This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
Published by Sourcebooks Fire in January 2016
Debut Challenge 2016

"10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival. " - From Goodreads

Will you like it?
This book.  So many strong emotions.  So many brutal moments.  I wish I would have found out more about each of the characters.  It was a pretty short book, so there would have been enough space to delve into the backgrounds more.  I especially wanted to know more about the shooter, and maybe even have a chapter with his point-of-view so that we could get a sense of how he worked.  This had a lot of violence, so this isn't a book for those who are sensitive to it.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in October 2016
The Illuminae Files #2

"Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.  Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands."  -- From Goodreads

Will you like it?
This series is amazing.  I love how it incorporates so many different documents, which kept me engaged as a reader.  Fans of science fiction will definitely love this story, especially when they talk about Gemina (I don't want to spoil anything!).  I was actually worried when I found out the second story wouldn't take place entirely with the first characters, but Kaufman & Kristoff do very well in tying the first book into the second  without any problems.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Waiting on Wednesday: Heartless

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which shines a light on eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.  This week, my pick is:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Date: November 8, 2016

"Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans." - From Goodreads

I've missed Marissa Meyer.  I can't wait to delve into this new book of hers!

TTT: Best Spooky Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's theme is my favorite spooky reads!  Here we go!

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Anything by April Henry is sure to send chills down your back!

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Vampires?  What more do you need!

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
I don't want to spoil this for anyone, but it was soooo creepy! 

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Guilt and innocence take on a whole new meaning.

Made for You by Melissa Marr

Girl can forsee people's deaths after a near-death experience. 

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

A road trip gone wrong.

The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude

The woods are full of secrets.

Not a full list this week, but what are your favorite spooky reads?

Leave me a list or link in the comments!

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Published by Orion Children's Books in September 2016
Six of Crows #2

"Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world." -- From Goodreads


Will you like it?
This book.  Of course it pulls all of the feels out of your heart, puts them into a blender, and turns it on high.  I loved the adventure.  I loved the friendship.  I loved how they finally started to treat each other as family.  I don't think this will be the last we see of this Grisha world, and I can't wait!  Now to telepathically send Leigh Bardugo messages to create more stories set in this world.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Discussion: Book Size

I don't know about you, but to me a book's size can put me off reading it.

It took me 10 days to read 

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.  It has a whopping 704 pages.  I also just finished Crooked Kingdom, which boasts 536 pages.

When the next books in my beloved series have that many pages, I'm not going to balk at reading a big book.  However, I probably won't seek out these big books to read.  

I've got so many other books to read.

What about you?  

Does size matter to you when you pick up a book to read?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Amateurs

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which shines a light on eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.  This week, my pick is:

The Amateurs by Sara Shepard
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date: November 1, 2016
The Amateurs #1

"As soon as Seneca Frazier sees the post on the Case Not Closed website about Helena Kelly, she’s hooked. Helena’s high-profile disappearance five years earlier is the one that originally got Seneca addicted to true crime. It’s the reason she’s a member of the site in the first place.

So when Maddy Wright, her best friend from the CNC site, invites Seneca to spend spring break in Connecticut looking into the cold case, she immediately packs her bag. But the moment she steps off the train in trendy, glamorous Dexby, things begin to go wrong. Maddy is nothing like she expected, and Helena’s sister, Aerin Kelly, seems completely hostile and totally uninterested in helping with their murder investigation.

But when Brett, another super user from the site, joins Seneca and Maddy in Dexby, Aerin starts to come around. The police must have missed something, and someone in Dexby definitely has information they’ve been keeping quiet.

As Seneca, Brett, Maddy, and Aerin begin to unravel dark secrets and shocking betrayals about the people closest to them, they seem to be on the murderer’s trail at last. But somewhere nearby the killer is watching . . . ready to do whatever it takes to make sure the truth stays buried." -  From Goodreads

I've been a fan of Shepard's Pretty Little Liars for a long time.  I'm excited to read this new series, because I would love to see what else she can do.

TTT: 10 Characters I'd Name a Child After

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's theme lists the 10 characters I'd name a child after.  Here we go!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Name: Lara Jean

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Name: Jemma

  

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

Name: Kate

The Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Name: Quinn

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Name: Paige 

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Name: Tess

Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer

Name: Joy, Tali, Luce, and Zoe

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Name: Clare 

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody

Name: Ellison

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Name: Kady

Do you have any favorite bookish names?

