Welcome to another day here at Melanie's Musings! Hope your week has been going fabulously. Since today is Wednesday, it's time for Waiting on Wednesday, a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where we spotlight one book that we, well, can barely stand waiting for!

Summary from Goodreads:

Bright Young Things is the first in an epic four-book series about three teenage girls finding their way in the glittering metropolis of New York City and the glamorous mansions of Long Island. It’s 1929 and Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town to chase big dreams and even bigger secrets. In New York, they meet Astrid Donal, a flapper who has everything she could ever want, except for the one thing Letty and Cordelia have to offer—true friendship. Set in the dizzying summer before the market crash, against the vast lawns of the East End and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls will find romance, intrigue, and adventure.

Just as The Luxe books brought the Gilded Age to readers of Gossip Girl, Bright Young Things will bring the Jazz Age to bestselling author Anna Godbersen’s devoted fans and to new readers alike.

I'm a huge fan of The Luxe and Rumors (click the links to read my reviews), the first two books in The Luxe series. Envy was sadly disappointing for me, but I've got a copy of Splendor on its way to me! The way I see it, by the time I read Splendor, there'll be just enough time to eagerly anticipate Bright Young Things* release, which is October 26.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but I've never read any set in the 1920s. It sounds great!

*Amazon affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 9:01 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Here's a couple books I'm waiting on this week! WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. Summaries from Goodreads. :)

Jane by April Lindner

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, an iconic rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer, and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.

Part irresistible romance and part darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

I wasn't able to find a cover for this one, but I was absolutely hooked when I saw that it was a retelling of Jane Eyre! I read that book a couple years ago and really enjoyed it, although I'm sketchy on some of the details.

The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger

Posted by Melanie at 10:18 PM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

I haven't done a Waiting on Wednesday post in quite some time. When I went looking for a book, I couldn't decide on just one. So instead, I have four. :P

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

A part of the summary on Goodreads says, "This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery." Doesn't that sound beautiful?

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu has an intriguing concept! Secrets are always tough to keep, and when they come out, something interesting always happens.

Hard to Get by Emma Carlson Berne is a Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy. I've read a few of these recently, and they're really cute!

After by Kristin Harmel has a lovely summary. However, if you make lemonade with only lemons, it's going to be pretty sour.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine.

Two book titles are amazon affiliate links. Then, for reasons unbeknownst to me, Amazon slowed way down.

Posted by Melanie at 9:54 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

2097 is a transformed world. Thirty years earlier, a mysterious plague wiped out 97 percent of the male population, devastating every world system from governments to sports teams, and causing both universal and unimaginable grief. In the face of such massive despair, women were forced to take over control of the planet--and in doing so they eliminated all of Earth's most pressing issues. Poverty, crime, warfare, hunger . . . all gone.

But there's a price to pay for this new "utopia," which fourteen-year-old Kellen is all too familiar with. Every day, he deals with life as part of a tiny minority that is purposefully kept subservient and small in numbers. His career choices and relationship options are severely limited and controlled. He also lives under the threat of scattered recurrences of the plague, which seem to pop up wherever small pockets of men begin to regroup and grow in numbers.

And then one day, his mother's boss, an iconic political figure, shows up at his home. Kellen overhears something he shouldn't--another outbreak seems to be headed for Afterlight, the rural community where his father and a small group of men live separately from the female-dominated society. Along with a few other suspicious events, like the mysterious disappearances of Kellen's progressive teacher and his Aunt Paige, Kellen is starting to wonder whether the plague recurrences are even accidental. No matter what the truth is, Kellen cares only about one thing--he has to save his father.

The concept of this book is completely intriguing! I wonder how they control how many men are around? I love how this book is set in a time that isn't that far away. Just think, one plague and BOOM. you're gone. Kind of creepy.

For more WoWs check out Breaking the Spine
Ephitaph Road's Amazon Page*

*Amazon Affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Beth has always been "The Beast" --That’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Who could love a beast? Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist and receives the makeover of a lifetime. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Beth.

