Hardcover Lover Confessions (11)

Hardcover Lover Confessions (or HCL Confessions) is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In the posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing that comment with one another.

There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Book Review: My Life Next Door + GIVEAWAY

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Format: Hardcover, 394 pages

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: June 14, 2012

Source: Purchased

Goodreads | Amazon

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

The Blog Most Likely To... + GIVEAWAY

Last Monday, I announced that I'd be participating in Penguin Teen's summer blog feature entitled The Blog Most Likely To. The feature, which asks bloggers to come up with a superlative for their blog, showcases the many bloggers who are excited for Huntley Fitzpatrick's upcoming book, The Boy Most Likely To, a companion novel to Huntley's My Life Next Door.

Book Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Author: Betty Smith

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: May 30, 2006 (Originally Published in 1943)

Source: Borrowed

Goodreads | Amazon

 

The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight the upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Hardcover Lover Confessions (10)

Hello there, Hardcover Lover readers! By now, HCL Confessions are a pretty important part of my blog, and I'm sure many of you have now become a little more acquainted with the discussion feature.

In case you're not familiar with it, I'll briefly explain what it is. Basically, every few weeks or so (or whenever an issue arises), I take a bookish subject and write about it. I'll confess my thoughts or worries, ergo Hardcover Lover Confessions.

I'm encouraging all of my followers, and even non-followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Seriously... we'd all love to hear what you have to say because everyone has an opinion! It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

The Blog Most Likely to... Read My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick + GIVEAWAY

Have you heard that Huntley Fitzpatrick and Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Teen) are releasing a new book in August? Seriously... if you haven't you should probably read this post so you are prepared for The Boy Most Likely To when it releases on August 18, 2015.

Bloggers all across the Book Blogsosphere are celebrating the release of The Boy Most Likely To by participating in a blog event called The Blog Most Likely To. Each blogger has chosen his or her own superlative to help Penguin and Huntley celebrate the release of The Boy Most Likely To. My superlative for the event is The Blog Most Likely to Read My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. You'll see why I chose that as my superlative later in the post!

Soundtrack Saturday (29)

Rise and shine, Hardcover Lover readers! (Or maybe not... I guess it all depends on what time it is when you're reading this post...) It's time for another edition of Soundtrack Saturday! Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly feature that I started to share playlists with my readers. There's a catch, though. All of my playlists are based on books that I've read!

As with all bookish memes, there are a few steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading
• Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
  
  • For more detailed instructions, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post
  
  • It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

Format: Paperback
Publisher: MTV Books

Publication Date: February 1999

Source: Purchased from Borders

Add it to Goodreads

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight the upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

Sometimes, I feature books that I don't have, but other times, I feature some ARCs that I have but haven't yet read. I think it helps keep things more interesting around here. 

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Top Ten Tuesday (23)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this particular feature because they love making and sharing bookish lists with their readers. Well it just so happens that I am also a fan of list making, so I try to participate in Top Ten Tuesday as much as possible.

This week's topic was kind of a toughie for me because there are just so many amazing books that are scheduled to be published during the rest of 2015. But then I sat there and I really thought about it, and I had a hard time coming up with ten. I don't even know how.

Guest Review: Saint Anything

Title: Saint Anything

Author: Sarah Dessen
Format: ARC

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Source: Giveaway Win from Dawn

Goodreads | Amazon

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

Book Review: P.S. I Still Love You

Title: P.S. I Still Love You
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 26, 2015
Source: Purchased
Goodreads | Amazon

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

ARC Review: Last Year's Mistake

Title: Last Year's Mistake 

Author: Gina Ciocca

 Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: June 9, 2015
Source: ARC from Simon Pulse

Goodreads | Amazon
 

Before:
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...

After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.

Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.

Soundtrack Saturday (28)

Happy Saturday to all of you Hardcover Lovers! It's time for another edition of Soundtrack Saturday! My small meme, Soundtrack Saturday, is a feature original to The Hardcover Lover that I developed after thinking of potential ELA projects. It helps readers and bloggers showcase the songs that they think of when they are reading by creating bookish soundtracks.

As with all bookish memes, there are a few steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading
• Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
  
  • For more detailed instructions, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post
  
  • It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

If you're able to create your own album art, go for it! I sometimes do, but other times, I get so busy that I just end up using the book's cover.

The Cake Book Tag

Image Courtesy of Shannon from It Starts at Midnight

Emma, the wonderful blogger and librarian behind Miss Print tagged me to do the Cake Book Tag, and I'm pretty excited because it's been a while since I've been tagged in a book tag that I haven't already posted before. You can see Emma's post on her blog.

ARC Review: Judy Blume (Women Who Broke the Rules)

Title: Judy Blume: Are You There, Reader? It's Me, Judy!

Series: Women Who Broke the Rules

Author: Kathleen Krull

Source: ARC from Bloomsbury

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Goodreads | Amazon

A new series complete with full-color illustrations that celebrates amazing women, from acclaimed author Kathleen Krull!

In the vein of the popular Who Was? series and Jean Fritz's much-beloved biographies, Women Who Broke the Rules celebrates the bold and brave women who have forged their own paths - breaking rules along the way - to help shape our country's past, present, and future.

Judy Blume wrote her way through controversy and censorship to become a pioneer who helped make it okay for kids and teens to discuss their everyday concerns, including the kinds of things people don't always like to talk about. Now more than forty years into her career of writing frank and funny books, Judy still has the amazing ability to connect with young readers and adults.

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight the upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Add your link to the Linky on Jill's blog

ARC Review: Sacajawea (Women Who Broke the Rules)

Title: Sacajawea: Lewis and Clark Would be Lost Without Me

Series: Women Who Broke the Rules

Author: Kathleen Krull

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Publication Date: June 9, 2015

Source: ARC from Bloomsbury

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Goodreads | Amazon

A new series complete with full-color illustrations that celebrates amazing women, from acclaimed author Kathleen Krull!

In the vein of the popular Who Was? series and Jean Fritz's much-loved biographies, Women Who Broke the Rules celebrates the bold and brave women who have forged their own paths - breaking the rules along the way - to help shape our country's past, present, and future.

Sacajawea forged such a path when she made one of the most remarkable journeys in American history. At age sixteen, she traveled over four thousand miles by foot, canoe, and horse - all while carrying a baby on her back! Without her, the Lewis and Clark expedition might have failed. Two hundred years later, we still can see how her unique journey demonstrated the strength and value of women.

ARC Review: Emmy & Oliver

Title: Emmy & Oliver

Author: Robin Benway

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: June 23, 2015

Source: Borrowed from Sarah

Goodreads || Amazon

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.