TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top 10 Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where, each week, a Top Ten list is posted based on a particular topic.

This week, I'm gonna be talking about books that I really really want to read after being presented to me through various sites and specifically, GOODREADS! :) They have also been in my to-read list and I can't wait till they come out...or until I can have more money in my wallet!

1. Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Not only am I a fan of the story but also of debut author Amy Zhang for being so young, yet venturing on this tough adventure! I cannot wait till it comes out. The reviews are also mostly positive, so, again, can't wait! Hoping it won't disappoint!

2. Winterspell by Claire Legrand

I don't know how many times I've requested a galley of this but I won't give up. As a kid, I grew up loving the story of the Nutcracker, so it gives me such pleasure that a book that plays upon this story is coming out!

3. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

As you all know I'm a huge music fan  but unfortunately, I haven't read this book even if I want to. It's just not that available at my local bookstore and I have to travel far to get it, there can't be no transfers done and also, I hate ordering online at most cases. But still, once I do get the book, I will dive in.

4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Again, nuff said. I feel like I'm betraying myself coz I wasn't feeding myself this wonderful book! And with 2 other books, I'm so late to the feast, but I'm still gonna dive in!

5. Speechless by Hannah Harrington

For now, I am speechless.

6. The Unbecoming by Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I feel like I'm not doing my friend justice for not reading this book yet and I feel like I can't relate to certain conversations regarding this, although I am very eager to read it, it's just that, I don't have it.

7. Aleph by Paulo Coelho

I'm a huge Coelho fan but I haven't been reading his stuff lately. I really, really want to but so many stuff on the TBR, it pains me to see this book at the book store and also not having money for it.

8. Memoirs by a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

I've only recently discovered this book even existed and I was enchanted with the synopsis. I want to see whether I'd feel in any way connected to the person I forgot...

9. The Program by Suzanne Young

Murder me now for I know it is a good story!!!

10. Endsinger by Jay Kristoff!

Jayvee, there is this phrase called, "Wait patiently!", but I guess I'm in a bit of doozy when it comes to that! I CANNOT WAIT!!!! It's honestly one of the books I am looking forward to read all year! SWEET MOTHER OF CHEESES!

Keep posted on next week's list coz I'm sure I'd be creepin' out on your timelines or somethin'! :)

MISFIT TALKS: I HAVE THIS PROBLEM

I missed posting things like this because I can just talk like I want to and rant like I want to and just make the mistake of not caring because lately I feel like I'm just conforming to things and I've gotten bored with it and so I started entering this spiral which was depression and for a while I didn't have the energy to blog and I felt miserable with reading. Even the most beautiful books seem so unattractive to me. I succumbed to my inherent madness and cried for reasons unknown and I knew I was entering a state of existential crisis, which I seem to have been having most of the time but I noticed that it is very apparent for my depression to kick in during August. And I have no freaking idea why. I just call it my "AUGUST DEPRESSION".

I still did reviews for books that were on tour because I didn't want to feel irresponsible for not doing them and the foundation that I had with some of the tour sites could be jeopardized. I did miss one review though because again, it wasn't just a reading slump. It was a full on shut-down from reading. I wasn't even visiting my nearest local bookstore, no matter how near it may be. I guess it was me thinking I'd only be lonely upon seeing them and not really having any money for them. Yeah.

On other news, school is very stoic. Plain. In other words, too normal. My life has become stale and an adventure I've been wanting for sometime couldn't seem to be sufficed by school. And I feel as though, even though I enjoy the company of my school friends, I feel like I'm betraying them when I'm just not interested with what they are talking about because I have thoughts of jumping off of a building. Some jokes even feel empty to me and I sometimes laugh to feel good for myself because a certain sorrow that I could not point out that keeps eating me alive rather than actually enjoying whatever it is that was so funny.I don't know if I just made sense.

And with not reading came the time where I would only be cooped up in my room, watching anime and reading manga which I haven't done in forever. Though blissful and yes, therapeutic, I also ended up realizing I have become a bum in the past month or less. I didn't even want to study for tests.

