It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? (#IMWAYR) is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys with a kid/YA-lit spin hosted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

Past Reads: This week I did not read nearly as much as I wanted to, but homeownership calls. We spent four days re-sodding most of our backyard, which left my weak and pathetic self ready for bed around 8 o’clock every night. At least now I have a nice backyard to sit outside and read in for the rest of summer (now, if I could just get rid of the swarms of mosquitos).

In between our Fourth of July celebrations and laying hefty pieces of sod, I did manage to squeeze in two books: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick and Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff. I didn’t enjoy Ashes as much as I hoped to (see review), which kind of slowed my reading down. Luckily, I followed it up with a book I really liked - Boy Nobody (review to come later this week). I love when I am pleasantly surprised by a book, and Boy Nobody did just that - if it’s not on your To-Be-Read list, you should definitely add it.

   

Current Reads: It seems like I start new books on Sunday nights; I’m not sure how that happens. This week, I just started Slammed by Colleen Hoover. It has been on my TBR list for a LONG time. This book comes highly recommended by one of my school’s math teachers, and she’s one of the biggest YA readers I know. I was all ready to tell you that I just started it and wasn't very far, but instead, I read until 2am last night and finished the book. I just couldn't stop...I love when that happens! I completely understand why I was continuously told over the past year to read this book (although, it's definitely for an older YA crowd - seniors, not freshmen).

Here’s the goodreads summary of the book: Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart

My new "just started" book is Born of Illusion by Teri Brown. I saw this on an @epicreads recommendation list and thought I would give it a try.

Here’s the goodreads summary of the book: ANNA VAN HOUSEN HAS A SECRET.

A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage shows and seances, easily navigating the underground world of magicians and mentalists in 1920s New York. For Anna, the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini - or so Marguerite claims - handcuffs and sleight-of-hand illusions have never been much of a challenge. The real trick is keeping her own gifts secret from her mother: because while Marguerite's power may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people's feelings and foretell the future.

But as Anna's powers intensify, she experiences frightening visions of her mother in peril, which lead her to explore the abilities she's tried so long to hide. And when a mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing Anna to a society that studies people with gifts like hers, she begins to wonder if there's more to life than keeping secrets.

As her visions become darker and her powers spin out of her control, Anna is forced to rethink all she's ever known. Is her mother truly in danger, or are Anna's visions merely illusions? And could the great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite's tricks?

From Teri Brown comes a world bursting with magic, with romance, with the temptations of Jazz Age New York --- and the story of a girl about to become the mistress of her own destiny.

Future Reads: Well, my library holds problem has only gotten worse this week, with a few more highly anticipated reads becoming available. I’m still confident I can get through the books, but I might have to start ranking the books just in case my reading stamina wanes. I also need to start getting into school mode; we go back on August 8th...yikes! I have A LOT that I want to get done for the upcoming school year, but I suppose I can accomplish it in between reads.

My books currently stacked up:

         

         

What are you reading? What have you just finished? What are your top recommendations? Leave me a comment as I'm always looking for books to add to my To-Be-Read list!