Books on Pre-Order

I’ve always been someone who pre-orders books, films and music I’m excited for but it wasn’t until I saw Lucy Powrie tweet about the importance of it that I really thought about it. In the book world, the first-week sales charts are so important and all pre-orders are counted in that number! This, in turn, helps the book’s success, helps new authors find a place in the book community and also shows your love for the novel’s ideas. As I said, this is something I’ve always done, but it’s become something of a more conscious decision lately so I thought I’d share with you the books I currently have ordered and which I can’t wait for! What books are you looking forward to?

 

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, the second in the Winternight Trilogy*

Now the first wave of hardback copies have been released of this book but I find it rather challenging to read hardbacks so I’ve consequently pre-ordered the paperback. It’s due for release on August 9th and I’m so excited to read it.

Blurb: The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege. Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

Release date (paperback): August 9th ’18

 

The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown*

I’ve followed Savannah on social media and Youtube for quite some time now and have always thoroughly enjoyed her anthologies and spoken word so there was no way I didn’t want to be one of the first to read it!

Blurb: Sydney’s dad is the only psychiatrist for miles around their small Ohio town. He is also unexpectedly dead. Is Sydney crazy, or is it kind of weird that her dad-a guy whose entire job revolved around other peoples’ secrets-crashed alone, with no explanation And why is June Copeland, homecoming queen and the town’s golden child, at his funeral? As the two girls grow closer in the wake of the accident, it’s clear that not everyone is happy about their new friendship. But what is picture perfect June still hiding? And does Sydney even want to know?

Release date: February 7th ’19

 

Wilde About The Girl by Louise Pentland

This is the second in the Robin Wilde series! I am yet to read the first in all honesty but I just know I’ll love it so I’m super excited for this to be released. A blurb, however, is not yet released.

Release date: August 9th ’18

 

Cordially Invited by Zoe Sugg

Oops it does appear I’m on a Youtuber hype! But the concept for this seems so unique and like something I’d both use and enjoy.

Blurb: For as long as Zoe Sugg can remember she has loved welcoming friends & family into her home, whether it’s to celebrate someone else’s big day or just being with friends, there is nothing she enjoys more than putting her energy into making any occasion special. In Zoe’s eyes the best thing about getting people together is there really is no right or wrong way: maybe you want to plan a throw-everything-at-it shindig, or simply make a special effort for one guest. Mostly it’s about how people feel when they’re in your company. How the smallest of gatherings can feel momentous, and the biggest of parties can feel intimate. Over the years Zoe has shared glimpses of this side to her in her videos, with millions of viewers taking daily inspiration from her life. In Cordially Invited she shares her best and never seen before ideas in print. Divided into seasons, and woven through with Zoe’s own stories and memories, this book reveals her favourite events – big or small – throughout the year and how to celebrate them in style. From practical ideas for how to feed your guests and hacks for unexpected get-togethers to simple but impressive DIYs and those personal touches people will remember, Cordially Invited is Zoe’s blueprint for making an event and a memory out of each day.

Release date: October 4th ’18

 

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay by J. K. Rowling

I doubt this is any surprise to anyone, let’s be honest there is no way on earth I wouldn’t be reading this the minute it’s released. I adored Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them more than I could’ve ever imagined so I’m entirely hyper about this sequal!

Blurb: At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Release date: November 16th ’18

 

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Blurb: Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever. Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever. The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

Release date: May 17th ’18

 

I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman

I’ve heard such amazing things about this book and the blurb really caught my attention!

Blurb: For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare. Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.

Release date: May 3rd ’18

 

Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom FletcherEve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

I’ve read separate novels by both Gi and Tom and have adored them so I am hugely intrigued to see the masterpiece they’ve made together

Blurb: All her life Eve has been kept away from the opposite sex. Kept from the truth of her past. But at sixteen it’s time for Eve to face her destiny. Three potential males have been selected for her. The future of humanity is in her hands. She’s always accepted her fate. Until she meets Bram. Eve wants control over her life. She wants freedom. But how do you choose between love and the future of the human race?

Release date: May 31st ’18

 

The Surface Breaks: a reimagining of the Little Mermaid by Louise O’Neill

Blurb: Deep beneath the sea, off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of freedom from her controlling father. On her first swim to the surface, she is drawn towards a human boy. She longs to join his carefree world, but how much will she have to sacrifice? What will it take for the little mermaid to find her voice? Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, with the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans. A book with the darkest of undercurrents, full of rage and rallying cries: storytelling at its most spellbinding.

Release date: May 3rd ’18

 

The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night by Jen Campbell 

Blurb: ‘These days, you can find anything you need at the click of a button.
That’s why I bought her heart online.’

Spirits in jam jars, mini-apocalypses, animal hearts and side shows.
A girl runs a coffin hotel on a remote island.
A boy is worried his sister has two souls.
A couple are rewriting the history of the world.
And mermaids are on display at the local aquarium.