But I am thankful for positive and happy parents. No matter how dysfunctional, I'm really happy that they haven't made it hard for me during this weird time. And to my friends at school who put up with me, I am thankful that I have them and I'm sorry if I seem so out of it sometimes. To my booknerd friends, I love you! You give me such energy even through the time of not reading at all. To Alia, especially, for your words of encouragement. We can do this  sweetie! :) Thank you. And to my blogger friends, who are as understandable as heck! You are all inspirations to me and you keep me going! To authors and books whom I've neglected, yeah, I'm sorry and yes, still, thank you, always. Kai, who became my instant anime buddy through Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, thank you for sharing your time into fangirling with me. It made me happy even for the shortest time we talk about Nozaki-kun and poor, sweet Mikorin! To music and bands who fuel me up. And to God of course for giving me strength to wake up everyday to face the challenges that I did not know I could face. Thank you.

I am better now, I feel much happier and I've missed blogging and reading and I'm catching up on a few ARCs that were given to me by publishers. I'm actually very content for now. And I know that next year, most probably, I'd go through this again but I hope that it won't cause me to take my life. It's a weird thing to think about even if I know I could possibly evade it, but it just happens.

Misfit booknerds, thank you for sticking with me...

August Playlist: TOP 5

It's been forever since I posted a playlist. I was really planning on a July one, but yeah. Anyway, I have been listening to some fantastic tracks by some amazing artists! Here's my Top 5!

1. I'm Not The Only One by Sam Smith

It's such a beautiful song with such an jazzy tune that I think I've been missing in my rock and roll life. And the lyrics are just enchanting, mixing the doubt of the foundations of a realtionship and the pain of being not someone's one and only . And it's the type of song you'd just sing along to, no matter how sad it may be. I put it on repeat most of the time. Don't. Judge. Me.

2. Chandelier by Sia

I've always been an avid fan of Sia even with just her collaborations with other artists and also I subscribed to her Vevo channel and listening to her other solo acts but Chandelier must be that most recognizable feat in her arsenal right now with strong lyrics and vocals. Sia's voice is filled with power but also sorrow and pain. And also she has this distinct sound that makes me fall for her everytime. The most eerie part of me loving this song is that it's the only song that I have on my head even if I don't have a music player on me. I have an attachment. But yeah, in my depressed state, it's not the most ideal song to listen to.

3. Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer

These boys were my June Playlist special with all their songs on loop and with their new self-titled album, all their songs are amazing and Amnesia, which they've been playing in many of their concerts and tours, now has its spot on the album and a music video! HOOOORAH! So proud of these boys!  Yeah, again, not the most appropriate song to listen to a time of depression and sadness but the lyrics are just beautiful! Good job Madden Bros! And the mixture of Calum's subtle vocals with Luke's sad, aggressive voice is just perfect! Again, congrats to #WAMWESIA! LOL. They make me happy!

4. I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends) by Neon Trees

NEON TREES!!!! NEON TREES! Goodness! I missed the heck out of you!!! Picture Show is still on my iTunes, never leaving and it saddened me that they took a hiatus but now they are back with their album, Pop Psychology and this is my favorite track on the album so far  with such witty lyrics and the truth that you cannot push your boyfriend or girlfriend to get along with your family or friends. It's a dark truth but also taken into a funny perspective in this song! An entrancing vocal by lead singer,Tyler Glenn, brings me life!

5. I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers

Retribution song! I love listening to this after a time of senseless crying and just to bring me back to life! Well, this song does make me cry, but the crazy of this song is just perfect! And I love the fact that Jack Antonoff decided to form the band Bleachers with fun. going through a hiatus! And I love him coz fun. and Lena Dunham! OH YEAH! Lyrics! LISTEN WELL! UPLIFT YOURSELF!

So yeah, I have a weird August playlist with both sad and happy songs, but it's pretty normal,  I guess. Anyway, share your thoughts on the playlist or listen to any of them or if you want to recommend any songs to me! 

Thanks Misfit Booknerds!

{BLOG TOUR} Excerpt: The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco

Title: The Girl From The Well
Author: Rin Chupeco
Publication: August 5th 2014, Sourcebooks Fire
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

The Girl from the Well is A YA Horror novel pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge", based on a well-loved Japanese ghost story.

