Waiting on Wednesday: Isla and the Happily Ever After

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Pub. Date: August 14, 2014

Goodreads says, "From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever. Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new."

Guys, if you are a fan of young adult contemporary fiction and you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet, you need to stop what you are doing and read it.  With that said, Anna and the French Kiss is one of my favorites, so I'll read anything Stephanie Perkins writes. Plus, another story set in Paris? YES.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Cover Trends I Like

This week the topic is our favorite book cover trends and lately I have been drawn to covers that exude simplicity.  Usually there are only a few graphics and a really fabulous font. Check out some of my latest favorites that I think are great examples of how a simple book cover can be eye-catching.

1.  Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper (my favorite cover!)
2.  Brazen by Katherine Longshore
3.  Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan
4.  The Taking by Kimberly Derting
5.  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
6.  Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
7.  How to Love by Kate Cotugno
8.  The Vacationers by Emma Straub
9.  The One and Only by Emily Giffin
10.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

So, what do you guys think of some of my favorite "simple" book covers? Which ones are your favorites? What type of book covers have you been drawn to lately? Let me know!  This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, so check it out! 

The One by Kiera Cass

Pages: 323

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Pub. Date: May 6, 2014

Source: Personal Copy

Series: The Selection (#1), The Elite (#2)

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants."

America is one of four women left in the Selection and although she is the people's choice, Maxon's father, the King, is dead set against her.  According to him, she's unconventional, unpredictable and he can't control her, which would make for a bad princess.  In addition to America's concerns as to whom Maxon will choose, rebels have been attacking more and more.  They are now threatening various castes and violence ensues.  Plus, America's relationship with longtime friend and former love, Aspen, has always been hanging over her head since he's an important soldier in the castle.  Through all of this chaos, America realizes that she does love Maxon and needs to win his heart.  Kiera Cass's conclusion to the Selection series, The One, is a book that won't disappoint fans.  All the plot lines are tied up nicely and no questions remain.  

America has always been a fun heroine to follow in the Selection series. She's feisty, brave, determined, and does what she feels is right, even if it's a hard decision to make.  The only time her judgement has been a bit cloudy is when it comes to childhood friend, Aspen.  Their relationship has always been a bit blurry, but I am happy with where it went in The One.  

America's relationship with Maxon is explored more in The One and although he wasn't always my favorite in this series, he really grew on me in this book.  I was, obviously, able to predict where the story was going when it came to their relationship, but it didn't deter my enjoyment of the book.

There's a lot of action in The One, which I liked and it added to the novel's suspense.  The Southern rebels are constantly a threat and America and Maxon finds themselves directly involved with some violence.  Plus, there's always attacks and threats to the castle, which add to the drama.

The Selection series is such guilty pleasure of mine. I love to read these books over vacation, because they are such a fluffy and fun books to get lost in.  I am sad to finish the series, but I am extremely happy with how Cass ended it. If you like drama, romance, and an unpredictable dystopian world, check out this entertaining series this summer.  Now is the time, since The Selection is one sale for $2.99 as an ebook!

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winners (50)

The Jewel by Amy Ewing - Thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss
Nantucket Sisters by Nancy Thayer - Thanks to Goodreads First Reads
Ruth's Journey by Daniel McCaig - Thanks to Atria and NetGalley
Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper - Thanks to Little Brown and NetGalley
Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae- Thanks to Becky at  Stories and Sweeties
City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare - Thanks to Media Muscle

A signed copy of Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg #59 - Erica J.

A signed copy of Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita #12 - Autumn M.

The complete Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and hoodie -

# 306 Erin W. 

"Beach Reads" Giveaway - #133 Tayte H.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (movie tie-in cover) and TFiOS tote bag

- #96 Kristi

Congrats to all the winners! I hope you enjoy your books and thank you for entering.

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

Friday Five

So I thought it might be fun this summer to try writing a more personal post every Friday highlighting some things going on in my life that aren't necessarily book related.  Let me know what you think!

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1.  Orange is the New Black - Ok, so I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon with this TV show.  I checked it out while we were on vacation and I was instantly hooked. I didn't think it would be something I liked, but I seriously wanted to binge watch it. Anyone else a fan?

Summertime Fun!

2.  The sprinkler - I got my little guy this caterpillar sprinkler and we have been having so much fun with it. It really takes me back to being a kid and running through the sprinkler with friends. Nothing says summer like a sprinkler and a wading pool, right?

3.  Nike Flex- I have a really bad knee and I should have probably gone to physical therapy for it this past fall, but I didn't. Oops. Anyway, my knee was acting up again and I decided to get new sneakers with the hopes that it would help. And guess what? It did! My new Nike Flex sneakers are awesome. I am sort of obsessed; plus, they are hot pink. 

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4.  The Honest Company- Guys, I love this company big time. I use their cleaning supplies, sunscreen, bug spray (because the bugs LOVE me and would eat me alive without it), and diapers for my little guy. Their customer service is incredible and I can't say enough about their products.  If you are interested in trying their stuff, check out my invitation. 

5.  Sandlot - There is a park right by my house and I try to take my little guy as often as possible in order for him to burn off some energy and play with some friends.  Well, everyday I have gone there this week, there has been a group of boys playing baseball. It reminded me so much of Sandlot, one of my favorite movies. I am now determined to watch it again this summer. Who else loves this movie?

So, what have you guys been up to? Any new products, movies, or TV shows I should try out this summer? Let me know what you think. Happy Friday!