July 29, 2014

Ten (Or Eleven) Authors Whose Books I Buy Compulsively (58)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
I have a serious book buying problem. Like, when I get birthday money, my dad asks: "How many books do you think you can buy with that?" I brush him off, but the truth is? I'm crunching the numbers even before he asks. So it's no shock that I have many books and, more specifically, many books by my favorite authors.

PLEASE NOTE: I have not read all books pictured below. There are a few instances of good reading behavior from me, but definitely not for each and every picture. Which basically means I'm a hoarder. And please try not to judge me for my Rainbow Rowell collection. (I KNOW, OKAY? I KNOW.)

So let's do this thing.

July 28, 2014

Add These To Your Goodreads TBR, Please + Thank You

Guys, I know it's not Tuesday, so this isn't a Top Ten List or anything, but I was thinking about the to-be-published books I'm most excited for and I just have to share some of them with you RIGHT NOW before my insides explode. And yes, I know many of these books don't come out for quite a few months (and some of them don't even have covers or solid release dates) but I'm so, so, so excited and I don't do Waiting on Wednesday anymore, so I HAD TO SHARE.

**Please note: All images/typography bits done up in lieu of images are links to the associated Goodreads page. So click and add these books to your TBR immediately, you'll thank me later.

READY?

July 25, 2014

The One in Which I Ask You Guys For Things

Fact: I don't like coffee. I just like saying Coffee Clutch in my best and deepest New York accent. Considering I'm a New Yorker, I'm pretty freaking good at it. So I've got my tea and I hope you have your heated beverage of choice, because it's time to gab the day away.

Hi guys, what's up?

July 23, 2014

Review: Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski


Title: Don't Even Think About It (Don't Even Think About It #1)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Release Date: March 11th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page Count: 336
Source: ARC from ALA
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: Well that was CUTE.
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository
We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.

So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

July 21, 2014

Review: Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne


Title: Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief #1)
Author: Livia Blackburne
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Page Count: 368
Source: ARC from Publisher
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: *First 300 pages* Awesome, loving this, GREAT. *Last 68 pages* I will have none of this. Good day I say, Mr. Book.
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository
Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.

But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

July 17, 2014

Belated BEA Haul + Giveaway

So... yeah. BEA was like a month and a half ago. People have already posted their ALA annual hauls. And I know I said I'd do this ages ago, but it just never happened. I recorded a video but I hated it so I never posted. But recently I decided that most all of the books I picked up come out in September or later (with the exception of SINNER by Maggie Stiefvater and LANDLINE by Rainbow Rowell, which I didn't picture below because said ARCs have already expired) so the publicity that comes from this post is still relevant.

Therefore, without further babbling from me, here are the books I picked up at BEA and am MOST excited about (I left out like half a dozen that I'm like "eh" about).

July 15, 2014

Top Ten Favorite Current TV Shows (57)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
If you follow me on Twitter, you might know I love television almost as much as I love books. Also, if you read this blog, you might recall the Veronica Mars Watch-Along I did for a while (until I failed to finish off season 3 - although I retain the right to finish that thing eventually). So, basically, this Top Ten Tuesday topic is absolutely perfect for me. But to make this topic a little more tackle-able (since I have way more than 10 favorite shows), I decided to only list shows that are current. Meaning, they're still on the air (although some of them are in hiatus right now for the summer). Also meaning you can binge what's out now but continue on with it and talk to me about it as new episodes come up. WOOHOO.

Ready?

July 14, 2014

Review: Like No Other by Una LaMarche


Title: Like No Other
Author: Una LaMarche
Release Date: July 24th, 2014
Publisher: Razorbill
Page Count: 352
Source: ARC from Publisher
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: Picked up for religious reasons, stayed for everything else.
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository
Fate brought them together. Will life tear them apart?

Devorah is a consummate good girl who has never challenged the ways of her strict Hasidic upbringing.

Jaxon is a fun-loving, book-smart nerd who has never been comfortable around girls (unless you count his four younger sisters).

They've spent their entire lives in Brooklyn, on opposite sides of the same street. Their paths never crossed... until one day, they did.

When a hurricane strikes the Northeast, the pair becomes stranded in an elevator together, where fate leaves them no choice but to make an otherwise risky connection.

Though their relation is strictly forbidden, Devorah and Jax arrange secret meetings and risk everything to be together. But how far can they go? Just how much are they willing to give up?

