Waiting On: Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn

Heroine Complex

by Sarah Kuhn
Expected Publication: July 5th 2016

Being a superheroine is hard. Working for one is even harder.

Evie Tanaka is the put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, her childhood best friend and San Francisco's most beloved superheroine. She's great at her job—blending into the background, handling her boss's epic diva tantrums, and getting demon blood out of leather pants.

Unfortunately, she's not nearly as together when it comes to running her own life, standing up for herself, or raising her tempestuous teenage sister, Bea.

But everything changes when Evie's forced to pose as her glamorous boss for one night, and her darkest comes out: she has powers, too. Now it's up to her to contend with murderous cupcakes, nosy gossip bloggers, and supernatural karaoke battles—all while juggling unexpected romance and Aveda's increasingly outrageous demands. And when a larger threat emerges, Evie must finally take charge and become a superheroine in her own right... or see her city fall to a full-on demonic invasion.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

First off, let us just take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness that is Jason Chan. I feel that since the cover art is what drew me in to this book in the first place, I couldn't go without mentioning it first. I am a big Jason Chan Fan! Jason Chan is a badass freelance artist - you may know him best from some of his other cover illustrations, such as the ones he did for the Théâtre Illuminata series or The Lotus War series. I'd read anything with a cover by him, lol.

But what makes this book even more awesome (other than the amazing cover art) is the fact that it is a superhero novel in which the "personal assistant" (not even a sidekick!!!) ends up becoming the hero for once. Also, this book takes place in San Francisco, which is one of my dream cities to live in, and the heroine is Asian-American! We need more diversity in novels, and we also need more superhero novels (that are actual novels rather than graphic novels - though I love comics, too!).

And, as if news of this novel weren't exciting enough, it seems that Heroine Complex is going to be the FIRST book in a SERIES of superhero novels starring Asian-American super-heroines! This book is just so full of WIN!!!

So, what do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer

Anticipated Release Date: August 30, 2016

A darkly funny and spectacularly original exploration of friendship, goodbyes —and spontaneous combustion. 

“Katelyn Ogden was a lot of things, but she wasn’t particularly explosive, in any sense of the word.”

Mara Carlyle’s senior year at Covington High in suburban New Jersey is going on as normally as could be expected, until the day—wa-bam!—fellow senior Katelyn Ogden explodes during third period pre-calc. Katelyn is the first, but she won’t be the last senior to explode without warning or explanation. The body count grows and the search is on for a reason—Terrorism! Drugs! Homosexuality! Government conspiracy!—while the seniors continue to pop like balloons.

Mara narrates the end of their world as she knows it with tell-it-like-it-is insight as she tries to make it to graduation in one piece through an explosive year punctuated by romance, quarantine, lifelong friendship, hallucinogenic mushrooms, bloggers, ice cream trucks, “Snooze Button™,” Bon Jovi, and the filthiest language you’ve ever heard the President of the United States use over Skype. 

Aaron Starmer rewrites the YA rulebook in Spontaneous, a ridiculously funny, super honest, and truly moving exemplar of the absurd and raw truths of being a teenager in the 21st century . . . and the heartache of saying goodbye. 

"The best book on spontaneous combustion you will ever read." 

-- John Green

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

You mean you can't tell from the description alone?! How about that glowing recommendation from John Green (who has read a surprisingly large number of books on spontaneous combustion)? Honestly, based on the synopsis alone, this book sounds friggin' awesome! I love YA novels that stand out from the crowd, since nowadays everything sounds almost exactly the same.

Plus, while it sounds like a funny enough plot, I like that there still seems to be seriousness around the main character, who just wants to graduate without bursting into flame:

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

So, what do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

 Anticipated Release Date: January 12, 2016

In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins’ life would be a book. Preferably a YA novel with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn’t even qualify for a quiet contemporary. But when Phoebe finds out that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her, she turns to her favorite books for advice. Phoebe overhauls her personality to become as awesome as her favorite heroines and win Dev’s heart. But if her plan fails, can she go back to her happy world of fictional boys after falling for the real thing?

