Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu

/34 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu.  Unwitting sibling rivalry, a wolf shapeshifter, and deadly forbidden magic?!  Yes, please!

 

THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu

Publication Date:  January 8, 2019

 

From Goodreads

Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice and betrayal for readers of Sabaa Tahir and Alwyn Hamilton.

All hail the Girl King.

Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty’s first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.

Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…

Alone in the volatile court, Min’s hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set’s reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters’ greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.

 

 

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Authors I’d Love to Meet

/48 Comments/by

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Authors I’d Love to Meet.  I remember doing a similar topic last year, but the great thing about being addicted to books is that I’m always discovering more authors that I’d love to meet.  I’m always interested in meeting authors that I think I could not only chat with about their books, but that (assuming I didn’t just sit there and flail speechlessly because I’m meeting my favorites), I could also have real conversations with about what’s going on in the world socially, politically, etc. and how real world events shape what they’re writing about at any given moment.  For those who are interested, here’s my list of authors from last year:  Top Top Authors I’m Dying to Meet.

And below are ten more authors that I think would be equally fascinating to meet someday…

 

* * * * *

10 Authors I’d Love to Meet

 

1. ALICE HOFFMAN

Alice Hoffman is the author of Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic, Faithful, and many more, and she has been a favorite of mine for years. Her prose is so lyrical, yet so natural and effortless at the same time.  I’d love to talk to her about where she gets her inspiration from for the magical stories she writes.

 

“Books may well be the only true magic.”

 

* * * * *

2. LIANE MORIARTY

LIane Moriarty is the author of the best selling Big Little Lies, which has also been made into a very popular TV series on HBO.  I’d love to chat with her about her success.  Did she ever imagine that she would basically become a household name when she was writing Big Little Lies?

 

“The good thing about writing a novel is that you’re creating an imaginary world and can take a break when you need to.”

 

* * * * *

3. LEIGH BARDUGO

Leigh Bardugo is the author of two of my favorites series, the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology.  I’d love to talk to her about how she came up with the whole idea of the Grishaverse, as well as her writing process.

 

“I think the first trick to writing a feminist work is to write plenty of women.  That way you get to write characters, instead of worrying about paradigms.”

 

* * * * *

4. MICHELLE OBAMA

I just adore Michelle Obama.  She’s so intelligent and an all around class act, and I’m beyond excited that her book is coming out soon.  I’d love to meet her not just because of her status as a former First Lady, but just because I think she would be so fascinating to talk to about pretty much any topic.

 

“Failure is an important part of your growth and developing resilience.  Don’t be afraid to fail.”

 

* * * * *

5. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN

I think it would be somewhat intimidating to meet George R. R. Martin, but I’d still love to, mainly because I’d love to ask him about his process and if he ever has regrets about killing off some of his characters.

“I have a huge emotional attachment to characters I’ve created, especially the viewpoint characters.”

 

* * * * *

6. TOMI ADEYEMI

Tomi Adeyemi is the author of the immensely popular Children of Blood and Bone novel.  I’d love to meet her and talk about what comes next for the characters I fell in love with in the first book of this series.

 

“I want a little black girl to pick up my book one day and see herself as the star.  I want her to know that she’s beautiful and she matters, and she can have a crazy magical adventure even if an ignorant part of the world tells her she can never be Hermione Granger.”

 

* * * * *

7. BECKY ALBERTALLI

I’d love to meet Becky to thank her for writing wonderful books filled with some of the most relatable characters I’ve ever come across.  I can’t wait to read her upcoming collaboration with Adam Silvera.

 

“People really are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows and maybe it’s a good thing, the way we never stop surprising each other.” (Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda)

 

* * * * *

8. KATHERINE ARDEN

Katherine Arden is the author of one of my favorite series, The Winternight Trilogy.  I’d love to talk to her about her inspiration for this series and to see if she would give me a sneak peek of the final book, which I’m dying to get my hands on but it doesn’t come out until January 2019.

