February 2018 Books I’m Looking Forward to!

Hello everyone! In today’s post I’ll be featuring and talking (somewhat briefly) about the books that I’m most excited for. Now these books could be books that I’ve heard about in passing, or I’ve glimpsed them and then moved on. The books mentioned in this post will be published in the month of February.

If you’ve heard of these books, or there are other books that you’re interested in, tell me about them! I’d love to discover more books. — Enjoy!

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February 5

• Speedbump by Charli Coty || LGBTQIA, Romance

Ezra Cook is sole caregiver to older brother Tray, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in his forties. They live outside the small town of Drop, Oregon, on property Tray bought with his Microsoft settlement money. For years, Ezra has been going on and off low doses of testosterone to maintain a comfortable level of androgyny. Ezra spends most days juggling Tray’s needs and the work required to survive in rural Oregon on a small income, ignoring their own needs, especially companionship and sleep.

Ellred “Red” Long escaped Drop at seventeen but returns to his hometown in disgrace after his band dumped him on the streets of LA. Coming back doesn’t seem like such a dead end, though, after he sees a guy walking along the side of the road in the rain and gives him a lift.

Ezra and Red’s chance meeting begins an uncomfortable friendship neither had expected, and both allow fear to keep it from escalating into a hookup, or worse, a romance. Red never meant to return to Drop and doesn’t want to get stuck there again, while Ezra’s protective walls may be too strong to breach, from either side.

I’m interested in reading Speedbump since it’s primarily a queer novel. However, with that been said, I’m also interested in reading and seeing how the book plays out, not only with Ezra and Red..but with Ezra and his brother, Tray.

February 6

• American Panda by Gloria Chao || Young Adult Contemporary

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her germophobia and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

From debut author Gloria Chao comes a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

American Panda seems like a relatively humour-us novel that contains a myriad of problems that Mei will face: become a Doctor, marry and Ivy Leaguer, have a ton of kids. I really want to get my hands on American Panda just so I can figure out what exactly happens in this novel. I’m looking forward to finding out just how funny this book is!

• Fade to Us by Julia Day || Young Adult  Fiction

Brooke’s summer is going to be EPIC–having fun with her friends and a job that lets her buy a car. Then her new stepfather announces his daughter is moving in. Brooke has always longed for a sibling, so she’s excited about spending more time with her stepsister. But she worries, too. Natalie has Asperger’s–and Brooke’s not sure how to be the big sister that Natalie needs.

After Natalie joins a musical theater program, Brooke sacrifices her job to volunteer for the backstage crew. She’s mostly there for Natalie, but Brooke soon discovers how much she enjoys being part of the show. Especially sweet is the chance to work closely with charming and fascinating Micah–the production’s stage manager. If only he wasn’t Natalie’s mentor…

When summer comes to an end, will Brooke finally have the family she so desperately wants–and the love she’s only dreamed about?

Fade to Us seems like a book that could go a million different ways. I’m holding on for two ways though. The first way that I think this book would go is well, drastically wrong, haha. I figure that Brooke’s new little sister will spill the beans unintetionally to Natalies mentor, and then Brooke’s love interest will be aprehensive about continuing on as Natalie’s Mentor (he doesn’t want to make things awkward?). OR, what my little crumpled heart is hoping for: everything to go on as smoothly as possible with little-to-no  interference from any outer party.

February 7

• The False Knight on the Motorway by Arden Ellis  || LGBTQIA, Romance

The world has been cursed by the gods. Their precious relics became poison long ago, and their cities radiate death. It is the dawn of a second Dark Age, if the priests and alchemists are to be believed. Ser Wright of Kenilworth doesn’t particularly care how or why the world was broken. Her only concern is regaining favor in the eyes of her lord—and if a menial errand to ransom her insufferable rival is the way to do that, Wright will grit her teeth and dutifully retrieve Ser Kai to face judgement.

But the simple errand forces Wright and Kai into a mission far more difficult: a quest for the legendary counteragent that could lift the curse once and for all. Wright’s duty is to retrieve it all costs, no matter who stands in her way—even if that someone is the sarcastic, dishonorable companion who Wright doesn’t hate as much as she thought.

