Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It's a weekly feature that lets us share what titles we're waiting on!




Truly Madly Deadly by Hannah Jayne
Publication Date: July 16th, 2013

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."

AH! Need this book more. First of all, love the title. It reminds me of that song by Savage Garden. The whole concept sounds like such a page turner. Basically, I'm dying to get my hands on this.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Share your answer in the comments or leave me a link to your blog so I can check it out!

Bloglovin

Hey everyone! Just wanted to jump on the bandwagon and make it easier for all of you to follow BAM Book Reviews once Google Reader ditches us. I've personally been using Feedly which I love but everyone has their preferences so if you plan on using Bloglovin, then click on the link below!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

If you're not sure what reader to start using after Google Reader crashes, Parajunkee has a great post about some alternatives. You can check that out here!

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Happy Tuesday! Well, technically it's Wednesday, but I'm going with it! I finally decided to participate in the amazing Top Ten Tuesday. I look forward to these posts every week so I'm shocked it's my first time participating. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a weekly feature/meme that gives you the chance to share your top 10 (insert adjective here) books! 

• Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker: This was the first book I've read by Melissa Walker and I've been stalking her books on Goodreads for a while! Her covers are SO attractive. I'm a big fan of photographed covers with a little extra added to them. While the covers are what originally attracted me to Walker's books, she knows how to back them up with a great read.
• Speechless by Hannah Harrington: Okay. I know what you might be thinking.  This is one of your favorite covers? There is no cover. That's why I love this so much. With all of the different covers out there, you have to stand out somehow. I think whoever thought of leaving the cover mostly blank was a genius. It  gave my eyes a break for once and let me focus on the actual story. Which brings me to another reason why this landed in  my top 10. When you read the book, you might understand the symbolism behind the cover. Bottom line: I love this cover or lack of.
• Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth: Don't get me wrong, I love the cover of Divergent. But the cover of Insurgent?! While they're similar, I'm in love with the color scheme of Insurgent's cover. It's so peaceful like Amity and just PRETTY. LOVE.

• On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves: If you couldn't already tell from the blog itself, blue is one of my favorite colors. So there's the photographed cover which already makes this cover a front runner. Then in the photograph there's an amazing beach with gorgeous blue water? Win.
• Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma: One of my favorite types of books to read are ones with forbidden love stories in it. You know, the kind of relationship that is either looked down upon, against the law, or just plain WRONG. This cover executes the whole forbidden love theme very well and is one of the main reasons why I decided to read it.
• Salvaged by Stefne Miller: Can someone please tell me why so many people are disgusted by feet? I don't understand it. They're kind of like hands... just on your legs. Anyway, this cover makes me want to just lay in my back yard and read a good book. This cover screams "summer read"!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• That Summer by Sarah Dessen: Even though this isn't my favorite Sarah Dessen novel, the new covers are AMAZING. They're just the makeover that these books needed to keep people reading them. First, the blending of the pink and orange in "Sarah Dessen" is so perfect and pretty. I love the simplicity of "That Summer" also. And pretty much any book with a beach on it makes me want to read it, so that's sold.
• Identical by Ellen Hopkins: Lets just say if I didn't limit this list to only having one Ellen Hopkins book on it, her titles would take up most of it. I think Ellen Hopkins is pretty well known for her covers and how amazing they are. I just want to take a second to protest against the new covers for the Crank series, by the way. Stick with the old ones please!
• I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak: 
  The only reason I picked up this book was because of it's cover. I remember I was in a reading slump when I picked this up and wanted to read something different. I felt like I was constantly reading the same old stuff and I just needed a change. Admit it, this cover is unique. It's not the most attractive of covers, but it's definitely one of my favorites.

• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: You can hate on the book all you want, but you have to admit... the covers hit the spot. They're so PRETTY. A lot of you will probably disagree with me, but hey, besides word of mouth... something convinced people to read these books. And I'm pretty sure it was the cover. By the way, if you click on the link within the title, you can read my very first review! It's kind of embarrassing but you gotta start somewhere, right?!

So what are the top 10 favorite covers of books that you've read? Let me know in the comments or share your link so I can come check out your post!

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: BEA
Edition: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 288
Rating: A

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

I. Adored. This. Book. 

There were actually quite a few reviews of this book that mentioned how they liked Saving June, Harrington's debut, a lot more then Speechless. I'm really happy that I read Speechless first because maybe I wouldn't have liked it as much as I did. Also, this means I have Saving June to look forward to reading!

While this may sound like an insult to some people, I think of it as a compliment: Speechless made me feel like I was watching a really good Lifetime movie. Almost like a moderately different but still similar version of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. And while there are similarities, the differences are large enough so I don't feel like I'm reading the same book.

Two of the main characters, Sam and Asha, are some of the most lovable characters I've had the pleasure to meet. What I loved the most about Chelsea and Sam's relationship, is that it took time. Yeah, they connected and there might have been some instant chemistry, but it took time for the both of them to realize that. It was real and believable. Asha (Chelsea's new BFF,) is the sweetest girl ever. I hope I get to meet someone like her someday, because she's absolutely perfect. 

Let's talk about the cover. I know there's a few different covers for Speechless, but I prefer the blank white one. It's definitely risky, because it's so blank. A lot of people (including myself) choose books by their cover. That's exactly what attracted me to this book though! The cover made me curious enough to figure out why it's so plain. I like how it fits the novel so well and I hope other readers can agree with that! 

