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.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date -  September 26, 2017

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  289 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.

I wasn't surprised when Stephanie Perkins announced that her next novel would be horror. Anyone who follows her online can easily see her love of the genre. I would be an understatement to say that I was excited. I was even more excited when it was revealed that it would be slasher horror. I have always preferred this particular subsection of the horror genre as I am more terrified of real people doing horrific things than anything supernatural based. After getting my hands on Stephanie's newest novel I was pleased to discover that it was just was amazing as I had hoped. It's a smart, self aware love letter to the horror movies Stephanie so obviously enjoys and that is something that shines through this entire novel.

This novel has been compared to the movie Scream and the comparison, for me, feels pretty accurate. It revolves around a cast of high school students, has a pretty large body count, and sprinkles in some romance and friendships along the way. It's got all of the qualities that made Scream resonate and be the classic it is today. It also packs a lot of the same self awareness and humour within its pages. If you're a fan of that movie, I think you'll enjoy the time you spend within these pages.

The romance, for me, was classic Stephanie Perkins. You'll instantly be invested in these characters, and the romance that is the central focus of the novel. It's filled with the moments that make Stephanie's novels such a delight to read. It feels natural within the plot and doesn't overshadow the horror elements which was the most pleasant surprise for me. It's a balance between the two that really works.

The horror element, to me, felt very tongue in cheek. There are some tropes that Stephanie is slyly having fun with. These tropes will be recognizable to those who already have a love of horror, particular this brand of horror, and make the reading experience all the more enjoyable. It ends up being a read that is both unsettling and a lot of fun. It plays with the whole "the call is coming from inside the house' trope rather effectively. This killer's particular way of doing thing was especially unsettling to me. Your house is supposed to be a safe haven, and this rips that entire notion away from you. You'll leave this book jumping at small noises and question every item that isn't where you think it should be.

The above mentioned feelings are largely due to the pitch perfect atmosphere and tone that is within the novel. Stephanie sets the scenes perfectly and allows the tension to amp up. She knows that the build up is just as good as the bloody pay off and uses her words to create that apprehensive feeling within the reader. That tension is what made the novel for me.

As much as I appreciate the scares, I also loved that this novel never forgets that horror is also supposed to be fun. There is a humour that makes them more easily accessible and that is found right along side the bloody thrills in this one. It allows the characters to be ones that we care about so that we can immerse ourselves in the story a little more. It allows us to connect to the main character and root for them to be among the survivors.

Stephanie Perkins showcases that she can easily switch genres and produce gripping, entertaining reads that captivate your interest. She is capable of sending chills down your spine and making you a swoony mess with her romances in equal measure. I highly recommend this one for the upcoming Halloween season followed by a watch of the Scream movie even it if means sleeping with the lights on and triple checking you've locked the door. 

Waiting On Wednesday .... There's Someone Inside Your House

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 There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Here is the Goodreads synopsis 

Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.

How amazing is that cover? Everything about it is perfect. It gives off a horror vibe and manages to make the neon pink feel creepy.

I am a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins' contemporary novels. Her first three novels are counted among some of my favourite reads and I am just as excited to see what she does with horror. I predict her novel will still have that epic romance that is expected from a Stephanie Perkins novel, and I am predicting it'll be one to read with the lights on.

This is probably my most anticipated of the autumn releases and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.

Expected release date - September 12, 2017

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.

BOOK

Cover for Stephanie Perkins' There's Someone Inside Your House

I have been so excited about this novel right from the moment Stephanie teased that her next book would be a horror novel. I was even more excited when she revealed that it would be a more 'slasher' type of horror rather than paranormal. I became fully obsessed once it was compared to the Scream movie franchise.

This cover is stunning and perfect! It has just the right amount of creepy while also giving a nod to Stephanie's first novel with the pink hue. I am counting down the days until I have this book in my hands.

OTHER

Buffy 20th Anniversary

Lots of goodies have popped up recently has Buffy celebrates its 20th anniversary. Entertainment Weekly recently got the cast together for a reunion and I am in love with EVERYTHING about it.

