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) 

Top Ten Tuesday (16): Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which bloggers post their "Top Ten" of whatever that week's theme is! This week's theme:

LAST TEN BOOKS THAT CAME INTO MY POSSESSION

I used to be so good at book hauls. I wrote them down when I got them and posted bi-weekly (for the most part) on Stacking the Shelves. But yeah, that kind of fell by the wayside. I'm hoping to bring in a monthly round-up but I haven't gotten to that yet. SO! Here are ten books I've gotten recently (although I may have bought/received books in between these):

Bought:

1) The Archived - Victoria Schwab 

- Our next book club pick! I've already read this one and I loved it.

2) Open Road Summer - Emery Lord

- Emery Lord is a wonderful, hilarious human and I can't wait to (FINALLY) read one of her books!

3) P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han

- YAY! More Peter K!

Received for Review:

4) These Shallow Graves - Jennifer Donnelly (ARC)

- I'm super extra grateful for this one. I had a ticket for the signing at BEA but I was so sick I couldn't attend. My dear friend Jackie sent me one to make up for it. THANKS LOVELY!

5) Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella

- One of my favourite reads of the year, I'm so happy to have a finished copy!

6) The Girl at Midnight - Melissa Gray

- I'm really intrigued by this one and love myself a pretty hardcover!

 

7) Damage Done - Amanda Panitch (ARC)

- I hear it is the "YA Gone Girl" so that's mighty promising.

 

8) Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon (ARC)

- I've read nothing but incredible things about this book and the cover is beautiful.

9) Don't Fail Me Now - Una LaMarche (ARC)

- I've been meaning to read an Una LaMarche book for ages!

(P.S. Jackie, if you are reading this, you are lovely and wonderful and thank you for all the awesomeness. *SQUISHY HUGS*)

Borrowed:

10) Bone Gap - Laura Ruby

- I hear this one is really feminist and great so yes. (Thanks, Meaghan!)

That's all for now! What books have you gotten recently?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Review: The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Title: The Night We Said Yes

Author: Lauren Gibaldi

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: June 16th, 2015

Source: ARC Received from Publisher in Exchange for an Honest Review

My Rating: 4/5

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)

I knew as soon as I read the synopsis for this book that it was one I was going to really like. It's all about friendship and second chances and hometowns and summer, which are some of my favourite things to read about. The Night We Said Yes was a touching novel that had me recalling some of those incredible summer days.

I got committed to this book very quickly. I sat out in the sunshine (got a sunburn) and read all afternoon. The story captivated me, and the characters were stellar. Ella was a wonderful protagonist that I could totally relate to, and her best friend Meg was caring and lovable. Jake frustrated me sometimes, but he had a good heart. Matt was the kind of guy I would've crushed on in high school, and he sure won my heart in this book. I shipped Ella and Matt pretty dang quickly, even though I wasn't sure what happened between them. They just had such chemistry, it was great to read about.   

The time-hopping set up of this novel worked really well. I feel like each chapter complimented the next and kept the story moving forward. In many books with this format, I find myself committed to one timeline over the other, but that was not the case with The Night We Said Yes. I loved getting both stories and seeing what things had changed and all the things that had stayed the same. There was only one moment in the book (which I talk about later) that was off for me, but the rest worked seamlessly. 

Reading this book was really nostalgic for me. It felt like going back to the end of high school and how hopeful and scary and joyous it was. This book captured that feeling so well. On a personal level, this book reminded me so much of my friends and some of the ridiculous things we did: going to see our friends play a gig, yelling in cars about boys, going on adventures through the town we knew so well, and feeling like we were on the cusp of something new and exciting. Although I've moved on from that (and sadly, from many of those friends) reading The Night We Said Yes reminded me of all those happy times and how incredible it can feel. I got a little teary at the end because it was a bit like moving on all over again.

Matt's explanation about why he left didn't sit well with me, for some reason. Maybe it was because it was unexpected, but something about it just kind of didn't work for me. It took me out of the story for a few pages, but I quickly found myself drawn back in. Because this story, for me at least, wasn't about why Matt left but about these friends and their story and how scary and amazing it can be to take a chance.  

After I finished The Night We Said Yes, I immediately went out and pre-ordered Matt's Story, the upcoming companion e-novella. I just wasn't ready to let go of these characters. I'm still not. I'm writing this review (well, the end of it) weeks after I finished the book and I'm STILL feel nostalgic about the whole thing. I can't wait to go back and read this one all over again.

Overall, The Night We Said Yes was a heart-warming, nostalgic, and just plain great debut. I am so excited to see what other awesome books Lauren Gibaldi has in store for us.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Lauren Gibaldi's Website 

Top Ten Tuesday (15): Top Ten Books I've Read in 2015 (...So Far)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which bloggers post their "Top Ten" of whatever that week's theme is! This week's theme:

TOP TEN BOOKS I'VE READ IN 2015 (...SO FAR)

Despite being 13 (oh goodness) books behind on my Goodreads challenge, I have managed to read some really good books this year. I've put them in the order I read them in because I'm not ready to rank them just yet. Here's my list!

1) All Fall Down (Embassy Row #1) by Ally Carter

- Ally Carter killed it (once again!) with this one. I adored mah gurl Grace like nobody's business. 

