Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl ARC Review

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Pages: 336 (324 ARC)

Summary: Once upon a time, back at Darrow-Harker School, Beatrice Hartley and her six best friends were the cool kids, the beautiful ones. Then the shocking death of Jim—their creative genius and Beatrice’s boyfriend—changed everything.

One year after graduation, Beatrice is returning to Wincroft—the seaside estate where they spent so many nights sharing secrets, crushes, plans to change the world—hoping she’ll get to the bottom of the dark questions gnawing at her about Jim’s death. But as the night plays out in a haze of stilted jokes and unfathomable silence, Beatrice senses she’s never going to know what really happened.

Then a mysterious man knocks on the door. Blithely, he announces the impossible: time for them has become stuck, snagged on a splinter that can only be removed if the former friends make the harshest of decisions. Now Beatrice has one last shot at answers… and at life.

And so begins the Neverworld Wake.

*Received ARC through Yallwest*

My Rating:★★★☆☆ ¾

My Thoughts: Neverworld Wake is a YA Contemporary which brilliantly blends mystery with science fiction! The development and uncertainty surrounding Neverworld Wake delivers so much to this intriguing mystery story, that is both haunting and thought-provoking!

Even as I’m writing this review, I am so torn on how I should rate Neverworld Wake! I’m leaving it at 3.75 though am conflicted on whether I should bump it up to a 4, because there were things I really loved/liked, and some things I wish could have been better.

Regardless, I really did find Neverworld Wake such an interesting story, that was a very interesting reading experience from start to finish! And I do hope to check out Pessl’s previous book Night Film at some point & her future books, because the way she crafted the mystery of Neverworld Wake was just so great!

I can’t remember exactly how I heard about this book, but from both the summary and eerie + haunting cover, this sounded like such a great mystery read!

Told through a first person POV, we follow Beatrice Hartley, who is spending the summer after her first year at college, working at her parent’s ice cream parlor.

However, when an opportunity arises for her to head to an estate (Wincroft) and reconnect with her best friends from boarding school after the passing of her boyfriend Jim Mason, she is hesitant at first, but believes it’ll finally allow her to find closure.

Then after a close call that almost causes a car crash, a mysterious man arrives explaining to them they are now a part of the Neverworld Wake.

And by the end, only one person can live.

What I really loved about this novel, was the mystery, development, and exploration of the Neverworld Wake. The complexities to it kept me so invested in the story!

It essentially gathered Beatrice, Whitley, Kip, Cannon, and Martha’s experiences/life events, etc. and it all blended together to create a Neverworld Wake, where they each relive the same day for a certain # of hours.

The exploration of the Neverworld with how it related to each of them, the mystery they were solving surrounding Jim’s death, the intricate time/space aspects etc. were all explored so well and delivered at such perfect times throughout the book , that it never felt info-dumped or under/overly-explained.

There was a perfect balance of information given about it to keep you guessing, but also on track with how it evolves throughout Neverworld Wake.

Because its told through a first person point of view, it was definitely easy for me to get a lot of character/internal development from Beatrice. It even allowed for the mystery and uncertainty of the story to deliver plot twists & the story in general, in a way that was very easy to follow and allowed for each element of Neverworld to build in a brilliant way, where it never got confusing.

There were particular names/references which I personally related to classic stories (like Alice In Wonderland) through the introduction of a figure from their past at boarding school called the White Rabbit.  For me that gave it another level of mystery, almost magical, and otherworldly sense that classic stories such as Alice In Wonderland offer.

Not sure if that was Pessl was going for, but I found that made Neverworld Wake even more interesting and immersive.

There was also the introduction to this fictional book called: The Dark House Of Elsewhere Bend by J.C. Gossamer Madwick, which really builds itself into the story as it progresses.

It added another level of mystery and added something unique to the story and overall it sounds like such an interesting book when you learn more about it!!

Neverworld Wake also really focuses on the plot, mystery, and interesting world/world-building, that there is little to no romance in the book (Only through Neverworld/general flashbacks Bea has about her time with Jim).

The mystery of the novel is built in such a way that honestly left me guessing each and every moment, because when you think you figure out how Jim died, you get even more pieces to the puzzle and I loved that!

They are all introduced and developed in a great way that doesn’t leave you lost as you meet more characters and find out how they connect to Jim’s story.

Now what I found to lower my rating were a couple of aspects such as writing-style, slow pacing, and word choice for a couple lines (planning to see if they are in the FC & share them soon!).

As mentioned above, were following the story from a first person POV, told through Beatrice’s eyes.

From the writing-style in general, I never really found an attachment to Beatrice as a character. I felt her personality didn’t shine through at all to be honest. While I was definitely invested in the story and what was happening, I never really found a point in the story where I ever really connected with her as a character, even though we were following her and getting a lot of her inner thoughts, etc.

The writing-style never really allowed her to stand out.

Because of that, it also made surrounding/side characters (maybe aside from Martha & a couple other characters) not entirely memorable.

Additionally, while we are told Beatrice knew these friends in high school and were inseparable, I never really felt there was a friendship dynamic between them & Beatrice at all (or at least through the writing and execution of their dynamics, I never really felt it in the story). I could definitely feel the relationship/friendship between all the friends, but never with Beatrice.

At points overall, the simplicity to the writing-style made elements of the story feel a bit generic and forgettable.

However I will say that the writing in my opinion, really delivered in developing and intricately expanding on the mystery, Neverworld Wake as a whole and how they tie together.

Neverworld Wake is an eerie and immersive YA Contemporary that focuses and shines on the plot, mystery, and complexities of the Neverworld Wake! Merging contemporary with science fiction, and mystery, Pessl’s novel delivers an intricate story with a plot that will leave you guessing till the very end!

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Running With Lions by Julian Winters Review

Running With Lions by Julian Winters

Publisher: Duet Books (Interlude Press)

Release Date: June 7, 2018

Pages: 320

Summary: Bloomington High School Lions’ star goalie, Sebastian Hughes, should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing and he’s got a coach who doesn’t ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah shows up to summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team’s success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him. Determined to reconnect with Emir for the sake of the Lions, he sets out to regain Emir’s trust. But to Sebastian’s surprise, sweaty days on the pitch, wandering the town’s streets, and bonding on the weekends sparks more than just friendship between them.

*Bought an early copy from Yallwest*

My Rating:★★★★☆ ½

My Thoughts: Running With Lions is a fantastic YA Contemporary! With a dynamic cast of characters and page-turning plot, this novel follows senior Sebastian Hughes, goalie for Bloomington High’s soccer team! This novel follows him and his teams summer at Camp Haven to train for their upcoming fall game! Winters explores the complexities of love, friendship, and finding oneself in this unforgettable YA Debut!

Running With Lions was a book I had been looking forward to for a while! From the amazing cover + summary, and focus on soccer!

What I love about this book is that it explores sexuality in such an open way.

“No exclusions around here…Be who you are! Be proud! Treat each other like family!”

Seeing the team + coaches being supportive of each other and just having that strong friendship between Sebastian, Mason, Willie, the other team members, and Grey, the coach’s daughter, was just amazing to read!!

Sebastian is ready for summer! Spending it with his teammates at Camp Haven to train for one last season of soccer together, he’s ready!

Though things get a bit complicated when Sebastian notices his childhood friend Emir Shah is also on the team this season. Emir keeps to himself and pretty much avoids the team when he can (due to his shyness).

Though Sebastian is aware that their friendship during childhood is now over, he tries to get through to him and make him feel more at home with the team.

