Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe. Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe. Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story. But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

Aubree has always been happy staying right at home. It has always been her sister who goes to far away places. But when Elizabeth, Bree's sister, can't make her promised engagement—being a tour guide in Europe—she comes up with a master plan. Bree must go in her stead and pretend to be Elizabeth. However, when Bree meets the boy of her dreams, can she keep her true identity to herself or will she blab at the first opportunity?

Aubree: Relatable Yet Amusing

Wanderlust

Instalove

An End to Remember

Overall

I don't know about you but when I think of summer, I think of vacations.  I think of long walks on the beach (and if there was a beach anywhere near my house, you would know where to find me).  I think of traveling the world.  Stuff like backpacking through Europe.  Riding elephants in India.  Hiking to the highest mountain.  Shopping for exotic fruits.  Part of the reason why we make bucket lists are to put these kinds of things on it.  Will we get to these things?  Someday.

However, in this new feature, Wanderlust, I want you to have a chance to travel the world without even leaving your couch.  This feature will showcase five books set in the country of the post and five places that you could visit within that country (those places may or may not have been mentioned in the books).

Books open possibilities for us that we didn't even know possible.  I have starved in the desert, walked through Times Square, and visited temples in Japan-- all without leaving the comfort of my own house.

While you are waiting for those online plane tickets to process, pick up a book and travel:


Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: Looking to travel to Europe?  You can't forget the best-selling series that rocked the world with just a boy and a scar.  This book will have you escaping England, into a whole other world meant for wizards and witches.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: Gemma, the protagonist, is brought up in India but swiftly brings readers to the United Kingdom.  If you want to travel around historical United Kingdom, catching glimpses of boarding school shenanigans, balls, and gypsies, this is definitely the book for you.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill: On a school trip, we travel throughout tourist attractions of the United Kingdom.  It is this book that we discover England and I are meant to be.

Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen: Hello, London.  Hello, romance.  This one will have you not only falling in love with English boys but with the English setting.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson: Following notes around a range of different countries (including the Untied Kingdom), this book will surely satisfy your wanderlust.


Big Ben: I just watched the movie, Tomorrowland, and there seems to be a portal to the land of tomorrow in the Eiffle Tower in France.  By way of naming famous landmarks among countries, I think many people overlook Big Ben, the gorgeous clock that watches over the city of London.  Not me.  This is a must-see for anyone going to London.

London Eye: Even though I am deathly afraid of heights, I will brave the London Eye for the view.  (And play the Sherlock theme song the entire time.)


Stonehenge: After taking many classes that have to do with England, I would love to see some of the sights for myself, including Stonehenge.  It is the mystery that still lies unanswered.  What's the meaning of Stonehenge?

Jack the Ripper tour: Your entire vacation can't consist of only romantic and mysterious sights.  You have to throw some murder in there to make life interesting.

The Globe Theater: A book lovers'-- and Shakespeare lovers'-- wouldn't be complete without visiting where his most famous plays were performed.

In this new feature, Wanderlust, I want you to have a chance to travel the world without even leaving your couch.  Today, the feature will showcase five books with awesome schools set around the world. Are you ready to go back to school?  If you were a student at these schools, you would gladly do tons of homework.

Books open possibilities for us that we didn't even know possible.  I have starved in the desert, walked through Times Square, and visited temples in Japan-- all without leaving the comfort of my own house.

While you are waiting for those online plane tickets to process, pick up a book and travel:

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond: Set in the fictional but classic city of Metropolis, Lois Lane is on the case that happens pretty close to home--right in her own high school.  With the principal in on the evil plan, Lois will stop at nothing to figure out how to stop these villains and save the world.  Wouldn't it be cool to attend classes with famous Lois Lane in the back row? Sign me up.

Ink by Amanda Sun: Set in Japan, Katie is a foreign student making her way through high school.  Despite the language barrier, she makes some awesome friends and soon finds herself entangled in a long-forgotten legend that turns out to be true.  In class, the boy next to her doodles on his notebook which seems normal enough until she sees the doodles start to move.  Doodling in class has never been so fun; let's go to high school in Japan.