 

“Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.” (The Girl in the Tower)

 

* * * * *

9. DAN BROWN

Credit: Dan Courter

 

I’d love to meet Dan Brown, mainly just to see how many more ideas he has for Robert Langdon books or if he’ll be introducing a new series anytime soon.

 

“I’m fascinated by power, especially veiled power.  Shadow power. The National Security Agency. The National Reconnaissance Office. Opus Dei.  The idea that everything happens for reasons we’re not quite seeing.”

 

* * * * *

10. RICK RIORDAN

I’d love to meet Rick Riordan to thank him for writing books that have made my son love reading.

 

“Being a hero doesn’t mean you are invincible.  It means you are brave enough to stand up and do what’s right.”

 

* * * * *

 

Question:  So there’s my 10.  What authors are you dying to meet?  Would any of mine make your list?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty

/36 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty.  Why?  Because it’s Liane Moriarty of course!   And also because I’m in the mood for a fun read and something tells me this novel is going to be exactly what I’m looking for.  I’m not sure how but somehow that synopsis manages to sound quirky and dangerous all at the same time, so I’m very much game to dive in and see what is going on at Tranquillum House.

 

NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty

Publication Date:  November 6, 2018

 

From Goodreads

Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out…

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.

Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can?

It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.

 

 

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read

/56 Comments/by

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read.  This is basically a post of shame for me because I have no excuse whatsoever as to why I haven’t gotten around to these books yet.  With the exception of The Archived, all of these books have been sitting on my shelf for at least a year now.  I’m chalking up to the fact that I am easily distracted away from the older books on my shelves by the shiny new books as they arrive.  I’m so awful about that that I have even picked up and started several of these, only to set them down and promptly forget about them as soon as I get my hands on a new release.

 

* * * * *

10 Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read

 

1. ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

2. THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

3.  THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarty

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

4. THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS by Leigh Bardugo

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

5. SISTERLAND by Curtis Sittenfeld

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

6. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

7. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R.R. Martin

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

8. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

9. FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

10. REDEMPTION ROAD by John Hart

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

Question:  What books by your favorite authors have you not gotten around to reading yet?

 

Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons

/28 Comments/by

 

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons.  There are demons, dragons, prophecies, and a long-lost prince who realizes being a prince isn’t all that because his new family is the absolute worst?  Yes, please!

 

THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons

Publication Date:  February 5, 2019

 

From Goodreads

There are the old stories. And then there’s what actually happens.

Kihrin is a bastard orphan who grew upon storybook tales of long-lost princes and grand quests. When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn’t what the storybooks promised.

Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family’s power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins.

Then again, maybe he’s not the hero, for Kihrin isn’t destined to save the empire.

He’s destined to destroy it . . .

Uniting the worldbuilding of a Brandon Sanderson with the storytelling verve of a Patrick Rothfuss, debut author Jenn Lyons delivers an entirely new and captivating fantasy epic. Prepare to meet the genre’s next star.

 

 

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Books I’m Planning to Read This Fall

/54 Comments/by

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Books On My Fall 2018 TBR.  As you’ll be able to tell from my list, one of my main goals this fall is to keep up with all of the series that I’m currently reading.  Nearly all of my favorite series have new installments coming out in the next few weeks and I’m determined not to fall behind on them.  In addition to series reading, I also have some anticipated 2018 reads such as Seafire, Sadie, Circe, and Spinning Silver that I haven’t made time for yet but that I’m determined to get to before the end of 2018.

 

* * * * *

Top 10 Books I’m Planning to Read This Fall

 

1. MUSE OF NIGHTMARES by Laini Taylor

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

2. WILDCARD by Marie Lu

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

3.  THE LADY’S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY by Mackenzi Lee

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

4. ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI by Kerri Maniscalco

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

5. VENGEFUL by V.E. Schwab

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

6. SEAFIRE by Natalie C. Parker

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

7. SADIE by Courtney Summers

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

8. CIRCE by Madeline Miller

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

9. SPINNING SILVER by Naomi Novik

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

 

10. THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER by Kate Morton

(Find out what it’s about…)

* * * * *

Question:  What books are you planning to read this fall?  Are any of my titles on your list?

