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Showing posts with label Francesca Zappia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Francesca Zappia. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: The Monster at the End of This List
6:36 PM
October 31st is right around the corner. Are you ready for Halloween? How do you usually celebrate the holiday? We're still in the middle (well, hopefully, nearing the end) of remodeling, so I'm not putting up any decorations this year. My 13-year-old is going to go trick-or-treating with her friends, my 17-year-old will probably hide out in his room, and the husband and I will likely attend a block party with friends who live on a street in our neighborhood that's apparently a lot more happening than ours! For TTT, we're acknowledging the spooky season with a Halloween freebie. My mind often blanks on open topics like this, so I'm excited to see what everyone does with it.
If you want to join in the TTT fun (and who wouldn't?), click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.
When I was combing through my Goodreads TBR lists last week for my TTT list of Book Title Words That Always Catch My Eye, I noticed an interesting word popping up among my TBR titles: monster. I read very little horror these days, so it was kind of odd that I could find even one monster book among them, let alone almost ten. The fact that only one of them is in that genre made me think this might be a fun topic to explore today. So, here we go with:
Top Ten "Monster" Books On My TBR
- in no particular order -
1. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia—Eliza is the anonymous creator of a wildly popular webcomic with an equally popular (and carefully curated) online persona. The problem is that real-life Eliza is nothing like the Internet version. When a new boy moves into town, Eliza's tempted away from the safety of her digital community. And that's when everything starts to go wrong...I've read tons of rave reviews for this YA novel. It really does sound cute.
2. Monster by Michael Grant—I enjoyed the first six books in the YA dystopian Gone series. Monster, which came out in 2017 (four years after the series "ended"), is the seventh. It starts up four years (Coincidence? I think not!) after the dome disappeared, freeing the kids trapped inside. Now, meteorites are bombing the earth and spreading a deadly virus. Can the teens rally once again to face off against a terrifying new menace?
3. The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope—Historical fantasy isn't my usual cup of tea, but I love this book's cover and the story sounds compelling as well. It stars Clara Johnson, a woman living in 1925 Washington, D.C., who can talk to spirits. Indebted to a powerful entity for saving her life, Clara accepts a risky bargain to free herself from its bondage. She must steal a valuable ring from D.C.'s wealthiest lady. It doesn't take long for Clara to realize she's caught up in something—both earthly and otherworldly—that is way more than she bargained for.
4. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier—Maybe historical fantasy is my genre because this MG novel also sounds really intriguing to me. It's about a young chimney sweep in Victorian London who defies death every time she goes to work. When her luck runs out and she's caught in a chimney fire, she thinks it's the end—until she wakes up in an abandoned attic and meets her unlikely savior.
5. Monster by Walter Dean Myers—This acclaimed YA novel is about a 16-year-old boy who is on trial for felony murder. Is he guilty or innocent? Is he really the monster everyone thinks he is?
6. Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova—The Salazars take their job as protectors of magical creatures seriously, rescuing those who accidentally wander into the real world and making sure they get home safely. When Mr. Salazar is killed during a mission, his wife decides the family has risked enough. She moves her children to a boring little town where nothing exciting ever happens. When Valentina notices something strange in a viral video game, she knows the Salazars are desperately needed. Can she convince her family to find a magic egg before it hatches havoc on the world? Or are their days as protectors really over?
7. The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession With the Unexplained by Colin Dickey—I don't believe in monsters or aliens, but this still sounds like a fun read.
8. The Monsters We Make by Kali White—Based on a real-life crime spree, this novel focuses on the disappearance of a paperboy in a small Iowa town. Both a local police officer and an enterprising young woman looking for a way out are determined to solve the case.
9. Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen—Although she doesn't look like it with her blonde hair and blue eyes, 15-year-old Sarah is Jewish. This makes her a perfect tool for the Resistance. Posing as a student, she goes undercover at a posh boarding school for the daughters of powerful Nazi leaders. She's to befriend the child of the scientist in charge of making a deadly bomb and use her to steal the blueprints and stop the planned destruction. Can Sarah fulfill her dangerous mission without being found out?
10. Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick—The only real horror book on this list, Monsters is the final volume in a YA zombie series that I never finished. I loved the first novel, Ashes, so I'll give it a re-read then continue on with the series.
There you are, ten "monster" books that I want to read. Have you read any of these? Which "monster" books would you recommend? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Top Ten Tuesday: The Latest Shiny New Releases to Turn My Head
10:04 AM
Despite the stacks of books and boxes of books and shelves of books I have ALL OVER my house, my head still turns for the shiny and new. I'm always excited about the latest and greatest, so I love today's TTT topic: My Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases During the Second Half of 2019.
