Waiting on Wednesday: Where the Stars Still Shine and Truly, Madly, Deadly

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Release date: September 24th, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility. 

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

Let's all take a moment and stare at the cover's prettiness. Done? Alright. As much as I loved the cover to Trish Doller's sophomore novel, it was the summary's pull that immediately got my attention, and the fact that one of my favorite debut authors last year has written it. And then I see Melina Marchetta's stamp of approval and I am pretty much SOLD.

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Release date: July 16th, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pre-Order: Amazon 

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

This sounds different and so intense! That last note sent chills down my spine. O.O

Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The topic this week is Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light and Fun. I had a little difficulty with this simply because I've read so much Light and Fun over the last few years that listing only ten seemed hard. They've also become a necessity, and believe it or not, these books comprise half of my Goodreads challenge.  While many of them were a meh, a bunch has made it to my favorites-list. Here are some of them in no particular order.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

This is my first and favorite Sarah Dessen book.  The plot is a combination of light and deep, with a sweet story and not-so-much drama. It's one of my go-to reads when I need something for a long ride or when the mood strikes and I want to SAWOON over Wes Baker.

Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler

Love at First Click is a cutesy YA contemporary that I inhaled in a few hours. I remember loving Hayley, the main character, and relating to her. Not because I like my sister's boyfriend (I don't even have a sister) but because I can see myself in her character. I also hate stories of cheating and stealing, and this book is not at all about those.

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

"Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I’m chasing you" This. Line. Never. Fails. The DUFF is addicting, entertaining and sexy. The interaction between our sarcastic, bold and manwhore-hating heroine, Bianca and the HOTT Wesley Rush is something I go back to every once in a while. I've reread this one thrice. so  far.

Pride & Popularity by Jenni James

Pride and Popularity is my favorite P&P retelling. I've always enjoyed reading adaptations of Jane Austen's novels, but there's something about the way Jenni James writes her books that make them stand out among others. Yes, they're predictable but they're also a lot of fun. 

Awkward by Marni Bates

"I killed him with my awkwardness"
This book is funny and cute! Awkward is about a girl who became an overnight YouTube sensation after knocking out a jock and attempting to 'revive' him by doing CPR. After reading the synopsis, I immediately got my copy and was glad I did.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

What's more fun than strolling along the streets of Paris and falling inlove with Etienne St. Claire? Anna and the French Kiss is one of my all-time favorites and it's flawless in my opinion. This book is goofy-smile-on-your-face-after kind of good.

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

This is not only an enjoyable read, but very inspiring as well. It has music, art, drama and romance to name a few. All of them combined and you get this heartwarming and entertaining novel.

1-800-Where-R-You series by Meg Cabot

This series introduced me to Meg Cabot's writing and has been my favorite work of hers ever since. It has no dull moment, given the adorable heroine and exciting albeit a bit quirky plot to every installment.

Every single title by Janette Rallison

I guess I'm cheating a little by this but I don't care. Every single one of her books are delightful to read and full of charm. I particularly loved My Fair Godmother series, in which Ms. Rallison mixed fairy-tales with contemporary teenage MC's. 

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

 I didn't realize how much I'm missing out on some good Chick-Lit until I read my first Sophie Kinsella book last year. I absolutely loved and enjoyed I've Got Your Number and my coke-through-the-nose-funny shelf on Goodreads was born out of reading it.

What are your top Light & Fun reads? Feel free to share them in the comments or post the link to your own top ten list!

Book Blast: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck + Giveaway!

Today on Teen Readers' Diary, I'm excited to be participating in this book blast organized by Book Nerd Tours. You probably have heard about this series called The Tigers Saga by Colleen Houck? No? Well if not then I can assume that you've been living under the rock because it's an amazing series! Riz has read books 1-4 and absolutely loved it, while I have read the first book  and adored it as much. The only reason I don't have my paws on the rest of the series is because I'm waiting for this particular paperback format, which makes today even more awesome for me.

 Tiger's Quest is the second book in this epic fantasy-romance saga and we are celebrating its Exclusive Paperback Release. As a part of it, an EPIC international giveaway awaits you below so make sure to enter!

Title: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Author: Colleen Houck

Genre: YA Fantasy
Exclusive Paperback Release: May 7th 2013

Blurb: Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest–this time with Ren’s dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger’s Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER’S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them. 

Winner of a Parent’s Choice Award!

You can purchase Tiger’s Quest at the following Retailers:

  

Author Bio

Colleen Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse series has received national praise with the fourth book, Tiger’s Destiny, debuting September 2012. Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

Follow him on these sites
  





Giveaway

1 Winner will receive a Tiger’s Curse Series Box Set by Colleen Houck.
2 Winners will receive a Signed Paperback Copy of Tiger’s Quest by Colleen Houck.

Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL

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Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) by Meg Cabot

Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Release Date: May 1st 2011

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld. 

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. 

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. 

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. 