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

This sounds super cute!!! It's about a bookish girl who is so used to having "book boyfriends" that she doesn't know what to do when an actual real-life boy likes her, so she relies on her favorite book characters to find out how to act. It's a disaster waiting to happen, of course, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. There's just something about awkward and nerdy love that sounds like it'd be an appealing read....maybe it's because I can relate, haha!

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On....Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

Guys, you have NO IDEA how excited I was to open my email and discover that a Welcome To Night Vale novel was available for pre-order! I am completely in love with this podcast, as well as the people behind it, though sadly I've fallen a little behind in episodes recently...hence my surprise to hearing about this novel coming out.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the podcast, each episode of is narrated by Cecil, who works at Night Vale's local community radio station, updating listeners on the various goings-on in the area. It's all fictional, of course, but I still like to hope that such a town truly exists....*sigh*  Sorry, I'm fangirling here. But if your're curious, and this is the first you've heard of this podcast, I encourage you to check it out HERE. Now, to get back to the book, here it is in all its glory:

Anticipated Release Date: October 20, 2015

From the creators of the wildly popular Welcome to Night Vale podcast comes an imaginative mystery of appearances and disappearances that is also a poignant look at the ways in which we all struggle to find ourselves...no matter where we live.

Located in a nameless desert somewhere in the great American Southwest, Night Vale is a small town where ghosts, angels, aliens, and government conspiracies are all commonplace parts of everyday life. It is here that the lives of two women, with two mysteries, will converge.

Nineteen-year-old Night Vale pawn shop owner Jackie Fierro is given a paper marked "KING CITY" by a mysterious man in a tan jacket holding a deer skin suitcase. Everything about him and his paper unsettles her, especially the fact that she can't seem to get the paper to leave her hand, and that no one who meets this man can remember anything about him. Jackie is determined to uncover the mystery of King City and the man in the tan jacket before she herself unravels.

Night Vale PTA treasurer Diane Crayton's son, Josh, is moody and also a shape shifter. And lately Diane's started to see her son's father everywhere she goes, looking the same as the day he left years earlier, when they were both teenagers. Josh, looking different every time Diane sees him, shows a stronger and stronger interest in his estranged father, leading to a disaster Diane can see coming, even as she is helpless to prevent it.

Diane's search to reconnect with her son and Jackie's search for her former routine life collide as they find themselves coming back to two words: "KING CITY". It is King City that holds the key to both of their mysteries, and their futures...if they can ever find it.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

Because I love, love, LOVE Night Vale! I'm a huge Cecil fan, and I am completely in love with all the quirky and insane characters that pop up in the show, like: Carlos, The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home, and Khoshekh (the floating cat that lives in the men's room at the radio station!). I'm so excited to share the wonder of Night Vale with everyone, that I've even made it simple for you to check it out by embedding the pilot episode below for your listening pleasure:

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Plume, Vol. 2 by K. Lynn Smith

For Vesper Grey, there is the Before and the After. The Before is devastatingly boring; teacups and girdles, and an overbearing Aunt who makes life hell. The After is Corrick and the uncovered truth about a magical necklace. It is the Wild West, and it is an adventure that could very well change everything.

*CLICK HERE TO HELP FUND PLUME: VOLUME 2 ON KICKSTARTER*

Or, read the entire web-comic HERE for free!

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

I started reading the web-comic recently, and am really enjoying it! I really love the artwork, and I'm excited to think that I can finally own a tangible copy of the series in my hands!!! Not to mention, all of the cool perks that will most likely come with it:

What's cool is that if you don't have  volume one, you can get it through one of your pledges! Now the real issue is deciding between hardcover or paperback editions...

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

{Waiting On Wednesday} An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier— and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Vow your blood and body to the empire.

Keep your heart for yourself.

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Razorbill

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

Because it sounds AMAZING, that's why! This is a debut, so I don't have anything else by the author to compare it to, but the fact that it's being published by Razorbill is already a good sign (Razorbill is the division of Penguin that released Vampire Academy and Bloodlines). So, I have high hopes. The ARC reviews & ratings on Goodreads are really good already, too!

