Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday!


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:
10 Things I Hate About Pinky
Sandhya Menon
Series: Dimple and Rishi, #3
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: July 21, 2020
Goodreads
The delightful follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie, which follows Ashish’s friends Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date in order to achieve their individual goals, to disastrous and hilarious results.

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few…quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions she’s made (a.k.a. boyfriends she’s had), she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer.

When Samir’s internship falls through, leaving him with an unplanned summer, he gets a text from Pinky asking if he’ll be her fake boyfriend in exchange for a new internship. He jumps at the opportunity; Pinky’s a weirdo, but he can survive a summer with her if there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget.
Why I want to read this book

My love affair with Sandhya Menon began at the beginning with When Dimple Met Rishi. I was captivated by the characters and their story, and it was just a made-me-happy kind of book. Since then, it has, more or less, been hit after hit from Menon. This book was an auto-add to my TBR, because I am that sure I will love it.

I am excited to revisit the Dimple and Rishi world, and to catch up with the characters from the other books. Special bonus! I get a new couple to fawn over. The MCs are Ash's friends from There's Something About Sweetie, and it's the much beloved trope of fake dating.  I think we get to spend the summer with them in Cape Cod, which ups the appeal for me, because my family used to vacation there, when I was younger, and I loved it.

The Comeback Season 
Jennifer E. Smith
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: Feb 11, 2008
Goodreads
Baseball brings them together—but will his secret keep them apart? Find out in this heartbreakingly beautiful novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn’t thinking about what she should be doing. She’s not worried about her lack of friends, or her suffering math grade, or how it’s been five whole years since the last time she was really and truly happy. Because she’s finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And on this—the fifth anniversary of his death—it feels like there’s nowhere else in the world she should be.

Ryan is once again filled with hope as she makes her way to the game. Good luck is often hard to come by at a place like Wrigley Field, but it’s on this day that she meets Nick, the new kid from her school, who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can ever really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: “Wait till next year.” Is it too much for Ryan to hope that this year, this season, might be her comeback season?
Why I want to read this book

I feel like I have tried to put this one on my TBR before, but it got bumped for some reason. Well, here it is, the chosen backlog book, and alas, it will be read.

I am a big fan of JES. I first discovered her via This is What Happy Looks Like in 2014. I will admit, it is still my favorite of her book, though all have been quite pleasing to me. JES is on my list of YA gotos, because I have yet to not enjoy one of her books.

Getting to why I want to read this book:

  1. Jennifer E. Smith wrote, so I will read it
  2. Baseball. You all know how much I love some sports in my books. They don't even having to be playing. 
  3. Part of the story takes place at Wrigley Field, which makes me think of my daughter (she lives a block or two away), and therefore, I have this connection the story. 
  4. It's a grief book. I can't resist them. 

What are you waiting on?
Any backlog books you want to read soon? 
Let us know in the comments!

33 comments:

  1. I know I had issues with When Dimple met Rishi, but the lighthearted goodness is just what I need right now. Also those covers: every one just makes me smile so widely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a little sad WDMR didn't work for you. It's so my speed.

      Delete
  2. I feel like the only person not reading the Dimple and Rishi series! I know my sister has been enjoying it, though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah for your sister! It's a fun series. I love YA and cute and fun romances are my catnip. All Menon's books fit the bill for me

      Delete
  3. sounds like you moved it up the list. hope you enjoy both of them
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been all over the list. I think I tried to read it once, and had to bump it, but this is the week! It will happen

      Delete
  4. I had just finished reading Pinky before they announced the new pub date but I loved it!

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *clapping* I am glad to hear it was another hit. Of Curses and Kisses was just ok for me, but all her other books have been rock solid hits.

      Delete
  5. I need to read When Dimple Met Rishi... I own it, I've just never read it. I don't know why, either--everyone thinks it was fabulous! Great picks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you need a sweet, fun, and fluffy read, pick up WDMR. It made me happy

      Delete
  6. And I still have to read When Dimple met Rishi!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pick it up, if you need a pick me up. It's bound to put a smile on your face

      Delete
  7. The Comeback Season sounds like one I would like to read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I went and purchased all the JES backlist I could not get at the library, and this is the last of them. Technically, we are in/approaching baseball season. Seems like a good time to pick it up

      Delete
  8. Cute picks! I hope you enjoy them both once you get to read them!


    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really need to pick up the Dimple and Rishi series and soon! The Comeback Season sounds really good too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the WDMR books have been wonderful. I hope you get to read them at some point

      Delete
  10. I liked There's Something About Sweetie more than When Dimple Met Rishi, but both were wonderful books! I'm excited to see there's a third book in this installment. :)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 😷💬

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WDMR is still my favorite, but I have enjoyed them all, including Twinkle (which was outside the WDMR universe)

      Delete
  11. I'd like to read 10 Things I Hate About Pinky. Love the title nod to one of my favorite movies, and I adored Dimple!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That definitely caught my attention too. I am very curious to see if it influences the story at all

      Delete
  12. I cannot wait for 10 Thing I Hate About Pinky. I sort of dithered over whether I should request on Netgalley because I know I have been so bad at reviewing things lately. And I vaguely remember The Comeback Season coming out and then I feel like I saw no reviews for it. I hope you do manage to read it this time around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. S&S is not the best with me, and have not approved me for a Menon books since her debut. My library always gets them though, so I know I will be able to read it at some point. I think Comeback is Smith's debut, so it should be interesting seeing where she started out.

      Delete
  13. Ahhhh Ten Things I Hate About Pinky! I love Menon's books, she's such an incredible author and her books are instant pick me ups. I think The Comeback Season is the only Jennifer E Smith book I haven't read as yet. I hope you enjoy both of these Sam and looking forward to seeing what you think of them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is exactly why I love Menon's books as well. They never fail to pick me up and make me happy, but I feel like she also doesn't shy away from issues. I will always look forward to Menon's books. Not sure, when I will read it, but I am confident my library will get a copy.

      Delete
  14. I need to read the Dimple and Rishi books they sound so cute, but I haven't gotten a chance to. Great picks!
    Check out my Wednesday post

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are super cute, and filled with fabulous characters

      Delete
  15. I have only read two of Jennifer E. Smith's books but I really liked both of them so I wouldn't hesitate to pick up The Comeback Season. I hope you enjoy both of these when you get the chance to read them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I started the book last night, and am really enjoying it. My heart is breaking for this young woman, who feels so left behind.

      Delete
  16. I'm really excited for the next Menon book too. And yay for fake dating!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read anything set in the WDMR world. I'm such a fan of it

      Delete