Leave me a list or link in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: Bad Blood

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which shines a light on eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.  This week, my pick is:

Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date: November 1, 2016
Naturals #4

"When Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program, she had one goal: uncover the truth about her mother's murder. But now, everything Cassie thought she knew about what happened that night has been called into question. Her mother is alive, and the people holding her captive are more powerful—and dangerous—than anything the Naturals have faced so far.

As Cassie and the team work to uncover the secrets of a group that has been killing in secret for generations, they find themselves racing a ticking clock.

New victims. New betrayals. New secrets.

When the bodies begin piling up, it soon becomes apparent that this time, the Naturals aren't just hunting serial killers."

I love love love this series.  I'm going to be so sad to see it end, but I NEED to know what happens!!

Library Loot [1]

Here are the following books that I have received from the library recently.  Enjoy!

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I can't wait to dive into this one!  I loved the first in this series, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

This is a book club pick.  It's received great reviews, so we'll see how I actually do with this! 

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

I loved her Lucky Harbor series, and I can't wait to dive into another!

Have you brought any goodies home from the library recently?

Leave a list or link in the comments!

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
Published by Feiwel & Friends in February 2016.
Lunar Chronicles #4.5

"The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles."

Will you like it?
Honestly, if you like the Lunar Chronicles, you're going to love this collection of short stories.  The stories give background on all of the characters, plus some additional content!  Not going to lie, but the last story totally made me sniffle.  I love these characters so much, and it's really hard to say goodbye.

Disclosure: I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.

The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude

The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers in May 2016

"Stay on the roads. Don’t enter the woods. Never go out at night.

Those are the rules in Rowan’s Glen, a remote farming community in the Missouri Ozarks where Ivy Templeton’s family has lived for centuries. It’s an old-fashioned way of life, full of superstition and traditions, and sixteen-year-old Ivy loves it. The other kids at school may think the Glen kids are weird, but Ivy doesn’t care—she has her cousin Heather as her best friend. The two girls share everything with each other—or so Ivy thinks. When Heather goes missing after a May Day celebration, Ivy discovers that both her best friend and her beloved hometown are as full of secrets as the woods that surround them." -- From Goodreads

Will you like it?
Wow! I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  I loved the character development in this book.  Ivy and her friends weren't the only ones that were fleshed out; all characters that we came into contact with had some backstory.  I also factor into my ratings on mysteries how fast I can figure out "whodunit".  With this story, I was SHOCKED with every twist and turn that happened.  This is definitely a must read for those who really like mysteries and suspense.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local public library.

Waiting on Wednesday: High Heat

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which shines a light on eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.  This week, my pick is:

High Heat by Richard Castle
Publisher: Kingswell
Date: October 25, 2016
Nikki Heat #8

"An ISIS-style beheading of a journalist, carried out by a New York City group pledging fealty to that rogue state, becomes more than just another case for NYPD Captain Nikki Heat when the killers announce their next target: her husband, magazine writer Jameson Rook. Meanwhile, Heat is haunted by a fleeting glimpse of someone she swears is her mother... a woman who has been dead for nearly twenty years."

With the cancellation of the TV show, I can only guess that this book will be the last in this series.  Sigh.  It was good while it lasted.

Recently Added [2]

Here's a few new books that I've added in Goodreads lately.  Enjoy!

Unrivaled by Alyson Noel

A starlet goes missing, and three people are tied to her disappearance.

In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

Caroline has to spend her summer vacation in Egypt.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Two teenagers fall in love right before one gets deported.

 

What have you added to your TBR recently?

Leave me a list or link in the comments!

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Published by Candlewick Press in September 2011

Why do I love it?
The story!  A bear is trying to find his hat, and he asks different characters if they've seen it.  But didn't he see someone with it on his head earlier?  The ending is also funny!

Age Range
I would recommend this book for ages 5-6 and up.  The ending might have to be explained a bit, because the humor is very subtle.

October TBR

From now until the end of 2016, I'm planning on doing a post at the start of each month detailing what books I'm planning on reading.  It's my hope that with a list, I can read the new releases and a few on my backlist each month.  I also had to push a few back into October because I haven't received the book from my local library yet.  Without further ado, here is October's TBR!

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in October 2016

The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

Published by William Morrow in October 2016

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney-Hyperion in October 2016

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in October 2016

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Published by Thomas Nelson in October 2016

My Unscripted Life by Lauren Morrill

Published by Delacorte in October 2016

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

Published by Avon in June 2016

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley

Published by Orion in September 2016

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Published by Henry Holt and Co in September 2016

Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

Published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux in January 2016

Platypus Police Squad: Never Say Narwhal by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Published by Walden Pond Press in May 2016

What are you planning on reading in October?

Leave me a list or link in the comments!