But even if this novel was the first book being published by a completely unknown publisher, it sounds effing good! I just like the fact that the heroine is so dedicated to her family that she'll go against everything she knows to knows to keep her brother safe, while still obviously keeping her wits about her by going undercover. That, and Elias sounds like he'd make a good book boyfriend, doesn't he? We shall see...

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Black Ice

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Expected Publication: October 7, 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

Doesn't this just sound like a Lifetime movie waiting to happen? One thing I don't see enough of in YA is thriller/suspense novels. Don't get me wrong, there are paranormal & science fiction YA novels that are very thrilling and suspenseful, but not enough contemporary novels that are purely thrillers. Of course, this would probably be better if they didn't throw in the romance, but oh well. Close enough. I love thrillers!

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: A Thousand Pieces Of You

A Thousand Pieces Of You

by Claudia Gray

Expected Publication Date: November 4th 2014 by Harper Teen

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

Because this sounds freaking AMAZING, that's why!!! This girl travels through parallel universes in an effort to hunt down her father's murderer - what a bad-ass! I haven't read anything by Claudia Gray yet, but this definitely seems like a great place to start. Plus, isn't that cover absolutely divine? I know it isn't fair to judge a book by its cover, but this is honestly what compelled me to check out the synopsis in the first place. I have high hopes for this one...

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Storykiller by Kelly Thompson

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, which features upcoming releases that I am anticipating the most! Here's what I can't wait to read at the moment:

Storykiller

by Kelly Thompson

The monster under the bed is real.

In fact, all the monsters are real, as well as the heroes and everything in between because all Fiction is real and exists in a dimension called Story. However, plenty of them hang out in the Mortal world, living both innocent and nefarious lives. This might not mean much to the average Mortal unaware of the Fictional characters living among them, but for The Last Scion--the only Mortal that can kill those Fictional characters--things are about to become very complicated.

Tessa Battle is that Mortal.

Upon her return to Lore, Oregon after years bouncing around boarding schools in Europe, Tessa had her sights set on simple things like shoe shopping, finding a hot boyfriend, and eating as many pancakes as humanly possible. However, the Last Scion mantle Tessa just got saddled with is not making any of that easy, and as Tessa and her new friends are about to learn, Story is long from done with her, no matter how much she'd like to deny her destiny.

With more than one monster chasing her and questionable characters like The Snow Queen and Robin Hood as her allies, Tessa is going to need all the superpowers she inherited just to stay alive. 

And maybe, just maybe, it's a GOOD thing that behind her back, Stories call her THE STORYKILLER.

*CLICK HERE TO HELP FUND STORYKILLER ON KICKSTARTER*

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

I knew I wanted to read this book before I even got the chance to actually read the excerpt - I really enjoyed reading Kelly Thompson's previous prose novel, The Girl Who Would Be King, and had pretty much added her to my mental 'insta-buy authors' list once I had finished reading it. I'm so glad she's releasing another book!

Plus, who's never wondered what would happen if certain fictional characters were actually real?! It seems that Thompson has finally penned my childhood daydreams into something I can actually hold in my hand! Not to mention all of the great comic book artists who are going to have artwork featured in the hardcover edition of the novel - I can't even put my feelings into words right now...

Instead, Brand’s eyes lit up. “Whoa. Like, Batman? Batman is real!?” 

Midas sighed. “Yes. He’s real. And frankly? He’s kind of a dick.”

Read The First Few Chapters FREE

PDF: Chapters 1-7

*courtesy of author Kelly Thompson, from her blog

If you like what you see, please check out the author's blog for some cool behind-the-scenes extras!

 http://blog.1979semifinalist.com/

EDIT: 

*FOR THOSE OF YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCARY-VIBES EMANATING FROM THE COVER*

I honestly didn't find the cover scary when I first saw it - I just assumed it was showcasing the intensity of the protagonist. If you compare it to Buffy, then this image would be Tessa's "battle face."

The story itself seems to be rather lighthearted compared to the more intense cover - I can see how it's described as "Buffy-like" in that it so far reads like an actual episode of the show (the heroine is kick-ass, yes, but she's also still a teenage girl, and worries about your average issues while also dealing with defeating the bad guys). There is also light humor sprinkled throughout the story, like a BtVS episode.

