Release Day Review: Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally

Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks #6), by Miranda Kenneally
Publication: July 7, 2015, by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.
But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

My Thoughts:

Miranda Kenneally has done it again... and it's thousands of times better than I expected. I WANT TO BE JESSE'S GIRL, OKAY? As I've anticipated this one for ages after reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe and even before that. I find that we're unable to find that perfect music-associated book, and THIS WAS IT. I suggest heading over to the bookstore as soon as possible and falling in love right there, at the moment. HYPE, HYPE, HYPE, let's bring more of that out.

Jesse's Girl shocked me, whirled me around and left me longing for more gorgeousness. If you think that it's not the right type of read for you, I'd go over the summary again and suddenly realize that you've been a lost soul all along. The best thing is that you don't even have to read the other books in the series, Hundred Oaks, before going to this one. Each has a new storyline, a new beautiful and memorable couple that Kenneally focuses on, and Jesse and Maya have to be my favourite all along.

"A guy who clearly loves singing, who loves performing, and puts so much emotion and love into his songs—why would he quit? Give up something that is his whole world? The reason has to be big as life, right?" (eARC, Loc 587)

Jesse is a freaking big deal. He's life to me. But also... he's a country star that everyone knows and adores, especially the teenage girls. Think of Justin Bieber, 100x more hotter. Maya's your ordinary girl, who plays in a heavy metal band (although she hates metal music) and loves to play the guitar and wants to be a musician. When she gets the chance to job shadow Jesse Scott for school, she kind of is upset over the fact that he seems rude and careless. But as they get to spend more time together and do the things they love, they grow a connection and maybe, just maybe, fall in love.

Some may argue that this has a cliché premise—boy is superstar, boy meets typical girl, but what can you honestly expect from this? I suggest expecting amazing things, because it'll even blow those stuff away. Every single time Kenneally shocks me and I feel like an idiot for expecting less. It's always this, and I still shame myself for never wanting to pick Catching Jordan up in the first place. Boy, wouldn't I have missed so much in this wonderful bookish world? I think I would. I'm so glad to have gotten a chance to read this earlier, thanks to the publisher. Can't a girl fall in love with a country star?

I can just picture the accents, cowboy boots and hat and drawling that blurted out of Jesse's grins. That's just how romantic and descriptive Miranda's writing is. From start to finish, I couldn't put the book down and it was just a sitting of a few hours for me, nothing less or more. Her plots are not even like a book, it's an actual story. I feel so musical and with the need to grab my acoustic guitar and start jamming with old eighties tunes after Jesse and Maya's inspiration given. SWEET HOME HUNDRED OAKKSSSSSSS!

Miranda obviously can break the basics of a teenager's life straight into the hands of one main character. Maya is an extraordinary protagonist whom I could relate to SO SO much. She's sassy, but obviously has a soft side and is able to comprehend the most important things in her life. She took risks to follow her dreams and listens to everyone's advice around her. And the supportive, adorable family by her side? What else could a girl want? Jesse. That fucking beautiful sexy guy who makes me pee my pants of hunger. 

So at the rarest times us girls are lucky to fall in love. This couple showed that these things are not rare, but all geared to fate and luck. Because really, it's luck that Jesse was the principal's nephew and got to meet Maya in the first place. They have the perfect chemistry and the issues that life gave them never affected their relationship. I found myself cringing, knowing that something'd come up when they'd hide something from each other, but they always seemed to handle everything positively. That's a healthy relationship, I tell you. And there were so many steamy scenes that made me want to die of excitement. Now that sounds awkward, please don't think it is.

"I know you'd make me feel better, Maya Henry.' [...] "Family's not always blood." (Loc 1973)

WHO CARES IF THIS ISN'T SPORTS-CENTRED? I mean, that was always another piece of enjoyment for me, but I'd never skip a Miranda read, just saying. The Jordan and Sam scenes made me feel like a twelve year old all over again, reading this series for the first time and never letting go after that. This had everything I wanted and more: a positive view on sex (finally), the summer-kind feel that makes me want to run toward the sunset for my future man and music. As well as interesting characters and pasts. We also get a glimpse at Annie Lennox being a guest judge in a TV show for wannabe rockers! Who doesn't want that?

