Waiting on Wednesday .... Hotel Magnifique

 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 Hotel Magnifique by Emily J Taylor

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.

All her life, Jani has dreamed of Elsewhere. Just barely scraping by with her job at a tannery, she’s resigned to a dreary life in the port town of Durc, caring for her younger sister Zosa. That is, until the Hotel Magnifique comes to town.

The hotel is legendary not only for its whimsical enchantments, but also for its ability to travel—appearing in a different destination every morning. While Jani and Zosa can’t afford the exorbitant costs of a guest’s stay, they can interview to join the staff, and are soon whisked away on the greatest adventure of their lives. But once inside, Jani quickly discovers their contracts are unbreakable and that beneath the marvelous glamour, the hotel is hiding dangerous secrets.

With the vexingly handsome doorman Bel as her only ally, Jani embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of the magic at the heart of the hotel and free Zosa—and the other staff—from the cruelty of the ruthless maître d’hôtel. To succeed, she’ll have to risk everything she loves, but failure would mean a fate far worse than never returning home.

I love stories set at hotels with secrets within them. This takes that notion and combines it with magic which only increases my need to read this one. The fact that the hotel moves locations has me intrigued. 

I am really excited for the world building in this one and cannot wait to unravel the secrets of Hotel Magnifique. 

This one has a bit of a wait, as it doesn't release until April of 2022, but you can add it to your wishlist and join me in (im)patiently waiting.

Expected release date - April 5, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday ... 56 Days

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 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

No one knew they'd moved in together. Now one of them is dead. Could this be the perfect murder?

56 DAYS AGO

Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin the same week Covid-19 reaches Irish shores.

35 DAYS AGO

When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests that Ciara move in with him. She sees a unique opportunity for a new relationship to flourish without the pressure of scrutiny of family and friends. He sees it as an opportunity to hide who - and what - he really is.

TODAY

Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.

Will they be able to determine what really happened, or has lockdown provided someone with the opportunity to commit the perfect crime? 

I am pretty sure that this might be the only COVID inspired book that I decide to pick up for a long while. I am not at all ready to have the events of the pandemic reflected in my media but this one caught my eye thanks to its mystery angle.

We don't know who the body is. It could be Oliver. It could be Ciara. It could be someone else. Unraveling that mystery, I hope, will be part of the reading experience. 

I think the mystery element will take the focus and I am hoping that the pandemic inclusion will be background stuff that adds another layer to the mystery.

This one is timed for an end of summer read and I hope to get to it before pool side reading season ends.

Expected release date - August 17, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Fan Club

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 Fan Club by Erin Mayer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this raucous psychological thriller, a millennial office worker finds relief from her crippling ennui in the embrace of a cliquey fan club, until she discovers the group of women is bound together by something darker than devotion.

Day after day our narrator, a gloomy millennial, searches for meaning beyond her vacuous job at a women's lifestyle website—entering text into a computer system while she watches their beauty editor unwrap box after box of perfectly packaged bits of happiness. Then, one night at a dive bar, she hears a message in the newest single by child-actor-turned-international-pop-star Adriana Argento, and she is struck. Soon she loses herself to the online fandom, a community whose members feverishly track Adriana's every move.

When a colleague notices the extent of her obsession, she’s invited to join an enigmatic group of adult Adriana superfans who call themselves the Ivies and worship her music in witchy, candlelit listening parties. As the narrator becomes more entrenched in the group, she gets closer to uncovering the sinister secrets that bind them together—while simultaneously losing her grip on reality.

With caustic wit and hypnotic writing, this unsparingly critical thrill ride through millennial life examines all that is wrong in our celebrity-obsessed internet age, and how easy it is to lose yourself in it. 

I am super into all these amazing sounding thrillers that are popping up recently. This one sounds particularly interesting for those are a fan of pop culture, and fandom.

It's October release means it'll offer up something for those who are not into horror but still want something thrilling for the spooky season.

Expected release date - October 26, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday ... True Crime Story

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 True Crime Story by Joseph Knox

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

On the outside, Manchester University student Zoe Nolan was blessed: intelligent, kind, popular and extremely talented. But then one night she goes missing. She is presumed dead but no body is found.

