Reader's Choice #2: Subway Edition

I will be riding the subway into the city (NYC) tomorrow (and then the train out), and I'm not sure which book to bring with me, so help me decide!

Choice #1
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn (Book)

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors ofNick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Choice #2
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (Book)

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

Choice #3
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Book)

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Choice #4
Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano (Book: ARC)

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

Choice #5
Lethal Circuit by Lars Guignard (Audiobook)

A Chinese satellite is on crash course with Earth. 
It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city.
And that's the good news...

In the tradition of Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and Robert Ludlum, comes a new hero.

Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college grad, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he's running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he'll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he'll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn't, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.

So, my dear readers, which is your choice? Let me know below!

(Note: I've started #1, 2, and 5 already.)

Review: The Blessed Unrest by Sara Bareilles

Track Listing: 
1. Brave
2. Chasing the Sun
3. Hercules
4. Manhattan
5. Satellite Call
6. Little Black Dress
7. Cassiopeia
8. 1000 Times
9. I Choose You
10. Eden
11. Islands
12. December

Book Tour and Book Blast Announcement!

Hello! So I'm tired and currently procrastinating (already!) because today was my first day back at school, and I already have a lot of homework. But that probably doesn't matter to you guys, SO!

First, this is long overdue, but I'm participating in a Book Blast this month! It's for the book For Nick, which you will obviously learn more about in the blast! It'll (probably) be up on September 10th, so that's soon!

And secondly, you may have spotted that I added another upcoming book tour! This tour is also hosted by Candace, and it will be for the book Rook. It will stop here on November 8th, so keep an eye out for that! I'll be reviewing it and maybe giving a list of songs that go along with the book (that second part is still up in the air right now). I'm looking forward to reading the book! (Sorry I'm not giving more info like I did for Lethal Circuit. I'm just really worn out.)

Book Birthdays: 9/3/13

Wishing the following authors a VERY happy book birthday!

1. ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

2. CONJURED by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

And last but definitely not least...the one I've been waiting for since I finished the book (although it's not YA)...

3. YOU KNEW ME WHEN by Emily Liebert

Best friends forever… until life got in the way. Katherine Hill left her small New England hometown in pursuit of a dream. Now, twelve years later, she’s a high-powered cosmetics executive in Manhattan and a much glossier version of her former self, unrecognizable to her family and old friends. Not that she would know—she hasn’t been home in over a decade.

Laney Marten always swore she’d never get "stuck” in Manchester, Vermont. No, she was destined to live out her glamorous big-city dreams. Instead, she wound up a young wife and mother. That was when her best friend ran out.

When Katherine receives word of an inheritance from former neighbor Luella Hancock, she reluctantly returns home to the people and places she left behind. Hoping for a second chance, she’s met by an unforgiving Laney, her former best friend. And there’s someone else who’s moved on without her—someone she once loved.

Tethered to their shared inheritance of Luella’s sprawling Victorian mansion, Katherine and Laney are forced to address their long-standing grudges. Through this, they come to understand that while life has taken them in different directions, ultimately the bonds of friendship and sisterhood still bind them together. But are some wounds too old and deep to mend?

Are you looking forward to reading any of these?

Review: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t.

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Music Monday 9/2

Ahhh, back to school time...or almost at least. Time for late nights and no energy! Fun...

But anywho, this week's song is...
a tie between New York by Snow Patrol and Manhattan by Sara Bareilles!

Review: Every Day by David Levithan

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

I'm going to start off truthfully. I didn't finish the book. But I'm still rating it. Why? Well, I'll get into that.

A Month in Review: August 2013

It's September 1st! Which means that if I'd received my Hogwarts letter, I'd be at Hogwarts already. But whatever.

So let's take a look at how my August went!

First, 5 things relating to this blog!

1. The blog really came to life.
2. A bunch of reviews! (Covert Affairs, Graceland, Something Strange and Deadly, Out of the Easy, The Civil Wars, Sea of Monsters movie, and You Knew Me When)
3. A bunch of features were introduced! (This is going to be a feature as well! It'll basically consist of a bunch of lists that highlight the month (the number isn't set to 5).)
4. I participated in Susan Dennard's book club/discussion!
5. I signed up for an audiobook tour!

Next, 5 things relating to books!

1. I read Something Strange and Deadly
2. I also read Out of the Easy
3. I also read and fell in love with The Hybrid Chronicles
4. I got back into the reading spirit
5. I won some books/ARCs for (almost) the first time!

5 things relating to my personal life!

1. I went to Canada
2. I had my (first) dance audition
3. I went to The Wanted's GMA concert!
4. I finished my summer reading assignments
5. My friend Haley and I decided to write something (probably a musical) together!

5 things relating to movies/music/musicals!

1. I fell in love with Next to Normal
2. I sorta enjoyed Sea of Monsters
3. I continued to fall in love with Snow Patrol
4. I also continued to fall in love with Kinky Boots
5. I enjoyed Sara Bareilles' new album!

That's about it for this month! Again, this will likely become a monthly feature. :) Let me know your "5 things relating to..." as well (feel free to change them to suit your blog).

(Also, sorry I was too lazy to link stuff.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica <3

Set Up Sunday 9/1

I'm back! Happy September!

Here's what I'm planning for this coming week!

Sunday: Set Up Sunday
Monday: Music Monday
Tuesday: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang Review
Wednesday: Nothing planned, sorry! School starts for me. :(
Thursday: Talk About It Thursday--Possible Topic: Audiobooks
Friday: Nothing planned
Saturday: Summary Saturday
Once We Were Review (may be pushed to Sunday)

New Look!

It's fairly late at night right now, but after working for hours on trying to make a drop-down menu, I gave up. Instead, I added social media buttons, and I clearly changed up the theme color a bit. I'm still not sure if I preferred the brown, simple one better or this new one, but we'll see! If anything's too hard on the eyes, please let me know because I'm drowning in color now and can't tell. Thanks!

Jessica <3