Upcoming Contemporary Releases

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Today I'm on Lauren Bjorkman's blog talking about contemporary fiction, so I thought instead of showcasing just one book, I would talk about a few upcoming contemporary books I'm excited about.

Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnick
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: August 2, 2011


At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

• As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

• As the daughter of the new principal, new-girl-on-campus Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long. Fans of Susane Colasanti (When It Happens), Polly Shulman (Enthusiasm), and, of course, Jane Austen will love finding out if Elise’s love life will be an epic win or an epic fail.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have)
by Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: June 21, 2011


If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although, maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate, Vi, are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: April 5, 2011


It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: April 26, 2011


It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever. 

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Publication Date: May 10, 2011


While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him


Two sequels (Where She Went and We'll Always Have Summer), two books that sound hilarious, and one that involves Steinbeck - I love that contemporary fiction is so varied. 


In the mood to laugh? Sounds like Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) will bring the funny.


Want something a little quirky? The Pull of Gravity seems to fit the bill.


And I can't wait to read about what happens next for both Belly and Mia.


What books are you eagerly waiting for?


**All summaries were taken from Goodreads**