{WOW} LUCKY IN LOVE by Kasie West

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...








's Pick:



Title: Lucky in Love
Author: Kasie West
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: July 25, 2017

Maddie doesn't believe in luck. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment -- She wins!

In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun... until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.

Two new Kasie West novels next year!?! This is amazing!!!! Her books always leave me smiling and content and her covers are just the cutest! This one sounds equally adorable, though I did see another book's synopsis that rang a little familiar with that whole lottery plotline. Still, I'm sure I'll love this one and it will easily have a home on my shelf, next to all of her other books. :D

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: adorable, contemporary, grabby hands, kasie west, lucky in love, scholastic, waiting on wednesday (wow)

{WOW} BY YOUR SIDE by Kasie West

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...








's Pick:



Title: By Your Side
Author: Kasie West
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 14, 2017

In this irresistible story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson.

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

Dude, being trapped in a library for a weekend would be like a dream come true for this book nerd. Kinda sounds like Heaven, doesn't it? ;0) I had a crush on a guy named Dax in high school, too, so reading this book just may be like living out several of my high school fantasies, lol. Plus, you can never go wrong with a Kasie West novel. =)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: by your side, contemporary, harper-collins, kasie west, waiting on wednesday (wow)

P.S. I Really Liked This Book

Title: P.S. I Like You
Author: Kasie West
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: July 26, 2016
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

If you're looking for one of the most adorable, quirky, feel-good YA romances to come along in a good while, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. Even if I was in the worst mood ever, this book would make me smile. It's got some seriously awesome powers of cuteness, in that P.S. I Like You is kinda like the Powerpuff Girl of YA contemporary.

It's not that the secret is all that hard to figure out, but the most fun aspect of the book is watching as it all unravels, seeing how long it takes the characters themselves to figure out the mystery. I loved the back and forth of the desk writing (a thing I also loved in Plus One), using lyrics to get to know one another at first. And it's awesome that it was music that kind of brought these two odd souls together. Music should bring people together...even bitter enemies. :)

I lovelovelove hate-to-love romances. They get me every time. And the romance in P.S. I Like You is no exception. It actually reminded me a bit of The DUFF, in that it featured the ultra-hot Mr. Perfect -- who turns out to be anything but -- and the kinda dorky but lovable girl who hates his guts. Except this story is way more PG than that one, though no less worthy of the swoons. ;-)

I've loved every Kasie West book -- and I've read them all -- and one aspect I always enjoy is how she incorporates so much family into her stories. It's not just the connection between friends and love interests that she focuses on, but she also makes sure that the main character's family has a pivotal role in her life. They might be kooky or annoying, but they are there.

This book was just so freaking cute, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The warm and fuzzies it left me with cannot be denied. (Just writing up this review has made me want to sit down and read it again!) P.S. I Love You is the pick-me-up book I never knew I needed but have always wanted.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: contemporary, favorite authors, favorites, kasie west, love/hate relationships, p.s. i like you, reviews, scholastic

Waiting on Wednesday: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...








's Pick:



Title: P.S. I Like You
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 2016

Signed, sealed, delivered . . .

While zoning out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her.

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters— sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out . . .

Kasie West brings irresistible wit, warmth, and sparkle to this swoon-worthy story of love showing up when you least expect it.

I know a lot of people will probably be featuring this one after the cover reveal earlier this week, but I can't NOT feature a Kasie West book. I haven't met one yet I didn't like. They're always so cute and funny and leave me with a smile on my face. And I have a feeling this one might be my favorite yet. The premise reminds me of an aspect in one of my more recent favorites, but I'm sure this book will be on the lighter side, considering who the author is. ;)


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, favorite authors, favorites, grabby hands, kasie west, must-read, p.s. i like you, scholastic

Review: The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West

Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5, 2015 -- TODAY!!!
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Going into The Fill-in Boyfriend, I fully expected it to be my new favorite of all of Kasie West's contemporary novels. (I don't think anything could top my love for her Pivot Point series.) The fake boyfriend plot is a favorite of mine, and the complications that arise from such a plan are usually pretty humorous.

