Waiting on Wednesday – June 22, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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What upcoming title that’s being published this summer are you most looking forward to?

Now that it’s summer I thought I’d highlight a book that’s being published this summer, one I’ve been anxiously waiting to read for forever it seems: Husband Material by Alexis Hall.

I enjoyed getting to know Luc and Oliver in Boyfriend Material. Luc underwent such a transformation to regain a self of self and life. Olivia is such a lovable person with an innate goodness that draws you in. Both were such charming characters that I’m glad that their story is not over. Book 2 looks like it’s gonna be another entertaining summer read.

Husband Material releases August 2, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: Wanted:
One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best

In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.

This Summer 2022, you’re invited to the event(s) of the season.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting on Wednesday – June 8, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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One June 2022 release I’m looking forward to is The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi.

A YA sapphic fantasy that’s sprinkled with a dash of African and Arabian mythology and is helmed by three women who’ll risk all in blood, sand, and fire sounds like a fantastic read. From the way the author describes it – she had me at giant desert lizards you can ride – this sounds like my kind of story.

The Final Strife is the first of a trilogy (another plus) and definitely far different from the fantasy books I usually read. But it’s good to read outside your comfort zone even within a genre you’re already comfortable with.

The Final Strife releases June 23, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: In the first book of a visionary fantasy trilogy with its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia that “sings of rebellion, love, and the courage it takes to stand up to tyranny” (Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree), three women band together against a cruel empire that divides people by blood…

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control.
Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance.
Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible.

Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes.

Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts.

Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm.

As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – May 18, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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An upcoming, summer release I’m highly anticipating is The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

There are a lot of appealing factors about this book already. The story is about witches (always a plus). The cover is eye-catching. The title rolls off the tongue nicely. I want to know even more about the main character, Mika. I like that the place she goes to is called “Nowhere House.” And I absolutely love found family stories.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches releases August 23, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting on Wednesday – May 4, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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This Wednesday I’m anticipating Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas. I like the premise of this story and can’t wait to see the illustrations. I’ve been looking for more middle grade and graphic novels to read and this one seems like my kind of book.

The main character has a lot to deal with. New school, new experiences, but old fears to conquer. My middle school did not have a swimming pool, so I’m always fascinated by stories with schools where swimming is a class.

Swim Team release May 17, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees–until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.

Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap–for good?

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – March 30, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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Did you ever attend summer camp growing up?

Happy Wednesday! Is it too early to be thinking about summer? Because this Wednesday I’m looking forward to Camp Famous by Jennifer Blecher, which I was recently approved for on NetGalley.

The title caught my attention as I was one day browsing upcoming titles. I actually did attend a summer camp for several years and basketball camps for a few summers. I had a great time at both, so I’m always happy to find books that take place at a camp.

Even though this sounds very much like Disney’s Camp Rock (which I wasn’t really into when I was younger), I’m still intrigued and it sounds like a fun read.

All the campers except for Abby (the main character) are famous, which will contrast well with the common perception versus reality when it comes to famous/popular figures. The other campers are still kids and at their age (really any age) they want to make friends, fit in, and have a place to belong. Nevertheless, this will be an interesting read and can’t wait to get to know Abby Herman.

Camp Famous releases May 10, 2022.

Image via NetGalley

ABOUT: The Princess Diaries meets Harriet the Spy when Abby—the most ordinary girl in the world—finds herself undercover at a summer camp for famous kids. From acclaimed author Jennifer Blecher, Camp Famous is an accessible and fun summertime adventure about fitting in, being brave, and letting others see who you truly are. Camp Famous is pitch-perfect for anyone who loves Disney’s Camp Rock.

Eleven-year-old Abby Herman is beyond excited that her parents are letting her go to summer camp for the first time ever. Maybe camp will be the place she’ll finally find what she’s always wanted: a best friend. But—surprise!—she’s not going to just any summer camp, she’s going to Camp Famous, the one exclusively for famous kids escaping the spotlight.

Desperate to fit in with the pop stars, princesses, and geniuses, Abby creates a fake identity as a famous author. Everything goes as planned: the other girls welcome her, she participates in camp activities, and she even inspires a pop star! But as camp comes to a close, Abby finds herself torn between who she has pretended to be and who she truly is.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – March 23, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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Don’t you just love it when characters also have a passion for books in some shape or form? Book Lovers by Emily Henry seems like my kind of read, which is why it’s made my highly anticipated release this Waiting on Wednesday.

Books Lovers seems like an ideal enemies to lovers romance story. I love that the main characters are a literary agent and an editor. I get the feel that there will be some funny and cute encounters as the two really get to know each other.

Book Lovers releases May 3, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – February 23, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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Another Wednesday, another day I’m waiting with barely contained excitement for awesome books to be released. This Wednesday, I’m spotlighting Positively Introverted : Finding Your Way in a World Full of People by Maureen Marzi Wilson.

I’ve loved every single book of Wilson’s that I’ve read. Nonfiction usually isn’t my jam, but it helps that her books are humorous nonfiction graphic novels. Each of her books has reflected some part of the introvert in me in all the best ways. So I obviously had to make a post about this upcoming title.

Positively Introverted releases April 5, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: Discover how introverts can succeed in a world designed for extroverts with this advice-driven collection of words and illustrations.

Self-proclaimed introvert and creator of Introvert Doodles, Marzi Wilson, knows introverts are still a thriving community. Now she’s back sharing her introvert expertise with a brand-new advice-driven collection of words and illustrations, offering insight on how introverts can succeed in life, focusing on relationships, mental health, career success, and more!

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – February 9, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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Today’s spotlight is on Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram, a YA lgbtqiap+ boy band romance (yes please!💕).

This story sounds spectacular and feelings. I’m intrigued by the questions already posed by the synopsis. I love the color palette of the cover art – cotton candy perfection! I think this will be a fun, possibly heartbreaking, and engaging read, so I hope there’s a chance at some point this year for me to read it.

Kiss & Tell releases March 22, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend–leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all–and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.

But Hunter isn’t really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T’s shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the star of the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – January 26, 2022

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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It’s my first Waiting On Wednesday post of the new year! Hooray! It’s been many months since my last one, so this is long overdue. This Wednesday I’m spotlighting Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros.

I discovered this book one day long ago while browsing NetGalley. I’m always on the lookout for new MG reads and this one really captured my attention. The idea of the story is interesting and realistic. I like that the two main characters in a way compliment each other in who they are and what they want most. Already, I’m rooting for them to succeed. I think the story will be entertaining and heartfelt.

Falling Short releases March 15, 2022.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home–not without each other’s help.

This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team.

But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
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Waiting On Wednesday – September 15, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you spotlight a highly anticipated book.

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Happy Wednesday!

This Wednesday I’m anticipating the release of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao.

I’m not sure which If I Stay book this one is being compared to but I’ve watched Your Name, which destroyed my heart with how good it was. You’ve Reached Sam reminds me of those same overwhelming feelings of joy and pain and romance, but distinct in  a way that interests me. I think this will be a good, if not heartbreaking, story, so I’d like to give this one a try.

You’ve Reached Sam is set to be published November 9, 2021.

Image via Goodreads

ABOUT: If I Stay meets Your Name in this heartfelt novel about love, loss, and what it means to say goodbye.

Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail.

And Sam picks up the phone.

In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the suffering Sam’s family is going through. Unable to stand by the sidelines and watch their shared loved ones in pain, Julie is torn between spilling the truth about her calls with Sam and risking their connection and losing him forever.

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As Always, Happy Reading!!!

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