Waiting on Wednesday (59)

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard 

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Release date: July 24, 2012 (HarperTeen)

I love the sound of this and romance, action, and mystery are three of my favorite things. I am Team Unicorn, but this might change my mind! 

What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday Is Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins 

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Review:

Lola and the Boy Next Door was a positively wonderful companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss. While Anna will always have a special place in my heart, I did love Lola and the Boy Next Door almost as much. Filled with quirky characters, an entertaining plot, sweet romance, and cameos from two of my favorite characters- this was a 5 star sophomore novel!

Lola Nolan was a fantastic main character. Her love for costume made her such an interesting person to read about and her personality was great, too. I adore unique characters and Lola certainly fit the bill. Stephanie Perkins made her so real and believable that I couldn't help wishing she really existed! While Lola did frustrate me at times, I ended up really connecting with her by the end. 

I especially love when family has a key role in a story and Lola's parents did not disappoint. Her dads were well developed and were not just random, flat parents- they were there for a reason and supported Lola in so many ways. There were many secondary characters that I enjoyed getting to know and not one of them was underdeveloped. 

While there were many characters I adored in Lola, the one that stole my heart was Cricket Bell. He was a sweet and dreamy guy and was the perfect match for Lola. His own family had a large part in the book, as well, and I liked getting to know them. Their romance was very real and believable and Lola and Cricket were adorable together. 

As I mentioned before, Anna and St. Clair returned in this book! Yay! I wasn't sure what role they were going to play, but it turned out to be a rather large one! I loved getting to see how they were doing and to see them through the eyes of someone else. I am anxious to see what characters from Anna and Lola turn up in Isla and the Happily Ever After. 

Contemporary YA is most definitely my favorite genre and Stephanie Perkins has proved herself as one of my favorite contemp authors. Her character development, adorable romances, and unique plots keep me hooked and I am always left with a warm, happy feeling after reading one of her books. Even if you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss, I highly recommend picking this up. Her books are brilliant and lovely and I am anxiously awaiting the release of her next novel!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

September 29, 2011/Dutton/338 Pages/Young Adult/Companion Novel

Source: Bought

Other books in the series: Anna and the French Kiss and Isla and the Happily Ever After (2012) 

In My Mailbox (102)

This was a slow week book-wise, which I am happy about because it gives me time to catch up on my huge TBR pile! I've already read Past Perfect and adored it, so I'm happy to add a signed, finished copy to my collection! What did you get this week? 

Finished Copies for Review

Netgalley Books: 

IMM Is Hosted By: The Story Siren 

Review: Enter Three Witches by Caroline B. Cooney

Enter Three Witches by Caroline B. Cooney

Lady Mary is a ward of Lord and Lady Macbeth whose life is forever changed when her father, Lord Cawdor, betrays the Scottish king -- and is hanged as a traitor. In an instant, Mary has lost both her father and future. Now she's trapped in a castle with a power-hungry couple who will do anything to get what they want -- and are willing to crush anyone in their way. Including Mary. As the murderous events of Shakespeare's play unfold around her, Mary must struggle to survive -- and do what she can to prevent more deaths. But can a lone girl save lives when a legion of Scottish lords cannot?

Review:

Having seen Macbeth performed live, I was really excited to read the actual play. Remembering I had this in my TBR I started it as soon as I could- and really enjoyed it!

Caroline B. Cooney is a terrific writer. One of my favorite series ever (The Face on the Milk Carton) is written by her so I was beyond excited to start this. Luckily this was another excellent read and is perfect for those who have read Shakespeare's play as well as those who haven't.

To begin with, Enter Three Witches wasn't a retelling of Macbeth, but rather a story of Macbeth. It was pretty much the entire play written into novel format with new characters, dialogue, etc. The novel started with background on the Macbeth's and the main character, Lady Mary. It was interesting to read a side of the story not introduced in the original play and to see things from the perspective of different characters.

Lady Mary was a determined and sweet character who changed a lot over the course of the novel. At first she was more timid and shy, but as the story progressed she realized how important it was to take a stand and be brave as so much turmoil was happening around her. The story was told mainly through Mary's perspective, but also through the perspective of Fleance, Seyton, and two maids.

