Waiting on Wednesday 93: The Moon and More

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: The Moon and More

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: June 4th, 2013

Add the book on Goodreads

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Sarah Dessen was one of my absolute favorite authors in middle school, and I am beyond excited that she is coming out with a new book! This new book looks great, and I'm sure that she won't disappoint!

What are you waiting for this week? Let me know in the comments!

Book Trailers: Round Six!!

Hi everyone! My monthly post on awesome book trailers is back!! I know it's been awhile but I plan on doing this once a month this summer!!  Without further ado, here are this month's trailers!

I have to say...out of all of these trailers I really like the 5th Wave the best! I haven't read the book yet..has anyone read it yet? Let me know your thoughts on it and also let us know which trailer you like the best :)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Review

Name: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Buy the book on Amazon
313 pages

Summary:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Goodreads

My Review:

Every time I read another John Green book, I become even more confident when I say: I love John Green!  Not only is he an absolutely brilliant author who has the ability to write beautifully and wittily while still creating the most realistic and lovable characters, but he is also able to craft the most amazing plots that make you laugh in one sentence, and then want to cry in the next.

There really are not enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I loved The Fault in Our Stars.  I literally laughed aloud while reading this book.  Yes, that's right: I laughed aloud while reading a book about kids dying of cancer (and I promise, I'm not a horrible person).  That's how amazing John Green is.  Hazel and Augustus had truly remarkable dialogues, each feeding off of the other to construct the most ridiculous sentences and the most fantastical ideas imaginable; it was impossible not to laugh, and keep laughing, as the pages flew by.  Whenever the two of them were together, your choices were either to laugh, or to cry, and I was grateful to do both.  While their romance was slow (with the distinct possibility of cancer taking Hazel's life at any moment, she tried fruitlessly to keep Augustus from feeling too much for her, though he truly did not care, as shown by when he later told Hazel, "It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you") it was deep and all-encompassing love nonetheless.

Besides my love of Hazel and Augustus's soft but powerful romance, I was also amazed by the complexity through which both characters viewed the world.  As cancer victims, neither one of them spent the novel focusing on their "inner strength" to outlast their cancers, nor were they so entirely focused on death that they could not live their lives as they wished; instead, both Hazel and Augustus lived their normal (albeit, neither character was really "normal") lives, contemplating both the good and the bad in the world.  And I loved that about them.

John Green's brilliant story also had a wonderful plot that kept me flipping the pages faster than speeding bullet, but it was really the two main characters that made this book one of my absolute favorites ever.  Hazel continually discussed how the universe wanted to be noticed, just like Augustus wanted to be noticed, striving to live an important life that others would remember.  And while these fictional characters may not be remembered by everyone in their fictional world after their inevitable deaths (after all, everyone dies, reaching oblivion eventually), I know that I will never forget neither Hazel nor Augustus.  Both kids were two of the most amazingly and complexly crafted characters I have ever read about; I have a feeling that they will remain in my head for quite some time, more like real people that I once knew rather than characters in a book.

At some point, it becomes really hard to write a review of a book that you loved so much, and even harder to explain why you loved it.  All I can say is that this is one book that I will read over and over again, not only just to laugh and to cry, but also to simply catch a glimpse of these wonderfully unique characters and the crushingly haunted world that John Green created.  If you have not read this bestselling, award winning book, I suggest you do so right away; and while you're at, pick up some other books of John Green's, too.  You won't regret it!

My Rating:

Follow Friday # 53

Hi everyone..Happy Friday!! Follow and Feature Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee.

Hi Guys! I know it's been awhile but we are back to doing Feature and Follow Friday at Catching Books!! Yay! :)

With GFC going away please make sure to follow via RSS feed or bloglovin! Thanks everyone!!

Q: 

The #FF is 150 weeks old! And we want to hear from you! What would you change about the hop? What do you like about it? Or just suggest a question to be used for next week!

A: I'm a huge fan of follow friday..especially since it helps me find other awesome blogs to follow !! 

What's your favorite part of follow friday? let us know in the comments :)

Waiting on Wednesday 92: Frigid

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Frigid

Author: J. Lynn

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Release Date: July 30th, 2013

Add the book on Goodreads

240 pages

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love. 

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have. 

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I will read pretty much anything by Jennifer L. Armentrout (even under her pen name, J. Lynn), but this book sounds amazing, even on it's own. A hot, steamy romance mixed with a frozen Nor'easter, and even a little action thrown in? Well, let's just say I cannot wait to read this book!

What are you waiting for this week? Let me know in the comments!

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase Review

Name: Suddenly Royal 
Author: Nichole Chase 
Publisher: Self Published 
Release Date: April 23, 2013 
Format: E-Book
Buy the book on Amazon
464 pages

Summary:
Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Goodreads

My Review:

What a really great read! I'm always a huge fan of reading a nice contemporary read..especially one with royalty.

What I really liked about this book definitely was the main character Samantha Rosseau. She definitely is a down to earth character which I really liked. It was also nice to see her develop throughout the novel, especially when she finds out she is a heiress. I also liked how she still kept being true to herself even when she gained all this wealth and fame. The relationship with Alex also was so refreshing and fun! It was nice to see them progress throughout the novel and I think they are a really great couple.

