New Paperback Covers: Throne of Glass, Beneath a Meth Moon, Anna and the French Kiss and more

THRONE OF GLASS

(US hardcover, US paperback, UK paperback)

So much better than the first cover! I'm so glad they went with the UK cover. Although I still prefer the way the UK cover looks. I'm not fond of all that purple. 

VENOM

I loved the hardcover, so this is a bit sad. I think I would love the new cover if the couple on the front was gone or incorporated better.

SERAPHINA

The font is wicked (seriously, look at the "S" and the last "a"!). I love that it has color, but wish it wasn't purple. 

GILT (revised, thanks to Katie's comment!)

(Hardcover / Original paperback design / Actual paperback design)

Whoa. The original paperback cover is one of those book covers that would make me feel very awkward in public. I like that it doesn't have the same pale-as-death skin tone as the original cover. As for the new paperback cover (and the one that will be printed), I like it. The warm colors, the background...it looks great! 

RIPPER

I prefer the old cover. It's sleek, attention-getting. The new one is a bit too chaotic for me. 

RIFT

This is actually really close to the original cover...I kind of like the bright blue. I think I like both equally. Does her hair look less red? 

BENEATH A METH MOON

I like the change. The new cover makes me very curious about the story, while the first cover didn't capture my interest at all. 

DEVILISH

I'm not really fond of either cover, but I can't stand the original, so I'm glad they're changing it. The new cover captures the darker side of the story in a more obvious way. But the original captures the bursts of humor, too. Darn. 

CRANK

Definitely the original. It's simple, and it makes me curious. The new one makes me want to look away, the font is so distracting. 

Just revealed on SHELF LIFE

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS 

I used to hate the original Anna cover (and probably never would have read that book if I hadn't received an ARC), but the adorableness has grown on me. The new cover is less embarrassing to read in public, but it wouldn't catch my eye if I was wandering around in a bookstore. 

 LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR

Yet again, the original cover has grown on me, so I prefer it more. I like the new LOLA cover better than the new ANNA. I love the warm colors. 

Bonus: ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

It's okay. I'm not a big fan of font that takes over the cover, unless it's integrated in a unique way. I hope that they at least do something fun with the font for all three books (emboss, engrave, foil, something)! 

All in all, while I love some of the new covers, I'm starting to think that I'm not really a cover-change fan. Sometimes they are absolutely incredible, but other times...not so much. 

What are your thoughts? 

Mini Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door
Stephanie Perkins
September 29th, 2011
338 pages (hardcover)
Publisher - Dutton
Source - Purchased

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Lola is quirky, colorful, and the type of girl who wears what she loves, no matter everyone else's opinions of her elaborate and amazing costumes. Lola's also the kind of girl who accidentally voices her feelings out loud when she's upset, and acts younger than her age because that's the easy way out of life's pesky problems. While Lola is no Anna, she is incredibly endearing in the way that you remember your high school days and all the silly decisions you and your friends made when it came to love, life, and everything else. Lola and the Boy Next Door is sweet, sad, humorous, and so much more than you might expect at first glance. 

Highlights: Cricket. So sweet, and I loved seeing his personality shine through the awkward moments.  Family is at the heart of  Lola and the Boy Next Door, and it's great to have a protagonist's parents take an active interest in their child's life (Lola's dads, Andy and Nathan, were amazing characters). Overall, Perkins excelled in creating an authentic bunch of characters with their own unique quirks. 

Lowlights: Lola could be a little too immature. I wanted to shake some sense into her whenever she was being an idiot. This book was good, but Perkins' debut was better. 

Note: Anna & St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss make multiple appearances in this story, and are just as awesome as ever. 

Rating:  

Top Ten Books I'd Like To See Made Into A Movie

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I'd Like To See Made Into A Movie

 

1.  Across the Universe by Beth Revis - A murder mystery set in a spaceship! Totally movie material.

2.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - Thrilling, surprising, and intriguing....it would be great.

 

3.  Graceling by Kristin Cashore - Wouldn't this make a fascinating movie? Action, adventure, romance, mystery, tough heroine...it's perfect!

4.  Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta - Yet another story I'd love to see come to life. Such great characters in this one!

 

5.  Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard - A fantastic travel story. I'd love to see all the different foreign locations in this one on a movie screen!

