IN CASE YOU MISSED IT by Sarah Darer Littman + Impromptu Book Chat? | First Impressions

Sorry for the slight delay in FIW -- I had to hold off on posting this one, but here we go! Though this *might* be a bit of a miss for me, mostly this week has been FULL of potentially awesome reads!
Only one more video to go, and it's one I think a lot of you want to see, so make sure you stop back by tomorrow!
(Also, lets just all ignore that I'm vaguely Simpsons-yellow, 'kay? Damn white balance...)

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom

+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT by Sarah Darer Littman
Get It | Add It
320 pages
Expected publication: October 11th 2016 by Scholastic Press

Sammy Wallach has epic plans for the end of junior year over: Sneak out to the city to see her favorite band. Get crush-worthy Jamie Moss to ask her to prom. Rock all exams (APs and driver's).

With a few white lies, some killer flirting, and tons of practice, Sammy's got things covered. That is, until the bank her dad works for is attacked by hacktivists who manage to steal everything in the Wallach family's private cloud, including Sammy's entire digital life. Literally the whole world has access to her emails, texts, photos, and, worst of all, journal.

Life. Is. Over.

Now Sammy's best friends are furious about things she wrote, Jamie thinks she's desperate, and she can barely show her face at school. Plus, her parents know all the rules she broke. But Sammy's not the only one with secrets -- her family has a few of its own that could change everything. And while the truth might set you free, no one said it was going to be painless. Or in Sammy's case, private.

THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron | First Impressions

Day 5 of FIW and once again, we've got a book that I think is going to be a real winner!
A lot of you were curious about this one, so I'm looking forward to chatting with you in the comments about it!

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom
+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron
Get It | Add It
416 pages
Expected publication: September 13th 2016 by Scholastic Press

What isn't written, isn't remembered. Even your crimes.

Nadia lives in the city of Canaan, where life is safe and structured, hemmed in by white stone walls and no memory of what came before. But every twelve years the city descends into the bloody chaos of the Forgetting, a day of no remorse, when each person's memories – of parents, children, love, life, and self – are lost. Unless they have been written.

In Canaan, your book is your truth and your identity, and Nadia knows exactly who hasn't written the truth. Because Nadia is the only person in Canaan who has never forgotten.

But when Nadia begins to use her memories to solve the mysteries of Canaan, she discovers truths about herself and Gray, the handsome glassblower, that will change her world forever. As the anarchy of the Forgetting approaches, Nadia and Gray must stop an unseen enemy that threatens both their city and their own existence – before the people can forget the truth. And before Gray can forget her.

____________________________

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored video, though this book was sent to me for review consideration purposes. All excerpts shared are copyright the author, and were shared for review and promotional reasons only. Excerpts are subject to change, as this is an advance version of the book, and thus not final -- so grab a copy and check it out for yourself when it's released!

INTERFERENCE and CROW MOUNTAIN | First Impressions

Today's First Impressions Week video is a two-fer! I'm taking a look at an upcoming contemporary that's being billed as Friday Night Lights meets Jane Austen's Emma (woot!), and a contemporary meets historical romance set in "The Last Best Place," otherwise known as Montana.
Take a listen to quick excerpts and my thoughts on both books below; at least one of them I think is going to be a real winner, and I can't wait to explore it further!

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom

+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

about Interference by Kay Honeyman
Get It | Add It
352 pages
Expected publication: September 27th 2016 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Friday Night Lights meets Jane Austen's Emma in this wonderful novel about a big election, big games, the big state of Texas, and a little romance.

As a Congressman's daughter in Washington, DC, Kate Hamilton is good at getting what she wants -- what some people might call "interfering." But when her family moves to West Texas so her dad can run in a special election, Kate encounters some difficulties that test all her political skills. None of her matchmaking efforts go according to plan. Her father's campaign gets off to a rough start. A pro tip for moving to Texas: Don't slam the star quarterback's hand in a door. And whenever Kate messes up, the irritatingly right (and handsome) Hunter Price is there to witness it. But Kate has determination and a good heart, and with all her political savvy -- and a little clever interference -- she'll figure out what it takes to make Red Dirt home.