This is your comfort read. And it's not something typical, either. Miranda has given us yet another contemporary-romance that left me giggling and in tears of fear often, and I just want everyone on this planet to give it a try. That's how much awe I am in, and that's something that doesn't appear often. Let's hope that I'll get to meet Jesse Scott on my impossible futuristic career shadowing day, because I'll lie and say I want to be a country musician. Watch out, Luke Bryan, a new teenage hottie perfect for me is in town, and he has stunned my feels with heart-fluttering moments. I WANT COWBOY BOOTS NOW!

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

Review: I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister by Amélie Sarn

I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister, by Amélie Sarn
Publication: August 5, 2014, by Delacorte Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 152
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

Two sisters. Two lives. One future. Sohane loves no one more than her beautiful, carefree younger sister, Djelila. And she hates no one as much. They used to share everything. But now, Djelila is spending more time with her friends, partying, and hanging out with boys, while Sohane is becoming more religious.When Sohane starts wearing a head scarf, her school threatens to expel her. Meanwhile, Djelila is harassed by neighborhood bullies for not being Muslim enough. Sohane can’t help thinking that Djelila deserves what she gets. But she never could have imagined just how far things would go. . . .

My Thoughts: 

For readers who enjoyed The Tyrant's Daughter? Yeah... Not so much. I actually did read that one and ADORED it fully which is one of the reasons and factors that took me to request a copy of this book. I was lurking around YA fiction for diversity and something new that would catch my eye with the contemporary aspect. To be honest, this wasn't what I was expecting and just a meh-read that thankfully was short and sweet. 

I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister is a nice tale of sisterhood and loss, as well as politics and human rights. Looking at the way I feel when looking at the cover, I don't think that I'd recommend this one to anyone, unless you're very fond of a variety of novels that have diversity. The diversity part of it was a big factor that played to me giving this a high rating. Other than that, I didn't enjoy the rest of the book. Let's just narrow it down to a 'What I Liked' and 'What I Disliked' review, because this is just a tiny book, anyways.

"It is for Djelila that we cry today. She is not a symbol of a broken youth and even less the symbol of divide between two cultures. Djelila was none of that. All Djelila wanted was to live, that is all. We are here for our sister, the sister we will not forget, our sister, Djelila."

My summary consists of the basics. This is about two sisters: Sohane and Djelila. (To be honest, I even had to check the summary because I forgot Sohane's name. Whoops?) They're basically total opposites—Sohane is very religious while Djelila basically couldn't care less about the way she dressed up. She just wants to be normal. Sohane doesn't really mind what her sister does because she's her own person, but eventually things go too far when Djelila gets harassed and things go farther than they're supposed to. Not to mention Sohane being made fun of when she wears a head scarf to school.

What I Liked/Enjoyed About this Book:

-The pacing. While reading, you'll realize that you've never read such a quick read in your life, speaking of YA books. Sarn's story doesn't need much explaining, as there's so much more between the lines that readers need to figure out before, during, and after reading that the 152 pages just flew by so quickly. It took me about an hour to read, honestly. It blasts from different points so quickly. Enjoy that, my friends.

-The characters. Sohane honestly is the coolest chick around who has so much love and affection for the people around her that it's amazing. You think you've seen a gorgeous sibling relationship? You haven't until you've read this book. And most of the novel revolves around that relationship, just take a peek at the title. Sarn definitely knew what she was doing while forming the memorable relationship that shapes these kinds of diverse reads. 

-Learning about the religion. Islam is a religion that I hear of quite often, but I don't know much about it except the typical things: the headscarfs or the holidays that the religion has. Reading from the perspective of a young girl who's very religious was a wonderful experience for me, and it's given me a broader understanding, actually. Double yay for that point.

What I Disliked About this Book:

-Something. I'm not exactly sure what it was still to this day, but I found it boring and I guess the premise is too overused in contemporary? Not the diversity aspect, but the whole loss thing? It didn't make me sad and lacked emotion, which leads me to my next point.

