Wednesday, April 8, 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:
My Eyes Are Up Here
Laura Zimmermann
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: June 23, 2020
Goodreads
Insightful, frank, and funny, My Eyes Are Up Here is a razor-sharp debut about a teenage girl struggling to rediscover her sense of self in the year after her body decided to change all the rules.

A "monomial" is a simple algebraic expression consisting of a single term. 30H, for example. Fifteen-year-old Greer Walsh hasn't been fazed by basic algebra since fifth grade, but for the last year, 30H has felt like an unsolvable equation - one that's made her world a very small, very lonely place. 30H is her bra size - or it was the last time anyone checked. She stopped letting people get that close to her with a tape measure a while ago.

Ever since everything changed the summer before ninth grade, Greer has felt out of control. She can't control her first impressions, the whispers that follow, or the stares that linger after. The best she can do is put on her faithful XXL sweatshirt and let her posture - and her expectations for other people - slump.

But people - strangers and friends - seem strangely determined to remind her that life is not supposed to be this way. Despite carefully avoiding physical contact and anything tighter than a puffy coat, Greer finds an unexpected community on the volleyball squad, the team that hugs between every point and wears a uniform "so tight it can squeeze out tears." And then there's Jackson Oates, newly arrived at her school and maybe actually more interested in her banter than her breasts.

Laura Zimmermann's debut is both laugh-out-loud funny and beautifully blunt, vulnerable and witty, heartbreaking and hopeful. And it will invite listeners to look carefully at a girl who just wants to be seen for all she is.
Why I want to read this book

Though I am not one of those girls, I knew many, who hit puberty, and went from looking like girls to full-grown women seemingly overnight. They were talked about, and treated differently for something they had absolutely no control over. They were made to feel ashamed about their bodies and are compelled to hide them, even though these changes were natural. I like that this book takes this on as its main focus, and I am very interested in seeing what Zimmermann does here. If done right, this could be a very comforting read for many young women, who have or are experiencing this, or maybe, it will help others understand what it's like for them.


Three Day Summer
Sarvenaz Tash
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Goodreads
Michael is unsure about most things. Go to college? Enlist in the military? Break up with his girlfriend? All big question marks. He is living for the moment and all he wants is a few days at the biggest concert of the summer.

Cora lives in the town hosting the music festival. She's volunteering in the medical tent. She's like that, always the good girl. But there is something in the air at this concert and suddenly Cora finds herself wanting to push her own boundaries.

When Michael and Cora meet, sparks fly, hearts race, and all the things songs are written about come true. And all the while, three days of the most epic summer await them...
Why I want to read this book

I added this book to my TBR back in 2018 after being so dazzled by The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love. Primarily, I was motivated by the desire to read more of Tash's work, but I also love some many aspects of this story.
  1. Summer time books usually embody the vibe I am always chasing down. 
  2. It's set at a music festival, and those are some of my favorite things.
  3. It sounds like a summer of change for both characters.
  4. One character is struggling with his post high school plans, and I think this this something many could/would relate to. 
  5. It's a romance -- need I say more? 
My biggest barrier to reading this book was that I did not have it, nor did my eLibrary, but I won a book of choice, and now I have it, and it's time to read it. 

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

48 comments:

  1. I've got lots of backlog books I need to read! I'd like to get stuck into a pile of horror and apocalypse novellas I have, to see which new-to-me authors I like but first I need to read a few mountain climbing books so I can pass them to my uncle as he is getting a bit bored!

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    1. That's a good way to check out new-to-me authors. Hope you find some good ones in the bunch

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  2. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds like it will be a good one. And I’m curious to see how the author will handle it as well. Three Day Summer has such a great setting, a musical festival, yes please!

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    1. I think it's an important topic to talk about, and the book has great possibilities if done well

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  3. I am here for any book that tackles women's issues that are often neglected in books. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds like a hard-hitting novel that I will enjoy. Thanks for sharing these! :)

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    1. I hope it's done well, because I agree that it's an important topic

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  4. Three Day Summer is one I've always wanted to read, mainly because I have major cover love for it and because I love the music festival setting.

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    1. I am all about escaping to a music festival right now

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  5. I recently discovered My Eyes are Up here too and adore it so much. My sister went through something like this and it's something she's was always so painfully aware of (how parts of her body changed and what that meant she *couldn't* do/ wear). I'm really eager to see this one and hope it's as good as it sounds.

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    1. My sister too! The baggy clothes and hunched shoulders. It's terrible.

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  6. I have an ARC coming for My Eyes are Up Here and I'm also really looking forward to reading it. The voice hooked me right from the start.

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    1. It's hit or miss for me with this pub, so I really don't request from them any longer. I still hope to read the book at some point, if my library gets it.