First up this amazing cover! I totally ship Buffy and Angel so this made me extremely happy.

You can also view the 40+ minute reunion video over on EW.com. It is equally amazing. I anticipate we'll be getting lots of other goodies as this iconic show continues to be celebrated and remembered. 

Peter Pan Hot Topic Exclusive Funko

It is no secret that I am a HUGE Peter Pan nerd. I am also entirely addicted to Funko Pops. It should surprise nobody that I pretty much squealed with happiness upon finding out that Hot Topic is going to have an exclusive Peter Pan Pop. No image has been revealed from Funko yet, but you can see the Pop in this video where Hot Topic is revealing some of their exclusives.

#HTNerdette unboxes @originalfunko Retro Video Game mystery minis + new Funko exclusives! https://t.co/XrfiDSv4Pm

— Hot Topic (@HotTopic) March 30, 2017

I am eagerly awaiting his release and cannot wait to add this one to my collection

What are you obsessed with this week?

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.

Lots of exciting things in this week's post. I am excited for a new year and new things to get excited about.

BOOK

Not Without You: A Stucky Anthology 

It is no secret that I love the Captain America movies. Part of what I love so much is the relationship between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. I fully ship them and wish the Marvel movies would just let it happy already. I mean, it is barely even subtext at this point.

My friend Jessica sent me a Kickstarter link for an awesome sounding collection of comics, artwork, and short stories that portray Steve and Bucky's relationship in a romantic light and I, of course, had to back it!

The Kickstarter is doing incredibly well and has already surpassed its main goal and many of the stretch goals. If you're a Steve and Bucky fan I highly recommend checkout this out because it sounds like it is going to be a great collection and a the final product is going to be really pretty! Just look at the cover!

Stephanie Perkins new book!

I squealed like the fangirl that I am when Stephanie Perkins announced her new book's title, and that it would be released in 2017. This is Stepahnie Perkins take on horror and I cannot wait to see what she does with this.

The title? Well, it's perfect for starters.

Does that not bring to mind classic horror movies and the tropes within? The whole 'the call is coming from inside the house' trope for one. Whenever I think of horror genre tropes I immediately think of Scream. A movie that played with those tropes and ended up redefining it. This is, from what I hear, influenced by Scream and I cannot wait!

Stalking Jack The Ripper sequel news

I loved Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack The Ripper and was very excited about sequel news. This week she released that the book will be out in fall 2017 and its title.

I am so excited because the sequel deals with a character I LOVE and I cannot wait to see her tackle this classic. The title is ....

Hunting Prince Dracula 

Let the flailing begin! This is most likely going to be more Vlad The Impaler than vampire but it is still going to be amazing. I cannot wait for some seriously sexy banter and more bad ass Audrey Rose.

OTHER

DC Bombshells Joker Funko Pop

This may just be my favourite Joker Pop that Funko has released. He is perfect for Valentine's Day and I am pretty sure there will be a Harley Quinn Pop to match. I'll for sure be purchasing one of these. I just have to decide if I want the black and white or colour version.

I am leaning towards the black and white version. It is going to depend on the Harley Quinn that matches this as I want the set.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Summer Days And Summer Nights by Various

Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various
Release Date - May 17, 2016

Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Short story collections never really appealed to me. I decided to give My True Love Gave To Me a chance namely because of the authors involved and I trusted Stephanie Perkins to deliver some cute holiday romances. I immediately fell in love with many of the stories in that book and was thrilled when a new collection was announced. Stephanie Perkins has once again put together a stunning collection of short stories that are filled with endless summer days and warm summer nights in her newest short story collection.

Each of the stories contained within are worth reading. Some will appeal more than others depending on taste and preference but each holds your interest. It boasts a diverse cast of characters and love stories within its pages and is all the stronger for it.

Leigh Bardugo's story left me desperate for a full length novel, which should not surprise anyone. She has manged to craft a rich mythology within these pages and enchant with her take on a summer love story. Libba Bray's was incredibly fun (and would make a killer movie). Cassandra Clare's was classically hers and Veronica Roth's was thought-provoking and touching.

