Release Date: August 1st 2013
Published By: Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 320
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston’s elite, she’s hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn’t count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer…

Review: Ren Kingston has her future planned - she will spend the summer as a nanny on the island of Nantucket, and when she isn’t looking after 2 young children, she will spend her time reading and blogging, and then she will return to England to become a music journalist. And her future certainly does not include any boys.

Ren however doesn’t plan on becoming mixed up with some of the holidaying rich kids, meeting the local bad boy, of falling for anyone - but life takes an expected turn when all of this happens… but more so when she becomes the target of a killer who has a liking for foreign nannies. Will Ren survive so she can live a life that she never planned for?

The mystery in The Sound was very well written. I was suspicious of most characters in this book at one point or another, and while I felt that Sarah didn’t purposefully steer you in the wrong direction (which sometimes can make it completely obvious to go in the other direction), she gave you enough to become suspicious of characters but not enough to grab hold of that suspicion and find it predictable.

I found Ren to be highly entertaining female read. She is sassy, determined and although she may be led astray for a little while, I felt she was generally true to herself. Ren’s inner-dialogue and feelings were amusing and realistic regarding many aspects of her life, including her breakup with her boyfriend, and her feelings that are provoked by meeting Jeremy (rich prat type who is also gentlemanly sweet), as well as Jesse (the mysterious bad boy type). Although there is no “insta-love”, a relationship develops between Ren and Jeremy… but there is something about Jesse that she just cannot overlook.

Along with Jeremy, you get to meet other “rich kids”, Parker, Tyler, Sophie, Summer, Paige and Jeremy’s siblings Matt and Eliza. This group of spoilt teenagers have been spending summers in Nantucket all their life, but they seem to be accept Ren into their little group - but is there more to this than being “friendly”?

Jesse on the other hand is on the outer. He is a local, he isn’t rich, and he put Tyler in hospital by brutally beating him. Needless to say, tension between Ren’s new friends run high. Jesse is angry, brooding and guarded but yet he shows sides to him that vulnerable, loyal and sweet. He is also sarcastic and sexy - that just has to be mentioned. The flirting, banter and sarcasm between Ren and Jesse brings such much needed lightness to the ongoing conflicts throughout this story. Oh, and the chemistry between them is amazing!

There are lots of varying types of characters throughout The Sound, some likeable, others utterly detestable. As drama starts and little pieces of information start to unfold, Ren realises that there may be more to her new friends, and to Jesse. Ren is determined to get to the bottom of their secrets, but will revealing the truth put her friendships, or her life, at risk?

Once again, I found Sarah Alderson’s writing to be entertaining and enthralling. Sarah has a great ability to create humour and lightness along with tension and darkness - and that talent is highlighted in this contemporary YA. One of my favourite things about The Sound is that Sarah has incorporated some funny dialogue regarding some cliché/stereotypical YA situations. You know, those things that make you roll your eyes, cringe or even laughed out loud at a protagonist, male lead, or the love story? Well, it seems that Sarah feels the same about those things, and brings these issues up in a very comical way!

A special shout-out also has to go to the character of Brodie - the 4 year old that Ren looks after - this little girl is hysterical! The thought of some of these things coming out of the mouth of a little girl is that entertaining combination of mortification and laugh out loud.

All the “action” was at the very end of this book. And while that sometimes falls flat, I felt that it really worked here. The love story of this book took centre stage, characters kept you entertained (or repulsed) and you get to unravel many secrets while it slowly builds up to the dangerous and possibly deadly ending.

Quotes:

“I refuse to be a cliche. I refuse, point blank, to fall for the hot moody guy with anger issues. Is my name Bella Swan? Am I the protagonist of every paranormal romance lining the shelves of Waterstones? No. I am not.”

“I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Don’t try to take me on with sarcasm. I am the queen of it. I’ve studied it, perfected it. I come from a land where we own sarcasm and the use of it. There is nothing you can teach me about sarcasm.’

“Also I kind of want to see what he looks like, because, frankly, his back is begging the question – what the hell does his front look like?”

“I can’t think about anything but kissing you… about being with you…”

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what I have been up to for the past week! W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading?

Melissa - I am over half way through No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale which is a 2014 release. SO good - this book is written with my exact sense of humour (dripping in dark humour and sarcasm), and so I am really loving this so far. Have legitimately laughed out loud at times reading this + Batman references = win, especially for a book with content about murders! The review of this will be posted closer to the release date so keep your eyes peeled.

Kristy - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (finally)

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - I recently finished reading All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill and also Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore. Both reviews were posted this week and I really enjoyed them both!

