Waiting On Wednesday (85): Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Publisher: Soho Teen

Release Date: January 16th, 2018

A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape--perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera.

Maya Aziz is torn between futures: the one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter (i.e.; staying nearby in Chicago and being matched with a "suitable" Muslim boy), and the one where she goes to film school in New York City--and maybe, just maybe, kisses a guy she's only known from afar. There's the also the fun stuff, like laughing with her best friend Violet, making on-the-spot documentaries, sneaking away for private swimming lessons at a secret pond in the woods. But her world is shattered when a suicide bomber strikes in the American heartland; by chance, he shares Maya's last name. What happens to the one Muslim family in town when their community is suddenly consumed with hatred and fear? (Summary from Goodreads)

This book has been getting a lot of buzz in the YA community, and not just cause it has a fantastic cover. I've only hear amazing things about this debut novel and I can't wait to get a copy for myself. It sounds intense but also fun and romantic and like it'll be a punch to the gut. Mark your calendars for this one! I know I have!

- Ciara (at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (83): Busted by Gina Ciocca

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Busted by Gina Ciocca

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: January 2nd, 2018

Marisa wasn’t planning to be a snoop for hire—until she accidentally caught her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl. Now her reputation for sniffing out cheaters has spread all over school, and Marisa finds herself the reluctant queen of busting two-timing boys.

But when ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, TJ, Marisa quickly discovers the girl TJ might be falling for is Marisa herself. And worse yet? The feelings are quickly becoming mutual. Now, she’s stuck spying on a “mystery girl” and the spoken-for guy who just might be the love of her life… (Summary from Goodreads)

Okay, isn't that cover just so great? It's simple but striking and the colour scheme is on point. I just find it completely eye-catching, and I can't wait to see what it looks like printed.

I adored Gina Ciocca's debut Last Year's Mistake and I've been eagerly anticipating her sophomore release. Busted sounds like such a fun read. One of those books you just don't want to stop reading and wish for more when it's over. I dread January but at least I'll have this little gem to look forward to.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (82): As I Descended by Robin Talley

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: As I Descended by Robin Talley

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: September 6th 2016

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily.

Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school.

But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line.

From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

GENDER-SWAPPED MACBETH. YOU GUYS. I can't even tell you how excited this book makes me. My favourite Shakespeare play gets gender-swapped. AND it features an LGBT couple! This book has already won me over on description alone and also, hot damn that cover. Seriously, this is one of my most anticipated books of the year and it should be one of yours too.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (81): Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: September 20th, 2016

 

Fans of acclaimed author Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will devour her latest novel, a dark and inventive fantasy about three sisters who must fight to the death to become queen.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

Ugh, I need this book. I adored Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood duology. The characters, the plot, the writing was all on point. Three Dark Crowns sounds like it could be even better. This is going to be a book I purchase day of and read immediately. I just can't wait.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Waiting On Wednesday (80): Riders by Veronica Rossi

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Riders (Riders #1) by Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 16th 2016

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him? (Summary from Goodreads)

Last year, I marathoned the final two books in the Under the Never Sky trilogy in a weekend. I adored Aria and Perry and the entire world Veronica Rossi created. That series put her on my autobuy list. Even if she wasn't, I'm a sucker for stuff on the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. And Riders sounds right up my alley. I can't wait to get it in just a few short weeks!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Waiting On Wednesday (79): Take The Fall by Emily Hainsworth

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Take The Fall by Emily Hainsworth
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: February 16th 2016

WHO KILLED GRETCHEN MEYER?

Fear grips the residents of Hidden Falls the night Sonia Feldman and her best friend, Gretchen Meyer, are attacked in the woods. Sonia was lucky to escape with her life, but Gretchen’s body is discovered at the bottom of a waterfall. Beautiful, popular, and seemingly untouchable, Gretchen can’t be gone. Even as Sonia struggles with guilt and confusion over having survived, the whole town is looking to her for information…could she have seen something that will lead the police to the killer?

At the top of the list of suspects is Gretchen’s ex-boyfriend—and Sonia’s longtime enemy—Marcus Perez. So when Marcus comes to Sonia for help clearing his name, she agrees, hoping to find evidence the police need to prove he’s the killer. But as Gretchen’s many secrets emerge and the suspects add up, Sonia feels less sure of Marcus’s involvement, and more afraid for herself. Could Marcus, the artist, the screwup, the boy she might be falling for have attacked her? Killed her best friend? And if it wasn’t him in the woods that night…who could it have been? (Summary from Goodreads)

I'm loving all the mystery/thriller books that have been coming out recently! It's one of those genres I always thought was lacking in YA and I'm excited to see it expanding. Although I have yet to read Through to You, I know Emily Hainsworth is going to be an author I adore. I'm really excited to grab a copy of Take the Fall when it comes out in February!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnght) 

Waiting On Wednesday (78): Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: November 17th 2015

Reagan Forrester wants out—out of her trailer park, out of reach of her freeloading mother, and out of the shadow of the relationship that made her the pariah of Charytan, Kansas.