Not all the stories have a happy ending. Some of them have relationships that expire with the ending of the season but they are each meaningful. They all tell a unique love story and provide a glimpse at the different stages of love - be it new, ending, or offering a second chance. Something this collection does so right is ensuring a little something for everyone be it straight up contemporary, fantasy, horror and anything in between.

After devouring this collection I hope Stephanie Perkins gifts us with another collection. I would love for her to try her hand at a horror anthology or twisted love (in keeping with the romance theme). She has a true talent for selecting the right authors and stories to make the collection more than the parts included in it.

This short story collection is perfect for those long summer days at the beach. It pretty much has something that will appeal to everyone no matter what their tastes. It is a (mostly) sweet, feel good read that will leave you wishing for a summer romance of your own.

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).

This adorable addition to my mailbox made me very happy. I saw these and had to purchase them immediately. I love Stephanie Perkins' books and her characters.

How cute, right?! I especially love the Anna and Etienne. Something about their love story is still my favourite. Now I want to do a re-read of this series.

What bookish items made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date - August 14, 2014

Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 339 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

To call Isla and the Happily Ever After one this year's most anticipated reads for many is no exaggeration. For an author having novel whose release has built extremely high expectations is both a blessing and a curse. People want to read your book, and they are excited about it. On the other hand, expectations are huge, and meeting them can feel daunting. Happily, Isla and the Happily Ever After surpassed my every expectation, one swoon at a time.

If there was ever an author that perfectly captures the rush of falling in love, it's Stephanie Perkins. Every emotion is woven into these pages, including the scary ones. Relationships are not easy, you have to work at them. The message that you have to be open to letting someone one in is threaded through, not just this novel, but all three. The notion of timing, and being in the right place to let someone in is a predominant theme. It shows that anything worth having is complicated, and worthy of the effort.

Each of the ladies in this 'series' is so different. Anna, Lola, and Isla all have distinct personalities, quirks, and come to life through Stephanie's writing. Isla is the most like me, I think. We'd totally be friends. She's shy, unsure, and not quick to action. She's someone who is still learning about herself, and what she wants. It's a direct contrast to Anna and Lola who seemed much more confident in their own skin (in different ways). Having someone like Isla be the one to close out this series was brilliant, because she showcases the author's talent. You see how vastly different these these characters (and their love interests) are and it's impressive. Even more impressive is that each of them is nuanced, and complex.

Our glimpses of Josh in the previous novels made it so that I already knew I would love him. This novel does show us other sides to Josh that I never anticipated. The idea that you can love someone from a distance, and feel like you know them is played with here. Isla feels she knows Josh, only to find out that the 'real' Josh is different than she expected. Stephanie manages to make the reader feel this too. We thought we 'knew' Josh only to discover that we didn't have the full picture. We didn't know everything. Them discovering each other is part of the romance, and every aspect of the romance is deliciously swoony.

A wanderlust overtakes me whenever I read one of these novels. Josh and Isla have more than a bit of it themselves and as a result we get some pretty sexy, and romantic scenes in some drool inducing locations. These books will make you want to kiss someone at point zéro in France, get caught in the rain in Barcelona and enjoy a stolen moment in New York.

Something that might be slightly spoilery... Upon completion of this novel, I immediately wanted Stephanie to write Meredith's story. It would work perfectly. She's always been the 'odd person out' in this stories, and she'd stand out as her name doesn't end in an 'A'. She makes an appearance in this novel (along with other favourites) and one interaction left me eager for her to find her own happy ending.

Stephanie Perkins has created three unique love stories. Each tells a different couple's journey, and as a result something truly beautiful is created. Nobody is the same, and neither is their journey. No matter your particular tastes, one of the three stories will resonate and touch you. What makes these romances leap off the page is the little details. Stephanie manages to create something achingly touching out of the tiniest thing. She knows it's the small, private things that add up to a love story, and she captures that. Nothing in her novels is overly unrealistic like romantic comedies can sometimes be, and that makes them feel all the more truthful.

