Some GREAT Cover Reveals Over the Past Couple of Weeks!

Ya'll know that I am a total cover whore, right?  If the cover rocks, I will pick a book no matter what it's about.  I've only been disappointed a few times, but more often, I've been surprised by a book that I wouldn't have picked up otherwise.  Some recent examples?  

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell~ I am not a fan of Historical Fiction, and while this book definitely has a Paranormal element to it, it's still very much a Historical Fiction novel... I would have never picked this book up if not for the cover, and I ended up really enjoying it and I'm looking forward to book #2, The Springsweet.  Read my review HERE.

Envy by Gregg Olsen~ Gregg usually writes True Crime, and that is not my thing at all.  Too real.  Too graphic.  Too plausible (because these things actually happened-duh!).  I read this book, his first venture into YA, because of the creepy-awesome cover, and loved it.  I will definitely read Betrayal, book #2 in the series.  Read my review HERE.

Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster~ I knew I was going to read this before I even looked at the synopsis, because of the cover.  This book ended up being one of the most original stories I've read in awhile.  It was not at all what I expected, but in the end, the cover made complete sense.  Read my review HERE.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer~ I was a bit over the whole werewolf thing and probably would not have read this if not for the cover (Clarification: I am talking about the ORIGINAL cover that I've shown, not the new ones, which I do not like.)  I loved this book.  I went on to read Wolfsbane (one of my Top Ten YA Books of 2011) as soon as it came out, and am waiting anxiously for Bloodrose.  Without the cover of Nightshade, I would never have become a total Andrea Cremer fangirl. Read my review of Nightshade HERE and my review of Wolfsbane HERE.


So- those are a few examples of books I never would have read if not for the covers... Now for the new cover reveals that I'm so excited for... Is anyone else as excited as I am?


Thumped by Megan McCafferty~ This is the sequel to Bumped.  If you haven't read it, do so soon, because it was very good.  Witty, funny, and quite thought-provoking.  (Read my review HERE.)  I'm really looking forward to Thumped and I really like the cover.  Thumped comes out April 24th, 2012 from .

Endlessly by Kiersten White~ This is the 3rd book in the Paranormalcy Trilogy.  Paranormalcy was first, then Supernaturally, and finally, Endlessly.  I love these covers, and Endlessly is my favorite.  Plus the stories rock!  Endlessly comes out July 24th, 2012 from HarperTeen.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire~ This is the sequel to Hourglass, which was one of my favorite books of 2011 (read my review HERE).  Myra said on her blog that this cover was not supposed to be revealed for a LONG time, but someone leaked it, so here it is.  She also said it isn't final, but I think the publisher would be nuts not to to keep it.  It fits with the fabulous cover of Hourglass perfectly, but is even more fabulous!  Timepiece releases June 12th, 2012 from EgmontUSA.

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake~ This is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood and while I liked the cover to Anna, this cover blows it away!  Isn't it awesome?  Girl of Nightmares releases sometime in August of 2012 from Tor Teen.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini~ This is the sequel to Starcrossed, which I loved. (read my review HERE)  Not only was the book great, but I loved the cover, so I was anxious to see what the publisher would do with the sequel.  I think this cover is even prettier, and I'm am getting more excited by the day.  Dreamless releases May 29th, 2012 from HarperTeen.

**Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a copy of The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson!!  It ends at 12:01am November 10th.  Click HERE for details.**

Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 26th, 2011

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

When I heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued. What an original premise! I knew I would need to get my hands on this. When I did, I absolutely devoured it; then I couldn't review it... It is just one of those books that I find so hard to put into words my feelings about it. It makes you really think. I found myself wondering what I would have done as a teen if I were in this situation. I was tall, pretty, smart, and athletic; I would have certainly been marketable. Would I have basically sold my offspring after basically having sex for money? At 15 or 16 years old, lacking the life experience I now have? Abso-freaking-lutely. Would I let me daughters do the same in 5 or 10 years? No freaking way. It is so funny how things change.

I love books that make the reader think, and this one does. Honestly, anyone who doesn't find this book thought-provoking is probably too immature to be reading it. What I liked best though, was the way the story was told- there was enough humor thrown in there at the right times that the subject never felt heavy. I laughed so many times. The old-skool hip-hop duo Fed Double X had to be my favorite. Did anyone else get the joke? (Shoot me an email if you didn't, and I will explain it). I really don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I am not going to go much further than to say, "You really must read this if you like a futuristic take on some modern day questions.". There is a level of plausibility here and it is interesting how the story unfolds. I am anxious to read book #2, Thumped, which is expected to release in 2012; this is a story that makes me wonder where it could go...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grade Level Recommendation: This is definitely a HS level book. There is language and commercialized sex galore. The typical middle school, and probably early high school aged reader will not be able to process this book the way it should be processed. I would recommend this for readers grades 10 and up (ages 15+).

**Don't forget to enter my AWESOME giveaway of an audio copy of the AMAZING All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin HERE!**