So things have been a little quiet over here at Muggle-Born, and here’s why:

I’ve officially decided to quit blogging upcoming books at this blog. I’ll probably keep reviewing here for fun on books that I’ve read and have already been released. But if you’re looking for my thoughts on upcoming or recently released books, you can find them over at PostScript’d.

What is PostScript’d, you might ask? Well, it is a brand new, amazing site for all things books. In addition to bookish articles and reviews, our team does hit lists of books to watch out for as well as on-camera interviews with your favorite authors.

I’m really excited about being a part of the team over there, even if it means I’m spending less time blogging at Muggle-Born.

But just to recap on the books I’ve been reading lately…

Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Egmont

I really enjoyed this one. My review of Spies and Prejudice will be up on PostScript’d soon.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Ashleigh’s boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he’ll forget about her while he’s away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh’s friends suggest she text him a picture of herself — sans swimsuit — to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits “send.”

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone — until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he’s the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh’s photo — and didn’t look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Expected Publication Date: May 21st 2013 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

I couldn’t put this one down.

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn’t stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend’s family to die — of “natural causes.” Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, and moves on to the next target.

When his own parents died of not-so-natural causes at the age of eleven, Boy Nobody found himself under the control of The Program, a shadowy government organization that uses brainwashed kids as counter-espionage operatives. But somewhere, deep inside Boy Nobody, is somebody: the boy he once was, the boy who wants normal things (like a real home, his parents back), a boy who wants out. And he just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program’s next mission.

Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Little, Brown & CO BYR

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff is an action-packed read, but the writing style was not for me.

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Balzer & Bray

I enjoyed Born of Illusion so much that I’m willing to give video reviewing another shot. I’ll definitely post up a link to my video once I’ve recorded it.

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Permalink Read But Not Reviewed - Author: Allen Zadoff, Author: Jennifer Brown, Author: Talia Vance, Author: Teri Brown, Book: Born of Illusion, Book: Boy Nobody, Book: Spies and Prejudice, Book: Thousand Words | 1391 words

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel

Earthy, magical, and utterly charming, this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico became a best-selling phenomenon with its winning blend of poignant romance and bittersweet wit. The classic love story takes place on the De la Garza ranch, as the tyrannical owner, Mama Elena, chops onions at the kitchen table in her final days of pregnancy. While still in her mother’s womb, her daughter to be weeps so violently she causes an early labor, and little Tita slips out amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon becomes a way of life, and Tita grows up to be a master chef. She shares special points of her favorite preparations with listeners throughout the story.

I’m so glad that I had a chance to read Like Water for Chocolate. However, this is one of the few moments where I actually enjoyed the movie more than the book. Maybe it was the way the novel was translated, but I was just not a fan of the writing. I think that Esquirel did a phenomenal job adapting the novel into a film. I think that the sensual elements and the cooking found in the novel translated a lot better on screen than it did on page.

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn’t kidding about the “Forever” part…

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks.

I don’t really pick up a lot of graphic novels, but after reading Misty’s review of Anya’s Ghost a really long time ago, I knew I had to give it a shot. I finally got myself a copy and read it on the same day. Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol is certainly creepy, but it also packs a punch by exploring other teenage issues. I tore through Anya’s Ghost and I was shocked by the ending. It was a fun read and it definitely made me wonder why I didn’t read more graphic novels.

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Permalink Memes, Read But Not Reviewed - Author: Laura Esquirel, Author: Vera Brosgol, Book: Anya's Ghost, Book: Like Water for Chocolate | 595 words

I did so well in the month of July. I read more than I anticipated. Instead of six books, I read eleven. I’m barely making a dent in my reading challenge. I’m still about nine books behind, but at least I caught up by two books (eleven behind, last month).

August means it’s the last month before school starts… which means I really need to get a move on my ARCs so I don’t have to bring them to school with me.

I’ve already reread some books this month, but these are the ones I plan on reading as well.

1. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama – I’ve had this ARC for a while now. It’s time for me to finally read it before release date!
2. Ten by Gretchen McNeil – I posted about the scary synopsis of this book a few months ago on my Facebook page. I’m glad I was able to pick up an ARC of this book. Hopefully it won’t be too creepy.
3. The Blessed by Tonya Hurley – Another BEA book. It’s not releasing until September, but I want to read it now so I don’t have to bring it with me to school.
4. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard – It’s Austen in August at The Book Rat! I’ve had this on my shelves for a while now. Good time as ever to pick it up.
5. We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han – I might as well, right? I know I have a love/hate relationship with Belly, but I borrowed it from the library. Might as well make use of it.
6. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore – I can’t remember the last time I read an epic fantasy. It’s about time, I think.
7. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel – I loved the movie, and I can’t believe I haven’t read the book yet. This is the book I’m reading next.

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Permalink Memes, TBR Pile - Author: Elizabeth Fama, Author: Gretchen McNeil, Author: Jenny Han, Author: Kristin Cashore, Author: Laura Esquirel, Author: Mandy Hubbard, Author: Tonya Hurley, Book: Bitterblue, Book: Like Water for Chocolate, Book: Monstrous Beauty, Book: Prada and Prejudice, Book: Ten, Book: The Blessed, Book: We'll Always Have Summer | 594 words