Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend.

Well it seems that things are moving along behind the scenes even if everything seems to be in an frozen state otherwise. There was so much news revealed in the last week or so that no matter what your interest there was bound to be something that caught your attention.

BOOKS

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (goodreads)

Pretty much anyone who has read the Twilight series has been waiting for the release of Midnight Sun. Most of us had given up hope that we would ever get to see if published. Stephenie surprise dropped the news that not only was being released, but it was being released this summer. It comes out in August which feels both so far away and very soon.

The cover was released and sort of wish they had gone with an apple that had a bite taken out of it.

I will have this pre-ordered and will eagerly await its arrival at my door. I cannot wait to read it.

Book News From Courtney Summers (goodreads)

Courtney has a new book coming out and if you watch the video in the below tweet you'll get all the details that we currently have about it.

THE NEWS: my next novel is so relentless and so compelling, @WednesdayBooks and I can only reveal it in pieces at a time and we're thrilled to share these with you today: title and release date.
Push play and stay to the end.
Just stay.
And welcome to . . . pic.twitter.com/8hQ5OjDQEq

— courtney summers news (@courtney_s) May 4, 2020

It's called The Project and that teaser is both intriguing and terrifying. It's pretty much what we have come to expect from Courtney.

Cover of Stephanie Perkins' The Wood Are Always Watching (goodreads)

Some details of Stephanie Perkins next horror novel have been released. We have a title and a cover.

We also know that it takes place in the woods and involves a serial killer. I have heard it is even more of a horror novel that her first one was so that is exciting for horror fans.

Cover for A Better Bad Idea by Laurie Devore (goodreads)

Laurie's books are always  ones I eagerly anticipate. If you are a Courtney Summers fan you need to check out Laurie's books. Her next one sounds really intriguing and I love the cover.

This one comes out in March 2021 so if you haven't read her other books previously you can read them while you wait.

TV/MOVIES

I'll Be Gone In The Dark trailer

All of us Murderinos devoured Michelle McNamara's books when it was released and followed all of the news of the eventual arrest of the Golden State Killer. There is now going to be a documentary released. It is releasing in June so it'll be perfect for everyone to watch while we're still social distancing.

There are, obviously, so many people Murderinos will recognize in this trailer. It's such a great trailer too! I got goosebumps.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Waiting On Wednesday .... Midnight Sun

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella’s side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward’s version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward’s eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting beautiful, mysterious Bella is both the most intriguing and unnerving event he has experienced in his long life as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward’s past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he let himself fall in love with Bella when he knows that he is endangering her life?

In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and, drawing on the classic myth of Hades and Persephone, brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.

Every single Twilight fan lost their collective minds today when it was announced that Midnight Sun would finally be releasing! Not only did Stephenie surprise drop this announcement but the book is only a few months away!

I don't really have to say much because even if you haven't read the Twilight books you've certainly heard about them before. This is going to be one of the books of summer and I predict, if we are allowed to go, this will be what many people are reading at the beach.

Expected release date - August 4, 2020

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
Release Date -  November 8, 2016

Publisher Website - Hachette/Little Brown
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 518 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn’t even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now, she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They’ve killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.

When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it’s her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.

Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

In this tautly plotted novel, Stephenie Meyer creates a fierce and fascinating new heroine with a very specialized skill set. And she shows once again why she’s one of the world’s bestselling authors. 

when I heard that Stephenie Meyer was writing another adult novel I was immediately intrigued. I particularly enjoyed The Host and thought that she had written a rather good sci-fi novel. The Chemist is Stephenie's foray into writing a spy thriller. It's as addictive as you would expect, probably filled with more romance than you anticipate, and introduces to an intriguing woman in her main character.

Stephenie Meyer's writing has this addictive quality. It is compulsively readable and immediately pushes you into the story. The Chemist is no exception. Fans of her previous works will immediately recognize her trademark style and fall under this novel's spell. This element is, in part, what makes her books so popular. Her writing makes it impossible to not keep reading. It's a very commercial style of writing and that translates into a wider audience.

