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Showing posts with label upcoming releases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upcoming releases. Show all posts

Seasons of Stories: Must-Read Books of Fall/Winter 2023-2024

 


Book release season is upon us and there are so many exciting upcoming releases to check out this Fall and Winter season. If you're looking to cozy up with a book as the weather gets colder, these new releases might just be your next favorite book! While there are hundreds of new releases coming out very soon, this list is just a few that I am most excited for and will be buying on release day! Let me know if you're planning on reading any of these releases as well. I'd love to know what's on your Fall/Winter TBRs!


1. The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab



"Once, there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power and connected by a single city: London. Until the magic grew too fast and forced the worlds to seal the doors between them in a desperate gamble to protect their own. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew more rare as time passed and now, only three Antari are known in recent memory—Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk, of White London.

But barely a glimpse of them have been seen in the last seven years—and a new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland's absence. The young queen is willing to feed her city with blood, including her own—but her growing religious fervor has the potential to drown it instead.

And back in Red London, King Rhy Maresh is threatened by a rising rebellion, one determined to correct the balance of power by razing the throne entirely.

These two royals from very different empires now face very similar struggles: how to keep their crowns—and their own heads.

Amidst this tapestry of old friends and new enemies, a girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds.

Her name is Tes, and she's the only one who can bring them together—or unravel it all."

Release Date: September 26, 2023 

2. The Women by Kristin Hannah


"The missing. The forgotten. The brave… The women.

“Women can be heroes, too.”

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation."

Release Date: February 6, 2024

3. Penance by Eliza Clark

"Nearly a decade after the horrifying murder, journalist Alec Z. Carelli has written the definitive account of the crime, drawn from hours of interviews with witnesses and family members, painstaking historical research, and most notably, correspondence with the killers themselves. The result is a riveting snapshot of lives rocked by tragedy, and a town left in turmoil.

But how much of the story is true?

Compulsively readable, provocative, and disturbing, Penance is a cleverly nuanced, unflinching exploration of gender, class, and power that raises troubling questions about the media and our obsession with true crime while bringing to light the depraved side of human nature and our darkest proclivities."

Release Date: September 26, 2023

4. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll


"Two women from opposite sides of the country are brought together by violent acts of the same man, and become allies and sisters in arms as they pursue the justice that would otherwise elude them in one of the most acclaimed, highly anticipated thrillers of the year.

Masterfully blending elements of psychological suspense and true crime, Jessica Knoll—author of the bestselling novel Luckiest Girl Alive and the writer behind the Netflix adaption starring Mila Kunis—delivers a new and exhilarating thriller in Bright Young Women. The book opens on a Saturday night in 1978, hours before a soon-to-be-infamous murderer descends upon a Florida sorority house with deadly results. The lives of those who survive, including sorority president and key witness, Pamela Schumacher, are forever changed. Across the country, Tina Cannon is convinced her missing friend was targeted by the man papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer—and that he’s struck again. Determined to find justice, the two join forces as their search for answers leads to a final, shocking confrontation.

Blisteringly paced, Bright Young Women is “Jessica Knoll at her best—an unflinching and evocative novel about the tabloid fascination with evil and the dynamic and brilliant women who have the real stories to tell” (Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me); and “a compelling, almost hypnotic read and I loved it with a passion” (Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author of None of This Is True)."

Release Date: September 19, 2023

5. Death Valley by Melissa Broder

"The most profound book yet from the visionary author of Milk Fed and The Pisces, a darkly funny novel about grief that becomes a desert survival story.

In Melissa Broder’s astounding new novel, a woman arrives alone at a Best Western seeking respite from an emptiness that plagues her. She has fled to the California high desert to escape a cloud of sorrow—for both her father in the ICU and a husband whose illness is worsening. What the motel provides, however, is not peace but a path, thanks to a receptionist who recommends a nearby hike.

Out on the sun-scorched trail, the woman encounters a towering cactus whose size and shape mean it should not exist in California. Yet the cactus is there, with a gash through its side that beckons like a familiar door. So she enters it. What awaits her inside this mystical succulent sets her on a journey at once desolate and rich, hilarious and poignant.

This is Melissa Broder at her most imaginative, most universal, and finest. This is Death Valley."

Release Date: October 3, 2023



2019 LGBT+ YA Releases



What's more exciting than a new year full of new LGBT+ releases? Here's part one of my blog posts sharing with you all the LGBT+ releases for this year. Let's support them by pre-ordering, adding them on Goodreads, and of course, reading them!

1. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver [May 14th, 2019]

"When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.

But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life."

2. The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Kahn [January 29th, 2019]

"Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali tries her hardest to live up to her conservative Muslim parents’ expectations, but lately she’s finding that harder and harder to do. She rolls her eyes instead of screaming when they blatantly favor her brother and she dresses conservatively at home, saving her crop tops and makeup for parties her parents don’t know about. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life in Seattle and her new life at Caltech, where she can pursue her dream of becoming an engineer.