READ AN EXCERPT

About The Author:


Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Despite an unsettling resemblance to Japanese revenants, Rin always maintains her sense of hummus. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. Dances like the neighbors are watching.

Her work, The Girl from the Well, is a YA psychological horror novel due out in Fall 2014, pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge". She is represented by Nicole LaBombard and Rebecca Podos of the Helen Rees Agency.

Keep posted on the tour with reviews and other excerpts! :) Thanks for the support Misfit Booknerds!

The Misfit Interviews: Fun Facts with Alex London

So before Alex London heads to the Philippines for his book signing, I decided to ask him a bit about himself! And he cracks me up...most of the time! Here are some things you might want to know about Alex London! :)

1. Do you play any kind of sport?

• I played soccer in elementary school, ran track in middle school, and briefly played lacrosse in high school. I was terrible at all of them.

2. Do you type your manuscripts or write them on paper?

• I type them, using a program called Scrivener

3. Favorite kind of pet?

• DOG!

4. Breakfast combos?

• Coffee and...anything!

5. Pet peeves?

• I can't stand the sound of nail files. For some reason, it's torture to me. 

6. Inspirations for writing novels?

• That question is too big for this answer.

7. Coffee or tea?

• See above.

8. Favorite place to read in?

• Anywhere except the shower. That would not work out well.

9. Favorite TV show binge?

• I always like discovering a new show, but I can always binge on 30 Rock.

10. I really do think you look a bit like John Green, what do you say about that?

• I suppose that means we're both terrible handsome, eh, but I'd love for my book sales to look like his too.

11. What types of music do you listen to?

• Pretty typical nerdy white guy rock-Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Spoon. Also I like the show tunes from Broadway.

12. Odd or weird habits?

• Oh so many...

13. Do you like exercise?

• Like it? I dunno. I do it and feel good afterwards but it does take some effort to get up and run or work out.

14. What's the first thing you bought when you received your first pay check (please say books.LOL)

• Well, one of my first jobs was in a bookstore, and yes, my first paycheck went largely to books, especially because I got a discount for working there!

15. What are you working on right now?

• Writing more books!

So that's it! But PS! I have one question from a friend! :) Her name is Eriele! (Shout out to Eriele! WOO!)

1. Do you get to hang out with David Levithan? Check out DavidLevithanPH on Twitter, coz we die for him and we want him to know how much we love him. :) 

• Ha! Yes, he's an old and dear friend! He'll actually be at my wedding 3 days before I visit the Philippines. I'll tell him y'all said hi. :)

EEEEP! That last one tho! HE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! WHAT THE!? WHAT SHOULD I GIVE HIM!? Anyway, he's gonna have a book signing at SM Aura on August 30th! It's a Saturday, so I'm hoping I can see some of you there! :) Do leave comments below if you are! For more information, check out this post...

See you there! And Alex, thank you to the moon (where we can have coffee for like, 30 minutes?) and  back! :)

Cover Reveal: Conspiracy Girl by Sarah J. Alderson

Well, with problems of blogging that came along in my life, I still want to promote this book because it looks amazing and I'm a Hunting Lila fan, so let's see the newest addition to Sarah J. Alderson's arsenal of awesome books!

Here's a sneak peek of the book! WOOO!

Finn is sitting at a swivel chair in front of them. One hand taps commands on a keyboard, while the other is sticking a spoon into a jar of something that sits wedged between his thighs. With a sharp pang of betrayal I see Goz is lying at his feet. Finn holds out the spoon laden with what looks like peanut butter and Goz snarfs it down.

Anger propels me to my feet. Just the sight of Finn feeding my dog makes me want to hurl something at him. I march towards them.

Finn looks up and smiles. ‘Morning,’ he says, before reaching to pat Goz on the head.
I glare at my dog who ignores me, too busy trying to lick the spoon clean of every trace of Skippy.

‘You’re feeding him peanut butter?’ I ask.
Finn looks at the jar and then at the spoon which Goz is in danger of swallowing whole. He shrugs. ‘Yeah, he likes it.’ He holds the jar out to me. ‘Want some?’ he asks.

