Proud Professional Reader
Wednesday 29 May 2013
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that features upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Bloomsbury USA Children's, 318 pages
"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 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."
- Summary taken from Goodreads
I am jealous of everyone who has already read this one. They have all posted good reviews about the book, and that cover is absolutely gorgeous! Oh, Melina Marchetta also loved this books, so you know it's a good one.
What books are you waiting on?
What books are you waiting on?
~SARINA
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/ weekly meme created at The Broke and The Bookish. Because your admins here at From Covers to Covers love the idea of making funny and interesting lists, we are really excited to participate in these weekly challenges.
So this week, we decided that our Top Ten Tuesday would be about our bookish pet peeves. It features all the things about books that make us cringe, and we are sure that many of you readers will be able to relate. So, here is our top ten...
1. When a series changes their cover style part way through the series- UGH. Namely, Anna and the French Kiss Series- Because, I mean, we all want the same looking/sized/themed books on our shelf together, it just doesn't look right when a series doesn't match in some way! #firstworldproblems sigh. (The new cover of ANNA is still nice, but it just sucks that ISLA won't match our ANNA and LOLA.)
1. When a series changes their cover style part way through the series- UGH. Namely, Anna and the French Kiss Series- Because, I mean, we all want the same looking/sized/themed books on our shelf together, it just doesn't look right when a series doesn't match in some way! #firstworldproblems sigh. (The new cover of ANNA is still nice, but it just sucks that ISLA won't match our ANNA and LOLA.)
2. Books that have a big font. I don't know if I'm the only one who is really bothered by this, but I tend to judge a book, not by its cover, but by its font size. I love small/medium font that doesn't have too big of a header or footer. Font that is too big and has too much space on each page really bothers me.
3. When there is no summary blurb paragraph on the back of the book, or if it doesn't tell you anything about the story. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO BE READING ABOUT. I DON'T CARE IF SO-AND-SO FAMOUS PERSON SAID YOUR BOOK WAS LIFE CHANGING AND INCREDIBLE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT.
4. Library books with food/suspicious, disgusting looking things in the cracks. 'Nuff said. Ew.
5. When the book pages have yellowed and/or are crinkly. So you're halfway through a really good and you just have to continue reading it. Unfortunately, it's raining cats and dogs outside and you're walking to the bus stop, but you think "what the heck" and you pull it out. 5 minutes later, your book is soaking, and 1 hour later, your pages are yellow and crinkly. EW.
6. Book pages that are torn or bent. It's worse when you lend a book to your friend in pristine condition, and you get it back with pages torn or bent. That's the last time you're lending a book to that friend...
7. Book pages that are too white. It's just unnatural. It's as if the book publishers bleached each page to make it that way. Just stop.
8. Books that are unnecessarily long. I'm looking at you This Is What Happy Looks Like. You could have easily been a 200 page book and been just as good if not better than the 400 page version of you.
9. When the main protagonist is annoying. Some authors make their protagonists make the stupidest decisions just for the sake of making the story go on. If a protagonist gets to the point where I can't handle him/her anymore, I won't even finish the book.
10. How books in America are cheaper than the SAME books in Canada. Being Canadians ourselves, this is the worst thing ever. I mean, I could drive over to the states in an hour's time and get myself the same book $5 cheaper. It makes no sense. Why would you do that to us bookstores?
What are some of your bookish pet peeves?
Friday 24 May 2013
Author: Kasie West
Date Published: February 12, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.
Review: EVERYONE LISTEN UP I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. I AM VERY, EXTREMELY, SUPER EXCITED AND PLEASED TO WELCOME A NEW FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTER TO MY LIST OF BOOK BOYFRIENDS. YAYYY.
Normally, I'm not one to love supernatural/super power books and I prefer to stick to the reality young adult novels. However, this book was incredible and has completely changed my attitude towards supernatural books. Just the concept of a community with people each having a different power- it almost reminded me of Divergent, except with a cuter, more believable romance and slightly less fighting/action- is a pretty neat concept. Unlike the normal supernatural concepts we come across as young adult readers (vampires/werewolves etc.), this cool idea of mind powers and abilities really stood out to me as original, engaging, and fascinating to read.