2) Please Remain Calm (This is Not a Test #2) by Courtney Summers

- WAY TO STOMP ON MY HEART AGAIN, SUMMERS.

3) The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows

My blog tour post for The Orphan Queen

- Probably my ultimate OTP of the year. Also just a FANTASTIC book. (Which should surprise no one since it's a Jodi Meadows book. *counts down days until The Mirror King*)

4) All the Rage by Courtney Summers

My Review of All the Rage

- A DOUBLE SUMMERS WHAMMY. My top read of the year, so far (and, let's be real, probably my top read of the year in general). This book is a gut punch. And you guys all need to read it. 

(If you need even more reason to read it, I literally hosted an ENTIRE MONTH of reasons why ATR is awesome)

 

5) Grave Mercy (His Fair Assasin's #1) by Robin LaFevers

- I didn't expected to love this book as much as I did but it was AWESOME. I binge read this one and I can't wait to continue the series.

6) The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

- Nova Ren Suma writes incredible novels, and The Walls Around Us is, quite possibly, her best yet. Seriously, this book blew my mind. 

7) The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

- Kasie West contemporaries make my heart happy and this one is my favourite of the three!

8) Like It Never Happened by Emily Adrian

My Review of Like it Never Happened

- This book was intense and incredible and surpassed my every expectation. So. Dang. Good.

9) Noggin by John Corey Whaley

- Second book club pick making the list, woo! Man, this book was odd. But in the best way. A fun and heartfelt novel, and very well liked by my book club peeps!

10) Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

My Review of Finding Audrey

- So, I wrote an almost 800 word review on this one yesterday but here's a summary: Finding Audrey was wonderful in every way.

So, what were your top ten books of the year (so far)?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Review: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Title: Finding Audrey

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: June 9th, 2015

Source: ARC Received from Publisher in Exchange for an Honest Review

My Rating: 5/5

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shopaholic series comes a terrific blend of comedy, romance, and psychological recovery in a contemporary YA novel sure to inspire and entertain.

An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family. (Summary from Goodreads)

When I heard Sophie Kinsella was writing a YA book, I was SO EXCITED. One of my favourite authors (who I've been reading for almost 11 years), writing my favourite age range? YES PLEASE. Then I heard the protagonist is a 14 year old girl with anxiety issues and my excitement went to a whole other level. I had HIGH expectations for this one, and Finding Audrey blew them all out of the water.

I think the best word to describe this book is wonderful. Kinsella brings her signature humor to Finding Audrey which had me laughing and smiling the whole way through. She always manages to put so much heart into her novels and I honestly felt just so happy reading this book. 

Audrey was a fantastic character. I was cheering for her the entire book. She was strong even when she didn't think she was, and so caring. I loved getting to read this book from her perspective. Audrey's family was just fantastic. They were dysfunctional in the best way. Her Mum was stubborn and bossy and cared about her kids so dang much. Even when she was yelling at Frank about his computer or going on "mum-rants" you could tell she did it out of a place of love. The scenes she had with Audrey were so heart-warming, I just loved it. Audrey's dad was a riot. Some of the most hilarious scenes had him in it.Audrey's brother Frank was so much fun. He was a caring older brother, but also a clever and sarcastic teenager. The dynamic between Frank and Mum as well was just awesome. One of the greatest things about this book was how supportive Audrey's family was. Both of her and her anxiety but also of each other. They didn't always understand or agree with each other, but they were always a family.

Linus was another great, supportive character. He was funny, kind of nerdy, and really worked hard to earn Audrey's trust. He didn't walk away or judge Audrey, but stuck by her and believed in her. He fit into their weird family perfectly. 

I knew I wouldn't be able to read (let alone review!) this book without it getting me in the Personal Feels. I'm not entirely open about my anxiety issues (and they differ from Audrey's in many ways) but this book had me looking internally at them. And relating to Audrey so, so much. I find that anxiety is one of those mental health issues that isn't talked about in books often, but affects so many people. And it's hard. I loved that Finding Audrey didn't shy away from how hard it can be to live with anxiety. How much it can affect every part of your life.

There was also an almost unspoken element of bullying in the novel. We never saw Audrey be bullied but the aftermath of it and how it impacted her life. The bullying wasn't sensationalized. Kinsella never went into flashbacks if it or really detailed the extent of it. It was horrible. It affected Audrey severely. That was all we needed to know. I think, for this story, to not have that element was so important. This was a story about Audrey's recovery, her strength and courage and that was really what mattered. It was so important to not put the focus on the bullies, but give Audrey her own voice, let her tell her own story.

Another thing I loved was how Audrey's treatment was normalized. As it should be. I think there's a tendency in some books to perpetuate a stigma around treating mental illness. Words like "medication" and "therapy" become loaded, even though they are a perfectly normal part of treatment. In Finding Audrey, Audrey's treatment isn't some hush-hush, don't-talk-about-it thing, but rather a helpful and healthy part of her life. Dr. Sarah is funny and insightful and completely supportive of Audrey. She tells her hard truths sometimes, but there is an underlying faith there that is so important. I think Kinsella hit it on the nose with this one.

A poignant, touching novel about mental illness, dysfunctional (but loving!) families, and one girl's courage, Finding Audrey was brilliant. Pick this one up for yourself, your mom, your siblings, your friends. Everyone is going to fall in love with Audrey.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)