Also, Sarah's (as Mila Gray) book, Come Back To Me, is on sale for your Kindle at £4.99 to £1.30!!! So go grab the opportunity! The sale will be up until September 1st, so don't miss a beat!


Support Sarah's new book, Conspiracy Girl and Come Back To Me. Don't forget to check her links too!

Website | Facebook | @sarahalderson | @MilaGrayBooks | Amazon

ARC Review: Random by Tom Leveen

Title: Random
Author: Tom Leveen
Publication: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers
Format: e-ARC, 221 pages
Source: Edelweiss (Thanks so much to the publisher!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

Who's the real victim here? This tense and gripping exploration of cyberbullying and teen suicide is perfect for fans of Before I Fall and Thirteen Reasons Why.

Late at night Tori receives a random phone call. It's a wrong number. But the caller seems to want to talk, so she stays on the line.
He asks for a single thing—one reason not to kill himself.

The request plunges her into confusion. Because if this random caller actually does what he plans, he'll be the second person connected to Tori to take his own life. And the first just might land her in jail. After her Facebook page became Exhibit A in a tragic national news story about cyberbullying, Tori can't help but suspect the caller is a fraud. But what if he’s not? Her words alone may hold the power of life or death.

With the clock ticking, Tori has little time to save a stranger—and maybe redeem herself—leading to a startling conclusion that changes everything…

Misfit Review: 

As you may have noticed, it took sometime before I got back into blogging again. Some of you might think that it was because of school, but it was actually because I was depressed. I'll talk about that in another post. But yeah, I had no motivation to read and Random was a book that I was almost finished with but was too depressed to continue reading. And I should tell you, it's not a book you should read whilst on one.

"The complete randomness of it was the whole point."

Random starts with Tori Hershberger frantic about the next day's trial. She is to be seen in court after what happened with her "friend" Kevin Cooper. She was one of those deemed guilty of Kevin's suicide and Tori is nervous that things won't go well for her. But as she tries to go to sleep, she receives a phone call from a guy named Andy saying that he dialed a random number and wants to kill himself because he has no more reason to live. It's up to Tori to negotiate with Andy into not killing himself because she doesn't want to be blamed for another death.

"Nice, he says."See, that's what I meant. There's nobody anywhere who givesa shit about anybody else. That is exactly my point. This isn't about me, Tori. It's about everybody. Everybody screwing everybody else over and--god, fuck this!"

The story was started nicely, cryptic yet loose. Andy felt like the guy I would rather not talk to because he was so aggressive and demanding. But in any way, I liked that he brought some charm into the story with his dark humor and common sense. He made the story shine. Tori on the other hand was just incredibly annoying to me, which may be what Leveen was trying to achieve with her character but also may be for the fact that she's so gullible and naive. 16 year olds. You sometimes can't blame them for not getting the whole picture. Tori, however, was determined to not let Andy die and I liked that about her though Andy did have a point that she may be doing it only for herself but I noticed a sort of attachment that she had with Andy in the couple of hours that they talked.

I really, really loved the theme of the story which is online bullying. There's this video by Ryan Higa on Youtube that I watched which talked about cyber bullying and how one should not feel anything about it. You can easily just shut it off, deactivate your social media accounts and it's okay. But if you are bullied outside of the virtual world, it does indeed take a toll on you. Kevin was being harassed online by some jocks and popular girls and Tori wanted to be part of something bigger in her senior year which lead her to tease her friend in the process of getting a nod from those people. It made me sick. But teenagers do succumb to peer pressure and Tori was a symbol of the negativity that high school has which is the awful bantering and the discrimination. The harder part of it was that Kevin was going through a difficult time because he was already diagnosed with depression.

But Kevin Cooper had had enough.

Which brings me to my point how difficult it was to read it at the time that I just wasn't okay with myself. It was okay to take in jokes but it was much harder to stomach it in when you can't seem to get that it was actually a "joke". And Tori in her denial and innocent state believes that she had done nothing wrong and that she is innocent. Andy makes it a point for her to see the bigger picture and go face facts. Again, kudos to Leveen for such an upfront yet caring character like Andy. Though there were times I felt like I wouldn't like him, I actually did. Oh yeah! Jack! Jack is the true hero of this story by the way. LOL.

