Giveaways
Erin L. Schneider
Goodreads Giveaway: SUMMER OF SLOANE
Goodreads Giveaway: SUMMER OF SLOANE

YA Bestsellers

TBR: August 2011

So we've all heard the news that Borders is officially shutting it's doors, for good. I myself, feel this is a sad, sad day in the making, as I remember going to the Walden Books in my neighborhood when I was little, begging my dad to buy me a book. 

But, with the recent announcement of it's upcoming demise, comes something wonderful: CLEARANCE BOOKS!!!

So last weekend, I drug my overly-dramatic hungry husband down to Borders (so hungry, that every few minutes he'd find me, he'd pretend to chew off his arm), did my best at hiding from him, and roamed back and forth down aisle after aisle. Needless to say, 40 minutes later, a husband about ready to pass out, and $90 spent, I found myself with one of the most magnificant To Be Read stacks, I'd seen in a long time.

So, what all did I pick up and add to my ever growing TBR list for August? 


1. TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler

Just finished reading this one - very touching and so far, one of my favorite YA contemps. See my review from yesterday, posted below!

 

 

 

2. FIXING DELILAH by Sarah Ockler

Just started reading this one today; stay tuned for my review!

 

 

 

3. PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

 

 

 

 

4. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL by Justina Chen Headley

Justina is a local Seattle author - and one I've definitely been looking forward to reading!

 

 

 

5. POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

Elana and I have traveled around in some of the same writerly circles, for several years. I'm so excited to witness her breakthrough YA novel and can't wait to read this one!

 

 

USA Today's Top 150 Bestselling Books as of 07.07.2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011: According to USA TODAY, the following list contains the top 50 best selling books (out of 150) - based on sales through Sunday, 07/03/2011.  For the complete list of 150 books for the week or just to check out more information - plus reviews, book news and a searchable archive of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list - visit their website.

 

YA Note of the week:  Only 7 YA titles grace the top 50, and 22 total even made the entire list. New this week, MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE, by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, making it's debut at #13. 

 

Legend:

Position This Week, Last Week, Title, Author (Publisher), Price

 

 

1 0 Now You See Her, James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge (Little, Brown), $14.99
2 1 Smokin’ Seventeen, Janet Evanovich (Bantam), $28.00
3 3 The Help, Kathryn Stockett (Berkley), $16.00
4 2 Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson), $16.99
5 4 The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press), $8.99

USA Today's Top 150 Bestselling Books as of 05.29.2011

Thursday, June 2, 2011: According to USA TODAY, the following list contains the top 25 best selling books (out of 150) - based on sales through Sunday, 05/29/2011.  For the complete list of 150 books for the week or just to check out more information - plus reviews, book news and a searchable archive of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list - visit their website.


Note of the week:  Finally something new to the list this week: The Warlock by Michael Scott, debuting at #13. Otherwise, we're looking at the same reads that have coveted the top 25 list for quite awhile now. 


After checking all 150 books for the week, I'm still surprised to NOT see Divergent by Veronica Roth making the list. What is being pitched as a futuristic 'Fight Club' for teens, this title is well worthy of the top 10, but maybe it's just taking a while to get out there? I just finished it (in 2 days) and posted my review below this blog post - and by all means, it's a definite must read...right up there with The Hunger Games for me!


Legend:

Position This Week, Last Week, Title, Author (Publisher), Price

 

1 1 Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson), $16.99
2 2 Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen (Algonquin), $7.99
3 6 The Help, Kathryn Stockett (Berkley), $16.00
4 0 The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic), $14.99
5 3 Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin (St. Martin's Press), $7.99

My Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Summary:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue — Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is — she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are — and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves...or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review:

Hands down, best book I've read in 2011 (and I don't say that lightly, considering how much I REALLY liked I Am Number Four!). Not since The Hunger Games, have I been compelled to turn the pages so fast, yet not want a book to come to an end.

UsA Today's Top 150 Bestselling Books as of 05.22.2011

Thursday, May 26, 2011: According to USA TODAY, the following list contains the top 25 best selling books (out of 150) - based on sales through Sunday, 05/15/2011.  For the complete list of 150 books for the week or just to check out more information - plus reviews, book news and a searchable archive of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list - visit their website.
Note of the week:  Same ole', same ole' children's / YA books in the top 25, including the annual appearance of Dr. Seuss's, Oh The Places You'll Go, just in time for graduation. 

Legend:

Position This Week, Last Week, Title, Author (Publisher), Price

1 2 Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson), $16.99

2 1 Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen (Algonquin), $7.99

3 7 Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin (St. Martin's Press), $7.99

4 3 The Throne of Fire, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $18.99

5 0 10th Anniversary, James Patterson, Maxine Paetro (Little, Brown), $14.99

USA Today's Top 150 Bestselling Books as of 05.15.2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011: According to USA TODAY, the following list contains the top 25 best selling books (out of 150) - based on sales through Sunday, 05/15/2011.  For the complete list of 150 books for the week or just to check out more information - plus reviews, book news and a searchable archive of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list - visit their website.

Note of the week:  My heart palpitations have thankfully subsided - both Catching Fire and Mockingjay have clawed their way back into the top 25 this week! Phew! *wipes brow* 

As well, the top 25 also contain 5 - count 'em, 5 - YA titles vs. last week's measly 2. And new this week: Sarah Dessen's latest release, What Happened To Goodbye, eeking in at the #24 spot. But still, nothing earth shattering making an appearance...and no new YA authors to the scene. I just bought Divergent by Veronica Roth and Bumped by Megan McCafferty - two books I've been seeing quite a bit of buzz on lately. I wonder if / when they'll make an appearance on the list? Stay tuned for my reviews of both!

Legend:

Position This Week, Last Week, Title, Author (Publisher), Price

1 4 Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen (Algonquin), $7.99
2 5 Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson), $16.99
3 2 The Throne of Fire, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $18.99
4 1 Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris (Ace), $27.95
5 0 Buried Prey, John Sandford (Putnam Adult), $14.99