Waiting on Wednesday - Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

 

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, started by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week:

Undead Girl Gang

written by Lily Anderson

Publication Date: May 8, 2018

Mila Flores and her best friend Riley have always been inseparable. There's not much excitement in their small town of Cross Creek, so Mila and Riley make their own fun, devoting most of their time to Riley's favorite activity: amateur witchcraft.

So when Riley and two Fairmont Academy mean girls die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone's explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact. Instead, armed with a tube of lip gloss and an ancient grimoire, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth: she brings the girls back to life.

Unfortunately, Riley, June, and Dayton have no recollection of their murders, but they do have unfinished business to attend to. Now, with only seven days until the spell wears off and the girls return to their graves, Mila must wrangle the distracted group of undead teens and work fast to discover their murderer...before the killer strikes again. 

(Summary from Goodreads)

Amateur witchcraft turn necromancy?  Yes, please!  I love the mix of the supernatural and murder mystery.  Also, look at that cover!!!!  I need this to grace my shelves immediately!

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Waiting on Wednesday - Isle of Blood and Stone

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, started by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week:

Isle of Blood and Stone

written by Makiia Lucier

Publication Date: April 10, 2018

Ulises asked, "How can I look at these maps, see this riddle, and do nothing? They are my brothers."

Elias reached across the table and flicked aside two shells with a fingertip. The map curled into itself. "It's bound to be a goose chase. You know that?"

"Or a treasure hunt," Ulises countered, "and you've always been good at those."

Nineteen-year-old Elias is a royal explorer, a skilled mapmaker, and the new king of del Mar's oldest friend. Soon he will embark on the adventure of a lifetime, an expedition past the Strait of Cain and into uncharted waters. Nothing stands in his way...until a long-ago tragedy creeps back into the light, threatening all he holds dear.

The people of St. John del Mar have never recovered from the loss of their boy princes, kidnapped eighteen years ago, both presumed dead. But when two maps surface, each bearing the same hidden riddle, troubling questions arise. What really happened to the young heirs? And why do the maps appear to be drawn by Lord Antoni, Elias's father, who vanished on that same fateful day? With the king's beautiful cousin by his side-whether he wants her there or not-Elias will race to solve the riddle of the princes. He will have to use his wits and guard his back. Because some truths are better left buried...and an unknown enemy stalks his every turn.

(Summary from Goodreads)

I think the mix of what sounds like historical and fantasy makes for a great story.  I like the idea of this mystery that needs to be solved, but that the background of the author is in historical fiction, so even the summary sounds like this could have really happened.

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Waiting on Wednesday (98)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, started by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week:

Three Sides of a Heart

edited by Natalie C. Parker

Publication Date: December  19, 2017

In this collection, edited by Natalie C. Parker, some of your favorite YA authors tackle the much-debated trope of the love triangle, and the result is sixteen fresh, diverse, and romantic stories you don’t want to miss.

A teen girl who offers kissing lessons. Zombies in the Civil War South. The girl next door, the boy who loves her, and the girl who loves them both. Vampires at a boarding school. Three teens fighting monsters in an abandoned video rental store. Literally the last three people on the planet. 

What do all these stories have in common?

The love triangle.

You may think you know the love triangle, but you’ve never seen love triangles like these.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Uh, this book checks all my yeses off: romance CHECK, love triangles CHECK, anthology CHECK, amazing authors who are mostly women DOUBLE CHECK!  

I love a good love triangle, even when they are frustrating, and I believe these amazing authors, the ladies especially, (Rae Carson, Brandy Colbert, Katie Cotugno, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.K. Johnston, Tessa Gratton, Garth Nix, Veronica Roth, Sabaa Tahir, Brenna Yovanoff, Renee Ahdieh, Julie Murphy, Justina Ireland, Lamar Giles, and Bethany Hagen) will deliver the goods!

Is it December yet!!!!???  

