Waiting on Wednesday: Take the Fall

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we spotlight a book we are eagerly anticipating.

My WoW this week is:

Take the Fall
By Emily Hainsworth
Expected Publication: February 16th, 2016
From Balzer & Bray

From Goodreads:

WHO KILLED GRETCHEN MEYER?

Fear grips the residents of Hidden Falls the night Sonia Feldman and her best friend, Gretchen Meyer, are attacked in the woods. Sonia was lucky to escape with her life, but Gretchen’s body is discovered at the bottom of a waterfall. Beautiful, popular, and seemingly untouchable, Gretchen can’t be gone. Even as Sonia struggles with guilt and confusion over having survived, the whole town is looking to her for information…could she have seen something that will lead the police to the killer?

At the top of the list of suspects is Gretchen’s ex-boyfriend—and Sonia’s longtime enemy—Marcus Perez. So when Marcus comes to Sonia for help clearing his name, she agrees, hoping to find evidence the police need to prove he’s the killer. But as Gretchen’s many secrets emerge and the suspects add up, Sonia feels less sure of Marcus’s involvement, and more afraid for herself. Could Marcus, the artist, the screwup, the boy she might be falling for have attacked her? Killed her best friend? And if it wasn’t him in the woods that night…who could it have been?


I figured something creepy was due for Halloween and even though this one won't be out for a while, I know it'll scare me silly when I read it. Emily's first book, Through to You, was amazing and I can't wait to read this next one from her!

What book are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Fun!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where we make lists about bookish topics.

This week is Halloween week. Halloween is seriously my favourite holiday, so I had to make sure I actually came onto my blog to make this list. This week is a freebie, so it's pretty much anything goes, so my list will be some fun, scary books that remind me of Halloween. Get ready to sleep with the lights on!

1. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - Part ghost story, part love story, this one kept me on the edge of my seat and scared me silly.

2. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - Zombies at their best. Summers effortlessly weaves together a story that could be real. A girl who doesn't want to fight to survive, but ends up surprising herself by how hard she fights for her friends.

3. Rooms by Lauren Oliver - Told from many perspectives, two of which are ghosts, this tells the story of a dysfunctional family and the house they live in. Super cool and creepy.

4. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma - This book is just creepy. After finishing it, I still wasn't sure what had happened and it stayed with me for nights after. Perfect for Halloween.

5. Hexed by Michelle Krys - Gotta have a witch tale on here. This one isn't really scary, but witches equal Halloween to me. This one has some Buffy elements and some cool witchcraft to make for an entertaining read.

6. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe - A virus infects a small island and quickly spreads to the rest of Canada, then the world. Scary enough right?

7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - A zombie book that takes place long after the apocalypse in a town that's starting over. Very old-fashioned and backwards and Mary will do anything to get out of it, even if that means crossing the fence into the unknown. Creepy at its best, and the sequels are amazing as well!

8. My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent - Demons, pure evil, and a seventeen-year-old girl trying to stop them from destroying her high school. One of my favourite series still and perfect if you want a little creep factor in your life.

9. Dracula by Bram Stoker - Because you gotta get a classic in there. If there's any vampire to be scared of, it's Dracula. Old school creepy.

And lastly, one that's on my list to read this year...

10. The Fall by Bethany Griffin - Her retelling of The Mask of the Red Death was dark and creepy, so I'm sure this one, a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher will be just as good. Just gotta find time to read it now!

I hope everyone will pick up a spooky book this week or at least watch something scary. Happy Halloween all!

Review: Finding Paris

Finding Paris
Author: Joy Preble
Published: April 21st, 2015
Hardcover, 272 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads

Sisters Leo and Paris Hollings have only ever had each other to rely on. They can’t trust their mother, who hops from city to city and from guy to guy, or their gambler stepfather, who’s moved them all to Las Vegas. It’s just the two of them: Paris, who’s always been the dreamer, and Leo, who has a real future in mind—going to Stanford, becoming a doctor, falling in love.

But Leo isn’t going anywhere yet… until Paris ditches her at the Heartbreak Hotel Diner, where moments before they had been talking with physics student Max Sullivan. Outside, Leo finds a cryptic note from Paris—a clue. Is it some kind of game? Where is Paris, and why has she disappeared?

When Leo reluctantly accepts Max’s offer of help, the two find themselves following a string of clues through Vegas and beyond. But the search for the truth is a not a straight line. And neither is the path to secrets Leo and Max hold tightly.