 

Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE WREN HUNT by Mary Watson

/26 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is THE WREN HUNT by Mary Watson.  I found myself drawn tot his book as soon as I saw that it’s set in Ireland. Plus I also love the idea of the main character going undercover in an attempt to save her family from their enemies.

 

THE WREN HUNT by Mary Watson

Publication Date:  November 6, 2018

 

 

From Netgalley:

Thrilling, atmospheric, and filled with ancient magic, this lyrically written YA debut is perfect for readers of The Raven Cycle and Wink Poppy Midnight.

Every Christmas, Wren is chased through the woods near her isolated Irish village by her family’s enemies–the Judges–and there’s nothing that she or her grandfather can do to stop it. Once Wren’s people, the Augurs, controlled an ancient, powerful magic. But now that power lies with the Judges, who are set on destroying the Augurs for good.

In a desperate bid to save her family, Wren takes a dangerous undercover assignment as an intern amidst those who want her dead. But as the web of lies, deceit, and betrayal thickens around her, she finds herself hurtling towards a truth that threatens to consume her and reveal who she really is. Not only has she come to the attention of powerful Judge Cassa Harkness, but she is also falling dangerously in love with the one person she shouldn’t. . .

This captivating fantasy from an award-winning author is equal parts thrilling and romantic, perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater.

 

 

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – Hidden Gems: 10 Wonderful Books That Deserve More Love

/46 Comments/by

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Hidden Gems (which books haven’t been talked about as much or haven’t been marketed as strongly that you think deserve some recognition?).  I found this topic somewhat difficult, not because there aren’t plenty of books out there that don’t deserve more recognition, but more because I have a hard time deciding what makes a book underrated.  For my purposes, I used my Goodreads shelf and selected books I loved that have so far received less than 3,000 reviews.  That probably still sounds high, but when I think about all of the super hyped books that have over 100,000 reviews already, I think 3,000 is a good number to go with.  Some are newer releases so it remains to be seen how high their review numbers will climb, but most of these have been out for at least a year now.

 

* * * * *

Hidden Gems: 10 Wonderful Books That Deserve More Love

 

STARFISH by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Goodreads Synopsis:  Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.

But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.

From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.

 

ZENN DIAGRAM by Wendy Brant

Goodreads Synopsis:  The more I touch someone, the more I can see and understand, and the more I think I can help. But that’s my mistake. I can’t help. You can’t fix people like you can solve a math problem.

Math genius. Freak of nature. Loner.

Eva Walker has literally one friend—if you don’t count her quadruplet three-year-old-siblings—and it’s not even because she’s a math nerd. No, Eva is a loner out of necessity, because everyone and everything around her is an emotional minefield. All she has to do is touch someone, or their shirt, or their cell phone, and she can read all their secrets, their insecurities, their fears.

Sure, Eva’s “gift” comes in handy when she’s tutoring math and she can learn where people are struggling just by touching their calculators. For the most part, though, it’s safer to keep her hands to herself. Until she meets six-foot-three, cute-without-trying Zenn Bennett, who makes that nearly impossible.

Zenn’s jacket gives Eva such a dark and violent vision that you’d think not touching him would be easy. But sometimes you have to take a risk…

 

HOW TO MAKE A WISH by Ashley Herring Blake

Goodreads Synopsis:  All seventeen year-old Grace Glasser wants is her own life. A normal life in which she sleeps in the same bed for longer than three months and doesn’t have to scrounge for spare change to make sure the electric bill is paid. Emotionally trapped by her unreliable mother, Maggie, and the tiny cape on which she lives, she focuses on her best friend, her upcoming audition for a top music school in New York, and surviving Maggie’s latest boyfriend—who happens to be Grace’s own ex-boyfriend’s father.

Her attempts to lay low until she graduates are disrupted when she meets Eva, a girl with her own share of ghosts she’s trying to outrun. Grief-stricken and lonely, Eva pulls Grace into midnight adventures and feelings Grace never planned on. When Eva tells Grace she likes girls, both of their worlds open up. But, united by loss, Eva also shares a connection with Maggie. As Grace’s mother spirals downward, both girls must figure out how to love and how to move on.