-No emotions involved in the writing. I couldn't feel depth, or sadness or happiness. This was just a straight monotone read, which might kind of frustrate readers for the length of the novel. Maybe if it had been longer, there would've been better writing? I don't know, actually. 

All together, these two negative points affected my enjoyment of the novel by quite a bit, just letting you know. Remember—it's all about the quality, not quantity.

I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister could've been amazing, I feel. The story had the potential to fly into the stars and bring the sun to me, but I didn't feel nothing coming from it, except nice characters and a good use of diversity. But that was the author's choice. She had the choice to write about characters who are Muslim, and this brought the diversity up, which did impress me a lot. It's just... I found myself getting bored and seeing the lack of depth complete in this short book. Maybe, just maybe, some others will enjoy this more than I did. I guess you could. Take a shot, if you feel like it, but I'm not saying that I'm completely recommending it at all.

What are your favourite sisterhood reads? I LOVE SISTERLY RELATIONSHIPS!

June Goodbyes 2015

Yes yes, I apologize for being a little late with this, but I'm excited to be doing my first ever wrap-up post I call the "Goodbyes" segment! June was a fabulous reading month, and I'd love to get started and show you the great reads that I devoured!

June Pretties Read:

My favourite reads turned out to be: Nightfall, None of the Above, Last Year's Mistake, The Last Time We Say Goodbye and A Sense of the Infinite. They all were pure 5 star reads and ended up on my all time favourites list!

And for the number of ARCs I've read? 6. Three were from BEA! The biggest disappointment is Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman, which was also the last book I read in the month. I'm so happy with the amount I read—24! But I know I'll read more in the summer break.

The Posts:

I posted on almost every single day of the month, and here's some of the deets about my posts:

Discussions:

• Mid-Year Top 10 Favourite Books
• BEA 2015 Recap: Day 1
• BEA 2015 Recap: Day 2
• BEA 2015 Recap: Day 3
• BEA 2015 Recap: BookCon
• BEA 2015 Recap: Overall Experience and Thoughts

Top Reviews:

• Review: Mad Miss Mimic by Sarah Henstra
• Rachel's Deception by Karen Ann Hopkins Review
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Review

So I'm not the kind of person to make monthly TBRs anymore, but I'm hoping to read more than 30 books in July. Let's hope it works out! I had a great bookish reading month!

How was your month?

Review: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

The Conspiracy of Us (The Conspiracy of Us #1), by Maggie Hall
Publication: January 13, 2015, by Putnam Juvenile
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: ½

To fight her destiny as the missing heir to a powerful and dangerous secret society, sixteen-year-old Avery West must solve an ancient puzzle in a deadly race across Europe. Forbidden love and code-breaking, masked balls and explosions, destiny and dark secrets collide in this romantic thriller, in the vein of a YA DaVinci Code.
Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada at the Champs-Elysees when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. 
They are part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle of Twelve, and Avery is their missing heir. If they discover who she is, some of them will want to use her as a pawn. Some will want her dead. 
To thwart their plans, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the landmarks of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul and through a web of ancient legends and lies. And unless she can stay one step ahead of beautiful, volatile Stellan, who knows she’s more than she seems, and can decide whether to trust mysterious, magnetic Jack, she may be doomed after all.

My Thoughts: 

When reaching out to grasp this novel (I really did plan my goal to be getting a copy eventually), my goal was to get something that (a) has to do with spies and (b) is somewhat like The DaVinci Code, which is even noted in the novel's Goodreads summary. I had that specific trust in Hall's writing from even before I went out and read it, and I have to tell you that The Conspiracy of Us is a scientific read made of majorly romance, questioning and fun. It's that perfect contemporary novel to stay indoors with on a rainy day. A "Michelle kind of read."

I'm kind of obsessed with 2015 debut novels. And this is a perfect example of one that I've kept on my radar for quite some time. For the general public by taking a look at the cover, we can tell that this definitely has to do with kick-ass, grown-up stuff. Our main character Avery West is your perfect example of that distinguishable young girl who doesn't know what the hell is happening to her life. She has no clue onto what's going on, where life will take her in the future, and who her family is. Who can possibly blame her? The Circle, the group of rich French families who have so many secrets beyond the looks of it, just like judging a book by its cover, except spy-edition. There's tons of traveling involved, too. So place your tourist caps on, my friends, and enjoy the ride.

