New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [25]

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

Summary

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

I'm really excited for this brand new fantasy series by this debut author Lori M. Lee. I really love fantasy and I'm always looking for new books in the genre. I've heard many good things about this book so I'll definitely be picking it up sooner rather than later.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Follow author Lori M. Lee's website.

Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

Summary

An edge-of-your seat psychological thriller with a romantic twist

On the three-month anniversary of her boyfriend Flynn’s death, Morgan uploads her only photo of him to FriendShare to get some closure—but she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as "Evan Murphy." She’s never heard of Evan, but a quick search tells her that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Only this boy is very much alive.

Digging through layers of secrets and lies, Morgan is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her boyfriend, her town, and even her parents' involvement in this massive web of lies.

While this book doesn't come out until Thursday, August 7th, I'm still mentioning it in today's post since it's releasing this week. I love mystery book but never find that many good ones in YA and haven't read any that I've really enjoyed since I was in middle school. Can't wait to get my hands on this one!

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author K.A. Harrington's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
• The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [24]

The Young World (The Young World Trilogy #1) by Chris Weitz

Summary

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind.

The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park...and discovers truths they could never have imagined.

Like I mentioned in my "Waiting on" Wednesday post for this book, I'm really excited to see how this group of characters develop in post-apocolyptic New York City.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Follow author Christ Weitz on Twitter.

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Summary

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost. 

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most. 

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. 

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

I only heard about this book recently, but it's been getting a lot of hype on Goodreads so I decided to check it out. From the synopsis it looks like its going to be a fantastic book. I love road trip books because their is always a underlying theme of self-discovery and when done well, can really bring out the best emotions in the reader.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Adi Alsaid's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead  [I've been off my game this month and stated that this was released last week when in fact it comes out today. My sincere apologies!]

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [23]

Extraction (Extraction #1) by Stephanie Diaz

Summary

"Welcome to Extraction testing."

Clementine has spent her whole life preparing for her sixteenth birthday, when she’ll be tested for Extraction in the hopes of being sent from the planet Kiel’s toxic Surface to the much safer Core, where people live without fear or starvation. When she proves promising enough to be “Extracted,” she must leave without Logan, the boy she loves. Torn apart from her only sense of family, Clem promises to come back and save him from brutal Surface life.

What she finds initially in the Core is a utopia compared to the Surface—it’s free of hard labor, gun-wielding officials, and the moon's lethal acid. But life is anything but safe, and Clementine learns that the planet's leaders are planning to exterminate Surface dwellers—and that means Logan, too. 

Trapped by the steel walls of the underground and the lies that keep her safe, Clementine must find a way to escape and rescue Logan and the rest of the planet. But the planet leaders don't want her running—they want her subdued.

With intense action scenes and a cast of unforgettable characters, Extraction is a page-turning, gripping read, sure to entertain lovers of Hunger Games and Ender's Game and leave them breathless for more.

Extraction by Stephanie Diaz happens to be one of my most anticipated book of the year and you wouldn't believe how excited I am that it is finally out for everyone, including me, to read. I was hoping to get an eARC of the book but sadly I was not accepted. However, the day is finally here and now I just have to wait for the book to arrive in the mail so I can dive into it right away!

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Stephanie Diaz's website.

Welcome to the Dark House (Dark House #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Summary

What’s your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.

I'm not generally a huge fan of horror books, but Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz caught my attention as I was browsing through the lists of upcoming releases earlier this year. It seems really different from the YA that's out there and from the books I typically read. I'm hoping to pick this one up soon and see what it's all about.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Laurie Faria Stolarz's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly #3) by Susan Dennard
• Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)  by Richelle Mead

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [22]

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Summary

The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.

