Waiting on Wednesday (187)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm waiting on:

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Release date: July 26, 2016

Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty turns her unique, razor-sharp eye towards three seemingly happy families.

Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.

Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.

Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.

I loved Big Little Lies, The Husband's Secret and What Alice Forgot so I have definite expectations for this one. 

Top Ten 2016 Releases So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's theme is "Top Ten 2016 Releases So Far This Year".

I still have some books to catch up on  and I'm sure this list will change but here are some of my favorites from 2016 so far:

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

I really liked this moving companion novel to Between Shades of Grey featuring Lina's cousin Joana and other teenage refugees in East Prussia during WWII.

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

While not quite as good as Ink and Bone I enjoyed this fantasy novel set in a world where the gift of literacy is only for the nobility and the slaves who tutor future kings.

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

This YA novel is set in the Netherlands during WWII and details the story of a grieving young teen who grudgingly joins the resistance movement when she is asked to find a missing Jewish girl.

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

Beatrice Nash is the new school teacher in the English village of Rye where she is looked on with suspicion by some but welcomed warmly by a few including Agatha Kent and her nephew Hugh. Things become darker over the course of the idyllic summer as social rivalries give way to fears of coming war. While not as good as Major Pettigrew's Last Stand this is still an excellent historical novel for fans of British TV shows like Downton Abbey (don't worry Beatrice is nothing like Miss Bunting) and Home Fires.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

I've become a big Morgan Matson fan. I loved her other books and this fun summertime read is just as good.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

While this sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses won't please everyone, I thought it was even better than the first book and can't wait for the third book.

The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

I loved Secret Daughter so I was very excited when I found out about The Golden Son. I think Secret Daughter is better but this was still a very good story about the lives of two young people in India--Anil, a future doctor on his way to a medical degree in the States and Leena, his childhood friend and now a young bride. If the main character had been Leena instead of Anil, it would have been fantastic.

Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany

This is the story of three women--Jennifer who made many mistakes as a young parent and Brooke and Natalie, the daughters she gave up for adoption. Brooke grew up in group homes while Natalie was adopted by a loving couple. Now their paths meet again.

I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows

This book hasn't been published yet but I read an review copy so I decided to add it to my list. I liked the setting and learning about this time period through the eyes of a family that starts to fall apart during the drought and Dust Bowl.

Sunday Post (54) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there today. I visited my parents over the weekend to celebrate Father's Day and my mom's birthday which was last Monday. We had a nice time together and on Saturday we met up with my sister at Starbucks and the four of us then had lunch together at an Indian restaurant. Saturday night we watched Race, the Jesse Owens biopic. It was pretty good and inspiring. I kept thinking that one of the actresses looked really familiar only to realize it was Carice van Houten from Game of Thrones, playing the German film maker Leni Riefenstahl.

This coming week I will be working on last minute stuff for the murder mystery dinner on Thursday. It is my last big program until our Mini Comic Con next month which I'm not as actively involved with. Other than that I don't have much planned. 

Last week on my blog:

Wanderlost by Jen Malone (review)

Books read:

738 Days by Stacey Kade

My review will be posted later this week. I liked this book but I did have some issues with the timeline of their relationship.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

While this book had a strong empowering feminist message, I think it did a disservice to young women who have survived assault because of the portrayal of Hermione (main character) in the aftermath of her rape. The author notes in the afterword that Hermione's experience is atypical (she had a ton of support). The protagonist seemed more concerned with her cheerleading than anything else and her behavior and that of those around her wasn't believable at all. There are many glowing reviews on Goodreads and from review journals but it is the heartfelt reviews of real survivors that informed my opinion of this book.

Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon

Mystic Summer was a quick read and one that I enjoyed. The main character's future plans are in question and she returns to her hometown where she bumps into her ex, now a single dad. 

I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows

This is a sad novel with a very vivid setting (Oklahoma Dust Bowl). I don't know how people survived back then under such difficult conditions.

Currently reading:

The Winemakers by Jan Moran

I just started reading this but I will probably have to set it aside soon to start my book club books.

Currently listening to:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (reread)

Umbridge is so evil! Almost as evil as Voldemort. I am currently at the part where Dumbledore's Army is forming. I always liked reading that part at least.

On my TBR pile:

River Road by Carol Goodman

I plan to start this book right away when I get back to my place. I want to make sure I finish it before my book group meets next Tuesday.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

I was surprised to discover that I don't already have an ARC of this. My ARC must have expired. I am supposed to read it for evening book group. Hopefully a copy will arrive in time.

The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

New books received:

With Malice by Eileen Cook (library book)

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin (library book)

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (library book)

Review: Wanderlost

Wanderlost

By Jen Malone

Published: May 31, 2016

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up. 