Kristy - The Sound by Sarah Alderson

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Next is Hate Is Such A Strong Word by Sarah Ayoub which has received a lot of praise, so I am keen to review this one! I also have a few upcoming November ARC’s to read but before then I’d like to read Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers.

Kristy - So many to pick from! I will probably go with Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (after finishing Throne of Glass) and I am still hoping to get to Lexicon by Max Barry.

 

What is everyone out there reading at the moment? Share your links below!

Release Date: December 1st 1995
Published By: DC Comics
Pages: 64
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: For the first time the Joker’s origin is revealed in this tale of insanity and human perseverance. Looking to prove that any man can be pushed past his breaking point and go mad, the Joker attempts to drive Commissioner Gordon insane.

After shooting and permanently paralyzing his daughter Barbara (a.k.a. Batgirl), the Joker kidnaps the commissioner and attacks his mind in hopes of breaking the man.

But refusing to give up, Gordon maintains his sanity with the help of Batman in an effort to beset the madman.

Review: The Killing Joke is probably one of my favourite Batman comics that I’ve ever read. This is the perfect comic to read if you’re new to comics in general, because this story tells us a little about the mysterious Joker.

Probably one of the most famous comics out there, The Killing Joke tells the story of how The Joker lashes out against Commissioner Jim Gordon’s daughter Barbara Gordon (also known as Batgirl for those of you playing at home), by putting a bullet in her spine, and then degrading her by taking photographs of her lying bleeding on the ground. Joker then kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and is hellbent on driving him crazy, the same way that The Joker was driven crazy when his wife and unborn baby were killed. That’s where Batman intervenes…

As a longtime fan of Batman, prior to reading The Killing Joke, I often wondered why we didn’t know much about The Joker. I mean, every other main character has their story that is pretty well known, but I never knew all that much about him. And I thought initially this was by design - that he was a man of mystery and he is what he is and not to question this. But The Killing Joke answered so many questions I had about the man he was before he was The Joker.

In this, you see a really deranged and crazy Joker - and rather than just seeing his maniacal side, you really see his evil side in this story, unrelenting and uncaring about how he treats others. The illustrations really helped to tell this story as well as it did, and I found myself really gripped.

This story has become so ingrained and integral in the DC Universe that I am seeing references to this comic through comics I am reading right now (In particular Batgirl Vol 1 and Vol 2). Definitely an important comic to read if you’re wanting to learn more about Batman!

Also worth mentioning is that under the dust jacket of the hardcover graphic novel, is the most beautiful purple foil front and back cover. It’s the little touches like this that make a big difference.

Quotes:

“So when you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, heading for the places in your past where the screaming is unbearable, remember there’s always madness. Madness is the emergency exit.”

“See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum… and one night, one night they decide they don’t like living in an asylum any more. They decide they’re going to escape! So, like, they get up onto the roof, and there, just across this narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moon light… stretching away to freedom. Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend didn’t dare make the leap. Y’see… Y’see, he’s afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea… He says ‘Hey! I have my flashlight with me! I’ll shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me!’ B-but the second guy just shakes his head. He suh-says… He says ‘Wh-what do you think I am? Crazy? You’d turn it off when I was half way across!”

“It’s all a joke! Everything anybody ever valued or struggled for… it’s all a monstrous, demented gag! So why can’t you see the funny side? Why aren’t you laughing?”

Release Date: August 1st 2013
Published By: Bloomsbury Australia
Pages: 362
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.

Review: All Our Yesterdays is so utterly compelling and unique, it’s hard to even explain what it’s all about, but here I go.

Em and Finn have been locked up now for months, held captive and tortured for some documents that Em knows the whereabouts of. Whilst she’s locked up, she finds a note that she wrote herself - from the future. And that’s where this story starts. The note says, you have to kill him, and Em knows this is the only way. Em and Finn break out of their cell and go back in time where Em knows the only way to alter the future for the better is to kill the boy she loves.

The plot was really well executed, since we’ve got some overlap happening with the past and the future and multiple characters in both tenses. So Marina (aka Em) is our narrator. The chapeters alternate between the past - Marina, and the future - Em and their perspectives - it’s amazing how Cristin Terrill was able to write such a complex story and at the same time make it so seemless. We see the future converge with the past as Em and Finn try to kill James, who she loved for so many years.

The readers gets taken on a bit of a journey with these characters. James begins by being the good guy, Marina’s love interest and we initially really want for their relationship to develop. Finn is the annoying best friend, and initially Marina and Finn hate each other. But as the story develops, and James retreats into his grief more and becomes distant from Marina, it’s Finn that steps up, and we start to see the type of person he really is. The point that I really started to love Finn was when he let James and Marina stay at his house. He has nothing to his name, and lives in conditions that Marina and James had no idea about, but he never complains about his situation. I loved how endearing his character was, and found him completely charming. I think this is the point that Marina realises that she can be judgmental and prissy at times and changes a bit herself.

