Save the Date: In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

About the book: Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.

But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known.

With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But what she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.

From critically acclaimed author Trish Doller comes an honest, hopeful, and romantic story about the barriers we tear down for the people and places we love most. [goodreads]

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to be published May 23, 2017 by Simon Pulse

Reading any early copy of Trish Doller's work is always a privilege and an honor. She blew me away with her debut, Something Like Normal -- only to wow me yet again with Where the Stars Still Shine and The Devil You Know. Her next novel went above and beyond my expectations, lodging itself inside my heart, in a space I didn't quite know how to fill. Our world, especially today, needs more diverse books like this one.

I was not prepared for the journey this story took me on. Trish Doller has given us a gift with this one. I love the culture of Egypt as we're witnessing it for the first time through Caroline's young eyes. Though she is miles & miles away from her homeland, she comes to realize that we all share different variations of values, customs, dreams, & ideas. I really identified with her want to experience it all, while keeping an open mind. But I also understood her frustrations of being a young girl, in a culture so different than her own. The romance in this story is full of swoons & innocence, that only Trish Doller can deliver in just the right amount of doses.

Add this one to your TBR, and in the meantime get to know her previous work if you haven't yet -- she is such an exceptional writer.

Save the Date: SUMMER OF SLOANE by Erin L. Schneider

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

About the book: Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself. [goodreads]

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to be published May 3, 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

As someone who lives for summer YA contemps, this novel had Ginger written all over it.  It's the type of story you can get lost in.  From its breath taking scenes set against the unbelievably beautiful backdrop of Hawaii, to its carefree chorus of unforgettable characters, and that ache it holds for the story about a girl searching for truth and meaning, this novel should be on every reader's list this summer.  As I said before, this is one debut author to keep an eye on.  Her words have a way of sneaking up on you, and delivering a slow punch to the gut, just where your literary heart desires it most.  Summer of Sloane is sure to be a favorite for contemporary YA fans, especially those who adore summery contemps as I do.

Save the Date: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

About the book: Hadley St. Clair's life changed the day she came home to a front door covered in slips of paper, each of them revealing the ugly truth about her father. Now as her family falls apart in the wake of his year-long affair, Hadley wants everyone-her dad most of all-to leave her alone.

Then she meets Sam Bennett, a cute new boy who inexplicably "feels like home" to Hadley. Hadley and Sam's connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret about his family that could ruin everything.

Funny and passionate, Suffer Love is a story about first love, family dysfunction, and the fickle hand of fate. [goodreads]

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to be published May 3, 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers

This is an emotional young adult novel that takes a closer look at how the infidelities of parents can affect their children, and the way we choose to deal with (or not deal with) the implications of them.  The two main characters in this story are easy to fall in love with, which makes the heartache that much greater to bare.  If you're a fan of YA novels that make you feel, I highly recommend adding this one to your to-be-read list for May.

Save the Date: Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

About the book: When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake. [goodreads]

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to be published by HarperTeen on April 21, 2015

Jessi Kirby is an author that has easily made her way into my favorite contemporary writers of the young adult contemporary realm.  She crafts an authentic, beautiful story that will pull at your heart strings.  Her latest novel tugged so hard my heart broke into pieces, only to be put back together again, as she's known to do.  Things We Know by Heart takes a deeper look at the ugly side of grief, something I can definitely relate to.  As the world around you moves on, you're still stuck, sinking in a quicksand of loss that sometimes feels almost unbearable. 

Quinn has just lost her boyfriend, suddenly and far too young.  The world she held so close to her own heart has now been ripped out piece by piece.  In an attempt to sew those pieces back together, it becomes her mission to find the recipients of her boyfriend's donated organs.  The last one, his heart, poses a challenge as the recipient chooses to remain silent and private.  But Quinn, as determined as ever, seeks him out anyway, hoping to stay anonymous with her intentions.

This story delves much deeper than just the tragic loss of a loved one and shines bright with the beginning steps of grief, pulling one's self from beneath this quicksand and learning to walk an entirely new path.  I was swept away by the beauty of something that can be so heartbreaking, focusing on the rich, exquisite words that filled my own heart, causing me to fall in love with yet another one of Jessi Kirby's novels. 

Save the Date: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

Looking for an emotional, yet oh so rewarding contemporary novel to read in early 2015?  I highly recommend adding I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios to your to-be-read list then.  This gripping page-turner flooded me with an aching need to seek these character out until the very end.

