Waiting On Wednesday - July 27, 2011

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Expected publication:  Spring 2012

Publisher: Viking

Other places to find the book:
Amazon.com (Pre-order)
Add it to Goodreads

from Goodreads:
A dark and provocative novel from the author of The Secret Year.
Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again. Jennifer R. Hubbard has created a riveting story about a difficult but important subject.

I'm not normally one to love dark reads but I loved Jennifer's debut, The Secret Year! I do have a soft spot for broken characters though and seeing Ryan break out of his shell by having that one person sounds like a beautiful story.

What are you waiting on?

Review: The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Hardcover:192 pages

Released: January 7, 2010

ISBN-13: 978-0670011537

Teaser quote:


"I didn't really believe all that stuff Julia had said about me being better at kissing than Austin. I figured she was just mad at him, and horny, and I happened to be there, so what the hell." (pg 21)

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:


For the last year, Colt and Julia were living double lives. Julia was from the rich side of town, had a long-time boyfriend and was a frequent visitor at the country club; Colt lived in the flats. One day they meet at the river & somehow, against the odds, they connect. Without anyone knowing, they met up almost every Friday, but tragedy strikes when Julia is killed in a car accident. Colt is finding it difficult to mourn her loss with no one to talk to - until Julia's brother discovers her journal. The journal never mentions Colt by name, but each entry is written to his initials and gives us a little more insight to Julia's thoughts over the last year. Can the journal give him some answers & peace of mind to move on?

I read this over a week ago but kept thinking about how to start my review. The fact that I'm still thinking about it is a big reason I'm giving it 5 stars. Any book that keeps you drawn into the story that long is a definite re-read in my books :)

I can't imagine having to deal with grief with no one to lend an ear. The character development is phenomenal as we watch Colt go through many stages of grief. I loved Colt and really felt for him as he struggles to come to terms with Julia's death. Julia I'm still on the fence about. Was it more about the game they were playing, the secret OR did she really care for him? Was she ashamed to have feelings for him OR scared of change? I wonder if Colt knew the 'real' Julia OR was she just as bad as the others who thought they were better then everyone else? See, I told you this book stuck with me! An awesome debut novel, I hope to see more form Jennifer!

Teaser Tuesday - February 2, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

"See you then."
I hung up and threw myself on my bed. I'd judged Julia pretty harshly for always saying she was going to break up with Austin Chadwick and never doing it, but now I was starting to see that it wasn't so easy." (pg 72)

"Waiting on" Wednesday - December 9, 2009

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard. I have this listed for my YA Debut author challenge & can't wait to get my hands on it. It's less than a month away :)



Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: January 7, 2010

From Amazon:

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?



What are you waiting for?