Release date: July 12th ’18

 

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Frankly, if you haven’t already pre-ordered this where have you been? This is a follow-up from Simon Vs The Homosapien Agenda (Love, Simon) all about Simons best friend who is bisexual. I can not even begin to explain how damn excited I am for this!

Blurb: Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst. When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon. So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.

Release date: May 3rd ’18

 

Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

I’ve read an assortment of books by Haig so far and enjoyed all of them so I’m keen to read the next one he’s releasing.

Blurb: The world is messing with our minds. Rates of stress and anxiety are rising. A fast, nervous planet is creating fast and nervous lives. We are more connected, yet feel more alone. And we are encouraged to worry about everything from world politics to our body mass index.
– How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad?
– How do we stay human in a technological world?
– How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious?
After experiencing years of anxiety and panic attacks, these questions became urgent matters of life and death for Matt Haig. And he began to look for the link between what he felt and the world around him.

Release date: July 5th ’18

 

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Blurb: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together. What could go wrong? With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely. And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

Release date: May 17th ’18

 

When The Curtain Falls by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I’ve read every single book Carrie has written and adored each and every one. On top of this, this blurb is the most enticing to me and I can not wait to have it in my hands.

Blurb: In 1952 two young lovers meet, in secret, at the beautiful Southern Cross theatre in the very heart of London’s West End. Their relationship is made up of clandestine meetings and stolen moments because there is someone who will make them suffer if he discovers she is no longer ‘his’. But life in the theatre doesn’t always go according to plan and tragedy and heartache are waiting in the wings for all the players… Almost seventy years later, a new production of When the Curtain Falls arrives at the theatre, bringing with it Oscar Bright and Olive Green and their budding romance. Very soon, though, strange things begin to happen and they learn about the ghost that’s haunted the theatre since 1952, a ghost who can only be seen on one night of the year. Except the ghost is appearing more often and seems hell bent on sabotaging Oscar and Olive. The young couple realise they need to right that wrong from years gone by, but can they save themselves before history repeats itself and tragedy strikes once more?

Release date: July 12th ’18

 

North of Happy by Adi Alsaid

Blurb: His whole life has been mapped out for him… Carlos Portillo has always led a privileged and sheltered life. A dual citizen of Mexico and the US, he lives in Mexico City with his wealthy family, where he attends an elite international school. Always a rule follower and a parent pleaser, Carlos is more than happy to tread the well-worn path in front of him. He has always loved food and cooking, but his parents see it as just a hobby. When his older brother, Felix—who has dropped out of college to live a life of travel—is tragically killed, Carlos begins hearing his brother’s voice, giving him advice and pushing him to rebel against his father’s plan for him. Worrying about his mental health, but knowing the voice is right, Carlos runs away to the United States and manages to secure a job with his favorite celebrity chef. As he works to improve his skills in the kitchen and pursue his dream, he begins to fall for his boss’s daughter—a fact that could end his career before it begins. Finally living for himself, Carlos must decide what’s most important to him and where his true path really lies.

Release date: February 26th ’19

 

Am I Ugly? by Michelle Eleman 

I love Michelle, love love love her. Body positivity, body acceptance, privilege acceptance, fat acceptance etc etc are all such important topics to me and I want to continue my educational and self-loving journey. I just know this will be a profound read.

Blurb: In July 2015, Michelle Elman posted a picture of herself on Instagram. She is wearing a bikini, but unlike so many of the bodies on Instagram, hers is not thin. And in the photo, you can see deep scars running across her stomach. At twenty-one years old, it was her first time wearing a bikini. The post went viral. It was shared by celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel and George Takei, and featured in over sixty publications including the Daily Mail, Independent, MTV, Cosmopolitan, People and Buzzfeed. It joined a passionate conversation all over the word: what is beauty? Who got to decide? Why don’t we talk about scars? Am I Ugly? follows Michelle’s journey through fifteen surgeries and body-confidence issues to embrace both her scars and her body. Her inspirational story takes us through childhood illnesses and the rough competitive background of school, to her arrival at university where her body insecurities were challenged again. It grapples with disordered eating, PTSD, and the complex interplay between beauty and illness.

Release date: July 12th ’18

 

How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne

Holly Bourne is an author I’ve followed and loved for quite a while now so it was unsurprising her newest novel slipped into my pre-order basket!

Blurb: Who the f*ck is Tori Bailey? There’s no doubt that Tori is winning the game of life. A straight-talking, bestselling author, she’s inspired millions of women around the world with her self-help memoir. And she has the perfect relationship to boot. But Tori Bailey has been living a lie. Her long-term boyfriend won’t even talk about marriage, but everyone around her is getting engaged and having babies. And when her best friend Dee – her plus one, the only person who understands the madness – falls in love, suddenly Tori’s in terrifying danger of being left behind. When the world tells you to be one thing and turning thirty brings with it a loud ticking clock, it takes courage to walk your own path. It’s time for Tori to practice what she’s preached, but the question is: is she brave enough?

Release date: June 14th ’18