Of those four, Fleance was the only one who had a role in the original play. Seyton was mentioned in Shakespeare's play, but not by name, and only briefly. The two maids were also of Caroline's own creation. I really liked being able to see the play through the eyes of such a variety of characters. Each of them had their own ideas/opinions of what was happening and the reader could get better involved in the story.

Enter Three Witches was exciting and suspenseful, and watching all the turmoil and death occur surrounding Macbeth kept me on the edge of my seat and I was always wondering: who will be next? There were a lot of characters, so I sometimes had a hard time keeping everyone straight, but the main characters definitely stood out and I liked reading about their trials and triumphs. There are definitely a lot of creepy, even scary, events unfolding, so younger readers might be frightened!

Readers who haven't read the original play will still understand this, and may like it even more. It's another exciting and mysterious novel by Caroline B. Cooney. I definitely recommend checking it out!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

September 1, 2008 (paperback)/Scholastic/288 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Bought (paperback)

Other books by this author: If the Witness Lied

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a fantastic day filled with family, friends, and lots of good food!

Waiting on Wednesday (58)

Seven Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker

When a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted.
Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgment . . . or maybe she just craves the thrill of the game. But as the hunt progresses, their relationship heats up. Soon their madcap mischief spirals out of control. Blythe is faced with arrest and expulsion, among other catastrophes - until Luke shows her what the Scramble (and love) is really about.

Release date: April 26, 2012 (Penguin Group USA)

I adored Kristin's debut novel, A Match Made in High School, and can't wait to read this one. I love a good contemporary!

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday Is Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees. But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself. So much for normal.

Review:

Supernaturally was a riveting and exciting sequel to the fantastic Paranormalcy. There was endless action and so many plot twists that kept me hooked and I can't believe I have to wait so long for the third book, Endlessly, to be released! 

Evie was back and although she has changed a lot from book one, she was still her sweet and independent self. I know we would we great friends in real life and I enjoyed getting to know her even more in Supernaturally. Evie's adventures are always unique and entertaining. Her spunk and fierceness make her such a likable character and Kiersten White did an excellent job of developing Evie even more in this addition to the series. 

While I admit I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first book, I still was overjoyed to be back in Evie's world and experiencing all her adventures alongside her. This book did not fall into the sequel slump as there was just as much action and plot twists that I had been hoping for. Evie learns more about herself and those around her in Supernaturally and she experiences the "real" world for the first time. There were new characters introduced, as well, which made the book that much better. 

Paranormal encounters abound and Evie is forced to make some difficult choices. Lend played an even bigger role in Supernaturally and I am so glad he had his chance to shine. Although everything between Lend and Evie wasn't sunshine and butterflies, this just made them a much more realistic couple. 

There were many surprising things revealed in Supernaturally that kept me hooked. Evie learns more not only about herself, but about those around her. The last few chapters were especially addicting and once I started reading them I couldn't set the book down. There is still one more book in the series to come, Endlessly, and the ending of Supernaturally was a cliffhanger. Not a huge one, but there is still a lot I am anxious to see resolved in the third and final addition to the series!

Overall, Supernaturally was a fantastic addition to the series. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the prequel, but it was still an exciting and entertaining read that proves just how great of a writer Kiersten White really is. Endlessly can't be released soon enough- I need more of Evie and Lend!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

July 26, 2011/HarperTeen/336 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: Bought

Other books in the series: Paranormalcy and Endlessly (2012)

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Review:

Having never read anything by either Jay or Carolyn, I wasn't sure what to expect from The Future of Us. But one thing is for certain after reading The Future of Us- I definitely need to read Jay's previous release and some of Carolyn's, as well! This was a delightfully entertaining and unique novel that I finished in a few hours. It is a very quick read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The Future of Us takes place in 1996, and while I was only 2 at the time, I still appreciated all the '90s references. Josh and Emma were fantastic main characters and I especially liked the dual narrations, it helped shape both characters and allowed the reader to really get to know both of them. I enjoyed watching Josh and Emma grow over the course of the story and the secondary characters were well developed as well. Each of their families also played a large role in the book.

I loved the premise of The Future of Us. Facebook plays a daily role in many people's lives and it was fascinating to see what it was like for teenagers in the 90's to get a look at the site. While this was mainly a fun read, there was a deeper side about how what you do now can affect your future. By seeing who they were married to and what their life was like, Josh and Emma made some big mistakes and greatly affected what they saw on their Facebook pages (aka their futures).

Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler certainly have a winner on their hands with The Future of Us. It made me rethink a lot of what I say on Facebook, wondering what my past self would think if they could see it. This book greatly put into perspective how much technology can develop in just a few years. Who knows what websites we will be using 15 years from now?

Overall, The Future of Us was an entertaining and fast paced read with fantastic main characters. I liked the premise quite a bit and am anxious to read more by both Jay and Carolyn now!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

November 21, 2011/Razorbill/209 Pages/Young Adult

Source: BEA and Contest Win (ARC)

Waiting on Wednesday (57)

Body and Soul by Stacey Kade

The Ghost  I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously? I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...  

The Goth  I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.Our one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-—the “Psychics” section-—I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-—and odd-—than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner...

Release date: May 29, 2012 (Disney*Hyperion)

I love this series and can't wait to see what happens in book three! May is such a long wait, unfortunately! 

What are you waiting for? 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by: Breaking the Spine

New Blog Layout

I don't know if all of you have noticed- but I have a new design! It is all thanks to the amazing Katie at KD Creates (http://www.kdcreates.com/).

The new design is fabulous and I love it. Hopefully all of you do, too! I also have a new button that you can grab!

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore 

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Review: 

Jaclyn Dolamore has a magical and captivating writing style that I adore. Ever since reading her debut, Magic Under Glass, I have been eager to see what her next project would be and Between the Sea and Sky did not disappoint. The premise of Between the Sea and Sky was one of the first things that intrigued me about this book and I can honestly say that it lived up to my expectations. This is one book that is more than deserving of it's gorgeous cover. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone!

Mermaids, winged people, and humans- oh my! The concept of Between the Sea and Sky was one of the most original and refreshing of any book released this year. Esmerine is a mermaid who has recently become a siren. She has always longed to become one with her older sister and now that dream is coming true. But nothing goes the way Esmerine expected. Dosia runs away and Esmerine must leave her watery home to find her sister and along the way she meets up with one of her best friends from childhood- Alandare. From there Esmerine's life will change in more ways than she could ever have known. 

Esmerine was a fabulously developed character and I loved everything about her. Especially her love of books. It was fascinating to see someone experiencing the joy of reading for the first time and it brought back my own memories of first beginning to read. Esmerine was adventurous and brave and she stopped at nothing to help her family. I truly admired Esmerine and even though Between the Sea and Sky was a relatively short book, I got to know all the characters very well. Esmerine's whole family played a large role in the book, particularly her older sister, Dosia. Dosia's own story was an intriguing and unexpected one and I liked getting to know her. Alandare was another fabulous character. He was a member of a winged tribe that was unlike any sort of creature I have ever read about. Alandare's character was very well done and I liked how he and Esmerine didn't fall into the insta-love category. 

Dolamore's world building was another plus in Between the Sea and Sky. The setting was extremely realistic and so well done that I felt like I could just step into the book and join Esmerine's world. 

This was an overall refreshing and breathtaking sophomore novel that proved just how great an author Jaclyn Dolamore is. I wish Between the Sea and Sky was getting more attention because it is a gem. This was a true winner with a beautiful story to match it's beautiful cover. 

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

October 25, 2011/Bloomsbury USA/240 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Bought

Other books by this author: Magic Under Glass 

In My Mailbox (101)

I have been busy college touring the last week, but I'm catching up on posting this week! As for the books, I'm very excited to read all of them, especially The Disenchantments and Still Waters. Happy reading!

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

Still Water by Emma Carlson Berne

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Dark Eyes by William Richter

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha

Rush by Jeremy Iversen 

In My Mailbox is hosted by: The Story Siren

Waiting on Wednesday (56)

Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Charlotte and Oliver have been friends forever. She knows that he, Abe, and Trip consider her to be one of the guys, and she likes it that way. She likes being the friend who keeps them all together. Likes offering a girl's perspective on their love lives. Likes being the behind-the-scenes wordsmith who writes all the lyrics for the boys' band. Char has a house full of stepsisters and a past full of backstabbing (female) ex-best friends, so for her, being friends with boys is refreshingly drama-free...until it isn't any more.When a new boy enters the scene and makes Char feel like, well, a total girl...and two of her other friends have a falling out that may or may not be related to one of them deciding he possibly wants to be more than friends with Char...being friends with all these boys suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.  