Victoria Reyes wants in—in to a fashion design program, in to the arms of a cute guy who doesn't go to Charytan High, and in to a city where she won't stand out for being Mexican.

One thing the polar-opposite best friends do agree on is that wherever they go, they’re staying together. But when they set off on a series of college visits at the start of their senior year, they quickly see that the future doesn’t look quite like they expected. After two years of near-solitude following the betrayal of the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Reagan falls hard and fast for a Battlestar Galactica-loving, brilliant smile-sporting pre-med prospective... only to learn she's set herself up for heartbreak all over again. Meanwhile, Victoria runs full-speed toward all the things she thinks she wants… only to realize everything she’s looking for might be in the very place they've sworn to leave.

As both Reagan and Victoria struggle to learn who they are and what they want in the present, they discover just how much they don't know about each other's pasts. And when each learns what the other’s been hiding, they'll have to decide whether their friendship has a future. (Summary from Goodreads)

Road trips and friendships and coming-of-age! These are three of my favourite things to read about and Just Visiting seems to have them in spades. Dahlia Adler is a smart, lovely human and her books sound just as smart and lovely and I seriously can't wait to get a copy of Just Visiting. I mean, just look at that beautiful cover! I want it to be my life, basically.

If you don't have Just Visiting on your TBR (or any of Dahlia's other books) what are you waiting for! Run over to Goodreads!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
 

Waiting On Wednesday (77): The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Dial Books

Release Date: August 18th 2015

A surprising, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door—great for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han 

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To find the liquor cabinet blindfolded, need a liver transplant, and drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To . . . well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this novel is for readers of The Spectacular Now, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Paper Towns. (Summary from Goodreads)

My Life Next Door was such a wonderful contemporary. It surpassed my very high expectations and I was delighted when I heard there would be a companion novel! The Garrett family is such a wonderful one and, for an only child like me, it was so interesting to read about such a huge family. I cannot wait for this one!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (76): Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: May 26th, 2015

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home. (Summary from Goodreads)

When I first picked up Pushing the Limits, I didn't expect to find an author I would love obsessively. But, that's exactly what I found. I've read all the books in the series and loved every one of them. And I'm not usually a huge romance fan! I'm really excited to read a new Katie McGarry series, and fall in love all over again.

(Also, have you seen this cover? Cause this cover is gorgeous)

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (75): Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Hold Me Like a Breath (Once Upon A Crime Family #1) by Tiffany Schmidt

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: May 19th, 2015

Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.

Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.

And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.

All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks. (Summary from Goodreads)

I love this cover. Also, this title. Also, the concept of this book. Basically, I'm just really excited about Hold Me Like a Breath. It sounds creepy and atmospheric and romantic and maybe a bit coming-of-age-like. Essentially, everything I look for in a book. 

I cannot wait to get my hands on this one and read the heck out of it. (I also can't wait to get it signed and probably fangirl all over the place).

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (74): The Remedy by Suzanne Young

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: The Remedy (The Program #0.5) by Suzanne Young

Release Date: April 21st 2015

Publisher: Simon Pulse

In a world before The Program…

Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.

Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.

Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start. (Summary from Goodreads)

I honestly didn't except to love The Program was much as I did. I didn't expect to become so committed to the characters, the world, the story. But, Suzanne Young sucked be into this series and I haven't looked back. The Treatment was the perfect finale, but I was so sad there wouldn't be more. But then this series was announced. And my little black heart was so damn happy. I cannot wait to read this book. I know it'll be AMAZING.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Waiting On Wednesday (73): The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: March 31st 2015

Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live? (Summary from Goodreads)

Ugh, look at that cover guys. That cover is what I want my summer to be like. 

This book sounds so sweet and fun with just a little side of heart-break. Open Road Summer was such a hit with everyone last year (and one I keep meaning to pick up), I'm sure Emery Lord's sophomore book will be just as amazing! I can't wait to dive into both of her books this summer.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (72): The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Release Date: March 24th, 2015

“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”

The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices—one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.

