Waiting on Wednesday

So last week, I did not participate in Waiting on Wednesday. Yes, sometimes I suck. I can't even begin to tell you how busy I am at the moment ESPECIALLY as now I have to add Christmas to the to do list. Anyway, I'm definitely doing it this week! Just to remind you, "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is a book I've been excited about since I first heard about it at BEA - False Memory by Dan Krokos. Here's the synopsis:

"Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter...when there may not be a future."

I've been wanting to read this for a long time now as I think it sounds potentially very good and I know Dan is a debut author and I want to support him. I'm certainly not quite done with the dystopian genre and like anything to do with memory as I find the subject fascinating which means this book is well and truly on my radar. The cover was just revealed recently and I think it's stunning. It kind of reminds me of the movie "The Running Man" but that's OKAY. False Memory is published on 14th August, 2012. No news of foreign rights sales as of yet.

WINNERS!

Recently, I've had two giveaways and it's time to announce the winners! Thank you to EVERYONE who entered the contests but there can only be one winner and random.org has chosen the following people.

For the Stacey Kade book of their choice:

Brandi from Brandi's Book Musings.

For the UK hardback of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor:

Girlinthelens from Girl in the Lens

Congratulations ladies! The winners have now been e mailed and will have 48 hours to respond otherwise a new winner will be chosen. There will be more contests in the near future.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Review

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith may have a ridiculously long title but somehow it works and it’s highly appropriate considering the content. You know that part of the book when you finally realise why it has a particular title and/or the title gets used within the text? That’s one of my favourite parts of a book and I melted when this title was used in dialogue by one of the main characters. A fitting title perhaps from one of the most romantic books I’ve read in a while. It gave me the same warm and fuzzies I got from reading Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Not only is it an easy read, it’s hugely entertaining and you WONT WANT to put it down. Here’s the synopsis:

“Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.”

This book reminded me a little of the movie Before Sunrise where two strangers meet on their travels and spend 24 hours with each other. I have to say that I loved the concept of SPOLAFS from the outset. I mean, have you ever flown solo on a really long flight? If so, I’m sure you wondered about whom you’d be sitting next to, what they would be like. What’s funny about plane journeys is that they’re actually quite intimate. There’s no escape and you have to spend hours with complete strangers, making conversation and possibly getting to know each other. And if you’re lucky enough to meet someone that you’re interested in then it’s always sad to say goodbye when the journey reaches its final destination. But who says you have to say goodbye, right?

SPOLAFS is the ultimate romantic book and one of the strongest things about it? The dialogue. It was so natural and charming; there was nothing false or cheesy about it. Oliver was so lovely; I would quite happily sit next to him on a plane ride :) Speaking of which, there was a particular line in the book that that brought a tear to my eye and although it’s a personal story, I will still tell it. When I was 18, I was an au pair in America and I stayed out there for about 13 months without going home once. I bought endless phone cards and tried to talk to my parents whenever I could. I remember having a particularly rough day, crying down the phone when my mum said to me “Honey, I may be back in England but I love you and at the end of the day, it’s only geography”. There’s a really similar line in the book and it caught me off guard. Good job I already had some tissues at the ready!

I can totally see this book as a movie and I hope to God some hot shot production company buys the film rights as it totally deserves to be up on the big screen. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is dripping in gorgeousness and has stolen my heart. Whenever I have to fly solo in the future, I’m always going to be wondering if an Oliver will be sat next to me.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is published on 2nd January, 2012 in the US and 5th January, 2012 in the UK. I’d definitely recommend you put this one on your Christmas list!