Years later, Evelyn, a young writer starts looking into that fateful night, and begins to uncover the sinister secrets that have kept Zoe's disappearance a mystery. As she records the testimonies of those who knew Zoe, she starts to build up a picture of a group of friends who loved and lied to hide the truth.

But as every true crime story tells us, the truth always comes out. Whatever the cost... 

This, from my understanding, is set up like a transcript of a true crime documentary. This immediately sold me on wanting to read this. It has already released in the United Kingdom but will be releasing in Canada (and the United States) this fall. 

Fellow Murderinos will probably want to join me in waiting for this book to be released. It definitely sounds like it could be a unique and chilling read.

Expected release date - November 2, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Maidens

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 The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.

Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.

Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?

When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.

The Maidens sound like it will check all the boxes of a perfect summer thriller. I am especially here for thrillers set in prestigious schools and that promise lots of twists and turns. 

I can see this being a very popular one this summer since the author's other book was a hit. We don't have long to wait as it comes out in about 2 weeks. 

Expected release date - June 15, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Anatomy of Desire

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 The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A modern tale of American striving, social media stardom, a fatal love triangle, and a young woman on trial for murder—a mesmerizing reimagining of Theodore Dreiser's classic novel of crime and punishment, An American Tragedy.

Claire Griffith seems to have it all, a thriving career, a gorgeous, successful boyfriend, a glamorous circle of friends. She always knew she was destined for more than the life her deeply conservative parents preached to her. Arriving in Los Angeles as a flat broke teenager, she has risen to become a popular fitness coach and social media influencer. Having rebranded herself as Cleo Ray, she stands on the threshold of achieving her most cherished dreams.

One summer day, Cleo and a young woman named Beck Alden set off in a canoe on a quiet, picture-perfect mountain lake. An hour later, Beck is found dead in the water, her face cut and bruised, and Cleo is missing. Authorities suspect foul play and news about Cleo’s involvement goes viral. Who was Beck and what was the nature of her and Cleo’s relationship? Was Beck an infatuated follower who took things too far? If Cleo is innocent, why did she run? Was it an accident? Or was it murder?

As evidence of Cleo’s secret life surfaces, the world begins to see just how hard she strived to get to the top— and how fast and far the fall is from celebrity to infamy.

L. R. Dorn’s reimagining of Theodore Dreiser’s novel, told in the form of a true crime docuseries a la Serial and The Jinx—with characters speaking through the “transcripts” of recorded interviews—The Anatomy of Desire exposes the ambition, sexual passion, and dark side of success that readers will find as achingly poignant as they did a century ago.

I was instantly interested in this modern retelling of An American Tragedy. The original novel is loosely based on the murder of Grace Brown and was adapted into an incredible movie titled A Place in the Sun. 

This modern take on the story follows the basic premise of the original but I look forward to seeing how this author makes it their own.

My fellow Murderinos and I don't have long to wait before we can get our hands on this one since it releases next week. I could see it very popular at the beach this summer as it definitely holds a promise of a page turner. 

Expected release date - May 11, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Animal

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 Animal by Lisa Taddeo

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Honestly, sometimes I think it’s the only recourse. Killing men in times like these .

Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruel acts of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child—that has haunted her every waking moment—while forging the power to finally strike back.

Here is the electrifying debut novel from Lisa Taddeo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Three Women, which was named to more than thirty best-of-the-year lists and hailed as “a dazzling achievement” (Los Angeles Times) and “a heartbreaking, gripping, astonishing masterpiece” (Esquire). Animal is a depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society. With writing that scorches and mesmerizes, Taddeo illustrates one woman’s exhilarating transformation from prey into predator.

This book immediately caught my attention with the line about the character transforming from prey into predator. This is most likely going to be an intense reading experience and I am always here for that.

This one seems to look at female rage, and has the potential to be really interesting and it definitely seems like a good beach read for those wanting something a little different.

Expected release date - June 8, 2021

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 week. 

It's been too long since I have posted a Weekly Obsessions post. There hasn't been a lot being announced, and everything was getting pushed back and delayed. I am restarting this because we've been getting more announcements lately and I have hope that with a vaccine being rolled out and things being released to streaming that this trend might continue.