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Waiting on Wednesday (97)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week:

The Other F-Word

by Natasha Friend

Publication Date: March 7, 2017

A fresh, humorous, and timely YA novel about two teens conceived via in vitro fertilization who go in search for answers about their donor.

Milo has two great moms, but he's never known what it's like to have a dad. When Milo's doctor suggests asking his biological father to undergo genetic testing to shed some light on Milo's extreme allergies, he realizes this is a golden opportunity to find the man he's always wondered about. 

Hollis's mom Leigh hasn't been the same since her other mom, Pam, passed away seven years ago. But suddenly, Leigh seems happy—giddy, even—by the thought of reconnecting with Hollis's half-brother Milo. Hollis and Milo were conceived using the same sperm donor. They met once, years ago, before Pam died. 

Now Milo has reached out to Hollis to help him find their donor. Along the way, they locate three other donor siblings, and they discover the true meaning of the other F-word: family.

(Summary from Goodreads)

 This book sounds like a really interesting take on finding family.  I like all the different aspects that seem to be a part of it: having lgbt parents, being fertilized from a donor, having a half-sibling only related to you through said donor, experiencing the loss of a loved one, and discovering who you are in this great big world.

Can't wait to read this one for sure; this is the kind of contemporary book that I am all about!  

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Waiting on Wednesday (96)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING:

Labyrinth Lost

by Zoraida Córdova

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

I fall to my knees. Shattered glass, melted candles and the outline of scorched feathers are all that surround me. Every single person who was in my house – my entire family — is gone.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

Beautiful Creatures meets Daughter of Smoke and Bone with an infusion of Latin American tradition in this highly original fantasy adventure.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Love this BOOK, love this COVER, love this AUTHOR!  Zoraida's first series, The Vicious Deep, was great, and I think Labyrinth Lost is better!  Such a rich world and a super empowering family story containing so many strong women!  It is definitely a part of the kick-ass girls club of books!  10 out of 10 would recommend!!!

I am also a part of the Resting Witch Face Squad (RWFSquad); we're the Street Team, bringing you Labyrinth Lost realness!  so make sure to check my social media for any tweets/posts about fun happenings about the book!  

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Waiting on Wednesday (95) - Labyrinth Lost

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

Labyrinth Lost

by Zoraida Córdova

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

I fall to my knees. Shattered glass, melted candles and the outline of scorched feathers are all that surround me. Every single person who was in my house – my entire family — is gone.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

Beautiful Creatures meets Daughter of Smoke and Bone with an infusion of Latin American tradition in this highly original fantasy adventure.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Love this premise, love this cover, love this author!  Zoraida's first series, The Vicious Deep, was great, so I am very excited to read this book!  I am also a part of the Resting Witch Face Squad (RWFSquad); we're the Street Team, bringing you Lost Labyrinth realness!  so make sure to check my social media for any tweets/posts about fun happenings about the book!  I luckily got an ARC and I'm reading right now: sooooooo good!!

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Waiting on Wednesday (94) - Summer in the Invisible City by Juliana Romano

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

Summer in the Invisible City

by Juliana Romano

Publication Date: June 21, 2016

A sparkling coming-of-age story about self-discovery, first love, and the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Bell has this summer all figured out: She’s going to befriend the cool girls at her school. She’s going to bond with her absentee father, a famous artist, and impress him with her photography skills. And she’s finally going to get over Noah, the swoony older guy who was her very first mistake.

Sadie wasn’t counting on meeting Sam, a funny and free-thinking boy who makes her question all of her goals. But even after a summer of talking, touching, and sharing secrets, Sam says he just wants to be friends. And when those Sadie cares about most hurt her, Sam’s friendship may not be enough. Sadie can see the world through her camera, but can she see the people who have loved and supported her all along?

Set against a glamorous New York City backdrop, this coming-of-age romance is a gorgeous summer read—one whose characters will stay with you long into the fall.