The story is told from a young girl's point of view who is counting down her days until she is out of this small town that seems to take everyone under its quicksand of regret and tragedy.  An unexpected roadblock lands in her path to bigger and better things in the form of a young military vet who has come home from a war that still rages inside his mind.  The relationship between these two characters builds at a steady, heart-breaking pace, one that will keep you up late into the hours of the night reading.  This story is told from a very honest, respectful, and mindful voice that reaches inside your heart, reminding you how powerful literature can be.

I'll Meet You There deserves all the stars, plus so much more.  Be sure to add this unforgettable contemp to your reading shelves and look for my full review to come early next year.

About the book: If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper. [goodreads]

To be published: February 3, 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Save the Date For: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

If you've read Emery Lord's debut novel, Open Road Summer, then I'm sure her follow up novel has already been added to your to-be-read list.  But for those who are new to this woman's writing, I strongly recommend getting acquainted with her brilliant and beautiful story-telling.

The Start of Me and You has a slow build, introducing the reader to Paige: a teenage girl who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, while still navigating the trials and tribulations of high school life.  Chapters flew by and I found myself completely surrounded in Paige's world.  Her best friends were the type of friends I remember from my own childhood.  They are that group of girls who would drop everything to be by your side in an instant, even if the moment just calls for ice cream and lattes.  The relationships Paige has with her family felt very authentic and fleshed out.  Emery Lord has the ability to create characters breathing through the pages.  These aren't just fixtures in a story, they are pulses vibrating from one page to the next.

And then there's the boy.  He isn't your typical crush that we see so often idolized in YA contemporaries.  I appreciated the realistic approach that Emery Lord took in creating this character and cultivating the relationship between him and Paige.  The atmosphere sizzled between these two characters, only to cascade into a finale of all finales.  There was total book clutching happening as I read that last chapter.

Emery Lord is a delightful person who has graced the YA contemporary world with a gift of irreplaceable and unforgettable story-telling.  The Start of Me and You is a book not to be missed.  If it hasn't already been added to your to-be-read list for 2015, please make a point to add it now.  I adored this story in countless measures, reminding me why I fell in love with literature to begin with.

About the book from Goodreads: Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for a year, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

To be published by Bloomsbury on March 31, 2015

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Three's Company at GReads! [Summer Edition]

Since I began this book blog I've always enjoyed participating in Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's something I'll continue to do, but I wanted a separate place to feature the Adult books I am anxious to read in the coming months as well.  I will be featuring this post in a format of threes, mixing it up each time. I look forward to sharing some Adult books I am eager to read and hope to put them on your radar as well.

3 Summer Adult Books to Add to Your Goodreads List:

Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews
To be published: June 3, 2014 by St. Martin's Press
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A wedding florist finds love and trouble in this delightful new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Ladies' Night

A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.

Told with Mary Kay Andrew's trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for Save the Date! [goodreads]

Riding the Wave (Pacific Blue, #1) by Lorelie Brown
To be published: July 1, 2014 by Signet
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The gray-green swells of San Sebastian haven’t changed in ten years, but Tanner Wright has. The last thing he expects to find back on his home turf is the love of his life....

With a make-or-break world championship on the line, professional surfer Tanner Wright has come back to the coastal California hometown he left a decade ago, carrying only his board and the painful knowledge of his father’s infidelity. Now that Hank Wright is dead, Tanner intends to keep the secret buried to spare his mother and sister the burden.

The last time Avalon Knox saw her best friend’s brother, she was fourteen and he was a twenty-year-old surfer god. She’s never understood or respected the way Tanner distanced himself from the family that has embraced her. But now she has the professional chance of a lifetime: to photograph Tanner for the competition—if he’ll agree.

Out on the waves, they find in each other passion that’s impossible to resist. And Tanner’s not the only one trying to move forward from his past. As the competition heats up, secrets get spilled, and lust takes over. How close can Avalon get to this brooding surfer…without getting burned? [goodreads]

It's in His Kiss (Lucky Harbor, #10) by Jill Shalvis
To be published: August 26, 2014 by Grand Central Publishing
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ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER
Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart? [goodreads]

I'm excited to read these upcoming Adult novels this summer!  I have yet to discover a Mary Kay Andrews book & SAVE THE DATE sounds like the perfect start for that adventure.  RIDING THE WAVE has been on my radar for a bit now, definitely looking forward to this hot summer romance with a surfer -- anyone else agree?  And you know I'm eager to get my hands on the next LUCKY HARBOR book!  Summertime reading, here I come!!