Things only get better when her choir travels to Switzerland and Beth meets the mysterious Derek. They have an incredible whirlwind romance that makes Beth realize, for the first time, she too can find love. She’s no longer The Beast. In Derek’s eyes, she’s a beauty. But then Scott makes a heartbreaking confession to Beth that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous passionate feelings she has for Derek?

And there’s an even bigger problem: Derek’s got a secret . . . one that could shatter everything.

Music and romance! This book will be released on March 4, 2010 from Razorbill. It sounds absolutely fabulous. I wonder if it will ultimately be heart-breaking, hopeful, or both?

Sing Me to Sleep's Amazon Page*
WoW is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

*Amazon affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Ha! Jerky jock. This one sounds like so much fun! It comes out on February 4, 2010. When you think about it, that's not too far from now! Where did 2009 go??

It's such a cute book, and I've read some really positive reviews. Can you imagine holding a grudge since the second grade? I definitely don't have that much willpower in me. You?

For more:
A Match Made in High School's Amazon Page*
Kristin Walker's Website
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

*Amazon affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Darcy is more deeply in love with his wife than ever. As the golden summer draws to a close and the Darcys look ahead to the end of their first year of marriage, Mr. Darcy could never have imagined his love could grow even deeper with the passage of time.

Lizzy is full of surprises. She is unpredictable and lively, pulling Darcy out of his stern and serious demeanor with her teasing and temptation. Looking ahead and planning for celebrations and life events large and small, Lizzy can still catch Darcy unawares when he least expects it.

But surprising events force the Darcys to weather absence and illness, and to discover whether they can find a way to build a bond of everlasting love and desire.

The romance and bewitchment is never-ending...

I've read the first two books in this series, and I've really enjoyed them. The next installment is coming out on January 1st, less than a month away! I'm definitely looking forward to it. Who wouldn't love a bit more of Lizzy and Darcy?

Further reading:
The Darcy Saga's website
My Dearest Mr. Darcy's Amazon Page*
WoW is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

*Amazon Affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother's accidental disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen year old California girl Sienna "Sea" Jones reluctantly travels with her father's volunteer team to six months post-tsunami Indonesia. During her stay at the orphanage, she meets scarred and soulful Deni who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can't be together, so why can't she stay away from him? And what about her old-best-friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why is her psychiatrist father so secretive about her mother's plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to the truth. And Sea's real adventure begins.

Ah, the classic guy you want but can't have. I first heard of Sea* after I started following Heidi R. Kling's twitter. She's a tenner! I think it sounds like a very interesting book, especially the setting. I've never read any books in post-tsunami Indonesia. I also like the simplicity of the title. If I were to see this in a bookstore, that and the cover would definitely pull me in to find out more about the book. It won't be released until June 10, 2010, so it's a bit of a long wait, but I think it will be worth it.

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”

Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were to be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.

A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

Fact about me: I came this close to being called Evangeline. My parent's were going to call me that because it means gift from God. Cheesy, I know. My dad decided against it because apparently he thought everyone would call me Evy. I think it's a gorgeous name. Anyway...

I first heard about Anxious Hearts* in a Books to Pine for post at The Story Siren. I thought the cover was lovely, so I googled for a summary. From the summary, I think the cover fits the book perfectly, as it has a dreamy quality to it. It seems like a gorgeous love story. This book comes out from Amulet Books on May 1, 2010. It's a bit of a long wait, but from the sound of the book, it'll be worth it! What do you think?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

*Amazon Affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it.

I love the summary of this book! It makes the book sound, well... Beautiful. I think what I like best about it is that although it sounds like Connelly and Jeremy will have a romantic future to gether, it starts out as friendship. That's lovely.

The Beautiful Between* will be released on May 11, 2010 from Knopf Books for Young Readers. It will be Alyssa B. Schienmel's debut novel.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

*Amazon Affiliate Link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

History paints her as a shallow party girl, a spoiled fashionista, a callous ruler. Perhaps no other royal has been so maligned--and so misunderstood--as Marie-Antoinette.