A romantic, magical ending to this trio of companion novels. Stephanie Perkins proves that happily ever after may just be possible for everyone, even if ends up being not quite what you expect. It may not mean a perfect fairytale, but sometimes reality can be just as wonderful. A novel that was more than worth the wait, I breathlessly wait for whatever Stephanie Perkins writes next.

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've had an insane book week this week, and I am so excited about everything.

First up, I went to an advance screening of If I Stay and they had a trivia giveaway. One of the bags was some If I Stay swag, and it's all really cute!

It's a tank top, a luggage tag and little notebook. Very cute. I loved the movie. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. Mirelle Enos was my favourite part of the movie, but Jamie Blackley as Adam was pretty prefect!

I had to wait to get my copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After because I pre-ordered one of those signed copies that came with special goodies. The closest place to me was Toronto, and I happened to be going there anyways, so I picked it up at the same time.

Isla and the Happily Ever After (goodreads)

The book, an awesome tote bag, three cute buttons, and some stickers! I am happily reading this right now and wanting to hug the book it's so cute.

I also got a few amazing sounding books from Harper Collins Canada

The Fall by Bethany Griffin (goodreads)
The Death Of Us by Alice Kuipers (goodreads)
Us by David Nicholls (goodreads)

I love Bethany's other books, so I am excited to read The Fall. The Death Of Us is one that Harper Canada has been talking about quite a bit. I read One Day by David Nicholls, and have been eager to see what he would release next.

Lastly, I also got one of the most awesome buttons EVER!

That cover, right? So stunning. A big thank you to Harper Collins for the books, and the amazing
button!

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy weekend, and happy reading!

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.

Here are my obsessions this week.

BOOK

Cover of The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer (goodreads)

I love the water colour vibe this has, and the colour scheme. The synopsis sounds amazing. It's one of my most reads of the Winter 2015 season.

Isla and the Happily Ever After pre-order campaign

These buttons! Look at these adorable buttons -

photo from Stephanie Perkin's blog. Copyright @Stephanie Perkins

Obviously I want these buttons. Stephanie recently announced that you can get these buttons as part of a pre-order campaign for Isla and the Happily Ever After. Luckily I will be venturing to Toronto around the time of Isla's release and was able to secure a pre-order from Mable's Fables. If you want more information about the pre-order campaign (such as all the goodies you get and where you can pre-order) all the information is available on Penguin Teen's tumblr. Did I also mention all the copies are signed?! Run and pre-order now.

MOVIE/TV

Gotham Villain's promo 

This show is basically my MUST see of Fall 2014. This promo shines a light on Gotham's darkest villains, and basically makes me wish the summer was over already (crazy talk, I know).

What are you obsessed with this week?

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.

Here are my obsessions this week.

BOOK

Isla And The Happily Ever After - ARC edition

Penguin Teen via their Instagram posted this...

Copyright to Penguin Teen via Instagram

And I freaked out. It's a real book. This means we almost get to read it. I can't wait until August!! I've already got this pre-ordered and am keeping my fingers crossed it gets here on release day.

MOVIE

The Night Before Our Stars

You may have heard about this event. It's an advance showing of The Fault In Our Stars and I believe there will be a Q & A session with the stars of the movie shown as well. I am excited to get my tickets for the Canadian events when they go on sale next week.

Disney's Cinderella (live action)

Only Disney could show us nothing but a glass slipper and convey the feeling of magic and wonder. The musical score is perfect, and easily fits the Cinderella tale. I am looking forward to seeing this in March.

They also released the first promo poster for the movie, and I adore it just as much as the trailer.

Simple, magical, and I love that this is the first image they released.

What are you obsessed with this week?

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.

Here are my obsessions this week.
BOOK 

Cover of Atlantia by Ally Condie

I was not a big fan of Ally Condie's Matched series. I felt the first novel had a lot of potential, but didn't quite enjoy the sequels as much.

I am  however intrigued by the premise of her new book. It also has a STUNNING cover to entice me with.

