Waiting on Wednesday (4/16/14): No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Expected publication date: December 9, 2014 (Harper Teen)

From Goodreads: 

Amber Vaughn is a good girl. She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house. It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in reach.
When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.
Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.

Glowing ARC reviews, North Carolina, and a boy named Will. Sweeeeeet ;) 

- Rachel

In Honor of National Library Week

 

I stopped by my favorite library this week. Which should I review? 

Hush, Hush (#1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

A World Away by Nancy Grossman

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 

- Rachel

I Ain't Even Mad (Divergent trilogy)

The following opinion (this really isn’t a review) may contain spoilers for Divergent. Please proceed with caution even though I will try to avoid spoilers. Actually, it eludes to spoilers so yeah, be very cautious.

I’ve recently finished the Divergent trilogy and prior to reading it, I knew there were quite a few people out there who were not happy with how Allegiant ended. And then I ruined the ending for myself by reading reviews on the box set on the Barnes and Noble set because I’m dumb. Obviously I was surprised that Veronica Roth would even do something like that seeing as it’s something readers ever really see (and I have never read.) It did upset me initially, but I decided to move forward and still finish the trilogy because I couldn’t just leave a series unfinished.

And upon reading the ending, I both was and wasn’t upset.

I was upset in that Tobias just absolutely hurt my heart. His reaction made me want to cry and I was glad that Roth had given him such a realistic reaction especially considering all that he and Tris had gone through together. I was upset in how it ended, but ultimately, I understood.

So I wasn’t upset with Tris’ fate. She had spent essentially all three books struggling between the half of her that was Abnegation and her new found half that was Dauntless. She knew deep down inside she could never shake her Abnegation roots because that who she was, but she also knew she wasn’t entirely Abnegation. And sacrificing herself was ultimately a union of her personality: she was both selfless and brave.

So even though I wish it could’ve ended differently, I’m not mad at the direction that Roth took Allegiant even though quite a lot of people are upset.

What did you guys think of the ending?

~ Yajaira

Book Sale!

Hey, guys! I’ve recently run into the small problem of my bookshelf becoming too full, so I decided to try to get rid of some books. I’m selling these books for a little less than half of their retail value seeing as they’ve yellowed over time. Shipping will also be added on top of the price, but it shouldn’t be that high seeing as I will be using the USPS. If you’d like more information on a book, feel free to comment below or send an e-mail to me at pbphotographer@yahoo.com

Books for sale:

It Happened To Nancy ($2)

The Color Purple ($3)

Finding Kate ($2)

Annie’s Baby ($2)

Jay’s Journal ($2)

Darkness Before Dawn ($2)

Prey ($3)

Tears of a Tiger ($3)

The Taking of Pelham 123 ($3)

Enrique’s Journey ($7)

The Burn Journals ($5)

The Lovely Bones ($5)

~ Yajaira

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Publication date: September 10, 2013 (St. Martin's Press)

Fangirl brings us the story of eighteen year old Cath’s first year of college with her twin sister Wren. But when Wren decides she wants to start having her own life, Cath has trouble accepting that. Being a huge fan of the series Simon Snow, Cath completely immerses herself in the world of Simon to cope with having to have her own life. She struggles to find herself as she tries to maintain a relationship with Wren and fit in school but life quickly tosses her problems in the form of two boys, a creative writing class that soon proves to be much more difficult than she thought, and the return of a mother that abandoned them when they were in third grade.

First off, my summary of the book does it no justice and if you want a better and more appealing summary, go check it out on GoodReads or Barnes and Noble.

Anyways, when I first saw the title of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Being in the middle of a time where things like fangirls and fandoms and the like are exploding, I thought it was interesting that someone decided to write a book where the character was the exact embodiment of a fangirl in an active fandom.

What I really enjoyed about this book was that Cath is so easily relatable; her awkward and shy personality, emphasized with a well done case of social anxieties, is something many people can connect with without feeling like it was over exaggerated. The romance plot was also a nice surprise in that taking the usual route of “I’m a shy girl but around you I’m totally open and loud right away,” it actually did go with Cath’s personality of “I’m shy and I will continue to be shy and awkward around you until I slowly get more comfortable.”

My only real issue with this was that I wish the conflict with Cath and Wren’s mother was fleshed out more than it was. The reader is able to get a good understanding of it but it doesn’t delve very deeply.

(4 out 5)

~Yajaira

Waiting on Wednesday (12/25/13): Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Expected publication date: March 18, 2014 (Atria Books)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.
At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.
Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…
From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

Guys, I'm such a huge Colleen Hoover fan you don't even understand. 

- Rachel

Happy Holidays from Flesh & Books!

Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The bibliophiles were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of advanced reader copies danced in their heads...

Wait, what?

    Life gets crazy and we get lazy, so we might not always do what we say we're going to or when we say we're going to do it, but we're here now wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas! Eat some extra cookies for us, and try not to snap at those nosy family members like we know you're dying to. We hope you receive every book on your wish list this year (and a few extras), as we are waiting with bated breath for your recommendations!