Watch | Read | Listen {May 2017}

It's May! That means flowers springing up, warm weather, and my best friend's wedding! Let's do this! I've already seen the new Guardians movie and it was hilarious. The next on my list is the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I'm a sucker for those. What do you want to see and read this month?

MOVIES

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

The gang is back for another kick-ass space adventure with lots of action, humor, and heart. Old foes are back as allies and now there's a new unexpected villain. I've already seen it and I LOVED IT! (May 5)

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Guy Ritchie brings his dynamic style to epic fantasy action adventure. Tracing Arthur's (Charlie Hunnm) journey from the streets to the throne after his father is murdered, Vortigen (Jude Law), Arthur's uncle, seizes the crown from him. It's only when Arthur pulls the sword from stone that his life begins to change. I have to say this looks really intense! (May 12)

Everything, Everything

Based on the novel by Nicola Yoon; Madeline, a teenage girl (Amanda Stenberg) who lives her life stuck indoors because of her immunodeficiency. When a boy named Olly (Nick Robinson) moves in next store, they develop a friendship and message each other back and forth, but Maddy wants to leave her house and see the ocean. I NEED to read this book before the movie comes out! I hear it's really good! (May 19) 

Baywatch

A reimagined Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zach Efron). Together they uncover a local criminal plot that threatened the future of the Bay. Who else thinks this looks hilarious?! (May 26)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Lies

Johnny Depp is back as everyone's favorite pirate! The latest adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javiar Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea--especially Jack. These movies are so much fun and I need to see it! (May 26)

Other movies:

• Dead Awake (May 5)
• Snatched (May 12)
• The Wedding Plan (May 12)
• Abacus (May 19)
• Alien: Covenant (May 19)
• Fight for Space (May 19)
• Berline Syndrome (May 26)
• Black Butterfly (May 26)
• Drone (May 26)

BOOKS & MUSIC

--Astrophysics For People In A Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson -- The essential universe, from our most celebrated and beloved astrophysicist. What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. (May 2)

--A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas -- Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. (May 2)

--Into The Water by Paula Hawkins -- A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged. (May 2)

--The Dark Prophecy (Trials of Apollo #2) by Rick Riordan -- After experiencing a series of dangerous trials at Camp Half-Blood, Apollo must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he's gaining in new friendships. (May 2)

--Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield -- Nobody's ever really explained the Spill. Was it an angelic visitation? A nanotech accident? A porthole opening from another world? Whatever it was, no one's allowed in the Spill Zone these days. (May 2)

--Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy -- Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever. Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. (May 9)

--Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdhieh -- The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place and her future has always been out of her hands. En route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace. Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. (May 16)

--York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby -- It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before. Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher—a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction. (May 16) 

--When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon -- Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. (May 30)

Paramore's After Laughter (May 12) | Linkin Park's One More Light (May 19)

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Watch | Read | Listen {April 2017}

Hello April! While there may not be many super exciting movies coming out this month, there are a bunch of books and albums that I want. The top book on my Want List is Geekerella. It seriously sounds so adorable. And one of my favorite bands ever, Incubus, has a new album coming out this month after years of leaving us wondering if they were ever going to make more music. The excitement is real guys! What are you looking forward to this month?

MOVIES

Their Finest

Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is hired by the British Ministry of Information as a scriptwriter charged with bringing "a woman's touch" to morale-boosting propoganda films. Her natural flair quickly gets noticed by a dashing movie producer Buckley (Sam Claflin). As bombs are dropping around them, Catrin, Buckley, and a film crew make a film that will warm the hearts of the nation.(April 7)

The Lost City of Z

Based on the nonfiction bestseller by David Grann, it tells the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the beginning of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown civilization. Ridiculed by the scientific community, he returns again and again to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925. (April 14)

Leap!

