Below are the (mostly) YA books releasing this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.
These are books for the week of May 20th-May 26th that I have pre-ordered.
WHILE YOU’RE AWAY by Jessa Holbrook will be released in the U.S. on May 20, 2014 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Razorbill, the print edition is 288 pages.
WHILE YOU’RE AWAY was also previously published in six parts in eBook and audio formats.
I am so excited that WHILE YOU’RE AWAY is releasing this week. I read this story when it was released in parts and I absolutely loved it. It was a fantastic read, though it was torturous having to wait for each new installment.
I’ve wanted to read it all over again, all at once, to see if it reads any differently. So I can’t wait until my print edition arrives.
I loved meeting Will and Sarah, though I wasn’t sure if I would be biased against them for being cheaters. But I did adore them and root for them and was anxious when things got in the way.
As I did review all six parts, and I don’t want to risk spoiling things by rambling too much, I’ll just say that I can’t wait to re-read this, the writing is gorgeous and the story is all twisty-turny and angsty and romantic. And it’s definitely the book I’m most excited for this week.
Description…
Once a cheater, always a cheater?
From the moment Will and Sarah first set eyes upon each other, they know that what they have is special.
There’s just one little problem . . . each of them already has a significant other.
After flirting with danger, it becomes clear their passion is too strong to be denied. But even if they make their relationship official, there are plenty of challenges in store. Will leaves for college at the end of the summer, while Sarah faces her senior year of high school in their small suburban town. Long-distance relationships always come with their fair share of troubles—mismatched schedules, jealousy, and temptation are only the beginning.
Can cheaters ever change?
WHILE YOU’RE AWAY is a steamy story about a love triangle, a long-distance relationship, and learning the true meaning of commitment.
THE ART OF LAINEY by Paula Stokes will be released in the U.S. on May 20, 2014 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 384 pages.
I received an early copy of THE ART OF LAINEY and had every intention of reading it pre-release – and I still might get the chance to tonight – but I’m super excited that my finished eBook copy will be downloading on Monday Midnight.
I love the idea that instead of wallowing in heartbreak, Lainey and her friend plan to win her ex back by using the Sun Tzu book to formulate a game plan. I’m curious to see whether after all their planning she wants him back or whether she chooses to be with Micah… or whether Micah wants to be with her if he wasn’t aware he was a pawn.
This book sounds sweet and fun with the potential for heartbreak, so I can’t wait to read it. And if all goes as planned I will definitely sneak it on the pile tonight.
Description…
Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.
And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they’re sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few “dates”, it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.
What’s a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you’re meant to be with if you’re still figuring out the person you’re meant to be?
DANGEROUS CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl will be released in the U.S. on May 20, 2014 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in all formats, plus a signed edition, at BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 384 pages.
DANGEROUS CREATURES is the first full-length book in the authors’ series of the same name. A prequel novella, DANGEROUS DREAM, released on December 17, 2013.
I am a huge fan of the authors and I loved the books that I did read in their Beautiful Creatures series. So of course I had to pre-order DANGEROUS CREATURES.
I can’t wait to read Ridley’s series and see what happens with her and Link. And I can’t wait to find out just what price is on his head.
I don’t know whether there are spoilers for the other series, so I’m wary of reading this book until I finish that one. I thought the writing was amazing in Beautiful Creatures and I just know it will be the same in this series. Which makes me want to read this more than ever. So it may just be worth the risk. We shall see….
If not, I’ll plan on reading this after reading the final book in that first series and reading the eBook novella, DANGEROUS DREAM. Now that I won’t technically have to say goodbye to Ethan and Lena, I might just be able to do so this summer.
Description…
A new series returns to the world of Beautiful Creatures. Some loves are cursed…others are dangerous.
Ridley Duchannes will be the first to tell you that she’s a bad girl. She’s Dark. She’s a Siren. You can never trust her, or even yourself when she’s around. Lucky for her, Wesley “Link” Lincoln can never seem to remember that; quarter Incubus or not, his heart is Mortal when it comes to Ridley. When Link heads to New York City to start a music career, Ridley goes along for the ride-and she has her own reasons. As if leaving small-town Gatlin for the big city, trying to form a band, and surviving life with a partially reformed Siren isn’t hard enough already, Link soon learns he has a price on his head that no Caster or Mortal can ever pay.