Gah. And the characters and romance in this book.. GAHHH. By the end of the 350 pages of this book, I felt as though I knew the characters so well, the main ones were all so well developed and complex- each having their own challenges and obstacles to face. Addie is super-relatable and lovable, expecially being a teenager who loves to read and does somewhat dorky things, and experiences the things normal teenage girls go through. Most of the characters also worked super well together. Especially the romantic chemistry between Addie/Trevor and sometimes Addie/Duke. The chemistry between these two was incredibly enjoyable to read. Addie and Trevor's relationship also felt very consistent, never faltering. They were just so funny and adorable with each other, always responding to each other with witty comments, and saying the cutest things at just the right moments. Trevor- *sighs* -was the cutest thing ever, with his cowboy boots, smart and clever responses, and his sensitive and artistic side. I seriously wish I could have seen more Traddie moments (They already have a relationship name! That's how much I ship them!). Aaaaand, like I said earlier, he has officially made my top ten list of book boyfriends! Welcome Trevor!
Kasie West's writing is also really quite amazing. Her writing is easy to follow and extremely engaging. I never found myself bored. She's not the type of person who needs millions of metaphors and deep quotes to grab your attention, her writing is straight forward and fun to read, not to mention straight up hilarious at times. This was definitely a book that I was not able to put down!
The ending of the book killed me. No- actually what killed me was the adorable chemistry between Traddie... And then I came back to life after calming myself, and then I died again after finishing it. "Why?" You might ask? Well, the ending came so suddenly, and everything was so chaotic, and not everything was resolved, and I was upset! Then, I checked Goodreads and HALLELUJAH, a sequel to Pivot Point is supposed to come out next year! Thank goodness. So now, I'm back, alive, and really looking forward to next year. This book is definitely one you do not want to miss, especially if you're a fan of cute romantic chemistry (duh, who isn't?) and supernatural stuff. And don't make the mistake that I almost did of turning away from this book because if has supernatural stuff. It's a really great read and I highly recommend it.
PAULA :)
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Grade: B
Goodreads Summary: If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
Review: When I first heard the premise of this novel, I was instantly intrigued by it. Everything about this book screamed perfect romance. A movie star accidentally emailing you and continuing on a conversation that lasts months? Could this please happen to me?
The book began with the first emails exchanges between Ellie and Graham. They set the tone of the rest of the story really well as you could feel an instant connections between the characters. The more they talked, the more charmed I was by their budding romance.
I was not expecting this book to be long because Smith's previous novel, The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, was fairly short. So it was much to my surprise when I picked up this book, and it was a 400 pages long. For me, that was its one fault. Though I loved reading about Ellie's and Graham's life, I found myself to be wanting to skim over some parts as they seemed to drag on a bit.
Something I couldn't help but notice though was Smith's amazing description. There were many lines that seemed so simple yet poignant, and I found myself rereading certain paragraphs because the writing just so good.
This book is one that will make you feel happy. I recommend it to fans of Smith's previous novels, and any other fan of the YA romance genre. Don't shy away from its length like I almost did though. Otherwise you'll regret having missed out on this one.
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Wednesday 22 May 2013
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that features upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
So, as you guys may or may not know... I read Just One Year's companion novel a few months ago and I really enjoyed it! The only part I didn't really like was- unfortunately, Allyson's romance interest Willem. However, that was ONLY because I felt as if I didn't see enough of him and his thoughts. This book, Just One Year, is supposed to be from his perspective so voila! Hopefully, his likeness increases and perhaps even potentially make our book boyfriends list? Anyways, I really liked Just One Day and I cannot wait for its companion novel, Just One Year!
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Dutton Children's, 384 pages
Companion to JUST ONE DAY. It will be in Willem's POV.
"Can you fall in love in just one day? Can you become a new person? How about in just one year? In JUST ONE DAY and its companion novel JUST ONE YEAR, sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey and easygoing actor Willem De Ruiter are about to find out against a guidebook-worthy array of foreign backdrops. Equal parts romance, coming-of-age-tale, mystery and travel romp (with settings that span from England’s Stratford upon Avon to Paris to Amsterdam to India’s Bollywood) JUST ONE DAY and JUST ONE YEAR show how in looking for someone else, you just might wind up finding yourself."
