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 mix of goodies arrived in my mailbox this week! First up is a non bookish item.

I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead and immediately needed to devour this article. I am both terrified and excited for Negan's arrival and what it means for the show.

These next two, kind of, go together due to the magical world they share.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (goodreads)

I like so many people purchased Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I have since devoured it and have plenty of thoughts and feelings about the plot within its pages. Hopefully I will have a review up soon.

I also couldn't resist and had to get a Newt Scamander Pop for my collection. Look at his cute little Hufflepuff scarf and briefcase! He's adorable.

This round of #otspsecretsister has come to a close and with it final packages have been sent. I had Tiff (from Mostly YA Lit) this round and had so much fun spoiling her. She sent me a little thank you package recently which was incredibly sweet and kind.

I intend to use that gift card to purchase some wine for The Walking Dead premiere. I have a feeling it is going to be required. Thank you once again, Tiff! Such a lovely surprise!

What bookish items 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.

TV/MOVIE

American Horror Story Season 6 Key Art

Not much is known about the upcoming season of American Horror Story. We haven't even been given a theme yet. Instead we've been treated to some seriously creepy teasers and key art.

If you were not already terrified of spiders this eye catching promo will certainly change that for you.

There is something entirely captivating about this. It's dark, unsettling and yet a little sexy which basically describes American Horror Story itself. I am really excited for September 14th (and potentially will be recapping this season again on the blog).

Stranger Things

Do you enjoy all things 80's and being a little scared? If so you need to watch Stranger Things. I have just watched the first episode and am completely hooked.

There is so much 80's nostalgia going on in this series and it makes me so happy. The first episode felt like a cross between Stand By Me mixed with the alien movies of the 80s with a dash of ET thrown in for good measure. It is so reminiscent of everything I love from the 80s and they've kept the props and setting entirely realistic to the time period. The friendship between the boys definitely makes me want to watch Stand By Me immediately, and I am completely sucked in to the mystery of the show. 

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.

Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally

Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date - July 5, 2016

Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 304 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

There are no mistakes in love.

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

Defending Taylor, at its core, is a story we've all heard before. One of self discovery and the expectations of those around you compared with what you want for yourself. It is about discovering and growing into your own beliefs and voice. This story is done in a way, however, that keeps it feeling completely fresh and new.

Miranda Kenneally allows her characters, particularly her female ones, to be imperfect. She allows them to make mistakes, and make decisions that have regrettable outcomes. She also manges to never allows this to define her characters. They are shown to still be worthy, mistakes and all. The message that your value is not attached to one thing is so important and it is one that is a current theme in Miranda's books.

The judgement and scrutiny that Taylor is faced with is perfectly back dropped with the rightful consequences of her action. She tried to do the right thing and protect someone she loves while blinded to the this HTML class. Value isepercussions.

While I enjoyed both Taylor and Ezra as characters, I didn't feel the chemistry between them the way I have with some of the other couples that Miranda has written. Their relationship didn't spark for me the way I imagine it was supposed to, but the romance in this one is still pleasant and you are invested enough in both characters to care about their romance.

The glimpses of characters from previous novels allows that connection between the reader and the story to stay intact. They will feel they've seen these characters grow and change long past their stories as we check in on their happily ever afters. These cameos are their own reward for loyal readers, and subsequently insure that this series fan base will continue to follow Miranda anywhere she wants to take them.

Another novel in which Miranda Kenneally shows her trademark heart, and breezy writing. She's created a fun world where her readers have gotten to experience the characters they have come to care about grow up and change along with them. I, personally, cannot wait to see what the next Hundred Oaks story brings.

Waiting On Wednesday .... The Chemist

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

My pick this week is The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expected release date - November 15, 2016

Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Release Date - July 12, 2016

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 384 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR TINY PRETTY THINGS**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose…and no one is playing nice.

June is starting to finally see herself as a prima ballerina. However, getting what she wants might cost her everything—including the only boy she’s ever loved. Legacy dancer Bette is determined to clear her name after she was suspended and accused of hurting her rival, Gigi. Even if she returns, though, will she ever regain the spotlight she craves? And Gigi is not going to let Bette—or the other dancers who bullied her—go unpunished. But as revenge consumes her, Gigi may be the one who pays the price.

After years of grueling auditions, torn ribbons, and broken hearts, it all comes down to this last dance. Who will make the cut? And who will lose her dream forever? 

There is a duality between the light and dark side of ballet. The pretty costumes, and movements back dropped against the pain and injuries. The determination and skill paired equally with desperation and self doubt. The Tiny Pretty Things series understands this duality and uses it to paint a portrait of very beautiful girls who are capable of some very terrible things in the name of competition and being the best.

The events that closed out the first book, specifically Gigi being pushed in front of a car, and its aftermath were the driving force of the story. We see how everyone has adjusted after the horrific events, and the fallout it has on both their relationships, and the school itself. The answer to what really happened to Gigi was not has satisfying as I wanted it to be, luckily the reminder of the book and the way the plot was woven together more than made up for this.

This book tackles a lot of topics. Jealousy, resentment, eating disorders, and bullying just to name a few. It tackles them in a way that feels realistic while also heightening the dramatic aspects of the plot. It helps the story to have what happens to these girls feel logical. Depth is added to the story by examining what leads to the decisions the characters make. Motivations are taken into account and that makes the characterization feel.earned and authentic There is also an element of determining the person you want to be tied into this story. Many of the characters show how easy it is to let revenge or resentment consume you and turn you into someone you don't really enjoy being. Above all else the notion of choice. The choices we can make and the consequences of our actions is a theme that beats throughout the entire story.

The ending will definitely leave mixed feelings. Most of the characters, for better or worse, learn something about themselves. Not all of them apply this knowledge to better themselves. The notion that those who are privileged can get away with things others cannot is not new, but it is highlighted here to great impact. There are some characters that may not deserve the ending they received but each ending felt logical and that made the ending feel satisfying; even if you wished for more (and in some cases less) for the characters.

A look at the dark heart underneath the beauty of ballet. This novel works because its characters feel like heightened versions of what actually exists in this world. A dramatic read that would feel at home as a teen television show complete with pretty actors and breathtaking dance sequences. If you're into ballet, and like your stories filled with interesting characters and intense situations this series should be on your radar.

Mini Hiatus

Hey everyone,

It saddens me to announce that my blog will be going on what is hopefully a brief hiatus. My computer recently decided to stop working and is in the process of being fixed (hopefully). It has taken a little longer than anticipated hence the need for the hiatus.

There may be the odd post up here or there in the meantime if possible, otherwise I will be back as normal as soon as my computer is fixed.