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Review

First of all I just want to inform you my fellow readers and everyone who will read this review that I have loved Meg Cabot's writing ever since I've read her book, Vanished, and then the rest is history. I love how she writes the protagonist in the story, the way she lets you feel like you are that character. That's why picking up Abandon was a no-brainer. If somehow there's a chance that I get to enter a book and be the lead character, I will definitely choose to be in a Meg Cabot book, no doubt. 

Pierce Oliviera's story is not that different from other Meg Cabot's heroines. She's a normal high school student and an intelligent girl who you'd want to have as a friend because she's easy to get along with. And like any of Cabot's works, it turns out that there's a catch and she's far from normal after all. Why? Because she's dead. She went to a place where she met John, a keeper of the Underworld, and that action permanently changed her life. Because of some incident, she managed to free herself and be reunited with her family. But not everything will be back the way it was before because her 'freedom' came with a price, a price that even she didn't expect coming. 

I really enjoyed reading this book because first, the characters felt very realistic to me, like I'm actually inside the body of the protagonist. Second thing is the Greek-mythology-inspired plot. I remember myself immediately hating it the first time our professor gave those photocopies of the Greek gods' family tree. But apparently I have a soft spot for this particular mythology and I became fascinated with it. Although there are a lot of stories of betrayal, lust and war in their story, there remains love above all. And then there's Hades who was pretty much half of the reason why I survive that class LOL. You can only imagine how captivated I was with Abandon the moment I read its synopsis. 

The course of the story was easy to follow. Time was flying by while I was reading and I didn't even notice that I was half way through the book. The progress of John and Pierce's romance was good and it was balanced perfectly. It doesn't eat much of the attention of the reader, which is just perfect. There was one revelation that totally caught me off-guard and left me wanting for the second book. That's why I highly recommend this book if you want to take a break from the usual Paranormal lore and want something quick and easy to read. This one deserves the 4 solid stars I give it.

  

Author Bio

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses. 

She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble. 

Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011. 

Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.

Follow her on these sites: Website|| Goodreads || Twitter

New YA Releases: May 5th - 11th

Click on the title link for the summary and to be directed to the book's GoodReads page.

Fall of Night (The Morganville Vampires #14) 
by Rachel Caine

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: New American Library

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Thanks to its unique combination of human and vampire residents, Morganville, Texas, is a small college town with big-time problems. When student Claire Danvers gets the chance to experience life on the outside, she takes it. But Morganville isn’t the only town with vampire trouble...

Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying good-bye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane. 

Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting, but Morganville is never really far from Claire’s mind. Enrolled in a special advanced study program with Professor Irene Anderson, a former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires. 

But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make...

The Heiresses 
by Allison Rushby

 Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In Allison Rushby's Heiresses, three triplets--estranged since birth--are thrust together in glittering 1926 London to fight for their inheritance, only to learn they can’t trust anyone--least of all each other.

When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London--a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things--by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

The Savage Blue (The Vicious Deep #2) 
by Zoraida Córdova

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A storm is coming...

The ocean is a vicious place. Deeper and darker than Tristan could have imagined. Beneath its calm blue surface, an ancient battle is churning —and no one is safe.

In the quest for the Sea Throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king. But while Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces racing against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer.

Battling sea dragons and savage creatures of the deep, Tristan needs his friends' support. But they each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between his crown and his best friend Layla — the only girl he's ever loved.

Mystic (The Soul Seekers #3) 

by Alyson Noel

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Since arriving in Enchantment, New Mexico, everything in Daire Santos life has changed. And not all for the better. While she’s come to accept and embrace her new powers as a Soul Seeker, Daire struggles with the responsibility she holds navigating between the worlds of the living and the dead. And with the fate of her boyfriend Dace in the balance, Daire must put aside her personal feelings and focus on defeating Cade, whose evil plans threaten everyone she loves and the world as she knows it.

Don’t miss book three in Alyson Noël’s pulse-pounding Soul Seekers series!

The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P. #1) 

by Eoin Colfer

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Puffin

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick. 

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) 

by Rick Yancey

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Maid of Secrets 

by Jennifer McGowan

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Meg Fellowes is a wry, resourceful thief forced to join an elite group of female spies in Queen Elizabeth’s Court. There she must solve a murder, save the Crown, and resist the one thing that will become her greatest freedom–and her deadliest peril. 

For Meg and her fellow spies are not alone in their pursuit of the murderer who stalks Windsor Castle.

A young, mysterious Spanish courtier, Count Rafe de Martine, appears at every turn in the dark and scandal-filled corridors of the Queen’s summer palace. And though secrets and danger are Meg’s stock-in-trade, she’s never bargained on falling in love…

If I Should Die (Revenants #3) 

by Amy Plum

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository 

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

The Academy: Game On 
by Monica Seles, James LaRosa

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The Academy is an International Sports Mecca for teen athletes of all sports. There are only two ways in. Deep pockets or enough talent to score a scholarship. 

