Waiting on Wednesday: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Publication Date: April 22nd 2014

To All The Boys I've Loved Before -
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Synopsis from goodreads.com 

If someone had sent the letters to my crushes, I'd probably go into hiding. ;) Funnily enough, when I can read about this disastrous situation, my curiosity lifts its head and sniffs around. The reactions are what truly interests me. What will the boys do? Is there one who maybe returns the feelings, but never had the nerve to speak up? Is there bad blood or will there be one who laughs at her feelings? I'd never want to step into Lara Jean's shoes, but I sure want to read about her handling this situation well.

Are there some books, where you're fascinated by the main character handling a difficult situation but wouldn't want to trade places with him or her? Leave us a comment along with your waiting on choice.

Teaser Tuesday: Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George.

Tuesdays at the Castle –
Bloomsbury

“No one hates you,” her sister, Lilah, said soothingly.
“But you do have a tendency to bounce.”
“There’s nothing wrong with bouncing,” Celie insisted.
— Chapter 2

“My room should be right here,” Lilah said, frowning.
“It keeps showing me this room,” Celie said, pointing
up the stairs to the Spyglass Tower. “I’m starting to wonder
if it’s important.”
— Chapter 5

When I was younger, I always wanted a house that would grow rooms and turrets just to my liking. I never really wanted to be a princess, though, so it’s possibly just available as a package deal ... I’m not that far along in the book yet, I’m currently reading what feels like six books at the same time in preparation for an event next week. However, out of the books I’m reading and which I can already talk about, this seems to be one of the sweeter and more charming ones. I’m looking forward to reading more of this, I enjoy the writing a lot and especially the younger princess as the main protagonist. I feel that there is a lot of potential in this spunky character and I hope to see her develop quite a bit in the course of the story.

What are you reading this week? Is one (or are more) of your protagonists on a major journey of personal growth? And if at all possible, take some time to bounce today, because there’s nothing wrong with bouncing at all.

Waiting on Wednesday: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill
Publication Date: January 7th 2014

Being Sloane Jacobs - Delacorte

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

After reading so much about monsters, mythology and magic lately, this book is a nice change for me. It sounds perfect for cold winter evenings spent reading in an armchair. It also has the added bonus to remind me of a childhood tale by Erich Kästner: "Lottie and Lisa" (only without the twin factor). I guess it is normal to wonder what it would be like to step into another's life. Will it be better and more fun than the life you leave? Both Sloane girls seem to think so at first, but naturally there are complications on the way. :) I'm looking forward to see how they master the complications and their life in the end.
Which are your winter reads? Leave us a comment with your waiting on-choice.

Teaser Tuesday: Ethan’s Voice by Rachel Carter

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Ethan’s Voice by Rachel Carter.

Ethan’s Voice – Scholastic

He didn’t want to think about her, but he couldn’t help it. She was trapped inside his head, like a butterfly in a jam jar.
— Chapter 3

“Ethan,” said Polly. “Do you ever get lonely?”
He shook his head. But then he thought about it. He hadn’t felt lonely before Polly arrived. He’d had Mum and Dad. But now Polly was there and he liked having a friend to explore with.
— Chapter 7

This is a quiet book. Not for the reason that the title character doesn’t speak, but because it’s not characterised by it’s action sequences and loud scenes. This book is, in fact, very much the opposite in that what makes it stand out are the carefully nuanced silences and quiet acts of bravery. Not your customary acts of bravery, but rather the ones that for the most part go unnoticed and unacknowledged because we take them for granted. For most of us, it’s easy to speak up, raise our voice, make sure that we are heard. But what if for whatever reason we lose your main means of communication? Or rather: Will others still be able to hear us when we no longer speak? I haven’t yet found out what it is that made Ethan give up talking, but I already know that this is beautifully written and quietly brilliant. It’s a book you need to be in the mood for as it’s not an easily-accessible comfort-read. But if you decide to pick it up, you’ll get a sensitive, charming, rich, and very inspiring story of friendship and bravery that is not as simple as we might think.

What kind of book have you picked up this week? Do you need to switch up the “loudness” between books to recharge? Share your views in the comments and let us know about your teasers.

Waiting on Wednesday: Half Bad by Sally Green

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
Half Bad by Sally Green.
Publication Date: March 25th 2014.

Half Bad – Viking Juvenile

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Synopsis from goodreads.com

This book has been billed as a big book by several publishers, snatching impressive international deals and generally causing quite a bit of a commotion. And I must say the synopsis sounds amazing. Brevity is the soul of wit and in this case it’s also curiosity-inspiring. The cover in its complex simplicity is a stunning piece of art. This could have been a really gendered or generic cover and I could hug whoever is responsible for it that it isn’t. Penguin is doing amazing things with their YA titles. I have the highest of hopes for this book and can’t wait to read it.

How far in advance are you usually aware of books you want to read? Let’s hear from you in the comments.