Ultimately time travel stories can be really hit or miss, but All Our Yesterdays is the example of how good they can be when they’re told the right way. We start in the future, and go back to the past, and yet by the time the story is completely over, we have a very complete understanding of what has happened from start to finish (whichever way you look at it).

This is a wonderful action packed thriller. The first few chapters will reel you in and lay down the foundation of the story (regarding time travel), and once Em and Finn break out of their cells, it doesn’t stop until the end - constantly on the run, and on the attack. I dare anyone to say this book is boring and mean it.

An impressive debut novel from Cristin Terrill. I hope we get to see more from her soon.

Quotes:

“The truth is, the world is a fucked up place sometimes.”

“But progress is always dangerous, isn’t it? Most of the time, walls don’t get dismantled brick by brick. Someone has to crash through them.”

Book Trailer:

Good morning! Welcome to another week of tattoos inspired by fiction. This week Kristy has picked tattoos from the famous book and movie series Lord Of The Rings. We know that this is a series with an absolutely mammoth fan base, and therefore, lots of people have committed to getting inked. Not sure that I’d go this far with the size of some of these tatts, but I love their enthusiasm.

 

Good afternoon everyone, how’s your week been? Kristy and I had a pretty good week in books! Let’s get on with it shall we?

Stacking the Shelves is bought to you by Tynga from Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

In Mel’s Mailbox this week:

The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I received this book for review as an ARC from Netgalley, pumped as it’s had good reviews and I am a sucker for a good cover! Loving crime based YA right now. Due for release in November.

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

 

The F- It List - Julie Halpern

Another Netgalley ARC for me… love the boldness of this cover with the colours. It looks like it’s going to be a really good read. This is out in November also.

With her signature heart and humor, Julie Halpern explores a strained friendship strengthened by one girl’s battle with cancer.

Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.

But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again-Becca has cancer.

So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend-you do it.

 

In Kristy’s Mailbox this week:

The Sound - Sarah Alderson

My pre-order of this arrived this week. I enjoyed Sarah Alderson’s Hunting Lila series (unrelated to this book, besides a small crossover in Tormenting Lila), I find Sarah’s writing easy to get into, so hopefully this one will be just as good. :)

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston’s elite, she’s hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn’t count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer…

 

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) - Sarah J. Maas

I received this book from Bloomsbury, which I am excited about as I have been wanting to read Throne of Glass for some time, so I will read that soon. I have Throne of Glass on ebook, but I love the Australian covers for these books, so I will purchase the physical copy soon. :)

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt. But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king’s contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king’s bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she’s given a task that could jeopardize everything she’s come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon — forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

 

All Our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill

I also received this book from Bloomsbury- which I am super excited about. However I will not be posting this review on the website, as Melissa is currently reading and will be posting a review soon. My review will be posted on Goodreads if you are interested in seeing my thoughts on this book.

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.

 

That is all from us this week, what did you receive in your mailboxes? Let me know - leave your links in the comments section below!

 

It’s Feral Friday! And we here at Book Nerd Reviews thought we would discuss a topic that really sends us feral.

This week, we’re talking about when publishers change the covers on books we love mid-series:

Kristy’s say:

I could go about this for hours, but I’ll try to refrain a little, but in no way will it be short and sweet. Nothing bugs me more than cover changes half way through a series!

Nothing.

I have OCD when it comes to books in a series – the covers need to match and they must be the same size. When a cover is changed mid-way (or more, or less), I have to replace my existing books to match the later books – I just cannot handle books that do not match.

Some that have done this to me are as follows:

I am also still currently waiting for the new “Slammed” series covers to be re-released so that I replace my existing books with the new covers.

And then there is the one that caused me a lot of problems - Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I have only just recently purchased Delirium and Pandemonium, even though this series is one that I have wanted to read for a long time. I just could not get these books to match… so I had to wait, and thankfully I now have the first two matching with the last one coming out in October in the format/style that I need.

I am eager to find out what will happen with is Anna and the French Kiss series. Although the Australian edition does not yet have a cover, the US ones have, and the final does not match the first two – and it doesn’t seem that they are re-releasing the first two with the covers that actually match in size/style to the third? I have my fingers crossed that the Australian version will stick with the original style covers (which I found to be quirky and appealing). Although some argue with me that this isn’t a series, as they are standalone books that link together - but whatever you want to class these as, to me, they still have to match.