From the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette. She tried to please everyone--courtiers, her young husband, the king, the French people--but often fell short of their expectations. Desperate for affection and subjected to constant scrutiny, this spirited young woman can't help but want to let loose with elaborate parties, scandalous fashions, and unimaginable luxuries. But as Marie-Antoinette's lifestyle gets ever more recklessly extravagant, the peasants of France are suffering from increasing poverty--and becoming outraged. They want to make the queen pay.

In this latest installment of her acclaimed Young Royals series, Carolyn Meyer reveals the dizzying rise and horrific downfall of the last Queen of France.

I first heard of The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer on The Shady Glade's blog when Alyssa posted an interview with the author. I was immediately hooked. I think Marie-Antoinette is forever immortalized by her statement, "Let them eat cake!" although according to a World History course I've taken, she probably never actually said those exact words.

I'm always interested in history, and seeing an author's imagination of what this person could have been like sounds like a lot of fun! It comes out on April 12, 2010, and it's being published by Harcourt. It's a bit of a long wait, but from what I've heard about this author's works, it should be worth it!
______________

Further Reading:
Meme host: Jill from Breaking the Spine
Amazon Page: The Bad Queen*
The Shady Glade: Interview with Carolyn Meyer

*Amazon affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Hazel Louise Mull-Dare has a good life, but it's so dull. With an adoring father who grants her every wish, a place in the Kensington School for the Daughters of Gentlemen, and no pressure to excel in anything whatsoever, her future looks primly predictable.

But on the day of the Epsom Derby -- June 4, 1913 -- everything changes. A woman in a dark coat steps in front of the king's horse, in protest at the injustice of denying women the vote. She dies days later, bringing further attention to the suffragist cause. Young Hazel is transfixed. And when her bold new friend Gloria convinces her to take on the cause, Hazel gets her first taste of rebellion.

But doing so leads her into greater trouble than she could have ever imagined. Such great trouble that she is banished from London, all the way to where her family fortune originates -- a sugar plantation in the Caribbean. There Hazel is forced to confront the dark secrets of her family -- secrets that have festered, and a shame that lingers on.

This book sounds really intriguing to me! It comes out on November 10, so there's not that much longer to wait. (Ocotober's almost over. Where'd the month go?) I don't think I've read any books about the suffragist cause. The mystery sounds really cool too. And I absolutely love the font on the cover.

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

Posted by Melanie at 9:12 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

"If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.”

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....

This is the second book in the Soul Screamers series. After reading the first book in the series, My Soul to Take (review coming soon!), I'm really looking forward to it. This first book is absolutely fascinating, and I can't wait to read the next which will be coming out on December 29th.

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

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly comes out on May 25th 2010.


Doctors have pinned 16-year-old Drea Horvath with everything from ADHD to Asperger’s Syndrome. She has an obsession with sound design, a tendency to blurt out whatever she’s thinking, and a problem making friends, but likes to think of this as following her own rhythm in a confusing world.

Drea is hesitant to befriend purple-haired Naomi Quinn, her teenage neighbor with a kamikaze personality. But Naomi is the first person to treat her like she isn’t a world class dork. Then there’s Justin Rocca, the persistent boy in her film class. If she’s learned anything from her mom, it’s that boys are trouble.

Still, Drea bonds with both of them when she discovers Naomi’s love for drums and Justin’s piano prodigy status, and the three form a trip-hop band. Fearing that her new friends will find out about her disabilities, Drea makes up stories about boyfriends she never had–all in an effort to seem ‘normal’. But Naomi and Justin have issues of their own. And Drea starts to question what ‘normal’ really means.

I've always thought it would be fun to start my own band. I never will, though. The tendency to freeze up when in front of large groups of people is one that I have yet to conquer. I tend to enjoy books that question what "normal" means.I actually did what Drea did one time. I was on vacation, and I told a few people I had a boyfriend in order to be as seemingly mature as they were. I am so glad I'm starting to get over that phase. I still don't have a boyfriend, but I'm totally okay with that now. I absolutely love the cover! String instuments are my favorite.

This meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Posted by Melanie at 11:44 AM View Comments    

Labels: waiting on wednesday