Paris, 1884. An orphaned girl arrives in Paris from Brittany. Felicie is 11 and has no money but one big dream: to become a dancer. With nothing left to lose, she takes a risk and borrows a spoiled brats identity and enters the Opera Ballet School, but how long can she be someone else? (April 21)

Other movies coming out:

• Alive and Kicking (April 7)
• The Assignment (April 7)
• Going In Style (April 7)
• Ticket (April 7) 
• The Fate of the Furious (April 14)
• Mission Control (April 14)
• Norman (April 14)
• The Promise (April 21)
• The Student (April 21)
• Buster's Mal Heart (April 28)
• Rupture (April 28)

BOOKS & MUSIC

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett -- A teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet. Classic movie buff Bailey has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush. Faced with doubts, Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. (April 4)

Geekerella by Ashley Poston -- Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale. Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. (April 4) 

Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr -- Gem has never known what it is to have security. She’s never known an adult she can truly rely on. But the one constant in her life has been Dixie. Gem grew up taking care of her sister when no one else could. When their dad returns home for the first time in years and tries to insert himself back into their lives, Gem finds herself with an unexpected opportunity: three days with Dixie—on their own in Seattle and beyond. (April 4)

Waking Gods (Themis Files #2) by Sylvain Neuvel -- Humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth . . . and maybe even the stars. (April 4)

Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey -- Lydia Whitfield has her future entirely planned out. She will run the family estate until she marries the man of her late father's choosing. Lydia has tasked her young law clerk, Robert Newton, to begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything is going according to plan. Until the day Lydia is kidnapped—and Robert along with her. Someone is after her fortune and won't hesitate to destroy her reputation to get it. (April 11)

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis -- Kings and Queens rise and fall, loyalties collide, and romance blooms in a world where the sea is rising—and cannot be escaped. (April 11)

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer -- Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close. And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood, a Faerie Queen who is preparing for war, a strange and enchanting dream realm—and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken. (April 11)

The Upside Down of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli -- Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. Her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, but Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

(April 11)

Startup by Doree Shafrir -- From veteran online journalist and BuzzFeed writer Doree Shafrir comes a hilarious debut novel that proves there are some dilemmas that no app can solve. Mack McAllister has a $600 million dollar idea. His mindfulness app, TakeOff, is already the hottest thing in tech. Before the ink on Mack's latest round of funding is dry, an errant text message hints that he may be working a bit too closely for comfort with a young social media manager in his office. (April 25)

Michelle Branch's Hopeless Romantic (April 7) | The Chainsmokers' Memories...Do Not Open (April 7) | Incubus' 8 (April 21) | Mary J. Blige's Strength of a Woman (April 28) | The Cranberries' Something Else (April 28)

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Watch | Read | Listen {March 2016}

How is it March already? Not that I'm complaining, because I'm sick of the cold weather. Come on, spring!

While there aren't any books I'm pre-ordering, I do want to live at the movie theater this month. Pretty sure I'm going to be spending all my money on movie tickets! Which of these films do you want to see?

MOVIES

Before I Fall
February 12 is just another day in Sam's charmed life until it turns out to be her last. Stuck reliving her last day over one inexplicable week, Sam untangles the mystery around her death and discovers everything she's in danger of losing.  Starring Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Cynthy Wu, Logan Miller, and Liv Hewson. This movie was SO GOOD! (March 3)

Logan

In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant (Dafne Keen) arrives, being pursued by dark forces. This is Jackman's last turn as Wolverine and it looks incredible. (March 3)

Kong: Skull Island

A team of explorers and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson. This has an awesome cast, so I'm all in! (March 10)

Beauty and the Beast

The timeless Disney fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love comes to life once again. Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ian McKellan, Emma Thompson, and more. I'M SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY WAIT! (March 17)

Power Rangers

A group of high-school kids, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities in order to save the world. Starring Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, and Becky G. Don't judge me too hard for being mildly excited about this movie. I used to watch the Power Rangers with my younger brothers all.the.time when I was little. (March 24)

Ghost in the Shell

A cyborg policewoman attempts to bring down a nefarious computer hacker. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Michael Pitt, and Juliette Binoche. Doesn't this movie look really cool? (March 31)

Other movies coming out:

