Waiting On Wednesday #115: HELLO, I LOVE YOU by Katie M. Stout (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!!

The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!

And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 

What I'm currently waiting for... 

HELLO, I LOVE YOU

by Katie M. Stout

Expected release date: June 9th, 2015

Published by: St. Martin's Griffith

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

A teen escapes to a boarding school abroad and falls for a Korean pop star in this fun and fresh romantic novel in the vein of Anna and the French Kiss.

Grace Wilde is running —from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? 

Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process. 

Why I'm waiting for HELLO, I LOVE YOU...

Firstly... look at that adorable bookcover! You all know that I'm a cover snob, lol! And this one is just too cute to pass up!

Secondly... boarding school! Check! Music! Check!

Lastly... kind of a unique storyline! I haven't read anything like this before... have you???

SO, what are you waiting for this week???

Blog Tour (Review): FEUDS by Avery Hastings (YA)

Hosted by Paper Lantern Lit

FEUDS

by Avery Hastings

Release date: September 2nd, 2014

Published by: St. Martin's Griffith 

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian, Sci-Fi

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: eGalley

SUMMARY

In this breathless story of impossible love, perfection comes at a deadly cost.

For Davis Morrow, perfection is a daily reality. Like all Priors, Davis has spent her whole life primed to be smarter, stronger, and more graceful than the lowly Imperfects, or “Imps.” A fiercely ambitious ballerina, Davis is only a few weeks away from qualifying for the Olympiads and finally living up to her mother’s legacy when she meets Cole, a mysterious boy who leaves her with more questions each time he disappears.

Davis has no idea that Cole has his own agenda, or that he’s a rising star in the FEUDS, an underground fighting ring where Priors gamble on Imps. Cole has every reason to hate Davis - her father’s campaign hinges on the total segregation of the Imps and Priors - but despite his best efforts, Cole finds himself as drawn to Davis as she is to him.

Then Narxis, a deadly virus, takes its hold - and Davis’s friends start dying. When the Priors refuse to acknowledge the epidemic, Davis has no one to turn to but Cole. 

Falling in love was never part of their plan, but their love may be the only thing that can save her world.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Paper Lantern Lit

MY REVIEW

I was not aware that FEUDS would have such a similar feel to the likes of Romeo and Juliet's forbidden love, angst and secrets. Set in a dystopian world, with a sci-fi twist, the combination of it all is promising and entertaining with great writing and favorable characters... 

In this dystopian world, society has been divided into two: the Priors -  the rich, the elite, the powerful. They have been able to genetically improve humans to be smarter, stronger and flawlessly beautiful. The Imps, are the imperfects - they are normal humans, they have flaws, are not as smart and live in the Slants outside of town where everything is dirty and rundown. It is illegal of Priors and Imps to be involved with each other... 

Davis is a dancer, ballet is her profession. She strives to be the best of the best in order to follow in her mother's footsteps and compete in the Olympiads. She is privileged, and often times she reminds herself how lucky she is. Her father is an important person in society, and she believes in him and the rules - Priors are superior and Imps are dangerous savages. 

And then she meets Cole. 

Teen love, always so rushed, pure and open.

Cole walks in and is completely smitten with Davis' beauty. He instantly feels connected to her in ways he never knew he could. He would never intentionally harm her in any way, and will do whatever he can to protect her. Even from himself... Cole is a fighter. He has been fighting in the Feuds for a long time now. He doesn't like it, but he thinks that this is the only way that he can provide for his family and then their ticket out of this life. Meeting Davis was definitely not expected.

And then Cole learns who Davis is.

Davis learns who Cole is and what he does.

Things do not bode well for them. Their lives start unraveling at a fast pace...

Especially when Davis shows signs of being sick with the virus that is killing off Priors at a pretty quick rate. 

Oh, how I wish there was more! I feel like I got shorted on some details regarding the the importance of the Olympiads (perhaps in book 2?); and most of all, there is certain detail that Davis learns about herself and her family, which she barely had a chance to investigate, but never confronted her father with  - she had the knowledge and the moment for it, but... I feel that this would have been something hugely pivotal for the first book, something more for us to grasp onto besides the expected cliffhanger ending. 

Overall, I am anticipating that the series will get better with more details, history, reveals and twists! This is definitely a book that will keep you thinking about the "what if's"... just like Romeo and Juliet's story.

In my opinion, if you liked MYSTIC CITY by Theo Lawrence and/or BLACK CITY by Elizabeth Richards you will definitely enjoy FEUDS too!

*An eGalley was sent from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The prequel novella to FEUDS, RIVAL, will be released on December 2nd, 2014!!!

SUMMARY

An e-original story, prequel to The Feuds Series by Avery Hastings, opening a window into Davis's life before Feuds...Davis Morrow has always been a little bit afraid to fall in love, to lose her focus, to be anything other than perfect. But while relaxing in an elite spa after another grueling rehearsal for a ballet showcase, Davis meets Seth, a trainer with intense eyes and a chiseled face to match his athletic build... and everything changes.

Unlike the other guys she’s dated, Seth seems to get her—he understands how difficult her routine is, how hard she must work. Their first kiss leaves her mind spinning like an endless pirouette. Dating trainers is forbidden—but, like her best friend Vera insists, forbidden love is the best kind.

Then a threatening message from her dance rival, Gabrielle, brings her world tumbling down. Will Seth be the secret she needs to succeed, heart open for the first time? Or will this heated romance become her greatest rival yet?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Avery Hastings

Avery Hastings is an author and former book editor from New York City. 

Avery grew up in Ohio, graduated in 2006 from the University of Notre Dame and earned her MFA from the New School in 2008. 

When she's not reading or writing, Avery can usually be spotted lying around in the park with her affable dog. Like her protagonists, she knows how to throw a powerful right hook and once dreamed of becoming a ballerina. I

n addition to New York, Avery has recently lived in Mumbai and Paris, but is happy to call Brooklyn home (for now).

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