to get started on it ASAP. :)

My Thoughts: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Letters to the Lost
by Brigid Kemmerer
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Publication Date: April 4th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9781681190082
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

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Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
When Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer arrived on my doorstep one afternoon, I was intrigued. After reading up on the book, I was even more intrigued, and I decided to add it to my TBR, to be read as soon as possible. I'm so glad I did this. I'm so glad I read the book. I really, really enjoyed it!

I read Letters to the Lost in just two days time, and I was absolutely hooked to the story. The storyline was definitely engrossing, and relatable as well. I feel like I've read a lot of books that have dealt with death lately, and they all totally take on different approaches to them. I love this. These are the books that readers will read and be able to relate to. And it's not just about death. It's also about finding yourself and learning to take your own path, and knowing that there is always hope, even when things feel completely hopeless.

There are a lot of characters to like in Letters to the Lost, including the two main characters, Juliet and Declan. The story is told from their alternative perspectives, and I love that it is told this way, as we really get to know both characters so well. Both have had loss and tragedy in their lives, and learning their stories made me just want to give them the biggest hugs ever. There are some really great secondary characters as well, including Declan's best friend, Rev, who I totally want to know more about. (And we will, next year, when the companion novel to Letters to the Lost, titled More Than We Can Tell, comes out! I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!)

Overall; Letters to the Lost is the first book I've read by Brigid Kemmerer, but it definitely will not be my last! I love that the story completely grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. I need more books like this in my life. Do check it out!

Week in Review • Week 14

Hey guys!!
Not a whole lot to recap this week, as I've been sick and busy with the kiddos,
but I do have a few things to share!!

This week I was only able to read two books:

The first book was Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer, which I really enjoyed, and you can see my thoughts for the book here on the blog today! It was seriously so good, and I wish I had time to read it again. 😊

The second book was Keeping the Moon, which I read for my Sarah Dessen Readathon! My thoughts for the book will be up on the blog tomorrow, if you want to check those out. 😊

No new movies or TV to add again this week. I'm SO BEHIND.
Bummer. 😔

As you probably  know if you follow me on my social media accounts, I've have the worst case of allergies right now. Ugh, it's totally wearing me down, and has made me behind on pretty much everything, including my reading schedule. Because of this, I have about 5 books to read next week if I want to get anywhere near being caught up. 😳😳😳 I'm going to attempt to read them all, as I seem to work best under pressure, so wish me luck!!

Also, Teen 2 made the cheer squad again for the next school year! I'm super proud, and trying not to think about how much reading time I'm going to miss because of this. HAHA, just kidding!

That's all for me this week! Hopefully I will have a better update next week.

Waiting on Wednesday #277 - There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House
by Stephanie Perkins
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Publication Date: September 12th 2017
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780525426011


Available for Pre-Order:
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Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down. (Goodreads)

Hmmm, so I'm not usually a fan of Horror/Thriller books,
as I'm a great big chicken, and I get super paranoid really easily. Ha!
But, it's Stephanie Perkins, y'all, so of course I want to read this!
I already have my copy preordered, and I'm super excited to add it to my collection!

My Thoughts: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Alex, Approximately
by Jenn Bennett
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Publication Date: April 4th 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9781481478779
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

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In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
When I first discovered Alex, Approximately, I knew it was a book that I would HAVE to read, especially since it's a spin on the movie You've Got Mail, which happens to be my most favorite movie ever. (Seriously, most favorite movie EVER.) I was super excited to get my hands on a review copy of the book, as I just couldn't wait to get started on it. Unfortunately my life did not let me read it right away, but once it hit the top of my TBR I dove right into it, and I loved every minute of it.

There are a lot of really great characters in the novel. I found the main character Bailey to be extremely relatable in so many ways, but mostly as an evader. Yep, that's me. Her dad is pretty awesome also, as is Grace, the new friend she meets in California. Then there's Porter. Ah, Porter... are you real? Because he's seriously a great guy, and I love the relationship and the romance between him and Bailey. Sigh. Also, he has a pretty great family as well.

The setting for the book was wonderfully described, and totally made me want to visit California. The beach. The fog. The surfers. Yes, please! I really enjoyed the storyline as well. It makes me want to watch movies in the backyard! And while it has its own spin to it, I could definitely see the influences from You've Got Mail, and that just made me like the book even more. I read the book in about 2 days time, and I would have finished it sooner had I not been so busy, but I really enjoyed it all.

As I mentioned above, I love that Bailey is such a movie buff. I, admittedly, am not... but it's something that I'm in the process of working on! There are a lot of great movies mentioned in the book, and I made as list as I was reading, and I'm hoping to watch them all soon! Is that the coolest idea ever, or what??

