Waiting on Wednesday: The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids

by Sarah Ockler

Coming June 2015

Simon Pulse

Summary:

Sometimes, there are no words…

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .

Why I Want It:

SARAH OCKLER *glomp* I fell in love with Sarah's books two years ago when I binged on Twenty Boy Summer (*sobs quietly*), Fixing Delilah, and Bittersweet. Now, I wait anxiously each year for her to announce a new project. And then I wait anxiously on the title. And the cover. And especially the book itself. I love Sarah's books because they're fun to read, but there's still depth to these sweet contemporary tales.

Why I think you should want it:

Sarah Ockler, in addition to writing amazing stories, is a champion for diverse ya books. Best of all, she's vocal about diversity online (READ THAT LINK!!!) AND in her books, but what she writes in her books isn't diversity for the sake of diversity. Her characters are real, dynamic people, not just flat caricatures of diversity. Bonus points for creating sympathetic characters that are highly relatable despite cultural differences. If you're looking at that gorgeous cover above, you know this is going to be a book that accomplishes this. MAD PROPS to Simon & Schuster for having not one but two biracial romances (that I know of) scheduled for 2015 (the other is Jennifer Echols's Most Likely to Succeed). I'm also very intrigued to see Sarah's take on the playboy-who-has-inner-depth. If you would like to read further about my crush on Sarah's books, check out my review of The Book of Broken Hearts and the interview I did with Sarah for #scandal.

What are you waiting for today? Please share your picks and links in the comments, as well as your thoughts on The Summer of Chasing Mermaids!

Blog Tour: #scandal by Sarah Ockler

Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh! I am SO excited to be a part of Sarah Ockler's #scandal tour and especially to have the opportunity to interview her! I have loved Sarah's writing since I first read Twenty Boy Summer two years ago. I read Fixing Delilah and Bittersweet immediately, and then had to wait an entire year before The Book of Broken Hearts came out, which was a horrible wait for me. Sarah remains one author on my must-meet-before-I-die author list, and her books are 100% must reads. I really enjoyed #scandal (it's one of my favorites of 2014 so far!), and I hope you do to! Enjoy my interview with Sarah and enter to win signed copies of four of her books in the tour-wide giveaway!

 

Rating: 5 stars (review coming soon!)

Pub Date: June 17, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genre: new adult contemporary romance

Format/Source: DRC, from the publisher

Status: standalone
Links: Check out my review of The Book of Broken Hearts HERE for more reasons why I love Sarah

Summary:

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

Top Ten Tuesday #51: Best of 2014 Part 1

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten Books of 2014, Part 1

I've read some amazing books this year, but I've also had a hard time finding books that really appeal to me. Luckily, these books were the ones that got me out of any book funks. I limited my picks to books that I read for the first time, not any rereads or audiobooks (I have many AMAZING recs when it comes to audio, but I didn't want to feature books that I've read previously).

 

As you can probably tell, I've been having a very contemporary year. There's just something about realistic fiction and romance that has really entertained me and spoken to me for the past few months. What are your favorite picks for 2014 so far?

Waiting on Wednesday: #scandal by Sarah Ockler

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

#scandal

by Sarah Ockler

Coming June 17, 2014

Simon Pulse

Summary:

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

Why I want it:

I loved Twenty Boy Summer. And Bittersweet. And The Book of Broken Hearts. And from what I'm getting from #scandal's description blows them ALL away. Sarah has this really fresh writing style that knocks out beautiful contemporary romances that always cleanse my palate in between intense series. I always get really emotional when I read Sarah's work because everything is so real, so relatable, but they're so unique.

Why I think you should want it:

Sarah's a master of standalones, which is not something a lot of people can brag. She gives really amazing, full, well-constructed stories with plot AND characterization in 400 pages or less. THAT, my friends, is talent. These stories are quintessential high school stories, but there's always an air of being More. It's more than just high school drama. Sarah gives life to your inner teenager, gives voice to all those hopes and dreams and fears and crushes and the passion, the excitement, the crushing despair. Everything comes out in the pages of her books. You'll feel like you're in high school again, but not in a bad way. The story just...envelops you. THAT is why you should want this book. Because Sarah can do all that. BAM.

Also, seriously, look at that title, that cover, that summary. I DARE YOU to tell me that the idea of a book taking on social media doesn't make you excited to read about it.

Top Ten Tuesday #9: Sequel Wish List

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Standalone Novels I Wish Had Sequels

 No explanation needed.

1. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitpatrick. Ohhhh, man. This was quite possibly The Book of 2012. Everyone was talking about it, and for such good reasons. If not #1, it was absolutely without-a-doubt Top Ten for sure. I just feel like there are more stories to be told about the Garretts. If not with Samantha and Jase, then definitely his host of siblings, preferably George. Can you see it? A companion novel about Teenage!George with guest stars Sam & Jase? I can see it, and it is marvelous.

2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Jennifer actually wrote a fantastically hilarious and educational blog post about her opinion of sequels, and I totally respect her opinion to choose to leave her characters alone after they get together. That being said, I very selfishly want more Johnafter in my life. I think that there is a story to be found about Meg and John in the post-policeman days as they head off to college together. I would also take a companion about Tiffany and Will. And this same request applies to Forget You because Doug and Zoey had a heck of a time, and I'd love to see them later on as well.

3. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Sarah has repeatedly stated that TBS was meant to be a standalone. That being said, she has also said that she has considered ideas for a possible sequel some day in the future. It could happen. I loved the story. It broke my heart, but it also showed that their are so many positives that can come from a tragedy. If Sarah ever does write a sequel, I will totally buy it and read it in three hours.

4. The Belles series by Jen Calonita. I really enjoyed this southern Cinderella story about half-sisters Izzy and Mira and their exploits in hoity-toity NC town Emerald Cove. Cute boys and plenty of drama = good times to be had by all. I just don't really feel like The Grass Is Always Greener was a very conclusive conclusion. Mira lost a boyfriend in #1, found a new one, then lost him in #3 and picked up another new one! Not enough time for swoonage. Also, there were some side plots that lacked completion. I felt like I was left hanging between a third and fourth novel. I really feel that if Jen wrote another novel for Belles, the whole story would wrap itself up quite nicely. Hey, she's doing another Sleepaway Girls novel so maybe this will happen sometime too!

5. Motocross Me by Cheyanne Young.  It takes until the very end of the novel for the Girl and Boy to Finally Get Together, which is like most romance novels, but I guess I just feel, once again, like there's more story to be told.

6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I met her. She said it's really happening. I need it to happen. I've been needing it to happen for FIVE WHOLE YEARS OF MY LIFE. Guys, seriously, I have spent 20% of my ENTIRE LIFE waiting for the sequel. I NEED THIS NOW. Ugh. So this is how Game of Thrones fans feel. I hate it.

7. The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer. I'm a huge fan of Eoin's work. I mean, Artemis Fowl. How could you NOT be a fan? The Supernaturalist is a lesser-known Eoin novel about a band of teenage kids who take it upon themselves to see to the safety of their city from the evil clutches of invisible parasites. Well, by the end of the novel, they discover some things and decide to change their plans. I want to see those plans and the adventures that come from them. This was a really cool, albeit super dirty and dingy futuristic world, and I'd love to see more of it!

8. The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke. I had the supreme pleasure of participating in the blog tour for TNP, and I found out that yes, there is a sequel...but Disney-Hyperion hasn't bought it yet. Polly's British publisher is on the ball and is moving forward, but D-H hasn't yet for some reason. TNP tells the story of how a bunch of genetically modified kids make it from their hostile homeland to a colony created just for them. I feel like even though their physical journey is finished (for now), their emotional/psychological journey has just begun. I'd really like #2 to be published in the US, but if not, I swear I'll find a way to snag the UK version.

9. The Revenants series by Amy Plum. I understand that the Kate-Vincent-Jules story presented in the series is finished. One of the boys won, and one of them lost. Also, the Parisian revenants have had their epic tale told. I would LOVE for Amy Plum to write some companion novels about some of the other revenants introduced in the series like the crazy German kids, or, oh, I don't know, THE AMERICAN REVENANTS WITH WHOME THE LOVE TRIANGLE "LOSER" IS STAYING. *coughs* Ahem. Sorry. I have strong feelings for that boy, and I want him to get his Happily Ever After. Make it happen, Amy! Pretty, pretty please? *bats eyelashes*

10. "Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story" by Ally Carter. This is one of those stories where I didn't know I wanted it until I found out about it and then I wondered where it had been all my life and why the heck hadn't I thought of it before. This is the Gallagher Girls/Heist Society crossover novella, and, simply put, it is marvelous. There was a moment at the end where it was kind of left open for the possiblity of another story. Yes, Cammie's story is coming to a close in about a month with the publication of United We Spy, but Kat's story is on-going, and I feel like even though she wasn't one of the main two characters in the novella, she stands as the character with the most to gain from the fusion of the two worlds of GG & HS. Maybe (I hope) after Ally finishes up her work on the first book for Embassy Row, she'll be hit with another stroke of crossover genius because that would be lovely.