Alex goes by many names in this novel, but Alex is the one she uses the longest. She sheds names and disguises like a second skin and effortlessly molds into her new role. This character is unique for me because I haven't read a novel of this genre with a female lead. Alex has made me ache for more female centric spy stories. Alex has her own morality and she is not against inflicting pain on people she feels deserve it to get answers. She is also unafraid to kill someone if it means saving herself. I wish we had a little more time dissecting what makes her tick, but her character remained a mystery throughout most of the book.

Alex has a very specific skill set. She can bring even the largest men to their knees simply by injecting him with her carefully crafted creations. She may not be the strongest, or largest but she is smart. She holds her own not with strength but with her brains and the chemicals she uses to inflict pain and death. She's good at her job as someone who tortures people for intel simply because she can inflict pain with the push of the plunger on a syringe. She stays alive by outmaneuvering those who wish to harm her. It made her a little more relatable. She's not 'James Bond' or 'Black Widow' by any means, but she is believable as as 'spy' in her own right. It felt like Stephenie wanted to make her and her skills has realistic as possible. She may not be the best 'spy' and is even seen using other spy novels as research, but this felt true for who the character is.

As a spy thriller it sort of works. The element of what caused Alex to be on the run, and the life she lives now is the mystery that drives force the story. It is not, however, as action packed as some people would  hope. There are a few high octane scenes and a few genuine pulse pounding moments to be found, but this is mostly a character driven story, and a romance.

The romance is the highlight of this novel, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with Stephenie Meyer's work. I don't want to give too much away about the romance, but it really is a large part of Alex's story. Her letting people in again, and learning to trust is a large part of the journey she takes and I fell for the romance completely (even if the romantic interest was a little too perfect and too forgiving at times).

Those looking for a taunt spy thriller may be disappointed, but those looking for an action filled love story will be satisfied. Fans of Stephenie Meyer's previous works will fall under this book's spell and it will make them eager for her return to young adult literature. 

Waiting On Wednesday .... The Chemist

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn't even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now, she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They've killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.

When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it's her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.

Resolving to meet the threat head on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life, but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

In this tautly plotted novel, Meyer creates a fierce and fascinating new heroine with a very specialized skill set. And she shows once again why she's one of the world's bestselling authors.

Twilight was a bit part of what made me fall in love with YA novels. I also enjoyed The Host when it was released. I was excited to learn that Stephenie was releasing an adult thriller and that it was coming THIS November. I am excited to read it and hope she eventually releases another YA series.

Expected release date - November 15, 2016

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

My computer decided to stop working last week so this blog was a little disjointed. It is in the process of being fixed and everything should be back to normal next week. In the meantime, please bare with me while I attempt to keep the blog as on track as possible.

With that, here are my Weekly Obsessions!

BOOK

Midnight At The Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson (goodreads)

Jodi Lynn Anderson is one of my all time favourite authors. I fell in love with her writing in Tiger Lily and have eagerly devoured everything she's written since. Not much is known about this new book other than its brief teaser synopsis ...

Featuring three women from three different eras in history who are connected by their past.

I wonder if the Electric is a nightclub or something. I cannot wait to find out! This one is high on my spring/summer wishlist and I am eagerly looking forward to a cover.

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer (goodreads)

I am not even going to pretend I wasn't excited to see the announcement that Stephenie Meyer had a new book releasing this fall. I was surprised, however, to hear it was an adult novel. I enjoyed The Host quite a bit and am curious to see what she'll do with a thriller.

While I was she was writing a new YA I will happily check this out once it is released. Anyone else as surprised as I was by the announcement? I love when authors are able to stealthily prepare a novel for release!

The Whole Thing Together By Ann Brashares (goodreads)

I am a huge Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants fan. I am dying for them to make the last book into a movie. It should come as no surprise that I was excited when I saw that Ann Brashares has a new book releasing in 2017. It has a very summer vibe so the fact that it is releasing in April makes it a good summer read.

It sounds like this has the potential to be heartbreaking (and anyone who read the Sisterhood books knows exactly what I am talking about) and I am going to keep that in mind and maybe not read it in public due to the high probability of crying.

What are you obsessed with this week?