The False Knight on the Motorway appealed to me because of the cover page. Then the title is another interesting thing, and the synopsis is fairly intriguing as well. All around The False Knight on the Motorway sounds like a captivating queer read!

February 13

• Don’t Forget Me by Victoria Stevens || Young Adult Contemporary

Seventeen-year-old Hazel Clarke is no stranger to heartbreaks, and being sent to live with a father she’s never met is the latest in a string of them. Even the beauty of eastern Australia isn’t enough to take her mind off of her mother, who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s and is living in a nursing home in England. But when Hazel meets the friendly, kindhearted Red and his elusive twin, Luca, she begins the slow process of piecing together a new life—and realizes she isn’t the only one struggling with grief. As friendships deepen and love finds its way in, Hazel also learns that when you truly love someone, they are never really gone. Don’t Forget Me is Victoria Stevens’s sparkling debut, and a touching testament to coming of age, falling in love, and finding home in unlikely places.

What I’m most looking forward to in Don’t Forget Me is that Hazel goes and works through her grief. I’m looking forward to reading about her falling in-love, and learning how to love someone whether they’re currently in your life, or they’ve passed on. Re-reading the synopsis for Don’t Forget Me and…I don’t know… I just. I really, truly believe that this book will have the power to make people cry. Just reading the synopsis a second time (as I’m editing this) makes me want to bawl my eyes out. So whenever I get around to reading this book, it should be interesting to see my reactions.

• The Precious Dreadful by Steven Parlato || YA Fantasy / Paranormal

Teddi Alder is just trying to figure out her life.

When she joins SUMMERTEENS, a library writing group, she’s only looking to keep herself busy, not go digging around in her subconscious. But as she writes, disturbing memories of her childhood friend Corey bubble to the surface, and Teddi begins to question everything: her friendship with her BFF Willa, how much her mom really knows, and even her own memories. Teddi fears she’s losing her grip on reality—as evidenced by that mysterious ghost-girl who emerges from the park pool one night, the one who won’t leave Teddi alone. To top it all off, she finds herself juggling two guys with potential, a quirky new boy named Joy and her handsome barista crush Aidan, who has some issues of his own.

As the summer unfolds, Teddi is determined to get to the bottom of everything—her feelings, the mysterious ghost-girl, and the memories of Corey that refuse to be ignored.

This book, The Precious Dreadful... This book is one that I am looking forward to reading immensely. I mean, there is so much intrigue in the synopsis that I can’t even write coherent enough thoughts to get everything down. Gah! It’s cool that the main character is in a library writing group. What I’m really interested in though is how as she’s writing and using her subconscious, memories from her childhood surface. I’m also curious as to how the ‘mysterious ghost-girl’ comes into play..

February 20

• Flight Season by Marie Marquardt ||  YA, Contemporary

Back when they were still strangers, TJ Carvalho witnessed the only moment in Vivi Flannigan’s life when she lost control entirely. Now, TJ can’t seem to erase that moment from his mind, no matter how hard he tries. Vivi doesn’t remember any of it, but she’s determined to leave it far behind. And she will.

But when Vivi returns home from her first year away at college, her big plans and TJ’s ambition to become a nurse land them both on the heart ward of a university hospital, facing them with a long and painful summer together – three months of glorified babysitting for Ángel, the problem patient on the hall. Sure, Ángel may be suffering from a life-threatening heart infection, but that doesn’t make him any less of a pain.

As it turns out, though, Ángel Solís has a thing or two to teach them about all those big plans, and the incredible moments when love gets in their way.

As far as I know, Flight Season is going to have three different points of view. I have a gut feeling that if, and when I do read Flight Season, there’s going to be a lot of heart ache, and even a few tears shed. Flight Season just seems like a compelling book to read. There’s going to be hidden lesson’s throughout the novel and I am so looking forward to reading FS.

• Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda || YA Sci-Fi / Horror

Set against a future of marauding space scavengers and deadly aliens who kill with sound, here is a frightening, fast-paced YA adventure from the author of the acclaimed horror novel, Shutter.

