Waiting on Wednesday: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

"Waiting on Wednesday" is weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine which spotlights upcoming book releases we're excited for.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler sounds like a YA version of the currently popular theme to combine chick-lit novels with a splendour of mouthwatering mentions of baked goods (and hopefully recipes), such as Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan and Starting Over One Cake at a Time by Gesine Bullock-Prada, both of which I reviewed on here and absolutely adored (despite the fact that they made me want to eat just cake for the duration of the read). And the chapters in Bittersweet all have cupcake names! That's an instant winner in my eyes.

Details: Expected to be published January 3, 2012 by Simon Pulse.

Description: Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last.

Book review: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

My edition: Hardcover, published in 2011 by Puffin, 521 pages.

Description: Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa tol him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Rating:

Book review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

My edition: Hardcover, published in 2011 by Simon & Schuster, 452 pages.

Description: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday: Divergent #2: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

"Waiting on Wednesday" is weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine which spotlights upcoming book releases we're excited for. I always love reading the WoW posts from other bloggers and this is the first week I'm participating myself - please be nice ;)

For this post I've chosen Insurgent by Veronica Roth, the second title in the Divergent series. Divergent (see my review here) is one of my favourite books of 2011; a surprisingly original Dystopian novel that is engaging from start to finish. And so of course I can not wait to read what happens next, even if the release is still well over six months away!

Details: Expected to be published May 28th 2012 by HarperCollins, 496 pages.

Description: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful.

Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Author event: Maggie Stiefvater at Foyles

Apologies for the lack of updates once more, I have been without my trusted laptop for the past few weeks. I am not entirely sure how I survived the ordeal, though it is possible there may have been ice cream involved. To make up for the lack of posts I made a little write-up of a wonderful author event I attended at Foyles book store last Saturday with Maggie Stiefvater (author of amongst others the Shiver trilogy and the new Scorpio Races) .

Let me start by saying that Foyles without a single doubt hosts the best literary events in London at the moment. I've been to a fair few in the past year and a half and besides having had a chance to listen to some of the most exciting authors currently out there the organisers at the bookshop also always ensure they make the event just that little bit more special. This ranges from dressing up in full zombie gear or, in this case, providing all attendees with proofs of an exciting YA debut called Fracture by Megan Miranda which won't be out until next year (I'm currently reading it, review will be up soon). So make sure to regularly check the Foyles calender of events to read about upcoming events.