 

I STOP SOMEWHERE by T.E. Carter

Goodreads Synopsis:  Ellie Frias disappeared long before she vanished.

Tormented throughout middle school, Ellie begins her freshman year with a new look: she doesn’t need to be popular; she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper.

But when the unthinkable happens, Ellie finds herself trapped after a brutal assault. She wasn’t the first victim, and now she watches it happen again and again. She tries to hold on to her happier memories in order to get past the cold days, waiting for someone to find her.

The problem is, no one searches for a girl they never noticed in the first place.

 

THE MERMAID by Christina Henry

Goodreads Synopsks:  From the author of Lost Boy comes a historical fairy tale about a mermaid who leaves the sea for love and later finds herself in P.T. Barnum’s American Museum as the real Fiji mermaid. However, leaving the museum may be harder than leaving the sea ever was.

Once there was a mermaid who longed to know of more than her ocean home and her people. One day a fisherman trapped her in his net but couldn’t bear to keep her. But his eyes were lonely and caught her more surely than the net, and so she evoked a magic that allowed her to walk upon the shore. The mermaid, Amelia, became his wife, and they lived on a cliff above the ocean for ever so many years, until one day the fisherman rowed out to sea and did not return.

P. T. Barnum was looking for marvelous attractions for his American Museum, and he’d heard a rumor of a mermaid who lived on a cliff by the sea. He wanted to make his fortune, and an attraction like Amelia was just the ticket.

Amelia agreed to play the mermaid for Barnum, and she believes she can leave any time she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he’s determined to hold on to his mermaid.

 

THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS by Ashely Woodfolk

Goodreads Synopsis:  Music brought Autumn, Shay, and Logan together. Death wants to tear them apart.

Autumn always knew exactly who she was—a talented artist and a loyal friend. Shay was defined by two things: her bond with her twin sister, Sasha, and her love of music. And Logan always turned to writing love songs when his love life was a little less than perfect.

But when tragedy strikes each of them, somehow music is no longer enough. Now Logan can’t stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend. Shay is a music blogger struggling to keep it together. And Autumn sends messages that she knows can never be answered.

Despite the odds, one band’s music will reunite them and prove that after grief, beauty thrives in the people left behind.

 

THE GIRL WITH THE RED BALLOON by Katherine Locke

Goodreads Synopsis:  When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.

 

LITTLE BIG LOVE by Katy Regan

Goodreads Synopsis:   About a Boy meets Parenthood in this smart, big-hearted love story about a family for whom everything changed one night, a decade ago, and the young boy who unites them all.

Told through the eyes of Zac, Juliet, and grandfather Mick, Little Big Love is a layered, heartfelt, utterly satisfying story about family, love, and the secrets that can define who we are.

 

NOTHING LEFT TO BURN by Heather Ezell

Goodreads Synopsis:  The autumn morning after sixteen-year-old Audrey Harper loses her virginity, she wakes to a loud, persistent knocking at her front door. Waiting for her are two firemen, there to let her know that the moment she’s been dreading has arrived: the enormous wildfire sweeping through Orange County, California, is now dangerously close to her idyllic gated community of Coto de Caza, and it’s time to evacuate.

Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, as Audrey wrestles with the possibility of losing her family home, she also recalls her early, easy summer days with Brooks, the charming, passionate, but troubled volunteer firefighter who enchants Audrey–and who is just as enthralled by her. But as secrets from Brooks’s dark past come to light, Audrey can’t help but wonder if there’s danger in the pull she feels–both toward this boy, and toward the fire burning in the distance.

 

LETTING GO OF GRAVITY by Meg Leder

Goodreads Synopsis:  Twins Parker and Charlie are polar opposites.

Where Charlie is fearless, Parker is careful.  Charlie is confident while Parker aims to please.

Charlie is outgoing and outspoken; Parker is introverted and reserved.

And of course, there’s the one other major difference: Charlie got leukemia. Parker didn’t.

