Waiting on Wednesday (156)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.


By Rosie Aikman
Publication Date: July 22, 2015

Sometimes love needs a rewrite

Life as a waiter, struggling paycheck-to-paycheck, doesn't leave much room for excitement. Finn Phelps finds his in Hot Blood, a prime time cop drama, and the actor who stars in it: Ethan Teller, beautiful, skilled, and shrouded in mystery.

Then an act of kindness results in Ethan falling right into his lap, and it seems like a dream come true that Finn gets to meet the man of his dreams. But as he comes to know the real Ethan, it starts to feel like maybe he should have been more careful what he wished for…











By Jessica Verdi
Publication Date: August 4, 2015

It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?






By Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publication Date:  August 18, 2015


Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To:
- find the liquor cabinet blindfolded
- need a liver transplant
- drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To:
- well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this return to the world of My Life Next Door is a story about failing first, trying again, and having to decide whether to risk it all once more. 

That's What HE Said Thursday #20

Image courtesy of Kei at The Lovely Pages Review

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the ladies at Chapter Break, where we spotlight a quote from our book crush to the object of his desire. We like to pretend it's us.

What better way to celebrate our book boyfriends?


My Life Next Door is one of my favourites and was my first introduction to Huntley Fitzpatrick. BiblioJunkie Nat would agree too. This is just one of the sweetest books ever that leaves you smiling. And Jase, oh that Jase, he's just THE "forever boy" you fall for.  ~ Bel

* * * * * * * * * *

He brought a sleeping bag, one of those big green bulky L.L. Bean ones. I look at it questioningly.

Following my gaze, he turns red. "I told my parents I was going to help you study, then we might watch a movie, and if it got late enough. I'd crash on your living room floor."

"And they said?"

"Mom said, 'Have a nice time, dear." Dad just looked at me."

"Embarrassing much?"

"Worth it."

He walks slowly over, his eyes locked on mine, then puts his hands around my waist.

“Um. So…are we going to study?” My tone’s deliberately casual.

Jase slides his thumbs behind my ears, rubbing the hollow at their base. He’s only inches from my face, still looking into my eyes. “You bet. I’m studying you.” He scans over me, slowly, then returns to my eyes. “You have little flecks of gold in the middle of the blue.” He bends forward and touches his lips to one eyelid, then the other, then moves back. “And your eyelashes aren’t blond at all, they’re brown. And...” He steps back a little, smiling slowly at me. “You’re already blushing – here” – his lips touch the pulse at the hollow of my throat – “and probably here…”

~ Jase to Samantha

My Life Next Door by

Huntley Fitzpatrick

   

     

   

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

* * * *

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.



Review:


Bel has been encouraging us to read My Life Next Door since last year.  I finally got around to it earlier this year and absolutely fell in love.  As she knew I would.  My new found love lead me to joining the ranks of cool kids waiting anxiously for the release of What I Thought Was True.

Thanks to the Garrett’s, My Life Next Door ultimately left me smiling and happy.  Sam’s dysfunction was no match for the love and kindness emanating from the Garrett’s. Gwen Castle’s story is a little more rough and serious.  Not sad.  Just a little less full of “happy.”  This fact is what lead to the following discussion between Bel and I.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised that the three of us talk books all the time.  And sometimes these discussions end up being the perfect review.  This was one of those times.  We’re thinking that we will need to include more reviews like this in the future.  Heavens know we have plenty of material…


Bel - What I Thought Was True is darker. Not sure where this is going. I don't like her dad. And what the hell happened in March? Dear lord. I just want answers.

Nat - You'll get them. Her dad is a bitter mess. He has no idea how to be affectionate. But he's not all bad. Everyone in this book has their "ugly" qualities. Some more than others. I really liked this one. It's realistic fiction. And DEFINITELY a coming of age story. Like I said though, it's not happy like her other one.

Bel - I finished WITIN. It was good. I agree it wasn't all shiny happy that goes on the happy shelf. But it was fairly realistic I think, you know, the changes approaching the end of the high school years. The Portuguese reminded me of learning Portuguese in primary school I enjoyed that bit.

Nat - I enjoyed having a heroine make some really stupid mistakes but in the end being allowed to move on from them. I also liked the message that things change. Maybe it's not the happiest message to give - "Hey, you and your high school boyfriend aren't going to last forever." But it's realistic and presented in a way that shows teens that you can survive. And even be happy about it.