•  The Shack (March 3)
• Wolves (March 3)
• Brimstone (March 10)
• The Other Half (March 10)
• Raw (March 10)
• Frantz (March 15)
• 13 Minutes (March 17)
• Atomica (March 17)
• T2 Trainspotting (March 17)
• American Anarchist (March 24)
• LIFE (March 24)
• Wilson (March 24)
• Boss Baby (March 31)
• The Blackcoat's Daughter (March 31)

BOOKS & MUSIC

Unfiltered by Lily Collins -- In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, featuring never-before-seen photos, actress Lily Collins is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating, and so much more. (March 7) 

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner -- Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. But now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, a powerful judge is pressuring the district attorney to open up a criminal investigation. (March 7)

The Heartbeats of Wing Jones by Katherine Webber -- Wing Jones has worshipped her older brother, Marcus, for as long as she can remember. Until the night everything changes when Marcus, drunk at the wheel after a party, kills two people and barely survives himself. Aaron, Marcus’s best friend decides to train her in track, but can she handle being thrust out of Marcus’s shadow and into the spotlight? (March 14)

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde -- Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon. Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. A novel about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself. (March 14)

Hellworld by Tom Levin -- Five years ago, Abby Booth’s mom, cohost of a ghost hunting reality show, went missing while filming in a ‘haunted’ cave in Arizona. Abby has decided that things will change. She plans to go to the same cave where her mom and the crew went missing and to find out, once and for all, what happened there. (March 21)

Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor -- The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever. (March 28) 

Overturned by Lamar Giles -- Nikki Tate is infamous, even by Las Vegas standards. Her dad is sitting on death row. And for five years, he's maintained his innocence. But Nikki wants no part of that. She's been working on Operation Escape Vegas: playing in illegal card games so she can save up enough money to get out come graduation day. Then her dad's murder conviction is overturned. And he's desperately obsessed with finding out who framed him--and why. (March 28) 

Eisley's I'm Only Dreaming (March 6) | Beauty and the Beast Original Soundtrack (March 10)

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Watch | Read | Listen {February 2017}

January is always kind of a dud month, but February is where things really start to get interesting. There's Galentine's Day, Valentine's Day, hopefully some snow days, spring isn't too far off, and of course new movies and books. I'm having such a hard time trying to pick which books I want since I'm budgeting and can't get all of them. I'm also dying to see The LEGO Batman Movie!

MOVIES

The Space Between Us

An interplanetary adventure about a teenage boy named Gardner Elliot (Asa Butterfield), who was born and grew up on Mars. While searching for clues about his father and Earth, he begins an online friendship with Tulsa (Britt Robertson). Finally, Gardner gets a chance to visit Earth, but scientists discover his organs can't withstand the atmosphere.

I know this movie is probably going to be super cheesy, but it also looks really cute and I think the plot is fascinating. (February 3)

The LEGO Batman Movie

A somewhat sequel to The LEGO Movie, Batman is back for his own adventure. There are big changes brewing in Gotham and he wants to save his city from The Joker's hostile takeover, but he can't do it alone. Starring Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes.

I NEED to see this! The LEGO Movie was absolutely hilarious! (February 10)

Fist Fight

On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy (Charlie Day) has been trying to keep it together from senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration, and budget cuts, but things get really bad when he accidentally crosses a tough colleague, Ron Strickland (Ice Cube), who challenges him to a throwdown after school.

Who hasn't wanted to see their teachers get into a fist fight at some point? This looks really funny! (February 17)

Bitter Harvest

This is a powerful story of love, honor, rebellion, and survival as seen through the eyes of two lovers caught in Stalin's genocidal policies against Ukraine in the 1930s. As Stalin advances, Yuri (Max Irons) battles to survive famine and imprisonment to save his childhood sweetheart Natalka (Samantha Barks). 