There aren't that many new books being released this week but this one really stood out to me. I love a good science fiction novel and you (surprisingly) don't see many superpower/superhero books out there. The concept sounds kind of similar to James Patterson's Maximum Ride series but I hope it turns out better. I have high hopes for this book that seems to delve into a lot of the side effects that having these superpowers entail.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Emily Lloyd-Jones's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5) by Miranda Kenneally  
• Starbreak (Starglass #2) by Phoebe North  
• Dirty Wings (All Our Pretty Songs #2) by Sarah McCarry 
• Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman [July 17th]
• The Rain by Virginia Bergin [July 17th]

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [20]

Four: A Divergent Story Collection (Divergent #0.1-0.4) By Veronica Roth

Summary

Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation’s faction leader did the same. Tobias’s transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened “Four,” he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future—and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

You can bet that I've had this pre-ordered for months and now I'm just waiting for it to come in the mail. I'm so excited to read more from Four's perspective. I loved reading The Transfer and I want to learn more about Four's life.

Check out my review of The Transfer.
Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Veronica Roth's website.

[EDIT: I want to apologize for my mix up. Four: A Divergent Story Collection is not released until next week on July 8th.]

Conversion by Katherine Howe

Summary

It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: Through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t.

First it’s the school’s queen bee, Clara Rutherford, who suddenly falls into uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. Her mystery illness quickly spreads to her closest clique of friends, then more students and symptoms follow: seizures, hair loss, violent coughing fits. St. Joan’s buzzes with rumor; rumor blossoms into full-blown panic.

Soon the media descends on Danvers, Massachusetts, as everyone scrambles to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? Only Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago . . .

Inspired by true events—from seventeenth-century colonial life to the halls of a modern-day high school—Conversion casts a spell. With her signature wit and passion, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe delivers an exciting and suspenseful novel, a chilling mystery that raises the question, what’s really happening to the girls at St. Joan’s?

I love a good mystery and thriller, especially one that deals with how the past might affect the future. I'm very excited to read Howe's latest book.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Katherine Howe's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3.5) by Maggie Stiefvater 
• The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
• Latitude Zero by Diana Renn
• On the Fence by Kasie West

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [19]

The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor

Summary

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him.

But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina.

Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else.

When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.

Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.

The Things You Kiss Goodbye seems like the perfect summer contemporary read -- romance, fun, and deeper themes that you don't always expect. I'll definitely be picking this up for a good summer beach read later this summer.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Leslie Connor's website.

Drowned by Nichola Reilly

Summary

Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival.

Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever.

Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.

One of my favorite genres is fantasy so I'm excited to see what Nichola Reilly will bring to the genre with this new world in Drowned.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Nichola Reilly's website.

Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn

Summary

Two years ago, sixteen-year-old Jamie Henry breathed a sigh of relief when a judge sentenced his older sister to juvenile detention for burning down their neighbor’s fancy horse barn. The whole town did. Because Crazy Cate Henry used to be a nice girl. Until she did a lot of bad things. Like drinking. And stealing. And lying. Like playing weird mind games in the woods with other children. Like making sure she always got her way. Or else.

But today Cate got out. And now she’s coming back for Jamie.

Because more than anything, Cate Henry needs her little brother to know the truth about their past. A truth she’s kept hidden for years. A truth she’s not supposed to tell. 

Trust nothing and no one as you race toward the explosive conclusion of this gripping psychological thriller from the William C. Morris Award-winning author of Charm & Strange.

I've heard many great things about Stephanie Kuehn's other novel Charm & Strange and while I still haven't had the chance to pick it up, it makes me excited for her latest book Complicit.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Stephanie Kuehn's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• In the End (In the After #2) by Demitria Lunetta 

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [18]

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Summary

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

I'm so stoked to finally be able to read the conclusion to the Grisha trilogy! While it hasn't been my all-time favorite trilogy, the second book ended on a fantastic note making me crave the final book. I can't wait to see what happens to Alina, the Darkling and all of Ravka.

Check out my review of Seige and Storm.
Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Leigh Bardugo's website.

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

Summary

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

I love historical fiction and when it's paired up with some fantasy, mystery and intrigue it gets even better. The 1930's don't get a lot of love in the historical fiction genre so I'm excited to see what Jacklyn Dolamore has come up with in her newest book.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Jaclyn Dolamore's website.