My review:

Recent high school graduate Aubree is not an adventurous person and as the baby in her family she has been coddled and overprotected by her mom. Her older sister Elizabeth is the driven and responsible one who always seems to have it together. So when Elizabeth gets into some legal trouble (it's sort of Aubree's fault) Aubree agrees reluctantly to go to Europe in Elizabeth's place as a tour guide. The stakes are high for Elizabeth as she is counting on a good recommendation to get an internship with a congressman. Aubree doesn't think she has what it takes and when she loses her cellphone and Elizabeth's binder of tour info on the plane it looks like she is in for a rough time.

Reading Wanderlost is a great way to armchair travel through Europe along with Aubree on her madcap adventures. I enjoyed reading about the different countries visited during the tour but I could have used more detail! Although Aubree is initially pretty helpless and whiny she started to grow on me. Her determination to prove herself to her sister and to succeed as a tour guide was admirable and although she wasn't always successful I liked how hard she tried. Aubree matures during the trip with the help of the seniors on her bus and once Sam joins the tour she starts to lighten up and have more fun, inspired by his way with people. One of my favorite parts was the Sound of Music tour and learning about the various filming  locations.

I think this novel is funny and the romance was sweet in spite of the lies. It always makes me cringe to read about characters behaving dishonestly even in this case when Aubree was motivated to lie on behalf of her sister. It was nice to see the sisters grow closer and come to a greater understanding of each other and to see Aubree's mom realize that her daughter is growing up. 

Wanderlost would be perfect as a light summer read especially if you have a yen to travel so put it on your list! I'd suggest it for readers who liked Sophomore Year is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin, Maureen Johnson's Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes and for fans of Morgan Matson and Emery Lord.


Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Waiting on Wednesday (186)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm waiting on:

Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia

Release date: August 2, 2016

I'm your protagonist-Reshma Kapoor-and if you have the free time to read this book, then you're probably nothing like me.

Reshma is a college counselor's dream. She's the top-ranked senior at her ultra-competitive Silicon Valley high school, with a spotless academic record and a long roster of extracurriculars. But there are plenty of perfect students in the country, and if Reshma wants to get into Stanford, and into med school after that, she needs the hook to beat them all.

What's a habitual over-achiever to do? Land herself a literary agent, of course. Which is exactly what Reshma does after agent Linda Montrose spots an article she wrote for Huffington Post. Linda wants to represent Reshma, and, with her new agent's help scoring a book deal, Reshma knows she'll finally have the key to Stanford.

But she's convinced no one would want to read a novel about a study machine like her. To make herself a more relatable protagonist, she must start doing all the regular American girl stuff she normally ignores. For starters, she has to make a friend, then get a boyfriend. And she's already planned the perfect ending: after struggling for three hundred pages with her own perfectionism, Reshma will learn that meaningful relationships can be more important than success-a character arc librarians and critics alike will enjoy.

Of course, even with a mastermind like Reshma in charge, things can't always go as planned. And when the valedictorian spot begins to slip from her grasp, she'll have to decide just how far she'll go for that satisfying ending. (Note: It's pretty far.)

In this wholly unique, wickedly funny debut novel, Rahul Kanakia consciously uses the rules of storytelling-and then breaks them to pieces.

I think this sounds pretty promising and humorous. I also like that it has an Indian American protagonist which we don't often see in YA contemporary fiction.

Sunday Post (53) / It''s Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Well it was a busy week with our summer library programs starting up. Monday night was our kick off event. I wasn't outside for that because I had to work at the reference desk but I didn't mind missing out on the pouring rain! Thankfully it didn't rain the entire time and kids were able to enjoy the bounce house and other outdoor activities. Tuesday night was the first swing dance class and three couples showed up (at least someone did!). Yesterday was our African penguin program. The penguin walked around in our meeting room and then later kids (and adults!) got to pet her. She was really cute and I learned a lot about African penguins. You can check out a video of her taken by our children's librarian: Simon the African Penguin. 

This week should be a little calmer before my murder mystery dinner next week. Unfortunately I had to change the theme from the 80's Prom murder to a garden party murder because we didn't have enough men to play the suspects and the garden party one is all women. I am planning to do the 80s one in the fall on a night when some of my male coworkers can step in and play suspects if needed. I guess summer is just a busy time or my usual suspects wanted a break from it!

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and then Sunday is Father's Day so I'll be heading home this weekend for a visit. I still need to figure out what I'm getting them for gifts and I have to get a birthday card. I plan to do some shopping this afternoon :)

#FitReaders Weekly Check In

#FitReaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About

Another week without reaching my step goals most days. The extreme heat and some muscle soreness kept me from moving as much as I wanted. Yesterday I came so close to meeting my goal but I ended up developing a sinus headache and didn't quite get there. I hope to do better this week!

