Waiting On Wednesday ..... Windfall

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 Windfall by Jennifer E Smith

Here is the Goodreads synopsis 

Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes. 

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall. 

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined . . . and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect. 

Jennifer E Smith's book are always super cute and this one sounds like no exception. I am super curious about the 'instant rich' premise and how it impacts their budding romance.

The May 2nd release date is not that far off, but I still cannot wait to get my hands on this one!

Expected release date - May 2nd, 2017

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E Smith

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between  by Jennifer E Smith
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Hachette/Poppy
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 256 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

There is a saying that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. Jennifer E Smith's books always flirt with the idea of fate, chance, and how they apply to both romance, and the decisions we make. Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between celebrates the decisions life throws at us, and the unexpected realizations those decisions can lead us to. While this was not my favourite of Jennifer's novels, it is a fantastic addition to her collected works.

This novel is steeped in nostalgia. At least for me, someone removed from the experience of saying goodbye when leaving  for college. There is this perfect storm of excitement, terror, giddiness, sadness, and possibility. You are crushed to leave behind your friends, the familiar routines, places you love, and your family. You're saying goodbye to everything, all that comes along with it. There is even a pang of knowledge that you'll miss your bedroom and that things will be entirely different when you do return. Jennifer E Smith captures this complex emotional time flawlessly. It bubbles up all your fears, at the same time it leaves you dizzy with possibility. There is a bittersweetness to something that is both a beginning and an ending and that is woven into each part of this novel.

The nostalgia factor is only increased by the 'this is your life' style storytelling with a trip down memory lane of their relationship. It's the greatest hits of Clare and Aidan, both the good and the bad. Following them down this path was rewarding as a reader because it felt like we truly got to experience both them falling in love, and the history that came after. One of the shining parts of a Jennifer E Smith story is the little nuances that go into the couples she creates. She creates believable relationship quirks and inside jokes that add another layer to the story and characters and this book was no exception.

The only issue I had was a lack of connection to both the main characters and the secondary characters. All the emotions I felt were due to the feelings the novel brought out in me, rather than what the characters were experiencing. I've connected with her other characters more, and as a result I wasn't as invested in the outcome of their relationship. Their friends and family, while present, were not overly developed either. I am unsure if it was the narration style, or how the novel was paced, but I never fully invested in the story, and that did leave the experience lacking a little bit of emotional connection.

The ending is a much more realistic ending that I had anticipated. It strikes a balance between the importance of learning who you and the idea that love can conquer all. While I won't reveal the ultimate decision that Clare and Aidan come to, I will say that it was an unexpected ending, and much deeper than I thought it would be.

A romance with typical Jennifer E Smith flair. It highlights that things do not necessarily have to be all or nothing - there is a huge range of things in between. Things happen how and when they are supposed to, and that is perhaps the biggest take away from this novel. If you've loved Jennifer's previous books you'll enjoy this fun, thoughtful, romantic read. Those heading off to college, or who have gone through the experience will especially get something out of it.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

I only have 1 ebook to share this week and it's one that I purchased immediately because I love this author's previous novels, and cannot wait to see what happens next in this sequel novella.

Happy Again by Jennifer E Smith (goodreads)

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Waiting On Wednesday ......... Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between

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 Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between by Jennifer E Smith

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions. 

I've loved the previous novels that Jennifer has written and this one seems like it could be just as cute. Her books are always delightful and I am already looking forward to falling for Claire and Aiden's story.

Expected release date - September 1, 2015

The Geography Of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith

The Geography Of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith

Release Date - April 15, 2014
Publisher Website - Hachette/Little Brown
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 352 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

A life changing night. That is what happens when Lucy and Owen get trapped in an elevator together during a blackout. Something shifts in them and leaves them permanently linked. Jennifer E Smith takes what could be an outlandish, contrived plot and makes it seem not only plausible, but incredibly romantic.

There is something comforting about getting exactly what you expect out of a book. The Geography Of You and Me delivered exactly what it promises to and more. It's got the humour, heart, and beach weather appeal of Jennifer's previous novels so fans of those will devour this one. Her characterization and her ability to make you root for them is what makes her novels appeal to me, and this one was no exception.

Jennifer manages to give both Lucy and Owen their own story lines that exist outside of one another. They are each dealing with issues that send them spiraling in opposite directions. As life throws obstacles at them, Lucy and Owen struggle to remain in touch. Twists of fate, determination, and luck all weave together to create a story of how two people can come together. It's more than that, however.  It also tells the story of how they keep coming together, despite everything.

Lucy and Owen's interactions are what make the story come to life. We see them grow closer each time chance brings them together. Their situation is treated realistically, I felt, even while being adorably sweet and of the romantic comedy variety. It was refreshing to see both of them question WHY they couldn't let that one night go. They questioned what kept drawing them back. They don't claim to be in love, they just know their connection is undeniable. It's a force. Isn't that what attraction is? A force greater than yourself pulling/pushing you towards someone. It felt authentic without resorting to the insta-love that usually plagues these types of novels.

I always get wanderlust when reading books set in Europe. They make me want to go back. Sometimes it's bad, but in this case it was more of a nostalgic feeling. It was the road trip Owen is on that captured my attention. Something within his story resonated with me. I do believer that readers will, in general, have a strong urge to travel after finishing this one though. The setting, locations (even New York) shine as a backdrop to this international love story.