When picking it up, I felt that Maggie Hall was promising something to readers. From the gorgeous cover and premise, to the beginning of the story where a young girl is launched into a world of secrets and mystery, I believed that this could lead us to many possibilities. And from the looks of it, it's definitely like Meredith Moore's I Am Her Revenge, though more family-launched, and certainly more of a me-read, as I mentioned in my review of that. This? This was all about Avery West, clueless teenager. She's always been told that she has no family, but when Jack, the new boy, is brought into her life, she discovers that she's the heir to a rich society. 

That's basically it. People can evidently imagine what her youth personality can bring into the Circle of powerful families, and it's kind of predictable, if you ask me. Avery promotes the easy personality of a girl who just wants to be different. I mean, there are a ton of people who are just like her, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just that she represents the typical girl who is just so gullible and easy-going. She's a main flaw that's found in this book, to be honest. That's the main focus of this book, and I'm kind of hoping that her personality would improve next time around.

Jake the Dog has never spoken anything more truthful.

Something which I had greatly enjoyed was the mystery and heist kind of things occurring. And the love triangle? This definitely fit into the situation as well. It's not like Jack and Stellan were just characters who Avery had found on the street and decided to like—they all play a role in her life, the new life that the Circle has given her. This is a novel that truly specifies the rights and wrongs of YA literature, and Hall usually proclaimed the rights at the right time. In a way, she is the example of a book-smart author. From now on, I'm sure that readers will go out and read her book because they know it's something different and although it may possess the same qualities as some other books have, she holds them up in her plot in the best way possible. Double high-fives for that concern. *high fives everyone*

It's such a hipster, edgy read that everyone will enjoy. Although it was slow-paced in the middle, where everything kind of seemed to be placed together, and although I questioned everything in the book's existence, including looking at every detail mentioned, it was enjoyable. I did feel kind of cut-off from where Stellan and Jack are truly entered into the picture for no reason, but that ended up being okay with me since it was essential to give a great experience overall. I can see why everyone enjoyed it in the end though, despite its predictability and such. It's such a sweet read.

Looking at all of 2015's debuts so far, this is one of the most unique and one that comes with a precious premise that not all authors can do. Hall's writing is something that I'll immediately recognize, even if her style was anonymous and unknown. Her storyline and plot is just so distinguishable, but only in her characters' perspectives, and this makes me cry and bawl for the sequel ten times more. Agh, I guess I'll have to sadly wait until 2016 where the publishing unicorns will come by and set me off with a special first-edition copy filled with more romance, sweetness and secrets. It's like Pretty Little Liars, but more mystery in terms of family. Wouldn't you want to have Prada for yourself?

*plays the Mission Impossible theme song* SPIES, HEISTS, GALORE. What else can a girl possibly want? More books like these. GIMME SOME NAMES!

ARC Review: Me Being Me is Exactly Insane As You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy

Me Being Me is Exactly as Insane as You Being You, by Todd Hasak-Lowy
Publication: March 24, 2015, by Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 656
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

A heartfelt, humorous story of a teen boy’s impulsive road trip after the shock of his lifetime—told entirely in lists!
Darren hasn't had an easy year.
There was his parents’ divorce, which just so happened to come at the same time his older brother Nate left for college and his longtime best friend moved away. And of course there’s the whole not having a girlfriend thing.
Then one Thursday morning Darren's dad shows up at his house at 6 a.m. with a glazed chocolate doughnut and a revelation that turns Darren’s world inside out. In full freakout mode, Darren, in a totally un-Darren move, ditches school to go visit Nate. Barely twenty-four hours at Nate’s school makes everything much better or much worse—Darren has no idea. It might somehow be both. All he knows for sure is that in addition to trying to figure out why none of his family members are who they used to be, he’s now obsessed with a strangely amazing girl who showed up out of nowhere but then totally disappeared.
Told entirely in lists, Todd Hasak-Lowy's debut YA novel perfectly captures why having anything to do with anyone, including yourself, is:
1. painful 2. unavoidable 3. ridiculously complicated 4. possibly, hopefully the right thing after all.  