But now that Charlie is officially in remission, life couldn’t be going better for Parker. She’s landed a prestigious summer internship at the hospital and is headed to Harvard in the fall to study pediatric oncology—which is why the anxiety she’s felt since her Harvard acceptance is so unsettling. And it doesn’t help that her relationship with Charlie has been on the rocks since his diagnosis.

Enter Finn, a boy who’s been leaving strange graffiti messages all over town. Parker can’t stop thinking about those messages, or about Finn, who makes her feel free for the first time: free to doubt, free to make mistakes, and free to confront the truth that Parker has been hiding from for a long time.

That she keeps trying to save Charlie, when the person who really needs saving is herself.

 

* * * * *

 

Question:  What are some books that you think deserve more love?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN by Kiersten White

/32 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN by Kiersten White.  I’m always in the mood for a good retelling and this one sounds particularly interesting, especially since it comes from the perspective of Elizabeth rather than from Dr. Frankenstein himself.

 

THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN by Kiersten White

Publication Date:  September 25, 2018

 

 

From Goodreads:

Elizabeth Lavenza hasn’t had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her “caregiver,” and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend.

Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable–and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.

But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth’s survival depends on managing Victor’s dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

 

 

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Bingeworthy TV Shows

/46 Comments/by

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Bingeworthy TV Shows/Amazing Movies (The new fall TV season is starting up this month, so let’s talk about what shows everyone should watch when they’re not reading!)

I guess what will become pretty obvious right away by looking at my list is that I’m major Netflix and Chill kind of girl.  I don’t have many shows at all that I actively watch on cable or network TV.  The only exceptions to that right now are The Good Place, The 100, and Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which I do watch as they air on NBC, the CW and ABC, respectively.

You’ll also see that there are a lot of comedies on my list.  Like reading, TV is an escape for me so when I binge, I tend to binge shows that are going to make me laugh and forget about whatever has made me feel like I need an escape.  There’s also a healthy dose of science fiction in there too, again because I find it an escape from reality.

Netflix is perfect for me because just as I’m a mood reader, I’m also a mood television viewer.  And there are endless shows on Netflix to fit my every mood.  Below are some of my current favorites for bingewatching.

 

* * * * * *

 

Top 10 Bingeworthy TV Shows

 

 

WHEN I’M IN THE MOOD FOR COMEDY:

 

 

 

GRACE and FRANKIE

Synopsis:  For as long as they can recall, Grace and Frankie have been rivals. Their one-upmanship comes crashing to a halt, however, when they learn that their husbands have fallen in love with each other and want to get married. As everything around the ladies is coming apart, the only thing they can really rely on is each other. This Netflix original re-teams Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin (“9 to 5”) as Grace and Frankie, respectively, bringing their chemistry to the small screen. It’s a casting reunion on a grand scale, as Tomlin is reunited with her co-star from “The West Wing,” Martin Sheen, who plays Grace’s husband, Robert. And Fonda is back with Sam Waterston, her co-star from “The Newsroom,” who plays Frankie’s husband, Sol.

 

 

 

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT

Synopsis:  Rescued after 15 years in a cult, Kimmy Schmidt decides to reclaim her life by venturing to New York, where she experiences everyday life with wide-eyed enthusiasm. On a whim, she rents a room from Titus, a gay wannabe Broadway actor, who makes ends meet as a street performer in Times Square. The unlikely pair find they’re well-suited to help each other out, with Titus reintroducing Kimmy to modern life, and her providing him with the inspiration that you should never give up. Together they’ll make it through whatever life throws at them.

 

 

 

ONE DAY AT A TIME

Synopsis: This Netflix-original comedy-drama is inspired by Norman Lear’s 1975 series of the same name. This time around, the series follows the life of Penelope, a newly single Army veteran, and her Cuban-American family, as they navigate the ups and downs of life. Now a nurse, Penelope is raising two strong-willed children. When faced with challenges, Penelope turns to her “old-school” mother, and her building manager, who has become an invaluable confidant. The series offers a contemporary take on what life looks like in both good and bad times, and how loved ones can help make it all worthwhile.