I may not read historical fiction all that often, but I love watching it! This film looks emotional and moving and beautiful. (February 24)

Others movies coming out:

• American Violence (Feb 3)
• The Comedian (Feb 3)
• I Am Not Your Negro (Feb 3)
• Rings (Feb 3)
• Fifty Shades Darker (Feb 10)
• John Wick 2 (Feb 10)
• Kedi (Feb 10)
• A Cure for Wellness (Feb 17)
• The Great Wall (Feb 17)
• Lovesong (Feb 17)
• Collide (Feb 24)
• Dying Laughing (Feb 24)
• My Life as a Zucchini (Feb 24)

BOOKS & MUSIC

Little Denton's Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin -- Denton Little lives in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die. The good news: Denton has lived through his deathdate. The bad news: He’s being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die anytime. Huh. Cheating death isn’t quite as awesome as Denton would have thought. (Feb 7)

King's Cage (#3) by Victoria Aveyard -- Mare Barrow is a prisoner. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner. (Feb 7)

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella -- Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world. New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has written her most timely novel yet. (Feb 7)

#famous by Jilly Gagnon -- Girl likes boy. Girl snaps photo and posts it online. Boy becomes insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent photo turns into a whirlwind adventure that forces them both to question whether fame—and love—are worth the price…and changes both of their lives forever. (Feb 14)

The Last of August (#2) by Brittany Cavallaro -- In the second brilliant, action-packed book in the Charlotte Holmes trilogy, Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are in a chase across Europe to untangle a web of shocking truths about the Holmes and Moriarty families. (Feb 14)

A Conjuring of Light (#3) by V.E. Schwab -- Londons fall and kingdoms rise while darkness sweeps the Maresh Empire, and the fraught balance of magic blossoms into dangerous territory while heroes struggle. (Feb 21)

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham -- When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family's property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past... and the present. Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. (Feb 21)

Ronit & Jamil by Pamela Laskin -- A novel in verse that delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict. Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict—much more than just the concrete blockade between them. (Feb 21)

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix -- Poor Princess Anya. Forced to live with her evil stepmother's new husband, her evil stepfather. Plagued with an unfortunate ability to break curses with a magic-assisted kiss. And forced to go on the run when her stepfather decides to make the kingdom entirely his own. (Feb 28)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas -- Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. (Feb 28)

The Ship Beyond Time (#2) by Heidi Heilig --Nix has spent her whole life journeying to places both real and imagined aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. And now it’s finally time for her to take the helm. Her future lies bright before her—until she learns that she is destined to lose the one she loves. (Feb 28)

P.S. -- If you want to see ALL of the young adult books coming out this month check out amarisafloria's February guide!

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Watch | Read | Listen {January 2017}

Happy 2017, everyone! It's a new year and a new month, which means all new movies, books, and music! Get excited!

January is a good month to like young adult fantasy because there are so many fantastic new books hitting shelves. I'm so tempted to pre-order all of them, but I'm going to be good and only order Wires and Nerves. Are you pre-ordering any books?

MOVIES

Hidden Figures

The film recounts the story of the African-American mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) and her two colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), who, while working in the segregated West Area Computers division of Langley Research Center, helped NASA catch up in the Space Race. Using their calculations, John Glenn (Glen Powell) became the first American astronaut to make a complete orbit of the Earth. 

This movie looks so incredible! (January 6)

Alone in Berlin

In 1940, a working-class couple in World War II-era Berlin, Otto (Brendan Gleason) and Anna Quangel (Emma Thompson), decide to resist Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, after receiving the news of the death of their only son. An additional impetus for their growing resistance to the regime is the fate of an old Jewish woman living in their building. Impelled by all this, the couple starts writing postcards to urge people to stand against Hitler and the Nazis and protest against them, and furtively placing the cards in public places.

The trailer is so arresting and I have no doubt the movie is just as emotional and thrilling. (January 13)

Bakery in Brooklyn

Vivien (Aimee Teegarden) and Chloe (Krysta Rodriquez) are cousins who have inherited their aunt's bakery, which has been a cornerstone of the neighborhood for years, but Chloe wants a new image while Vivien wants to make sure nothing changes. So they decide to split the restaurant with a line down the middle. 