My Thoughts:

When reading the summary for this one, I'll admit that I never expected for that to happen. By 'that,' I mean the shocker which Darren's dad spilled out at 6 AM with a chocolate donut in his hand. I never even made some sort of prediction or anything like that. Todd Hasak-Lowy presents readers with an unique way to reveal pride and a kind of LGBTQ concept revolving around being a teenager. Me Being Me is Exactly as Insane as You Being You is a novel with a freaking long title, a freaking huge amount of pages, and lots and lots of love. It sure was memorable, if you ask me.

Normally I find it difficult to discover a book that impresses me in its own way that no author or writer can ever redo. Hasak-Lowy has given me that experience, where I felt the need to read the book at once, and I wouldn't been able to sleep if I hadn't finished it. Darren's story is so relatable, although I am no teenage boy. His voice is one just perfect for a high school student, and we can all agree onto going through some kind of situation like he did, whether it had to do with romance or family issues. It's actually a 2015 debut that I will never forget about, ever. If I had to give my little sister a YA book about importance of friendship and love, I'd hand her this one first.

"It was the running-away thing that got him thinking of Zoey. Obviously. There were a million things that got him thinking of Zoey, so maybe that wasn't such a big deal. Cigarettes, nose rings, buses, his forearm, wooden stairs, planets, it was kind of endless." (ARC, page 362)

Characters these days are always trying to find who they are!

Another statement to describe this book, preferably in one word? Strange. I guess that it was all coming from Darren's identity, and please don't picture his sexual identity. Darren is the perfect example of a YA protagonist who doesn't quite fit the typical picture. He claims himself to be "fat," tall, bigger than his brother and socially awkward. Hasak-Lowy continuously claims that Darren doesn't have any friends, and I guess that his situation becomes even worse when his dad drops the bombshell, his brother goes psycho with drugs, and he falls in love with Zoey, the girl who once went to his school as a little kid but then mysteriously left, and shows up at his high school. Who can blame the poor tenth grader for struggling to discover who he is (and if he's gay, at that matter), who he loves and what kind of role he wants to pursue in life. That's the main thing. 

I guess that from the previous statement above, you're probably able to distinguish what the author is throwing at readers. Darren's parents are divorced, he has no friends, his brother is in college far away and he basically has no love life, either. When his dad drops a bombshell that changes his life forever, Darren struggles to even stay at his home and decides to head to his brother Nate, for advice at his college. Alongside, he brings along Zoey, who gives him a ride, and they spend a few nights that they'll never forget about, and when they come back, all is silent and things seem to go back to normal but Darren can't forget about the epic love story that he could begin.

It is an epic love story. Hasak-Lowy actually presents his writing to be similar as to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, with as much humour and laughter present from readers. It's just such a great story that I regret not reading sooner, closer to the release date. Now that it's come into my arms, I strongly and highly recommend purchasing a huge, mega hardback copy, curling on the sofa, and devouring it in one long sitting. The romance was just on-point, and I adored the fact that Darren was intrigued to go for a rebellious girl who puts him on edge. Trying to be a rebel, my friends, and doing drugs and not knowing the difference between being sober and high is some of the struggles that Zoey and our lame friend Darren had, but it all turned out okay in the end. It had remnants of so many other contemporaries I've read in the past, and it's a novel that you don't even pay attention of the pace to. 

"He wishes Zoey had three hands so he could hold one of them. The more he sits there, the more he has trouble figuring out where he ends and Zoey begins, which feels like the answer to a question he's been asking himself for a while." (ARC, page 194)

Perfect explanation in one sentence instead of my rambling.

Did I even mention that this was written using lists? Like Liz Czukas' contemporary sophomore novel, Top Ten Clues You're Clueless, this is also a contemporary romance filled with lists to organize this guy's thoughts. Although in the end, readers aren't even sure if Darren thought about these in his mind, or if they're part of some kind of diary or just random to tell his story. That's the cool part about it, too. It was a quick way to read the book, it was a method of writing that seemed short and sweet, but actually took so much time to read and comprehend. That's part of why this didn't go in the best direction for me. The continuing questions that Darren kept asking himself kind of threw me off, and I wanted these lists to help him grow, no?