Before we dive into that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's a great way to spread the comment/follow love around the book blogosphere. You can revisit favorite blogs, discover new ones, and, as always, pad your TBR list with even more amazing-sounding reads. What's not to love? All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for some brief instructions, make your own list, and start hopping around the book blogosphere. Easy peasey.
My Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases During the Second Half of 2019 (in chronological order by release date):
1. The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall (June 4, 2019): When Chloe marries Dan, a man who's not only handsome but also fun and kind, she thinks she's finally hit the jackpot. While on their honeymoon on a remote island, however, Chloe becomes alarmed when Dan insists they leave their lives behind and stay there. Forever. I love me a good psychological thriller and this one definitely sounds intriguing. Bonus: the Kindle version of this book is only 99 cents on Amazon right now.
2. The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen (June 4, 2019): I've enjoyed several of Sarah Dessen's YA novels and this us vs. them story sounds compelling. It's about a young woman who goes to spend the summer with the family of her deceased mother and, in doing so, learns more about both her family and herself.
3. The Birthday Girl by Melissa De la Cruz (August 6, 2019): A woman who appears to have it all is throwing a glamorous party to celebrate her 40th birthday. Much like her 16th birthday bash, this one will not go as planned. In fact, it will reveal the truth behind the birthday girl's many convincing facades.
4. The Cold Way Home by Julia Keller (August 20, 2019): This is the 8th volume in an Appalachian mystery series that I love. In this installment, Bell Elkins makes a grisly discovery while searching for a missing teenager. She finds a dead body with a wound that could only have come from murder on the grounds of an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Bell vows to find out what happened. Sounds like another compelling read in a series that keeps getting better and better!
5. The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Matthieu (September 17, 2019): This family drama, told from multiple points of view, sounds engrossing.
6. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (September 24, 2019): This YA scare fest sounds fun. It's about a teen gravedigger who's desperate to save both her family and their graveyard. If only the dead would just stay dead!
7. The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring (September 24, 2019): This one had me at "gothic psychological thriller." It concerns an Argentine finishing school in an isolated, mysterious place and a young teacher who goes there looking for a new start only to discover all the creepy rumors about the place are true. Sounds like a great Halloween read.
8. Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia (October 1, 2019): Billed as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Stranger Things, the newest novel by the author of Eliza and Her Monsters (which I've yet to read) sounds super fun. It's about a teen who's trying to clear her name after being accused of a crime she didn't commit.
9. I Know You Remember by Jennifer Donaldson (October 8, 2019): Set in Anchorage, Alaska, this novel centers around a missing woman. As her childhood best friend searches for answers, she comes to realize that the girl she once knew has vanished in more ways than one.
10. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (November 5, 2019): I know I'm not the only one who's eagerly awaiting a new book by the author of The Night Circus. Her latest concerns a man who finds a book filled with incredible stories—including, he's shocked to discover, one of his own. His search for answers leads him into a strange, mysterious world. Tantalizing premise, no?
How about you? What new releases are you looking forward to? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Before we dive into that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's a great way to spread the comment/follow love around the book blogosphere. You can revisit favorite blogs, discover new ones, and, as always, pad your TBR list with even more amazing-sounding reads. What's not to love? All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for some brief instructions, make your own list, and start hopping around the book blogosphere. Easy peasey.
My Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases During the Second Half of 2019 (in chronological order by release date):
1. The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall (June 4, 2019): When Chloe marries Dan, a man who's not only handsome but also fun and kind, she thinks she's finally hit the jackpot. While on their honeymoon on a remote island, however, Chloe becomes alarmed when Dan insists they leave their lives behind and stay there. Forever. I love me a good psychological thriller and this one definitely sounds intriguing. Bonus: the Kindle version of this book is only 99 cents on Amazon right now.
2. The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen (June 4, 2019): I've enjoyed several of Sarah Dessen's YA novels and this us vs. them story sounds compelling. It's about a young woman who goes to spend the summer with the family of her deceased mother and, in doing so, learns more about both her family and herself.
3. The Birthday Girl by Melissa De la Cruz (August 6, 2019): A woman who appears to have it all is throwing a glamorous party to celebrate her 40th birthday. Much like her 16th birthday bash, this one will not go as planned. In fact, it will reveal the truth behind the birthday girl's many convincing facades.