#Scandal by Sarah Ockler

Summary

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation. 

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

Whenever I read any of Sarah Ockler's books I feel like I come out with a different perspective on life. #Scandal seems to be another great contemporary read that's perfect for the upcoming summer months.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Sarah Ockler's website.

The Fever by Megan Abbott

Summary

The panic unleashed by a mysterious contagion threatens the bonds of family and community in a seemingly idyllic suburban community.

The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community.

As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.

A chilling story about guilt, family secrets and the lethal power of desire, The Fever affirms Megan Abbot's reputation as "one of the most exciting and original voices of her generation" (Laura Lippman).

I love a good thriller and I'm getting chills just reading the summary. I don't read all that many thrillers in YA so I'm hoping that The Fever lives up to it's short description because it definitely has me intrigued!

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Megan Abbott's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
• The Body in the Woods April Henry

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [17]

The Murder Complex (Murder Complex #1) by Lindsay Cummings

Summary

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and I'm currently reading it and loving it! It's fast-paced, action-packed, and I can't put it down! Once I've finished I'll be sure to put a review up, but in the mean time I highly suggest you pick up author Lindsay Cumming's debut novel.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Lindsay Cummings's website.

Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys

Summary

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

Paranormal isn't usually my genre of choice but Hexed by Michelle Krys sounds like it might be just up my alley. I like how it mixes both the natural and supernatural and it doesn't seem to be all about the romance.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Micelle Krys's website.

(Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn

Summary

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

Another paranormal thriller on the list this week and once again I'm really excited for its release. I started Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn and I loved it but sadly had to return it to the library before I could finish. However, from what I did read, I love her writing style and I can't wait to pick up Quinn's latest book.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Kate Karyus Quinn's website.

Starbird Murphy and the World Outside by Karen Finneyfrock

Summary

In her sixteen years of life, Starbird has never touched a dollar bill. She’s never been in a car. She’s never used a cell phone.   That’s because Starbird has always lived on the Free Family Farm, a commune in the woods of Washington State.   But all that is about to change. When Starbird gets her "Calling" to be a waitress at the Free Family’s restaurant in Seattle, she decides to leave behind the only home she’s ever known.    

Nothing could have prepared Starbird for the World Outside, or for what it would teach her about the Family—and herself.   

From the author of The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door comes this hilarious and poignant story about finding your true calling in life.

I just recently heard about this book but I'm glad it came under my radar. From the summary, it sounds very different from the typical YA contemporary that's out there. I'm very excited to pick this book up now that its released.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Karen Finneyfrock's website.

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [16]

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Summary

Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask anybody.  Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the "slut stall" in the girls' bathroom: "Alice had sex in exchange for math test answers" and "Alice got an abortion last semester." After Brandon dies, the rumors start to spiral out of control. In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students tell all they "know" about Alice--and in doing so reveal their own secrets and motivations, painting a raw look at the realities of teen life. But in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu, exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and I couldn't be more excited that everyone gets to read it now that it is officially released! I thought it was a beautifully written book that explores the backlash of bullying and spreading rumors on everyone involved. I really hope everyone gets a chance to pick up this book because it's one of those books that needs to be read.

Check out my review.
Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Jennifer Mathieu's website.

Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon

Summary

Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya. She’s one of the privileged – she has luxurious clothes, plenty to eat, and is protected from the Collections which have ravaged families throughout the land. But Catherine longs to escape the confines of her life, before her dad can marry her off to a government brat and trap her forever.

So Catherine becomes Cat, pretends to be a kid escaping the Collections, and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind and brave the storms that fill the skies around the islands of Tellus, Cat’s world becomes more turbulent than she could ever have imagined, and dangerous secrets unravel her old life once and for all . . .

I also received a finished copy of Take Back the Skies from Bloomsbury, but unfortunately I just got it in the mail on Saturday and I haven't had a chance to read it yet. But never fear, I will be reading it soon and it is an understatement to say that I am dying to dive right into this world that Saxon has created.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Lucy Saxon's website.

