"Waiting on" Wednesday: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler due out December 27, 2011 by Little, Brown.

Summary from Goodreads:

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

My Thoughts:

I hadn't really thought of putting this on my WoW radar because I had read one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books and was less than impressed. So with that in the forefront of my mind the first time I came across this title I just disregarded it. However, upon one of my library co-workers (who also reviews books professionally) saying that it was a really, really good read and right up my alley I decided to turn my radar back to it and am now anticipating it's release.

So, tell me, what are you waiting on?

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whataker due out January 2, 2012 by Poppy.

Summary from Goodreads:

Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would preferred to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."


Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.

My thoughts:

Just like my anticipation for Miranda Kenneally's Catching Jordan, I think my desire to read this book stems from my completion and absolute love for Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Dairy Queen series with its milkmaid/football-and-basketball phenom, DJ Schwenk. However, opposite to DJ and her story, I think this book will take the down-home, naive and humble aspects of Ricki Jo's persona, wratchet them up to the point where Ricki Jo becomes possibly unlikable and then bring her back down to earth to where she is ultimately supposed to find her place in the world (I'm thinking not of a book comparison here but of movies like Mean Girls and Clueless--which I loved--and other books and movies of that ilk). Those are the books that always make me feel good after finishing them. The ones that show the main character the (possibly negative) potentiality of what they are striving for all the while teaching them the lesson that maybe what they had wasn't so bad after all. Ah, good old-fashioned teen cliches. Gotta love 'em!

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Katana by Cole Gibsen

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Katana by Cole Gibsen due out March 8, 2012 by Flux.

Summary from Goodreads:

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale.

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn’t explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she’s going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she’s harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that’s also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she’s always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

My Thoughts:

A teenage ninja? Awesome. Hopefully the Buffy reference isn't just something to hook the readers (when I think Buffy I think kick-ass and snarky which is always way good in my book). And besides, my two years of taking Japanese in high school (many years ago) has left me with a lifelong residual interest in their culture and histories.  

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kinneally

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Catching Jordan by Miranda Kinneally due out December 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire.

From goodreads.com:

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

My Thoughts:

Maybe it has something to do with me reading through the Dairy Queen series but the description of this book just sounded like a fun read. And all that green on the cover--so bright and cheery compared to a lot of covers I've seen lately. (So, I guess I gave away what side I'm on of the age-old "don't judge a book by it's cover" debate.) Although, the headless bodies are a little off-putting (and that answers that question).

 

What are you waiting on?

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Love? Maybe. by Heather Hepler

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Love? Maybe. by Heather Hepler due out January 5, 2012 by Dial.

From goodreads.com:

Just because Piper's birthday is on Valentine's Day does not mean she's a romantic. In fact, after watching her father and then her stepfather leave, she's pretty sure she doesn't believe in love at all. Then her friends concoct a plan to find them all Valentine's dates, and somehow Piper finds herself with the most popular guy in school. But true love never follows a plan, and a string of heartfelt gifts from a secret admirer has Piper wondering if she might be with the wrong guy.

In this heartwarming romance, true love is more than a maybe - and it might be closer than you think.

My Thoughts:

I loved Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, which Hepler co-wrote. I'm also a sucker for a mysterious admirer giving cute and meaningful gifts. Let's hope the combination of the two make for a great read.

What are you waiting on?

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Bitterblue (tentative) by Kristin Cashore

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Bitterblue (tentative title) by Kristin Cashore due out June 21, 2012 by Dial.

From Kristin Cashore's blog, This Is My Secret:

Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling (not six, as I'd written previously). As you may have gathered, the protagonist is Bitterblue. Yes, Katsa, Po, and others from Graceling do appear in the book. I will be able to provide a release date soon for Bitterblue; it won't be too much longer; but that's all I can say about it at this point.

(No cover art as of yet. Boo-hoo. So instead I'll share one of the international Graceling covers. This is the Danish language volume 2--for some reason they split the book into two volumes.)

My Thoughts:

I loved the audio of Graceling and mostly enjoyed Fire. I'm waiting to get back to the time that includes Katsa and Po (love them!) and find out how their kingdoms are doing. And I really enjoyed the character of Bitterblue in Graceling so for her to get her own story would be great.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling due out October 11, 2011 by Crown Archetype.

From goodreads.com:

Comedy's fastest-rising star takes to the page in a book of essays, personal anecdotes, and impassioned pleas.

Multi-hyphenate Mindy Kaling is an Emmy-nominated writer, the actress famous for playing the beloved Kelly Kapoor on The Office, and the author of one of Twitter's most popular and quoted feeds.  She is a keen and witty observer of life, romance, and pop culture, whom the New York Times recently called "an entirely original and of-the-moment" performer and Entertainment Weekly deemed “one of the ten funniest actresses in Hollywood.”


In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy shares her observations, fears, and opinions about a wide-ranging list of the topics she thinks about the most: from her favorite types of guys (including Sherlock Holmes, NBA players, Aaron Sorkin characters, and 19th-century fictional hunks) to life in the Office writers' room to her leisure pursuit of dieting (“I don’t travel, speak other languages, do crafts, or enjoy sports, but I love reading about new diets”) and how much she loves romantic comedies.  Loaded with personal stories and laugh-out-loud philosophies, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is a must-read by one of the most original comedic voices working today.