I felt in the first parts like the story was dragged a bit too long with Tori and Andy on the phone, Tori pleading, etc. But then it allowed for different emotions and twists to open up. The twists are the ones to look forward to. I kind of had a OMG moment around a few pages to the end and I liked it.

I chose the simplest. "Bye, Kevin."

Tom Leveen allowed me to be frustrated and hateful of his characters but also made me realize that the struggle is real and that it is okay to hate them as long as there is a reason behind it. It's my feeling. He brought out such diverse characters, with polarizing personalities that made the story work. I honestly thought I'd hate the story mid-way but it definitely delivered. His style is not so ordinary, with Facebook posts and comments part of the story but it also plays around subtlety and hard-hitting moments that you would see in any book about suicide. His characters just made it so worth it!

Random is a book that teaches that even when we do have the freedom to say anything we like, there's always a casualty that comes with it. And it may be something you have to pay for.

About the Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Tom Leveen has 22 years of theatre experience as an actor and director. He was the Artistic Director and a co-founder of two companies: Chyro Arts Venue, an all-ages nonprofit visual and performing venue; and Is What It Is Theatre, a community theatre that operated for 13 seasons. Tom lives with is wife and son in the Phoenix area. PARTY was his first novel, followed by ZERO (a 2013 YALSA Best Book) and MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRL, all with Random House. His fourth novel, SICK, a YA horror, will be released in Fall 2013 from Abrams/Amulet.


Remember to check out my review archives which has all the books I've reviewed as well as some of the books you'd expect I will review very soon! This will help you check out book reviews easier. :) YAAAAY! For all the love and support, thank you Misfit Booknerds for everything!

Waiting On Wednesday #10: Play Me Backwards + Rumble

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are just waiting to have our hands on!

Title: Play Me Backwards
Author: Adam Selzer
Publication: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Expected Release Date: August 26th 2014
Pre-order or buy on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

SYNOPSIS:

A committed slacker enlists the help of his best friend (who may or may not be the devil) to get his act together in this novel filled with humor, awkwardness, and honesty, ideal for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Leon Harris isn't exceptional and he isn't popular. He's the kind of guy that peaked in middle school, when once upon a time he was in the gifted program and on the fast track to Ivy League glory.

Now, a high school senior, he's a complete slacker who spends his time hanging out in a third-rate ice cream parlor with his best friend, Stan, a guy who (jokingly, Leon thinks) claims to be Satan. Committed to his sloth, Leon panics when he finds out that Anna, the love of his life aka middle school girlfriend, might be moving back to town.

Determined to get his act together, Leon asks Stan for help. Stan gives him a few seemingly random and mysterious assignments. Date a popular girl. Listen to Moby-Dick, the audiobook. Find the elusive white grape slushee. Join the yearbook committee.

As each task brings Leon one step away from slacker city and one step closer to Anna, he starts to wonder if maybe he shouldn't have promised Stan his soul after all.

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Adam Selzer's first book was HOW TO GET SUSPENDED AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE (now available in a "Now With More Swearing") edition, his next one is PLAY ME BACKWARDS (for satanic young adults), and his best known is probably I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT, a Twilight satire that was not marketed as a satire.

He also writes the SMART ALECK'S GUIDE series and has published a bunch of Chicago history/ghostlore books. 

You can also find him under the name SJ Adams, the name he used for SPARKS: THE EPIC, COMPLETELY TRUE BLUE (ALMOST) HOLY QUEST OF DEBBIE, which one a Stonewall honor and made the YALSA popular paperback list.

Title: Rumble

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publication: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Expected Release Date: August 26th 2014

Pre-order or buy on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks 

SYNOPSIS:

Eighteen-year-old Matthew Turner doesn't believe in much. Not in family—his is a shambles, after his brother’s suicide. Not in so-called friends who turn their backs when the going gets rough. Certainly not in some omnipotent master of heaven and earth, no matter what his girlfriend, Hayden, thinks. In fact, he’s sick of arguing with her about faith. Matt is a devout atheist, unafraid of some Judgment Day designed by decidedly human power brokers to keep the masses in check. He works hard, plays hard, and plans on checking out the same way. But a horrific accident—one of his own making—plunges Matt into a dark, silent place where the only thing he can hear is a rumble, and eventually, a voice. And what it says will call everything Matt has ever disbelieved into question.