I read that this was a stand alone and that actually appeals to me more. I felt Matched itself was strong, but the later novels didn't hold up, so perhaps a stand alone will work better. I love the tagline as it immediately induces shivers.

Excerpt from Isla and the Happily Ever After 

It's not a secret that I adore Stephanie Perkins' novels. They are truly wonderful. It should also be no surprise that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After. We recently were teased (tortured, same thing) with a chapter excerpt. It's adorable, and perfect. 'Thank you, slutty funnel' may just be one of my favourite lines. It already has heart, humour, and Isla is adorable. Why is it not August? Because, NEED!

MOVIE/TV

The Amazing Spiderman 2

I may be one of the few that really liked this movie. Perhaps it was due to my distraction with Dane Dehaan (how blue are his eyes?!) and his KILLER performance as Harry Osborn. The changes from the comic book were done well, and they referenced the source material where it really mattered (at least to me). Either way I, once again, found Andrew charming as Peter Parker, and felt the movie was fun overall.

Gotham (the TV series)

A pre-Batman Gotham is the hook for this amazing looking TV show. We get brief glimpses of these iconic characters (Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman and, of course, Batman himself) but the catch is that it's the origin stories. It's Bruce Wayne as a boy, it's Catwoman as a young girl. The trailer is solid, and has instantly sold me on checking it out this fall. Pretty sure I am going to fall in love with it. Seriously, watch this trailer. You'll want to watch it... immediately.

OTHER

Book Expo America

This year's BEA is shaping up to be an AMAZING week filled with lots of bookish fun. I am excited to get to see Kelly from Kellyvision and to just be surrounded by bookish people. Two weeks from this Sunday (so TOMORROW) is when I officially start my vacation. Already counting down the number of shifts I have left.

What are you obsessed with this week?

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.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
 

The new covers were released. Everyone was talking about them. Me? I am most excited about the fact that this means the book is one step closer to being in my hands. I can't wait to fall in love with NYC (I already am, but even more so), Isla and Josh. It even has a cute synopsis to go with the new cover. Super excited.

Cover of Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

I love the synopsis of this one so much. I immediately added it to my 'to be read' list upon hearing it takes place BEFORE the world is destroyed. Its pre in a sea of post. It's unique and this piqued my interest. A novel from the perspective of how you would spend the last few days before something like this happens is fascinating  and I hope to see more.

TV

Bates Motel

I keep seeing previews for this, and everything I am seeing is making me that much more excited. I am especially curious about Freddie Highmore playing Norman Bates. The feedback from people who've seen his performance is that he is chilling. They mention him saying "mother" as especially contrasting the charming/creepy sides his character has. Can not wait for the premiere in March.

OTHER

Book Expo America

We're about 3 months away from BEA and my excitement is already beginning to build. I can't wait to start planning my autograph sessions. I am making plans with other bloggers to meet up as well. I am looking forward to a fun bookish week.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

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.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Stephanie Perkins new book news

Stephanie announced that she has 2 new books with Penguin coming out after Isla and the Happily Ever After. The first novel is the only one we have details for and it's completely different from her previous novels and it sounds AWESOME. As per the publisher it is "a horror novel in the vein of the movie Scream in which a cadre of high school students are being stalked and attacked by a mysterious killer with no obvious motive"

Scream is a great, fun movie. It doesn't take itself seriously and points fun at the usual horror cliches. LOVE THIS. I bet Stephanie's will blend horror with humour and some sexiness.  I am very excited about this and can't wait for other details (eg title, cover, etc).

cover of Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

I really liked I Hunt Killers. Jasper Dent is so chilling, so charming and fascinating! I hope this sequel delivers everything I loved in the first book, and more. I happen to also like this cover. If you haven't already be sure to add it to your Goodreads to be read list.

cover and synopsis for Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

I have not heard much about this book, but I knew I wanted to read it when I saw the cover! It totally reminds me of the opening sequence for the TV show Pretty Little Liars. The Goodreads synopsis also sounds amazing and I can't wait for this one to be released in 2013.