Bel - Exactly. I liked that she wasn't angelic and had a history. The story felt fragmented in many parts. But she pulled it all together.

Nat - I sometimes felt like the language was fragmented. But I wasn't sure if that was normal for where they live?

Bel - Her mom kind of irritated me. "You want some fish? Some cod?" Wtf??? 

Nat - On their date-not-date study session?

Bel – Yep. I was embarrassed for Gwen.

Nat - Yeah, it was embarrassing. But it made sense. Both her parents were scared to death that she would be irresponsible like them. But they weren't educated enough to address the issue. Here, take BC pills and let me try to scare off the first boy you bring home. Gah!

Bel - Yep.

Nat - And there you go. Using a small island in CT to show the difference in privilege between the socio-economic classes...

Bel - I did like Gwen reading those erotica romances to the old ladies and the old ladies debating everything about it!

Nat  - That is so going to be us. 

Bel - Yep! I love how by that age, they just don't care anymore!


And there you have it, folks.  I am not ashamed to say that this is how many of our serious conversations end – a humorous note about the dirty old ladies we will be as we live out our Golden Years in Florida.

In the end we both enjoyed What I Thought Was True.   It was a realistic coming of age story about how life is continuously changing.

~Nat

A Peek In The BiblioBin #97

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

For Review:

Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach

Undone by Cat Clarke



Borrowed:

Going Rogue (Also Known As #2 ) by Robin Benway

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick



Purchased:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Overbite (Insatiable #2) by Meg Cabot

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Millenium #1) by Stieg Larsson

Bel's Top 10 Of 2012 In No Particular Order

Another year has flown by and with kids, work, what feels like a zillion activities every week, I can't even believe how many books I've managed to get in. I'll admit that I did have a hard time putting this list together. A few were no-brainers but others had to fight it out. So below, in no particular order, are my favorites reads of 2012.

 

Okay I lied. This is at the top of the list. What can I say? This book is pure heart through and through. I thought I was going to be reading a simple story about a kid struggling with coming out of the closet. What I got was so much more. Amy Lane is a force of nature who took me on the most emotional ride ever. The highs were very high and lows made me sob incessantly and my heart wrench for the characters. It sounds like a torturous read but it isn't. Until Chase In Shadow I had never experienced emotions written so vibrantly and described in such beautiful, poetic prose that had me so invested in the characters.  Amy Lane, you have set the standard very, very high my dear. I love you for it.

  

You know how sometimes you have a sweet tooth? My Life Next Door is kind of like that when you have the need to read something saccharin that isn't overly dramatic with crazy stuff.  Every so often you just need a good read that leaves you happy. If you’re going to picture a spot for this on the bookshelf, it will be right next to another “feel good” book, Anna and the French Kiss.

 

This very disturbing story about an abusive relationship is laid out impressively by mixing up the chain of events. In doing so the reader is directed to focus on each situation rather than their own feelings about why she hadn't walked away from the imbecile yet.  I found myself empathizing with her and rooting for her when she finally woke up. Disturbing - yes. But also hopeful.

 

 

You have to love a formidable female character. Throne of Glass offers two along with busy plot line complete with political intrigue, the supernatural and plenty of action. Oh and did I mention that the girl kicks major ass? This was so much fun!

 

 

This is just one of those sweet surprises of the year. I admire how the author broaches the subject of sexual assault with sensitivity allowing the character to discover her own strength. And her knight in shining armor who insists that she become stronger is the forever guy you want to bring home with you. I still continue to gush over it.

 

This is my first David Levithan book and he absolutely blew me away. I’m still in awe as to how he managed to write an entire book featuring a genderless character in A. Despite that, or may be because of it, this book is the phenomenon it is. David Levithan is a genius and Every Day is a must read.

 

 

The story follows a new girl replacing a missing student at an elite boarding school where she encounters a less than warm welcome from some of her fellow students. This is excellent storytelling that pulled me so far in that I didn’t even realize it until the every end.

 

 

I think I've had my fill of dystopian for a while. Thank goodness this one didn't feel so much like it. The setting feels more soap opera-like featuring some very confounding characters. But that's the best part about this book - you don't know exactly where everyone stands. You just hope you're trusting the right person. (The full review will be posted Jan 3rd.)