This seems to be bigger problem here in Australia – when we originally get the UK or US version in store, and the Australian publishers pick it up and start publishing it. I don’t have a problem with Aussie publishers doing this (obviously I support Australian publishing) – but please keep the covers (and sizes) the same as the ones we have previously purchased.

Another reason this seems to happen is for marketing – redesigning a cover to make it more appealing (maybe to everyone, maybe to a certain audience) – and once again, this is fine – but publishers, PLEASE do this after the original covers are out! It just doesn’t seem fair to those who originally purchased these books, and therefore enabling it be become a series, to be the ones who lose out. Releases with new covers after the series has been completed works – how many covers has The Hunger Games had now, 3 or 4? But publishers – please hold off on changing covers until the end of series – I beg you!!

And then there is the drama of finding matching covers with matching sizes (or sometimes even same format such as paperback or hardcover)… It is almost enough to do my (OCD filled) head in!

Due to excessive cover changes, some people only buy US hardcovers, as this seems to happen less with them. I think it is unfortunate that the Australian industry (or other local industries in other countries) is missing out these sales – we really should support local publishers. Or, some people only buy a series once it’s completed (yes, I am guilty), but this reasoning is not one that I would generally support (but I do understand it), as it impacts sales of books - and ultimately, that puts the whole series at risk of not being published - and the ONLY thing that could be worse than covers that do not match, is an incomplete series! Customers buying locally published books, from a local bookstore and buying them before the series is complete is really the objective that all publishers should aim for - and I think less cover changes would help achieve that.

So that’s me going feral this Friday… so yes, you could say that I do like matching covers… for me, it is right up there with having oxygen to breathe :)

Melissa’s say:

Oh I hear you Kristy. This is my pet peeve when it comes to the books I buy. I, like you, am OCD and so if I buy a book in a series, the cover needs to match, and it also needs to be the same sized book. Why do publishers release 4 books in one size, and then the 5th in some random ass size? I don’t understand this? It happened to me with The Mortal Instruments series. Sure, the covers all matched, but with one book being 2 inches taller and an inch wider than the other books in the series, it sticks out like a sore thumb on my shelf. :(

I personally find this quite disheartening, and whilst some might look at me for saying this and think I am being OTT, it’s this very thing that drives me to want to buy more ebooks over physical books. Since ebooks don’t have ‘covers’ per say, it doesn’t make my OCD senses tingle so bad.

This cover dilemma has struck me with the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver (check out the pic above) NONE of my covers match the other. I bought the very first edition of Delirium with the plain blue cover. Then Pandemonium with the cover of the girls face up close. And then Requiem with the blue cover that completely mismatches the others. OMG. Absolute tragedy. I am going to try and find a new home for these books once I have finished Requiem and then consider repurchasing.

Which brings me to the next point… is this something publishers are doing intentionally so we are purchasing the same book multiple times? Call me cynical, but one would think that Kristy and I aren’t the only ones out there that are OCD like this. I would think fans of certain series wouldn’t think twice about repurchasing with new covers just to collect them too. I wonder…

Publishers… we love you. We really do. We buy the books you put out and come back for more all the time. But consider the readers who love to collect these books and love their shelves to be pretty and match.

 

We would really love your opinion on this topic - how do you feel when covers change mid series? Please let us know in your comments below!

Release Date: July 30th 2013
Published By: Harlequin Teen Australia
Pages: 384
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back
Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future…and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT

Review: Thank you HarlequinTeen Australia for the copy of Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Indelible starts in a contemporary setting, but quickly you are thrown into a dark, mysterious world where monsters are real, honour is worth everything, and sometimes reality is far scarier than you could have ever imagined - welcome to the Twixt.

Joy Malone goes out for a night of dancing with her best friend, trying forget her family troubles, and while dancing her troubles away she catches the eye of a mysterious boy. What Joy doesn’t realise is that she should be able to see him, or his sister, as they are from the Twixt, and humans cannot see them unless they have the Sight. This mysterious boy realises that Joy has the Sight so he tries to blind her … However, instead, he accidentally places his signatura on her - she is now marked, she belongs to him… And once marked, it cannot be undone.

Ink is a Scribe, created specifically for the task of placing signaturae upon humans. And now he has marked Joy as his lehman, his love, his slave. Now Joy finds herself in a nightmare of monsters who want to use her to get to Ink and Joy must convince everyone that she is Ink’s chosen one to save them both - but as she is thrust into this strange, scary and deadly world, Joy discovers that sometimes there are no mistakes - and that she may have a bigger role to play in the Twixt.