TV

Once Upon A Time season 2

I can not believe I have yet to include this. I heard about it awhile ago. I am a huge Peter Pan fan so this video made me extra excited.



So Hook is for sure part of season 2 of this addictive show. I am hoping that means we will get to see Peter, Wendy, and Tinkerbell as well. I am counting down until the fall TV season starts....really missing my shows!

MOVIE

The Mortal Instruments movie cast

The casting for the movie is complete and I can now freak out over the unbelievable actors they have lined up.

The last big announcement was the casting of Valentine (who is the the villain) and it tipped my excitement to epic levels. Jonathan Rhys Meyers will be portraying the cold, dangerous and cunning Shadow Hunter.

The rest of the cast is also very happy making with Kevin Zegers lined up to play Alec Lightwood, and Aiden Turner set to play Luke. They join the already large cast. There is a movie website already set up and the full casting details are provided there if you are curious.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date – October 4, 2011
Publisher – Dutton
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 338 pages
My Rating- 10/10
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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

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

If you read my highly gushing review of Anna and the French Kiss, or follow me on Twitter you can imagine how excited I was to finally get my hands on Lola and the Boy Next Door. I had very high expectations for this novel. I expected to swoon, to fall in love, to laugh, and most of all I wanted it to feel real. I wanted Lola to be someone I could be friends with like I felt when I met Anna. I wanted to see if Cricket could top Etienne in the hotness scale. I am happy to say that Lola was all that and more. Everything about this book was PERFECTION. The characters, the setting, and the feeling it invokes are all things that make this novel magical.

Our adorable heroine Lola is someone that I wish I was friends with in school. She wants to wear a Marie Antoinette style dress to her school’s dance which is amazing. She lives to dress up, and loves sparkles. She’s sweet, but flawed. Her family background isn’t perfect, but yet you can feel how much she loves her family (especially her fathers) and how much they love her in return. She has a fantastic best friend who is supportive and whom she’s supportive of as well.

Her two fathers were fantastic. They were present, and involved. They actually take the time to punish Lola and ask her what is going on when they notice things. They are involved enough to notice. It was refreshing.

Cricket. Swoon. Did he surpass Etienne? Almost (Etienne has that accent working for him). Cricket is the type of boy you should want to be with. He’s sweet, shy, awkward and adorable. He writes mystery words on his hands, and wears coloured rubber bands. He’s the type of boy that will give a girl the stars and the moon because he loves her.

Lola's boyfriend Max is sort of the dream of every girl at some point. I've dated plenty of guys like Max. The thing is guys like that are usually trouble. Max is this older, sexy guy who happens to be in a band. I like that this wasn't so much as triangle as Lola realizing that she was falling out of (or never actually in) love with one guy as she is falling hard for another. It shows perfectly that sometimes you don't know what love is until you're actually in it.

Stephanie’s talent is that she’s able to make her novels sensual, and sexy without there being anything graphic in them. It’s all about the build up, the tease to the kiss that you know is coming. Stephanie has you breathless waiting for the moment and when it happens you’re almost as light headed as the characters.

Anna and Etienne are in this book. They are not huge characters, but I was reminded in the brief time of why I fell in love with Etienne and why I wanted to be best friends with Anna. Stephanie has these characters that seem so real, and that stay with you much longer than the time it takes to read the book.

This novel has many quotes that I could chose to highlight, but there is one that sums up everything thing I love about the book, the boy and the girl:

“Once upon a time, there was a girl who talked to the moon. And she was mysterious and she was perfect, in that way that girls who talk to moons are. In the house next door, there lived a boy. And the boy watched the girl grow more and more perfect, more and more beautiful with each passing year. He watched her watch the moon. And he began to wonder if the moon would help him unravel the mystery of the beautiful girl. So the boy looked into the sky. But he couldn't concentrate on the moon. He was too distracted by the stars. And it didn't matter how many songs or poems had already been written about them, because whenever he thought about the girl, the stars shone brighter. As if she were the one keeping them illuminated.