 

 

 

THE GOOD PLACE

Synopsis:  When Eleanor Shellstrop finds herself in the afterlife, she’s both relieved and surprised that she’s made it into the Good Place. But it doesn’t take long for Eleanor to realize she’s there by mistake. She hides in plain sight from the Good Place’s architect Michael and his all-knowing assistant Janet. Her seemingly perfect neighbors Tahani and Jianyu and open-hearted soul mate Chidi help her realize that it’s never too late. With the help of her new friends — and a few enemies — Eleanor becomes determined to shed her old way of life in hopes of discovering a new one in the afterlife.

 

* * * * * *

 

WHEN I’M IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING OVER THE TOP

 

SHAMELESS

Synopsis:  Oscar-nominated actor William H. Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, a single father of six who spends much of his free time drinking at bars. The Gallagher children — led by oldest daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum), who takes on much of the child-rearing responsibility due to her mother’s absence — manage to raise themselves in spite of Frank’s lack of parenting and unusual parenting style when he does choose to act like a father. The drama is an adaptation of the BAFTA Award-winning British show of the same name.

 

 

 

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

Synopsis:  Piper Chapman is a public relations executive with a career and a fiance when her past suddenly catches up to her. In her mid-30s she is sentenced to spend time in a minimum-security women’s prison in Connecticut for her association with a drug runner 10 years earlier. This Netflix original series is based on the book of the same title. Forced to trade power suits for prison orange, Chapman makes her way through the corrections system and adjusts to life behind bars, making friends with the many eccentric, unusual and unexpected people she meets.

 

* * * * * *

 

WHEN I’M IN THE MOOD FOR SCIENCE FICTION & BADASS CHARACTERS

 

 

MARVEL:  AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

Synopsis: Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg, reprising his role from “The Avengers” and “Iron Man” ) heads an elite team of fellow agents with the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as SHIELD (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division), as they investigate strange occurrences around the globe. Its members — each of whom brings a specialty to the group — work with Coulson to protect those who cannot protect themselves from extraordinary and inconceivable threats, including a formidable group known as Hydra.

 

 

 

THE 100

Synopsis:  When nuclear Armageddon destroys civilization on Earth, the only survivors are those on the 12 international space stations in orbit at the time. Three generations later, the 4,000 survivors living on a space ark of linked stations see their resources dwindle and face draconian measures established to ensure humanity’s future. Desperately looking for a solution, the ark’s leaders send 100 juvenile prisoners back to the planet to test its habitability. Having always lived in space, the exiles find the planet fascinating and terrifying, but with the fate of the human race in their hands, they must forge a path into the unknown.

 

 

 

LOST IN SPACE

Synopsis:  “Danger, Will Robinson!” The rest of the Robinson clan should be on the lookout for danger, as well, because they are facing challenging times. It’s 30 years in the future and the family has been chosen to start a new life in a space colony. On the way to what they believe will be a better world, the Robinsons’ ship is abruptly thrown off course and they are thrown into a dangerous alien environment. Now light-years from their original destination, they must forge new alliances and work together to survive. Stranded with the Robinsons are unsettlingly charismatic Dr. Smith and inadvertently charming Don West, two outsiders who are thrown together by circumstance and a mutual knack for deception.

 

* * * * * *

 

WHEN I’M FEELING NOSTALGIC FOR MY SCHOOL DAYS

 

 

GILMORE GIRLS

Synopsis:  Set in a storybook Connecticut town populated by an eclectic mix of dreamers, artists and everyday folk, this multigenerational drama about family and friendship centres around Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory. Lorelai owns the town’s bed-and-breakfast, the Dragonfly Inn, with best friend/chef Sookie, and contends with weekly dinners with eccentric, well-off parents Richard and Emily Gilmore (who always have something to say about their daughter’s life). After high school, Rory attends Yale University but frequently returns to Stars Hollow to visit her mom.

 

* * * * * *

What are some your favorite bingeworthy TV shows?  Do we share any favorites?