Terrifically funny and sweetly romantic, with whip-crack dialogue and a wise perspective on growing up, Interference is the perfect next read for fans of Jenny Han, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Eulberg, or Sarah Dessen.

about Crow Mountain by Lucy Inglis
Get It | Add It
368 pages
Published May 31st 2016 by The Chicken House

A sweeping tale of love, legacy, and wilderness set between the present day and 1867 in the dramatic landscape of modern-day and territorial Montana.

While on a trip to Montana with her mom, British teen Hope meets local boy Cal Crow, a ranch hand. Caught in a freak accident, Hope and Cal take shelter in a cabin, where Hope makes a strange discovery in an abandoned diary. More than a hundred years earlier, another British girl--Emily--met a similar fate. Her rescuer, a horse trader named Nate. In this rugged place, both girls learn what it means to survive and to fall in love, neither knowing that their fates are intimately entwined.

____________________________


Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored video, though this book was sent to me for review consideration purposes. All excerpts shared are copyright the author, and were shared for review and promotional reasons only. Excerpts are subject to change, as this is an advance version of the book, and thus not final -- so grab a copy and check it out for yourself when it's released!

FROST by M.P. Kozlowsky | First Impressions

Hey there! Welcome to day 3 of my First Impressions Week, where once again, you're getting a sneak peek into my next book haul. This one showed up in my mail a week or two ago, and though I hadn't heard of it, I was immediately excited. A new MP Kozlowsky book that's described as Cinder meets The Walking Dead? Sign. Me. Up!

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom

+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

FROST by M.P. Kozlowsky
Get It | Add It
352 pages
Expected publication: October 11th 2016 by Scholastic Press

Cinder meets The Walking Dead in a chilling futuristic fairy tale that will reboot everything you thought about family, love, and what it means to be human.

Sixteen-year-old Frost understands why she's spent her entire life in an abandoned apartment building. The ruined streets below are hunting grounds for rogue robots and Eaters.

She understands why she's never met a human besides her father. She even understands why he forbids her to look for medicine for her dying pet. But the thing is, it's not her real father giving the orders . . .

It's his memories.

Before he died, Frost's father uploaded his consciousness into their robot servant. But the technology malfunctioned, and now her father fades in and out. So when Frost learns that there might be medicine on the other side of the ravaged city, she embarks on a dangerous journey to save the only living creature she loves.

With only a robot as a companion, Frost must face terrors of all sorts, from outrunning the vicious Eaters . . . to talking to the first boy she's ever set eyes on. But can a girl who's only seen the world through books and dusty windows survive on her own?

____________________________


Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored video, though this book was sent to me for review consideration purposes. All excerpts shared are copyright the author, and were shared for review and promotional reasons only. Excerpts are subject to change, as this is an advance version of the book, and thus not final -- so grab a copy and check it out for yourself when it's released!

FALLING OVER SIDEWAYS by Jordan Sonnenblick | First Impressions

Day 2 of First Impressions week brings a bit of a sneak peek into my next book haul...
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, good, bad or otherwise!

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom

+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

FALLING OVER SIDEWAYS by Jordan Sonnenblick
Get It | Add It
272 pages
Expected publication: September 27th 2016 by Scholastic Press

It's not easy being Claire. (Really.)
Claire's life is a joke . . . but she's not laughing. While her friends seem to be leaping forward, she's dancing in the same place. The mean girls at school are living up to their mean name, and there's a boy, Ryder, who's just as bad, if not worse. And at home, nobody's really listening to her -- if anything, they seem to be more in on the joke than she is.

Then into all of this (not-very-funny-to-Claire) comedy comes something intense and tragic -- while her dad is talking to her at the kitchen table, he falls over with a medical emergency. Suddenly the joke has become very serious -- and the only way Claire, her family, and her friends are going to get through it is if they can find a way to make it funny again.

____________________________

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored video, though this book was sent to me for review consideration purposes. All excerpts shared are copyright the author, and were shared for review and promotional reasons only. Excerpts are subject to change, as this is an advance version of the book, and thus not final -- so grab a copy and check it out for yourself when it's released!