-Summary taken from Goodreads
PAULA :)
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/ weekly meme created at The Broke and The Bookish. Because your admins here at From Covers to Covers love the idea of making funny and interesting lists, we are really excited to participate in these weekly challenges.
You know the saying "never judge a book by its cover"? Well this week's meme definitely proves to us that it is perfectly safe to judge some books by their cover. All these covers caught our eyes the second we saw them, so we hope they do the same to you.
1.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
This cover is a perfect representation of what this book is - beautiful and creepy. Plus, there's something about this cover that draws the reader in. I love it!
2.
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
I absolutely adore how the sea glass is incorporated into this cover, especially that one piece of red sea glass. It ties into the story perfectly.
3.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
This cover is eye catching. The blurring of the people representing the fast-paced environment of an airport, and then the couple kissing in the middle, highlighted by the heart. This book just screams out cute, no? (Well actually it screams out LOVE...)
4.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Again, this cover mimics the books so nicely. The typography is gorgeous, Amy & Roger are holding hands with a wide expanse of road behind them, and the golden sun is brightening this summer picture. It's all so good.
5.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Will he, won't he? We have all tried the flower petal technique of seeing if a guy likes us. So when it's on a cover, you know the story's gotta be good. This cover is light and cute which is a perfect cover for a Sarah Dessen novel.
6.
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Jennifer E. Smith gets some of the most eye catching, adorable covers, doesn't she? This one also highlights a word in the title, and again, you can see a couple in it. We like how there's a continuity in her covers though the stories are completely separate. It's a nice touch.
7.
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
This cover is trippy. The girl is walking on a wall towards the floor, and her hair is covering her face so nicely. Everything is pretty in this cover that it's hard to not pick this one up at the bookstore or library.
8.
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
This is a murder mystery, so I found this cover to be very appropriate. It's creepy, but also very simple. The green glass somehow emphasizes the girl's eyes, and she's so pale. A perfect way to set the tone of a murder mystery.
9.
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I can't even describe how badly I wanted to pick up this book when I first laid my eyes on it. It seems really intense, and for fans of the supernatural genre, it is definitely a great way to catch their eyes.
10.
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
We love how these pants were slowly changing as each book was released. By the time the fourth book came out, the cover was absolutely perfect. With these graffiti-ed pants, you can see how each girl changed during this series when you see little nods towards their previous summers on these pants. These pants hold all their memories, and we love how the covers show them.
What books are make it on your list?
Sunday 19 May 2013
Author: Sarah Dessen
Release Date: June 16, 2009
Grade: B+
Goodreads Summary: It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
Review: Knowing my love for YA contemporary and romance, you guys would be surprised to hear that this is only my third attempt at a Dessen novel. I really enjoyed reading this book and gobbled it very quickly because Sarah Dessen has a knack of creating vivid imagery of locations and characters that make it hard to resist her books.
Along For The Ride has a similar premise to most of her books. A relatable narrator, a family issue, a cute male character, and an overall light feel. This book was exactly what I was looking for for all those reasons. Reading Along For The Ride, I could feel myself smiling at certain scenes, tearing up, and swooning (for Eli).
Dessen has a fabulous gift of developing stories that draw readers in. Much like Auden, I anticipated the nights she and Eli spent together making memories that Auden lacked during her rushed childhood. I also found myself very annoyed with Auden's parents. They both rubbed me the wrong way, and though they may have redeemed themselves slightly by the end, Dessen did an excellent job of portraying the uncaring parents in her story.
If you're looking for a good read to start off your summer, this one would be a good one to start with. Though it was not my favourite novel of hers (some parts of the story did bore me a bit), Sarah Dessen is a great storyteller nevertheless, and you would not be disappointed with experiencing Auden's story.
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Friday 17 May 2013
Author: Cath Crowley
Date Published: August 1, 2013
Grade: Solid A
Goodreads Summary: "Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about. His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls. But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.