The book intrigued me from the start. I love a good mystery and Paris certainly knows how to send her sister on one. Leo wants nothing more than to get out of Las Vegas and go to school in California. She doesn't love that her mom moves from city to city and guy to guy and her newest stepfather is no exception. The only person she loves is her older sister Paris and will do anything to protect Leo from the world. So when Paris leaves Leo alone in a diner, Leo doesn't understand it all there. There must be a reason why Paris only left her a small note and is suddenly sending her on a wild goose chase. Thankfully Leo has just met Max, a physics student who is willing to help Leo find Paris as soon as possible, even willing to drive her across the country to do so. Together, Leo and Max make their way through the Vegas evening into casinos, attractions and track down clues that Paris has left them in hopes of finding her.

This was such a quick read. It was fast paced and less than three hundred pages and I loved every minute of it. I wanted to find Paris just as badly as Leo did and the twists and turns along the way kept me guessing as to how this story would end. I can honestly say I did not expect the ending until it was too late and I was shocked in a good way. It took the world book to a new level and turned this into such an important book. I won't say a lot about it because the mystery behind this book is what drew me in, but I will say that Preble did a fantastic job conveying tension, mystery, and fear. There was also just enough romance to keep this somewhat light and I loved Max. He was full of just as much mystery as Paris was, as Leo knew very little about him and he didn't share that much info with her throughout the night. He was fun, flirty, and didn't leave her behind, even when she was fearing for her life at the top of a ferris wheel. 

This book had everything I was looking for and it was a thrill ride from beginning to end. The mystery aspect combined with how it all ended made for a great read. There are secrets everywhere in this book. Paris has them, Max has them and even Leo has them. I loved the sister relationship, I always love a good sibling relationship and this one was interesting. Paris would do anything to protect her sister and vice versa and that quality in a relationship can be great and dangerous. It's worth a read to me and if you can figure out the ending faster than I did, than kudos to you. 

Review: Most Likely to Succeed

Most Likely to Succeed
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: August 4th, 2015
Paperback, 352 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

As vice president of Student Council, Kaye knows the importance of keeping order. Not only in school, but in her personal life. Which is why she and her boyfriend, Aidan, already have their lives mapped out: attend Columbia University together, pursue banking careers. and eventually get married. Everything Kaye has accomplished in high school - student government, cheerleading, stellar grades - has been in preparation for that future.

To his entire class, Sawyer is an irreverent bad boy. His antics on the field as the school mascot and his love of partying have earned him total slacker status. But while he and Kaye appear to be opposites on every level, fate - and their friends - keep conspiring to throw them together. Perhaps the seniors see the simmering attraction Kaye and Sawyer are unwilling to acknowledge themselves.

As the year unfolds, Kaye begins to realize her ideal life is not what she thought. And Sawyer decides it's finally time to let down the facade and show everyone who he really is. Is a relationship between them most likely to succeed - or will it be their favourite mistake?

The Superlatives is a series I quickly fell in love with after reading the first book, Biggest Flirts. The characters are real, their struggles are real, and the love is swoon-worthy. I love the underlying superlatives titles being the name of the books, especially since they cause so much drama between the students when they are announced. Each of the characters from the first book get their own books later and this one follows Tia's friend Kaye as she struggles to figure out who she really wants to be after high school finishes. She's been dating Aidan for as long as she's known and they've made plans together for college, but lately he's been a different person and Kaye isn't sure she wants to be with him anymore. Her friend Sawyer, the school mascot and all around bad boy, makes her feel like a totally different person and notices her more than Aidan does. The more time she spends with him, the more she loves that he flirts with her and hates that he flirts with everyone else. Can Kaye recognize her feelings for Sawyer before it's too late, and does he feel the same way about her?

Kaye has everything that high school students dream of, and though she wasn't happy with a lot of it, not once did I roll my eyes at her. I understood exactly how she felt with the pressure of trying to be someone she no longer was. Being with Sawyer made her feel alive, normal, and more loved that she ever felt with Aidan. Kaye, like Tia and Harper, is loveable and real. I especially loved that she was a woman of colour and even though she'd worn her hair for so long in a way to make it less of an afro but one day just goes all out and lets her glorious hair free. The reactions are what you might expect, some people hate it, but most people love it, especially Sawyer. Moments like this in the book stood out to me, small moments where Kaye finds herself more and more and Sawyer is there to help her along the way. Sawyer has a lot of his own problems. His dad was in jail, his family doesn't have much money and all his classmates expect him to fail. The amount that Kaye believes in him and him her is enough to make anyone believe in real love. Their mutual support is all anyone really needs in life and if you can find that, than you're golden.