Indelible is unique and captivating and it is a fantastic start to a promising series. It is dark, filled with hideous creatures and does not shy away from some terrifying moments. I loved the originality of the Scribes and the signaturae in this story, along with the descriptions of the process - there was an element of beauty to the descriptions, so vivid you imagine the swirling lines as they were being applied. The wonderful descriptions also extend to the varied and interesting Twixt characters throughout the story - some were quite frightening, and some were quite engaging - all described so that you imagine their almost human like features, or the rows of deadly teeth, or a massive toad like creature.

Joy was put through a lot in this story, however, she was never the damsel in distress. While yes, she did need to be rescued at times, she stood her own as much as she could, and she did not walk away unscathed. At times, I did find her whiny and annoying as she carries a lot of emotional baggage from her family issues, and this spills over into her relationships with her family and friends (sometimes resulting in childish behaviour). But when she is thrown into a world she never knew existed, and other people cannot see, she rolls with it, but she is still very cautious about this new and strange world. She is horrified by some of its nightmarish creatures but yet equally curious and amazed (especially things regarding Ink).

When you first meet Ink he seems blunt, completely oblivious, and incapable of emotion - and the reason for that is - he is. Ink was made, not born, and does not know how to be human. He has always distanced himself from emotions, and humans in general, learning what little he knows from his sister Inq - who has a fondness for humans. Ink is adorable in his vulnerability and innocence as he slowly discovers his humanity - finding something he did not realise he was missing. The slow transformation in Ink was endearing and there were many sweet moments between Ink and Joy. And Joy found something she needed as well - something to ask for.

There were some parts of this story that where a little confusing. It does take a while to understand who and what Ink is, and how that works. The mythological creatures in this book are not actually labelled, and in fact it is even discussed in the book when Joy is trying to work out “what” Ink is. The question is not answered as such, but due to complexity of the world, and the various powers the different characters, the “politics” that seem to be involved in Twixt and their varying physical descriptions, it seems that you are in the world that can only be fae (faeries).

Although parts of the Twixt are a little confusing… all of this is a part of building the world. It leaves some intrigue along the way rather than spelling everything out for the reader and some parts are complex, but I loved the intricate, original world that is the Twixt.

And on a side note; as much as I love the Australian cover for Indelible (and I do - I love anything purple), I do prefer the US cover. The US cover is not only extremely appealing, but it has a lot of relevance to the storyline. But regardless of which cover you have access too, I recommend you pick it up :)

Quotes:

“The whole night was awkward—impossible and frightening and beautiful and strange. The moment sputtered and sparked with unsaid things.”

“It had been an innocent question! But lately innocent questions had had unexpected answers and caused all sorts of trouble.”

“No Stupid”

Book Trailer:

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what I have been up to for the past week! W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading?

Melissa - I am juggling two reads at the moment, All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill and also No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale. Both are amazing reads, I am really enjoying them! All Our Yesterdays should be done by tomorrow and hopefully I’ll have a review to come by then. And No One Else Can Have You is a 2014 release so this review won’t be up for a while, but it’s so quirky and the dark humour in it is incredible.

Kristy - The Sound by Sarah Alderson

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - Panic by Lauren Oliver. This is a 2014 release though and so the review won’t be up until closer to the release. But I really enjoyed this read and I can’t wait to tell you more about it!

Kristy - Indelible by Dawn Metcalf and Perfect Lies by Kiersten White (sorry, this review won’t be posted for a while due to the 2014 release date)

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Not even sure! haha I am thinking of going back to read a book I’ve had on my TBR for a while and this is Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers or maybe one of the books I’ve had on my shelf for a while now… could be a surprise read!

Kristy - I am really stuck on this one actually - I have so many on my TBR pile. But I might go for something different and go with Lexicon by Max Barry

 

What is everyone out there reading at the moment? Share your links below!

Release Date: June 25th 2013
Published By: Harlequin Teen Australia
Pages: 326
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Synopsis: On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they’ll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Review: Thank you HarlequinTeen Australia for the copy of Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink starts with Katie Greene already living in Japan with her Aunty after the death of her mother, and although she is not well- acquainted to Japanese customs, or the language, she is going to school and doing the best she can.

At school, after an incident which proves she is not accustomed to the Japanese culture, she finds herself hiding in a room listening to the schools Kendo (Japanese martial art) star, Tomohiro, breakup with his girlfriend. During this awkward situation, she sees a drawing of Tomohiro’s - and it starts moving.

Although he warns Katie to stay away, Katie cannot ignore the fact that she knows that Tomohiro is hiding something, and that even though it sounds crazy, she knows his drawings move. Determined to learn the truth, Katie will not give up, and she learns that Tomohiro’s ability is connected to the ancient gods of Japan, Kami, but she cannot understand why his abilities get out of control when he is near her - a fact that puts both of them in danger in more ways than one. All Katie has wanted since moving to Japan is to move to Canada with her grandparents - but will she survive to make it back home?