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthors of Beautiful Creatures, are back and casting another magical spell. Their signature mixture of mystery, suspense, and romance, along with a dash of fun and danger, will pull fans in and leave them begging for more.
Other Books of Note
END TIMES by Anna Schumacher
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Razorbill
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Carbon County, Wyoming is like a current running through Daphne’s heart.
When life gets too tough to bear in Detroit, Daphne flees to her Uncle Floyd’s home, where she believes she’ll find solace in the silent hills of her childhood summers. But Daphne’s Greyhound bus pulls over in downtown Carbon County and it’s not silence that welcomes her. It’s the sound of trumpets.
Daphne’s desire to start again in simple country comfort is instantly dashed as the townsfolk declare that the End Times are here. And incredible occurrences soon support their belief. Daphne does all she can to keep her head down and ignore the signs. She works a job at the local oil rig, helps around the house, hangs out with her pregnant cousin Janie and gets to know Owen, a mysterious motocross racer and fellow roustabout at the rig. But soon a startling discovery shatters her resolve and calls into question all her doubts and fears.
Daphne landed in Carbon County for a reason. She only has to read the signs—and believe.
THUNDERSTRUCK (Weather Witch #3) by Shannon Delany
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Jordan, Rowen and the crews of both the Tempest and the Artemesia strike out for Philadelphia to start a revolution aimed at abolishing slavery and changing their stormpowered society to one that runs on previously repressed steam innovations and will allow for true equality. But can Jordan and Rowen come back together after all the things determined to drive them apart?
Thunderstruck is the third installment in the Weather Witch series from Shannon Delany.
REBORN (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1) by C.C. Hunter
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be.
For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn’t just a camp: it’s home. As a vampire who’s never fit in with her human family, it’s the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn’t careful, he just might succeed. When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?
BIGGEST FLIRTS (Superlatives #1) by Jennifer Echols
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.
Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.
As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…
NOW & FOREVER by Susane Colasanti
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
What if your boyfriend was the world’s biggest rockstar?
Sterling is crazy in love with Ethan. Not only is he the sweetest boy she’s ever met, but he’s an incredibly talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. And since forever, he’s believed he has what it takes to be a star.
When Ethan becomes an overnight sensation, he’s thrown head-first into the glam world of celebrity-and so is Sterling. Before she knows it, she’s attending red-carpet premieres, getting free designer clothes, and flying around the country to attend Ethan’s monumental sold-out concerts.
It’s a dream come true…but whose dream is Sterling living? And what do you do when “forever” comes to an end?
THE RULES FOR BREAKING (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.
But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down.
The deadly man Anna knows as Thomas is still on the loose, and now he’s using her as a pawn in a dangerous game with the drug cartel determined to silence her forever. When Thomas and a mysterious masked man capture not only Anna but also her fragile younger sister and her boyfriend, Anna decides it’s time to break all the rules-even if it means teaming up with the lesser of two evils.
Anna will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves and win her life back once and for all. But her true enemies are hidden in plain sight. Before long, Anna will learn that putting her trust in anyone may be the last mistake she ever makes.
V IS FOR VILLAIN by Peter Moore
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Brad Baron is used to looking lame compared to his older brother, Blake. Though Brad’s basically a genius, Blake is a superhero in the elite Justice Force. And Brad doesn’t measure up at his high school, either, where powers like super-strength and flying are the norm. So when Brad makes friends who are more into political action than weight lifting, he’s happy to join a new crew-especially since it means spending more time with Layla, a girl who may or may not have a totally illegal, totally secret super-power. And with her help, Brad begins to hone a dangerous new power of his own.
But when they’re pulled into a web of nefarious criminals, high-stakes battles, and startling family secrets, Brad must choose which side he’s on. And once he does, there’s no turning back.
Perfect for fans of The Avengers, Ironman, and classic comic books, V is for Villain reveals that it’s good to be bad.
OUT OF CONTROL by Sarah Alderson
Pub. Date: May 22, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
When 17 year old Liva witnesses a brutal murder she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness, she’s a target.
Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.
When you live on the edge, there’s a long way to fall.
THE SUMMER INVITATION by Charlotte Silver
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Two sisters are summoned to their aunt’s Greenwich Village flat, where they must start dressing like young ladies, cultivate their artistic sensibilities, and open themselves up to Life with a capital L.