But when her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend Ariana, all of Rukhsana’s plans fall apart. Her parents are devastated; being gay may as well be a death sentence in the Bengali community. They immediately whisk Rukhsana off to Bangladesh, where she is thrown headfirst into a world of arranged marriages and tradition. Only through reading her grandmother’s old diary is Rukhsana able to gain some much needed perspective.

Rukhsana realizes she must find the courage to fight for her love, but can she do so without losing everyone and everything in her life?"


3. Song of the Dead  (Book #2) by Sarah Glenn Marsh [January 22nd, 2019]

"Karthia is nothing like it used to be. The kingdom's borders are open for the first time in nearly three hundred years, and raising the dead has been outlawed. Odessa is determined to explore the world beyond Karthia's waters, hoping to heal a heart broken in more ways than she can count. But with Meredy joining the ocean voyage, vanquishing her sorrow will be a difficult task.

Despite the daily reminder of the history they share, Odessa and Meredy are fascinated when their journey takes them to a land where the Dead rule the night and dragons roam the streets. Odessa can't help being mesmerized by the new magic--and by the girl at her side. But just as she and Meredy are beginning to explore the new world, a terrifying development in Karthia summons them home at once.

Growing political unrest on top of threats from foreign invaders means Odessa and Meredy are thrust back into the lives they tried to leave behind while specters from their past haunt their tenuous relationship. Gathering a force big enough to ward off enemies seems impossible, until one of Queen Valoria's mages creates a weapon that could make them invincible. As danger continues to mount inside the palace, Odessa fears that without the Dead, even the greatest invention won't be enough to save their fates.

In this enthralling, heartrending sequel to Reign of the Fallen, Odessa faces the fight of her life as the boundaries between the Dead and the living are challenged in a way more gruesome than ever before"


4. You Asked for Perfect by Laura Silverman [March 5th, 2019]

"Senior Ariel Stone is the perfect college applicant: first chair violin, dedicated community volunteer, and expected valedictorian. He works hard - really hard - to make his life look effortless. A failed Calculus quiz is not part of that plan. Not when he’s number one. Not when his peers can smell weakness like a freshman’s body spray.

Figuring a few all-nighters will preserve his class rank, Ariel throws himself into studying. His friends will understand if he skips a few plans, and he can sleep when he graduates. Except Ariel’s grade continues to slide. Reluctantly, he gets a tutor. Amir and Ariel have never gotten along, but Amir excels in Calculus, and Ariel is out of options.

Ariel may not like Calc, but he might like Amir. Except adding a new relationship to his long list of commitments may just push him past his limit."

5. Kings, Queens and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju [May 7th, 2019]

"perpetually awkward Nima Kumara-Clark is bored with her insular community of Bridgeton, in love with her straight girlfriend, and trying to move past her mother’s unexpected departure. After a bewildering encounter at a local festival, Nima finds herself suddenly immersed in the drag scene on the other side of town.

Macho drag kings, magical queens, new love interests, and surprising allies propel Nima both painfully and hilariously closer to a self she never knew she could be—one that can confidently express and accept love. But she’ll have to learn to accept lost love to get there.
 "

6. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian [June 4th, 2019]

"It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.

Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.

Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.

Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.

As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known."

7. Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi [June 11th, 2019]

"Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win.

Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana.

There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since.

Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strongwilled young women falling for each other despite themselves."

8. the Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown [April 16th, 2019]

"Before, Jessica has always struggled with anger issues, but come sophomore year that all changes when Vivi crashes into her life. As their relationship blossoms, Vivi not only helps Jess deal with her pain, she also encourages her to embrace her talent as an artist. And for the first time, it feels like the future is filled with possibilities. After In the midst of senior year, Jess’s perfect world is erased when Vivi suddenly passes away. Reeling from the devastating loss, Jess pushes everyone away, and throws out her plans to go to art school. Because art is Vivi and Vivi is gone forever.

Desperate for an escape, Jess gets consumed in her work-study program, letting all of her dreams die. Until she makes an unexpected new friend who shows her a new way to channel her anger, passion, and creativity. Although Jess may never draw again, if she can find a way to heal and room in her heart, she just might be able to forge a new path for herself without Vivi."

9. These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling [May 29th, 2019]

"Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day."



10. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia [February 26th, 2019]
"At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children, but both are promised a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her bright future depends upon no one discovering her darkest secret—that her pedigree is a lie. Her parents sacrificed everything to obtain forged identification papers so Dani could rise above her station. Now that her marriage to an important politico’s son is fast approaching, she must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society, where famine and poverty rule supreme.

On her graduation night, Dani seems to be in the clear, despite the surprises that unfold. But nothing prepares her for all the difficult choices she must make, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio. Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or to give up everything she’s strived for in pursuit of a free Medio—and a chance at a forbidden love?"


Please note that this is PART ONE of many posts sharing the LGBT+ releases of 2019. I just couldn't fit them all in one. Isn't that lovely?!

Let me know if you're getting any of these releases!



Pick these up at your local book store or Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble!