Whilst Ink does have a typical YA plot of “ordinary girl meets boy who has paranormal/mythical power, and girl turns out to be not-so-ordinary” storyline, the setting is truly original. Set in Japan, and around Japanese Shinto mythology, the author brings something unique to what could have been a cliché storyline. The descriptions of Japan are breath-taking, each description vivid enough that you actually imagine cherry-blossoms floating around you. The vivid descriptions of the customs, food, language, kendo, scenery, illustrations, even the ink, were amazing. My favourite part of this book is definitely Amanda’s incredible ability to capture the essence of Japan, and its culture, on paper.

This book is distinctive in more ways than one - being based Japanese mythology and being set in Japan, but also the book itself. Throughout the story, there are illustrations (based on Tomohiro’s drawings) which are gorgeous. Adding to this is the fact that every chapter has cherry-blossom ink illustrations (similar to the cover) and in certain chapters, there is a little image on the right hand page that you can flick through so it looks like an animation. It is such a pretty book! I also really liked the fact that Japanese language is incorporated throughout the story (not so much the traditional writing), but it is written in a way that people who aren’t fluent in Japanese understand what was being said (and there is also a glossary at the back if needed).

I see great potential for this series - although I also see that it might not live up to my expectations. A lot of mixed reviews already exist for Ink, I am just hoping that the series continues to be one that I enjoy. The characters (and their relationships) do need development - including Katie and Tomohiro, as they both at times come across bland or cliché. I found Katie to be okay at the beginning, I enjoyed the journey of her feeling totally lost and being thrown into an unknown culture, but as soon as Tomohiro really came into it, she was very much like Bella throwing herself at Edward (and she turned a little stalkerish). But, I feel that the characters (mainly Katie) could be redeemed in the next book - I haven’t lost all hope for her yet. And yes, it is somewhat “insta-love” in this book, but if you are willing to overlook that, the storyline is quite interesting, and the setting is amazing.

Also, after reading this book, I recommend reading Shadow (Paper Gods #0.5). You learn a lot more about about Tomohiro in this novella, and you get to see more of the Katie that I liked. And whilst it doesn’t answer any questions (it actually raises some more), it is a really good prequel.

Quotes:

“My heart was glass - easy to see through, simple to break.”

“How do you win when you’re up against yourself?”

“They tell you you’ll forget how it used to be. You’ll get used to it, that it’s better to move on. They don’t realize you can’t. You’re not the same person anymore.”

“It was my life and my choice”

“It’s worth my life, but it isn’t worth yours”

Good evening readers, hope you’re doing well! Welcome to another week of tattoos inspired by fiction. This week I picked one of my all time favourite authors John Green, and since he has such a big fan base I know there’s a lot of people that have gone out to get ink based on his novels. The Fault In Our Stars is my favourite John Green book, and with so many quotables, I found these:

Good evening everyone, I hope you’ve all had a really good week! I had a pretty quiet week with books this week but I did receive an ARC from Netgalley, and I know Kristy received a few ARC’s this week so let’s get on with it shall we?

Stacking the Shelves is bought to you by Tynga from Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

In Mel’s Mailbox this week:

Countdown - Michelle Rowen

I received this book for review as an ARC from Netgalley, and I am really excited about this one, the storyline sounds like a goodie!

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family’s murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira’s psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan’s secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira’s only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can’t escape.

GAME OVER.

 

In Kristy’s Mailbox this week:

The Beautiful And The Damned - Jessica Verday

I received this book for review as an ARC from Edelweiss. I am really looking forward to this spin-off of The Hollow series (which I really enjoyed). I have also been waiting for Jessica Verday to release something since the withdrawal from the infamous ‘Wicked Pretty Things: 13 Dark Faerie Romances’ anthology (the anthology was later cancelled by the publisher). I hold a lot of respect for Jessica making a stand (and the other authors who also pulled out of this anthology in support of Jessica and her beliefs).

Cyn and Avian are far from a perfect match. She’s a witch who casts spells on men so she can steal their cars. He spends his time being judge, jury, and executioner to the truly evil in the supernatural realm.

When the blackouts Cyn’s been having ever since her time in Sleepy Hollow start escalating, she finds herself unable to remember where she’s been or what she’s been doing. Frightened, she seeks guidance at a local church, and it’s there she meets Avian.