From a rocky start to early morning runs and training sessions to improve on his soccer skills, Sebastian finds himself trying to connect with his old friend again. This soon leads to something more!

Seeing their dynamic develop as they learn more as to why they grew apart was such a deeply explored aspect to their relationship and it was great seeing how they were able to look past it, accept, and start again!

Emir was such a great character! Through the teams eyes he seems like someone who just doesn’t care, but that is not the case! We see how lonely Emir has felt since his sudden move to the UK caused his friendship with Sebastian to crumble.

However, we see that Sebastian’s courage to make him feel part of the team regardless of their past, really allows Emir to see the team as family!

Told through a 3rd person POV, it allows you to get an overall + in-depth look at the characters, plot and builds the setting/summer atmosphere, which comes to life on the page!

The characters all are written and explored with such depth that they also come to life from their first introductions!

Each and every character is written in such a way where you know so much about them from such few words and you really find yourself connecting with each of them!

We also see there’s so much more to these characters than when we are first introduced to them! Over the course of this novel, we see how their friendships/relationships change and grow as the summer at camp progresses!

There’s just so much development to the Bloomington High team and each character was given a great amount of page time, so were able to see the many different sides to these teammates!

I also really loved Grey Patrick (Coach Patrick’s daughter, who tags along at Camp Haven)! She was just such a great character and I loved her interactions/moments with the guys, like Sebastian & Mason!
She’s fierce and confident and overall she was such an amazing character! I also loved Willie, he was also one of my favorites!

Over the course of the novel Grey and Willie go through their own journeys, which are really given enough page time as we see them develop over the course of the story!

While its mentioned he has a knee injury in the beginning, we see how Willie’s soccer training develops and changes, as does the relationships + dynamics that grow among his friends/teammates throughout the book.

Both Grey & Willie’s journeys were given such interesting development and I loved following each of them throughout the book! Their personalities shined with each page!

There’s also such a diverse cast of characters, which was great to see!! Sebastian who identifies as bisexual, Emir who is pakistani-muslim + gay, Willie is gay, Hunter is black, & Gio is stated to be hispanic.

Winters also explores sexuality in such an open and honest way thorough out the entire novel! The team is very accepting and having that is so important to Sebastian as we see throughout Running With Lions.

Sebastian was such a complex main character! What I loved exploring through his POV (which I don’t see much of in YA), is life after high school and being unsure of what that future holds.

Winters explores this element so well throughout the entire book that it gradually becomes an even more recurring thought from Sebastian as he gets closer to the start of his Senior year!

Additionally, Winters explores so well the side of Sebastian who questions who exactly he is without soccer as the thoughts of college, the future, and the future of friends comes into play.

*I also recommend checking out Kris Hui Lee’s Out Of Left Field if your looking for another sports (baseball) YA Contemporary that discusses future after high school in a unique way * 

Running With Lions is fantastic Coming-Of-Age YA Contemporary that explores sexuality in an open and honest way! With a supportive cast of diverse characters, great writing, and themes of friendship throughout, this is a great YA Contemporary to check out!

What I’m Currently Reading & YA Books On My June TBR!

There’s been a lot of books I’ve made made plans to read over summer and now that I’m officially on summer break, I’m hoping to read as much of these as I can this month!

So, today I’ll be sharing with you what I’m currently reading and the other books I’m planning on getting to!

Currently Reading:

1.Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

I was able to get an ARC of Neverworld Wake from Yallwest and finally started reading it early last week, but sadly put it down to catch up on a graphic novel & Running With Lions (which I’m hoping to post my review of next week!). I’m still very interested in reading Neverworld and want to try and finish it within the coming week + post my review!

From what I know about it & have read so far, it follows Beatrice Hartley who lives in her small town working at her parents ice cream parlor.

She’s been disconnected from her 6 friends after graduation for a while, with the loss of her boyfriend Jim.

Then she returns with her friends to “Wincroft—the seaside estate where they spent so many nights sharing secrets, crushes, plans to change the world…”

Soon, they receive a mysterious knock at the door and I think, find themselves caught in a Neverworld Wake??

Overall I’d really been enjoying it so far and want to finish it! I don’t read much mystery, but Neverworld Wake has had me intrigued!

June TBR

1.Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova (Labyrinth Lost #2)

I read and loved Labyrinth Lost when I read it back in 2016! It centered around Alex who is a bruja and an adventure that takes her on a quest to find her family after a spell she preforms, causes them to disappear!

From the Latinx rep. to themes of family (and sisterhood), all of which I could relate to so well, I fell in love with this book, from the story to the world–everything!

Now with Bruja Born finally out, I am beyond excited to get back into this amazing world & follow even more of Alex’s adventures!

2.Mariam Sharma Hits The Road by Sheba Karim

Similar to Neverworld Wake, I was also able to get an ARC of this from Yallwest! This book basically centers around a group of friends who go on a road trip after their freshman year at college!

As always, I’m always looking to read more #OwnVoices + diverse books and overall, Mariam Sharma just sounded like such an amazing read, perfect for summer, so I’m definitely going to be reading this one soon as well!

And being a college student myself, I’m also just looking forward to reading more college-centered & about college-aged YA characters!

3.A Reaper At The Gates by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember In The Ashes #3)

I’m such a big fan of An Ember In The Ashes quartet, so of course I would definitely have this on my TBR list! I can’t wait to read where Sabaa takes the story, characters, everything!!

I’ve had just– so many theories for where I think A Reaper At The Gates will be going, so I’m just counting down the days until this is out!

I’ve really been looking forward to reading more from Laia, Elias, etc. and am beyond excited to finally get my hands on A Reaper At The Gates!

4.Not The Girls Your Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi

Similar to the other ARCs above, I was also able to get a copy of Not The Girls Your Looking For at Yallwest & even met Aminah, who was so nice! Getting the chance to talk to her about the importance of representation and books in general was just so great & I’m beyond excited to read her debut novel!

Definitely check out the summary for Not The Girls Your Looking For below & add it to your TBR if you haven’t already!

“Lulu Saad doesn’t need your advice, thank you very much. She’s got her three best friends and nothing can stop her from conquering the known world. Sure, for half a minute she thought she’d nearly drowned a cute guy at a party, but he was totally faking it. And fine, yes, she caused a scene during Ramadan. It’s all under control. Ish.

Except maybe this time she’s done a little more damage than she realizes. And if Lulu can’t find her way out of this mess soon, she’ll have to do more than repair friendships, family alliances, and wet clothing. She’ll have to go looking for herself.” 

5. A Thousand Beginnings And Endings edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman

I don’t usually read many anthologies, but when I first read the summary (& saw the gorgeous cover) of A Thousand Beginnings And Endings, I knew I’d have to read it!

This book will contain 15 short stories from authors of East and South Asia background, writing re imagined folklore and mythology!

I love reading about mythology and the blend of fantasy + mythology in this anthology sounds like it’ll be right up my alley!

I also do want to try to get into reading more YA anthologies and in general, it just sounds like an overall great read!

6.The Game Of Hope by Sandra Gulland

Additionally, this was also another ARC I was able to get from Yallwest @ PenguinTeen’s booth, out of I think 3 other choices, The Game Of Hope was my pick!

Set in 1798 Paris, France, this novel is a YA Historical Fiction that centers around Napoleon’s step-daughter, Hortense de Beauharnais.

Wanting to go into this book without much knowledge, I do know it essentially follows Hortense as she goes about her daily life in boarding school, studies, arts, etc., but is unsure of where her future lies when her mother marries Napoleon.