VASSA IN THE NIGHT by Sarah Porter! | First Impressions

Kicking off an impromptu First Impressions week with Sarah Porter's upcoming retelling, VASSA IN THE NIGHT! I'll be sharing my general first thoughts as well as a snippet from the beginning, so you can get a feel for the style for yourself! (I know this excerpt is a bit on the longish side, compared to what I'd normally share, but I just couldn't resist. Erg!)

Let me know your thoughts -- good, bad and otherwise -- in the comments!

All of the #FIW videos:
Vassa in the Night
Falling Over Sideways
Frost
Interference
Crow Mountain
The Forgetting
In Case You Missed It
Heartless
Crooked Kingdom

+ More excerpts
+ More First Impressions and reviews

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
Get It | Add It
304 pages
Expected publication: September 20th 2016 by Tor Teen

In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood.

In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission.

But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair. . . .

CURRENT TBR!

To say I've been in a slump is an understatement, but I'm trying to get back on track by letting go of some of the bookish deadweight and getting on with a new TBR (of sorts). Wish me luck!

If you interested in being part of Austen in August, check out this post!

THE BOOKS:
The Darkest Lie
The Trouble to Check Her
Nevernight
The Possibility of Somewhere
Vassa in the Night
Heartless
Mighty Jack
Something New

Also Mentioned:
Mistaking Her Character
Hexed


Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored video. Many of these books were sent to me for review consideration purposes.

AUSTEN IN (mostly) AUGUST 2016 INVITATION!

I am sure that after Fairy Tale Fortnight was a no-show* this year, some of you are wondering if the same is going to be true of Austen in August; it's no secret that I've been in a slump for awhile now, and haven't been as motivated to blog (I mean, just look around... You may just see a tumbleweed). But nothing draws me in like Austen. My enthusiasm for her knows no bounds, and YOUR enthusiasm for her makes me weirdly (some would say masochisticly) excited for Austen in August and its attendant work load. So of course there's going to be an AIA this year!

That said, it is going to be a little different, just out of necessity. On top of said slump and general summer busy-ness, August is event month (apparently), and it seems like everyone I know has decided to: get married | get engaged | have babies : and there's just no way I could have AIA on its normal schedule, at the normal volume, and remain sane. So Austen in "August" this year is actually going to start late and spill over into September a bit (but don't worry, Austen's just as good in September, I promise).  I'll try to keep it as full and Austenolicious as I always do, but you might have to cut me some slack this year. A little. Maybe. (please?)

But that's enough preamble, I think. Most of you know the drill by now, but for those who don't or need a refresher:
What the Eff is AIA?

Well, funny you should ask...
The Deets:

1. Austen in August is a celebration of all things Jane Austen, featuring reviews, discussions, vlogs, giveaways, interviews and more! [See years one, two, three, four, mother-freaking five, because it's been half a decade, yo! and six, because we didn't stop there] You can stop by any time during these 2 weeks and get lost in Austen. It's all very austentatious. . . alright, I'll stop now.
2. It runs AUGUST 24TH through SEPTEMBER 6TH, and everyone is welcome to participate. You can just read and comment on the daily posts, if you'd like, but  as always, I will also be welcoming guest posts. Wanna review or giveaway your favorite adaptation? Share your Top 5 MOJ (Moments of Jane)? Discuss why Edmund is actually totally a catch *gag*? I'd love to host your awesome post! Fill out the form below with what you'd like to do and I'll reserve a spot for you!
3. Are you an Austenite author who wants to be involved? EMAIL ME! I'd love to have you involved!
4. There will also be a linky up on the first day to share last minute posts, if you find yourself inspired to jump in. :)
5. Once again I will be hosting an Austen Read Along to coincide with the event, and this year's book is SENSE & SENSIBILITY. [Astute AIAers will have figured out that's the only one of the Big Six left that we haven't read & discussed!]

That about covers it.
So if you're interested in being a featured guest right here on this blog (or on my vlog!), or you've been burning with things to say about Jane all year, please fill out the form below! It'll remain open for the next few weeks, after which you can email me directly if you're still interested.