We hear Amber’s story and Violet’s, and through them Orianna’s, first from one angle, then from another, until gradually we begin to get the whole picture—which is not necessarily the one that either Amber or Violet wants us to see.

Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and innocence, and what happens when one is mistaken for the other. (Summary from Goodreads)

This one is being called "Orange is the New Black Swan" and if that tagline alone doesn't get you, just read the description.

I've been wanted to read this one since the rights announcement for one simple reason: it's a Nova Ren Suma book. And her books are EXTRAORDINARY. Her writing is enchanting and her stories are always magical and raw and real. I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book and I cannot wait to see for myself.

If you don't have Nova Ren Suma on your radar, you really need to change that. Check out my review of 17 & Gone if you need more encouragement and my post about how Nova Ren Suma is a rockstar author.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (71): The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: June 16th, 2015

A fun, romantic read, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti!

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life.

But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.

And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.

Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future.

In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave. (Summary from Goodreads)

You guys, this has ME written all over it. A little bit of romance, a touch of coming-of-age and sprinkled with a whole lot of heart. What more could I ask for? It sounds like the perfect book to read on those warm summer nights (which need to get here ASAP). I think there could be a lot more to this novel than meets the eye. I'm getting a really good vibe from this one, guys, and I am really excited to see if I'm right.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (70): Polaris by Mindee Arnett

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Polaris (Avalon #2) by Mindee Arnett

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: January 20th, 2015  

Following the events of Avalon, Jeth Seagrave and his crew are on the run. Jeth is desperate to find the resources and funding he needs to rescue his mother from an ITA’s research lab and leave this whole galaxy behind for a new life somewhere else. But the ITA is just as desperate, and soon Jeth finds himself pursued by a mysterious figure hell-bent on capturing Jeth and his crew—dead or alive. In a last-ditch effort to save everyone he holds dear, Jeth enters into a bargain with the last person he ever thought he'd see again: Dax Shepherd, the galaxy’s newest and most fearsome crime lord. And he’s not the only one: upon arriving back at Peltraz spaceport for the first time since he witnessed the death of his old employer, Jeth discovers Dax has a new partner: Jeth’s mother, Marian.

This shocking turn of events is only the first in another breathless, action-packed sci-fi adventure rife with danger, love, and betrayal, as Jeth has to once again ask himself how much he’s willing to invest in a morally bankrupt galaxy in the hopes of saving those he cares for. (Summary from Goodreads)

 
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Avalon earlier this year and it quickly became one of my favourite reads of 2014. The characters were incredible, the plot-line fascinating and I basically just wanted more and more. I mean seriously, space hijinks, tight friendships, and intrigue? It was like everything I love wrapped up into one book. As soon as I turned the last page I started counting down the days until I would get the conclusion to this incredible story. And now, I don't have to wait very long at all!

I highly recommend you check out this series (if you want to know all the reasons why, here's my review of Avalon). It's perfect for sci-fi fans and non sci-fi fans alike! 

So, what are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

P. S. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!! *bounces with excitement* 

Waiting On Wednesday (69): Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Please Remain Calm (This Is Not a Test #2)

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 20th, 2015

In this gripping sequel to THIS IS NOT A TEST, Rhys and Sloane are headed for a safe haven when they get separated along the way. Rhys is determined to reunite with Sloane until he discovers people who might need him more--people who offer him the closest he'll get to everything he's lost, if they can just hold on long enough.

Rhys thinks he has what it takes to survive and find the girl he lost, but in a world overrun by the dead, there are no guarantees and the next leg of his journey will test him in unimaginable ways... (Summary from Goodreads)

OH GOD, GUYS. I AM NOT READY. I AM NOT CALM. My bestie and I have been talking/theorizing/fan-girling/preemptively crying over this novella since it was announced. This is Not a Test is quite possibly my favourite book of all time, and I'm both so excited and so so scared to read Please Remain Calm. Courtney Summers does not pull any punches. She doesn't give you the ending you want, but one that is right for the story. And, let's be real, those endings can HURT. And this is a ZOMBIE BOOK. Nothing happy ever happens in a zombie book. So, I have reasons to be scared. But, I also know that this story will be incredible and gut-wrenching and powerful and just so dang good. It is a Courtney Summers book after all. I cannot wait to revisit these beautifully broken and fascinating characters once again. 

I know I've said this repeatedly, but I can't express it enough. You need to read Courtney Summers' books. They are some of the best out there in YA and absolutely impacting. Get yourself to a book store and grab a copy, or head to your bookshelf and put them at the top of your TBR. And then come join me and the bestie as we anxiously await one of our most anticipated books of the year.