4. The Cold Way Home by Julia Keller (August 20, 2019): This is the 8th volume in an Appalachian mystery series that I love. In this installment, Bell Elkins makes a grisly discovery while searching for a missing teenager. She finds a dead body with a wound that could only have come from murder on the grounds of an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Bell vows to find out what happened. Sounds like another compelling read in a series that keeps getting better and better!
5. The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Matthieu (September 17, 2019): This family drama, told from multiple points of view, sounds engrossing.
6. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (September 24, 2019): This YA scare fest sounds fun. It's about a teen gravedigger who's desperate to save both her family and their graveyard. If only the dead would just stay dead!
7. The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring (September 24, 2019): This one had me at "gothic psychological thriller." It concerns an Argentine finishing school in an isolated, mysterious place and a young teacher who goes there looking for a new start only to discover all the creepy rumors about the place are true. Sounds like a great Halloween read.
8. Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia (October 1, 2019): Billed as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Stranger Things, the newest novel by the author of Eliza and Her Monsters (which I've yet to read) sounds super fun. It's about a teen who's trying to clear her name after being accused of a crime she didn't commit.
9. I Know You Remember by Jennifer Donaldson (October 8, 2019): Set in Anchorage, Alaska, this novel centers around a missing woman. As her childhood best friend searches for answers, she comes to realize that the girl she once knew has vanished in more ways than one.
10. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (November 5, 2019): I know I'm not the only one who's eagerly awaiting a new book by the author of The Night Circus. Her latest concerns a man who finds a book filled with incredible stories—including, he's shocked to discover, one of his own. His search for answers leads him into a strange, mysterious world. Tantalizing premise, no?
How about you? What new releases are you looking forward to? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Top Ten Tuesday: Rest Easy, Kris Kringle, I Got This!
7:18 AM
Not gonna lie—I don't really trust Santa Claus to deliver the bookish goodies I want to see under my tree this year. No offense to the Big Guy, but he's got a lot on his plate this time of year. Rest easy, Kris Kringle, I got this.
Before I show you my list, do me a favor and join in the fun! You need a break from all the holiday stress you're probably feeling, so hop on over to The Broke and the Bookish. Check out the Top Ten Tuesday rules, make your own list, then click around the book blogosphere to discover lots of new blogs to love, familiar ones to re-visit, and, of course, to find all kinds of great reading recommendations. It's a good ole time, I promise! Please note: After January 16, TTT will be hosted on That Artsy Reader Girl blog.
Top Ten Books (and Bookish Things) I Hope Santa (Is) Bringsing Me:
1. Year One by Nora Roberts—Nothing says Christmas quite like a good dystopian, amirite? Actually, I just got tired of waiting for this one at the library, so I used a Barnes & Noble coupon and got it at a discount in a real, brick-and-mortar store.
2. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan—I love the pretty cover on this one. The story, which is about a man who becomes an obsessive collector of found things after his fiancé dies following him losing a precious keepsake of hers, sounds interesting too.
3. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia—This YA was on all kinds of "best of" lists this year. Again, I was too impatient to wait for it at the library, so I bought myself a copy.
4. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero—It's become a tradition for my 15-year-old daughter and me to visit Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe every December. We trade in old books, then use our store credit plus my birthday discount to stock up on new reads for the next year. I grabbed Meddling Kids because I've heard such good things about it. While my girl and I were discussing it at the store, a young man standing near us piped up to say: "My girlfriend just read that! She loved it." A ringing endorsement, if I ever heard one!
5. Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan—I'm reading this British thriller right now. It's about two teenage boys who sneak out of the house one night; one ends the night by fighting for his life in a Bristol hospital. The other boy, a refugee from Somalia, is too traumatized to speak about the incident. What really happened that night? I finally forced myself to put down Odd Child Out at about 11 last night. I can't wait to finish it today.
6. Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman—I'm not going to bother sticking this one under the tree since I've already read it and all. I enjoyed Vengeance Road and this is a worthy companion novel. It's not really a sequel since it stars different characters, but it does look in on some old favorites. If you're looking for a fun, action-packed YA series to enjoy, give this one a go.
7. The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman—This summery novel was in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble. I'd never heard of it before, but it gets great reviews on book sites. It's about a young Russian woman who tricks her family into immigrating to the U.S. When she becomes crippled, she's abandoned in New York City and must find a way to survive.
8. The Book Lover's Calendar 2018—I bought one of these on clearance last year and have enjoyed it immensely. Naturally, I couldn't resist grabbing the 2018 version.
9. No Time to Clean Tea Towel from Bas Bleu—Although I can't justify spending almost $13 on a dish towel, I think this one's adorable. And SO spot-on!
How about you? What books or bookish things are you hoping to find under your Christmas tree? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
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