This movie looks like a lot of fun! I'm in! (January 20)

Split

Split is a thriller that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man's fractured mind. Each of Kevin's (James McAvoy) 23 distinct personalities manifests a unique physical attribute. Now his 24th personality is about to be unleashed after he kidnaps three young women. 

This movie looks CA-RAZY! It's in the same world as Unbreakable, but looks a lot darker and scarier. (January 20)

A Dog's Purpose

Based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, this movie shares the story of a devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad), who finds meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. Also stars Dennis Quad, Peggy Lipton, and Britt Robertson.

ADORBS! Nuff said. (January 27)

Other movies coming out:

• Underworld: Blood Wars (Jan 6)
• 100 Streets (Jan 13)
• Live By Night (Jan 13)
• Sleepless (Jan 13)
• Antartica: Ice and Sky (Jan 20)
• The Founder (Jan 20)
• Bastards (Jan 27)
• I Am Michael (Jan 27)
• Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Jan 27)

BOOKS & MUSIC

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn -- London, 1887. Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task—saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if Veronica cannot find the real killer. (January 10)

Frostblood by Elly Blake -- Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge. (January 10)

Windwitch (Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard -- After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed. (January 10)

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard -- Rune Germain moves to a boarding school outside of Paris, only to discover that at this opera-house-turned-music-conservatory, phantoms really do exist. RoseBlood is a Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling in which Rune’s biggest talent—her voice—is also her biggest curse. (January 10)

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth -- On a planet where violence rules, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world? (January 17)

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to a Happy Life by Meik Wiking -- Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. (January 17)

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera -- When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course.To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin’s downward spiral continues. He’s losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, and the secrets he’s been keeping are tearing him apart. (January 17)

The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins -- For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire. A novel in both prose and verse. (January 24)

4321 by Paul Auster -- Archibald Isaac Ferguson’s life will take four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four identical Fergusons made of the same DNA, four boys who are the same boy, go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Family fortunes diverge. Athletic skills and sex lives and friendships and intellectual passions contrast. Each Ferguson falls under the spell of the magnificent Amy Schneiderman, yet each Amy and each Ferguson have a relationship like no other. (January 31)

Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes -- Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.nNow hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice—to leave Wonderland forever, or stay and fight her father for the throne. (January 31)

By Your Side by Kasie West -- When Autumn finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. He’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her. (January 31)

Caraval by Stephanie Garber -- Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. But it turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. (January 31)

Wires and Nerves by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate -- In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new,action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold.When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. (January 31)

2017 Grammy Nominees (January 20) | Third Eye Blind's We Are Drugs (January 20)

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Watch | Read | Listen {December 2016}

It's crazy that December is already here, but I'm ready for peppermint everything, fairy lights everywhere, buying and getting presents, and some holiday cheer! Oh and also all of the incredible movies coming out this month. I am SO READY for Rogue One!

MOVIES

Jackie

Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Casper Phillipson), First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband's historic legacy. I'm pretty sure Natalie Portman can do no wrong. (December 2)

Office Christmas Party 

When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, and Jason Bateman. Sometimes you just have to watch the silly movie and laugh until you pee! (December 9)

Miss Sloane 

In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. Known equally for her cunning and her track record of success, she has always done whatever is required to win. But when she takes on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds that winning may come at too high a price. This looks SO INTENSE! (December 9)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga we all know and love. Starring Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelson, Alan Tudyk, Diego Luna, and Forest Whitaker. I already have my tickets! Who else is excited about this movie? (December 16)

Passengers 

A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers (Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt) are awakened 90 years early. THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! (December 21)

A Monster Calls

Based on a book of the same name by Patrick Ness, a boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom's terminal illness. Starring Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, and Felicity Jones. Dying to read the book and see the movie! Have you read the book? (December 23)

Other movies coming out:

• Anonymous (Dec 2)
• Best and Most Beautiful Thinsgs (Dec 2)
• Man Down (Dec 2)
• All We Had (Dec 9)
• The Bounce Back (Dec 9)
• The Brand New Testament (Dec 9)
• Collateral Beauty (Dec 16)
• La La Land (Dec 16)
• Assassins Creed (Dec 21)
• Sing (Dec 21)
• Silence (Dec 23)
• Fences (Dec 25)
• Gold (Dec 25)

BOOKS & MUSIC

Spindle (A Thousand Nights #2) by E.K. Johnson -- It has been generations since the Storyteller Queen drove the demon out of her husband and saved her country from fire and blood. Her family has prospered and the demons are kept prisoner by bright iron, and by the creatures the Storyteller Queen made to keep them contained. But the prison is crumbling. (December 6)

The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis -- Forty years ago, Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky wrote a series of breathtakingly original studies undoing our assumptions about the decision-making process. Their papers showed the ways in which the human mind erred, systematically, when forced to make judgments in uncertain situations. Their work created the field of behavioral economics. (December 6)

Zero Day by Jan Gangsei -- Eight years ago, Addie Webster was the victim of the most notorious kidnapping of the decade. Addie vanished. Mark Webster is now president of the United States, fighting to keep the Oval Office after a tumultuous first term. Then the unthinkable happens: the president's daughter resurfaces. Darrow Fergusson, Addie's childhood best frien, agrees to spy on her. (December 6)

The Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick -- Inspired by true events that affected debut novelist Vernick's relatives, this historical drama tackles the weighty issue of anti-Semitism. It's 1928, on the eve of Yom Kippur, and 16-year-old Jack Pool is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when a young girl vanishes. Smugglers in need of a distraction blame Jack and the rest of the Jewish community in their small upstate New York town, prompting illegal searches and persecution. (December 13)

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider -- Up until his diagnosis, Lane lived a fairly predictable life. But when he finds himself at a tuberculosis sanatorium called Latham House, he discovers an insular world with paradoxical rules, med sensors, and an eccentric yet utterly compelling confidante named Sadie—and life as Lane knows it will never be the same. (December 20)

Losers Take All by David Klass -- At Jack Logan's sports-crazy New Jersey high school, the new rule is that all kids must play on a team. So Jack and a ragtag group of anti-athletic friends decide to get even. They are going to start a rebel JV soccer team whose mission is to avoid victory at any cost, but somehow the team's losing formula becomes increasingly successful at attracting fans and attention. (December 20)

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill -- Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, a legendary bounty hunter—that is, until her father is murdered. The alleged killer is none other than Cohen Mackay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart.  (December 27)

NBC's Hairspray, Live! (December 9) 

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Watch | Read | Listen {November 2016}

It's November, which always means wonderful new movies and books are coming! I'm particularly excited for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them because I'm a Potterhead and a fan of Eddie Redmayne. I NEED to get my hands on the book Heartless by Marissa Meyer because it's a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling. What are you excited about?

Here's a peek of what's hitting theaters and bookstores...

MOVIES

Doctor Strange 

Doctor Strange follows the story of a neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) who, after a horrible car accident, discovers a hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions. Also starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Tilda Swinton. Anything with Benedict Cumberbatch and I'm in! It looks incredible! (November 4)

Hacksaw Ridge

The extraordinary true story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who saved 75 men in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, all without firing or carrying a gun. He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon because while he believed the war was justified he also thought killing was wrong. This movie looks so powerful and thought-provoking. (November 4)

Arrival 

When mysterious spacecrafts touch down around the world, an elite team lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) are brought together to investigate. Banks and the team (Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker) race against time for answers, and to find them she will take a chance that could threaten her life and possibly all of humanity. This movie is both terrifying and exciting. What's in those spacecrafts?! I have to know! (November 11)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

We're returning to the Wizarding World long before Harry Potter's story. It's 1926 in New York City as Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document extraordinary magical creatures. His stopover in New York is supposed to be without incident were it not for a No-Maj named Jacob (Dan Fogler), a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of said fantastic beasts. I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT! (November 18)