I don’t usually read much historical fiction, but this novel just intrigued me from the summary and I’m beyond excited to read it!

And that wraps up my June TBR! 📚✨😍

What are you planning to read this month? Any of the books on your TBR similar to mine? Let’s Discuss! 📚✨☀

Audio Dime Museum Podcast Review {Literary Listens}

Audio Dime Museum created by the Just A Story team (Samantha and Jacob LeBas)

Release Date: March 23, 2016 (Trailer & Episode 1)

Episodes: 11 (Prolonged Hiatus)

Running Time: Episodes range from 10-37 Minutes

Summary: From the Just A Story team, comes a weekly, serialized experimental storytelling podcast which explores historical legends through the artifacts on display in the Audio Dime Museum. Part guided tour, part radio drama; each episode presents the curious story of one object from the collection. Meet your guide on this journey, The Curator, and learn her secrets as you delve into the world of possibility, magic and the unknown. Merging the suspenseful style of mystery with the conventions of ghost stories and the peculiarity that only historical fact can provide, this podcast is not for the faint of heart.

My Thoughts: Audio Dime Museum is a brilliantly crafted podcast which chronicles various tales throughout history as the mysterious Curator guides you through the curious artifacts she keeps within her dime museum!

Audio Dime Museum will forever hold a special place in my heart! It was the very first audio drama I’d ever listened to and to this day, continues to be one of my all-time favorites!

As a reader and aspiring writer, this fictional podcast just continues to inspire me and from its phenomenal storytelling, writing, characters, editing, etc. its a must listen to, if your looking to get into audio drama podcasts/podcasts in general or just want to hear fascinating stories from history!

The descriptive writing, ranging from 3rd person, 2nd to a direct POV style, where the Curator is speaking to you, makes you feel like part of the story as she chronicles various artifacts of history she finds within her shop & its Wonder Cabinet.

It saddens me that the podcast hasn’t continued since its last episode in September of 2016, but I’m constantly hoping it’ll make a come-back because following the Curator, her dime museum, and learning about different moments in history has just been such an amazing adventure for me and is truly unlike any other audio drama I’ve heard before!

From the very introduction told through an aged/vintage record, accompanied by carnival-style music “Hurry, hurry step this way! The strangest sights from the island! Reach from the 4 corners of the world. One two nickels, one dime, & one-tenth of dollar! We’ve got the show if you’ve got the dime…” you get automatically sucked into this peculiar world of the Audio Dime Museum!

With each episode, chronicled as a chapter from Volumes 1 through 2, you get to know the Curator as you find your way into her dime museum and she shares with you stories of the interesting artifacts she keeps hidden within!

I’ve always been fascinated by stories and artifacts from history, but through The Audio Dime Museum from its descriptive, immersive writing-style, fantastic audio and editing, I’m transported to the world of The Audio Dime Museum in an instant and in a way, get a story within a story!

All of the stories she shares are either inspired or based on real-life artifacts and events, which was so fascinating, because a majority of these I had never even heard of before.

So above all, it was great to learn about these artifacts and the pockets of history from which they were from.

There’s also such phenomenal world-building! Through the little details, stories the Curator shares about her shop and the artifacts within it, this audio drama blurs the line with reality and the extraordinary in such a unique way!

For example, from Vol. 1 Episode 3 Myrtles and Oleander Don’t Bloom, the Curator discovers an artifact that doesn’t quite belong in the store.

“I can understand when things from the shop are showing up in the cabinet, but things from across the country?”

The little details she reveals about the shop throughout each episode just fuels the magic and mystery that makes Audio Dime Museum even more intriguing and captivating!

I love each and every episode! With each one, the dark secrets and mystery of the Dime Museum just builds and builds!

Another aspect I love about this audio drama podcast so much, is how much it really makes you think about history, storytelling, and how it emphasizes the power of stories!

Additionally, from the Curator’s introduction within each episode to her next artifact and throughout the story as well, the thought-provoking and philosophical words she shares, just weave their way into your mind and really leave you thinking!

There are so many quotes I can recall/find myself thinking about from this podcast, even though its been over a year since I finished it! 

That to me, just serves as a reminder as to how brilliant this podcast is and how the thought-provoking writing has really resonated.

The writing above all is not only descriptive and vivid, which from the very beginning pulls you into each story, but the presentation of the Curator as a character, from the quiet/soft tone of her voice, delivers each story with such weight and emotion!

I think that’s all I can say without giving away too much about the Audio Dime Museum!

So, please check out this audio drama if you’ve never heard it before! If your a fan of great storytelling, history, thought-provoking writing, and fascinating tales, the Audio Dime Museum is a podcast I highly recommend!

The Audio Dime Museum is an immersive audio drama that explores history in a brilliant and unique way! History comes to life through an outstanding writing-style as the Curator narrates tales of history with you from her curious dime museum, filled with mystery, wonder, and so much more!

Today’s post was definitely a different kind of review! This idea sparked in my mind after thinking more about Literary Listens, how I could expand it, and seeing a couple audio drama reviews out there already! ✨🎙

I hope my review inspired you to check out this amazing podcast! I’m definitely planning to do more of these podcast reviews very soon & can’t wait to share my latest audio drama recommendation! 📚🎙✨

Heavy Vinyl Vol. 1 by Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva Review {Graphic Novel}

Heavy Vinyl Vol. 1 by Carly Usdin, Nina Vakueva,  Irene Flores & Rebecca Nalty
(Heavy Vinyl #1)

Publisher: BOOM! Box (Boom! Studios)

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Pages: 112

Summary:When Chris joins the staff at her local record store, she’s surprised to find out that her co-workers share a secret: they’re all members of a secret fight club that take on the patriarchy and fight crime!

Starry-eyed Chris has just started the dream job every outcast kid in town wants: working at Vinyl Mayhem. It’s as rad as she imagined; her boss is BOSS, her co-workers spend their time arguing over music, pushing against the patriarchy, and endlessly trying to form a band. When Rosie Riot, the staff’s favorite singer, mysteriously vanishes the night before her band’s show, Chris discovers her co-workers are doing more than just sorting vinyl . . . Her local indie record store is also a front for a teen girl vigilante fight club!

My Rating:★★★★★

My Thoughts: Heavy Vinyl is an incredible graphic novel that follows an all-female vigilante group! With great art, 90’s references, female friendship, diverse representation, and of course–music, you follow Chris as she, alongside her co-workers at the local record shop, solve a case of a missing singer! With mystery, friendship, and so much more, Heavy Vinyl is a fantastic graphic novel!

I hadn’t looked too much into the summary, so all I knew going into Heavy Vinyl was: female friendship, record store, and GLBTQIA+ rep!

Heavy Vinyl was beyond spectacular!! (~˘▾˘)~♥♥ I had a feeling I would enjoy it, but by the time I reached the last page, I realized just how much I loved & adored it! ❤

Its easily become one of my new all-time favorite graphic novels! Its one I could see myself reading over & over again!! Its fantastic!!

Set in 1998 New Jersey we follow Chris, who is passionate about music & has worked at her local record shop, Vinyl Destination for about a month!

She’s gotten pretty close with her co-workers, Maggie, Dolores (who doesn’t exactly get along w/ her sometimes), Kennedy, and her manager Irene, but doesn’t feel included just yet.

She hopes to find some way to fit in with her new friends (she suspects that maybe they have a secret band, that they won’t tell her about!) and maybe find the courage to tell her co-worker/friend Maggie how she feels about her!

Then when a local band Stegosour has a gig at the shop and it turns out their lead singer Rosie Riot, goes missing, while she had her suspicions, Chris learns there’s more to her co-workers than she originally thought!

It turns out, they are actually part of an all-female vigilante group!

“It’s more than just fighting crime and beating bad guys though–we pledge to fight all forms of injustice…”

Chris is unsure whether she has what it takes to be alongside these brave women, but with some encouragement from Maggie + connecting more with Dolores, she discovers that she does belong!

The plot itself was so interesting! Its first all about Chris working in the vinyl shop and getting a bit of a romantic plot-line with Maggie and Chris wondering if anything could ever happen between them!

Then its all about the mystery surrounding Rosie who’s gone missing & Chris finding a way to fit in this secret group that her co-workers are all a part of!

However, the more they get into the mystery of trying to find Rosie & understanding why her band mates are starting to act a bit odd, the more it becomes a even more interesting case than they first thought!

The world of the vigilante group and the history behind it was developed in such a great way, where it never felt like all the info was just delivered all at once. It develops all throughout the graphic novel and builds even more into the mystery of the plot when you reach the very end!

There’s also such a great emphasis and overall theme of friendship/female friendship! Chris also has anxiety and all though she has a passion for music, she finds she doesn’t really feel like she clicks with any of her co-workers completely!

However throughout Heavy Vinyl, the more she becomes a part of the vigilante group, the more she comes out of her shell bit by bit and really feels she can belong at Vinyl Destination and connect even more with her friends!

There’s also a lot of diverse representation throughout Heavy Vinyl, which was so great to see!! From the f/f & m/m representation (Irene & her girlfriend & Maggie’s 2 fathers), black rep. (Kennedy), Puerto Rican rep. (Dolores), and lesbian rep. (Chris)!

The characters and their dynamics was one of my favorite parts! We have Chris who really looks up to Irene and wants to be like her one day (with her passion of music), we have Kennedy who kicks butt and is always on top of any situation, Maggie who is the cutest & apparently loves everything ^_^, & Logan + Chris who we see really get along through their love of comics (Logan works at the comic store not to far from Vinyl Destination & the relationship between him & Kennedy is the sweetest♥♥!!)

I also really loved the art style & the colors, they worked perfectly with the story, setting, etc.!!

While reading Heavy Vinyl, I also listened to my favorite band Haim ^_^ I don’t usually listen to music w/ lyrics while reading, but I found in this case, overall it made the reading experience even better!

I was so sad when I reached the end because its clear there is so much more to the vigilante group and the conspiracy they uncover regarding the missing bands, etc.!

I think my only very minor issue was that I wanted a bit more background for the Vinyl Destination girls like Maggie, Irene, Kennedy, & Dolores. Their characters really do shine throughout the graphic novel, I just wanted a bit more!

From what I heard, there is only 1 volume of Heavy Vinyl currently planned, but I do hope there’s more in the future!

So, if your looking to read another graphic novel or are looking for a story with female friendship, music, mystery and adventure, I highly recommend picking up Heavy Vinyl! You won’t be disappointed!

Heavy Vinyl is a stunning graphic novel! From its 90’s and music scene, great artwork, fantastic story, mystery, intrigue, diverse representation, and girl power, Heavy Vinyl is a graphic novel you don’t want to miss!

May 2018 Wrap-Up

# Of Books Read: 6

Here’s my wrap-up for May 2018! Now that I’m officially on summer break, I’m hoping to read + review more this month!! 

1. Out Of Left Field by Kris Hui Lee

ARC | Started April 28 + Finished May 10 |Rating:★★★★☆ | Out Of Left Field Full Review

Overall Thoughts: If your looking for a contemporary that doesn’t focus on romance, this is the book for you! Out Of Left Field is about Marnie as she takes the place of her best friend Cody on her high school baseball team after he gets injured. There’s such a big focus on the dynamic of friendship, life after college, + Marnie’s passion for baseball and I really loved that. The plot, in my opinion, just went in such unique directions compared to other YA Contemporary novels and continued to surprise me with very interesting plot twists! There’s also representation through the side characters (Filipino + Latinx & bisexual rep., Indian-American rep.). The pacing does get slow at some points & I wish that some of the main/side characters had more expansion + development, additionally there are some plot threads I wish could have been expanded on. However, overall Out Of Left Field is a uniquely plotted YA Contemporary that really focuses on its characters and the complex dynamics of friendship! Definitely recommend Kris Hui Lee’s Out Of Left Field if your looking for more sports in YA Contemporary!

2. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Owned | Started May 11 + Finished May 13 |Rating: ★★★★☆ ½ | The Way You Make Me Feel Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Having been a big fan of Goo’s previous novel, I Believe In A Thing Called Love, I knew I would be picking up, The Way You Make Me Feel. Clara is a bit of a troublemaker, so when she gets tasked with working on her father’s Korean-Brazilian fusion food truck w/ her school nemesis, she feels her perfect summer (w/ plans of visiting her mother) has come to an end! But, she soon finds herself changing and growing throughout the summer, making new friends, and maybe finding romance along the way. The development of family and the complex dynamic was developed so incredibly well in this book as was the friendship! The Way You Make Me Feel was a book that captured my heart from page 1 with its character-driven story, wonderful writing, and summer adventures! The Way You Make Me Feel is a must read for summer!

3. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Library | Started May 16 + Finished May 19 |Rating:★★★★☆ |Not If I Save You First Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Carter delivers another political thriller, with a mystery that keeps you turning the page as the stakes continue to build! Maddie, daughter to a secret service agent and Logan, the president’s son, have been friends since they were little. However after an attack at the White House when they were 10, leads Maddie to stay off the grid for almost 6 years in the Alaskan wilderness alongside her father. Maddie & Logan are soon reunited and their friendship is no longer what it used to be, yet when its revealed someone may be after Logan, they have to team up and uncover the answers. Carter does a fantastic job at seamlessly integrating politics and mystery within her novels and I always look forward to reading her books! However, through out Not If I Save You First I felt the pacing was pretty slow and while the build up to the mystery was done incredibly well, when answers are revealed it felt not only rushed, but a bit disappointing in its execution. Additionally,there was a bit of repetitiveness when it came to the setting. Overall though, Not If I Save You First was definitely an entertaining mystery thriller that really kept me turning the page!

4. Driving By Starlight by Anat Deracine

ARC| Started May 21 + Finished May 22 |Rating:★★★★★ |Driving By Starlight Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Driving By Starlight has easily become another one of my all-time favorite novels and is one that I will never forget!! I haven’t seen a lot of buzz for Driving By Starlight, but if you haven’t read it, please do, its phenomenal!! Set in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia crafted an honest and moving YA Contemporary, which follows Leena & Mishail, who are no strangers to a bit of rebellion within their town. Due to strict laws however, they find themselves unsure of their futures as women within society. Leena dreams of attending university and studying law, but with the absence of her father (who is a rebel), needing to take care of her mother, and not wanting to leave her friends/life behind, its becoming uncertain whether she will be able to follow her dreams. Over the course of the novel, Leena goes through quite a journey! From the powerful messages, themes of family & friendship explored with such depth, incredible cast of characters, thought-provoking & beautiful writing, Deracine’s novel is phenomenal! There’s honestly so much to this amazing novel I can’t put into words, but I highly recommend reading Driving By Starlight, its a must read!

5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Library |Started May 23 + Finished May 26 |Rating:★★★★☆ |Caraval Full Review

Overall Thoughts: I’d been putting off reading Caraval because of all the hype, but I’d recently been fortunate enough to get an ARC of Legendary and felt I’d give it a try! I’m so glad I did because I ended up really enjoying it! Garber’s writing easily pulled me into the story and crafted mystery into her novel so well, as we follow Scarlett attempting to find her sister throughout Caraval. Garber’s novel surprised me in ways I wasn’t expecting and I really enjoyed it. I did find that the repetitiveness of color to describe setting/emotion didn’t really click with me and I found other than Caraval, the world-building wasn’t really expanded on either, & I was expecting a bit more from the ending. However, I was definitely more surprised by Caraval than I expected and found it to be an immersive, mystery adventure!

6. Legendary by Stephanie Garber (Caraval #2)

ARC |Started May 28 + Finished May 30 |Rating:★★★★☆ |Legendary Full Review

Overall Thoughts: Legendary takes what you knew in Caraval and really makes it more of a mind game, which was very interesting! Following Tella, were back into the game of Caraval, but there are very much real-life stakes involved. I loved how Garber seamlessly weaved in the fantasy elements, however all throughout Legendary I was thinking ‘why wasn’t this introduced more in Caraval?’, but I’m glad it was added into the story! Garber introduces new settings and a character by the name of Jacks who I really loved! It takes a bit of a darker, more fairy tale vibe, but I really enjoyed it! The plot is filled with intrigue, magic, mythology of the world of Caraval, and really had me guessing & on the edge of my seat wondering where the next book is headed!

Additional Posts From This Month:

Book Bytes #11

The Last 8 Cover Reveal

Author Interview w/ Maura Milan about her upcoming novel Ignite The Stars

Plans For June:

~ Catch up on reading, now that I’m officially on summer break & work on my summer reading bullet journal!

~Post upcoming TBR lists/other posts that I’ve had drafted for a while! 😂✨📚

~Planning to hopefully create + share another Literary Listens post! 🎙✨💕

Book Bytes I #12

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

Each month’s posts can contain anything from new cover/title reveals, book-to-movie news, even the latest book deals!!
I’ve now split up the news into categories, to make it easier to jump to whichever book news you’d like to read about!

If there’s any book news I missed or any you want to discuss, definitely leave a comment!

*With so many book deals in May, I decided to mention ones I’m personally really looking forward to/want to feature, but will link each release report for you to check out all the book deals!*

Adaptation News

1. Gentleman’s Guide To Vice & Virtue Optioned For TV

Announced May 4 by Variety, Greg Berlanti picked up the rights to Mackenzie Lee’s Gentleman’s Guide To Vice And Virtue, for Warner Bros. TV.

Greg Berlanti Options ‘Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue’ (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/eHSbbpRtgX

— Variety (@Variety) May 4, 2018

2.Looking For Alaska Picked Up As A Limited Series From Hulu

As of May 9, Deadline announced that John Green’s novel Looking For Alaska was picked up by Hulu and “is finalizing a deal for an eight-episode limited series from Paramount Television and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire…”

Looking for Alaska will be adapted into an eight-episode limited series on Hulu–with Josh and Stephanie (who've stuck with this for 13 YEARS!) running the show. I'm excited. Hope you are, too. https://t.co/RqzJYbq115

— John Green (@johngreen) May 10, 2018

3.The Hate U Give Movie Release Date

Announced May 23 by Angie Thomas through her twitter, she shared that The Hate U Give movie will be releasing: October 19 of this year!

Epic Reads also has a blog post where they summarize all the movie info regarding The Hate U Give Movie Here!

You’ve asked, and now I can tell you. @TheHateUGive movie coming October 19th! #TheHateUGive pic.twitter.com/dnwCep8dp9

— T'ChAngie Thomas Doesn't Cast Films (@angiecthomas) May 24, 2018

4.The Sun Is Also A Star Cast Update + Release Date

As of May 31, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Charles Melton (known for his role Riverdale) will play the role of Daniel from Yoon’s novel, The Sun Is Also A Star.

The article also mentioned that there is a set release date for The Sun Is Also A Star film, which will be May 17, 2019!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the news is out!!!!! The incredible & fantastically talented @_MELTON_ will play Daniel in #thesunisalsoastar movie!!! I AM SO THRILLED!!!! This movie is gonna be SO GOOD you guys! https://t.co/Ru270AqQln

— Nicola Yoon is on hiatus (@NicolaYoon) May 31, 2018

Book Deals

1.Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore + Tehlor Kay Mejia

Set to be released in 2020, authors Anna-Marie McLemore and Tehlor Kay Mejia announced they would be co-writing Meteor, published by HarperCollins. The novel follows “two friends, one made of stardust and one fighting to save her family’s diner, take on their small town’s 50th annual pageant and talent competition in the hopes that they can change their town’s destiny, and their own” (Announced May 1).

So you know that co-write you may have heard me coyly mention at a couple of events? The news is out, & I am so thrilled to share that I'm teaming up with the amazing @tehlorkay on METEOR, a book about two Latina BFFs, a Selena-themed diner, and a small-town beauty pageant ✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/McqaE9Uq9l

— Anna-Marie McLemore (@LaAnnaMarie) May 1, 2018

2.Descendants Series by Tracy Deonn Walker

With the first novel of this YA Contemporary Fantasy series set to be released in Summer 2020 by Simon Pulse, its “pitched as a modern-day King Arthur retelling with Southern Black Girl Magic, the book follows a teenage girl who infiltrates a secret society of powerful magic wielders to find out the truth behind her mother’s untimely death” (Announced May 1).

🎉I’m beyond thrilled to announce that I'm going to be PUBLISHED! 🎉

DESCENDANTS is about a stubborn, passionate girl who needs to find the truth. It is #BlackGirlMagic and love. It is the book & series of my heart and @BatgirlEditor and I are a dream team! Just. Y'all. Wait! pic.twitter.com/LWBbZdpuwm

— Tracy Deonn Walker (@tracydeonn) May 1, 2018

3.Deathless by Namina Forna

Set for a Spring 2020 release date with Delacorte, Deathless is the first book in a YA Fantasy trilogy that is “about a West African-inspired blood ceremony that reveals whether or not females are “pure” enough to be members of the village, and an army of ostracized girls with extraordinary gifts training to kill” (Announced May 1).

So amazingly happy that my debut novel DEATHLESS is being released Spring 2020 via @DelacortePress (PRH). Thanks to my amazing agent @alibelle. Can't wait to share my vision of fierce women warriors with the world. Watch out, everyone, the #alaki are coming your way! https://t.co/RZuXJUFpJw

— Namina Officially in Revisions Forna (@NaminaForna) March 31, 2018

4.Today, Tonight, Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Set to be released in 2020 with Simon Pulse, author of You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, has an upcoming YA Contemporary Romance which follows “two rival overachievers who realize they may actually love each other over the course of 24 hours on the last day of senior year” (Announced May 1).

HI IT APPEARS I HAVE SOME NEWS!!!!! Absolutely thrilled to share that I get to make more books with @simonteen, starting in 2020 with this enemies-to-lovers YA romcom of my heart!!! 😭😍💃🏻!!!!! pic.twitter.com/aRjU2aay78

— Rachel on hiatus (@rlynn_solomon) May 3, 2018

5. Alliance by Jennieke Cohen

Set to be released in Fall of 2019 with HarperCollins, Alliance is a YA Historical Fiction “set in Georgian London’s high society. The book’s heroine, a contemporary of Jane Austen, uses Austen’s novels as a guide to navigate a treacherous season in which she must find a husband or lose her family estate to her sister’s villainous husband” (Announced May 1).

More Book Deals from May 1

I'm so very happy and excited to be a @HarperChildrens author and to be working with @kristenpettit to get Vicky's story to readers!! And so many thanks to my amazing agent @JenniferUnter for helping make this possible!!!❤️ pic.twitter.com/xlVqIkTMOQ

— Jennieke Cohen (@Jennieke_Cohen) May 3, 2018

6. As We Go Forth by Austin Siegemund-Broka + Emily Wibberley

Set to be released through Puffin in Spring 2020, As We Go Forth is “a contemporary romance told in alternating perspectives; it features Juniper and Fitz, two high school seniors with vastly different views about the future, who meet unexpectedly on their respective college tours ” (Announced May 7).

The news is out! Thrilled to be publishing two new YA contemporaries with @ASiegemundBroka! pic.twitter.com/BTlwb5IvEw

— Emily Wibberley (@Wibbs_Ink) May 8, 2018

7.Finale by Stephanie Garber

Through Garber’s twitter, she announced there would be a third book to her Caraval Series, titled Finale!

While there is no set release date, it scheduled for a 2019 release (Announced May 8).

AHHHH! Lots of you have been asking about this, and I've been keep this secret for a long time, so I am thrilled to finally share that there will be a third book in the #Caraval series–FINALE 🎊💞💫🌹🎩🔥👑🖤🃏🎪✨🌟 pic.twitter.com/4mBSrNLq7h

— Stephanie Garber (@SGarberGirl) May 8, 2018

8.Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud

Set to be released in 2019 with Scholastic, Truly Madly Royally is a YA Rom-Com in which “16-year-old Zora meets a boy named Owen, who turns out to be a prince and invites Zora to be his guest at his big brother’s royal wedding” (Announced May 14).

I’m beyond excited to be joining the @Scholastic fam. My YA rom-com titled TRULY, MADLY, ROYALLY coming 2019, y’all!! 👑 https://t.co/UwNQiOobPC

— Debbie Rigaud (@debbierigaud) May 16, 2018

9.Untitled YA Fantasy Deals by Laura Brooke Robson

Set to be released in Spring of 2020 with Penguin/Dawson, Robson’s first standalone is “an apocalyptic fantasy told in alternating POVs about the leader of a band of female elite royal aerialists, whose plan for survival depends on marrying the prince—until she meets the alluring new recruit who secretly plans to kill him” With the second novel set to be released in 2021 (Announced May 14).

SO. BEYOND. EXCITED. I’m thrilled to announce that my book is coming into the world, courtesy of the stupendous @DanielleBurby and @KathyDawsonBks !

I hope everyone’s ready for some vengeful girls and sinking islands.https://t.co/aRGiJsUMLv pic.twitter.com/KtPWnT9Bv4

— Laura Brooke Robson (@laurabrobson) May 15, 2018

More Book Deals From May 14

10. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

Set to be released in 2020 with Wednesday Books, Angeles’s YA Fantasy debut is “Pitched as The Phantom Of The Opera meets Moulin Rouge…The story follows Hellfire House’s star showgirl who, haunted by a dark past, must enter a magician’s competition in order to secure her freedom from the handsome, enigmatic keeper of the club, even as mysterious accidents seem to plague her every move” (Announced May 17).

SO overwhelmed, grateful, and thrilled to finally be able to announce: I’M GOING TO BE A PUBLISHED AUTHOR 😭#ProjectMoulinPhantom, my YA Phantom of the Opera/Moulin Rouge/Night Circus tale, will be yours to read in 2020!!! 🎩🥀✨ pic.twitter.com/QSMBFZgNpw

— Janella Angeles (@janella_angeles) May 17, 2018

11.The Wire Crown by Sheena Boekweg

Set to be released in 2020 with Feiwel & Friends, The Wire Crown follows “The daughter of an executioner and the traitorous prince she can’t kill reluctantly join forces to dethrone a paranoid queen after discovering they are trapped in a fantasy video game where one wrong move means game over in that world—and death in the real one” (Announced May 17).

UM HI MY DREAM CAME TRUE! After nine books and hundreds of rejections, I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE THESE CHARACTERS and this STORY and I LOVE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AND AHHHHH! pic.twitter.com/gVoJp89Q92

— Sheena Boekweg 📚 (@SheenaBoekweg) May 17, 2018

12. All Of Us With Wings by Michelle Ruiz Keil

Set to be released in Summer 2019 with Soho Press, All Of Us With Wings is a “fantasy imbued with elements of Aztec mythology”; it follows “a teenage governess living with her young ward Pallas’s glamorous rockstar family in San Francisco ” (Announced May 21).

I'm so excited to finally share this news: my debut novel All of Us With Wings was acquired by @amhoshij at @soho_teen!https://t.co/wt5fQZ3NkA

IT'S ALL HAPPENING!!! pic.twitter.com/mPu6RBY8x6

— Michelle Ruiz Keil (@MichelleRKeil) May 19, 2018

13.Goddess In The Machine by Lora Beth Johnson

Set to be released in Summer 2020 through Razorbill, Goddess In The Machine is about a girl and when she “wakes from a cryogenic sleep on a planet she doesn’t recognize, she must team up with the mysterious soldier who woke her to navigate a future world where technology is considered magic and its practitioners revered as Deities” (Announced May 30).

So, um, the voices in my head will soon be in book shape. https://t.co/QraBLAJsak

— Lora Beth Johnson (@LoraBethWrites) May 30, 2018

Cover Reveals + Title Reveals

1.King Of Fools by Amanda Foody

As of May 3 Amanda Foody announced on her twitter, the title to the sequel of her most recent novel, Ace Of Shades!

The sequel is titled: King Of Fools

According to Foody’s twitter post, King Of Fools will be released in Spring of 2019!

Very excited to share the title for Book 2 of THE SHADOW GAME series, the sequel to #AceOfShades! I've had this title in my head for years, during which I never thought this book would be published. This is a very special day! ❤ pic.twitter.com/Ukh5bOI9as

— Amanda Foody (@AmandaFoody) May 3, 2018

2.In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

On May 3, The Mary Sue revealed the cover to the 4th book in Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children Series.

The cover reveal also included a sneak peek into some of the artwork.

In An Absent Dream is set to be released January 8, 2019!

Exclusive Cover Reveal for Seanan McGuire’s 'In An Absent Dream' https://t.co/mmQKlqpScq pic.twitter.com/77RNG3fasP

— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) May 3, 2018

3.The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta

As of May 9, Bustle revealed the cover of Amy Rose Capetta’s Historical Fantasy debut novel The Brilliant Death!

There was also an excerpt alongside the cover reveal!

The Brilliant Death is pitched as a mafia, queer fantasy romance and is set to be released October 30, 2018!

“For Teodora DiSangro, a mafia don’s daughter, family is fate.

All her life, Teodora has hidden the fact that she secretly turns her family’s enemies into music boxes, mirrors, and other decorative objects. After all, everyone in Vinalia knows that stregas—wielders of magic—are figures out of fairytales. Nobody believes they’re real.

Then the Capo, the land’s new ruler, sends poisoned letters to the heads of the Five Families that have long controlled Vinalia. Four lie dead and Teo’s beloved father is gravely ill. To save him, Teo must travel to the capital as a DiSangro son—not merely disguised as a boy, but transformed into one. 

Enter Cielo, a strega who can switch back and forth between male and female as effortlessly as turning a page in a book. Teo and Cielo journey together to the capital, and Teo struggles to master her powers and to keep her growing feelings for Cielo locked in her heart. As she falls in love with witty, irascible Cielo, Teo realizes how much of life she’s missed by hiding her true nature. But she can’t forget her mission, and the closer they get to the palace, the more sinister secrets they uncover about what’s really going on in their beloved country—and the more determined Teo becomes to save her family at any cost.”

Start reading @AmyRoseCapetta's new novel #TheBrilliantDeath and see the gorgeous cover! It's a queer love story set against the backdrop of 19th century Italy, with a touch of magic. https://t.co/WtCg9lkHoq

— PenguinTeen (@PenguinTeen) May 9, 2018

4.Upon A Burning Throne by Ashok K. Banker

On May 7, John Joseph Adams (editor) revealed the cover to Ashok K. Banker’s debut Fantasy novel Upon A Burning Throne.

Upon A Burning Throne is the first of a series, set to be released May 7, 2019!

“The Burning Throne of the Krushan Empire consumes and turns to ashes any who is found unworthy to rule, while endowing the rightful king with immense power.

Two princes are born in Hastinaga, capitol of the Krushan Empire. They pass the Burning Throne’s Test of Fire, but one is born blind, the other an albino, and the people fear they might not be up to the task of ruling the empire. The two princes—Shvate and Adri—are driven by their determination to quell the doubts of the people and prove that they are capable of reigning. They are put to the test when a powerful demonlord with designs on the Krushan Empire sows dissent among the empire’s allies, and Shvate and Adri must lead the Krushan forces into battle to protect Hastinaga… and to prove that they are worthy of sitting upon the Burning Throne.”

Cover Reveal: UPON A BURNING THRONE

Epic fantasy inspired by Indian myths, about siblings battling for control of a vast empire while a powerful demonlord pits them against each other.

May 7, 2019

Pre-order at Editor/Publisher @JohnJosephAdams's website https://t.co/DyAgXBJKnj pic.twitter.com/HTie8VYcfK

— Dads of Anarchy UPON A BURNING THRONE (@ashokkbanker) May 7, 2018

5.The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Revealed on May 7 via Entertainment Weekly, was the cover (including an excerpt) for Roshani Chokshi’s upcoming fantasy novel, The Gilded Wolves!

According to EW, The Gilded Wolves “kicks off an alternately glamorous and dangerous adventure, set in Paris near the end of the 19th century, with the world on the cusp of industry and power, and ancient secrets starting to get dredged up. The book centers on treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, who keeps tabs on secrets better than anyone. When an all-powerful society seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin enlists a band of experts to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris.”

The Gilded Wolves is set to be released January 15, 2019!

IT'S HERE!!!! THE COVER OF #THEGILDEDWOLVES! https://t.co/3C6xxYDaLb

— Roshani Chokshi (Rosh-Knee Chalk-She) (@Roshani_Chokshi) May 7, 2018

6.Children Of Blood And Bone #2 by Tomi Adeyemi Title Reveal

On May 11, the title for the sequel to Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel, Children Of Blood And Bone was announced!

IT’S COMING Y’ALL!!!#ChildrenofBloodandBone #2 is officially #ChildrenofVirtueandVengeance

description & order links here!!!https://t.co/iKdiQszOzl

the more you order, the faster I have to write lol pic.twitter.com/JHY96KoqJB

— Tomi Adeyemi (@tomi_adeyemi) May 11, 2018

The sequel is titled:

Children Of Virtue And Vengeance

Children Of Virtue And Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi is set to be released March 5, 2019!

7.Wildcard by Marie Lu

On May 14, the sequel/finale to Marie Lu’s Warcross duology, Wildcard had its cover reveal + excerpt via Entertainment Weekly!

Wildcard by Marie Lu is set to be released September 18, 2018!

Wildcard: Preview Marie Lu's hotly anticipated Warcross sequel https://t.co/SqgLWlS9Er

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 14, 2018

8. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Entertainment Weekly as of May 18, revealed the cover + a Q&A with Marissa Meyer for the upcoming sequel to The Renegades, which is titled Archenemies!

Additionally, Meyer also revealed that Renegades will be a trilogy!

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer is set to be released November 6, 2018!

COVER REVEAL + A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Check out the stunning cover for #ARCHENEMIES (coming 11.6.18!) and read about my big exciting news… Renegades is now a TRILOGY!! https://t.co/yvhflgp6g2 @EW @FierceReads pic.twitter.com/EAssPneGoA

— Marissa Meyer (@marissa_meyer) May 18, 2018

9.The Speaker by Traci Chee

On May 21, Bustle revealed the cover to Traci Chee’s finale to her Reader Trilogy, titled The Speaker!

The Speaker by Traci Chee is set to be released November 13, 2018!

. @bustle just revealed the cover for #TheStoryteller, the third and final book in @tracichee's #TheReader trilogy, and it's GORGEOUS!! https://t.co/PKzL1NvOFc

— PenguinTeen (@PenguinTeen) May 21, 2018

10. To All The Boys Movie Tie-In Cover

With the Netflix release of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before movie coming August 17, 2018, Jenny Han revealed on twitter, the cover to the movie tie-in edition of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before!

I revealed the #toalltheboysivelovedbefore movie tie-in cover in my newsletter this morning and I’m sharing it with you here now! Book is out wherever books are sold on July 10th! Movie out on Aug 17th! pic.twitter.com/XmMrZrF5pI

— Jenny Han (@jennyhan) May 21, 2018

11.The Tesla Legacy by K.K. Perez 

As of May 21, Hypable revealed the cover to K.K. Perez’s 2019 sci-fi novel, The Tesla Legacy!

The Tesla Legacy is set to be released March 12, 2019!

“The Tesla Legacy follows a precocious young scientist named Lucy Phelps whose fateful encounter in the Tesla Suite of the New Yorker Hotel unlocks her dormant electrical powers. As Lucy struggles to understand her new abilities through scientific experimentation, she is thrust into a centuries old battle between rival alchemical societies.

One side wants her help and the other wants her dead, but both believe she is the next step in human evolution. Unfortunately, carriers of the genetic mutation—including Nikola Tesla—have a greatly reduced life expectancy. Even if Lucy can outrun her enemies, she can’t outrun herself.”

Exclusive: Check out the cover reveal for #TheTeslaLegacy by @kkperezbooks https://t.co/o0MA5Z4cUt

— Hypable.com (@Hypable) May 21, 2018

12.The Girl King by Mimi Yu

On May 23, the Happy Every After blog revealed the cover + excerpt to Mimi Yu’s Fantasy debut, The Girl King!

The Girl King is set to be released in January 8, 2019!

“Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this richly imagined, Asian-inspired fantasy for fans of Renée Ahdieh and Sabaa Tahir.

Sisters Lu and Min have always known their places as the princesses of the Empire of the First Flame: the eldest, assertive Lu, will be named her father’s heir and become the dynasty’s first female ruler, while timid Min will lead a quiet life in Lu’s shadow. Then their father names their male cousin Set the heir instead, throwing both girls’ lives into chaos.

Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu is forced to flee, leaving Min to face the volatile court alone. Lu crosses paths with Nokhai, the lone, unlikely survivor of the decimated Ashina, nomadic wolf shapeshifters. Nok never learned to shift–and he has no trust for the Empire that killed his family–but working with the princess might be the key to unlocking his true power.

As Lu and Nok form a tenuous alliance, Min’s own hidden power awakens–a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set’s reign . . . or allow her to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters’ greatest enemy could very well turn out to be each other.”

Exclusive cover reveal plus excerpt: Get the first look at YA fantasy (with a dash of romance) The Girl King by Mimi Yu aka @baby_ajumma, arriving in January 2019. @BloomsburyPubhttps://t.co/wtAIl3bpfE

— Happy Ever After (@HEAusatoday) May 23, 2018

13.The Last 8 by Laura M. Pohl

As of May 28, Barnes & Noble Teen Blog revealed the cover + excerpt to Laura Pohl’s 2019 Sci-Fi debut The Last 8!

The Last 8 is set to be released March 5, 2019!

A high-stakes survival story about eight teenagers who outlive an alien attack!
Clover Martinez has always been a survivor, which is the only reason she isn’t among the dead when aliens invade and destroy Earth as she knows it.

When Clover hears an inexplicable radio message, she’s shocked to learn there are other survivors—and that they’re all at the former Area 51. When she arrives, she’s greeted by a band of misfits who call themselves The Last Teenagers on Earth.

Only they aren’t the ragtag group of heroes Clover was expecting. The group seems more interested in hiding than fighting back, and Clover starts to wonder if she was better off alone. But then she finds a hidden spaceship, and she doesn’t know what to believe…or who to trust.

IT'S LIVE!!!!!
Check out the cover and the first chapter of my debut novel, THE LAST 8! https://t.co/XWfdojAaWe

— Laura Pohl (@laurampohl) May 28, 2018

14.Crown Of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

On May 29, Paste Magazine revealed the cover to Crown Of Feathers a fantasy debut where, “warriors ride phoenixes”

Crown Of Feathers is set to be released in 2019!

“I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.”

IT IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!! 🔥❤️🔥

Go check out the cover reveal for CROWN OF FEATHERS over on @PasteMagazine!!!! https://t.co/JLuC5bEgMQ

— Nicki Pau Preto (@nickipaupreto) May 29, 2018

15.Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

As of May 30, Hypable revealed the cover to Young’s upcoming novel, Girls With Sharp Sticks.

According to Hypable, “Innovations Academy is an all-girls boarding school that promises to create young women fit for the highest echelons of society. They are groomed to be graceful and obedient. They know no arrogance or defiance. Until Mena unlocks a dangerous secret.

When Mena and her friends uncover the truth about their existence, Innovations Academy will find out just how big of a problem they have on their hands. With plenty of drama, twists, and romance, Girls with Sharp Sticks promises to be a page-turner.”

Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young is set to be released April 2019!

'Girls with Sharp Sticks' (@suzanne_young) cover is at once both chilling and gorgeous https://t.co/SwSnbdQetF

— Hypable.com (@Hypable) May 30, 2018

16.Brief Chronicle Of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid

On May 30, Pub Crawl revealed the cover to Alsaid’s upcoming contemporary, Brief Chronicle Of Another Stupid Heartbreak!

The cover reveal also included a giveaway pack of Alsaid’s previous books and a copy of Brief Chronicle!

Brief Chronicle Of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid is set to be released April 30, 2019!

“Has heartbreak broken her for good?

Dumped by her boyfriend the summer after senior year, teen love and relationship columnist Lu Charles has hit a wall with her writing. The words just won’t come to her like they used to and if she doesn’t come up with a topic for her column, she’ll lose her gig at hip online magazine Misnomer, and the college scholarship that goes along with it.

Her best friend Pete think she should write through her own pain, but when Lu overhears another couple planning a pre-college break up just like hers, she becomes convinced that they’re the answer to cracking her writer’s block. And when she meets them—super-practical Iris and cute, sweet Cal—and discovers they’re postponing their breakup until the end of the summer, she has to know more.

Have Cal and Iris prolonged their own misery by staying together, knowing the end is in sight? Or does the secret to figuring out all this love business—and getting over it—lie with them? One thing is certain—if Lu can’t make a breakthrough before summer is over, she can kiss her future goodbye.

From the acclaimed author of Let’s Get Lost and North of Happy comes a touching exploration of love, relationships, and the pain of breaking up.”

🚨SURPRISE🚨

Cover reveal for Brief Chronicle! Plus a chance to win some other books from me. Click click click.

https://t.co/tCQnv6E7sL

— Adi Alsaid (@AdiAlsaid) May 30, 2018

17.Dealing In Dreams by Lilliam Rivera

Teen Vogue, as of May 31, revealed the cover + excerpt to Lilliam Rivera’s 2019 novel Dealing In Dreams , set in the near future!

Dealing In Dreams by Lilliam Rivera is set to be released March 5, 2019!

“We’re introduced to sixteen-year-old Nalah, who leads the fiercest crew in Mega City. But she envisions a life beyond brutal battles, partying in the metropolis’s hottest clubs, and maintaining curfew for the city-dwellers. Nalah dreams of getting off the streets and making a home in the elite Mega Towers, an exclusive residence that has top-tier resources including a school and health center. The teen receives the opportunity to prove her loyalty to Mega City’s founder: she must cross the border and find a mysterious group called the Ashé Ryders. But as she embarks on her journey, Nalah begins to question what she must do to get what she wants. And is a home just where you live? Or who you choose to protect?

Misc. Book News + Publisher News

1.King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo Six Of Crows POV Reveal

As of May 5, Fierce Reads announced through twitter & 2018’s Yallwest Grisha Meet-Up that a Six Of Crows character would be returning w/ their POV in Bardugo’s upcoming 2019 novel:

King Of Scars

The POV will be: Nina Zenik

King Of Scars is set to be released January 29, 2018!

Hold onto your waffles #Grisha fans because Nina Zenik will be back with her very own POV in #KingofScars by @LBardugo! Preorder your copy here and let the countdown to on sale begin: https://t.co/IJmdIkGQtn pic.twitter.com/Fwyi0ymhvs

— Fierce Reads (@FierceReads) May 6, 2018

2. IReadYA Reveals Spring 2019 Cover Reveals

As of May 24, I Read YA revealed the covers for their upcoming spring 2019 YA Book Releases!

All the covers can be seen on their twitter!

Follow us TODAY starting at 9am EST for our SPRING 2019 COVER REVEALS! 🌷 Happening every hour, on the hour! 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/ZoYgTU83QS

— I read YA (@ireadya) May 24, 2018

Tours

1.Monday’s Not Coming Tour

Announced on Tiffany D. Jackson’s instagram May 9, she will be going on tour for her upcoming novel, Monday’s Not Coming!

“Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?”

Monday’s Not Coming was released May 22, 2018!

The full tour schedule can be viewed on Jackson’s Instagram Here!

Excited to share my summer schedule. Of course, stuff is always added but you get the picture. Come and see me! 💁🏽 https://t.co/LQJKxMV818 pic.twitter.com/x1Rq0xMxiM

— Tiffany D. Jackson (@WriteinBK) May 9, 2018

2. A Reaper At The Gates Tour

Announced May 17, Sabaa Tahir will be going on tour for the 3rd book in her Ember In The Ashes quartet, A Reaper At The Gates!

“Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister’s life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias’s devotion–even at the cost of his humanity.”

A Reaper At The Gates is set to be released June 12, 2018!

The full tour schedule can be viewed Here!

Announcing the REAPER tour!!! First week is a special joint tour with the always RAD @reneeahdieh. (THE TOUR OF SMOKE AND REAPERS!) ❤️❤️❤️❤️After that, it will be a bonanza! See details in link, and prepare for swag, snacks and spectacularness. https://t.co/erl3uBnzH9 pic.twitter.com/icW6sYXcdU

— Sabaa Tahir (@sabaatahir) May 17, 2018

And that’s the YA Book News for May! 😄✨📚

Thoughts on May’s 2018 YA Book News? + Do you have a favorite piece of YA Book News from the month? 📚💻📰✨