Review: I MUST MAKE AN APOLOGETIC STATEMENT RIGHT NOW. I AM SORRY CATH CROWLEY, I AM SORRY SARINA, I AM SORRY MY GOODREADS FRIENDS WHO TOLD ME TO READ THIS BOOK A LONG TIME AGO BUT OBVIOUSLY MY STUBBORN, STUPID SELF DIDN'T LISTEN. Let me explain. Alright, so a year and a half ago, Sarina came up to me, excited, telling me about this super great book that I had to read because it was "asdfghjkl-good". I had a couple books on my plate already so I sort of glanced at the back summary and read the first couple pages and thought "meh", and decided that it didn't seem so great. So I gave it back to her saying I didn't want to read it. Then, a couple weeks ago, I was in need of a good YA book to read and I remembered the raving reviews about this one, so I re-borrowed it from Sarina to give it another try- and I read it almost all in one sitting and now here I am, about to tell you the amazing adventure I had with the most lovable, funny characters, Lucy, Ed, Jazz, Leo, Daisy, and Dylan. I miss them already (I am going through serious post-book-achy-sulky-feeling).
The thing about Graffiti Moon is that it only happens in one night. And that's actually one of the things that turned me away from the book initially- I thought the characters wouldn't be complex or the story would become slow or something dumb like that... But no! It was quite the opposite actually. Even though I only got to spend a mere ten hours with the characters, I completely fell in love with them. Especially Ed and Lucy. They're romance/tension-between-them-that-was-obviously-flirty-tension was so, so much fun to read. They were hilarious together. They just seemed to get each other. They could talk about anything with each other, from the deepest things to the most ridiculously funny things. During the entire book, all I could thing was "KISS ALREADY DAMMIT KISS. OH MY GOD JUST KISS PLEASE KISS OKAY". Jazz and Leo were also such great characters. Leo's poems and Jazz's psychic abilities made the book that much more interesting to read. And Dylan and Daisy were just straight-up funny. All the main characters in the book were so well developed and each had so many layers, they all had their own dreams and goals and problems and wishes. This might be my favorite overall cast of characters ever, especially considering I LOVED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM (which is extremely rare).
The story itself was really interesting to read, told in alternating points of views by Lucy, Ed, and some of Leo's poems. It was funny seeing some of the story overlap and intertwine, because that way you got to see what both Lucy and Ed was thinking during the same scenes. It was pretty special to see Ed and Lucy fall for each other as each hour passed by and they had more and more discussions about life and art and love. The writing was so vivid and brilliantly written, Crowley described all the artwork so well. It was beautiful. As I was reading this book, I kept imaging two teens running through a city at night in hopes of finding an adventure together, with the lights of the city surrounding them, as if they were stars, guiding the way. Beautiful.
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
Wednesday 15 May 2013
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that features upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
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."
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Simon & Schuster, 288 pages
"Love, tragedy, and mystery converge in this compelling novel from “an author to watch” (Booklist).
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."
-Summary taken from Goodreads
GOLDEN CAME OUT YESTERDAY!!! So I guess this doesn't exactly constitute as a book I'm waiting on, but I guess it's still a while before I head over to the bookstore to get it. I have heard nothing but stellar reviews for this one, and I absolutely cannot wait to start my summer off with it. It seems like everything I have been waiting for and more!
What books are you (kind of) waiting on?
~SARINA
Tuesday 14 May 2013
In contrast to last week's topic, this topic is one that most people don't like to approach. Books dealing with tough subjects are always hard to pick up, but when you do, it's worth it. These are the books that make you feel, and they tend to have lasting impacts on people. Instead of writing a snippet for every book, we just wanted to let you guys know the subject each book deals with. Just know that every one of these books is 100% worth a read at one point in your life.
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Cancer
2. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - Cancer
3. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - Bullying/ School Violence
4. The Pact by Jodi Picoult - Heartbreak/ Depression
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - World War II
6. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - Word War II
7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - Feminism/ Poverty
8. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Molestation/ Peer pressure
10. Saving June by Hannah Harrington - Suicide
What books have you read that deal with tough subjects?
Wednesday 8 May 2013
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that features upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival."
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Disney-Hyperion, 320 pages
"She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival."
- Summary taken from Goodreads
First, the cover. Then, the summary. This book is something I've never even seen before. It seems to have a thriller/mystery edge to it, and a romance stirring in the background. I can't wait to see if this book is as intriguing as it appears!
What books are you waiting on?
~SARINA
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and The Bookish. Because your admins here at From Covers to Covers love the idea of making funny and interesting lists, we are really excited to participate in these weekly challenges.
