Unscripted Joss Byrd

September 2016 Wrap-Up

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# Of Books Read: 5

sam-maggs-25-innovators-oct-181.Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors + Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs

ARC Review To Come 

Publisher: Quirk Books

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Pages: 240

My Rating:★★★★☆ ½

Overall Thoughts: An inspiring collection of stories that shares + celebrates the amazing  accomplishments of 25 women who, against all odds, changed the world! Highly recommend checking this book out ❤

Girl In Pieces August 302.Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Girl In Pieces Full Review

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: August 30, 2016

Pages: 416

My Rating:★★★★☆

Overall Thoughts: After using self-harm to free her of her pain, Charlie wants to start a new life for herself. Handling many tough topics + through a unique writing style, Glasgow’s debut delivers a powerful and inspiring read as Charlie undergoes a journey to put herself back together. Highly recommend!

Stalking Jack The Ripper Sept. 20, 20163.Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (SJTR#1)

*Debuted @ #1 on NYT Bestellers List*

Stalking Jack The Ripper ARC Review

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson

Release Date: September 20, 2016

Pages: 336

My Rating:★★★★☆ ½

Overall Thoughts: This is a dark/immersive mystery that will keep you  turning the page! Maniscalco’s 1st person POV brings the characters/world of Victorian England to life. Audrey is such a delightful + engaging main character that really makes you feel connected/part of this mystery trying find Jack The Ripper! Highly recommend!

Unscripted Joss Byrd August 234.Unscripted  Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Unscripted Joss Byrd Full Review

Publisher: Roaring Brook

Release Date: August 23, 2016

Pages: 224

My Rating: ★★★★☆ ½

Overall Thoughts: A delightful coming-of-age story about a young actress who is trying to find herself in the bustles of Hollywood. So many topics are discussed in this novel + characters/character development are the heart of this moving contemporary.

Crooked Kingdom Sept. 27, 20165.Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (SOC #2)

Crooked Kingdom Spoiler-Free Review 

Publisher: Henry Holt &Co.

Release Date: September 27, 2016

Pages: 546

My Rating: ★★★★☆ ½

Overall Thoughts: Bardugo masterfully concludes her Six Of Crows duology! With Six of Crows, the world wasn’t as developed as I had hoped. However, the world of Ketterdam in Crooked Kingdom is greatly expanded + developed! Along with the world-building, character development is a huge part of this novel. This finale as with SOC, is filled with an exquisite writing style that really transports readers to this magical world + non-stop action and plot will keep you reading to the very end!

Additional Posts From This Month:

Book Bytes I #6

A Torch Against The Night Playlist + Kingdom Of Ash And Briars Playlist

September 2016 Book Releases

I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maureene Goo Cover Reveal

Supporting Diversity In YA {Book Blog Discussion}

Kingdom Of Ash & Briars by Hannah West ARC Review {August 2016 Wrap-Up}

Top 10 Tuesday: Podcasts

What Books Did You Read This Month? 🙂

 

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Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor Review

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Unscripted Joss Byrd August 23Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Publisher: Roaring Brook

Release Date: August 23, 2016

Pages: 224

Summary: Hollywood critics agree. Joss Byrd is “fiercely emotional,” a young actress with “complete conviction,” and a “powerhouse.”

Joss Byrd is America’s most celebrated young actress, but on the set of her latest project, a gritty indie film called The Locals, Joss’s life is far from glamorous. While struggling with her mother’s expectations, a crush on her movie brother, and a secret that could end her career, Joss must pull off a performance worthy of a star. When her renowned, charismatic director demands more than she is ready to deliver, Joss must go off-script to stay true to herself.

My Rating: ★★★★☆ ½

My Thoughts: A heartfelt, coming-of-age contemporary about an up and coming actress who must find herself in all the pressures and struggles of Hollywood.

Joss is a 12-yr. old up and coming actress! She’s had quite a few roles but The Locals is her first big (starring) role!