One day, the boy had to move away. He couldn't bring the girl with him, so he brought the stars. When he'd look out his window at night, he would start with one. One star. And the boy would make a wish on it, and the wish would be her name.

At the sound of her name, a second star would appear. And then he'd wish her name again, and the stars would double into four. And four became eight, and eight became sixteen, and so on, in the greatest mathematical equation the universe had ever seen. And by the time an hour had passed, the sky would be filled with so many stars that it would wake the neighbors. People wondered who'd turned on the floodlights.

The boy did. By thinking about the girl.”

This book will leave you grinning, swooning, and wishing on stars for your very own Cricket Bell.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got a few fun things in my mailbox this week.

3 books in total, so I am insanely happy.

First I have two purchased books





Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (goodreads)
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (copy #2)(goodreads)

I also got one book from the library

Wildefire by Karsten Knight (goodreads)

I am super excited that my local bookstore Chapters put out a few copies of LOLA early. SO EXCITED. Today is going to be spent reading it.

I got my second copy of MARA in the mail this week as well.

Lastly, I have heard such amazing things about Wildefire and I am excited to get to it.

I also got a package from Lia Habel this week. I had answered her tweet about some postcards for Dearly, Departed (goodreads) and I was sent a package of them as well as some cute bookmarks and stickers. I am going to include a few of them in future giveaways.



What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date – Dec 2, 2010
Publisher – Dutton
Pages - 372
My Rating- 10/10

Here is the GoodReads synopsis -

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Have you ever finished a book and wanted to hug it? That’s what happened after I read Anna and the French Kiss. This is a book that will leave you giddy. Stephanie Perkins has created a world that I would gladly live in. The school Anna goes to, and Paris itself seem like an ideal place to be…especially if it comes with cute boys that have sexy accents.

All of the characters seemed real. They were well developed, complex and drew you in. Anna is someone I would hang out with. She is someone I would want to be friends with. I liked that she was quirky, a little shy, and had some family issues. She was very relatable. Étienne St Clair is my new book boyfriend. I kept picturing Jonathan Groff while I was reading. I liked that he was funny, and sweet. I also liked that he had issues too. It is what drew him and Anna together.

The other characters in the book were also great. I really liked Josh and Rashmi a lot. A certain girl named Isla also makes a brief appearance but she seems like someone we will love when we read Isla and the Happily Ever After.

I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did while reading this book. I think I spent most of the book either laughing, smiling, or swooning. The humour is perfectly timed and you will find yourself laughing out loud. There is a scene with Étienne talking to Anna while drunk. The reason he is drunk is definitely not funny but him as a drunk mess actually is. It just one example of how Stephanie Perkins is able to fuse a little humour into some sad situations.

I really loved that Étienne and Anna became friends first. Yes, there was an immediate attraction but they really did get to know each other and become friends before anything. The emails they exchange over Christmas was one of my favourite parts of the book. It showed how close they had gotten as friends. I have read so many novels where the two main characters fall in love right away. This seemed gradual and real.

As anyone who has ever had a crush knows there is nothing more excruciating or thrilling as that period of “he likes me, he likes me not”. We’ve all been there. Stephanie Perkins captures that feeling perfectly in this novel. Anna is confused and spends most of the novel trying to figure out what Étienne’s actions/words/etc might mean. It was adorable and brought me back to many late night conversations with my best friends.

I was expecting the end chapter or so to take place at the Eiffel Tower (for reasons you will discover by reading the book) but was pleasantly surprised when it actually happened at another location. I love that it was able to surprise me and not go with what one would normally expect.

This novel was the perfect mix of romance, humour and sweetness. If you haven’t read it, do so immediately. You will be swept way by the cute boy with the accent, and Paris itself.

Waiting on Wednesday... Lola and the Boy Next Door

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 Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


Here is the GoodReads synopsis

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

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

So I just recently read Anna and the French Kiss (review to come tomorrow actually) and fell in love. I adore the writing style, and it was such a cute book. I can only hope this one will be as much fun. Plus Lola's hair is purple...that's awesome.

Expected release date is September 29, 2011.