What’s Up Wednesday – 12/30/15

Hello and happy hump day! I wasn’t able to get a What’s Up Wednesday post up last week (I don’t remember my excuse, and it probably wasn’t good anyway), but I’m back!
I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day of 2016! I hope everyone has fun and is safe during all their New Year’s Eve celebrations. Also – sidenote – if you’ve looked at and shared your Goodreads “Year in Reading” summary, feel free to leave the link below. I’ve discovered that they’re, like, my favorite thing to look through.
Anyway, you’re not here to hear me ramble for two paragraphs (whoops, too late). Let’s get on to the bookish news, brought to you by the least-qualified news source… like, ever.

The BFG Trailer Release

So I don’t know if you knew that Disney was making a non-animated version of The BFG by Roald Dahl, but they are! The BFG was one of the first chapter books that I read by myself, and though it is second to Matilda as my favorite Roald Dahl book it is fantastic and completely worth the read, especially now that you have the movie to look forward to!
From what I could tell from the two minute trailer, it’s going to remain pretty accurate to the original story, so I’m so excited. Hopefully this will encourage a whole new generation to pick up one of my favorites.
You can watch the trailer here, and if it looks good to you read the book. You’ll love it.

NEW MORGAN MATSON BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN 2016

So I found out about this book yesterday literally seconds after posting my Top Ten Tuesday post on my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2016, and I FREAKED OUT. And yes, the fact that Morgan Matson is writing a new book being released in early May 2016 is pretty old news, so I’m sorry if you already knew this. But, if you did already know this and now you’re annoyed that you’re hearing about it again, WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THAT MORGAN MATSON WAS WRITING A NEW BOOK?!
Morgan Matson is one of my favorite contemporary authors of all time. Her books are hilarious and so easy to absolutely fly through. I’m so excited to read this book, especially since it’s almost 500 pages long. 500 pages! Long contemporaries are my favorite contemporaries.
Also, it has a gorgeous cover (although that’s no surprise, because Simon and Schuster is killing the cover game lately). And… the premise. Oh my goodness guys.
You can hit that “Want to Read” button for this book on Goodreads here. And speaking of Goodreads, here’s the synopsis that I stole from that very site to spread the excitement:

Andie had it all planned out.
When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.
Important internship? Check.
Amazing friends? Check.
Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks)
But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.
Because here’s the thing – if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.
And where’s the fun in that?

Have I even said the name of this book yet? The Unexpected Everything. Isn’t that beautiful? I’m so excited. SO EXCITED.

The Illuminae Files Book #2 Title Reveal and Jay Kristoff Info Release

It’s been a while since I freaked out about one of my favorite books of the year, Illuminae. I guess it’s time we change that, huh?
We don’t know a ton about the book yet in terms of a cover or synopsis, but we did get the title: Gemina. I’M SO EXCITED. (I’ve said that way too many times in this post)
Also, because Jay Kristoff is fantastic, he answered all of the questions that you might possibly have about the sequel with no spoilers, so you can read it if you really want to even if you haven’t read Illuminae (although I don’t really know why you’d want to).
Read it here. It’s hilarious, and it’s guaranteed to make you way too excited for this book considering it’s not coming out until late 2016.

Featured Release: This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This cover is as gorgeous in real life as it is in the picture. I was fortunately enough to win an ARC of this book in a giveaway, and I’m hoping to power through the relatively short book before its release on January 5. It’s gotten mixed reviews, but the premise is so intense that I have to see for myself. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way:

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03
The auditorium doors won’t open.
10:05
Someone starts shooting.
Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

AHHH WHAT? It sounds so intense and important, and I’m super excited to dive in.
Check out this week’s feature release for yourself:
Goodreads         Barnes and Noble         IndieBound         Amazon

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That’s this week’s news! Be sure to let me know in the comments what you think of all of these announcements, and if I missed anything big.
Happy New Year and thanks for reading! 🙂