What better day for my first post on My Trending Stories than the best day of July, when Epic Reads releases the list of their most anticipated books for August?
But of course, it’s not August yet, and July is apparently National Ice Cream Month! Who knew? Epic Reads did, so they challenged visitors to their site to choose between fifteen different kinds of ice cream to get a book recommendation. For me, when it comes to choosing an ice cream, or any dessert, my first question is whether or not there is peanut butter to be found in it.
Sadly, none of the choices offered here provide a yes to that particular query. Therefore would probably be tempted by The Golden Opulence Sundae, provided it wasn’t me picking up the $1,000 cheque. This would lead to a recommendation of The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee, though it’s not hitting shelves until August 30th. It appears to be a cross between a teen soap and a dystopian story, and was actually considered to be sent to pilot by ABC this past season. ABC passed, but Freeform and the CW seem like better fits anyway, and with Greg Berlanti behind the project, I could definitely see it landing at the latter as part of his plan to take over the entire network.
If I was scared off by the caviar in this sundae, I’d go with the tamer Mint Chocolate Chip option, netting me a recommendation of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Which I actually just picked up from the library. This story follows a University freshman who struggles with social anxiety disorder, which hits rather close to home.
On a related note, if books dealing with mental health issues are your thing, Penguin Teen put out a list of ten books to check out back in May, which is actually Mental Health Month. I’m learning so much today!
The book that actually caught my eye on this list is A World Without You by Beth Revis, which hit shelves on July 19th. However, after learning a bit about Revis’ inspirations for the novel, both from another Penguin Teen post and a YouTube video, I’ve been left with some trepidation about picking it up. The story is about a teen who believes he has time travelling ability, and accidentally left his also powered girlfriend stranded in the Salem Witch Trials, and apparently she began the novel thinking that the powers would be real, though the story morphed into a tale about mental illness. I can’t help but think I’ll end up wishing that she’d stuck with the original idea.
If you love mysteries, the Barnes & Noble Teen Blog offers six options for you to check out. On the other hand, Penguin Teen offered up ten books for fantasy lovers, and eight for those who specifically love the fantasy show Outlander. The one book that most strikes my fancy from these lists would have to be An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir.
Finally, there are a handful of upcoming books that I am keeping at least one eye out for. My Friends are Fiction offered a glowing review of assassin school story Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, while booktuber Meagan Precourt was equally thrilled with The Progeny by Tosca Lee, a supernatural story about a descendent of the infamous Elizabeth Bathory. Writer of Wrongs was delighted with P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, even if it did follow a predictable formula of the MC’s secret admirer being the person she hates the most.
Another book that has piqued my curiosity has received some very mixed reviews. Jess Hearts Books selected The Graces by Laure Eve, a witch story receiving comparisons to The Craft, as her book of the month for June. Even though it doesn’t come out until September. Why didn’t anyone tell me book bloggers could get advance copies of books? Lili’s Reflections offered a far more negative take on the book.
Penguin Teen has also released a sneak peek at The Smaller Evil by Stephanie Kuehn, a murder mystery set at a secluded compound, as well as a look at the early chapters of Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi, a middle grade fantasy story.
Entertainment for the Young and Young-at-heart 