However, difficulties arise when she struggles with her mothers expectations + to pull off a scene she isn’t sure she can preform.

What really surprised me was Joss’s age, considering this is YA! Regardless, she is a very mature main character with an engaging voice/POV throughout the novel!

I love reading YA books surrounding Hollywood/acting and seeing what happens behind the scenes + getting more background on the movie-making process & receiving tidbits/behind the scenes views at what happens off-screen was absolutely fascinating!

The movie set itself plays such a huge role not only in the novel, but also in Joss’s world/life! Ever since she was little, her mother pushed her into acting and hadn’t stopped since. It was interesting to see how Joss viewed herself (mostly lost/unsure) considering most of her life surrounded cameras, scripts, etc.

There are so many mature themes/topics discussed in this novel and really made it feel so  real! Such as Joss’s struggles/triumphs with dyslexia, her mother Viva not being there for her, + her fears/difficulties in a scene that she is unsure if she can handle.

Because its a huge part of Joss’s life, she is essentially supporting herself and her mother, yet doesn’t get her fair share of the pay check (usually spending it without Joss’s permission)  considering she does all the work and her mother is constantly being strict with her.

As for the plot, it was wonderful! You follow Joss on her latest project making friends, learning more about herself and what Hollywood really means for her. With a little over 2oo pages, you feel so connected to Joss and her struggles & really see the character come to life.

Additionally there is no romance which I loved &  was refreshing to see! The characters/connections Joss has with her mother, cast/friends + crew is the highlight of this novel!

There is a beautiful friendship that develops between Joss & Chris (her on-screen brother) and while its clear Joss has feelings for him + is hesitant to approach him in the beginning, the develop such a beautiful friendship and help each other along the way when they reach difficulties in scenes + issues that arise on set!

I did take away 1/2 a star b/c at moments I did feel the pacing was a little slow + I wish there was more development/moments with Joss&Chris!!

Regardless of those minor issues….

This is a YA Contemporary with so much heart! Character development is at the core of this story and is filled with such engaging characters that will keep you reading, curious to see where Joss’s Hollywood career is headed!

I highly recommend this novel if you’ve read Something Real by Heather Demetrios + are interested in reading a contemporary with a behind the scenes look at the bustles of Hollywood life!

Book Bytes I #6

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Book Bytes is a monthly feature I created to share news in the world of YA!

Each month posts can contain anything from title reveals, book to movie news, even the latest book deals!!

1.The Young Elites Finds A Screenwriter

On August 2 it was announced that Jessica Sharzer, screenwriter for American Horror Story and the latest YA Adaptation Nerve will be in charge of the script for The Young Elites, Marie Lu’s latest trilogy (which will have its final book released this Fall).

Full article from Tracking-Board can be found Here.

2.Unscripted Joss Byrd Finds A Director/Screenwriter

Lygia Day Peñaflor, author of Unscripted Joss Byrd which will be released August 23, announced on August 3 that Joseph Greco was attached to both direct and adapt her upcoming novel.

3.Daisy Ridley attached to Chaos Walking

Daisy Ridley is set to star in Patrick Ness’s 2008 Dystopian novel Chaos Walking, book 1 in the Chaos Walking Trilogy.

Announced August 4, this project is currently with Lionsgate.

Full article from Tracking Board can be found Here.

4.Wires & Nerves Cover Reveal

On sale January 31,2017 this is a graphic novel centering around Iko from the Lunar Chronicles Series.

Full cover, summary and excerpt can be found on The Lunar Chronicles website Here

As of August 5, Fierce Reads  shared this news on their twitter page:

5.Maggie Stiefvater’s New Trilogy

On August 7 author of The Raven Cycle announced she would be writing a “Ronan-Centered Trilogy.”