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Summary

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

I've heard nothing but good things about Say What You Will and I'm so excited that it is finally released so that I can read it. I have high hopes for this book with a diverse set of characters. It isn't common to see less than perfect main characters but I'm hoping that we will see more and more of them as books like Say What You Will are well received.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Cammie McGovern's website.

The Fear Trials (Murder Complex #0.5) by Lindsay Cummings

Summary

Meadow Woodson has been trained to survive. This is a prequel to The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings, and it is set in a blood-soaked world where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate. For fans of Moira Young's Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson's father calls it The Fear Trials, and it is a rite of passage in their family. Meadow is up against her brother Koi. The Fear Trials will both harden her and make her brave. If Meadow wins, she will get a weapon of her own and the right to leave the Woodsons' houseboat without her father or mother at her side. Set in the violent, complex, and mysterious world of The Murder Complex, and introducing Meadow Woodson—a teenage girl trained to survive no matter what the cost—and her family, who are together for the last time on their houseboat in the Florida Everglades.

I just started The Murder Complex today and I'm already sucked into the world of the Shallows. Now that I already know Meadow a little bit, I'm excited to pick up this e-novella that tells us a little more of her backstory and how she came to be the fierce girl that she is at the start of The Murder Complex.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Lindsay Cummings's website.

Other Notable New Releases

• Hungry by H. A. Swain
• Graduation Day (Testing #3) by Joelle Charbonneau
• Cinderella's Dress by Shonna Slayton
• Dark Days by Kate Ormand

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [15]

City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

Summary

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Who isn't excited for the release of City of Heavenly Fire, the final book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare?! Although I still think that the series should have ended at City of Glass, that doesn't mean I don't want to find out what happens in this last book. There were enough cliff-hangers at the end of City of Lost Souls to bring me back to the series one last time.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Cassandra Clare's website.

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Summary

From the acclaimed author of Brooklyn, Burning comes Guy in Real Life, an achingly real and profoundly moving love story about two Minnesota teens whose lives become intertwined through school, role-playing games, and a chance two-a.m. bike accident.

It is Labor Day weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and boy and girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning: Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again.

But they don't.

This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other's lives, who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn't belong in their lives. A story of those moments when we act like people we aren't in order to figure out who we are. A story of the roles we all play-at school, at home, with our friends, and without our friends-and the one person who might show us what lies underneath it all.

I'm excited for this book because it looks different from a lot books out there and I hope it lives up to my expectations because I feel like this plot line has the potential of ending up very cliched. It looks like a fun read and I'm excited to pick it up in the near future.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Steve Brezenoff's website.

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [14]

 Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Summary

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

I am really happy to see the recent increase in historical fiction books in YA literature. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and the WWII era is one of my favorite time periods to read about and this book looks so unique. I'm excited to read the latest book in the genre.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Anne Blankman's website.

The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

Summary

Sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape from the coastal cities or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.

The Inventor’s Secret is the first book of a YA steampunk series set in an alternate nineteenth-century North America where the Revolutionary War never took place and the British Empire has expanded into a global juggernaut propelled by marvelous and horrible machinery.

Steampunk is one of those genres that doesn't have that many well-known books and I'm excited to see what author Andrea Cremer brings to the table with her new book The Inventor's Secret. The only other steampunk book I've read is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, so I don't have too much to compare this new book with but I think that may be a good thing.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Andrea Cremer's website.

Other notable new releases

• Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley - This looks likes it's going to be a great coming of age story about a mother and a daughter, a topic which I think is really lacking in YA lit. I'm excited to see how author Heasley deals with this topic
• TALKER 25 by Joshua McCune - I've heard mixed things about TALKER 25 but I'm always up for reading a new fantasy book, especially one with dragons in it
• The Chance You Won't Return by Annie Cardie - Here's another book about the relationship between a mother and a daughter but it deals with a some more tough topics like mental illness