Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
This week I can't wait for:
Amy Spalding
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT
Publisher: Amulet
Release Date: January 7th, 2020
Goodreads
Two best friends grow up—and grow apart—in this innovative contemporary YA novelWhy I want to read this book
Told in dual timelines—half of the chapters moving forward in time and half moving backward—We Used to Be Friends explores the most traumatic breakup of all: that of childhood besties. At the start of their senior year in high school, James (a girl with a boy’s name) and Kat are inseparable, but by graduation, they’re no longer friends. James prepares to head off to college as she reflects on the dissolution of her friendship with Kat while, in alternating chapters, Kat thinks about being newly in love with her first girlfriend and having a future that feels wide open. Over the course of senior year, Kat wants nothing more than James to continue to be her steady rock, as James worries that everything she believes about love and her future is a lie when her high-school sweetheart parents announce they’re getting a divorce. Funny, honest, and full of heart, We Used to Be Friends tells of the pains of growing up and growing apart.
I love books that focus on friendships. This will be a little different, as it is examining a friendship that is deteriorating, but it also takes place at that crossroads point in a teen's life, which is full of so much change and upheaval. I have read and enjoyed several books by Spalding, and look forward to seeing how she tackles this concept.
Francesca Zappia
Age/Genre: Young Adult,
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Goodreads
Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook and Liar.Why I want to read this book
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.
It seems I purchased this book back in December of 2015, way before I read my first Zappia book, but as with most books I one-click, it remained unread on my Kindle. Fast forward to April 2017. It was then, that I read, and adored, Eliza and Her Monsters. I swore I would read this book. I am a LIAR. With the release of Zappia's newest book, Now Entering Addamsville, I have decided to finally read this book, which I have heard many good things about. Though it deals with metal illness, many reviewers have said, that it is dealt with well and never gets too heavy, which is how I like my books. There has also been tons of praise for the main character, and everyone has convinced me, that Alex is someone I need to meet.
What are you waiting on?
Any backlog books you want to read soon?
Let us know in the comments!
Any backlog books you want to read soon?
Let us know in the comments!
We Used to be Friends sounds like it will be very emotional but also very relatable!
ReplyDeleteThe whole growing apart thing is sad, but a reality. I think many readers would be able to relate.
DeleteWe Used to be Friends is one that I am looking forward to as well. I have enjoyed the author's previous novels and I love the premise of this one. I hope that we both love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI have also enjoyed other books by Spalding. They're usually cute with just the right amount of depth and drama.
DeleteBoth os these sound interesting. I hope you enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteSo far, Made You Up is good. I forgot what it's like reading a book with an unreliable narrator.
DeleteWe Used to Be Friends sounds so good! I want to read that one too now.
ReplyDeleteI like the examination of friendships, and fading friendships are a reality. I am still hoping they work it out, though.
DeleteI like your Books from the Backlog bit! I need to do that. Great picks this week! You can check out my Wednesday post HERE.
ReplyDeleteYou can credit Carole with that. I just added the part about putting it on my weekly TBR. It's been a good motivator to get me to read my shelf books.
DeleteMade You Up is on my TBR for so long too. I hope we both read it soon and enjoy it :D
ReplyDeleteIt's good so far. I am about 30% in, and though, I have no idea what is real or what is in Alex's head, I am enjoying it.
Deletecool cover for made you up. happy reading
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Thanks. It is an interesting cover.
DeleteWe Used to Be Friends is told in an interesting way. Kind of reminds me of Cotugno’s Top Ten.
ReplyDeleteI loved Top Ten, even if I hated the ending. I hope this one ends better for this pair than eluded to in the synopsis.
DeleteWell the same can be said for Eliza and Her Monsters, sitting for ages on my shelf Sam!
ReplyDeleteEliza was so good!!! I hope you get to read it someday.
DeleteOoh nice picks! Both new to me ones, as usual, Lol! I hope you enjoy the one that will release eventually and the one that's already out whenever you get the chance to read them!
ReplyDeleteHere's my WoW
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I got approved for We Used to Be Friends after I wrote this book, and I am reading Made You Up right now. Feeling like a boss.
DeleteWe Used To Be Friends definitely looks good. I like books about friendships too, and there's something about the teen years- even for those of us who are no longer teens haha- but it's such a transformative period of our lives, and sticks with us forever, that I think that resonates with so many people.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many changes we experience in our teens, and this is one I found sort of sad, but it's realistic.
DeleteI loved reading Made You Up! Hope you enjoyed that book!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my WoW!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Yeah! So far (30% in), I am enjoying Made You Up. It's always an odd experience reading a book with an unreliable narrator, but I do adore Alex and am curious about what is real and what isn't
DeleteBoth of these books sound good! I like the sound of We Used to Be friends and I'm glad that even though Made You Up deals with mental illness, it doesn't get too heavy. Great picks Sam :)
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Schizophrenia is one of those illnesses, that break my heart. So far, the book is light, but the paranoia can be a bit intense, though, not too much, because Alex's narration keeps it from going too far in that direction.
DeleteWe Used to Be Friends sounds SO good and so very relatable. I think I may need that in my life, tbh. And Made You Up is FABULOUS, I hope you get to it soon, and love it as much as I did!
ReplyDeleteAnother endorsement for Made You Up. Yeah! I am reading it right now. I have been good about my featured backlog books *pats self on back* If I have to do a blog post to make myself read a book on my shelf, so be it.
DeleteI have not read Zappia yet but this book sounds wonderful, Sam! I have a serious problem with one clicking books and then forgetting about them.
ReplyDeleteWith this, I'll have read all her published books. She has some stories out on Wattpad, but I am not motivated to read that way. Your backlog meme has been good at making me read at least one backlog book a week. So far, each one featured has been read.
DeleteWe Used To Be Friends sounds good. I like the cover too. I don't think I've ever read anything my Amy Spalding... I like that it's about the break down of a friendship. I think those losses are often harder than the break up of a romantic relationship.
ReplyDeleteI read a few books from Spalding, and really loved The Summer of Jordi Perez. A broken friendship really is devastating, and it's good to see that in books sometimes.
DeleteEliza and Her Monsters is on my favorites list for Hoopla. I think I might start it this week or next. I've been meaning to read it for a while now.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I am a BIG fan of Eliza. That book was wonderful, and a bit more like Made You Up, than Zappia's latest release, though, her humor is there in all the books.
DeleteI need to go back and read Made You Up, too.
ReplyDeleteIt was good. I finished it yesterday. I am still processing my thoughts, but it was a solid book.
DeleteI hope you enjoy Made You Up! I read it for review a while ago but I remember really loving the book (and the cover too hehe)
ReplyDeleteI did like Made You Up, though the ending left me baffled as to what was real or not, and it was after I thought I knew what was going on.
DeleteWe Used To Be Friends is one of the books I'm looking forward to. Nothing screams like a good angst than reading a friendship falling apart. This will definitely hit home for me.
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me sad, but I read it, hoping things will turn out better than I anticipated.
DeleteI was just reading the synopsis for We Used to be Friends over on Netgalley and thought it sounded so good, although definitely sad.
ReplyDeleteI keep hoping Spalding will make something good come out of all of it.
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