I have decided to shift this post to Fridays to close out the week!

We've got some fun things coming up and I am very excited to share what has me most excited this week.

BOOKS

Cover of Gilded by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

I love Marrisa Meyer's novels, especially her fairytale retellings. I was thrilled to discover that she is releasing another one that is based on the Rumpelstiltskin tale. It's very pretty cover was just revealed and it has made me even more excited.

Also exciting? It's releasing THIS year. It'll be out in November which makes it perfect for peak fall reading.

Cover of All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman (goodreads)

This book sounds incredible and it has an excellent cover to go along with its amazing synopsis.

I have been looking forward to reading this since the deal announcement so I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on a copy in November. 

Cover of The Final Girl Support Group (goodreads)

How eye catching is this cover?! I love the red against black color scheme and the blood dripping off the chair is perfect. 

The blood smudges on the title are a nice touch! I anticipate this one being a popular beach read this summer.

MOVIES/TELEVISION

Promo for the Law and Order: SVU and Law and Order: Organized Crime Crossover Event 

Olivia and Elliott from Law and Order: SVU were one of  my early ships. I was not happy when Chris Meloni left the show without them ever exactly getting together. 

Chris Meloni has decided to return to the Law and Order franchise in their newest spin off - Organized Crime. There will be a cross over episode with the SVU team though and that means Olivia and Elliott are going to reunite!

I love this promo! The way that Olivia breathlessly says 'Elliott' at the end makes me so happy. She's obviously shocked (and hopefully happy) to see him. It gives me hope they might eventually end up together after all.

Shadow and Bone Television Show Key Art

Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse books are eagerly waiting for the release of Netflix's television adaptation. We received a new series key art image and it is INCREDIBLE!

It also seems that a trailer is being teased to be released on Friday (today when you are reading this) so don't be surprised if it ends up in next week's post.

OTHER

Hamilton Funko Pops

It was only a matter of time before Hamilton Funkos became a reality and they were just recently announced. I am sure they are going to be VERY popular so I recommend getting them early.

My only question? WHERE IS KING GEORGE?! I need him to complete the set.

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

Waiting On Wednesday ..... Not Your Average Hot Guy

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 Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A paranormal romantic comedy at the (possible) end of the world.

All Callie wanted was a quiet weekend with her best friend. She promised her mom she could handle running her family’s escape room business while her mom is out of town. Instead a Satanic cult shows up, claiming that the prop spell book in one of the rooms is the real deal, and they need it to summon the right hand of the devil. Naturally they take Callie and her friend, Mag, along with them. But when the summoning reveals a handsome demon in a leather jacket named Luke who offers to help Callie stop the cult from destroying the world, her night goes from weird to completely strange.

As the group tries to stay one step ahead of the cult, Callie finds herself drawn to the annoying (and annoyingly handsome) Luke. But what Callie doesn’t know is that Luke is none other than Luke Morningstar, Prince of Hell and son of the Devil himself. Callie never had time for love, and with the apocalypse coming closer, is there room for romance when all hell’s about to break loose?

From New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond, Not Your Average Hot Guy is a hilarious romantic comedy about two people falling in love, while the fate of the world rests on their shoulders. 

A romance featuring the son of the devil combined with a cult and impending apocalypse? Yes, please.

It sounds like this may be a fun mix of romance and humour along with some thrilling paranormal elements. It's October release date is perfect and it will offer those wanting a spooky season read that is not specifically horror.

I cannot wait to 'meet' these characters and I hope this is as fun of a read as I am expecting.

Expected release date - October 5, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday ... Every Vow You Break

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 Every Vow You Break b⁰y Peter Swanson

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

I love a good mystery/thriller novel. This take on the the whole fatal attraction trope sounds like it is going to be a popular one.

The synopsis sounds horrific and I could not imagine being in this situation. I hope it creates a tense, twisty read that will help chase the winter blues away.

This one comes out in late March which may seem far away but will be here before we know it.

Expected release date - March 23, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Isn't It Bromantic

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 Isn't It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad took up the pen to write a novel the Bromance Book Club would swoon over.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared after speaking out against government corruption, she escaped danger the only way she knew how. She agreed to marry her childhood friend, Vladimir, and move to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka The Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But after four years, it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance–both on and off the page.

The Bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love–and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s senior citizen neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves The Loners. Just when things finally look promising, the danger from Elena’s past life intrudes, and the book club will face their first-ever life-or-death grand gesture as they race to a happy ever after.

Anyone who has read the previous Bromance Book Club books knows that Vlad (aka The Russian) is a fan favourite who provides a ton of humour to these adorable reads.

He is (finally) getting his own book and I am sure that nobody is surprised that he wants to write a romance novel of his own. It makes a lot of sense for him to be the character that would do it.

This comes out in July so we have quite a wait but if you haven't read the previous books in this series I highly recommend getting started so you can join me in (im) patiently waiting. 

Expected release date - July 20, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Survive The Night

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 Survive The Night by Riley Sager

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It’s November 1991. George H. W. Bush is in the White House, Nirvana’s in the tape deck, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial killer.

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father. Or so he says. Like the Hitchcock heroine she’s named after, Charlie has her doubts. There’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t seem to want Charlie to see inside the car’s trunk. As they travel an empty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly worried Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s suspicion merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

What follows is a game of cat-and-mouse played out on night-shrouded roads and in neon-lit parking lots, during an age when the only call for help can be made on a pay phone and in a place where there’s nowhere to run. In order to win, Charlie must do one thing—survive the night.

With the popularity of true crime podcasts still at an all time high I predict we will be seeing many more books that feature them like this one (potentially) does. 

This book is already giving me Hitchcockian vibes and that interests me very much. I also love that we do not know if Josh is a serial killer. I predict it will make the suspense and unease a little more intense.s

It releases just in time for summer reading so get your sunscreen and favourite beverage ready.

Expected release date - July 6, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... That Weekend

 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 That Weekend by Kara Thomas

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Three best friends, a lake house, a secret trip - what could go wrong?

It was supposed to be the perfect prom weekend getaway. But it's clear something terrible happened when Claire wakes up alone and bloodied on a hiking trail with no memory of the past forty-eight hours.

Three went up the mountain, but only one came back.

Now everyone wants answers - most of all, Claire. She remembers Friday night, but after that... nothing. And now Kat and Jesse - her best friends - are missing.

That weekend changes everything.

What happened on the mountain? And where are Kat and Jesse? Claire knows the answers are buried somewhere in her memory, but as she's learning, everyone has secrets - even her best friends. And she's pretty sure she's not going to like what she remembers.

Those looking for mysterious and creepy books to read in 2021 will want to add That Weekend to their list if the synopsis is anything to go by. I also love that it has friendship as one of the central focuses.

These types of books tend to perfect for long days by the pool so I am happy it is coming out in summer of 2021! Hopefully we can all toss this into our beach bags next year.

Expected release date - June 21, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily

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 Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

*** minor spoilers for the first two books in the series ***

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Timed to the release of DASH AND LILY on Netflix comes a new helping of love--this time across the pond as best-selling authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan send Dash and Lily to jolly old England.

Dash and Lily are feeling closer than ever...it's just too bad they're also an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York to take care of her dogwalking business, the inseparable couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won't be coming home to New York for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can't come to New York, she'll go to London. But will Lily pull off the ultimate surprise--or will Christmas in London backfire?

The wait for this one isn't very long at all seeing as it comes out next week. If the first two books are any indication this will be an excellent holiday season read!

These books are just adorable and remind me of a warm cup of candy cane hot chocolate.

If you haven't read the first two please do so immediately. There is also a Netflix series coming out November 13th to entice you to read at least the first book before it comes out.

Expected release date - November 3, 2020

Waiting On Wednesday .... If The Shoe Fits

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 If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Julie Murphy comes the first in a brand-new adult series inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary, escapist rom-coms.

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America’s favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration — and love — in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own.

Fairytale retellings are some of my favourite books to read so I was especially excited to hear about this one. It not only is written by an author whose work I enjoy but is the start of an adult book series from Disney. 

This Cinderella inspired story sounds amazing. I love that she is interested in fashion.  I also love the nod to the classic Cinderella dress but made more modern.

