"Waiting on" Wednesday [25]

The Last Time We Say Goodbye

Publication Date: February 10th, 2015

Publisher: Harper Teen

Synopsis 

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go. 

I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of Cynthia Hand's paranormal trilogy, Unearthly. However, that was more because of the plot and genre, rather than the writing style, which is why I'm very excited for her new contemporary book. I've already heard so many good things about it from bloggers who got a chance to read advanced copies so I can't wait to get my hands on it in a few weeks.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Check out the blog for more details and how to participate.

"Waiting on" Wednesday [24]

Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

Publication Date: August 7, 2014

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Synopsis 

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.

There is a serious lack of good mystery stories in YA, at least I haven't encountered many, and it's a genre I really enjoy so I'm excited for the release of Forget Me by K.A. Harrington. The premise reminds me of something I might have read when I was in elementary school or at the very least something younger me would have picked up. It looks really good and the cover is certainly intriguine!

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [23]

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

Publication Date: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Skyscape

Synopsis 

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.

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres and I'm excited to see what new author Lori M. Lee has to offer in this rich genre. I'm excited to see how she works this time manipulation element, which tends to be found more in the science fiction genre.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [22]

The Young World by Chris Weitz

Publication Date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Synopsis 

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.

I love books that have a group of people interacting with each other during a journey. It's always more fun to see how group dynamics develop instead of just between two people. I'm excited to see how Weitz portrays New York City in this post-apocolyptic world he has dreamed up in The Young World.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [21]

Extraction by Stephanie Diaz

Publication Date: July 22, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Synopsis 

"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.

This looks like a great mix of dystopian and science fiction and I've been waiting for Extraction by Stephanie Diaz to be released since last year. I'm excited to see what debut author Stephanie Diaz has to offer the world of science fiction. As one of my most anticipated releases of this month, July 22nd can't come soon enough.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [20]

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Synopsis 

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

I was so excited when I got an email from a representative over at St. Martin's Press asking if I would like to receive and early copy of Rainbow Rowell's latest book, Landline. Of course I said yes! I just received my ARC on Monday and I'm so excited to start reading it. I just need to finish the book I'm currently reading and then off to read Landline! I'm really looking forward to reading another adult novel by Rainbow Rowell, I've loved both of her YA novels and her other adult novel, Attachements.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [19]

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

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Synopsis 

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.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling divergent series, told from the per-spective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here—The Transfer, The Initiate, The Son, and The Traitor—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the Divergent trilogy.

You wouldn't believe how excited I am to get back into the world of Divergent. I've already read The Tranfer, the first of the four short stories about Four that was released a few months ago. I love reading about Tobias's story and I'm excited to see more from his point of view.

Check out my review of The Transfer

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [18]

Conversion by Katherine Howe

Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Synopsis 

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?

Just from the description, Conversion sounds like the perfect mix of eerie thriller and fantastical mystery all rolled into one package. As the product of a private school education I always like to see how they are portrayed in books. While I never experienced and creepy happenings, I'm excited to see how Howe weaves the past in the present in her latest book.

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [17]

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

Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Synopsis 

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 loved the first book of this series, Shadow and Bone, and I was disappointed when the second book, Siege and Storm, suffered second book syndrome (in my opinion). I have high hopes for this finale because of where the second book left off and I can't wait for it to finally be released to the world in just under a week.

Check out my review of Siege and Storm.
Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [16]

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

Publication Date: June 10, 2014

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Synopsis 

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 just started reading an eARC of this book and let me tell you, I cannot put it down! Right off the bat it starts off in the middle of the action. I'm loving the dual points of view and I think it really works for this book. The Murder Complex is one of my most anticipated books of this month and I can't wait until everyone gets a chance to read it!

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [15]

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Synopsis 

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

I'm so excited for this book and not only because I'm on MacMillan's FierceReads Street Team for this book. This book has been getting stellar reviews and I'll be reading it this coming week in preparation for the release about The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu. Be on the lookout for some cool posts during the month of June featuring this amazing book!

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [14]

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Synopsis 

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um...