I'm glad we got to see Tia and Matt still in a happy relationship and Harper and Brody at a point in theirs where things may be going further for the first time. Series like this that follow different friends always make me smile when old friends show up throughout the pages. This series has gone through so many teenage experiences following people with different experience and not once making anyone feel ashamed for how sexual they are. It's realistic and will hopefully show real teens that there is nothing to be ashamed of when wanting to go further with someone you love and that real friends don't call each other sluts. Sawyer and Kaye's relationship is something I think we all dream of and they are just so darn cute together. I love a good story like this and this series has brought many smiles to my face. Perfect addition to my contemporary collection!

Review: The Summer of Chasing Mermaids

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
Author: Sarah Ockler
Published: June 2nd, 2015
Hardcover, 403 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d'Abreau was destined for stardom - until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can't sing. She can't even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend's invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse's home in the Caribbean isn't: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people to polite to pry - except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy - insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He's also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn't treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove's high stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn't the only thing making waves, though - swept up in Christian's seductive tide and entranced by the Cove's charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn't what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who's best known for breaking them...

This is the kind of retelling I can get behind. It is subtly a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but it never comes off in a fairy-tale sort of way and it stands on its own as a contemporary story. Elyse is one six sisters from Trinidad who was born from the sea as it took her mother from her. A freak accident years later took her talented voice from her and ruined her life. She fears the sea is trying to return to her and finish her off so she takes a long vacation to see her aunt and cousin in Atargatis Cove in Oregon. This small town is just what she needs, no one asks her questions and they just think of her as Kirby's odd cousin. Before long she catches the attention of the Cove's coveted playboy, Christian, and he isn't afraid to ask her questions and find out all about her. Soon Elyse is caught up in Christian and falling for his charms. She agrees to be his first mate for the Pirate Regatta, the first time she will be back on the water since her accident, and the fear that comes with this and new love is strong, but Christian shows her that in order to find her voice, she must do things she's afraid of. Along with her cousin Kirby, her aunt, and Christian's hopeful little brother Sebastian, Elyse will finally take the plunge she's been dreading all her life.

I fell right into the story and didn't want to let go. I drowned in Elyse's sorrow from losing her voice and trying to move on with her life away from her twin sister and family. Having lost the only thing she thought she was good at, she hides away inside herself and just tries to survive in this new town. But Atargatis Cove is full of mermaid lore and there's too much to learn and see to keep herself away. Sebastian believes that she is the mystical mermaid come to life and Elyse plays along with him. They go on mermaid adventures as she falls for his older brother. Sebastian was my favourite character. He is so lively and unique and not afraid to be himself, even when he is told he cannot dress like a mermaid at the regatta, he will do whatever it takes to be able to look pretty that day. I love how hard everyone tried to make sure he could dress up how he wanted and would not let his spirit diminish. Christian, who started off the notorious playboy who would have anyone he wanted turned out to be very sweet and caring towards Elyse, wanting her to find herself again and willing to help in anyway needed. Their love was quick to happen, but I think everyone would fall in love with Christian that fast. The moments they shared alone on the boat were wonderfully written and I loved that he fell in love with her spirit and voice, despite not being able to talk.

So much happens over this summer and it's all so magical yet real. The surreality of the town and the mermaid legend gave this story a twist and a bit of an edge as we never knew if the ocean would catch up to Elyse. Atargatis Cove sounds mystical and alluring with its mermaid legends and Wiccan lore. Everything about the town felt magical and I loved that it played just as big a part of Elyse or Christian did in this book. The drama in Christians family was just enough to make for a suspenseful ending where the town hung on whether Christian and Elyse won the Regatta. Ockler's writing is gorgeous and lyrical, and it's amazing how well she tied in the themes throughout the book with feminism and power. There is so much diversity in this that it will stand apart from other summer reads for a long time and I can't wait to pick up another one of her books. This is the kind of book you want to read in the summer, it has substance, hope, love and a bit of magic. Now that's the kind of book I can get behind.

"Love didn't save me; it changed me. Changed me into someone who could save myself."

Review: Jesse's Girl

Jesse's Girl
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Published: July 7th, 2015
Paperback, 304 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she'd get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville's teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He's as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he's accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya's lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse's pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya's playing back up to other people's dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart - and go solo?

The Hundred Oaks books always put a smile on my face. The characters are fantastic and I love how each story weaves into the others without any over lap. There is always a new main character, but old characters always pop up to say hi and check in and I love series like that. Maya Henry is Sam's younger sister from Catching Jordan. She dreams of being a rock star and wants desperately to play her own music with her band, but they are into music that's so far beyond her. When she has to pick a job for career mentoring day, she picks rock star and is very surprised when she gets to job shadow Jesse Scott, Nashville's heartthrob. Maya is excited, but Jesse is not at all like she imagined him to be. He's rude, cocky and seems like he doesn't want Maya following him around. Maya isn't looking forward to spending the day with him telling her she's not trying hard enough to play her own music. But then Jessa starts to show her how he really lives, his secret hiding spots, and they have moments where Maya starts to think that maybe she is putting her music second and maybe it's time to step up and take charge of what she wants, and Jesse Scott may just be one of those things.