Here is hoping these become Disney+ movies in the future.

It sounds like a perfect summer read to enjoy with some ice cream. I cannot wait!

Expected release date - August 3, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Darling

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 Darling by K. Ancrum

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A teen girl finds herself lost on a dangerous adventure in this YA thriller by the acclaimed author of The Wicker King and The Weight of the Stars—reimagining Peter Pan for today’s world.

On Wendy Darling’s first night in Chicago, a boy called Peter appears at her window. He’s dizzying, captivating, beautiful—so she agrees to join him for a night on the town.

Wendy thinks they’re heading to a party, but instead they’re soon running in the city’s underground. She makes friends—a punk girl named Tinkerbelle and the lost boys Peter watches over. And she makes enemies—the terrifying Detective Hook, and maybe Peter himself, as his sinister secrets start coming to light. Can Wendy find the courage to survive this night—and make sure everyone else does, too?

Acclaimed author K. Ancrum has re-envisioned Peter Pan with a central twist that will send all your previous memories of J. M. Barrie’s classic permanently off to Neverland.

Peter Pan is one of my childhood favourites. I've always loved the 2003 film adaptation. I've also ways been curious about the darker read you could take on the story.

This contemporary twist sounds incredible and from my understanding plenty of inspiration is taken from J. M. Barrie's original. I am excited to see how it all comes together.

This one doesn't come out until summer 2021. Hopefully it'll be a summer of eating ice cream cones at the beach along with some amazing books. I think this will make a perfect beach (or poolside) read.

Expected release date - June 22, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday .... Kate In Waiting

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 Kate In Waiting by Becky Albertalli

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and rom-com queen Becky Albertalli comes a buoyant new novel about daring to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight in love, life, and, yes, theater.

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.

Becky Albertalli writes super cute contemporary reads. They are filled with loveable characters and swoon worthy romances. 

Her newest involves theatre, crushes, and friendship which means I am already obsessed. All of her books have great friendships but this one seems to focus on that element even more than usual which has me excited.

There is a long wait for this one as it doesn't come out until April of 2021, but the good news is that Becky has a lot of books that are out already for you to read while we wait.

Expected release date - April 20, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Mary Shelley Club

 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 The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

New York Times –bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that's Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.

New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.

To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.

When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past. 

I enjoyed Kill The Boy Band a lot when I read it and this upcoming book by Goldy Moldavsky sounds like something I am going to love.

Secret clubs, pranks, escalating stakes, and all named after the incredible Mary Shelley. I cannot wait to see how she ties into this book as I am sure the title isn't just a mere reference.

It doesn't come out until April of 2021, but you should definitely read Kill The Boy Band in the mean time.

Expected release date - April 13, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Malice

 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 Malice by Heather Walter

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating—and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again.

Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I—

I am the villain.

I love a fairytale retelling and this Sleeping Beauty retelling sounds amazing. It sounds like a unique twist on the tale and I predict the romance between Aurora and Maleficent will be a selling point for many.

Villain origin stories have become really popular and are definitely a favourite of mine. This sounds like we are getting that type of story here as well and I cannot wait.

This doesn't come out until April of 2021, but I am very certain it is going to be worth the wait. 

Expected release date - April 13, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Intimacy Experiment

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 The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Naomi and Ethan will test the boundaries of love in this provocative romance from the author of the ground-breaking debut, The Roommate.

Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won't hire her.

Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag named him one of the city's hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Taking a gamble in an effort to attract more millennials to the faith, the executive board hired Ethan because of his nontraditional background. Unfortunately, his shul is low on both funds and congregants. The board gives him three months to turn things around or else they'll close the doors of his synagogue for good.

Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems--until they discover a new one--their growing attraction to each other. They've built the syllabus for love's latest experiment, but neither of them expected they'd be the ones putting it to the test. 

I have yet to read The Roommate, Rosie's first book, but I am already here for the second book she has written!

This one sounds as equally sex positive as the first, and just as intriguing. I can easily see needing to get my hands on it immediately once I have finished The Roommate. 

This one has a long wait since it is not releasing until April of 2021, but that just means we can eagerly await both of Rosie's books for now.

Expected release date - April 6, 2021