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid: Faced with the Nevers list and the two friends' quest to complete everything on the list, they do many things they never said they would do.  Building a treehouse on school grounds is one of them.  During lunch, join Never Always Sometimes characters in their California high school and enjoy the view from the treehouse.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh: Maybe not the best school to consider going but it is along the lines of what dystopian would you want to live in-- because, really, who wants to live in a dystopian? Fellow student, Varen, opens the door to an alternate universe where Edgar Allen Poe's stories come to life.  The only thing: he forgets to shut it and lets Poe's characters cross into our world and right into his high school.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling: The one everyone knew would be on the list.  Does this one even require an explanation?  I know all of you have been frantically waiting your letter to Hogwarts in the mail. Believe me, the school only ran out of stamps, it'll come in the next postal shipment.

Kickin’ It is a new feature at The Bucket List where I round-up the whole month in one post, bringing you reviews you may have missed, other awesome bookish things, and even what I’m currently obsessed with in other media besides books. I probably say this about every month but August was super busy.  If I wasn't interning, I was working.  If I wasn't doing that, I was trying to read.  I finally bought myself a coloring book which is cool and hope to share some pictures with you very soon.  I went on vacation this month too-- Salem, MA was an awesome trip!  August is always a sad month for me too because it's the end of summer.  Before I graduated school, the end of summer was the start of school and (ugh...) homework.  This time though, the end of summer is the start of something new and something awesome, I hope.


Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman (5 stars): Legacy of Kings is a page-turner like no other.  It will have you glued to the page in a matter of seconds, on the edge of your seat, itching for more.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (3 stars): Huntley Fitzapatrick will introduce you to a fantastic cast of characters that will have you wondering if the grass is really greener next door.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck (5 stars): Colleen Houck has created something truly original and breathtaking.  Reawakened will have you on your toes, impatient to find what happens next.

After the Red Rain by Barry Lyga, Peter Facinelli, and Robert DeFranco (3 stars): This page-turner frightens readers and forces them to imagine a life where this is the reality they must face.  Barry Lyga, Peter Facinelli, and Robert DeFranco’s After the Red Rain will keep you on the edge of your seat, hoping everything turns out okay in the end.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (5 stars): LOVED it. You need this book in your hands and should have been reading it five minutes ago.

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid (3 stars): Never Always Sometimes will have you always laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time but will never have you put the book down.

Her Cold Revenge by Erin Johnson (4 stars): Her Cold Revenge is a great sequel to an entertaining series.  Joe and Grace will surely win the hearts of many.  In the second book of the Wanted series, things start heating up (and it’s not the weather) and nonstop-adventure leaves readers breathless.

The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn (9/1/2015): Narrated by the Fates. There is not enough books about the Fates.  I am so excited to read this one!

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow (9/22/2015): I don't know how to describe this one except I have heard so much awesome things about it already.  It's a dystopian that sounds super original!

Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler (9/1/2015): After coming home from vacation, I came home to a huge box by HarperCollins and a copy of this was inside.  I'll read this one soon.  I've never read anything by Carolyn Mackler but it sounds like it will be a great contemporary.

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is: Last Ten Books that Came Into My Possession.  I translated that to mean All the Books I've Bought Lately which made me swiftly realize that a book-buying ban should definitely be in effect for me.


P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han --- I recently ran through To All the Boys I've Loved Before and loved it so much.  On my next Barnes & Noble trip, I couldn't stop myself from picking up the sequel.

Love, Lucy by April Lindner --- This one is set in Italy.  The main character is backpacking through Europe and I've been in a travel mode lately (check out Wanderlust, where I take readers to the United Kingdom).  There's a romance involved and it sounds like a total summer/beach read.  I may not have a beach but I'm going to enjoy it all the same.