Young tennis star Maya's dreams have finally come true when she earns a scholarship to The Academy. Plucked from her small town, Maya moves to the sports training facility/boarding school to (hopefully) start the beginning of her pro career. But Maya's fantasy of The Academy doesn't quite match the reality. Because where there are hot, talented teens, there's a lot of drama. Meet the players:


Cleo: Maya's rebel/punk roommate who is nearing the top of the golf world.
Renee: The gorgeous swimmer with enough money to buy her way into The Academy.
Nicole: A tennis star who feels threatened by Maya (but she'd never admit it).
Travis: The son of The Academy owner--perfectly groomed to be the next NFL star. 
Jake: Travis' younger brother--the bad boy to his brother's good.

Icons by Margaret Stohl

by Paul Rudnick

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

Coda 
by Emma Trevayne

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Running Press Kids

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Ever since he was a young boy, music has coursed through the veins of eighteen-year-old Anthem—the Corp has certainly seen to that. By encoding music with addictive and mind-altering elements, the Corp holds control over all citizens, particularly conduits like Anthem, whose life energy feeds the main power in the Grid.

Anthem finds hope and comfort in the twin siblings he cares for, even as he watches the life drain slowly and painfully from his father. Escape is found in his underground rock band, where music sounds free, clear, and unencoded deep in an abandoned basement. But when a band member dies suspiciously from a tracking overdose, Anthem knows that his time has suddenly become limited. Revolution all but sings in the air, and Anthem cannot help but answer the call with the chords of choice and free will. But will the girl he loves help or hinder him?

Nantucket Blue 

by Leila Howland

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t. 

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue

Invisibility 

by Andrea Cremer, David Levithan

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Philomel

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

How My Summer Went Up in Flames 

by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!

Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.

To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Fifteenth Summer 

by Michelle Dalton

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Love blossoms by the lake in this sweet summer romance, in the tradition of Seventeeth Summer and Sixteenth Summer.Chelsea isn’t looking forward to her summer at the lake. It’s the first time her family has been there since her grandmother died, and she can’t break out of her funk. But her summer takes a turn for the better when she meets a boy who works in the bookstore. Josh is cute, sweet, funny…and best of all, seems to like her as much as she likes him. As the days pass by in a blur of boat rides, picnics, and stolen kisses, she can’t believe how lucky she is. No one has ever made her feel so special, or so beautiful.

But Chelsea knows her days with Josh are numbered. She’ll be heading home at the end of the summer—and he’ll be staying behind. Will this be Chelsea’s summer of love? Or will it be the summer of her broken heart?

Criminal 

by Terra Elan McVoy

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository 

A searing and gripping read that explores the depths of desperation true love can inspire, from the author of Being Friends with Boys.

Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.

So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.

But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.

Chantress 

by Amy Butler Greenfield

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful — and most hunted — girl in England.

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing — and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses — women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.

Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…

Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

Thorn Abbey 

by Nancy Ohlin

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing is as it seems in this darkly romantic tale of infatuation and possession, inspired by Daphne du Maurier’sRebecca.

Becca was the perfect girlfriend: smart, gorgeous, and loved by everyone at New England’s premier boarding school, Thorn Abbey. But Becca’s dead. And her boyfriend, Max, can’t get over his loss.

Then Tess transfers to Thorn Abbey. She’s shy, insecure, and ordinary—everything that Becca wasn’t. And despite her roommate’s warnings, she falls for brooding Max.

Now Max finally has a reason to move on. Except it won’t be easy. Because Becca may be gone, but she’s not quite ready to let him go…

The End Games 

by T. Michael Martin

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

It happened on Halloween.

The world ended.

And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.

Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.

In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But The Game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin’s debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.

Reboot 

by Amy Tintera

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

The Lucy Variations 

by Sara Zarr

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top junior music competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. It's about finding joy again, even when things don't go according to plan. Because life isn't a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.

The Originals 

by Cat Patrick

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

Riptide 

by Lindsey Scheibe

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Flux

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Grace has one summer to prove she’s good enough

For Grace Parker, surfing is all about the ride and the moment. Everything else disappears. She can forget that her best friend, Ford Watson, has a crush on her that she can’t reciprocate. She can forget how badly she wants to get a surf scholarship to UC San Diego. She can forget the pressure of her parents’ impossibly high expectations.

When Ford enters Grace into a surf competition—the only way she can impress the UCSD surfing scouts—she has one summer to train and prepare. Will she gain everything she’s ever wanted or lose the only things that ever mattered?

This is one massive list for only a week. Don't you agree? Excited doesn't even cover what I feel - I'm practically drooling. I'm all giddy and hyped up for If I Should Die and The 5th Wave!! SQUEEEEE

Which of these new releases are you most excited to read? Feel free to share them in the comments! And while you're here, check out our Summer Reads Giveaway and enter for a chance to win a book from our reading piles. Have a great week!