I'm enjoying it so far! Tessa is an interesting character, and the "real" fictional characters mentioned thus far were really fun to read about (BATMAN!!!) I can't wait to see who else gets mentioned or cameoed in the story! 

If you're worried about the cover, but enjoyed the synopsis, then I recommend you check out the first seven chapters, which won't take long to read, and judge for yourself whether or not this novel is something you'd be interested in. I, for one, am totally excited! 

Waiting On: Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Expected Publication Date: July 14, 2014 

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against he government that could cost them their lives.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

I love, love, LOVE superheros!!! I've always enjoyed them in comics, movies, and animated series, but now it seems like they're starting to claim their own niche in the novel world, too. I've only read a few superhero-related novels, but I'm so glad that they're gaining in popularity! When I read the description for this particular story, I was pretty excited (X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven?!). It was an instant add to my TBR list. Plus, look at that awesome cover!

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Better Off Friends

by Elizabeth Eulberg

Expected Publication: February 25, 2014 by Point

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

Doesn't that synopsis remind you of When Harry Met Sally? I absolutely love that movie, and I think that the concept of 'can guys and girls ever really just be friends' is an interesting one. I mean, of course I have male friends, but I don't have any that I'm really close with enough to consider a best friend. It sounds like a sweet story - though a part of me is hoping they do end up staying best friends, without ending up together. YA needs something a little different that way. Too bad that probably won't be the outcome. What do you guys think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Uninvited

by Sophie Jordan

Expected Publication: January 28, 2014 by HarperTeen

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

Doesn't that synopsis just sound so interesting?! I'm intrigued by the idea of knowing ahead of time if someone will be a killer based on a DNA test - it really makes you wonder if a person will kill because of circumstance or because they were told they always would. This novel just sounds so different than every other YA novel that's out there - I'd love to get my hands on a copy! Though I must say that it sounds like it may have some similarities to the movie Gattaca...

What do you think - yay or nay?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: Armada by Ernest Cline

Armada

by Ernest Cline

Expected Publication: July 2014 by Crown Publishing

Zack Lightman is daydreaming through another dull math class when the high-tech dropship lands in his school's courtyard-and when the men in the dark suits and sunglasses leap out of the ship and start calling his name, he's sure he's still dreaming.

But the dream is all too real; the people of Earth need him. As Zack soon discovers, the videogame he's been playing obsessively for years isn't just a game; it's part of a massive, top-secret government training program, designed to teach gamers the skills they'll need to defend Earth from a possible alien invasion. And now…that invasion is coming.

As he and his companions prepare to enter their ships and do battle, Zack learns that the father he thought was dead is actually a key player in this secret war. And together with his father, he'll uncover the truth about the alien threat, race to prevent a genocide, and discover a mysterious third player in the interplanetary chess game he's been thrown into.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

Holy crap! That synopsis sounds like a daydream I had once in middle school....doesn't that book sound completely awesome?!?! I sadly admit that I have yet to read Ready Player One yet, but I recently signed up for a free trial on audible.com and chose it as one of my two free audiobooks (it's read by Wil Freakin' Wheaton!!!) - I'm excited to start listening to it!

What do you think - yay or nay?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting On: White Space by Ilsa J. Bick

White Space (Dark Passages #1)

by Ilsa J. Bick

Expected Publication: February 11, 2014 by Egmont USA

Ilsa Bick’s WHITE SPACE, pitched as The Matrix meets Inkheart, about a seventeen-year-old girl who jumps between the lines of books and into the white space where realities are created and destroyed – but who may herself be nothing more than a character written into being from an alternative universe, to Greg Ferguson at Egmont, in a two-book deal, by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (NA).

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

OHMYFREAKINGGOSH!!!! 

I need this NOW!!!! 

She jumps between the lines of books - The Matrix meets Inkheart?!?!?! 

What more do I need to know - this already sounds awesome!!!

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Waiting on: Archetype by M.D. Waters

Archetype

by M.D. Waters

Expected Publication: February 6, 2014 by Dutton Adult

Introducing a breathtakingly inventive futuristic suspense novel about one woman who rebels against everything she is told to believe.