Moana 

The story follows Moana (voiced by Auili'i Cravalho), an adventurous teenager who, with the help from demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. I will never ever be too old for Disney movies! (November 23)

Other movies coming out:

• The Eagle Huntress (Nov 2)
• Dog Eat Dog (Nov 4)
• Loving (Nov 4)
• Off The Rails (Nov 4)
• Trolls (Nov 4)
• Operator (Nov 8)
• Almost Christmas (Nov 11)
• The Anthropologist (Nov 11)
• Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (Nov 11)
• The Edge of Seventeen (Nov 18)
• Nocturnal Animals (Nov 18)
• The Take (Nov 18)
• Allied (Nov 23)
• Bad Santa 2 (Nov 23)
• Seasons (Nov 25)

BOOKS & MUSIC

• Faithful by Alice Hoffman -- Growing up on Long Island, Shelby Richmond is an ordinary girl until one night an extraordinary tragedy changes her fate. Her best friend’s future is destroyed in an accident, while Shelby walks away with the burden of guilt. What happens when a life is turned inside out? (Nov 1)
• Heartless by Marissa Meyer -- Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen. (Nov 8)
• The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer -- In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life. She used to work for the U.S. government, but they decided she was a liability and now they want her dead. (Nov 8)
• Timekeeper by Tara Sim -- In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely. It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. (Nov 8)
• Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick -- A collection of humorous autobiographical essays by the Academy Award-nominated actress and star of Up in the Air and Pitch Perfect. (Nov 15)
• This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston -- No one knows what happened that morning at River Point. Five boys went hunting. Four came back. The boys won't say who fired the shot that killed their friend, Grant; the evidence shows it could have been any one of them. (Nov 15)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Screenplay by J.K. Rowling -- When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone. (Nov 18)
• Moonglow by Michael Chabon -- Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon delivers a literary masterpiece: a novel of truth and lies, family legends, and existential adventure—and the forces that work to destroy us. Chabon's grandfather shared recollections and told stories the younger man had never heard before, uncovering bits and pieces of a history long buried and forgotten. (Nov 22)
• Victoria by Daisy Goodwin -- Drawing on Queen Victoria’s diaries, Victoria brings the young nineteenth-century monarch, who would go on to reign for 63 years, richly to life. (Nov 22)

Penatonix's A Pentatonix Christmas (November 18) | Bruno Mars' 24K Magic (November 18)

DNCE's DNCE (November 18)

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Watch | Read | Listen {October 2016}

Hello October! October is one of my favorite months: the changing leaves, the crisp air, the seasonal food, the fall fashion! With summer finally gone, it also means the reemergence of all things sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Summer seems to be for contemporary, but fall and winter for exploring new worlds and times while cuddled at home with hot tea. Who else agrees? 

I'm not on a book buying ban, but I am trying to be selective of which books I get, so right now I'm only planning on getting the new illustrated Chamber of Secrets and The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily, but I'm sure that will change because resisting new books is hard work guys. 

MOVIES

The Girl on the Train

Based on a novel of the same name; Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt), an alcoholic who divorced her husband Tom (Justin Theroux) after she caught him cheating on her, takes the train to work daily. She fantasizes about the relationship of her neighbors, Scott and Megan Hipwell (Luke Evans and Hayley Bennett), during her commute. That all changes when she witnesses something from the train window and Megan is found to be missing, presumed dead. {Watch the trailer} I wasn't wowed by the novel at all, but in this case the movie looks better than the book. (October 7)

The Accountant 

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a mathematics savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Using a small-town CPA office as a cover, he makes his living as a forensic accountant for dangerous criminal organizations. With a Treasury agent (J.K. Simmons) hot on his heels, Christian takes on a state-of-the-art robotics company as a legitimate client. As Wolff gets closer to the truth about a discrepancy that involves millions of dollars, the body count starts to rise. {Watch the trailer} My brother Ben is an accountant, so of course my family wants to see a movie about a CPA assassin. Plus, it does look pretty bad ass. (October 14)