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January Young Adult Releases of 2019



  1. The Wicked King by Holly Black (The Folk of the Air #2) [January 8th, 2019]
  2. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus [January 8th, 2019]
  3. Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard (The Witchlands #3)   This comes out in February. I apologize for accidently adding it into the photo.
  4. Evermore by Sara Holland [December 31st, 2018] oops
  5. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi [January 15th, 2019]
  6. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo [January 29th, 2019]
  7. Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh [January 22nd, 2019]
  8. Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson [January 15th, 2019]

November YA Releases '18



  • Archenemies by Marissa Meyer [November 6th, 2018]
  • Pulp by Robin Talley [November 13th, 2018] (I'll have a review soon!)
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling [November 16th, 2018]
  • Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean [November 6th, 2018]
  • This Splintered Silence by Kayla Olson [November 13th, 2018]
  • Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan [November 6th, 2018]


WILDCARD [REVIEW]




  • Edition: Hardcover + ebook
  • Page Count: 352 pages
  • Publish Date: September 18th, 2018
  • Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*
please note that there isn't spoilers for book 2 but will be for Warcross

I was kindly sent a copy of Wildcard by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Wildcard is the sequel to Warcross by Marie Lu. To avoid any spoilers here on my blog, I'll be posting the description to the first book only. If you'd like to see my spoiler filled review, check out my Goodreads on the release date!



"For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn't just a game--it's a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships--only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.



Convinced she's going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game's creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year's tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika's whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she's only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire."


I loved Warcross last year so much that I read the entire book in one sitting. Little did I know, I'd have to wait an entire year for Wildcard to come out. I had written a mini review after reading Warcross because it was in the middle of the night and I was a mess. As if things have changed much, I ended up a mess at the midnight of the night after finishing Wildcard. I didn’t know what to expect, but I know it wasn’t all of this!


I'm familiar with Marie Lu's writing as I've read both of her other series. I've come to the conclusion that her writing style and stories are meant for binge reading. You can't help but want to sit there and finish all at once because she's somehow able to leave a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter. In Wildcard, I found myself genuinely shocked that there was so many twists and turns that I wasn't even expecting (especially the giant one at the end!!). I read so much Young Adult that I can easily predict what is going to happen most of the time. But, I wasn't able to do that with Wildcard. You know whenever you're laying down in bed reading a book but all the sudden you sit up and get closer to the book because that "OH THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN" moment happens? I can't count the amount of times I did that on my fingers. It was ridiculous. As a writer, I strive to consistently shock within my writing but it seems almost impossible. Marie Lu seems to have done it no problem with both Warcross and Wildcard.

One of my favorite parts about Wildcard is that we get even more Warcross games! They’re so interesting to read. I usually get bored at action scenes because they’re always so over descriptive (Weird, I know) but I get so pumped for Warcross games. I’m honestly so dedicated to the Riders at this point. Catch me wearing their merch at the next championship. Let's talk about characters!

Emika - I knew Emika was going to be a kick butt character ever since the beginning. She was a broke girl in New York who couldn’t pay her rent but was a Warcross bounty hunter on the side. The missions she goes on in this book are so much more dangerous. She eventually becomes super wanted for obvious reasons. There’s this entire chase scene that you see her vunerability in and it was so pure. Not to mention, she’s still in love with Hideo. I have no idea why or how but her feelings for him are definitely there. It might have caused her to do many different and dangerous things out of love, but it was worth it. It’s not a YA story if the main character isn’t making bad decisions for love, right?

Zero - I oddly loved Zero when all we knew about him was the black shadow and he tried to kill Emika and basically everyone in that game. Getting to know him is truly one of the better parts of this book. His character is so deep and rich. You keep learning more and more ever second (I mean, she is hunting him.) Despite learning so much about him, there’s this weird mysterious vibe that stays with his character.

Jax - I LOVE JAX. I’ve never been a big fan of side characters but I couldn’t wait for more Jax content. Her entrance was honestly SO perfect and tough. Her background makes it even better because she was able to grow into an incredibly strong woman who doesn’t need anybody. I could read a book about her alone, to be honest. But as a side character to Emika, they were a perfect duo. They both came from nothing and learned to adapt by themselves. I loved Jax as her sidekick and I’m so glad she got the amount of content she did. She definitely deserves it.

Tremaine and Asher: I just wanted to quickly say that I absolutely adored their entire relationship and I'm so glad she included them into the story.

I knew Marie Lu was going to blow me away but once you think the book is over, it isn’t. I didn’t think I would cry at this book because I’m not that emotionally invested… Sike. I cried at that ending newspaper article. I’m genuinely surprised I didn’t predict any of this but I’m so glad it ended like this. Not going to lie, I do wish there was more though. To conclude, I’m definitely trash for this duology and I’ll be reading literally anything that Marie Lu writes from now on. I don’t know how she wasn’t an auto-buy author for me already but she is now. I can’t possibly give a book that made the reading experience that fun lower than a five star rating. So, five out of five stars from me.

Are you going to be reading Wildcard? Let me know!

Find my reviews on Goodreads + my blog!

Pre-order or buy Wildcard on Amazon | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble!







    
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