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character—and the talented author who created her.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

Wow - that description is great! The idea that women are trained to be wives, memory-wiped, and then sold to a random man sounds so insane! But yes, I still wanna read about it...and it's already been garnering some good reviews from ARCs.

What do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

{Waiting on Wednesday} Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Where The Stars Still Shine

by Trish Doller

Expected Publication: September 24, 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Children's

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

That synopsis sounds amazing! I grew up watching Lifetime Original Movies with my mom, so I'm a fan of gritty, true-to-life drama/suspense stories, and this seems to fit the bill. I think it would be fascinating to read about a character who was kidnapped by her own mother, and I'm curious to find out both why she was taken and why it was considered kidnapping (since it was her mother.) It just sounds like an interesting story.

What do you guys think?

If you haven't done so already, feel free to link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine. And if you add a link to your WoW post in the comments, I'll be sure to check it out.

{Waiting on Wednesday} Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

Nearly Gone

by Elle Cosimano

Expected Publication: March 25, 2014 by Kathy Dawson Books

Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This:

That synopsis should be enough of a reason - I mean, wow! Bones meets Fringe? With a bit of  21 Jump Street thrown in for kicks? I'm always on the lookout for YA books that seem to deviate from the normal YA books, and this sounds like it may be right up my alley. Plus, YA fiction could really use more paranormal mystery/suspense/thrillers.

What do you guys think?

If you haven't done so already, feel free to link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine. And if you add a link to your WoW post in the comments, I'll be sure to check it out.

{Waiting on Wednesday} Alienated by Melissa Landers

  

Alienated

by Melissa Landers

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014 by Disney Hyperion

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This
Aliens!!! Plus, how does the above synopsis not sound interesting?! I just love that description! At first glance it brought to mind Singing The Dogstar Blues by Alison Goodman, but once I actually read through it I saw how different it actually seems - for one, it seems that this series may actually have some romance, whereas Goodman chose to focus on the friendship between a human girl and a male alien (which I loved, btw). I think I must be in some sort of phase or something in which books about aliens on Earth sound very appealing. At any rate, I just really want to read this! Too bad it won't be out until 2014...

What do you guys think?

If you haven't done so already, feel free to link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine. And if you add a link to your WoW post in the comments, I'll be sure to check it out.

{Waiting on Wednesday} The Ward by Jordana Frankel

  

The Ward

by Jordana Frankel

Expected Publication: April 30, 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.

Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This
A water-logged Manhattan?! Why wouldn't I want to read this?! Okay, so based on the synopsis I'm thinking that this may be somewhat of a cross between the Kevin Costner film, Waterworld, and the Jason Bourne series. I'm just so intrigued by the setting that it doesn't matter what this book is about, I'd want to check it out.

What do you guys think?

If you haven't done so already, feel free to link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine. And if you add a link to your WoW post in the comments, I'll be sure to check it out.

{Waiting on Wednesday} Ink - A YA Novel Set In Japan

Wow, I haven't done a Waiting on Wednesday post in quite a while - thanks to Breaking the Spine for hosting! I think that there are just so many books out there that I can't wait to start reading, so narrowing down choices for this post is always a bit difficult, but I just discovered a really amazing sounding book on My Cute Bookshelf that I just had to share with you! Here it is:

Ink

by Amanda Sun
Expected Publication: June 25, 2013 by Harlequin Teen

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

You guys, this book takes place in Japan! I am a bit obsessed with East Asian cultures, especially Japan's. It's just so refreshing to see a YA novel coming out that takes place there. Plus, it doesn't even take place in Tokyo, but in Shizuoka (maybe it's just me, but a large majority of American novels that take place in Japan seem to be set in Tokyo). 

AND AND AND.....the main guy is on the kendo team!!! Sorry, but I am completely fan-girling over this book already, and it won't even be released for like, half a year. I can't help it. Oh, and I should probably mention that this book is the first in a new series!

What do you guys think?

And if you could please recommend some already published Japan-related YA novels to tide me over until the release of this book, I would love you forever!