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 An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. The release date is January 8, 2019.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
This meme is hosted by Lainey from Thoughts on Tomes. The Goodreads Group for Top 5 Wednesday can be found here.
This week’s prompt is Hyped 2019 Releases You Don’t Care About, but I couldn’t think of any. I looked at some lists of 2019 books for ideas, but I ended up finding MORE I wanted to read, so I had to change the prompt to New 2019 Series I’m Hyped About:
1. King of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo
2. Crescent City (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
3. Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo
4. White Stag (Permafrost #1) by Kara Barbieri
5. The Beautiful (The Beautiful #1) by Renée Ahdieh
Title: The Field Guide to the North American Teenager Author: Ben Philippe Genre: Young Adult Publisher: Balzer + Bray Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: January 8, 2018 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas. Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs.
Yet, against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. Be it loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making. He even starts playing actual hockey with these Texans.
But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life—along with the people who have found their way into his heart.
Review:
I really enjoyed this book! It was funny and entertaining.
I was laughing within the first couple of pages of the story. There were lots of references to pop culture, such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Friends, which were subtle but so funny! They weren’t always explained, which made them more exciting when I discovered one, because it was like an inside joke with the book.
I could totally relate to Norris’s experience as a Canadian going to a warm climate and having trouble adjusting to the hot temperatures. Montreal is even colder than Toronto, and though I haven’t ever been to Texas, I can imagine how hot it would be. I love the heat, so I don’t think I would mind, but I wouldn’t like sweating through multiple shirts a day.
Though the story was a lot of fun, it became quite serious towards the end, including a run-in with the police. I would love to see what happens with these characters in a sequel!
What to read next:
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Have you read The Field Guide to the North American Teenager? What did you think of it?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Most Anticipated Books for the First Half of 2019. This book is quite similar to my Winter TBR from last week. Here’s my list:
1. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
2. Romanov by Nadine Brandes
3. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
4. The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black
5. The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes
6. An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley
7. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
8. Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell
Title: Two Can Keep a Secret Author: Karen M. McManus Genre: Young Adult, Thriller Publisher: Delacorte Press Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: January 8, 2018 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery’s never been there, but she’s heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.
The town is picture-perfect, but it’s hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone’s declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.
Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she’s in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous–and most people aren’t good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it’s safest to keep your secrets to yourself.
Review:
I was so excited to read this book when I first heard about it. It didn’t disappoint!
I couldn’t put this book down. It was such a page-turner! There were so many pieces of the puzzle that kept popping up. I figured out who did it halfway through the story, when I heard one of the clues. I was still excited to read the ending.
The last 50 pages or so were so fast paced. I kept holding my breath just waiting to see what would happen next. The final lines of the story gave me chills!
I loved this book! I can’t wait to read everything Karen M. McManus writes in the future!
What to read next:
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
The Window by Amelia Brunskill
Have you read Two Can Keep a Secret? What did you think of it?
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 The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading White Stag (Permafrost #1) by Kara Barbieri.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian.
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 The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas. Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs.
Yet, against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. Be it loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making. He even starts playing actual hockey with these Texans.
But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life—along with the people who have found their way into his heart.
Title: Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 1 Author: Tania del Rio Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel Publisher: Archie Comics Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: March 26, 2013 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The magic returns like never before in Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within!
Sabrina Spellman is your average teenager by day, attending Greendale High where her major crush, Harvey, plays for the school basketball team. But by night, Sabrina enters the Magical Realm, where she hones her witchcraft and attends Charm School with the handsome and mysterious Shinji.
Start from the very beginning as Sabrina deals with her two eccentric aunts and her conflicting lives in the Mortal and Magic Realms . . . and stumbles into the beginnings of a plot that will reshape the magical world at its foundation!
Review:
This book was so much fun! It was funny and entertaining.
Sabrina is turned into a manga character in this volume. Salem has always been my favourite character and he was so funny in this book. He was even made into a popular toy in this book, but he didn’t enjoy the fame until it was over.
There was a love triangle in this book which reminded me of the Archie, Betty, and Veronica love triangle in Archie comics. Sabrina liked both Harvey and her wizard friend Shinji. She couldn’t decide between them, just like Archie can’t decide between Betty and Veronica. The choice is made for Sabrina when one of the boys gets another girlfriend.
I really enjoyed this book. I laughed so many times while reading it. I can’t wait to read the next book!
What to read next:
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 2 by Tania del Rio
Have you read Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within Vol. 1? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 