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Ellen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical,Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me".

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Books I've Been Told I MUST Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where, each week, a Top Ten list is posted based on a particular topic.

It's been a while since I posted a Top Ten Tuesday feature and I feel bad because it's one of my favorite memes. Anyway, the topic this time is books that I MUST read as told by trusted blogger friends through their recommendations as well as from friends who have the same passion.

1. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

I've seen so much rave about this book, mostly from bloggers and I really do want to read it. I really love the premise of the story and the amazing book cover! GAH! It's too bad that the nearest local bookstore I have here doesn't have it. 

2. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I've seen the I Am Number Four movie and I kinda liked it. Well, not really. But it had Dianna Agron and. I'm such a huge gleek, so support. But yeah. It was a bit of a bore. Anyway, as for the book, I have soooooo many friends who have read the books already, and Revenge of Seven is already coming out. I honestly wanna be part of the fun. But yeah. It's not that easy.

3. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Goodness gracious! My blogger friends have read this book and loved it, and I have this raging need to read it. I think there's something to the ending that I must look forward to.

4. Black City by Elizabeth Richards

I've seen the Wings tour which was to help promote Wings, the final book to the trilogy and there was so much excitement to the books that I was left curious to read it. I am actually borrowing a book from a friend later and checking out Black City. I hope I like it.

5. The Geography of You and Me by Jen. E. Smith

Though I am a fan of romantic YA stuff, I was recommended this a long time before but I have never tried reading the whole trilogy. I have The Geography of You and Me though and would love to really get into it soon.

6. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

So. Many. Good. Things. About. It! That's all I can say. I see it in my local book store and I feel bad that I can't just swipe it out of there. 

7. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

A friend says I would love it. The only problem now is having the books to read it.

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Some friends and bloggers say that the books are totally great. I just hate it when the nearest local book store to me doesn't have a single damn copy of any of the trilogy!

9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

NOW THIS! I would love to devour this book! There are great reviews, mixed but mostly great! I WANT IT! I'll definitely get it soon! That's a promise. And also all three books! WOOO1

10. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I was suppose to review this book for tour, but schedules changed and I can't wait to actually read this book! The cover is simple yet beautiful, the story of two best friends finding themselves! UGH! I must! I must! 

So, that's it for this week's topic! Are these also some of the books that were recommended to you? Or are there any books that you can recommend to me that I must read? Comment below!  Check out next week's topic! And I promise to update you guys on this more often! ❤

ARC Review: Aspen by Rebekah Crane

Title: Aspen
Author: Rebekah Crane
Publication: June 5th 2014, In This Together Media
Format: e-ARC, 206 pages
Source: Netgalley (Thanks to the publisher!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

SYNOPSIS:

Aspen doesn't want to remember the car accident that killed Katelyn Ryan, a sleek-haired popular soccer player. But forgetting is hard-- because Katelyn may have died -- but she didn't leave. Her ghost is following Aspen around, and heading into senior year, it's kind of a problem. Especially when Katelyn's former boyfriend Ben appears to be the only person at school with a clue as to how Aspen feels. 

Popularity, Homecoming Court, hot guys - none of these things ever mattered to Aspen. She's been busy trying to keep her stoner mother Ninny in line and out of unemployment. But with Ben sitting next to her in Physics and her therapist begging her to remember all the things she wants to forget, Aspen is thrust into a vivid, challenging world she can't control ... and doesn't want to. 

A darkly funny, emotionally gripping story of opening up, letting go, and moving on, Aspen is about the best-worst accident of your life ... and what comes next.

Misfit Review: 

If you are looking for a book with quirky characters and a mind boggling story, then I suggest you read Aspen.

