Literary Ligase: May 2016

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

Published by Scholastic Press

Published April 26th, 2016

Synopsis: Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey…and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.

This has to be the best series ender I have ever read. With The Raven Cycle being one of my favorite series, I've been highly anticipating the release of The Raven King. For a long while now, I've been not only getting excited over the endless possibilities that could happen in this book, but I've been dreading it. If you know anything about this series, you know just how important this book is. Devoted fans have given their hearts away to these characters and their adventures, this world and its mischief, and this story with all its ups and downs. While this final book may mean the end to a journey we've fallen in love with, this crew of characters will live on and will forever have an impact on people around the world.

4/5 Stars ★★★★

Published by Disney Hyperion

Published May 3rd, 2016

Synopsis: Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

Sunday Street Team is a group of bloggers coming together to spread the love for a given book each month. This month, we will be sharing all the love for Summer of Sloane. Today, I am giving a review of the book in hopes that you find interest in it. Enjoy!

This book was so flippin' good! I was incredibly surprised by how invested I was in this story, and how much I took a liking to it. From the very first sentence in the synopsis, you automatically think this is going to be a happy-go-lucky contemporary, with a cute romance. However, that is not the case in this book. It's got real world problems that cut like a knife and strike close to home, relatable characters that carry some baggage, and a wonderful storyline development that features a change in the outlook on life and the growth as individuals. Erin L. Schneider did a great job of catching your attention with her writing style and straight to the point detailing. Summer of Sloane is a book I ultimately sped through in two nights, because of how smooth and easy to approach the writing was.

Here is where I share with you my anticipation for upcoming books! Breaking the Spine has introduced me to this and I am super excited to get to participate. Please feel free to comment what books you are looking forward to as well!!

Synopsis: I’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

I haven't read a Kami Garcia book since Beautiful Creatures, nor have I read a Kami Garcia book where she writes it by herself, so I am excited to be interested in this book. It has been dubbed as Fast and Furious meets YA, and I am ready for it. From the synopsis, this book sounds exhilarating and adrenaline-infused with high stakes and deep love, and I need it. Lately I've been in the mood for a romance driven, contemporary novel with relatable themes, and I feel like this could be it. I'm diggin the bad boy vibe that's given off in the synopsis, so of course I'm a little more *grabby hands* than usual.

The Lovely Reckless comes out October 4th, 2016!!

Top Ten Characters I'd Like to Revisit in Ten Years

I've been watching this meme float around a lot, so I've finally decided to join in the fun! This meme was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a new list that involves all things books!

top ten characters I'd like to revisit in ten years

Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle: really I'd like to revisit this entire squad, but I feel like ronan would be the really interesting one to look back on.
Jace Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments: the best shadowhunter of his time man, why wouldn't I wanna check up on him?
June Iparis from the Legend trilogy: june is everything I aspire to be when I grow up, so maybe in ten years time ill revisit her and get more inspiration to be a fierce, independent woman.
Celaena Sardothien from the Throne of Glass Series: just checking to make sure she's still badass.
Liam Stewart and Ruby Daly from The Darkest Minds trilogy: these two are a package deal and make my heart so happy, so of course I'd visit them again
Captain Carswell Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles: I just love thorne so much. he deserves all the happiness in the world and every chance he can get at traveling
Julian Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices: Julian is the most precious boy I've ever read about, and therefore, I promise myself that I will reread every book with Julian in it in ten years.
Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa: ok you sure as heck know why I'd wanna revisit this dynamic duo in ten years (also I can't wait for crooked kingdom I'm going crazy)

Which characters would you want to revisit in ten years?

ARC Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

Published by Simon & Schuster

Published May 3rd, 2016

Synopsis: Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks)

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing - if everything's planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

Review copy provided by Edelweiss - thank you Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster!

This was so much fun. The Unexpected Everything is the first Morgan Matson book I have read, and with all the hype surrounding her other books, I had quite a high expectation for this one. As you guys know, I've been struggling with a bit of a reading slump, which A Study in Charlotte was able to eradicate, but this book had me flying through the chapters and pages, completely forgetting about the struggle I was recently having. There is something so addicting when it comes to the way Morgan Matson writes. These characters are so much fun to read about and explore, but besides them, their adventures and experiences are all the more thrilling. My expectations were met and exceeded, making The Unexpected Everything one of my favorite contemporary novels, and a very unexpected surprise.