This is such a great topic because light and fun books are definitely perfect for summer. And with summer approaching very quickly, your admins at From Covers to Covers cannot wait to sit back, relax, and read a good (romantic) story.
1.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
It's Sarah Dessen. Duh.
2.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
We've mentioned this book a ton already, but if you haven't gotten the gist yet, read it. Though there are some serious parts in this book, the road trip element of it makes it lighter and more fun to read.
3.
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
For us, light and fun = good romance. This one has that down pat.
4.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
READ THIS READ THIS READ THIS. If you're in the mood for something light and fun, this book will satisfy you. It's perfection at its best.
5.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
This is a short book that has some really cute elements to it. To find out more about it, you can read Paula's review about it.
6.
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Summer romances can be some of the most appealing stories to read about, and Fixing Delilah has an amazing story that is swoonworthy. Definitely worth a read.
7.
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
I would like to think about this book as young love. Everything is so innocent and sweet in this book that you can't help but smile whenever the love interests interact. It's a book that will go perfect with a light and fun mood.
8.
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
I read this book quite a while ago, so I don't remember all that much about it. But I do remember thoroughly enjoying its hilarity and I loved reading about all the awkward situations Audrey was put in. Definitely a funny, light read.
9.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
I find that Sarah Dessen novels in general are pretty light and fluffy. I am sure many people can argue against that, but when I personally read Sarah Dessen novels, I'm already assured that everything's going to end up okay and that the boy will get the girl and the girl will solve her issues and yaddiyaddiya. Therefore, it makes most of her novels pretty light reads for me. Also, I really enjoyed this book in particular.
10.
The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants by Anne Brashares
Kay, I know parts of this series might not have been entirely light and fluffy, but overall, I think The Sisterhood series was a really fun, engaging, mostly fluffy, read about girls and friendships and first loves etc.
Thursday 2 May 2013
Author: Morgan Matson
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.
Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.
As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.
Review: I honestly don't know where to begin this review. This book has been sitting on my nightstand for countless days, and I am very ashamed that it took me this long to finish it. I knew that Morgan Matson was a phenomenal writer the second that I finished Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. That book is one of my all time favourite stories, and I was afraid that this one wouldn't live up to Amy standards. Though I can't say that I liked this one better than Matson's debut, Second Chance Summer is definitely a book that you do not want to miss out on.
After finding out that her father has stage IV pancreatic cancer, Taylor Edwards and her family decide to visit a summer lakehouse that they have not visited in 5 years. This turns out to be Taylor's least favourite idea when she realizes that her former friend and boyfriend are still living in town. When I first started this novel, it seemed really slow. I couldn't really get into the rhythm of the writing, and everything seemed to drag on a bit too long. However, once I got past the first 50 pages, things started to become more interesting.
At the first glance, this book looks big boned. And it is. But knowing that this book revolves around cancer worried me because I felt that it would be too heartbreaking, too painful, too sad. It was much to my surprise though that Matson does a wonderful job of incorporating not only the family relationship of Taylor's story, but her other relationships too. Reading about Taylor's friend and boy issues really helped lighten this novel and make it a lot easier to read.
Like I said before, I initially thought that this book mainly revolves around cancer. But it's way more than just that. It's about second chances. With friends, with love, and with family. It was hard to read about Taylor finally strengthening her relationship with her father just as it was going to be broken forever. I cried for the last 50 pages of the novel, and when I finished the book, the first thing I did was go tell my dad that I loved him.
If you're considering reading this book, don't make the mistake I did and wait any longer. Morgan Matson's incredible ability to create a cast of unforgettable characters and beautiful descriptions of scenery make this a must read. Pick this one up as soon as you can!
Happy reading!
~SARINA
Wednesday 1 May 2013
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that features upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Release Date: July 16, 2013
MTV Books, 288 pages
From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.
Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.
Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…
Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.
Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…
-Summary taken from Goodreads
The fact that this is a Jennifer Echols novel puts this on my auto-buy list. This woman knows how to write about relationships. The amount of times I swoon when I read her novels is kind of embarrassing... But you know what? I don't care because her work is worth the shame!
What books are you guys waiting on?
~SARINA
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