Top Ten Tuesday: Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

This week topic…

Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

These books whether its grief, sexual abuse, sexuality, suicide or just teens coming of age all are tough subjects to write much less deal with. However these authors wrote some amazing stories dealing with them.

Live Through This – Mindi Scott

Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M. Danforth

My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult

The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides

We Were the Mulvaneys – Joyce Carol Oates

White Oleander – Janet Fitch

Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher

That’s my Top Ten…what’s yours?

Review: Live Through This by Mindi Scott

Live Through This by Mindi Scott

Published: October 2, 2012
Format: Purchased
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Challenge: TRB Pile
Rating: 4/5

Summary via Goodreads

From the outside, Coley Sterling’s life seems pretty normal . . . whatever that means. It’s not perfect—her best friend is seriously mad at her and her dance team captains keep giving her a hard time—but Coley’s adorable, sweet crush Reece helps distract her. Plus, she has a great family to fall back on—with a mom and stepdad who would stop at nothing to keep her siblings and her happy.

But Coley has a lot of secrets. She won’t admit—not even to herself—that her almost-perfect life is her own carefully-crafted façade. That for years she’s been burying the shame and guilt over a relationship that crossed the line. Now that Coley has the chance at her first real boyfriend, a decade’s worth of lies are on the verge of unraveling.

In this unforgettable powerhouse of a novel, Mindi Scott offers an absorbing, layered glimpse into the life of an every girl living a nightmare that no one would suspect.

My Thoughts

Wow. This is one amazing story. It’s a story of bravery, hope and courage. When Coley’s secret is revealed all you want is for her to stand up for herself and get help. It’s a tough subject matter but one that I know can and will hopefully help someone out there. Coley’s courage to finally say something and admit to others and even herself about what has been happening breaks your heart. No one deserves to be taken advantage of and no one deserves to ever feel that pain…ever.

Mindi Scott takes a tough subject matter and writes a great book. Never over or under playing a single thing. I will say I was surprised when it was revealed who was hurting Coley. I must admit I never saw that one coming. I recommend reading and passing on this book to everyone. If this book can help at least one person than it’s all worth it. Abuse tends to make people feel ashamed when really it’s never the victims fault. I feel this wonderful book gives these victims a voice and speaks for those who can’t or won’t speak for themselves.

WoW [28]

Waiting on Wednesday [WoW] is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s WoW feature is:

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Expected Publication: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Summary via Goodreads...

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice.

Why I Can’t Wait....

I love a good love story! Not to mention I’m dying to know why Sawyer left and to see how this story all plays out. Seems like this could be a really good, maybe even sappy love story.

That’s what I’m waiting for…please share yours.

Review: The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan

The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan

Expected Publication: May 14, 2013
Source: Finished copy provided by publisher
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 4/5

Summary via Goodreads

Evie and Nicole Glass share a last name. They also shared a husband.

When a tragic car accident ends the life of Richard Glass, it also upends the lives of Evie and Nicole, and their children. There’s no love lost between the widow and the ex. In fact, Evie sees a silver lining in all this heartache—the chance to rid herself of Nicole once and for all. But Evie wasn’t counting on her children’s bond with their baby half-brother, and she wasn’t counting on Nicole’s desperate need to hang on to the threads of family, no matter how frayed. Strapped for cash, Evie cautiously agrees to share living expenses—and her home—with Nicole and the baby. But when Evie suspects that Nicole is determined to rearrange more than her kitchen, Evie must decide who she can trust. More than that, she must ask: what makes a family?

My Thoughts

First and foremost I truly enjoyed this book. I read it in almost one sitting; I haven’t done that in a while. I loved this storyline of an unconventional family and how they come together after a tragedy. It’s a different twist on a subject we’ve seen before. What would happen to a broken family after a family member passes. How does the ex and once mistress now “wife” co-exist? Would they really have to? Or do they simply move on with each other’s respective lives?

These are some of the questions answered in Amy Sue Nathan's new book.  Never been married or having children I wondered if I could even relate. Needless to say I could and did. I could come into this fresh and seeing and understanding both Evie and Nicole’s sides and opinions.

Even though Evie questions having Nicole in their lives she’s a big enough person to do what’s best for her children in spite of her past feelings. Honestly I don’t know if I could do that if I were in her shoes. Then I thought back to the title. It's not only their last names. I see it as a reflection of each woman. How they see themselves in each other. Even though the situation may not be “normal” for some it works for them and the kids. However what is “normal” these days? The definition of family is changing every day and I for one am a believer in doing what works best for YOU. One shouldn’t care what others think or say. At the end of the day no one’s opinions should matter but your own.

Amy Sue Nathan wrote a wonderfully written book showing us family isn’t always merely by blood sometimes it’s friends, ex’s, neighbors or even strangers. It’s what you make out of it that truly counts.

IMM [20]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, it is all about sharing what goodies you received during the week. This post features about 2 weeks of books.

Actual mailbox: [Thank you St. Martin’s Press!]

The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan [currently reading...it's really good]

Love Me Anyway by Tiffany Hawk

Mystic by Alyson Noel

Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking

Wake by Amanda Hocking

For Review via Edelweiss

Turn Around Bright Eyes by Rob Sheffield

Expected Publication: August 6, 2013

It Books

 

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

Expected Publication: July 23, 2013

Simon Pulse

 

Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin

Expected Publication: July 9, 2013

Bantam

 

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Expected Publication: September 3, 2013

Simon and Schuster BYR

The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

Expected Publication: June 11, 2013

William Morrow & Co.

For Review via NetGalley

The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle

Expected Publication: November 5, 2013

William Morrow & Co.

 

The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard

Expected Publication: June 25, 2013

Harlequin MIRA

Bought [Hardcopy]

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
*found a hardcover copy for 4bucks at Thriftbooks.com couldn’t pass it up. Now my hardcover series is complete!

 Bought [Kindle]

Bossypants by Tina Fey

*.99 how could I not get it? Love her!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

That’s my haul. Link me to yours.

Feature and Follow Friday

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Gain new followers and make new friends! Or just check out the weekly questions and see what others respond.

Q: Give us a sneak peek! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.

A: I’m currently reading Bossypants by Tina Fey and The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan. I’m more than half way through with Bossypants and its hilarious! I adore Tina Fey and I love her funny take on everything.
The Glass Wives is a how an ex-wife and new wife will co-exist after the man they had in common. If they can come together to form some sort of family for the sake of the kids left behind. I’m only about 30 pages in but it’s really good so far.

Please feel free to share. You can follow via GFC, email, or bloglovin’. Also feel free to friend me on Goodreads. Thanks!

Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

Expected Publication: May 14, 2013
Format: ARC provided by publisher
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Rating: 4/5

Summary via Goodreads

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

My Thoughts

I’ll be honest I didn’t know if I would like or even get into the whole “Witness Protection” thing. Boy was I wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by this wonderful novel. It has action and a real interesting storyline. It has you guessing and questioning any and everyone involved.

I also enjoyed the sub-plot of her friendship and eventual romance with Ethan. What can I say I love me a southern boy. What I liked was how his character never pushed Meg but at the same time knew there was something that wasn’t quite right. I loved how Meg finally realized she knew nothing would change if she didn’t at least try and trust people to some level. However the ending is what totally caught me off guard! I’m not one for posting spoilers on my reviews- but I never really saw it coming.

I can’t wait to see what author Ashley Elston has in store for us next. I enjoyed her storytelling and the twist and turns that she led me on. If I’m not mistaken I think I saw somewhere there is going to a sequel. I hope so I can’t wait to see how it all pans out.