This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.
The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite. The expected publication date is January 5, 2021.
Goodreads Synopsis:
The Hate U Give meets Get Out in this honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in the stunning novel from sister-writer duo Maika and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.
ISN’T BEING HUMAN ENOUGH?
When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.
One of the good ones.
Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there’s a twist to Kezi’s story that no one could’ve ever expected—one that will change everything all over again.
Title: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares (Dash and Lily #1) Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: October 26, 2010 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
16-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges.
What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Co-written by Rachel Cohn (GINGERBREAD) and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), DASH & LILY’S BOOK OF DARES is a love story that will have readers scouring bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
Review:
Lily, a sixteen-year-old girl in New York City, left a notebook with dares written inside it in The Strand bookstore. She was hoping that the right guy for her would find the notebook and complete the dares. Dash finds the notebook and starts the scavenger hunt around the bookstore to complete the dares. Then he sends the notebook back to her with his own dares inside. The notebook sends Dash and Lily around New York City over Christmas and eventually leads them to each other.
This story is a fun holiday book. Dash and Lily were brought together by chance, because Dash happened to find Lily’s notebook where it was hidden. As they progressed through the dares, it became obvious that they had a lot in common. They even almost crossed paths a few times before they actually met.
A bookstore romance is the dream for book lovers! This hunt around New York City would be so much fun, but I wouldn’t do some of the dares they had to do, which included going into crowded stores on Christmas Eve and going to a night club on Christmas night.
I loved how this was a romantic story, yet the characters didn’t even met in person for most of the story. There was a clear romance developing between Dash and Lily through their dares, but they were only communicating through the notebook. This made it even more special and unique, since they fell for each other without actually being physically together.
This was a fun story! I’m excited to watch the new Netflix adaptation.
What to read next:
The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins (editor)
Other books in the series:
The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily
Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily
Have you read Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares? What did you think of it?
Title: A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) Author: Sarah J. Maas Genre: Fantasy, Romance Publisher: Bloomsbury Source: Purchased Format: Hardcover Release Date: May 3, 2016 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
Review:
Feyre is now one of the High Fae, living with her love, Tamlin. She lives happily with him in the Spring Court, while her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, has been forgotten. Feyre is exploring her new Fae gifts, while staying safe under the watchful eye of Tamlin and his people, until Rhysand decides to claim his end of the bargain at the worst possible time. Then, Feyre begins to realize that her new world wasn’t what she expected.
This is a great sequel. There were so many twists, that kept me excited to read this long story. The final chapters were so intense and unpredictable. There was some beautiful symmetry between the beginning and end. I knew a couple of spoilers for the book, but for the most part, it was a surprise.
The only thing that I think should be changed with this book is it’s classification as young adult. There were some steamy romance scenes that I think were too mature for a teen reader. This book should be classified as New Adult, which is between Young Adult and Adult. However, this book is usually placed in the YA category where New Adult isn’t available. This series is for an older YA or adult reader.
I loved this sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses! I’m excited to read the next one!
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading A Princess by Christmas by Julia London.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
Title: In a Holidaze Author: Christina Lauren Genre: Romance, Contemporary Publisher: Gallery Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 6, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.
But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.
The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.
Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.
Review:
Maelyn Jones always spends Christmas with her family and their close family friends at a friend’s cabin in Utah. She’s had a crush on Andrew, the son of her parents’ friend, for years. On the night before they leave the cabin after Christmas, she gets drunk and makes out with Andrew’s younger brother Theo. Then they get the devastating news that the cabin is being sold, so they won’t be able to continue their Christmas traditions. Maelyn makes a wish to the universe to show her what would make her happy. The next thing she knows, their car is hit by another car, and she wakes up on the plane ride to the cabin, six days ago. Maelyn lives through the Christmas holiday over and over while she tries to figure out how to save their Christmas traditions and how to find happiness in her life.
This is one of my favourite books of the year! It had some heartbreaking moments, but it was mostly an adorable romance. The first half of the book was quite innocent, but the steamy parts picked up in the second half. Maelyn was stuck in a love triangle with two brothers, which was awkward at times, but I was rooting for her and Andrew to be together! They were such a cute couple.
I really liked the time travel aspects of the story. Though Maelyn was repeating the holiday, she was able to change some things each time, so it wasn’t the exact same holiday. She also had to figure out how to convince the others of what was happening to her. It got to the point where everything was going so well for her that I hoped she wouldn’t have to restart all over again. The way she had to keep repeating the days kept the tension high and made it impossible to put down!
This is the perfect holiday romance!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Have you read In a Holidaze? What did you think of it?
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