Please let me know if you add any of these or plan to read them!

Save the Date for: NOGGIN by John Corey Whaley

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

If you're not familiar with John Corey Whaley's work, then GET FAMILIAR WITH IT.  He is an author that should be a part of everyone's library.  His debut novel, Where Things Come Back, blew me away & has been a favorite for the last two years. NOGGIN is exactly what I've been craving from Mr. Whaley and surpasses everything a sophomore novel should be.  He stretches the boundaries while weaving together the most brilliant story filled with humor and compassion like nothing you've read before.

If you had the opportunity for a second chance at life, would you take it?  Travis Coates is dying.  His body can no longer keep up with him, and he's ready to be at peace.  Just when the fight may be over, he's given the opportunity for that second chance.  A chance that involves freezing one's head and reattaching it to a donor body, a healthy body.  So what happens when you wake up 5 years later, with your head attached to some stranger's body, and everyone you love has either moved on or has refused to let go?  Travis Coates can tell you, and that story is the one you all must read!

About the Book from Goodreads: Listen — Travis Coates was alive once and then he wasn’t.

Now he’s alive again.

Simple as that.

The in between part is still a little fuzzy, but he can tell you that, at some point or another, his head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado. Five years later, it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and well, here he is. Despite all logic, he’s still 16 and everything and everyone around him has changed. That includes his bedroom, his parents, his best friend, and his girlfriend. Or maybe she’s not his girlfriend anymore? That’s a bit fuzzy too.

Looks like if the new Travis and the old Travis are ever going to find a way to exist together, then there are going to be a few more scars.

Oh well, you only live twice.

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Save the Date for: SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY by Julie Murphy

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY by Julie Murphy is every bit what I expected, anticipated, and hoped it to be + so much more!  This debut novelist has blown me away by her ability to write such in depth characters, yet portraying them as someone you know or can relate to.  The heart wrenching story about Alice and Harvey will have you laughing one minute, only to be followed up with tears just pages later. 

Teen years are tough, and even tougher when you've been diagnosed with cancer.  Alice has some unfinished business to take care of before her time is up. But what happens when your expiration date gets lifted, and you have to live with the consequences of your actions?  There's an honest portrayal written between these pages, something so tangible that you see glimpses of your own life flashed back at you.  Expect my full review to come later, and definitely expect me to be pushing this book on to everyone's to-be-read list ASAP!

About the Book From Goodreads: What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

Snippet From the Book (via Goodreads): Harvey laughed to himself in a sad way and rubbed his eyes. “You want me to help you with a list of things you won’t disclose to me.” He leaned forward and bit the skin around his thumb. “Classic.”
“You won’t regret it.”
“But—”
“Harvey,” I said, my voice low. “Trust me.”
I knew what this looked like. It looked like I was using Harvey. But here was the reality of the situation: the minute my life went from semi-permanent to most likely temporary, I decided to latch on to everything in my world that had always been permanent, and for me, Harvey was so permanent he was concrete.

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Save the Date for: WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Doller

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Doller has every thing I adore about contemporary YA.  The tone is so well written that I almost forgot I was reading about a teenage girl and found myself connecting beyond the words written on the page.  There is heart ache and there is hope.  There is love and there is forgiveness.  If you weren't already impressed with Doller's debut SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL, then STARS will most definitely leave a mark.  This is another novel worthy of pre-ordering.

About the Book From Goodreads: 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.

"Trish Doller writes strong, gutsy characters that you can't help caring for and Callie is no exception. Her journey is heartbreaking and powerful." —Melina Marchetta, Printz Award winning author of Jellicoe Road

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Save the Date for: GOLDEN by Jessi Kirby

Save the Date is a fabulous feature created by the amazing Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.  The idea behind this feature is to get the word out early for books we've read before the pub date, but our full review won't be posted until later, closer to its publication.

GOLDEN by Jessi Kirby is the type of story that will light a fire from deep within you and keep burning long after you've finished the last chapter.  There are so many beautiful, wonderful things for me to express about this novel, but I am going to wait until my review is posted to go into full detail.  Go ahead and pre-order a copy of this one, if you haven't already.  It's a book you'll want to devour as soon as it's available, and then revisit Kirby's eloquent imagery to savor over and over again.

About the Book From Simon & Schuster: Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

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