That's definitely true in Gina and Fill-in Bradley's case. The antics involved in their faking a relationship were cringe-inducing at times but bordered on swoon-worthy at others. But sadly, they usually served to make me like Hayden more and Gina less. I could understand why Hayden would want to show up with a date, after the way things ended with his ex, but in Gina's case, I think honesty would have been the best policy. That whole stand-off with Jules just never sat right with me, Bradley's existence notwithstanding.

However, one of my favorite aspects of Kasie's books is that her characters realize things about themselves and ultimately change for the better as the story progresses. With The Distance Between Us, one of the lessons learned was that appearances can be deceiving, i.e. don't just a book by its cover. In her last novel, the main character discovered that she could be feminine and have girlfriends without sacrificing what she loved. In The Fill-in Boyfriend, I think there were plenty of lessons to be gleaned: lying isn't the answer, being different should be embraced, popularity isn't the key to happiness, friendships shift and change, and sometimes you'll find new friends in the unlikeliest of people. I love that this author includes well-meaning messages like this to her readers but that it never feels preachy or misguided.

The potential romance between Gia and her fill-in boyfriend was obviously a big draw for me, and it didn't disappoint. It was apparent that when the book opened, Gia was not mature enough for a relationship with the real Bradley, but I was glad that when she finally was, she had found her happiness with someone more suited to her. Hayden is a little nerdy -- my favorite kind of love interest, besides the dashing rogue -- and I loved how he always told Gia what she needed to hear. I appreciated that his sister was much the same, if maybe a little harsher in the way she went about it, and that she ended up being a really great friend to Gia when she needed it most.

So....not my favorite of Kasie West's novels but still very much what I've come to expect from this author: cute, funny, and smile-inducing. I do wish there'd been a little bit more to the ending, a little more resolution where Gia's friends were concerned. (Honestly, I thought the ARC I was reading was missing pages because of how abruptly it ended for me.) Still, I will read anything this woman writes and enjoy the heck out of it. For a fluffy good time, you should definitely check out Kasie's novels.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, harper-collins, kasie west, reviews, the fill-in boyfriend

Waiting on Wednesday: The Fill-In Boyfriend & The Sin Eater's Daughter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: The Fill-In Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5th, 2015

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

I know Jen featured this one back in November sometime, but it's Kasie West! And I kind of adore her writing. WOW is hard for me, because Jen is on it.. and she grabs up those titles way before I even see the covers. lol. I figure no one cares if we both want the same books right? It get's double the sharing.

Everything about this one screams I will love it. I can't wait! :)





's Pick:



Title: The Sin Eater's Daughter
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Series: The Sin Eater's Daughter, book #1
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: February 24, 2015

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Oh my gawd! Is that cover not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? And the book itself sounds just as amazing. I mean, the girl has the power to kill with her touch! Also, I love stories where the girl falls for the guard. I really shouldn't start any new series until I finish some others, but I can't help myself where this novel is concerned. =)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, fantasy, harper-collins, kasie west, melinda salisbury, scholastic, the fill-in boyfriend, the sin eater's daughter, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Waiting on Wednesday: Twisted Fate & The Fill-in Boyfriend

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:




Title: Twisted Fate
Author: Norah Olson
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Publication Date: January 20th, 2015

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit—shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him.

As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too.

And the more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right—and wrong—she is about everything.

Perfect for fans of Michelle Hodkin, and E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, Twisted Fate is an unputdownable novel, teeming with suspense.

These kind of books are seriously growing on me and this cover is so eye catching. I cannot wait to start this one!





's Pick:



Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5, 2015

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Kasie West is on my author auto-buy list and with good reason. Her books tend to feature an adorable romance and have the cutest covers. And I think this book is going to be beyond cute....I'm hoping for some serious hijinks to ensue with a plot like that! :)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, funfunfun, harper-collins, kasie west, norah olson, psychological thriller, suspense, the fill-in boyfriend, twisted fate, waiting on wednesday (wow)