Overall; I really, really enjoyed Alex, Approximately, and it will definitely be a welcome addition to my bookshelf! This is a book that I will probably read and reread over and over again, just like I do the movie You've Got Mail. And, of course, I'm now even more curious to check out books by Jenn Bennett!!

Sarah Dessen Readathon: Someone Like You

Someone Like You
by Sarah Dessen
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Publication Date: May 1st 1998
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780142401774
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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The world is a terrible place not to have a best friend.

Scarlett was always the strong one.

Halley was always content to follow in her wake.

Then Scarlett’s boyfriend died, and Scarlett learned that she was pregnant.

Now Halley has to find the strength to take the lead and help Scarlett get through it.

Because true friendship is a promise you keep forever. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
Someone Like You is the second book I've read for my Sarah Dessen Readathon, and as it is one of the few books by Sarah that I had not yet read, I was really excited to finally read it. In case you don't know already, I recently started this readathon so that I could read ALL of Sarah's books in order from oldest to newest, in anticipation of her newest release, Once and For All, which is due to release this coming June!

The main character in Someone Like You, Halley was a really sweet girl, but some of the decisions she made throughout the book were completely frustrating. I do realize that this is part of the growing process, and we've ALL been there at one point or another, but it's still hard to read. I absolutely love Halley's relationship with her best friend, Scarlett, whom a good bit of the story revolves around. That strong bond that they have is the kind that everyone wishes for. It was so special, and I really loved it.

The storyline for the book was one that many people will find completely relatable, as it includes things like peer pressure, and a lot of other issues that people face every day. But it's also a story about growing and finding yourself, even when you don't know where you belong. I love that there are books like this in the world, and I hope that people are able to relate to them the way I did.

Overall; I'm thrilled that I finally had time to read Someone Like You! It was an enjoyable read, and now I'm excited to move on to Keeping the Moon, which will be a reread for me!

My Thoughts: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

A Crown of Wishes
(The Star-Touched Queen #2)
by Roshani Chokshi
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Publication Date: March 28th 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781250085498
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Review Copy

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Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels.

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I went into A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi thinking that the book was a sequel to The Star-Touched Queen, which I read last year and really enjoyed. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was actually a companion novel instead. Either way, I was super excited to finally read the book, as I had my eye on it for quite a while, and I was curious to see what it was about. This book is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2017 so far!

As I mentioned above, A Crown of Wishes is a companion novel to The Star Touched Queen. This is the story about a story about Gauri, the princess of Bharata, who is also the sister of Maya in the first book. To be honest, I didn't remember much about Gauri at first, and unfortunately I didn't have time to reread the first book before starting this one. Luckily there were plenty of reminders in the book to refresh my memory, and I quickly fell right into Gauri's story.

One of the things I love most about this book is our two main characters; Guari, the princess of Bharata, and Vikram, a prince from the neighboring land. These characters really made the book for me. I loved their snarky sense of humors, and the fact that they made me laugh so much throughout the story. I found myself totally rooting them on as they played the game, and I enjoyed that the story is told from their alternative perspectives. I also really loved Aasha, a secondary character in the story, whom is probably my most favorite character in the story. *grin*

I'm always a little nervous when starting the second book in a series, as it could either be really great, or totally not great at all, so I was curious to see where this book would stand. I was not disappointed at all! The storyline for the book was definitely entertaining, and I loved the 'game' part, which reminded me a little of Caraval by Stephanie Garber. The game was very interesting, as I never knew what to expect, and was always wondering what was going to happen next. I would totally not have survived these games if I were participating. Just saying.

Overall; I really enjoyed A Crown of Wishes a lot more than I expected to. The characters were great, and the storyline was entertaining and captivating. I'm not sure if there are going to be more books in this series, but I'd really love to see these characters again. Do check out The Star-Touched Queen AND A Crown of Wishes!!

Week in Review • Week 13

It seems kind of weird to post this right after posting my Monthly Wrap Up,
but I'm just going to go with it anyways!

This week has been so super busy, and I'm SO glad it's finally over.
And I'm ready to start a new month as well! Whoo hooo!

Here's what I've been up to this week...

This week I read Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith, which was SO good, probably one of my faves of the year so far, and A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi which I also really enjoyed!!



I also read Someone Like You for my Sarah Dessen Readathon, which I was excited to read, as I had also not read the book before. I'm hoping to have my thoughts up for it this week!

I did not have time to watch any movies OR tv this week!!
Oooops!

As I mentioned above, this week has been super busy. Mostly because we've been working to get The Teen ready for Prom, which I can't wait to be over already, and we've also been getting ready for gardening season!! Last year I successfully kept a whole bunch of plants alive, so this year we're going to try fruits and veggies as well! (Hopefully I won't end up poisoning us all. Haha!) I am SO excited for this!!

That's about all I've been up to this week, so...