A cute story that left me wishing I had someone of my own to send postcards to. A sweet, charming novel that left me smiling as I turned the last page. Fans old and new will find much to enjoy about this heartwarming read.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

A few awesome sounding titles made their way into my mailbox this week. I hope The Geography of You and Me is super cute, and I hope Secrets and Lies fills in some of the stuff I wanted from the first book.

Secrets and Lies by Jacqueline Green (goodreads)

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith (goodreads)

Thank you Hachette Canada for both of these titles. I can't wait to read them.

Let me know what you got in your mailbox this week!

Happy weekend, and happy reading!

This Is What Happy Looks Like By Jennifer E Smith

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith
Release Date – April 2, 2013
Publisher Website - Hachette/Poppy
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages - 416 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**obtained for review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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? 

An email address typed incorrectly. Something so common but has the power to change everything. It ends up changing the lives of both Ellie and Graham by allowing them to meet.. The premise of the story intrigued me immediately. There is something about getting to know someone via email that can allow a different connection. People are often more willing to type something than say it face to face. In this case, a deeper connection is developed because each person can truly be themselves. Graham doesn't have to wonder if Ellie’s interested because he is famous. Ellie is free to open up without any insecurities getting in the way.

Jennifer E Smith’s writing flows nicely. I found myself reading this one rather quickly due to the pacing. I finished it in one day, and it’s mainly due to the way the novel progressed. I simply had to keep reading.

Ellie and her mother moved to small town to escape after their lives were turned upside down. Her mother wants nothing more than to leave the past where it belongs, and move forward. Due to the situation Ellie has been ingrained with the importance of avoiding the media spotlight at all cost. Falling in love with the latest Hollywood “It” boy was not part of that plan. It’s this obstacle that makes their stolen moments even sweeter. Graham wants to be out of the spotlight just as much as Ellie needs to be.

The relationship between Ellie and her mother was nice to see in a YA novel. Often the parents are missing, or not part of the story. Ellie’s mother is very much part of the story. Her experiences lead the way to obstacles, and haunt Ellie’s decisions. I liked that while it seemed Ellie and her mom were friends, it felt like a parent/child relationship as well.

Graham is not your typical Hollywood hunk. A young actor on the brink of super stardom, and every teenage girl's dream guy. Regularly on the cover of tabloid magazines, his life is open to invasion. Graham’s personality was different than I was expecting. He was much more down to earth and less “Hollywood” than I anticipated. He’s simply a young man who got discovered, caught a lucky break, and is riding that wave to what his manger hopes is the next level of fame. He’s opinionated, and I loved that he went against what his manger wanted (and was therefore expected of him).

The romance is, of course, off the charts adorable. It had me grinning, and left me with a smile long after I had finished the book. It’s a light, breezy read that is exactly what is needed after a more intense read. It leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Jennifer E Smith writes romance without it being too sweet. It’s the perfect blend of realistic mixed with the idealized version one expects in a Hollywood movie.

An excellent summer beach time read that will leave you wishing for your own accidental romance. A charming look at love, family, and what can happen if you just open yourself up to new experiences and allow fate to lead the way.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

An awesome mailbox again this week. A HUGE thank you to Hachette Canada and Raincoast Books for the incredible reads. I can not wait to start all of them.

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green (goodreads)
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith (goodreads)
Icons by Margaret Stohl (goodreads)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)
Game by Barry Lyga (goodreads)

My cat Aria kept getting in the pictures. She especially seemed to like Marissa Meyer's Scarlet (and yes, she's the cutest cat ever).

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date –  January 2, 2012
Publisher Website –  Hachette Group Canada/Poppy
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  236 pages
My Rating- 8/10
**Obtained from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Ever think that one small action, like say a missed flight, could change everything? That’s exactly what happens in this cute, smile inducing read.

This novel will really appeal to fans of contemporary novels. The writing is well paced, keeps your interest, and has you smiling one minute, and wanting to hug Hadley the next. The author manages to make the most ordinary thing, riding an airplane, interesting, romantic, and very sweet.

The characters of Hadley, and Oliver are both very likable. Hadley is this young women in pain. She’s angry at her parents for the way their relationship worked out (especially her father), she has panic attacks and would pretty rather be anywhere than in a small enclosed space. Oliver is charming, British (we all know of my attraction to British guys) and so supportive of Hadley even though they just met. He has his own flaws and issues going on, and both of them are more complex than you are expecting.

The connection between Hadley and Oliver isn’t some instant “going to love you forever” thing. It’s an instant bond though, a feeling that this person could be special to you. A feeling like you don’t want to let this one get away. I like how they get to know each other while travelling across the ocean and built a foundation in such a short time.

Hadley’s reluctance to go to her father’s wedding, and anger at her father for walking out of her life is understandable In fact, I was surprised she was not more angry at him than she was.  It’s a situation that is pretty relatable. I was angry at her father! Oliver’s story for travelling to England is a bit of a mystery and provides some moments of clarity for Hadley when we do find out.

Hadley and Oliver’s first kiss....Can I just say swoon? He grabs her as they are separating at customs in Heathrow airport and kisses her. A kiss that makes the rest of the world disappear. Totally a swoon worthy moment and it even causes the airport worker to mutter “It’s not like lines lead to separate countries” (arc pg 104).

This novel will have you believing in the magic of an instant connection, and leave you wondering about the impact of tiniest thing on the rest of your life.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

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 Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith

Here is the Goodreads synopsis -

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

This sounds like a really cute, fun read. I am a sucker for love/romance books and this one sounds like I am going to really like it. The cover is really cute.

Expected release date - Jan 2,2012.