I absolutely loved Morgan Matson's only other book I've read, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, so it suffices to say that I've been waiting for Since You've Been Gone to come out since I heard Matson had a new book in the works. Her latest book seems to be the perfect summer read, and with summer just around the corner I can't wait to pick it up come May!

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [13]

The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

Publication Date: April 29, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis 

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

I really enjoyed The Program, the first book in this duology. I thought it had really good plot and I the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm excited to see how author Suzanne Young concludes this duology in The Treatment. We were left with a cliff-hanger at the end of the first book and I'm really excited to see Sloane and James are going to manage to escape The Program once and for all.

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [12]

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Synopsis 

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.

One of my favorite time periods to read about is the World War II era. I'm really excited to see what author Anne Blankman brings to the table in her debut novel Prisoner of Nigh and Fog. From the description it looks like it's going to be a harrowing read because of both the external conflict of World War II as well as the internal conflict Gretchen will be facing.

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [11]

Sunrise by Mike Mullin

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

Synopsis 

The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors' constant companions.

When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever — and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

This epic finale has the heart of Ashfall, the action of Ashen Winter, and a depth all its own, examining questions of responsibility and bravery, civilization and society, illuminated by the story of an unshakable love that transcends a post-apocalyptic world and even life itself. 

The Ashfall trilogy by Mike Mullin is one of the more underrated books that deserves so much more love. What really made me fall in love is that they aren't your typical dystopian/post-apocolyptic story that takes place in the far future after some pandemic, war, etc. The series starts out with a volcano erruption in Yellowstone and if that isn't realistic I don't know what is. The fact that this could *potentially* happen makes the series all the more thrilling. That, paired with fantastic, realistic character, makes for a fantastic series. I was lucky to get an early review copy of Sunrise, the final book in the series, through NetGalley courtesy of Tanglewood Press. I can't wait to read it and you can look for my review in the days leading up to its release

EDIT: Apparently this book was actually released March 17th but unfortunately there was a mix-up and on many websites (including Goodreads) the release date is set for April 15th. The good news is that means that Sunrise is already available for you to read!

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [10]

The Hear and Now by Ann Brashares

Publication Date: April 8, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Synopsis 

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

I'm a huge fan of time travel stories and I'm excited to see what Ann Brashares, author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, has come up with in her latest book. It looks like it's going to be a good mix of sci-fi thriller with some romance thrown in for good measure. I received a advanced galley from NetGalley and I'm very excited to read this book in the next couple of days.  I'll be sure to post a review once I finish reading it!

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [9]

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

Publisher: Roaring Books Press/Macmillan Children's

Synopsis 

An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

A new historical fiction book? With a mix of paranormal psychic powers? Why can't I have this book right now? I am very excited for the release of Sekret in just a couple of weeks. I'm normally not a huge fan of paranormal, but I am a huge historical fiction lover and this book seems to be a healthy mix of the two. And I have to say the World War II era is one of my favorites to read about.

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [8]

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), an imprint of Macmillan

Synopsis 

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira does not appear to be your typical contemporary YA book. It looks a lot more gritty and introspective, especially since it deals with a hard topic, death. I'm excited to see how Dellaira develops the plot that we are given in the synopsis.

Check it out on Goodreads!  

"Waiting on" Wednesday [7]

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis 

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Who isn't excited for a retelling of the Wizard of Oz? The last one we had was Wicked by Gregory Maguire and this one seems very different in both tone and plot. In Dorothy Must Die, the first book in a trilogy, Danielle Paige is re-imagining and recreating the Dorothy character and instead of being the heroine, she's the new villain. I can't wait to see what's in store with! 

Check it out on Goodreads! 

"Waiting on" Wednesday [6]

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Synopsis 

An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

Another debut novel this week! While the cover may seem a little too much like a conventional YA contemporary book, the description suggests anything but. Faking Normal looks to be a moving read about two teens who have had to deal with some struggles in their past and their unlikely friendship. Only a little under three weeks until we can get our hands on this book!

Check it out on Goodreads!