This week's Top Ten Tuesday focused on the best 2016 releases we've read so far this year. I chose not to participate because I didn't have ten books to put on the list (which is actually kind of terrifying). Even then, though I've definitely liked several of the books I've read this year, I'd say five are standouts--and of those five, three are 2016 releases, and one of those still has yet to be released. But I thought about it, and I decided I still want to talk about those books. Instead of just saying, "Hey, here's this book," I chose to do things a little bit differently. So here are five standouts I've read during the first half of this year, complete with their bookstagram photos and some aesthetics.
Jun 24, 2016
Jun 23, 2016
Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publishing Date: July 5, 2016
Pages/Format: 464, eARC
Add on Goodreads!
There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
Add on Goodreads!
There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
Book in One Word: Good!
Jun 22, 2016
The Never-Ending Story (or Series)
The thing about a standalone is that it's over after the last page. The thing about a series is that it's not over until the last page of the last book. That's what I love about a series--I don't have to say goodbye yet. (Honestly though, the prolonging may make the imminent pain of having to say goodbye even worse.) I hate when a series and story comes to a close and I'm forced back into the real world, especially when that fictional was one I wanted to wrap around myself. You know what I mean--you know the characters, feel all the emotions, and just immerse yourself into that world. I hate when it comes to an end. But what if The End wasn't really The End?
Jun 21, 2016
Review: With Malice by Eileen Cook
Author: Eileen Cook
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: June 7, 2016
Pages/Format: 316, ARC
Add on Goodreads!
It was the perfect trip…until it wasn’t.
Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron wakes up in a hospital room, leg in a cast, stitches in her face and a big blank canvas where the last six weeks should be. She discovers she was involved in a fatal car accident while on a school trip in Italy. A trip she doesn’t even remember taking. She was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident…wasn’t an accident.
As the accident makes national headlines, Jill finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. It doesn’t help that the media is portraying her as a sociopath who killed her bubbly best friend, Simone, in a jealous rage. With the evidence mounting against her, there’s only one thing Jill knows for sure: She would never hurt Simone. But what really happened? Questioning who she can trust and what she’s capable of, Jill desperately tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.
Add on Goodreads!
It was the perfect trip…until it wasn’t.
Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron wakes up in a hospital room, leg in a cast, stitches in her face and a big blank canvas where the last six weeks should be. She discovers she was involved in a fatal car accident while on a school trip in Italy. A trip she doesn’t even remember taking. She was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident…wasn’t an accident.
As the accident makes national headlines, Jill finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. It doesn’t help that the media is portraying her as a sociopath who killed her bubbly best friend, Simone, in a jealous rage. With the evidence mounting against her, there’s only one thing Jill knows for sure: She would never hurt Simone. But what really happened? Questioning who she can trust and what she’s capable of, Jill desperately tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.
Book in One Word: Underwhelming
Jun 19, 2016
Jun 13, 2016
Blog Tour: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hello, wonderful people! When I got the email from Irish Banana Tours about the Boldly Bookish blog tour I jumped on that fast. That's because the tour featured an author whose books I am very much a fan of: Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I fell head over heels in love with her Naturals series, which is basically a YA version of Criminal Minds, except it's better. Then there's her Fixer series (I refuse to call it a duology because there better be more books), which is a teen version of Scandal and full of mean, mean twists and turns, the solving of problems, and a stellar, dimensional cast of characters. (Spoiler alert: Asher and Bodie are the actual best.) So to be on a blog tour featuring Jennifer Lynn Barnes--YES, PLEASE. And so I am very pleased to present today's post to you, with a guest post from Jennifer and a giveaway of all the Boldly Bookish books. I promise you: this post will not require the use of any Fixers.
Jun 9, 2016
Blog Tour: Lucky Few by Kathryn Ormsbee
Hello, you lucky few (or many)! I'm very excited about today's post, for it's my stop on the blog tour for Kathryn Ormsbee's Lucky Few! Now, Kathryn is one of my friends, and I totally adore her novel The Water and the Wild, which is absolutely spectacular and you must read it. (Also, I must do the obligatory #FifeandtheNortherliesFTMFW.) But today is all about Lucky Few, and while I'll also tell you all about the book and you can enter to be one of the lucky few to win their very own copy, for my stop on this tour I will be cover matching. What is that, you ask? Should I be afraid, Rachel, you ask? You'll just have to scroll down and find out for yourself.
Jun 8, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday (169)
showcases upcoming releases people are very much anticipating.
There's really only one thing about this book that matters, and that is the mention of a very specific and particular word: SASQUATCH SASQUATCH SASQUATCH. (And it's not in a comedic or joking way? Oh my gosh, I am thirsting for this book and need it now.)
Jun 7, 2016
Jun 6, 2016
Blog Tour: The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash
Hello, fantabulous geeks, nerds, and the like! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Sarvenaz Tash's latest setting-immersive novel The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love! I'm very excited to share my review with you and tell you why Tash's book is more fun than Graham's face suggests on the cover. Get to ready to go to Comic Con, because that's exactly where this book is going to take you.
Jun 1, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday (168)
showcases upcoming releases people are very much anticipating.
This is probably one of my favorite series. It's literally a YA version of Criminal Minds, except it's better. It also happens to be pretty damn flawless, which makes it even more fantastic. There's one particular hitch though: this is the last book in the series. And that's just not acceptable, because this series could be composed of five million books and that still wouldn't be enough. Why must all good things come to an end?
