Waiting on Wednesday #9: Pushing the Limits

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

 My pick for this week is:



No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

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This sounds like a great romance.  I cannot wait to read it once it's released on July 31st.




What are you Waiting On this Wednesday?

Katie

Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Taylor’s family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then they get news that changes everything: Her father has pancreatic cancer, and it’s stage four – meaning that there is basically nothing to be done. Her parents decide that the family will spend his last months together at their old summerhouse in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is suddenly around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

My Review:

I was given this book as a RAK from Kelly @ The Reading Kelly.  Thank you, Kelly!  I absolutely loved this book.  It had a great story and setting, but in this review, I am going to focus on the characters.  

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

First, I'd like to mention Taylor and her family.  Taylor was a wonderfully developed character.  She did not want to go back to the place where two of her relationships had imploded, but her dad wanted to spend his last summer.   Throughout their summer together, Taylor and her family were able to get closer.  There were amazing moments between Taylor and her dad as they went out to have breakfast or ice cream.  It was also slightly to see this developing relationship because I knew about his illness.  There were also a few good moments between her mom, the former ballerina, and Taylor.  Taylor's siblings were also well-developed.  They each had their own personalities and quirks.  Gelsey was a ballerina who had the habit of stretching a lot.  Warren was a very smart brother who loved to spout facts to anyone who wanted (or didn't want) to listen.

Next, there were the people who Taylor had known from summers ago.  Henry was a sweet guy who had been Taylor's first boyfriend when they were 12.  She had hurt him years ago, but he was able to get over their past and become friends with her again.  I loved their friendship grow into more as he became her boyfriend again.  Then there was Lucy.  She had become mad at Taylor because she told Taylor she liked Henry, but Taylor didn't tell Lucy she was dating Henry.  She held a grudge against Taylor, but, as the book progressed, they became friends again.  

Then, there were all the minor characters who had personalities as well.  Elliot was coworker with Lucy and Taylor who secretly liked Lucy.  He was a good guy, and he came to Taylor's rescue when she had trouble making the introduction at the movie night.  Fred was the boss who loved to fish and wanted his workers to do their job so he could just go and fish.  The Gardners were the next-door neighbors who wrote scripts and acted them out.  They had a daughter, Nora, who became friends with Gelsey.   I loved the sleepover scene with Nora, Gelsey, Taylor, and Lucy.  Last, there was Wendy.  She was the pet store worker who wanted to be a vet.  Her and Warren began to date, and they made a good couple.

If you want a good, character-driven YA contemporary, read this book.

Katie 

Waiting on Wednesday #8: My Life Next Door

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

 My pick for this week is:



A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

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This sounds like a really cute summer romance read.  I can't wait for it to come out so I can read it this summer.  I'll definitely be picking this one up on June 14th.



What are you Waiting On this Wednesday?

Katie