In the timeless tradition of West Side Story and Crossing Delancey, this thoroughly modern take on romance will inspire laughter, tears, and the belief that love can happen when and where you least expect it.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

July 13, 2014

Epic Recs: July

Feature created by Amber and Judith, Graphic created by Judith
Okay, so I know I only JUST posted my review from last month, but that was late and this is late so... BEEP BEEP move out the way Epic Recs July is driving on it. This month I told Lisa I wanted something non-contemporary, different, and with a map (the map bit basically means fantasy and since Lisa's my soul sister, she knew this). Anyway, while Lisa couldn't find me a map (I know, sads) she did find me something non-contemporary and definitely different. I am excite. 

July 12, 2014

Epic Recs Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Feature created by Amber and Judith, Graphic created by Judith
Once again, Lisa and I are a bit late with our posts (me a bit later than Lisa, but who's even counting, not me). I think we're just getting more and more comfortable with each other and our partnership. Like, neither of us feel guilty or care when we're behind. And whenever we write each other emails or start gchatting, there are like 400 other things to discuss then then all of the Epic Recs business gets pushed off. Basically, we're those girls who spend more time gabbing than getting the group project done and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT WE'RE THE BEST EPIC REC PARTNERS EVER.

But I guess we still have to post the reviews for the June books if we ever want to put up the July stuff, so, this month, while Lisa was reading THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith, I read...

July 9, 2014

5 Reasons to Read SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY + Giveaway!

  
Oh HIIIIIIII it's time for a giveaway of one of my faaaavorite series, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Susan Dennard.
  
In case you missed it and you need to re-read all my reviews of this series (y'know, as proof that you need to read), here's a list of the words I posted on my blog previous to now about this series:
   

But, y'know what? I hear some people don't like to read reviews before/after they read a book and I know all about this TL;DR business, so I'm just going to quickly give you FIVE brief reasons why you should not only want to read this series, but also enter the giveaway below.

July 8, 2014

Top Ten Blogging Confessions (56)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
Can we talk about how I've been doing Top Ten Tuesday for over a year's worth of Tuesdays? (It hasn't been a year since I started doing this feature though - sometimes I skip weeks.) I mean, I know how long I've been blogging (a little over a year and a half) but I don't count the weeks since I started. I just number these Top Ten Tuesday things for reference. And there are 56 of them on my blog. Nuts, I tell you.

Anyway, this week's topic if Blogging Confessions (which feels somehow connected to my moment in the last paragraph so woohoo for that). Ready to hear about the things I have to confess to?

July 4, 2014

Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell


Title: Landline
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 308
Source: ARC from BEA 
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: MORE PERFECTION FROM THE MOST PERFECT AUTHOR EVER. *rolls around on the floor, cries tears of joy*
Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?


[Summary Source: Goodreads]

Happy Fourth of July, My Dears!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, MY DEAREST READERS!
 
 
Even if you don't live in 'MURICA (*cough* The US *cough*), you can probably still get down with the idea of FREEDOM (unless you're British and are still holding a grudge 250-some odd years later). So let's all just say we're celebrating, get drunk, eat some barbecue, and watch the fireworks, shall we? (Because GOSH HOW I LOVE FIREWORKS.)
 
 
Since we have a beautiful three day weekend here in the States in honor of the birth of our country, I thought I'd put together a little list of some of the books I hope to get to this weekend. AKA the weekend I have dubbed "Fantasy Weekend." 
 
Ready?

July 3, 2014

Review: Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard


Title:
Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly #3)
Author: Susan Dennard
Release Date: July 22nd, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 400
Source: ARC from Jeffrey, Jeremy & Charlee (I have great friends)
First Reaction: I am a puddle on the floor. A puddle of feels on the floor.
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository
He took her brother, he took her mother, and now, Marcus has taken her good friend Jie. With more determination than ever to bring this sinister man to justice, Eleanor heads to the hot desert streets of nineteenth-century Egypt in hopes of ending this nightmare. But in addition to her increasingly tense relationships with Daniel, Joseph, and her demon, Oliver, Eleanor must also deal with her former friend, Allison, who has curiously entangled herself in Eleanor’s mission.

With the rising dead chomping at her every move and Jie’s life hanging in the balance, Eleanor is convinced that her black magic will see her through to the bitter end. But there will be a price. Though she and the Spirit Hunters have weathered every battle thus far, there will be consequences to suffer this time—the effects of which will be irreversible. And when it’s over, only some will be able to live a strange and ever after.


[Summary Source: Goodreads]

July 1, 2014

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu


Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Release Date: June 3rd, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Page Count: 208
Source: ARC from Macmillan
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: Woah. 
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository
Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]