99 Days by Kate Cotugno --- I bought another summer read, you know, the cutesy-sounds romantic type of books.  Plus, I'm in love with this cover.  I don't know what it is about it but it is just awesome.


Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge --- A retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  Yes, please.  And the cover, shaped like a rose.  Isn't that gorgeous? It particularly wanted me to buy it and take it home.

Storm by Amanda Sun --- I just finished Rain, the second book in the series and can't wait to dive right into Storm.  This is the final book.  Who knows how it will end? And it's set in Japan -- think captivating and beautiful culture.

Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson --- For some reason, I thought this series was over.  Didn't it end at the 8th book? Am I the only one who thought that?  Both unfortunately and fortunately, there is a new one.  What more could possible happen with these angel-bird kids?  Still, I'm going to read it all the same.


Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch --- This one sounds so good.  Warrior faces dark magic, in love with her best friend who happens to be royalty.  The sequel is coming out in October so I'll probably read it then but I can't wait!

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray --- Parallel universes: I am so in! Claudia Gray and I go way back; I've been reading her since her vampire series so I am most curious to see what she has done with a bending-reality sci-fi book.  The sequel releases in November.

Until the Beginning by Amy Plum --- No, I haven't read the first one yet so I can't tell you what this one is about but it's Amy Plum.  I loved her other series so I'm hoping to love this series too.


The Selection series by Kiera Cass --- I know there is a lot of mixed reviews on this series.  Back in the fall, I read The Selection and really enjoyed it.  I've always wanted to check these books out.  Before Kiera Cass was a writer, she was making Twilight-themed videos with a friend on YouTube (under the name TwiCurls); they were hilarious.  When I heard she had a book coming out, I couldn't wait for it and I can't believe it has taken me so long to pick them up.

Kickin’ It is a feature at The Bucket List where I round-up the whole month in one post, bringing you reviews you may have missed, other awesome bookish things, and even what I’m currently obsessed with in other media besides books. September was a whirlwind of happenings. First, I am mildly surprised at myself for partially stepping outside of my reading slump and actually reading a few books this month. I still only read 5 books but that's a bit better than August's three books. Second, it was my birthday this month! I went to Disney World to celebrate and it was so much fun! Here's September's wrap-up:


The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee: I received this book in the Wanderlust box from OwlCrate and I am so glad I did. This book was absolutely everything I expected it to be and more. There's daring adventure, pirates, romance and more. The characters are so true-to-life and the protagonist is fantastically sarcastic. I love it all. I cannot wait for the sequel!



Ten by Gretchen McNeil (3 stars): I tried something a little different with this review. Instead of a normal review, it's an analysis of how similar And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is to Ten. I highly recommend skipping this one and reading Agatha Christie's classic.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman (3 stars): Blackhearts was a promising start to what definitely could be an awesome series of how Blackbeard becomes the pirate we know today.

Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman (3 stars): Nicole Castroman is a great storyteller and definitely raised the bar with this sequel. Blacksouls is sure to keep you on your toes with nonstop action and fantastic characters.


Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (10/10/17): It's a new John Green book. Need I say more?

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand (10/24/17): I will probably wait to read this one closer to Christmas. However, when I heard Cytnhia Hand was releasing a new book, I couldn't have been more excited! The premise sounds awesome. It's a sort of what-if scenario inspired by a timeless Christmas classic.

Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me by Carrie Ann DiRisio (10/17/17): I recently discovered Brooding YA Hero on Twitter and I cannot believe how behind I am in this feed. It is absolutely fantastic. I am not sure how this character will translate to a YA book but I will be reading to certainly find out.



September was such a busy month that I really didn't watch that many movies. However, I did rewatch Avatar in anticipation of visiting Disney World's Animal Kingdom. The movie isn't my favorite but it is entertaining and fun. Also, I was able to see Kingsman: The Golden Circle which was as epic as I knew it was going to be. Here's the trailer:

Just One Year by Gayle Forman