Release date: May 1, 2012 (Simon Pulse)

What are you waiting for?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by: Breaking the Spine

Review: Zitface by Emily Howse

Zitface by Emily Howse

Thirteen-year-old Olivia Hughes knows what she wants to do with her life—be an actress. And she’s already on her way. She just landed a national ad campaign that should get her noticed.

But then her luck runs out. A little pimple turns into a full-blown case of acne, with serious side effects for her career, relationships, and budding romance with J.W., the new guy at school.

Now all Olivia wants to do is hide, but she can’t. She goes from being the girl at school everyone wants to be…to Zitface, a girl who is teased, dumped, and even fired.

What do you do when you’ve lost control of everything in your life? Olivia has to find out the hard way. And maybe, what she finds isn’t so bad after all.

Review:

Zitface was a unique and realistic debut that presents acne in a very believable way. At thirteen, Olivia Hughes has never so much as broken out before. She is popular at school, has a great group of friends, and the new guy JW is noticing her. Throw in the fact that she just secured a spot on the national Wacky Water ad campaign and her life is set. But then Olivia gets a pimple. And then another. And suddenly Olivia is suffering from full blown acne. The way people reacted to her and treated her was terrible. She was bullied and teased at school and on top of that her agent and the Wacky Water people didn't want her in the commercial. That was all it took for Olivia to go from the top to the bottom.

My heart broke for Olivia because how many of us haven't suffered from a pimple at least once over the years? It's a normal occurrence for teenagers and Olivia's peers, and even those adults close to her, treated her so terribly. Instead of being there to support her, they chose to tear her down instead. I couldn't believe anyone could be so mean. Olivia was strong though, and luckily she had a few nice people at her side, including some she may never have noticed if she had never lost her acting gigs. Olivia's dream was to become a professional actress, but all of those hopes were shot down when her agent realized she was no longer "perfect". Olivia's struggle was so sad and I just wanted to just go over and give her a hug. She's definitely not alone with her skin problems but she truly felt like she was.

There are a lot of sub plots in Zitface and over the course of the novel Olivia learned a lot about both herself and the people she cared about.

I've never read a book where the main character suffered from acne, or at least none that I can recall, so this was a refreshing and touching look at how someone's life can be completely changed just by one, small pimple. Readers who have suffered from acne can relate to Olivia and those who haven't will be just as moved by her story and may learn something about it in the process.

Zitface is a solid debut that encourages readers to stay true to who they are and never let anyone make you feel inferior. The Author's Note in the back further expands on what Olivia was dealing with and gives some advice from the author and she also talks about her own struggle with acne.

Overall, I recommend picking this up if you get a chance. It is targeted more to the middle grade age group but I think everyone, even adults, can take something from it. I'm looking forward to seeing what Emily Howse writes next.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

April 28, 2011/Marshall Cavendish Children's Books/224 Pages/Young Adult & Middle Grade Appeal

Source: Publisher (ARC)

What I've Been Watching: New TV Version

I always enjoy seeing what TV shows and movies fellow bloggers are watching and I thought I would showcase some of the new shows I've been watching in 2011. All of these shows are on their first season! I'll hopefully be putting up another post next weekend discussing older shows I enjoy.

Please comment with your thoughts on these new shows and any other suggestions you have! I don't always have time to keep up with all of these, but I try to do my best!

Pan Am (Sundays @ 10 on ABC)

I've heard so many good things about shows like Mad Men and when I heard this was being compared to it, I thought I'd give it a shot. The historical setting it fantastic and I love seeing the different destinations the characters visit. There are a lot of story lines to follow, but I'm enjoying this one a lot so far.

The Secret Circle (Thursdays @ 9 on The CW)

The Secret Circle is a book series by LJ Smith, which I unfortunately haven't read, and the show is very good! I love anything to do with witches and the premise of this series is fantastic. A few episodes have freaked me out, but I highly recommend it!

New Girl (Tuesdays @ 9 on Fox)

Some people don't like New Girl at all, but I think it is hilarious! The more I watch, the more attached I become to the different characters, particularly Jess. Zooey Deschanel is awesome and she adds so much to this show.