Bonus: 11 & 12. Tera Lynn Child's series Forgive My Fins and Oh. My. Gods. both could use at least one more book, imo. I know she's working on at least one more novella for each, but I think they could do with full novels.

Which novels/series do you want sequels for? Got a TTT post of your own? Leave the link in the comments; I'd love to hear from you!

Top Ten Tuesday #1: Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish, and because of my love of lists, I realized I should probably join in! Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Beach Reads

To me, the beach is the ultimate vacation from the world. I don't go to crowded beaches so the image of a beach connotates seclusion and relaxation. I love going on girls-only beach trips with my best friend and her family, and it's the penultimate getaway. We're all readers so when we go, we take about 10 books apiece!

Some of last year's selection, but some books had already been repacked and put in the car. 

Anyway, I *mostly* prefer light-hearted, usually summer-y contemporary reads for the beach.

 1. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. This sassy novel is about, well, teenage beauty queens who are stuck on a deserted (they think) island. It's absolutely hilarious and totally a great read for a beach trip!

Rating: 5 stars

2. Jennifer Echols's entire ya collection, especially Endless Summer (The Boys Next Door + Endless Summer) and Forget You. Some of Echols's novels aren't set at the beach and some aren't set during summer, but there's something very summery- and beachy-feeling about them.
Rating: 4-5 stars depending on which one (most are 5)

3. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants quadrilogy by Ann Brashares. My original summer/beach read. You can't read these books and not be instantly transported to the beach, be it with Bridget in Mexico, Lena in Greece, or all four girls in Rehoboth. Sisterhood was one of my first ya reads ever and reading any of the four brings instant nostalgia and wanderlust...at least as far as that wanderlust points me in the direction of surf, sand, and sun.
Rating: 5 stars for 1-3, 3 stars for 4

4. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. Any beach-read list is completely remiss without a Dessen novel. Ride is my second favorite of the bunch, and always makes me want to run off to the North Carolina beach (I lovelovelove the Outer Banks and Colby is totally just like any town in OBX).
Rating: 4 stars

5. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot. Not set during the summer, but New Yorker Suze Simon is transplanted to the shores of northern California. This is a paranormal series with lots of ghosts and hauntings and fake vampires and murder, but it's a great series. I love all of Meg's books, but Mediator is at the very top.
Rating: 5 stars

6. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Okay, spare me the nonsense about how much you don't like Sparks because you think he's a sellout. Whatever. Like you didn't devour A Walk to Remember before hating Sparks became A Thing. I actually really love The Last Song and it's a perfect beach romance for me. The movie wasn't bad either. Miley didn't suck and HEL-LO Liam Hemsworth!
Rating: 4 stars

7. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. Requisite mermaid book. I love how sweet TLC's books are. They're innocent but still chock full o'romance. Her mermaids are lovely, and I dig the tail color thing.Here's to hoping for more novels set in the Fins 'verse because I don't think Fins Are Forever was an ending.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

 8. Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz. This is a more serious beach read. While I'm not saying the other books included on this list lack substance, Invincible Summer and the three following have a bit more than most. Invincible takes place over four summers and shows how even though we all love the beach, sometimes it's also the worst place ever. Please don't let that scare you from reading it, though. I promise it's worth it!
Rating: 4 stars

9. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. There are actually only a couple scenes in this that are actually set at the beach, but this is a fantastic summer read. It definitely pulls the heartstrings, though!
Rating: 4 stars

10. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. I'm betting this book is on a lot of beach lists for TTT today. This is summery. It's beachy. It's beautiful. It's captivating. It's heartwrenchmeltbreakdestroyrestoring. Go and read it now if you have not yet.
Rating: 4 stars

Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Rating: 4/5 stars
Pub Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
Format/Source: ARC obtained at TLA 2013 conference
Status: Standalone

Summary:

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Review:

I really have to hand it to Sarah Ockler. She practices what she preaches. I was surprised when I realized that Broken Hearts's heroine Jude is from an Argentinian family and love interest Emilio is Puerto Rican. Why the surprise? Well, honestly, because the majority ya fiction is about white kids, to be completely honest. Then a few months ago, I stumbled on Sarah's beautifully written blog post Race in YA Lit: Wake Up & Smell the Coffee-Colored Skin, White Authors!, which is completely inspired and brilliant as it scolds us all to include more racial diversity in our reading and writing without just throwing in a stereotypical flat character to break up the monotony and appease the masses. Brava, Sarah!