I did think that the plot of the book was a little bit rushed..especially the beginning. I do kinda wish that things were a little bit slower in the novel and we were given a little bit more details. Overall I thought the plot development was great and it was nice to learn more about Lilaria!

In the end, I really enjoyed this novel! It was fun read and I highly recommend you guys check it out this summer.

My Rating:

Fragments (Partials Sequence # 2) by Dan Wells

Name: Fragments (Partials Sequence # 2)
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: February 26th, 2013
Format: E-book
Buy the book on Amazon
576 pages

Summary:

Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival.

Goodreads

My Review:

Wells's first book in this series, Partials, intrigued me and definitely caught my interest, but Fragments captivated me immensely early on, and I love this one even more than the first.  With an even richer story plot and plenty of twists along the way, I fell in love with Kira, Samm, Marcus, and the rest of the gang throughout this novel!

This book has a split point of view, between Kira who is travelling throughout the world with the Partials Samm and Heron, along with Marcus, who is mostly back home at the settlement, but also doing some travelling on his own.  One of the best things about this book was how unpredictable it was: although there were some little things that I was able to guess, I never felt like I knew the major events that would occur next and I was always surprised by the few big revelations.  Not only were the plot twists intriguing, but I was also hooked by the action scenes!  Wells was able to excellently capture both the intensity and the descriptions necessary to make a great action scene, which was wonderful because there were many of them throughout the book!

I also loved the improved character definition in this book, especially with regards to the secondary characters.  With many chapters in his point of view, Marcus developed immensely, growing from the boy that was too worried and scared to travel with Kira in the beginning of Partials, to the man who not only learned to travel and discover secrets on his own, but also showed that there was more to his character besides a thin layer of charm and humor.  I also loved that Wells included a few chapters from Samm's point of view: it was wonderful to be able to see him (both from his point of view and from Kira's) struggle to express his feelings into appropriate words and actions.  He truly is so different from a regular human, but that made him especially exciting to learn about, and made me love him all the more!

Similarly to Partials, the romance in this book also takes a backseat (except for the very end, that is).  However, instead of finding myself looking for places where Wells could have played up the romance, I found myself searching for the underlying currents of romance hidden beneath every word.  This search that Wells so brilliantly created made the romance even more powerful than that of a regular book, and I fell in love with the characters even more for that!  Fragments exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait until the final book in this trilogy, Ruins, is released!

My Rating:

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Follow Friday #52

Hi everyone..Happy Friday!! Follow and Feature Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee.

Hi Guys! I know it's been awhile but we are back to doing Feature and Follow Friday at Catching Books!! Yay! :)

With GFC going away please make sure to follow via RSS feed! Thanks everyone!!

Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book? 

A: Hmm...I don't have one in particular but I love reading contemporary YA romance books at the beach! Always a favorite of mine to read over the summer :)

What's your favorite summer reading book? Let us know in the comments :)

Light (Gone # 6) by Michael Grant Review

Name: Light (Gone # 6)
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Buy the book on Amazon
411 pages

Summary:

It's been over a year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.

In the time since every person over the age of fourteen disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?

Light, the sixth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Gone series by Michael Grant, creates a masterful, arresting conclusion to life in the FAYZ.

Goodreads

My Review:

When Michael Grant's first book in this series, Gone, originally came out in 2008, I knew I would be hooked, and almost five years later I am both excited and saddened to see the end of one of my favorite series.

What a great conclusion this was!  It only took me one day to read all four hundred pages: the plot moved quickly and I was so riveted by the events and the characters that I could barely stray even a few feet from the book until I finished it.  One of my favorite parts of this series is how realistic Grant makes this obviously fantastical world seem.  Even when there are man-eating, talking coyotes and humans who can shoot lasers out of their hands, I still found the characters and events entirely plausible, and felt for all the kids stuck in the FAYZ.

I thought Grant did a great job at ending the series.  Keeping up with the realism (or however close this book can get to realism) of the novel, not all the kids are able to survive the disastrous events of the FAYZ.  Although there are plenty of kids dying in every book, this one seems to take it to a whole new level: not only do random and/or barely introduced kids die, but there are several characters whose deaths in this final book were extremely upsetting.  I knew going into this book that there were some characters who would have to die, but reading about their deaths was still saddening.

I don't want to spoil the end of the book for those of you who have not yet read it, but the one thing I do wish was that Grant gave a little bit more information in the already long Aftermath section at the end.  I guess this is me being a little greedy, but I wish that I could have found out more about some of the minor characters!  However, overall this was a fantastic end to an amazing series, and if you have not read Grant's Gone series yet, then you should definitely do so!  You won't regret it!!

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday 91: Crown of Midnight

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Release Date: August 27th, 2013

Add the book on Goodreads

336 pages

So so sorry for the lack of posts lately everyone :( school has been so crazy! But now that finals are done and it's summer...that means more reviews, reading, and commenting!! wooooo!! We love all of our followers and we hope you stick with us as we progress through balance college and reading!

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.

But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. 

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I LOVED Throne of Glass, so I can't wait to get my hands on the second book of this amazing series!! I love the main character, Celaena, especially after seeing how independent and strong willed she is! Super excited for this one to come out!!

What are you waiting for this week? Let me know in the comments!