6.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkisn - Awesome, fun, and Paris :)

7.  Rampant by Diana Peterfreund - Killer unicorns. Enough said.

8.  Divergent by Veronica Roth - Yes, I chose this partially because of Four. Plus, exciting book = exciting movie (well, usually).

9.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - Yet again with the foreign countries and magical places that I love to see come to life. Especially Brimstone's shop!

10.  The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - The circus! This one could actually be pretty good as a film.

What book do you want to see as a movie? 

Images from GoodreadsTTT image from Broke and Bookish

In My Mailbox (75)

IMM is hosted by The Story Siren

(Last month or so of books)

 For Review (unsolicited)
Journey to the Fringe by Kelli Swofford Nielson
Eventide by Tracy and Laura Hickman

Purchased - Printed Books
(autographed & personalized to me) 
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Purchased - Printed Books
Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Purchased - Kindle

The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

Purchased - Audiobooks
Divergent by Veronica Roth
(narrated by Emma Galvin - and it's so, so good!)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
(narrated by Jim Dale)

What did you get?

Book Signing Recap + Giveaway

At the last moment, I dropped by the YA or Bust tour stop last night at Copperfield's Books (where Zoe of Zoe's Book Reviews was the very awesome question moderator). I failed at introducing myself properly¹ due to all my hurrying, but I did manage to snag some goodies for a lucky reader. And, I learned quite a lot from these lovely authors!

Things I Learned From...

Nina LaCour

The Disenchantments was originally a terrible band made of four girls, instead of three. Hold Still had a somewhat difficult time finding the right title (I'm glad they picked HS!).

Gayle Forman

One of her favorite Where She Went scenes to write was the bridge scene, and she found Adam's voice fairly easy to write since she knew him so well from Mia's book.

Stephanie Perkins

There was something about learning how to hotwire a car for the original L&TBND ending....So yes, she's a criminal very cool person with an awesome hair color, too.

Jess Rothenberg 

The Catastrophic History of You and Me originally had some very angry letters from Brie to a possible man-stealing girl....Plus, her first chapter is very amusing :)

All in all, if you get the chance to meet these lovely ladies, take it. Check out Facebook for other YA or Bust tour stops.

***
Giveaway²

Autographed ARC + SWAG!

• Autographed ARC of Where She Went by Gayle Forman
• Autographed poster of The Catastrophic History of You and Me
• A Anna and the French Kiss + Lola and the Boy Next Door card
• A "...hello Melinda" poster for The Disenchantments 
• An official Team Adam pin 
• Other fun bookish swag :)

US only. Ends May 3rd. Contest Policy. 

Extra 2 entries by answering the following question in the comments:

What author book signing do you wish you could attend?

1 Plus, I forgot my camera. Total book blogger fail, I know. 2 Sorry I didn't get everything signed. I had an early morning class the next day, so I was rushing through the signing :(

Top Ten Tuesday (6)

For more information on how to participate in Top Ten Tuesday and this week's topic, visit The Broke and the Bookish for details! 
Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

 

1. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson - It's written by Maureen freaking Johnson. I can't believe I've managed to keep from getting this one so for so long. 
2. Blackbringer & Silksinger (Dreamdark #1 & #2) by Laini Taylor - I've been loving Taylor's other works, but I've had trouble finding a reasonably priced copy of the latter Dreamdark book (and I'm hesitant to buy the first one without the sequel). Maybe Santa will have better luck. 
3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - The hype has been insane for this story. I need this book. 
4. (preorder of) Hana by Lauren Oliver - A Delirium short story! 

5. (preorder of) Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler - I love Sarah's books, and I'm sure this one won't be any exception. If only Santa could bring this one early ;)
6. Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore - Witches. Hot cowboy neighbors. That is all. 
7. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - I really don't know why I haven't read this yet. Maybe once I actually have a copy I'll start reading it. 
8. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler - I honestly haven't got a clue why I don't own a finished copy of this one (I own two of Twenty Boy Summer, so I guess that makes up for it), but obviously, I need one. 

 

9.  Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - Anyone who's read this blog for a couple years will know I'm a huge Richelle Mead/VA fan, which makes it really weird that I still haven't read or bought Bloodlines.   
10. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork - I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this book, so it would be a great one to receive for the holidays! 
What books are you hoping to receive during the holidays?