Tuck has been in stasis on the USS John Muir, a ship that houses Earth’s most valued artifacts—its natural resources. Parks and mountains are preserved in space.

Laura belongs to a shipraiding family, who are funded by a group used to getting what they want. And they want what’s on the Muir.

Tuck and Laura didn’t bargain on working together, or battling mutant aliens who use sound to kill. But their plan is the only hope for their crews, their families, and themselves.

In space, nobody can hear you scream . . . but on the John Muir, the screams are the last thing you’ll hear.

Pitch Dark sounds scary and intimidating, and I want to read it so badly! There’s nothing more I love than a book that sounds scary, and the book is acctually scary. There’s so much to look forward to in Pitch Dark. Space-pirates? Yes please. Alien monsters that might scary the heebie-jeebies off me? HECK YES. I have such high hopes for Pitch Dark!

February 27

• I Stop Somewhere by TE Carter || Young Adult Contemporary

Ellie Frias disappeared long before she vanished.

Tormented throughout middle school, Ellie begins her freshman year with a new look: she doesn’t need to be popular; she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper.

But when the unthinkable happens, Ellie finds herself trapped after a brutal assault. She wasn’t the first victim, and now she watches it happen again and again. She tries to hold on to her happier memories in order to get past the cold days, waiting for someone to find her.

The problem is, no one searches for a girl they never noticed in the first place.

TE Carter’s stirring and visceral debut not only discusses and dismantles rape culture, but it also reminds us what it is to be human.

I Stop Somewhere sounds like a book that I would honestly have trouble reading — only because of the r*pe factor. Which is a huge portion of the novel, I know. I really want to know what happens by the end of the book though, so hopefully, maybe, I’ll get around to reading it!

• A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena || Young Adult Contemporary

A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved.

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school.  You don’t want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal.

Needless to say, I need to read this one ASAP! A Girl Like That sounds amazing and I’m honestly very intrigued.

• This Heart of Mine by C.C. Hunter  || YA Contemporary / Realistic Fiction

A new heart saved her life—but will it help her find out what really happened to its donor?

Seventeen-year-old Leah MacKenzie is heartless. An artificial heart in a backpack is keeping her alive. However, this route only offers her a few years. And with her rare blood type, a transplant isn’t likely. Living like you are dying isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But when a heart becomes available, she’s given a second chance at life. Except Leah discovers who the donor was — a boy from her school — and they’re saying he killed himself. Plagued with dreams since the transplant, she realizes she may hold the clues to what really happened.

Matt refuses to believe his twin killed himself. When Leah seeks him out, he learns they are both having similar dreams and he’s certain it means something. While unraveling the secrets of his brother’s final moments, Leah and Matt find each other, and a love they are terrified to lose. But life and even new hearts don’t come with guarantees. Who knew living, took more courage than dying?

Holy Crap, This Heart of Mine seems to be a heartbreaker for sure. Yet This Heart of Mine also seems like a book that can be incredibly uplifting. This Heart of Mine is another book that I need to get ahold of ASAP! There seems to be a lot of intrigue behind this book, the story, everything.

February 28

• Cursed with Claws by Asta Idonea || LGBTQIA, Romance, Fantasy

A dragon dwells atop the mountain that overlooks Ode’s village. Every year the surrounding villages gather to make an offering to keep the beast at bay: chests of gold and a human sacrifice.

When the wise men choose his beloved sister, Malle, as the latest sacrifice, Ode immediately offers to take her place. But instead of a dragon on the mountain ledge, he meets a mysterious young man.

Cursed with Claws sounds like a great book. I know that there isn’t much to go on.. My gut feeling though says that Cursed with Claws will definitely be an interesting novel.

Other Mentionable Titles:

• The Last Wolf by Maria Vale (02/06/18)
• Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare (02/20/18)
• Fire and Bone by Rachel A. Marks (01/20/18)
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (02/27/18)
• Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller (02/27/18)
• Everlife (Everlife, #3) by Gena Showalter (02/27/18)

The above titles are the books that have caught my eye the most. In some form, they interest me. Are there any books that are being published in February that you’re interested in? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy Reading!
Adele