Sunday--1,115 steps
Monday--13,599 steps
Tuesday--7,198 steps
Wednesday--3,780 steps
Thursday--10,130 steps
Friday--4,190 steps
Saturday--8,992 steps

Last week on my blog:

The Flip Side by Shawn Johnson (review)

Books read:

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

I loved this book though I know some will definitely hate it. Maas takes the story she told in A Court of Thorns and Roses and turns it upside down so that readers will see everything in a completely different way. I can't wait for the sequel!

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This was a thoughtful story about love and loss and the possibility of having more than one "true love" and what "true love" means (if you thought about The Princess Bride while reading that sentence you get extra points). 

Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt

Definitely not as satisfying as the first book in the series but this was okay. I felt bad for the heroine because she had a difficult relationship with a cold and demanding father. He reminded me of a meaner and colder version of Richard Gilmore. My issue was with the romance and how little I felt the connection between the characters.

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

This was a delightful book and I enjoyed reading about Florence and Lina's emotional journey and growth. The romance was sweet and I liked how the author used Lina's mom's journal.

Books listened to:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (reread)

Currently reading:

738 Days by Stacey Kade

I am almost done with this book. I like it and really want Amanda to have a happy ending because after all she's been through she deserves it. I even like the hero though Chase doesn't always make the best decisions and I want them to find happiness together. My issue with the book is the timeline and Amanda's recovery process. 

Currently listening to:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (reread)

This is my least favorite Harry Potter book in a way--not because of the story which is fantastic but because of the way that Harry suffers at the hands of Umbridge, people not believing him and then that big loss at the end. Poor kid! It is just hard to read (or listen to). I still think Umbridge didn't get what she deserved. She is the second most odious character in the books.

On my TBR pile:

I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows

I have to read this one soon because my review for Library Journal is due next week. I think it sounds interesting at least. I've only read Out of the Dust by Karen Harper so I don't know much about the Dust Bowl. 

River Road by Carol Goodman

My afternoon book group picked this for our June book. It sounds kind of interesting though I know some of the ladies won't like it because they aren't fans of suspense. 

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

This is what we'll be reading in my evening book group. We loved A Man Called Ove so hopefully this will be just as good. The dog on the cover reminds me a little of my furry nephew Raji (he is a black haired goldendoodle though I don't think this dog is).

The Winemakers by Jan Moran

I decided to add this to my TBR pile after reading an excerpt earlier this week. It was published in April I think so I want to get to it soon.

The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

I haven't read anything by this author though I have considered her books for our book discussion groups. This one sounded kind of good with the mystery element.

Summer Days and Summer Nights by Stephanie Perkins et al.

I started reading this earlier but I thought the first story was really weird so I put it down. I think I will skip the first story for now and read the rest if I can.

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

New books received:

Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin (library book)

Lizzy Bennet's Diary by Marcia Williams (library book)

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (library book)

Best of My Love by Susan Mallery (library book)

Review: The Flip Side

The Flip Side

By Shawn Johnson

Published: June 7, 2016

From gold medalist and reality TV star Shawn Johnson comes a debut YA novel inspired by her own experiences as an elite teenage gymnast—just in time for the Summer 2016 Olympic games.

Charlie Ryland has a secret.

She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.

Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance.

Inspired by her own experiences as a fifteen-year-old Olympic gymnast, gold medalist Shawn Johnson writes a delightfully entertaining novel about chasing big dreams and falling in love, all while trying to keep it real.

My review:

Charlie Ryland is an elite gymnast who aspires to make the U.S. Olympics team but at her high school where she is known as "Charlotte", no one knows she is a gymnast. She doesn't want the added pressure or the special treatment that she might receive if her classmates knew the truth. Of course if she makes the Olympic team, her secret will be out but in the meantime she wants to be treated like everyone else and have some anonymity to enjoy high school. It becomes harder to keep her secret as she meets Bobby, a talented wrestler at her school. Bobby understands the pressure of being a top athlete but she can't even talk to him about her own experiences. Charlie also lies to her best friend Zoe because she just can't bring herself to be open even though Zoe is a good friend to her.

I understood why Charlotte/Charlie didn't want her whole school to know about her but I did wish she could have been honest with Zoe. I was glad Charlie had her friendship with fellow gymnast Gwen which is the one relationship where she didn't have to lie. 

The Flip Side delves into the world of elite gymnastics and I found it fascinating to read about what they go through. When I was a little girl I loved The Little Gymnast by Sheila Haigh which introduced me to gymnastics and this book is even more interesting as it details the life of a top athlete. Shawn Johnson does a good job of bringing her life experience into the novel to make it authentic. I did wonder how likely it would be that her classmates wouldn't have suspected the truth about her before but it was still an entertaining book and I like how it focused on achieving dreams.

This book would be appropriate for young teens and maybe even tweens. With the Summer Olympics around the corner, The Flip Side would be a good book to consider adding to summer reading lists for young teens who are into gymnastics.

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss