IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for book bloggers to post what they have received for review, borrowed from a friend, bought at the bookstore, or picked up at the library. This is a big list of books because I was MIA for a little bit. Here is what I got the past couple weeks! (All summaries are courtesy of Goodreads.com or Amazon.com):
For Review:
Solid by Shelley Workinger
Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they forge new friendships, find love, develop “super-abilities,” and even unearth a conspiracy.
My thoughts: First of all, a huge thank you to Shelley! She saw that I had this book marked as to read on Goodreads and so graciously sent me a signed ARC. Probably the sweetest thing someone has done for me! It sounds like a fantastic sci-fi (a genre of YA that has so recently fascinated me). Also, the main character’s name is Clio, my hometown! How cool is that!?!
Two Lives…One Diary: A Novella by J.M. Array
Robert has never had a dream before. On his 18th birthday everything changes and he starts to dream. Because this is an unusual experience for him, he decides to have a dream-diary. Soon after that, he realizes that his dreams are directly connected to his real life. Suddenly, he finds himself living two lives…yet he only has one simple diary.
My thoughts: Another thank you goes out to J.M. Array! I am very excited to read this e-novella! I am not sure what I’d classify this as; fantasy, mystery? I don’t know, but what I do know is that it sounds interesting! You can also purchase it on Amazon.com for only $.99! So click right here to purchase it!
Borrowed:
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund
In a fabulous blend of the bestselling traditions of Prep and The Devil Wears Prada, Secret Society Girl takes us into the heart of the Ivy League’s ultraexclusive secret societies when a young woman is invited to join as one of their first female members.
Elite Eli University junior Amy Haskel never expected to be tapped into Rose & Grave, the country’s most powerful—and notorious—secret society. She isn’t rich, politically connected, or…well, male.
So when Amy receives the distinctive black-lined invitation with the Rose & Grave seal, she’s blown away. Could they really mean her?
Whisked off into an initiation rite that’s a blend of Harry Potter and Alfred Hitchcock, Amy awakens the next day to a new reality and a whole new set of “friends”—from the gorgeous son of a conservative governor to an Afrocentric lesbian activist whose society name is Thorndike. And that’s when Amy starts to discover the truth about getting what you wish for. Because Rose & Grave is quickly taking her away from her familiar world of classes and keggers, fueling a feud, and undermining a very promising friendship with benefits. And that’s before Amy finds out that her first duty as a member of Rose & Grave is to take on a conspiracy of money and power that could, quite possibly, ruin her whole life.
A smart, sexy introduction to the life and times of a young woman in way over her head, Secret Society Girl is a charming and witty debut from a writer who knows her turf—and isn’t afraid to tell all….
My thoughts: Thanks to Kati, my best friend, I am obsessed with this series and have been for quite some time now. This will be the third time I’ve read this book but the first time I will be reviewing it! It isn’t exactly a Y.A. novel since the main character is 21 but trust me, you will love it! One of the funniest series I have ever read!
Bought:
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Meet Corrinne. She’s living every girl’s dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .
When Corrinne’s father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she’s stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she’s supposed to be living. She doesn’t care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.
My thoughts: I have heard so many great things about this book! A girl from the city moving to the country, it sounds a little Hannah Montana Movie-ish but I loved that movie so no worries!
Chime by Franny Billingsley
Before Briony’s stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family’s hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it’s become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.
Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He’s as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she’s extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn’t know.
My thoughts: This sounds so fantastic! Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It’s part of the Y.A. Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by Sab (Y.A. Bliss). A story taking place in the past add in a little mystery and fantasy, and it’s bound to be awesome!
Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
My thoughts: I don’t think I have heard one negative thing about this series! Faries, fey, and the like is one part of Y.A. fantasy that I haven’t read yet so consider me excited to start reading!
Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who’s sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I’m not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.
My thoughts: It’s a bit odd that I would have the first and third books in the series. Borders was a bit low on stock but I just can’t wait to get started!
Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
A modern girl’s comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.
When Phoebe’s mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe’s plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That’s right, they’re real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes—supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they’re on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.
My thoughts: This sounds like a girl version of Percy Jackson! I just can’t wait to get started on it.
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.
My thoughts: I already have read this book (and if you haven’t read the series, you need to start now!) but I just needed my own copy of it.
Won:
Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?
Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.
Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.
The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.
As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?
My thoughts: Thank you so much for Icey Books for hosting the giveaway! I was jumping with excitement when I found out I won a signed and personalized copy of Rival. Also thanks for Sara for the book! I can’t wait to read this music-themed book about big rivalries.
Miscellaneous:
The Lipstick Laws Bookmarks from Amy Holder
My thoughts: I entered a contest to win The Lipstick Laws, unfortunately, I didn’t win the book, but Amy was kind enough to send the losers signed bookmarks and stickers. Thanks Amy!
That’s it for my IMM this week! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the books I got as well as seeing what you got this week. Leave thoughts and links in the comments and I’ll be sure to check them out!