Once Upon a Time (Sundays @ 8 on ABC)

I adore this show! There have only been two episodes so far, but I'm really enjoying it. The concept is highly original and it's fun seeing my favorite favorite tale characters come to life. My whole family enjoys this program and we're looking forward to see what happens as the season progresses (I am so glad it has been granted a full season!).

Thank you to Nina from We Adore Happy Endings for the idea for this post!

In My Mailbox (100)

This is two weeks worth of books and I'm excited to read all of them! I've already read Between the Sea and Sky and loved it- my review should be up soon! What did you get in your mailbox?

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Immortal City by Scott Speer

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Unison Spark by Andy Marino

Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

In My Mailbox is hosted by: The Story Siren

Blog Tour: Julie Kagawa Interview

1. Will Puck get a heroine of his own? Are you planning another Iron Fey novel or is it something new for you now?

You never know with Puck. Puck is a legend, more so than Ash or Meghan or even Grimalkin. I have too much respect for the old legends to start changing their stories to fit my expectations. The image of Puck at the end, wild and carefree, suits Shakespeare’s Robin Goodfellow far better than a Puck who settled down with a girl. But again, who knows with Puck? The only predictable thing about him is his unpredictableness.

After The Iron Knight, I have a new series called Blood of Eden, which is a post-apocalyptic vampire story. And after that, the first book of the second Iron Fey series will be released, this time with Ethan, Meghan’s brother, as the protagonist.

2. What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?

Hmm, is there a difference? I guess a reader is someone who reads and enjoys the story, but a real Book Lover is someone who falls in love with the characters, can’t wait to get home to start reading, thinks of books as treasured possessions, and would rather be engrossed in a story than anything else.

3. What can we expect of The Iron Knight?

Danger, adventure, heartbreak, and sacrifice. And a lot of bickering between Puck and Ash. But you’ll have to read the book to see if Ash gets his happy ending. ;-)

--

Thanks so much for stopping by, Julie! I can't wait to read The Iron Knight. Be sure to check out her website for more information.

Waiting on Wednesday (55)

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special…even if that means betraying her sister.

But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship—and her sister—before it’s too late?

Release date: July 2012 (Simon Pulse)

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday Is Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program--or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan--or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.

Review:

It has taken me months to write this review, simply because I was having a hard time putting into words how much I adored this book. It was entertaining, exciting, romantic, inspiring, and down-right mad. I loved every minute of Libba Bray's Beauty Queens and I know I will be recommending this book for years to come. Whenever I tell someone that I have never read anything by Libba Bray, their jaw drops, and now I can see why. Beauty Queens was absolutely, 100% brilliant and I regret having never read anything of hers before.

Beauty Queens is about a group of Miss Team Dream pageant contenders whose plane crashes on a deserted island. What results is crazy, hilarious, and often unbelievable. These girls are one of a kind and their story is one I will not soon forget.

The characters, what can I say about these girls? At first, I wasn't sure what I was going to think of them, but as the book progressed, I saw different sides of the girls and began to love them all. There were a lot of girls (50 to be exact) and I liked getting to know each of them. The information pages were a big help and the little facts were fun and interesting, plus they helped me get to know the different characters even more. There was so much girl-power in Beauty Queens and I was rooting for these girls to succeed from the start. The satire in Beauty Queens was awesome and I loved seeing how Libba Bray tackled several serious issues and proved that when girls stick together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

What a crazy, wonderful, awesome premise. The plot was non-stop action and I was alternately gripping the sides of the book and laughing out loud. There was so much going on and I enjoyed every minute of it. This book was more than a book, it was an experience. There were a lot of twists that kept the plot moving and I often didn't know what was going to happen next.

Overall, I deeply regret having never read anything by Libba Bray until now. This book was one of my favorite reads of the summer and I am so glad I got the chance to read it. While I know Beauty Queens may not be for everyone, I adored it, and it left me wanting to flip the book over and start reading from page one. I highly recommend this to all readers and I know I will be picking up one of Libba's other titles in the near future- I can only hope it will be as smart and entertaining as Beauty Queens was!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

May 24, 2011/Scholastic Press/390 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher

Other books by this author: A Great and Terrible Beauty, Going Bovine