Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler

Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 480 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Printz Honor author Carolyn Mackler returns with this striking new novel that chronicles the lives of five teenagers through the thrills, heartbreaks, and joys of their four years in high school.

Zoe, Jake, Mia, Gregor, and Whitney meet at freshman orientation. At the end of that first day, they make a promise to reunite after graduation. So much can happen in those in-between years….

Zoe feels like she will live forever in her famous mother’s shadow. Jake struggles to find the right connections in friendship and in love. Mia keeps trying on new identities, looking for one that actually fits. Gregor thought he wanted to be more than just a band geek. And Whitney seems to have it all, until it’s all falling apart around her.

Echoing aspects of John Hughes’s The Breakfast Club, Carolyn Mackler skillfully brings the stories of these five disparate teens together to create a distinct and cohesive whole—a novel about how we can all affect one another’s lives in the most unexpected and amazing ways. 

Carolyn Mackler takes the experience of high school and condenses it into a five character perspective that not only feels authentic but offers up a fun, fast read that will immediately make you want to watch The Breakfast Club.

The writing style of using small snapshots into the lives of each of the characters was a choice that both worked for and against the novel. The downside of this style was that we didn't get to be in the moment with the characters. We sometimes leave them at the precipice of an emotional fallout without following the moment. What we do get to see, however, is the changes that these situations invoke in the characters. I believe the trade off of seeing the larger, overarching picture, rather than focusing on each of the moments individually, worked in this case. It's not a style that would work in each novel, but shines here. The entire point of the novel is the journey and this is the way that best showcases that.

Character growth is the central focus of the novel. It trumps everything else in the novel, and is where Carolyn Mackler's voice shines. We get to see how each of them have been changed by their experiences, and how far they've come since the first year of high school. This all encompassing picture offers up a realistic look at how the high school experiences shapes us. The reality is that nobody is the same person at the end of high school that they are in the beginning. That growth is really the most magical part of high school and is something that continues into college.

The comparisons to The Breakfast Club are warranted. It would be easy to label these characters, particularly in the beginning. Fitting them into these restrictive categories would be almost effortless. The truth is that people are much more complex than that, and we see what a disservice it would have been to label them at all. They are not just that one thing, but may thing. It may seem like an obvious lesson, but for high school students labels are still a brutal reality. This novel shows that you are more than any label, and that you can continue to grow and change yourself regardless of what others say. It's a brilliant, affirming story that offers up a message of strength.

This novel offers up a larger picture at the four formative years of high school. Carolyn Mackler adeptly showcases how much that time changes us, and the ways in which our stories can unexpectedly converge. Fans of The Breakfast Club will love this, and those looking for a little nostalgia will certainly find it here.

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 week I had one of my most anticipated books of the fall be released! Pretty sure you'll see it a lot in book hauls from this week!

It'll most likely surprise nobody that I got Queen of Shadows this week!

Queen Of Shadows by Sarah J Maas (goodreads)

I had to snag a signed copy from my local Chapters via pre-order. I haven't had a chance to read it yet but it is happening soon!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is one of my most favourite books. I fell in love with Lou, Will and their story. I was both ecstatic and apprehensive when it was announced that a follow up would be released. Of course I am beyond excited to read it even if I am scared for the status of my heart after finishing it.

After You by Jojo Moyes (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Viking/Penguin for the chance to read this early. It's next up on my reading list!

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.

BOOK

Cover for Cherry by Lindsey Rosin (goodreads)

This is being pitched at American Pie for girls. I am hoping for a funny, but needed look at sex and friendship. I love how minimal this cover is while still entirely eye catching (and that tag line is perfect for what the novel is).

TV/MOVIE

The Walking Dead

I am currently devouring season four of this show. I've been REALLY into it. I love so many of the characters (in particular Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Maggie). It's a show that is about zombies that isn't really about zombies. It's about these characters and how they survive in this world. It's mostly character driven which makes it all the more fascinating. 

What are you obsessed with this week?