You guys are always amazing at contributing your time, creativity and enthusiasm to this event every year, I luuurve you for it and I can't wait to see what you come up with! And I said this last year (and the year before, and will forever and evermore), but I meeeeeeeeeaaaan it:
I don't ever want anyone to feel obligated to contribute in any way, but if you've been on the fence and too shy in the past, I'd love to feature you this year! I LOVE pulling in new Janeites, you have NO IDEA.




*side note: Fairy Tale Fortnight may still happen later this year, and if not, will hopefully be back next year!

Dollar Tree Book Haul!

Because who can resist dollar books?
If you missed either of the videos I talk about in this, you can find them here:
May/June Book Haul
Spring/Summer Beauty Haul

THE BOOKS:
Gameboard of the Gods
Daylighters
The Rivals
NW
In Calamity's Wake

ALSO MENTIONED:
Vampire Academy
The Glittering Court
The Morganville Vampires
The Mockingbirds


Have you read any of these? I'd love to know your (spoiler-free) thoughts! 

THE Book Trend of 2016? | Book Chat

There are always tons of blips in the trend-radar at any given time, but for me, I think the overall trend when it comes to 2016 (for YA books, and maybe for society at large) is dark and gritty and line-blurring. So here are my thoughts (and a few recommendations).

Though "dark" and "gritty" are nothing new, the more recent approach to these types of stories eschews the "torture porn" schadenfreude aspects of previous crime and mystery novels/reporting. (The whole "can't look away from the car-crash / thank god it wasn't me or anyone I love" aspect that keeps people watching or reading in a combination of horror and dark fascination.) Instead, the focus is on the gray areas, the uncertainties, the good in the bad and the bad in the good. MUCH more fascinating, if you ask me.

I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts, whether you agree or disagree, and I'd also love to know which 2016 books YOU recommend, whether it's for this trend or any other!

And I'm curious: what do you think will be the trend of 2017?

BOOKS & MEDIA MENTIONED:
TV:
Making a Murderer
The Jinx
Serial
How to Get Away with Murder
Scandal
Revenge

BOOKS:
The Killing Jar
After the Woods
The Darkest Corners (review)
The Darkest Lie
Wink Poppy Midnight
Blood & Salt
and so many more! (These are just the ones shown in the video)



Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored video. (Though the books shown were sent to me for PR consideration purposes.)

Friday Face Off: Dark Caravan Cycle Redesign!

Hey! Long time, no Face Off! But I stumbled across something that was just begging for an FFO, so we're back! A few days ago, HarperTeen released a ton of covers for their upcoming 2017 release lineup (more on that to come), and among the pretty shinies was a brand new cover style for Heather Demetrios' Dark Caravan Cycle -- or at least, the cover change was new to me. I've been a little out of the loop, so who knows, this could be old news to you. Either way, we're talking about it today.

Below you'll find the original covers for the first two books of the series (top), and the simplified new covers for all three books (bottom). As you can see, they've shifted away from the sort of personal, etheral, slightly haunted look of the originals, into a more streamlined, iconic style for the redesign. My thoughts on the change is at the bottom of this post,  But before you let me bias you one way or the other, take a look at the two sets of covers below. Which would you reach for on the shelves? Which would pique your curiousity? Which would you rather own, personally? If you've read the stories, which do you feel suits the series most?

Which one did it better? 

VS.

As for me, when I saw the redesign for the 3rd book, I was actually quite taken with it. I like the original cover for Exquisite Captive (I'm a sucker for purple and dreamy), but when I saw the redesign, I though, Hmmm, now this is something I could really get behind. The strong stance and simple iconography of it are powerful and impactful, and that big, glorious swoop on the ess in "Slave" just does things to me (I'm even more a sucker for good type than I am for dreamy purples), so I was on board -- until I saw the other two covers in the redesign. They're okay, even if the icon for Blood Passage reminds me of James Bond . . . but they're nothing to write home about, and the patterning takes away from the sleek simplicity.
So I'm torn on this one, but with the 3rd one, at least, I feel like they really got some things right.
(It should be noted, though, that they're replacing a cover with a visible POC with something more generic, which is a little disappointing. Though of course, generic means readers more readily insert themselves in the story, which helps a book sale, so I get it.)




Have a suggestion for an upcoming Friday Face Off? Let me know in the comments or email me here!