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  7. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds relatable. When I was in sixth grade, one of my classmates suddenly grew massive boobs. The boys were always laughing at her because of it.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Like anyone has control of that! It amazes me what people will make fun of you/harass you about

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  8. The title of My Eyes Are Up Here made me laugh but reading the synopsis kind of sobered me up. Because I instantly felt for Greer. I didn't develop at quite the rate she did, but I do remember starting to develop in 5th/6th grade and being so incredibly self-conscious about my body. And that continued for years and years. I'll be really interested to see what you think of it when you get to it.

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    1. I know so many girls/young women, who have experienced the same thing. Seems really wrong, if you ask me. I like that there's going to be a book addressing it, and yes, I was immediately sympathetic too

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  9. my eyes are up her HA HA HA love that title
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  10. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds so relatable! Even as an adult, I find myself sometimes trying to hide my boobs!

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    1. Isn't it ironic, that people go and BUY what you have, yet many women are made to feel self conscience. I think we should file this with the way women are conditioned to apologize all the time.

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  11. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds like one of those reads everyone should probably read. I hope it's as good as you're hoping!

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  12. I have a James Patterson novel TEXAS RANGER on my backlog that I hope to get to this week. I read his books sparingly now, but I'm from Texas so this seemed like a good excuse to read it!

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    1. I have only read one Jimmy P book, First Love, which was a "co-write". It was sick kid lit, so I cried. I have to say, though, his author's note had me bawling. I have read an endless number of books set in Texas, but I feel like it's easy to tell, which authors actually lived there. I hope Texas Ranger reps your state well.

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  13. Cute picks! Those are new to me ones...as usual. Lol. I hope you will love them both once you read them!


    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. Thanks! Should be starting Three Day Summer tomorrow

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  14. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds brilliant. I think we all know girls who suffered this situation (or suffered through it ourselves) and honestly puberty is hard enough without being made to feel ashamed about changes which is out of anyone’s control. I will be checking out your review if you read that and I’m popping that on my TBR anyway.

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    1. I taught in a high school for over a decade, so I saw this a LOT. I don't have the book. That pub is, eh, hit or miss for me on NG, and they always reject me on EW. I do hope my library gets it though.

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  15. Those both sound great - particularly that first one. I don't think I've read a book that covered that topic and it's something so many girls go through in one way or another.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I also do not think I have seen an entire book dedicated to the topic, though it may have been glanced at in a book, here or there. I am really curious to see what the author does with it.

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  16. I'm supposed to be getting an ARC of My Eyes are Up Here. So can't wait for that one! Great picks! I haven't read the other one either.
    Check out my Wednesday post

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    1. It seems like everyone has an ARC of that book coming. Well, I will be awaiting your thoughts!

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  17. My Eyes Are Up Here sounds so awesome! And I was totally one of those girls (though not quite to an H level), so I can very much relate! Definitely adding it to the TBR!

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    1. And I know there are many other young women out there, who could also relate. Hope we both get to read it and love it

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  18. These both sound great. I especially like the sound of Three Day Summer because music festival, romance and post high school doubts- sounds like a fabulous summer read.

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    1. I hope we have some musical festivals this year (I know I have tickets to one in August)

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  19. Oooph... My Eyes Are Up Here sounds like an interesting one. I WAS one of those girls but nowhere near 30H! Kids can be so evil when it comes to a girls bra size (small or large) so I'm curious as to how the author approaches the story.

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    1. It's amazing how many of people are reiterating your thoughts, which really shows how big an impact this book could possible make for many teens out there

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  20. I remember seeing Three Day Summer and loving the cover - curious to hear what you think!

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    1. I hope to be starting it tonight, but I feel good about it. I can use a fun summer romp right now

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  21. I love both of these picks! I love books that have some music in the story so Three Day Summer appeals to me. I was tempted to request My Eyes Are Up Here because I think it has a very interesting and important premise.

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    1. I am really interested in seeing how the author executes My Eyes are Up Here, because I do believe it's an important topic. Yes, I am looking forward to going to a music festival, even if it's just via a book

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  22. That first one was my cousin! And she got so much dirt and comments at the time I was furious!

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    1. I would like to try and understand why people do that. It's so cruel to harass someone, and even more so, when it's something out of a person's control. I feel for your cousin and other people, who have gone through the same thing

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  23. Oh these are wonderful picks, Sam! I'm so curious about My Eyes are Up Here, need to add it to my TBR :)

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    1. I want to see how the author deals with the topic, because it's very relevant.

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  24. I am loving the cover to My Eyes are Up Here and am going to be on the lookout for your review of that one ;)

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    1. I don't have the book, but I still hope to read it at some point.

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