The unlikely pair soon discovers that her blackouts are a side effect of what she truly is—an Echo—a conduit for souls of the dead. The only way to prevent Cyn from losing complete control is to return to Sleepy Hollow and vanquish the source of her power—but she may not survive the process. And if she does? She won’t ever be the same…

 

White Space (Dark Passages #1) - Ilsa J. Bick

I also got this ARC from Edelweiss. A book about a girl who jumps between the lines of book - I can’t wait to read this one!

Ilsa Bick’s WHITE SPACE, pitched as The Matrix meets Inkheart, about a seventeen-year-old girl who jumps between the lines of books and into the white space where realities are created and destroyed – but who may herself be nothing more than a character written into being from an alternative universe, to Greg Ferguson at Egmont, in a two-book deal, by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (NA)

 

 

The Shadow Prince (Into the Dark #1) - Bree Despain

This ARC came from Edelweiss as well.

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

 

That is all from us this week, what did you receive in your mailboxes? Let me know - leave your links in the comments section below!

 

Release Date: August 1st
Published By: Harlequin Teen Australia
Pages: 272
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Synopsis: Alyssa has one week to destroy her enemy, save her spirit… and save her soul.

After her ex-boyfriend commits suicide and her mum’s alcoholism sparks yet another psychotic episode, seventeen-year-old Alyssa Wood flees her small hometown of Broadwater and heads to New York City to stay with her bohemian aunt — a Wicca High Priestess.

Alyssa revels in the anonymity of a big city and her new life. Her grades climb, she has a new best friend, and a new guy: the sexy geek Ronan — a saxophone player who prefers jazz to pop.

But her newfound peace is soon shattered when she sees a dead body in one of Ronan’s music clips — and she’s the only one who can see it. Worse still, Alyssa recognises the body that has been murdered a week forward!

Alyssa doesn’t believe in the supernatural…despite her family’s Wicca background. So how will she overcome evil when it’s closer than she thinks?

Review: Thank you HarlequinTeen Australia for the copy of Banish by Nicola Marsh.

Banish is a wonderful mix of genres - YA, romance, mystery and thriller - and being Nicola Marsh’s first YA book (she has published many other novels), I have to say that I was extremely impressed with her ability to write YA characters, and her ability to understand the teenage mind - their thought process, their actions and reactions.

Banish follows Alyssa, who has recently moved to New York to live with her Aunty after her own mother’s alcoholism becomes too much to handle, and her ex-boyfriend committed suicide. Alyssa loves her life in New York - nobody knows her, she seems to be able to avoid the strong Wicca connections in her family even though her Aunty is a Wicca High priestess, and she has started dating the older, sexy saxophone player, Ronan. Everything is going great in Alyssa’s new life, until Ronan sends her a music clip and she sees a dead body in the clip - a dead body that no one else can see.

Alyssa needs to figure out why she is seeing dead people in her boyfriend’s music clip, so she sets out on a frightening adventure to find the truth. As she starts to uncover the dark truth, she learns that sometimes you trust the wrong people, don’t trust in the right ones and she may just have to accept a destiny that she never wanted. - that is, if she survives.

Banish is a unique concept in YA by incorporating a couple of different paranormal aspects into this book, as well the mystery and thriller aspects. The thriller aspects to this book will keep you on the edge of your seat; it is chilling and disturbing (in a good way).

The protagonist, Alyssa, is blunt, impulsive, socially awkward and sometimes even selfish. I loved the realism in the characters and their actions, and especially loved the sarcasm in Banish. What you would expect a character to say in a certain situation, was said… and sometimes, even when things may not have been said, Alyssa tended to say them anyway.

I liked the fact that this book was set over the period of 1 week, as it didn’t feel like it was dragging out. The relationships in this book were also were on “track” for the period that the characters had known each other (ieAlyssa and Ronan knew each other before the beginning of Banish) and things didn’t seem to move too fast, which is something that YA books can suffer from. Although, I have to say, that Ronan did seem a little too perfect.

Although I found the “bad guy” aspect a little predictable, but there was lots of intrigue in Banish to keep me interested - I may have thought I knew the “who” but I could not work out the “why”, so that kept it very interesting. The thriller aspect of this book is fantastic, especially considering it is YA - it is dark, creepy and very well done. There is definitely some spine-chilling moments in this book J

The one thing that I didn’t like about Banish was there was something towards the end of the book that bugged me - I won’t say exactly what it is as I don’t want it to affect anyone else, but I will say it was just one word. I understand why Nicola went down this track, but for me, it was a little distracting (if something bugs me, it sticks in my head no matter how much I try to forget it). This one little thing, caused me confusion in an already confusing situation - and that was the purpose of it - but my head would not let it go, and unfortunately, it affected my reading enjoyment. I hope this does not happen to anyone else - as without that, this would have been a solid 4 star book for me.

