Top Ten Anticipated Reads for the Rest of 2017

Hello!

Happy Tuesday! How are things? I’m nearing the end of a whirlwind month of events and am now just left with a few more rehearsals before I gather with my grade for Class Day and Graduation. It’s an exciting time, for sure, but I’ll be honest, I’m also looking forward to reading and blogging a bit more once things quiet down. Are there any other graduating seniors out there? How is your end of the year coming along?

With all that said, I want to thank you for sticking with me through my brief hiatus! To ease back into blogging once again, I wanted to participate in a weekly favorite: The Broke and the Bookish’s Top Ten Tuesday. Back in January, I shared my most anticipated releases from the first half of 2017, but now that the year is halfway over {how does time fly by so quickly?}, this week’s topic has us rounding out the list. So without further ado, here are the novels I can’t wait to read in the coming months, presented in rainbow order, naturally. What books are you excited to grab?

First on my list is Far From the Tree, a new release from an old favorite, author Robin Benway. Dynamics between family and friends are Benway’s sweet spot, and so I’m excited to see what’s in store when the three main characters, Grace, Maya, and Joaquin, all adopted since birth, realize their ties as biological siblings. With a heartfelt plot, a unique and developed group of characters, and a stunning cover to boot, I think I’m in for a treat. October, come quicker? {out October 3}

I have anxiously been awaiting the release of Jessie Ann Foley’s sophomore release ever since I read and fell in love with her debut, The Carnival at Bray. Fortunately, I won’t have to wait much longer, as Neighborhood Girls will be coming to bookstores in September. A literary coming-of-age tale, the novel tackles the impacts of crime on a family and the harm done by toxic friendships after Wendy’s father is sent to jail. In all truth, it could be about anything and I’d clear my calendar on the release date – I’ll buy anything by Foley! {out September 12}

It’s been several years since I read Brandy Colbert’s debut, Pointe, but its rich characterization and dynamic plot are both still vivid in my mind. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to reading her second book: Little & Lion, which has been described as “a stunning novel on love, loss, identity, and redemption” in its exploration of mental illness and sexual identity. Its release date thankfully falls before I head off to school, so I plan to devour it in a day – I have no doubt the wait will have been worth it. {out August 8}

Whenever someone is in need of a suspenseful, compelling mystery, I have a list handy. The novel on top? Stephanie Oakes’ debut, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, a page-turner that kept me up far past my typical bedtime so that I could finish it. I wouldn’t be surprised if her next book, The Arsonist, does the same, given its intriguing synopsis: main characters – and outsiders – Molly and Pepper work together to solve the death of a German teenager in the 1980s. Early reviews have consistently praised the lyrical writing and strong character development, so I take that as a sign that Oakes has produced another winner. {out August 22}

I fell in love with Tara Dairman’s writing at the first mention of a young protagonist who loves to cook {that’d be Gladys of All Four Stars fame}. She’s an author I continually recommend to middle grade fans, and so, I can’t wait to get my hands on her next novel, titled The Great Hibernation. Who can say no to a middle grade mystery, particularly one that involves small town traditions and a cast of whip-smart kids? It goes without saying, but September couldn’t come soon enough. {out September 12}

There are few authors as revered as E. Lockhart in the YA world. With a career spanning over ten years, she adds what I expect will be another favorite to her growing list of novels with the release of Genuine Fraud. Inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley, the story offers a character on the run, hiding with the help of multiple disguises. Additionally, in the fashion of We Were Liars, we readers are surely in for lyrical writing, complex characters, and an intense mystery. Yes, yes, and yes. {out September 5}

Tamara Ireland Stone has written stellar YA contemporaries again and again, to the point that I consider her an “auto-buy” author; no matter the title or topic, I know I’m in for an excellent read when I sit down with one of her novels. I’m sure I’ll find it the same with her new book, Click’d, which follows middle school student Allie after her very own app goes viral. It’s marketed to a different age group than Stone’s typical audience, but I just see that as an excuse to fuel my middle grade obsession. In short? I can’t wait. {out September 5}

If there’s any consolation to the year 2017 has so far been, it’s the fact that Adam Silvera has not one, but two books hitting shelves. I still need to pick up his earlier release, History is All You Left Me {thank goodness summer vacation is nearly here}, but in the meantime, I’ve been reading up on his next novel, They Both Die at the End. Combining elements of the science fiction and contemporary genres, the story focuses on two strangers brought together by their impending deaths. Tissues will certainly be needed. {out September 5}

Libba Bray’s The Diviners and the sequel, Lair of Dreams, are wonderfully written and developed, but the series is also notorious for the wait between installments. You can then imagine my surprise when I found the title and release date of the third book: Before The Devil Breaks You, out in October. This time around, the Diviners are tasked with facing the ghosts that haunt an asylum on Ward’s Island. I can’t wait to dive into the 1920s paranormal world once again – and, better yet, right before Halloween! {out October 3}

Finally, I haven’t yet read a book by YA author Kathryn Ormsbee, but my excitement remains sky-high for her June release, Tash Hearts Tolstoy. The YA genre is sorely lacking in representation of asexual and aromantic characters, and so, I’m delighted to see the storyline tackled with the grace and respect it deserves: when the protagonist Tash becomes an Internet superstar, she also finds herself crushing on a fellow vlogger. Her only issue? How to tell him she’s asexual. It’s a book that already makes my heart happy. {out June 6}

Have an awesome day!
Bella

Psst. Need more 2017 books? Here’s my list of debuts that have caught my eye.