Hasak-Lowy's writing is lovely, you cannot simply deny this. If he writes another contemporary novel in the future, I'll certainly go out and purchase it because it's so imaginative but real at the same time. His idea could've went somewhere else, much farther than what the eye sees/reads, but I liked it anyways.

Darren, why were you such an uncomfortable young child? I wish that he was more open to making a better relationship with his parents, it just seemed too awkward, even if he gave his mother a big hug. This guy wanted romance in his life so badly, but then he wasn't able to give the people that matter the most the biggest love of all. His rage and weirdness around them kind of frustrated me when I was able to see the way he was around Zoey or his brother. Ugh. For me, confidence and happiness in characters is a must, I hate when they're simply miserable for no reason. First example of a moody guy? Darren. 

I have to say that this was just a joyful, fun novel to keep by your side on a nice summer evening. Take that back, it'll take you more than a few hours. But actually, it doesn't feel like it's a total long-lasting book, it's something that's so memorable and unique in contemporary fiction's eyes, I haven't ever read anything like it. So, go ahead, buy your stellar copy, and get a head start, because you'll find yourself realizing the importance of self-worth and friendship.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

What are your favourite 2015 debuts? This one is trés adorable.

Mid-Year Top 10 Favourite Books

So it seems that everyone's doing this kind of post now... though I'm a little late since it's July, the seventh month of the year. Oh well! Since I stopped doing the weekly meme, Top Ten Tuesday, I'm just going to list my top ten favourite books I've read this year that are/going to be released. (NO ORDER, GUYS!)

1. Nightfall by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

(Release Date: September 22/15) This was a magnificent book that knocked my socks off. IT'S THE PERFECT DYSTOPIA TO MAKE YOUR DAY AND EVERYTHING. Horror, passion, it has it all.

2. None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

Perfect for Pride Week or any time of the year, this story hit me so hard and I can't ever forget Kristin's story. *smiles* 

3. Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

This is the best chick-lit book I've read this year, to be honest. It has all of the qualities that can make a romance shine, and I loved the come-back-once-friends romance. Tisk tisk, I'm so in love with the ending and everything!

4. The Heir by Kiera Cass

DAMN DAMN DAMN! Kiera Cass is obviously one of my most favourite authors and Eadlyn's story is like The Bachelorette, though more drama-filled than America's. My my, it was glorious and the hype is real.

5. I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore

A mystery filled with suspense and spies all captured in a boarding school setting. It's pure excitement throughout and I actually NEVER expected to enjoy it so much. :)

6. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Like The Fault in Our Stars, though so much better. Finch and Violet are two characters who I won't ever forget and their story will always shine in my heart, to be honest!

7. The Calling by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Read the summary on Goodreads (click the cover!) and you'll see why, that's all! Mystery and craziness, what the hell is the meaning of this all?

8. Hit by Delilah S. Dawson

Patsy is the character that I won't ever forget about, to be honest. It was calm, sweet, banging to the head and heart. THE PERFECT ACTION READ TO ANY YA READER.

9. Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes

HarperTeen sure knows how to get pretty covers and publicizing, and Liars, Inc. is a read that I've been anticipating for ages. I adore thrillers!

10. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Prequels usually don't go well for me, but Fairest was something else. Who would think that I'd actually like Queen Levana eventually? :O

What are some of your favourites so far this year? THERE'S SO MANY THAT I JUST CAN'T KEEP MYSELF TOGETHER!

Waiting on Wednesday #5: Starflight by Melissa Landers

Starflight (Starflight #1), by Melissa Landers
Publication: February 2, 2016, by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.
When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world--and each other--the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Happy Canada Day, every Canadian out there! I find that I'm just so obsessed with dystopian-romances that they're all on my anticipated lists. And then, everyone was holding a copy at ALA last weekend, and I seriously cried. Agh, I have to wait 7 more months for this pretty to finally be in my hands! Intergalactic awesomeness? PLEASE COME TO MY GRABBY HANDS!

Have you read Melissa's Alienated duology? What is your anticipated read this week?