Keeping Up With The Joneses

The Gaffneys (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher), a suburban couple, become embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover that the Joneses (Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot), their seemingly perfect new neighbors, are governmental secret agents. {Watch the trailer} Humor and action? Count me in! (October 21)

Inferno

Based on a novel of the same name; Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) awakens in a hospital room in Florence, Italy, with no memory of what has transpired over the last few days. He suddenly finds himself, once again, the target of a major manhunt. With the help of Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) and his knowledge of symbology, Langdon will try to regain his freedom and lost memories, all while solving the most intricate riddle he's ever faced. {Watch the trailer} I really like the Robert Langdon books, but this one I wasn't a big fan of, unfortunately. (October 28)

Other movies coming out:

• The Birth of a Nation (Oct 7)
• Blue Jay (Oct 7)
• Under the Shadow (Oct 7)
• Coming Through the Rye (Oct 14)
• Kevin Hart: What Now? (Oct 14)
• Max Steel (Oct 14)
• Maya Angelou: And I Still Rise (Oct 14)
• American Pastoral (Oct 21)
• I'm Not Ashamed (Oct 21)
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Oct 21)
• The Eagle Huntress (Oct 28)
• Rings (Oct 28)

BOOKS & MUSIC

• Children of Eden by Joey Graceffa -- Rowan is a second child in a world where population control measures make her an outlaw, marked for death. She can never go to school, make friends, or get the eye implants that will mark her as a true member of Eden. Indeed, her kaleidoscopic eyes may very well give her away to the ruthless Center government. (October 4)
• Iron Cast by Destiny Soria -- It’s Boston, 1919, and the Cast Iron club is packed. On stage, hemopaths—whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art—Corinne and Ada perform for the crowds, and by day they con Boston’s elite. When a job goes wrong and Ada is imprisoned, she realizes how precarious their position is. (October 11)
• The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunanti -- Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt. Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. (October 11)
• Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -- Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed. The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. (October 18)
• Tattoo Atlas by Tim Floreen -- A year ago, Rem Braithwaite watched his classmate Franklin Kettle commit a horrific crime. Rem’s mother selects Franklin as a test subject for an experimental brain procedure intended to “cure” him of his cruel and violent impulses. Suddenly Rem’s memories of that day start coming back to the surface. (October 18)
• The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levitathan -- Dash and Lily have had a tough year. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition. With only twelve days left until Christmas—Lily’s favorite time of the year—Dash, Lily’s brother Langston, and their closest friends take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the holiday magic of New York City in December. (October 18)
• Cloudwish by Fiona Wood -- Vân Uoc tries to stick to her reality-keeping a low profile as a scholarship student at her prestigious Melbourne private school, managing her mother's PTSD from a traumatic emigration from Vietnam, and admiring Billy from afar. Until she makes a wish that inexplicably (possibly magically) comes true. Billy actually notices her. (October 18)
• Bionic by Suzanne Weyn -- Mira has always almost had it all until a horrible car accident. The only way the doctors can help is to try experimental prosthetics and chips that are implanted directly into her brain. It's a huge risk, but after months of testing and therapy, Mira is back, and better than ever. But soon her friends turn against her. Is Mira human, or is she somehow something other? (October 25)
• A Darkly Beating Heart by Lindsay Smith -- No one knows how to handle Reiko. She is full of hatred. After a failed suicide attempt at her home in Seattle, Reiko's parents send her to spend the summer with family in Japan, hoping she will learn to control her emotions. But while visiting Kuramagi, a historic village preserved to reflect the nineteenth-century Edo period, Reiko finds herself slipping backward in time into the nineteenth-century life of Miyu. (October 25)
• The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet by Natasha Farrant -- Lydia is the youngest of the five Bennet girls. She's stubborn, never listens, and can't seem to keep her mouth shut. She's bored with her country life. Luckily, the handsome Wickham arrives at Longbourn to sweep her off her feet. (October 25)

Walls by Kings of Leon (Oct 14) | Nobody But Me by Michael Buble (Oct 12)

What are you looking forward to this month?

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