Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 01/12/20

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

It's been a whirlwind of a week. Lots of non-fun events and such. I'm not going to get into it all here. Little Girl started school back this week. I'm so glad that she's enjoying it so much this year. She did enjoy it last year, but she also went through a spell of not wanting to go even though she had fun once she got there. It's so much more enjoyable to drop her off in good spirits. The kids have been hyped up ever since Christmas. I don't think it's just my kids, but man they've been at each other. Purposefully annoying each other. It's a drain when they're like this. Then they have moments of playing together so well. It's like a switch gets flipped. Husband was off work a couple of days this week and that was a big help. Next week should be more normal.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of How to Speak Boy by Tiana Smith (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Books of Q1/Q2 2020
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Bad Day for Sunshine
Thursday: Review of Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones, # 1)

By: Veronica Roth

Expected Publication: April 7th 2020 by John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero . . . by destiny or by choice.

A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 4)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: February 11th 2020 by Perfectly Proper Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A winter reunion for the orphans brings romance for Neville Cross in Book 4 of Mimi Matthews' USA Today bestselling Parish Orphans of Devon series.

She Needed to be Seen...

As a lady’s companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that’s precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it’s far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a month-long holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she'd hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

He Wanted to be Heard...

Neville Cross has always been more comfortable with animals than people. An accident in his youth has left him with a brain injury that affects his speech. Forming the words to speak to his childhood friends is difficult enough. Finding the right things to say to a lovely young lady’s companion seems downright impossible. But Miss Hartwright is no ordinary companion. In fact, there may not be anything ordinary about her at all.

During a bleak Devon winter, two sensitive souls forge an unexpected friendship. But when Clara needs him most, will Neville find the courage to face his fears? Or is saying goodbye to her the most heroic thing he can do?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Echoes Between Us - Review

Echoes Between Us

By: Katie McGarry

Expected Publication: January 14th 2020 by Tor Teen

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.

Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother's ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it's something more...

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but his adrenaline addiction draws him to Veronica.

A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose--can they conquer their demons together?

Katie McGarry has really been diving into the deep end. As in, emotionally deep, complex, and sometimes draining topics. Honestly, this isn't new. I mean Pushing the Limits was about some heavy subjects too. So this isn't new territory for her at all. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, a lot of her books have some heavy subject matter.

The description tells you that Veronica has a brain tumor and that Sawyer is an adrenaline junkie. So thankfully none of that is a spoiler. My time watching medical dramas immediately had me thinking brain tumor for Veronica (hello Izzie and Denny from Grey's). Veronica deep down knows that being able to see her dead mother likely means her tumor has grown. She has to come to terms with her fear--of dying, but also--of dying a slow, drawn-out, painful death. But she also has to come to terms with the cost of not fighting the tumor and what that would really mean for her life.

Sawyer is the true hero of this story. He's been taking care of his family since his parents divorced when he was 11. This includes picking up the slack from his mom's long, late hours and traveling. He's pretty much become the main caregiver for his 7-year-old sister. His Dad hasn't been in the picture, but he has recently reappeared in an attempt to mend fences. Sawyer deals with the stress of his life by jumping off cliffs. Literally. But he realizes that he has a problem and he seeks help for his adrenaline addiction in the only place he knows might help. And he comes up with more help and more problems than he even realized he had. But he's making the steps to fix what needs fixing. All the kudos go to him for this, and I love how Katie McGarry discussed the problems of enabling in this book. I also love how Sawyer saw that he could have easily ended up enabling Veronica which would have actually damaged their fledgling relationship.

I wasn't sure if Katie McGarry was trying to write a fantasy with the inclusion of the ghosts. We know Veronica is likely seeing hallucinations due to her tumor, but what about Lucy or Gloria? I will say that this is the 2nd book she's written in succession that includes a psychic of some form. I hope this is steered away from in future books.

I struggled a little with Sylvia and how I never felt like she really apologized to Veronica for making fun of her in the past. Maybe I skimmed over that part, but I don't remember skimming any of Echoes Between Us. While I don't love the inclusion of Sylvia being gay, I did feel like that fit into the story much more than so many other books I've read that seem to throw things in for diversity's sake alone. I didn't particularly enjoy the way religion was pitted against this in the story. (Paraphrasing but the vibe was that all Christians hate gay people. But God loves them and we'll be surprised to see them in heaven. I personally don't hate gay people--those that I know personally, nor those I have not met. Yet that doesn't mean that I agree with it. And I will leave it to Scripture for anyone to determine how God feels about individuals--all of whom are sinners (myself included)--as well as who He tells us will be found in heaven. I encourage you to read your Bible for yourself and not let others or your emotions tell you what God Himself can tell you about who He is and what He approves and disapproves of.)