My Thoughts:


So, I'm pretty much really waiting for the audio version of this book to come out. If you've read my review of Tina Fey's Bossypants you'll know that I'm a sucker for a comedian reading their own book. And, Mindy Kaling, her of many, many funny and crazy episodes (as a writer) and one-liners (as Kelly) of The Office is sure to be a blast. I can't wait! And for a little something extra here is a behind-the-scenes on the music video of "The Girl Next Door" she directed for The Office.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore due out October 25, 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

From goodreads.com:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

My Thoughts:

Are mermaids the new vampire (or zombie, or werewolf)? Between this one and Mandy Hubbard's Ripple and Tera Lynn Childs' Fins series (oh, and the selkies in Wendy Delsol's upcoming book Frost) there are quite a few mermaid books flooding the shelves (I know, lame, but pun totally intended). Ok, maybe it is due to growing up in the time of Splash and Disney's A Little Mermaid, but call me a sucker for any book that has a mermaid in it. I look forwarding to reading this one and hoping it does the mermaid tail, uh, tale justice.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: What Boys Really Want by Pete Hautman

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our enthusiasm for.

My pick this week is What Boys Really Want by Pete Hautman due out January 1, 2012 by Scholastic Press.

From Goodreads.com:

National Book Award winning author Pete Hautman lets us in on the secret.

Lita is the writer. Adam is the entrepreneur. They are JUST FRIENDS.

So Adam would never sell copies of a self-help book before he'd even written it. And Lita would never try to break up Adam's relationship with Blair, the skankiest girl at school. They'd never sabotage their friends Emily and Dennis. Lita would never date a guy related to a girl she can't stand. They'd never steal each other's blog posts. And Adam would never end up in a fist fight with Lita's boyfriend. Nope, never.

Adam and Lita might never agree on what happened, but in this hilarious story from Pete Hautman, they manage to give the world a little more insight into what boys and girls are really looking for.

My Thoughts:
After not having read anything by Pete Hautman it was recommended to me to read The Big Crunch. I liked the simplicity of the story that juxtaposed nicely with the complicity of falling in love. His way of writing had just the right touch to keep me interested in the characters and their journey towards a new relationship. His amusing book trailer for The Big Crunch also clued me in to his sense of humor which sounds like makes an appearance in this new book. Although, I have to say, I hope this isn't the final version of the cover--it's a little bit blah compared to his last book.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our ethusiasm for.

My pick this week is Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs due out September 6th 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books.

From Goodreads.com:

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

My Thoughts:


I enjoyed my way through the Oh. My. Gods books and am now working my way through the Forgive My Fins books. I adore Tera Lynn Childs and the Greek mythology themed books she writes so it is with bated breath that I sit on pins and needles for the start of a new series (and this time it looks like it will be three books instead of two). 
After the hoopla of the Percy Jackson series, which I could never quite get into despite my love of mythology and mythology-based stories, I was so excited to come across the Oh. My. Gods. books and find that they were right up my genre alley (so to speak). To have another series of mythological themed books by Tera Lynn Childs is just icing on the cake!

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Crossed (Matched Trilogy #2) by Ally Condie

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our ethusiasm for.


My pick this week is Crossed by Ally Condie due out November 1, 2011 by Dutton Juvenile.


From Goodreads.com:

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.


My Thoughts:

While touted as the next "Hunger Games," for me the first book got off to a slow start with Cassia living by the rules of the Society instead of being a rebel right off the bat like Katniss was. However, once I got into the story and the conflict that Cassia feels when she gets more than one option in her Marriage choice. I started to feel that she was more rebellious when she started following her own instincts instead of what the Society wanted her to do. I'm looking forward to seeing how far she goes and what she does to get there.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our ethusiasm for.


My pick this week is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater due out October 18, 2011 by Scholastic.


From Goodreads.com:

There is very little advance information on what this book is about. This is the crumb thrown at me from goodreads.com: With her trademark lyricism, Maggie Stiefvater turns to a new world, where a pair are swept up in a daring, dangerous race across a cliff--with more than just their lives at stake should they lose.


And from Maggie Stiefvater's website I got this: A standalone paranormal young adult novel involving blood, beaches and kissing (but no mermaids or kraken). Details to be revealed closer to the release date.


[UPDATE 8/11/11: synopsis now posted on goodreads.com]


It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.


My Thoughts:


Oh, Maggie Stiefvater, how I loved your Wolves of Mercy Falls series (alas, I'm still waiting to read, uh, ahem, listen to, the last book of the trilogy). Your book trailers are so pretty to my eyes and your words are so lovely to my ears (because, in my case, I've only listened to her books). And now you have a book coming up that may possibly have it's roots buried in mythology and folklore? Be still my heart! Oh, the awful, terrible waiting game begins.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our ethusiasm for.


My pick this week is The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa due out October 18, 2011 by Harlequin Teen.


From Goodreads.com:


Gah! There is no summary of The Iron Knight. Here's from Ms. Kagawa herself on the lack thereof: "So, where's the synopsis, you say? Worry not, that comes later." All I know is that it is a story of Ash and Puck. And, for now, that's enough for me.

My Thoughts:

I've devoured and reviewed the first three books in the Iron Fey series. I'm pacing myself to get to the two novellas that have been published so that I'm not having serious fae withdrawels until October rolls around. I'm excited to see how the story progresses (without Meghan?) through the views of Ash and Puck.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are barely able to restrain our ethusiasm for.

My pick this week (and my very first one ever) is The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler due out 11/21/11 by Razorbill.

From Goodreads.com:

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

My Thoughts:

Ever since I read Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why a few years ago I have been waiting with bated breath for his next book release and it's finally here--well, it will be in a few months. A recent article in Entertainment Weekly gives a very good explanation of the length of time between publications.