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Macmillan / Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 352 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

Having witches in your novel is an easy way to grab my attention. Particularly with some sort of unique hook to the premise. I immediately was interested in a series that promised a different take on the classic mythology and Trial by Fire more than delivered on that promise. In Firewalker, Josephine Angelini continues to weave a delightfully twisted take on witches and the Salem witch trials. She blends witch mythology with parallel universes to stunning impact, and thrills with this second installment of her trilogy.

In this second installment, Josephine Angelini makes you view the characters very differently than you did in the first. She widens your point of view, and makes you question what you thought you knew. Who is good and who is evil isn't quite so clear, and it embraces that sometimes people become a monster for the right reasons. The murkiness, and complexity of what is happening is my favourite part of this series. There isn't a clear answer, and like most things, it comes down to whose point of view you're seeing it from.

Lily continues to be one of my favourite characters in this series. She thinks rationally about things, and scientifically while everyone else is purely reacting on instinct. Her desire, particularly where it comes to the threats around them, to understand is incredibly intelligent. She questions things instead of blinding following. She's powerful, and that matched with her intelligence makes her formidable. There is always that tantalizing tease that she could become Lillian under the right circumstances, and this novel shows how true that statement really is.

With Lily's disappearance being the focus in the first novel, her subsequent return to home added a layer of realism to this otherwise magic ridden novel. There is an investigation, police are involved, there are consequences for a teenager going missing. This was a stark contrast to a lot of novels of this genre that gloss over the more practical realities of this actually happening. It added another layer of tension to a story already fraught with high stakes. There is a brutality to Josephine's writing. She promises nothing, and nobody is safe. This series already packs a pretty high death count, and as the stakes (and flames) grow steadily higher so do the casualties.

A series filled with steamy romance, dark magic, and the delicious tingle of possibility. Josephine Angelini has crafted a breathtaking, complex world, and even more complex characters. The second novel outshone the first, and I am breathlessly awaiting the conclusion to this incredible series.

Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
Release Date - September 15, 2015
Publisher Website - Macmillan / Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 342 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From the author of This Song Will Save Your Life comes a funny and relatable book about the hazards of falling for a person you haven't met yet.

Seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley is recklessly loyal. Taking care of her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But she's tired of being loyal to people who don't appreciate her—including her needy best friend and her absent mom.

Arden finds comfort in a blog she stumbles upon called "Tonight the Streets Are Ours," the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter. When Peter is dumped by the girlfriend he blogs about, Arden decides to take a road trip to see him.

During one crazy night out in NYC filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn't exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn't exactly who she thought she was, either.

Love, and how you define it means different things to different people. There are different types of love as well, everything from a romantic love, the love between family, and love we should have for ourselves. Lelia Sales' Tonight The Streets Are Ours looks at all these different kinds of love and plays with the idea of loving recklessly. The idea of 'loving too much' is the heartbeat of this novel, and Leila Sales handles this unique story line beautifully.

Arden, through various experiences, has her eyes opened. She is someone who is loyal without a fault. She gives, and gives tremendously and willingly. Her ability to love and give of herself is admirable, but it's also easily taken advantage of. Knowing how much of ourselves to give, and to whom, is something we all struggle with so relating to Arden was easy. She grows and changes throughout the book in really strong and believable ways that made the story mesh together. Leila Sales' talent is most evident in her characterization and growth and seeing Arden's progression is a hightlight of the story.

Arden, Lindsey, Chris, Peter, Arden's parents are all messy, flawed characters. Nobody in this novel is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. They are sometimes hurtful, selfish, and at other times they do incredible things. Leila Sales celebrates the good and bad that exist in everyone. She acknowledges that sometimes people do things for selfish reasons, even if their intentions are good. You can do the wrong thing for what you feel are the right reasons. If this novel had a theme it would be one about self interest and how sometimes you're blind to how you impact others because of it.

This novel is a much more realistic, honest look at what would happen if you sought out someone you felt you knew from online interactions. It's incredibly easy to feel as if you know someone from brief snapshots into their life, but the reality is often much different. Romanticizing someone, and who they are, is effortless when done behind a computer screen. Peter, as the synopsis says, is an awakening for Arden. He is nothing like she imagines him to be. It's not some fairytale and that was the glaring part of the story for me. I thought I was getting one story, while Leila Sales delivered another. The one I got, however, was even better.

