Happy March, people! My new book for March isn't one that's available for purchase yet. It's The Here and Now by Ann Brashares, which will be released on April 8th.

Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

- Goodreads

I first discovered The Here and Now on NetGalley, my newfound favorite book site. If you haven't checked out NetGalley yet, you are missing out! Anyway, I'm always on the look out for new science fiction and fantasy, the two best genres in the universe! So, when I read the description for The Here and Now on NetGalley, I immediately sent a request to the publisher. It sounds super interesting and unique. One of my favorite things about reading is discovering books that do something new within a genre; they're not just repeating what's already been done. I think The Here and Now could be one of those books.

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Try as I might to read all of the popular books that are out there, there are some authors I have simply never read. Here are the top ten authors I've never read:

1. John Green: I've heard so many good things about John Green's books. They've been on my list for a while; I just haven't gotten around to reading them yet.
2. Jodi Picoult: I've never read Jodi Picoult. I've heard her books are good, but they just don't appeal to me. I don't think I would be able to make it through My Sister's Keeper; it's too sad. 
3. Cassandra Clare: How I have gone this long without reading The Mortal Instruments, I'll never know. 
4. Stephen King: I used to love mysteries and horror stories when I was younger, so I don't know how I've gone so long without reading Stephen King. Right now, 11/22/63 is on my list.
5. James Patterson: This one's not entirely true. I tried to read Witch and Wizard, but I just couldn't get past the awful dialogue. I never even made it past the first chapter. 

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Here's a look back at the books I've reviewed during February (and January):

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (see review)
2. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufmann and Meagan Spooner (see review)
3. Alienated by Melissa Landers (see review)
4. Defy by Sara B. Larson (see review)

Of those four books, my Best of the Month pick for February is Alienated by Melissa Landers.

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I admit it! I have a problem...a book buying problem, that is. I'm an impulsive book buyer. What can I say? I can't help it. Usually, I'll walk into the bookstore to buy one book, but I don't think I've ever accomplished my mission to buy only one book. Once I'm in the store, I can't help but get lost in all the books on the shelves. Then, before you know it, I have an armful of books books I didn't even know I needed until I saw them sitting there on the bookshelf, looking all interesting and calling my name. It happens to me all the time. And, do I ever read all those books I buy? No! They end up sitting on my bookshelf while I find other books to read. That's probably why my TBR list is crazy long. Anyway, without any further ado, here are the top ten books I just HAD to buy...but are still sitting on my bookshelf:

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: This book is all the range right now, especially with its upcoming movie adaptation. I've heard nothing but good things about it, which is why I bought it over a year ago. I still haven't gotten around to reading it.
2. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling: I absolutely had to have this book when it came out. I mean, it's J.K. Rowling. Duh! I tried to read it, but I confess I didn't get very far before I set it down and never picked it up again. I'll try again, especially since it's being turned into a show for BBC. Boy, do I love British TV!
3. Matched by Allie Condie: This series has been recommended to me many times, and I think the concept behind the story is fascinating, which is why I bought this book a while back. I still haven't read it, but I really need to. I'm a huge fan of dystopian novels, and I've heard the world created in this book is one of the best. 
4. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel: This is another book that's had a lot of hype surrounding it. I had planned on reading it years ago, but I just never got around to it. Then, when the movie came out, my interest in the story was renewed. I found a copy at a used bookstore, but I still haven't read it. I want to read it before I watch the movie. I'm a purist like that (...not really).
5. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan: I'm a huge Percy Jackson fan. I've read all of the other books (both Percy Jackson and The Heroes of Olympus). So, when this book came out in the fall, I absolutely had to buy it the day it came out, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay away from spoilers when you teach a bunch of middle schoolers who couldn't keep a secret if their lives depended on it?

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Defy by Sara B. Larson
Published by Scholastic Press
Date: January 7, 2014
Series: Defy #1
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

- Goodreads

Alexa has been playing a part for years, ever since her twin brother Marcel saved her life when they suddenly became orphans during an attack on their village. Ever since that day, Alexa has been masquerading as Alex, the most skilled member of the Prince's guard...and also a boy. It has been imperative for Alexa and Marcel to conceal her true identity, lest she face the horrors that await all orphaned girls at the hands of King Hector, the ruthless ruler of the once-great nation of Antion. But, when Prince Damian is abducted with Alexa and her best friend Rylan along with him, Alexa's secret is suddenly in jeopardy as she fights to keep the Prince safe, all while trying to make sense of the confusing attractions she suddenly feels for Damian and for Rylan. How can Alexa manage it all--maintaining the safety of the Prince, reconciling the feelings she harbors for Damian and Rylan, and possibly even putting an end to the senseless war that has ravaged Antion and the neighboring nation of Blevon for decades? What decisions will Alexa make, and will those decisions be the right choice?

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's list was difficult for me. I've never really thought about why I love to read before. Reading has always been something I love to do; it's just part of who I am. After some serious pondering, though, these are the reasons I came up with:

1. I get to live vicariously through the lives of the characters. My favorite characters are the adventurers and the romantics.
2. Reading is relaxing. Nothing like a good book to take my stress away.
3. No matter what book I'm reading, I usually learn something new.
4. I get to escape to different worlds and time periods.
5. I get to talk about my favorite books/characters with other readers. True story: One of my friends and I used to have some heated debates about Harry Potter... because we're cool like that.
6. I get to spend hours at the bookstore/library. It's one of my favorite pastimes. I could get lost among the stacks, and I wouldn't mind one bit. It's one of the ways I discover new books.
7. Reading makes you think. The really good stories will get me thinking about the world in new ways.

And...that's all I can think of. Like I said, this was a difficult topic for me. Maybe you're better at articulating your love of reading than I am. What are the reasons you love to read?

Alienated by Melissa Landers
Published by Disney Hyperion
Date: February 4, 2014
Series: Alienated #1
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

--Goodreads

When Cara Sweeney is selected to host one of the first exchange students from the planet L'eihr, she thinks her future is set. She'll host Aelyx for a year on Earth, take her turn on L'eihr, and then return to Earth where she can attend the university of her dreams, courtesy of the hefty scholarship she'll receive as a student in the first intergalactic student exchange program. Piece of cake. Never mind the fact that Aelyx has plans of his own. He and his friends want nothing to do with Earth or humanity. Equipped with a secret plot to sabotage the potential alliance between Earth and L'eihr, Aelyx plans to return to his home planet as soon as possible, never to return to Earth again. When the exchange finally starts, neither Cara nor Aelyx is prepared for torrent of events and emotions that will change both their lives, and even their planets, forever.

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