Miranda knows how to write a swoon worthy boy, and Jesse Scott is no exception.I could picture Hunter Hayes or any other country boy as I read the book, or even a male Taylor Swift. He has a sweet demeanor, but knows just how famous he is and how to use it. His relationship with Maya, though it had a rocky start, is wonderful and heart warming and I love how their relationship progresses through the day. The moments they share together alone, where they can be completely honest about their lives were great to read and made me fall for him even more. He sets her up with his recording studio, helps her with her vocals, and shows her that she is capable of so much more than she's been accomplishing. Compared to her ex-boyfriend, he treats her like a princess and I loved watching Maya gain confidence throughout the novel thanks to Jesse.

Maya and Jesse are adorable together. Miranda knows how to give me all the romance and love I look for in a YA novel and this one delivers. Hundred Oaks is one of my favourite worlds to go into and I was so happy to see Sam and Jordan have a part in this one. It's fun to see a couple that you saw get together being all relationshipy and domestic. They are adorable together and bicker like an old married couple and you can tell that they just belong together. They were there to help Maya when she needed advice and to appease us fans who desperately wanted more of them. I can't wait for more from Miranda and more in this series. This is one of those series that never has to end because it follows different characters every time and there's no way not to make a story about teens in this small town. I love that the other books are sports related and this one focused on music. It branched out from what we've come to expect from Hundred Oaks books and I can see great things in the future of this series. Can't wait for more, Miranda!

"You have to take chances to get a chance at your dreams."

Review: Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published: September 1st, 2015
Hardcover, 320 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window and I see him. He's tall, lean, and wearing all black - black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me, I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

I opened this book casually one afternoon to test it out, maybe read a chapter or two, but within two pages, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I'd read the last page. I fell in love with Madeline and her rare disease and her solitary life. She is a dreamer, as one would be if they haven't left their house in seventeen years. The first sentence of the book is "I've read many more books than you," and this immediately told me I'd love her. She's a dreamer, a lover, and doesn't really get down about her disease. She is literally allergic to the world. We find out about her life through journal entries, a reprieve she gives herself after long days of studying and reading. She is both incredibly mature, studying at a much higher education level and incredibly naive, as she hasn't left the house. This combination made her wholly relate able and I wanted so badly for her to get a happy ending. Her life changes when Olly moves in next door. She is immediately drawn to him, watching him as he goes day by day, sneaking up on the roof and ignoring his parents. I can see why he's fascinated by her as well, and the first time they make contact, it sent a rush through me. They communicate through the window and then through messenger in the computer. Madeline takes nothing for granted. Her moments with Olly are heartbreaking and wonderful and watching them fall in love from afar was romantic and beautiful. The way Olly speaks to her is something every girl dreams of and I loved that Madeline got the opportunity to feel like a normal girl around him.

The moment Madeline and Olly meet is amazing and tragic. They cannot touch and the visit is short and over too fast. But Madeline lives for them. Heightened by the fact that she is in danger of her life, it makes for a tragic romance the more they see each other, both knowing she can never leave the house. The synopsis tells us just how heartbreaking falling in love with Olly will be and it's a roller coaster ride throughout the book. The book takes a drastic turn and the last third of the book took me on a terrifying journey that I wasn't sure how would end. I won't say more as I think it's the most important part of the book, but it certainly kept me reading.

What I loved most was the format of this book. Journal entries, charts, diagrams and tidbits sprung from the pages and gave this book a life. Madeline's small quirks were well orchestrated and wonderful, making her charming and real. She writes spoiler book reviews which are hilarious and jokes about Bundt cake with Olly. Her dictionary will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Yoon's husband did the illustrations throughout the book and I think they really set this apart from other books of this genre. They made the book fun and kept me turning the pages. I loved the short chapters, the direct writing and the blank space that really put me into Madeline's shoes, living in a bubble but dreaming of everything. This book just blew me away and I loved everything, everything about it (ya, I just did that). I'm so glad I was given an ARC from Penguin Random House and discovered this book early. Sick lit has quickly become a new genre and I've read some great books focusing in sick characters and this one tops the list. Some people did not like the ending, but I'm a sucker for it. If you see this book on the shelf, pick it up, read it in one sitting, all in love with Madeline and Olly like I did, and tell me it doesn't make you want to go outside and start living your life.

"Everything's a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It's up to you."