This novel promises you a love story within it's first few sentences and it delivers in the most unexpected, magical way. This love story may not be the one you wanted, but it's nonetheless important. Leila Sales has charmed me with her realistic, but still dreamy, look at a whirlwind adventure. It is a sharp look at the reality versus the expectation that comes along with loving someone you've never met and the importance of loving recklessly while still protecting yourself.

Waiting On Wednesday ....... Teen Frankenstein

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 Teen Frankenstein by Chandler Baker

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

High school meets classic horror in this groundbreaking new series.

It was a dark and stormy night when Tor Frankenstein accidentally hit someone with her car. And killed him. But all is not lost--Tor, being the scientific genius she is, brings him back to life...

Thus begins a twisty, turn-y take on a familiar tale, set in the town of Hollow Pines, Texas, where high school is truly horrifying.

Frankenstein has always been one of my favourite classic novels, for so many reasons. This adaptation intrigued me because the 'Victor' character is female! It also happens to be the start of a series that will adapt classic horror tales and have them all set in the town of Hollow Pines, Texas. This is basically YA Penny Dreadful and to that I say - yes, please.

Expected release date - January 12, 2016

Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius

Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius
Release Date - September 1, 2015
Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this wonderfully creative retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school.

Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him.

Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both?

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time. 

Modernizing has always been a favourite way of retelling classic stories for me. There is something about turning something historical on it's head and twisting it with modern influences to make it feel like something entirely new. This novel is, pretty much, the literary equivalent of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Loud, vibrant, sleek, modern, and delicious.

It should be obvious from that opening that this retelling is more a situation of being 'inspired by' than a straight retelling. Those looking for a historically accurate retelling will not find that within these pages. However, the large, important pieces of this doomed romance are represented, and the feel of the story is intact. The unfairness of Anne's real life fate, the combustible nature of their feelings, and the pressure they both felt, is all included here. Dawn was respectful of the true story she was pulling inspiration from, while allowing herself a freedom to tell her version of the story.

The changes made to the story were necessary for the modernization of the plot. Henry, for instance, may be the king of the high school in this interpretation, but he's not an actual king. This means his power, and what he could get away with, would have to be diminished. Some of the elements would not lend themselves to modernization, but in adapting the story where needed, Dawn Ius has successfully modernized something that feels like it shouldn't work in modern times.

This novel may be titled Anne and Henry but make no mistake - this is Anne's story. This Anne joins the ranks of some of my favourite interpretations of her, and deservedly so. This Anne has some seriously sexy swagger. She owns her sexiness, even when others try to use it to humiliate her. She has the quick wit, and intelligence that the real life Anne was known for. She displays a heartbreaking recklessness and fierceness that is unstoppable. Equal attention is paid to Henry, and one cannot exist without the other, but it's Anne who steals the spotlight (and in the process the reader's heart).

The dual narration worked for this story, and ended up making it feel complete. As mentioned, one cannot exist without the other and that includes the narration. The voices both feel unique and vivid along with being vital. Each of these characters came to life through the author's writing. She embraces both the positive and negative aspects of their personalities to create fully developed characters. This Anne is both reckless, and passionate. She's intelligent, and self destructive. She's sharp tongued, and broken. This Henry is charming and fickle. He's steadfast in his convictions, but easily swayed. He's disloyal, but enticing. They both are full of complexities and nuances that bring their characters to life. It's the characters, and the chemistry between them, that make the story work. There is plenty of sexual tension and you feel how dangerous these characters are together.

The ending, particularly the last few lines, are like a lightening bolt. It's filled with cinematic flair, and drama. It is the exclamation point on a stunning debut and something you'll long to discuss with anyone who has read it. It's bold, unforgettable, and the perfect way to close out this Anne's story.

Dawn Ius has shown herself to be a new talent to watch. Sharp writing, careful characterization and a knack for the killer ending lines, she shows that she's only just getting started. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she writes next.