(Summary from Goodreads)

This sounds like a great contemporary: romance, discovery, heartbreak; all the pieces for the perfect book.  I've been in a mood with wanting to find some good contemporary fiction, so this will definitely fit the bill for me.  I love books set in New York because that is my ultimate dream city.  I just want to go on crazy adventures through the streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn and meet amazing people and do amazing things (oh the dreams), so I tend to try and live vicariously through stories.  Super excited to pick this up when it comes out!

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Waiting on Wednesday (93)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

Girl in the Blue Coat

by Monica Hesse

Publication Date: April 5, 2016

The missing girl is Jewish. I need you to find her before the Nazis do. 

Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion.

On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person--a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action.

Meticulously researched, intricately plotted, and beautifully written, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, gripping novel from a bright new voice in historical fiction.

(Summary from Goodreads)

One of the most interesting parts of history to me is WWII and the Holocaust.  There are a lot of different aspects of humanity, both good and evil, that come out while studying this time period.  And books focusing on the horrible atrocities that were done to the Jewish people, and also the moments of incandescent kindness, bravery, and selflessness that were accomplished in the face of these atrocities are the books I like to read.  Often a heart-wrenching reminder of what humans can do to other humans and also as a platform for all the voices that were lost, books like Girl in the Blue Coat are necessary.

The Jewish Book Council is full of great resources to learn and teach about this period, including a Young Adult book list, where you can find other texts set during the Holocaust.

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Waiting On Wednesday (92)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

Away We Go

by Emil Ostrovski

Publication Date: February 2, 2016

With an innovative format that includes interstitial documents, such as flyers, postcards, and handwritten notes, Away We Go is a funny, honest look at first love and tragic heartbreak.

Westing is not your typical school. For starters, you have to have one very important quality in order to be admitted—you have to be dying. Every student at Westing has been diagnosed with PPV, or the Peter Pan Virus. No one is expected to live to graduation.

What do you do when you go to a school where no one has a future? Noah Falls, his girlfriend Alice, and his best friend Marty spend their time drinking, making out, and playing video games on awaywego.com. But when an older boy named Zach (who Noah may or may not be in love with) invites Noah and Marty to join his secret Polo Club, the lives of both boys change as they struggle to find meaning in their shortened existence.

(Summary from Goodreads)

First of all I like the inclusion of some of Peter Pan that is alluded to in the summary. I think this is just an intriguing idea, to stick all the kids with this virus in one place. It sounds like they get to do whatever they want, and this is less of a school and more of a cushy prison. I liked Emil Ostrovski's first book, The Paradox of Vertical Flight, so I think I'll enjoy this as well.

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Waiting on Wednesday (91)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

The Last Boy and Girl in the World

by Siobhan Vivian

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

From the critically acclaimed author of The List comes a stunning new novel about a girl who must say goodbye to everything she knows after a storm wreaks havoc on her hometown.

What if your town was sliding underwater and everyone was ordered to pack up and leave? How would you and your friends spend your last days together?

While the adults plan for the future, box up their possessions, and find new places to live, Keeley Hewitt and her friends decide to go out with a bang. There are parties in abandoned houses. Canoe races down Main Street. The goal is to make the most of every minute they still have together.

And for Keeley, that means taking one last shot at the boy she’s loved forever.

There’s a weird sort of bravery that comes from knowing there’s nothing left to lose. You might do things you normally wouldn’t. Or say things you shouldn’t. The reward almost always outweighs the risk.

Almost.

It’s the end of Aberdeen, but the beginning of Keeley’s first love story. It just might not turn out the way she thought. Because it’s not always clear what’s worth fighting for and what you should let become a memory.

(Summary from Goodreads)

I think that a natural disaster like a town slowly submerging underwater is a really interesting backdrop for a love story.  I think the juxtaposition that will happen, with Keeley losing her home, but fighting to find her love will be great.  I'm really excited to read this, and the cover is amazing.  I do judge a book on it's cover a lot, so I love when the cover is striking and graphic in the way this one is.  

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