Quotes:

Easy for him to say. He hadn’t seen his mom dance naked in the moonlight on Samhain.

“Are mundanes like Muggles?”

His lips touched mine and my world lurched. I strained towards him, my hands clinging to his shoulders, desperate for an anchor. His lips were firm and warm and skilful. Either he’d done this a lot or playing the sax was a prerequisite for seriously hot making out.

I’d built up an entire cosy scenario in my head that was now clouded by distrust and suspicion and compunction.

“You could try talking to me rather than throwing a temper tantrum.”

I liked having him cuddle me from behind; it felt safe, like he had my back and…
“Oh my god, is that a boner?” I wrenched free of his embrace and turned around in time to see his sheepish shrug.
“I’m a guy. You were rubbing against me. Do the math.”

Good morning everyone! Are you all looking forward to the August releases as much as I am? Some epic releases coming out this month. You can win any one of these books in our August giveaway this month too, so be sure to enter to be in the running to win any one of these amazing books!

August 1st

All Our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.

 

The Boy on the Bridge - Natalie Standiford

Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei, and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia-a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she’s been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?

As June approaches-when Laura must return to the United States-Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She’s only nineteen and doesn’t think she’s ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn’t she take it?

 

The Sound - Sarah Alderson

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston’s elite, she’s hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn’t count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer…

 

 

August 12th

Her Ladyship’s Curse (Disenchanted & Co. #1) - Lynn Viehl

In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.
7
Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

August 13th

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock - Matthew Quick

In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I’m sorry I couldn’t be more than I was—that I couldn’t stick around—and that what’s going to happen today isn’t their fault.

Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school’s class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

August 15th

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between #1) - April Genevieve Tucholke

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

 

Demonosity - Amanda Ashby

An ancient myth + a mean girl + a reluctant warrior = a lively take on good vs. evil

The Black Rose-a powerful ancient force-has been let loose and has taken up residence in Celeste Gibson, popular girl at Cassidy Carter-Lewis’ high school. Thomas Delacroix is the spirit of a fourteenth-century knight who is devoted to protecting the Black Rose, but he needs a contemporary living being to take on the challenge. That’s where Cassidy comes in. She’s a quirky high school junior who just wants to dress in her vintage clothes, hang out with her best friend, and take care of her father, who is recovering from surgery. She’s the last person who would ever volunteer for such a task, but no one actually asked her. Now, like it or not, she finds herself training before dawn and battling demons at parties, the mall, and even at school. But hey, no one ever said high school was going to be easy.

August 20th

The Infinite Moment of Us - Lauren Myracle

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now… not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.

And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them…

August 27th

Taste Test - Kelly Fiore

If you can grill it, smoke it, or fry it, Nora Henderson knows all about it. She’s been basting baby back ribs and pulling pork at her father’s barbeque joint since she was tall enough to reach the counter. When she’s accepted to Taste Test, a reality-television teen cooking competition, Nora can’t wait to leave her humble hometown behind, even if it means saying good-bye to her dad and her best friend, Billy. Once she’s on set, run-ins with her high-society roommate and the maddeningly handsome—not to mention talented—son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, mean Nora must work even harder to prove herself. But as mysterious accidents plague the kitchen arena, protecting her heart from one annoyingly charming fellow contestant in particular becomes the least of her concerns. Someone is conducting real-life eliminations, and if Nora doesn’t figure out who, she could be next to get chopped for good.

 

Perdition (Dred Chronicles #1) - Ann Aguirre

WELCOME TO HELL

The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate’s most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid.

Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona “Dred” Devos controls one of Perdition’s six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance, as well as a steady influx of new recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a constant battle, and death is the only escape.

Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred’s attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal o
nboard. His combat skill could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn’t betray her first. Unfortunately, that’s what he does best. Winning Jael’s allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death…

 

Just Like Fate - Cat Patrick

Caroline is at a crossroads. Her grandmother is sick, maybe dying. Like the rest of her family, Caroline’s been at Gram’s bedside since her stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape-both her family and the reality of Gram’s failing health. So when Caroline’s best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: stay by Gram’s side, or go to the party and live her life.

The consequence of this one decision will split Caroline’s fate into two separate paths-and she’s about to live them both.

Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all-new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships, and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she’s ever wanted.

Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending…

 

Two Boys Kissing - David Levithan

New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

This follow-up to the bestselling Every Day showcases David’s trademark sharp-witted, warm-hearted tales of teenage love, and serves as a perfect thematic bookend to David’s YA debut and breakthrough, Boy Meets Boy, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013.