A few weeks ago, Katelyn appeared in the corner of my room, like one of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol, except she didn't move or talk or anything. She just stood there in her soccer uniform, looking alive.

The story begins with Aspen Yellow-Sunrise Taylor is starting her senior year after going through an accident. It was the same night that soccer star, Katelyn Ryan died. Aspen seems to know something that happened that night but she can't seem to get herself to say anything. She's scared and worried that something might happen and so she keeps a tight lip. But she is constantly haunted by that past... Haunted every waking moment by Katelyn's ghost.

I'm already the illegitimate daughter of a teen mom who smokes more pot than Willie Nelson. I'm weird enough without the ghost.

Aspen is an interesting read. It's not far off from books I've read, though I really loved how the characters truly lifted the story. Aspen is the flower child, keeps to herself, loves to sketch and accidentally smudge charcoal on her face, and get this: SHE'S NOT INTO COLLEGE... (I hope life is this easy). She lives with Ninny, her hilariously funny and upbeat Mom. Aspen and Ninny's chemistry in the book was done so well, that I wouldn't mind just reading the book with only the two of them in it!

"Anything is better than Kim. Kim Choi is just so Asian. I'm more unique than that."

But add characters like Kim and Cass into the picture, and the book blooms of comedic prowess! I really like Kim because she breaks all Asian stereotypes and Cass isn't afraid to just be himself! Reading their parts together made Aspen a worthwhile adventure as well!

"I'm not supposed to be happy with you." Ben's eyes are serious. More serious than I've ever seen them. My heart pounds in my ears. "Why?"
"Because it makes me forget."

Then there's Ben. FUDGESTICKS! Ben and his dark hair and chameleonesque eyes. I really did think he was a young Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Holmes form! Oh please, warp me to the book so I could have him. Ben is Katelyn's former boyfriend. They seemed like the perfect couple and everyone loves them. Ben misses Katelyn but finds solace in Aspen. I like their dynamic and chemistry. It's not just bound on sexual tension. There's a bond that forms though I wish it was more solid. But it was still beautiful between the two of them. Oh yeah, keep tabs on Ben! He's got a few things hidden under his sleeves... Not literally though. You get the gist.

"Isn't it weird that we never really see ourselves? We just see reflections," I say. "It's a good thing I like your face." "It's kind of depressing, though, that we never really see ourselves," I say. "Maybe it's about letting other people see us."

The novel is not really focused on romance which might bum out some rom-com enthusiast (BUT SERIOUSLY! IT DOES! Not so much though, from my point of view). The novel plays on the central theme of facing your fears and accepting the truth. The past will forever haunt you unless you face it and bury it for good.

The supporting characters shine too much sometimes that I care more for them than I do Aspen. Suzy may seem weirdly attached but she proved that she's not just the sweet side character. Although, I hated the fact that Kim and Cass didn't have much going on for them around the end. They kinda just pop out when the occasion needs them. I think I fell in love with them too much. As for Katelyn's ghost, there's so much mystery to it that you really would want to know what was going on, but I guess, we'll just leave it to the imagination, or when you purchase the book! HAHAHA!

I don't think the grove will ever be complete. That's the funny thing about endings. They're usually the start of something new.

As for Rebekah Crane's style, she seems to pull in the same punches of the Young Adult genre yet adding that odd hint of mystery that would get the readers questioning the protagonist and even the people around her. It was written decently and humorously captivating! And that ending! It's so perfect! So perfect!

If you are looking for a hilarious escape, with a psychological, mysterious twist. Aspen is the kind of book to cuddle up to in a cold day or maybe any day! It's that good!

P.S. Don't you think the cover looks like Carrie Bradshaw? I mean, c'mon! HAHA!

About the Author:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Rebekah Crane fell in love with YA literature while studying Secondary English Education at Ohio University. After having two kids, living in six different cities, and finally settling down in the foothills of her beloved Rocky Mountains, her first novel, PLAYING NICE, was published. ASPEN, her second YA novel, set in Boulder, CO, is due to release in summer 2014 from In This Together Media. She now spends her day carpooling kids or tucked behind a laptop at 7,500 ft high in the Rockies, where the altitude only enhances the experience.






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