Top Ten 2016 Beach Reads

Hi!I look forward to reading in the summer as I do to a towering ice cream cone on a warm July day; in other words, it’s a treat that I couldn’t bear to miss. With two months off from school and little else to do, I like to fill my summer reading piles with a variety of authors and writing styles – is there any better time for bookworm exploration? – but if there’s one genre I make a priority come June, it’s beach reads, the lighter, fluffier stories that always leave me with a smile on my face.

Now that vacation is only two short weeks away and my reading pile is growing by the day, I couldn’t ask for a more fitting Top Ten Tuesday prompt: Beach Reads {how we approach the topic is left to us to decide}. I decided to take a cue from last year’s edition and pair stylish swimsuits with some of the contemporary novels on my TBR list, all of which have or will hit shelves this year. What books do you want to read this summer?

Before we begin, a reminder that Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Take a peek to find other books for your beach bag – and to link up a list of your own!

Road trips stories are the epitome of the teenage summer, capturing all at once blossoming friendships, a sense of adventure, and the spontaneity of the season. They typically make for a fun read, and better yet, I have yet to find one I haven’t liked! The newest addition to the genre is The Way Back to You, a collaboration between authors Michelle Andreani and Mindi Scott, and from its synopsis alone, I know it’ll find its way to me this summer. {swimsuit}

If the sun-soaked cover of Erin L. Schneider’s debut doesn’t have you longing to be on the beaches of Hawaii, I don’t know what will. The novel, Summer of Sloane, has all the ingredients for the perfect beach read: a cute summer fling, a warm setting along the water, and storylines on friends and family.  To put it simply? In the beach bag it goes – right alongside the sunscreen, swimsuit, and towel! {swimsuit}

I haven’t read Juliana Romano’s debut, nor have I been lucky enough to read her sophomore novel, Summer in the Invisible City, but from what I can tell, both books are right up my alley: coming-of-age stories with powerful emotional punches. It’s not the lighter style I typically save for the summertime, but nevertheless, its promise – a novel “whose characters will stay with you long into the fall” – is more than enough justification to bring it to the beach. {swimsuit}

 Tara Dairman, author of the adorable All Four Stars series, has yet to disappoint, and I expect no different of a case when I grab hold of the third Gladys Gatsby installment, Stars So Sweet. As the series comes to close, Gladys is faced with a dilemma: can she meet with her editor and still keep her budding critic career a secret? This one isn’t set during the summer months, but even still, I’ll happily enjoy the cutie’s final adventure in July! {swimsuit}

Lucy Knisley’s graphic memoir is the only nonfiction book of the bunch, but it sounds like a worthy summer read if I ever saw one! Knisley is known for her stunning travelogues, but Something New tackles a different story: her wedding preparations. If her past books are any indiction, these “tales from a makeshift bride” are sure to include hilarious anecdotes and colorful illustrations. I’ll need to grab it from the library soon! {swimsuit}

Though I have put them on my TBR list posts time and time again, I have yet to pick up one of Kasie West’s adorable contemporary novels. It’s a mistake I’m determined to fix this summer, if only because I’m oh-so excited for the release of P.S. I Like You. West’s newest release follows the back-and-forth messages left between main character Lily and a secret pen-pal. It’s just the story I’ll want after wrapping up my AP Lit work for the summer. {swimsuit}

An excellent premise or not, Kathryn Ormsbee’s Lucky Few would be added to my summer TBR pile based on its wonderfully illustrated cover alone! Fortunately, it sounds like a story both funny and sweet, a combination I’ll take any day of my vacation, as characters Stevie, Max, and Sanger attempt to check off all twenty-three items on their “Ways to Fake Death Without Dying” checklist. Perhaps I’ll order it as an end-of-the-year treat! {swimsuit}

The title of Jenna Evans Welch’s debut, Love and Gelato, has me dreaming of a trip to Italy, wandering the country’s streets with a cup of ice cream in hand. My wanderlust aside, I can’t ask for a better-looking read for any August afternoon. A brief summary: Lina travels to Italy on her mother’s wishes and ends up uncovering a mystery with her new friend – and possible crush – Ren. Yes please. {swimsuit}

With her adorable reality TV show romp, For Real, Alison Cherry secured herself a spot on my auto-read list, and now, with the release of her next novel, Look Both Ways, I hope only to reaffirm that position. Thankfully, it has so much that I love {theater, summer camp, first relationships} that I don’t think I’ll finish it disappointed. Will I even need to swim with this good of a book by my side? {swimsuit}

Finally, hand me a Jane Austen adaptation and read it I will. Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible has received much buzz in the publication world over the past few months, and I hope to carve out some time to read it myself this summer {along with a rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, of course!}. I can’t wait for an abundance of wit, the lines of subtle humor, and the modern takes of my favorite characters; if anyone can live up to Austen, I think Sittenfeld has proven herself well. {swimsuit}

Have a delightful Tuesday!

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors in 2015

Hi!

I take pride in being a versatile reader, one who is willing to try a variety of genres and writing styles. An open mind when checking out library books or browsing Goodreads has led me to plenty of pleasant surprises, particularly in the past year! Though the novels may have already been bestsellers or their authors beloved by many, those who read it before me are irrelevant to my own enjoyment; I’ve always believed that the joy of reading is that the story is new to you. As I did last week, I’m participating in The Broke and the Bookish‘s Top Ten Tuesday to wrap up my year in reading, this week highlighting ten of my favorite “new-to-me” authors from the past twelve months. Their work may vary in subject and depth, but one thing is similar: the writers are incredibly talented. Which authors did you choose to feature?

As a side note: to make this week’s list-making easier on myself, I’ve limited it to non-debut authors. In other words, these ten writers all had other novels out or planned for soon release when I read their books! If you’re in need of MORE recommendations, take a hop on over here :)

First to praise is Tara Dairman, author of the delightful All Four Stars and its sequel Stars of Summer. Cover to cover and book to book did I fall in love with the series’ adorable narrator, Gladys Gatsby, as she balances a sophisticated food critic career with the typical responsibilities of a middle school student. I finished both with nothing but a smile on my face, leaving me in anxious anticipation over Dairman’s next installment! {reviews: 1 / 2}

I’m ashamed to admit that I waited until this past spring to delve into the stunning world and high fantasy of Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse. Written from a unique premise and in incredible detail, I was easily swept away in the adventure and battles of the main character, Kestrel. Next up in 2016? Only more from Rutkoski, of course, as I {hopefully!} finish the trilogy with The Winner’s Crime and The Winner’s Kiss. {review}

I love me a cute middle grade contemporary {truly: I could spend days rattling off my favorites, from The Penderwicks to The Mother Daughter Book Club} so I was all sorts of excited to come across Leila Howland’s The Forget-Me-Not Summer. My first read by this beloved YA author didn’t disappoint, combining two of my favorite elements in one sweet story: sister dynamics and a small coastal town. My summer TBR pile is sure to include more from her backlist. {review}

I wrote about – or more accurately, obsessed over – Rachael Allen’s sophomore novel, The Revenge Playbook, just last Monday, so you’re sure to understand why I’ve included her in this week’s prompt! If her debut book or upcoming works are anywhere near as good, I envision a spot for Allen’s novels on my bookshelf for years to come. It’s excellent, entertaining, and well-written stuff. {review}

Courtney Summers is a veteran author for the YA audience, having written several hard-hitting and gutsy novels, but I only just read one of her books this year. Fortunately, All the Rage was impressive, weaving the ongoing conversation on rape culture with a dark and twisted narrative. It’s become my go-to recommendation for friends in need of a powerful story, just as Summers will certainly grow into my go-to author for good books next year. {review}

Nova Ren Suma is yet another author whose books I repeatedly passed over, and for no good reason other than my blatant ignorance of the imaginative stories inside! I had little idea of what to expect when I began her most recent novel, The Walls Around Us, over the summer, but that clearly had no impact on my enjoyment; I finished the ballet-prison-thriller {what can I say? It’s an odd tale} in a single afternoon. More please? {review}

If you haven’t read one of Jason Reynold’s terrific books, I’ll cut to the chase: you should do so immediately. I myself waited until early last winter to try The Boy in the Black Suit, but I quickly learned why Reynolds has garnered such a legion of fans; he writes with an authentic voice, crafts relatable and honest characters, and explores topics and settings in a distinct style of writing. He has a few novels in the works, and, believe me, I’ll be buying every one. {review}

I feel that Liz Czukas goes underrated in recommendations of lighter and “fluffier” realistic fiction. Granted, I’ve only read one of her two young adult novels – the Christmas-Eve-grocery-store-set mystery, Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless – but its diverse cast of characters and abundant humor was more than enough to make me a fan. I will have to grab her other book, Ask Again Later, sometime soon – perhaps for my own prom season in the spring! {review}

I’ve seen every movie, but it was only until July that I could actually say I’ve read the bestselling Harry Potter series, and I still have five more books to go! I would be committing some sort of literary sin if I excluded J.K. Rowling from this list, as I’ve now joined the millions of readers who have bonded with Harry, Ron, and Hermione over their time at Hogwarts. Here’s looking to as strong of a finale in 2016 when I read the rest of the remaining novels. {review}

Finally, Julie Murphy’s stellar writing won me over in her second book, Dumplin‘, a story that stars character Willowdean Dickson, a Dolly Parton aficionado and self-proclaimed “fat girl.”  Murphy’s relatable style and realistic plot had me recommending it left and right this past fall, an action I’m sure to repeat once I read Side Effects May Vary. I can never get enough new authors or new books. {review}

Have a lovely Tuesday!
Bella