6.Renee Ahdieh’s New Dualogy

Bustle revealed on August 9 Renee Ahdieh, author of The Wrath And The Dawn dualogy, would be releasing a new dualogy titled:

Flame In The Mist

This novel is set to be released May 2017 and has been pitched as Mulan meets 47 Ronin following heroine Mariko, whom Ahdieh calls “an inventor and an innovator,” and it is set in feudal Japan, using legends, myths, and history to tell a unique story.

7.An Ember In The Ashes Gets 2 More Books

Tahir’s Roman-Inspired YA Fantasy, originally set to be a dualogy is now a quartet with 4 books total!

During a periscope live-stream from the author herself on August 16 stated, “I always had the idea in my head of four books.”

After the amount of hype and enthusiasm for Torch, Penguin picked up 3&4!

However fans may have to wait a while after Torch, with Book 3 not set to be released until 2018.

8.By Your Side by Kasie West Cover Reveal

As of August 24, EpicReads shared the cover for Kasie West’s new novel.

By Your Side, her upcoming 2017 YA Contemporary: “When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?”

9.Gemina Illustrated by Marie Lu

Announced August 30, author-duo behind The Illuminae Files, a new sci-fi trilogy, revealed that Legend Trilogy/Young Elites author Marie Lu will have illustrations in Gemina, the sequel to Illuminae.

What Book News Have You Heard? 🙂

 

August 2016 Book Releases I’m Looking Forward To!

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Here are the August Releases I’m Looking Forward To!

Nevernight Jay Kristoff August 9
August 9 Thomas Dunne Books

1.Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (The Nevernight Chronicles #1)

Summary: In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

Unscripted Joss Byrd August 23
August 23 Roaring Brook

2.Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Summary: Hollywood critics agree. Joss Byrd is “fiercely emotional,” a young actress with “complete conviction,” and a “powerhouse.”

Joss Byrd is America’s most celebrated young actress, but on the set of her latest project, a gritty indie film called The Locals, Joss’s life is far from glamorous. While struggling with her mother’s expectations, a crush on her movie brother, and a secret that could end her career, Joss must pull off a performance worthy of a star. When her renowned, charismatic director demands more than she is ready to deliver, Joss must go off-script to stay true to herself.

Furthermore Tahereh Mafi August 30
August 30 Dutton BYR

3.Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Summary: There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit–and with a liar by her side in a land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice’s wits (and every limb she’s got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must first find herself–and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Girl In Pieces August 30
August 30 Delacorte Press

4.Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Summary: Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The thick glass of a mason jar cuts deep, and the pain washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.
Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.
A deeply moving portrait of a teenage girl on the verge of losing herself and the journey she must take to survive in her own skin, Kathleen Glasgow’s debut is heartbreakingly real and unflinchingly honest. It’s a story you won’t be able to look away from.

A Torch Against The Night
August 30 Razorbill

5.A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember In The Ashes #2)

Summary: A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

What August 2016 Releases Are You Looking Forward To? 🙂

Waiting On Wednesday I #7

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Unscripted Joss Byrd August 23Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly post originally created by the book bloggers over at

BreakingTheSpines to spotlight upcoming releases!

This week I will be spotlighting…

Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Publisher: Roaring Brook

Release Date: August 23, 2016

Summary: Hollywood critics agree. Joss Byrd is “fiercely emotional,” a young actress with “complete conviction,” and a “powerhouse.”

Joss Byrd is America’s most celebrated young actress, but on the set of her latest project, a gritty indie film called The Locals, Joss’s life is far from glamorous. While struggling with her mother’s expectations, a crush on her movie brother, and a secret that could end her career, Joss must pull off a performance worthy of a star. When her renowned, charismatic director demands more than she is ready to deliver, Joss must go off-script to stay true to herself.

Ever since I read Everything Leads To You by Nina Lacour & Something Real by Heather Demetrios I’ve loved YA books centering around Hollywood/movies/acting etc.

From the summary alone, this book sounds like its up my alley!

+ this sounds like a great summer contemporary!

I will definitely be reading this when August comes!

Will You Be Reading Unscripted Joss Byrd? 🙂