When Franny and her older sister Valentine are summoned by their Aunt Theodora from foggy San Francisco to sunny New York City for one summer, they are taken to old-world locales like Bemelmans Bar, the Plaza, and the Sherry Netherland by their chaperone, Clover, Aunt Theodora’s protégé. As they discover New York City going lingerie shopping and learning about the simple elegance of a cucumber sandwich, they also begin to unearth secrets and answers about Aunt Theo’s glamorous and romantic past, and they have a few romantic adventures of their own.
KATE WALDEN DIRECTS: NIGHT OF THE ZOMBIE CHICKENS by Julie Mata
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Night of the Zombie Chickens is supposed to be Kate Walden’s breakout film. But her supporting actresses-her mother’s prize organic hens-are high maintenance, to say the least. Thank goodness Kate’s best friend Alyssa is the star. She’s great at screaming and even better at killing zombies in creative ways.
But when Alyssa turns into a real-life soulless zombie and ditches Kate for the most popular girl in seventh grade, Kate suddenly finds herself both friendless and starless. Now, thanks to Alyssa’s new crowd, Kate is the butt of every joke at school and consigned to the loser table at lunch.
If movies have taught Kate anything, it’s that the good guy can always win-with the right script. And her fellow social outcasts may be the key to her own happy ending. Kate hatches the perfect revenge plot against her former best friend, but even though her screenplay is foolproof, Kate soon realizes that nothing-in filmmaking or in life-ever goes exactly as planned. Especially when there are diabolical hens out to get you.
DOLLHOUSE by Anya Allyn
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: The Studio
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
Dress-up turns deadly. . .
When Cassie’s best friend, Aisha, disappears during a school hike, Cassie sets off with Aisha’s boyfriend Ethan and their best friend Lacey, determined to find her. But the mist-enshrouded mountains hold many secrets, and what the three teens discover is far more disturbing than any of them imagined: beneath a rundown mansion in the woods lies an underground cavern full of life-size toys and kidnapped girls forced to dress as dolls.
Even as Cassie desperately tries to escape the Dollhouse, she finds herself torn between her forbidden feelings for Ethan, and her intense, instinctive attraction to The Provider, a man Cassie swears she has known before…
Because Cassie’s capture wasn’t accidental, and the Dollhouse is more than just a prison where her deepest fears come true—it’s a portal for the powers of darkness. And Cassie may be the only one who can stop it.
INFINITE SKY (Infinite Sky #1) by C.J. Flood
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014 (first published February 14, 2013)
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Find it: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
Description:
A truly beautiful book about the summer that changed one girl’s life, as her mum leaves home, travellers set up camp in the family’s field, her older brother goes off the rails, and she falls in love for the very first time. Opening with a funeral, Iris is mourning the boy in the casket – but who is it? Sam, her tearaway brother, or Trick, her tentative boyfriend?
Over one long hot summer, we find out just how their three lives were turned upside-down.
There are a ton of amazing-sounding books releasing this week. And while I only have the three books pre-ordered, I just know I’ll be purchasing END TIMES, THUNDERSTRUCK, REBORN, BIGGEST FLIRTS, THE RULES FOR BREAKING, and NOW & FOREVER.
I have been trying not to “click to buy” too many books pre-release, in order to be absolutely sure I wanted to add them to my collection. But I’m not so sure that waiting for release date to buy them has worked to reduce the number of books I order each week. Oh well.
I’ve also tried to spend a little less time online, which means less time stalking Amazon and which is why I hadn’t had the last two weeks’ posts prepared. After spending three hours researching the books releasing and gathering the images, I ran out of time to actually put the posts together. Oops. But hopefully I’ll be back on track from now on.
I’m hoping that I didn’t miss any books releasing this week, though I think I might have. Amazon’s search function was a little hinky so there might be one or two titles that I missed. But I suppose I’ll find out when either they download to my Kindle on Tuesday or when I see the book birthday wishes go by on Twitter.
I hope one of your favorite authors has a book releasing this week, or one of your most anticipated reads is releasing, and that you get to add it to your collection. And as ever…
Happy release week to some amazing books and I hope you have a very happy reading week ahead!
As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!
And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!