I used to have an aversion to romance novels until Shel picked this one for me to try.  People, Jill Shalvis is THE queen of taking a simple every day situations and turning them into the most ridiculous moments ever. In this one, Dorie as the adorkable heroine had me laughing so hard sometimes I had to give myself time to recover before continuing on. If you ever need something to get you out of the doldrums, Jill Shalvis is your girl!

In A Discovery of Witches I found a very beguiling and suspenseful story rich in history and mythology. What I loved most about this is that even though Matthew Clairemont, the 1500 year-old vampire has many human moments, not once was I allowed to forget that he was a predator first and foremost. Knowing that only made this story more thrilling.







The ones that narrowly made the list:

Talk about dysfunctional! I have a love/hate relationship with certain elements of this story but I still ended up liking it. May be when I look at it as a whole rather than those individual parts I see and appreciate a complex dynamic involving two very stubborn people who somehow manage to get each other.

This entire series is so much fun, I had a blast with it. My favorite aspect is that while Mo may have been neck deep in chaos, she always came through because of her quick thinking and resourcefulness.






So there's my list. I wish I could name more since this is just a small representation of the many excellent books and authors I've read this year. Here's to a Happy New Year and Happy Reading in 2013!

~ Bel

 



 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

* * * *

 “One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them … until one summer night Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase’s family embraces Samantha – even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha’s world. She’s suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time to save herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

I don't read contemporary romance too often but if they're written as lovely as My Life Next Door then I am thrilled to read more. It's been a while since I've read a book and seriously gushed over it to anyone who comes near me.

Seventeen year-old Samantha is an absolute delight. I enjoyed everything about her – her naiveté her awkward moments, her maturity and most importantly her eventual decision toward the end of the book to stand up for what's right – even if it means she has to stand up to her narrow-minded mother. Samantha’s mom, Grace, has good intentions for her children, though it’s evident from the beginning that since she entered into politics, her attention to her daughters has lessened. It’s Samantha who notices how much her mother has changed especially when she starts dating a younger man who also happens to be her campaign manager. Samantha is a bit blindsided by these events yet Grace shows no recognition of how much Samantha is changing.  Instead she mothers through post-its and schedules but doesn’t really engage with her daughters. She sees what she wants to and has expectations that are a bit unfair. Samantha, being the good kid that she is takes it in stride. She is very insightful when it comes to noticing her mother’s change. It's too bad her mother doesn’t wake up for a while.

It's when Samantha offically meets Jase for the first time after years of observing his family over their privacy fence that her world starts to change. Jase is impossibly perfect but a dream come true for Samantha – and for all us other girls too. He’s easygoing and unfazed by things. Plus he can fix cars, motorcycles, vacuums and babysit! But it's his thoughtfulness that really does a girl in. Case in point:

"Jaces' green eyes meet mine, then his lashes lower. 'I guess I like things that take time and attention. More worthwhile that way.'"

Seriously, can we clone this guy?  The Garrett’s home is a culture shock to Samantha who has only known order and routine all her life. Every member of the Garrett family shines with abundant personality and she takes to them instantly. 

As Samantha spends more time with Jase and his family she learns the valuable lesson of looking beyond the surface. Sure their yard may be a perpetual mess and Jase’s parents my breed like rabbits but that doesn’t make them bad people. In fact, they’re all hardworking, upstanding folk. This lesson comes in handy particularly when she is blindsided by how her two best friends, Nan and her brother Tim, have always viewed her as a trust fund baby. They’re under the misconception that she has always had it easy because her family has money. As these two worlds eventually meet, Samantha has to figure out how she'll balance her mother's expectations with her own growing independence. And when things take a turn for the worst, Samantha finds a way to push through. This is what I adore about this book: Fitzpatrick allows her characters to evolve and surprise you and she does it so well. Samantha learns that given the chance, some people can pleasantly surprise you and some can also disappoint you.

I know Huntley Fitzpatrick hit the mark with me when I kept reaching for the book even after I finished it. After the initial twinge of sadness that I had done so, I reminded myself that I can always reread it. This book is simply dazzling and will appeal to anyone who loves Stephanie Perkins’  Anna And The French Kiss  and Lola And The Boy Next Door. It has the growing pains issues of the latter but will leave you with the same good vibes that you get from reading Anna. Needless to say, My Life Next Door stands in good company on the bookshelf.

~ Bel