Echoes Between Us was not my favorite Katie McGarry book, but I did enjoy it and it was quite deep and complex. I enjoyed wondering if she was toying with fantasy or if she would write a logical explanation for all of the ghost pieces of the story. I was so proud of Sawyer for taking steps to help himself and those he loved. Veronica was equally captivating and I enjoyed her journey. Echoes Between Us gets 4 Stars. Have you read Echoes Between Us? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Bad Day for Sunshine

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1)

By: Darynda Jones

Expected Publication: April 7th 2020 by St. Martin's Press

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series!

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff--an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in--and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of it's reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter’s new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full.

Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshall, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it’s up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free.

I have this one for review, but I haven't read it yet. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Anticipated Q1/Q2 2020 Releases

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Anticipated Releases from the First Half of 2020.

1. Wild at Heart (Wild, # 2) by KA Tucker
2. A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones
3. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games, # 0) by Suzanne Collins
4. Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout
5. Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 3) by Jennifer Anne Davis
6. The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 4) by Mimi Matthews
7. Moment of Truth (Love, Life, and the List, # 3) by Kasie West (previously titled Hearts, Heroes, & Heath Hall)
8. The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, # 1) by Alwyn Hamilton
9. Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
10. Chosen Ones (Chosen Ones, # 1) by Veronica Roth

Which books are you anticipating from the first half of 2020? Let me know!

How to Speak Boy - Review

How to Speak Boy

By: Tiana Smith

Expected Publication: January 7th 2020 by Swoon Reads

288 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Quinn and Grayson have been fierce speech and debate rivals for years. They can't stand one another, either in competition or in real life.

But when their AP Government teacher returns their school assignments to the wrong cubbies, they begin exchanging anonymous notes without knowing who the other is.

Despite their differences, the two come together through their letters and find themselves unknowingly falling for the competition. Before the state tournament, the two of them need to figure out what they want out of life, or risk their own future happiness. After all, what’s the point of speech and debate if you can't say what's in your heart?

I'm coming to find that this is one of my favorite types of books. Clean love stories that aren't necessarily surprising but have characters that I can support and root for.

Quinn reminds me a lot of myself as a teenager. Man, I read into everything. I questioned myself a thousand times a day. I wasn't sure if someone was flirting because they liked me or just because flirting is what you do as a teenager. I questioned and could find a different explanation for any interest a boy seemed to show me. Quinn was well equipped for assigning motives to the interest shown in her too. Granted she had some reason to do so. Quinn was also a smidgen on the negative side. She's occasionally judgmental. But despite those things, I still really liked her because she reminded me so much of my high school self.

Grayson is presented through Quinn's filter. So I read his actions and reactions with a different interpretation than she was getting, but I could see where she was coming from. He's insanely competitive, but so is Quinn. He's got his flaws for sure, but I enjoyed his character a lot. He works hard going after what he wants.

I liked that we had a supportive best friend, Naomi, and mother, Lindsey. Carter is also Quinn's friend who Naomi thinks also has a crush on Quinn. And the Speech/Debate team gave the characters a reason to compete and interact with each other, but it wasn't as focal as I expected it to be. I mean I guess it would have been boring to have to read the character's speeches throughout the book. And I'm certainly thankful not to have had to read a bunch of mumbo-jumbo that I don't care anything about.

I did wonder how Quinn could possibly not recognize the handwriting of her secret pen pal. I mean it was explained away that she hadn't been paying attention, but I thought this was a little weak.

Overall, I really enjoyed How to Speak Boy. It wasn't entirely original with the secret pen pal part, but I did enjoy the Speech/Debate Team aspect. This wasn't used in a way that really took over the story which I appreciated, and I thought it was unique since I haven't read any other books that feature this. Quinn reminded me quite a lot of myself when I was in high school--even her flaws. How to Speak Boy gets 4 Stars. Have you read How to Speak Boy? What did you think? Let me know!