I've had a craving for contemp novels lately, and Speechless definitely helped while making me want more. Overall, I'm really pleased that I read this book and I would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a great contemp and fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

What do all of you think of the cover? I'm dying to know what everyone else thinks of it. Leave a comment below and let me know!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Bought (Barnes and Noble)
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 327
Rating: B

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

I have been wanting this book for YEARS. I wouldn't be surprised to say that I've wanted this book since 2007, when it was published! I always told myself that I would wait for it to release in paperback because I'm such a cheapskate. Let me tell you... that took forever! But now that this lovely, powerful novel is finally released in paperback, I let myself buy it and indulge.

It took me at least 30-40 pages to really get into this book, but once I was at that point, there was no distracting me from devouring it. As you know from the synopsis of Thirteen Reasons Why, listed above, Hannah Baker gets the chance to tell her full story and the reasons why she committed suicide. The first few reasons seemed a bit minor and fixable... until the other reasons were unveiled. This girl just could not catch a break. I couldn't imagine going through everything Hannah did and remaining sane. As the novel went on, her reasons got much worse to the point where I couldn't even guess how much worse they could even get... but they always did.

However strange this may sound, I typically prefer reading novels with a female's POV. It's rare that I come across a novel I really enjoy with a male narrator although there have been cases: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. And now, I can gladly add Thirteen Reasons Why to that small list. Even though a lot of the novel is narrated by Hannah from the tapes, I always enjoyed reading about Clay and what he was thinking. He was an absolute sweetheart that was really easy to sympathize with and I hope to read more novels with narrators similar to him.

While I really did enjoy this book, I think the hype it continually gets made it fall short in the slightest way. I was expecting to cry my eyes out during the whole novel which didn't happen, and I cry pretty easily! Even though the hype may have made this book fall a bit short for me, I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for something gripping and haunting to read.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Books A Million
Edition: Hardback

Pages: 327

Rating: B-

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection is definitely not what I expected it to be. At all.

But I liked it! I think.

The whole idea of the book is that there is a Caste system. Everyone is numbered One to Eight. The lower your number, the higher your caste, and the better life you live. Generally Fives to Eights live the hardest, shortest, and poorest lives in the entire society. Ones are the royal family.

The royal family?! Yes. The royal family. The entire book is set in the future, but this future has gone medieval. A monarchy is in charge of the country and everyone is on their knees just begging to join them in their reign.

Everyone except for one girl.

America Singer is the young protagonist of this novel. She is a Five and loves that she gets to sing and play music to bring money to her family. She is a typical teenager who wants to help her family, find her passion, and fall in love.

The Selection (the title of the novel) happens when the Prince of the royal family comes of age. Every eligible, single woman between the ages of sixteen and twenty is entered in a contest. Thirty-five of thousands are chosen to go to the castle and compete for the Prince’s affections. It’s sort of like The Bachelor!America is chosen for the Selection and is shockingly dismayed. All she wants to do is stay with her love, Aspen Leger, a Six. But her mother wants the money and status that comes with marrying a higher number.

Maxon Schreave, the Prince, is nothing like America imagines him to be. He’s just the typical guy. Except for the entire country is watching his every move as he learns to date and interact with women for the first time. A little stressful, no?

I don’t want to give away any more details! All in all, it really is like The Bachelor, but there are a few more twists and turns!

I would recommend reading it if you’re interested in a non-dystopian YA novel. Tell me what you think about it! I honestly still haven’t decided if I like America or not (she seems a little whiney to me), but I am anxious to see how the next this plays out!

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Bought (@ my local indie)
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 261
Rating: C+

My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love, too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
it's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything.

WMMDK (What My Mother Doesn't Know) was pretty cute! I think it was meant for the younger, YA crowd (15 and under) but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable for anyone older. I read the entire novel in one sitting which wasn't a big deal since it's written in verse. Even though the book is around 300 pages, it feels like maybe 100 or less due to the format.

While WMMDK was entertaining enough to keep me reading, I can't say that the story will stick with me forever. It's more of a light and fluffy read that can be used to kill some time and take your mind off anything serious. 

The main character, Sophie, did make me giggle out loud a few times from her outrageous thoughts. I do wish that I would have connected a bit more with her though! She was a little immature for a 15 year old. If I didn't know her age, I would have guessed she was around 11 or 12 years old. 

So basically... give this book a shot if you need to kill some time and are looking for something slightly entertaining.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Free Book Friday
Edition: Hardcover
Pages: 259
Rating: B+

Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.

Prior to reading this book, I've never heard of a "hell house". I knew that there were people in the world that were judgmental towards others (due to their beliefs,) but this takes it to a whole new level. For me, the fascination with this book was half because of the actual plot and half because of the hell house scenes.

I know that a lot of people tend to shy away from books about religion and I do understand why.  I hate when people, books, movies, etc. push their beliefs on me. I don't feel like the author did that in any way though. It was just an easygoing, go with the flow type of book.

All of the characters were pretty likable and relatable. It was interesting reading how these teens were starting to question beliefs that they've been taught their whole life. It's something that I think almost anyone can relate to. 

While I did really enjoy this book, it didn't grip me to the point of not being able to put it down. But overall, it was a satisfying and pleasurable read and would recommend it to anyone in the mood for something to keep them busy.