Check out my review of This is Not a Test here!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (68): All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!  

This Week's Pick: All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: April 14th, 2015

In her hardcover debut, from the author of Cracked Up To Be and This is Not a Test, comes a powerful new young adult novel.　

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous.But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now—but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

(I know technically I've already done All the Rage was a WoW pick, but it didn't have a cover AND the description has undergone major changes since then so I'm highlighting it again.)

Oh, guys. What do I even say? If you guys are regulars here (or follow my ridiculous thoughts on Twitter) you know Courtney Summers is my favourtie author. And you're going to be hearing me talk A LOT about All the Rage for the next seven-ish months. Because (besides the fact that it's my most anticipated release of 2015), I think it's important. This is going to be a tough novel to read, no doubt, but it's such an important subject to talk about. I think all of Courtney's books are so ridiculously important. They address subjects that are difficult to think about. Feature girls that are angry and hurt and strong and human. They break your heart with unflinching honesty and they are so utterly real. They're simply some of the best books I've ever read. I know All the Rage will be just as incredible.

Courtney Summers is also a super cool human and still speaks to me regularly despite my slight craziness about her books. I mean, seriously, the amount of fan-girl flails I have thrown in her direction the past few years is a bit insane but she seems totally cool with it. Which makes my tiny black heart very happy. (Also, that one time I met her and actually had a Mental Breakdown before saying 'hi' to her she was very sweet despite my, like, hyperventilation).

All the Rage is going to break me into tiny little fragile pieces but I absolutely cannot wait. Put this book on your TBR. You will not regret it.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

P.S. I'm hoping to host another Read-Along (in the same of the Courtney Summers Read-Along I hosted last year) for All the Rage! It's going to depend on my exam schedule, but I think I can manage. Keep your eyes here in early March for the official announcement!   

Waiting On Wednesday (67): Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A. S. King

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A. S. King

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 14th, 2014

WOULD YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE WORLD
IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD NO FUTURE?

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities—but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions—and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last—a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

Although I've heard numerous things about her, I've never read a book by A. S. King. She's always been on my radar, but I haven't gotten around to grabbing one of her books. When I read the summary for Glory O'Brien's History of the Future though, I knew I was going to be fixing that very soon. A book about feminism, magical realism, AND mental health? Sign me right the heck up. I cannot wait to dive right into this one!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting on Wednesday (66): Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 
 

This Week's Pick: Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: October 21st 2014

The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

You guys, I just. I don't even think I can properly explain how excited I am for this book. The Raven Cycle is, without a doubt, my favourite series out there. It is incredible in every way and brings me joy like nothing else. I've never connected to a character like I do Gansey, and I've never had a story make me believe in magic quite like this one. So, to say I'm excited for this book is a SERIOUS understatement. I will be at the bookstore as soon as it opens so I can get this book in my hands. If you haven't read this series, you need to pick it up. It's the perfect story for anyone. (If you want to hear even more, check out my review of The Raven Boys).

And, in exciting news, I'll be in Toronto in November for the INSPIRE! Toronto International Book Fair where Maggie Stiefvater is doing a panel. There will be tears. And fan-girl flailing. And more tears. Just as a head's up.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (65): Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Messenger of Fear (Messenger of Fear #1) by Michael Grant

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: September 23rd, 2014

I remembered my name – Mara. But, standing in that ghostly place, faced with the solemn young man in the black coat with silver skulls for buttons, I could recall nothing else about myself.

And then the games began.

The Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts upon the world. If they go unpunished, he offers the wicked a game. Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest fear.

But what does any of this have to do with Mara? She is about to find out . . . (Summary from Goodreads)

Guys, the Gone series by Michael Grant is one of my favourites. I remember bringing home the first one from the library, back when I was fourteen. I didn't know what I had gotten myself into. I waited (impatiently) for every single book after that, and loved each of them more and more. They were disturbing, and frightening, and addicting, and oh so good. They all seem long but I can never manage to stop reading them. I still haven't read Light, the final book, because I just can't bear to let this series go. I love it too much. And it solidified everything Michael Grant writes being put on my TBR.

I'm SO EXCITED for Messenger of Fear. It sounds unique and spooky and exactly what I've come to expect from Michael Grant! The description reminds me a bit of The Devouring by Simon Holt, a series I freakin' loved as a young teen. I can't wait to see what Messenger of Fear is all about!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)