Letterbox Love #41

Letterbox Love all of the lovely, lovely books I’ve gotten in the post, bought and everything else. Summaries are taken from the cover, or Amazon/NetGalley/Goodreads in the case of e-books, unless otherwise stated. Hosted by Narratively Speaking.

For review:

Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks (e-proof)

Twenty-one years after it was first published this is a special anniversary edition of the bestselling and much-loved classic published for the centenary of the First World War.

A novel of overwhelming emotional power, Birdsong is a story of love, death, sex and survival. Stephen Wrayford, a young Englishman, arrives in Amiens in northern France in 1910 to stay with the Azaire family, and falls in love with unhappily married Isabelle. But, with the world on the brink of war, the relationship falters, and Stephen volunteers to fight on the Western front. His love for Isabelle forever engraved on his heart, he experiences the unprecedented horrors of that conflict - from which neither he nor any reader of this book can emerge unchanged.

I’ve been meaning to read this for years and the centenary is the perfect excuse to settle down with it. Thanks Vintage and NetGalley!

Written in the Stars, Ali Harris (e-proof)

Have you ever wondered ‘What if...?’ What if you’d taken that other job, gone on a date with that other guy, moved to a different city. Would an alternative life path have led to a happier ending?

Now imagine if you could have taken both paths...

When Bea Bishop slips while walking down the aisle on her wedding day, she is momentarily knocked unconscious. Her world splits and her parallel lives take her on two very different journeys. In one existence, Bea flees back down the aisle and out of the church. In the other she glides blissfully towards Adam, her intended.

But which story will lead to her happy ever after? And will she end up in the same place?

One decision + two different paths = how many happy endings?

I’ve heard such wonderful things about Ali Harris’ books so I’m really excited about this.

Zom-B Mission, Darren Shan (hardback)

Leading a group of humans through London and out into zombie-infested suburbs sounds like suicide – but not for the undead! Even so, the horrors of the journey will be beyond anything B has yet seen...

‘Do not underestimate the dangers of this mission. Other zombies will not ignore you when they catch the scent of fresh brains. You will almost surely be called upon to fight.

The city and countryside are full of angry, bitter people who are trying to execute as many of the undead as they can. They will not distinguish between a revitalised and a revived. Most do not know the difference. And most would not care.

Yay! I love this series. Thanks S&S!

Alienated, Melissa Landers (hardback)

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realises that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of this exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life – not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

I think this sounds like so much fun, even if the cover is a little OTT for my liking! Thanks Turnaround!

Bought:

Road to Somewhere, Kelley Lynn and Jenny S Morris

A road trip.  A singing competition. And super-hot cowboys.

What could be better?

For Charlie, a post-high school road trip isn’t just a vacation, it’s life changing. While her parents think she’s helping a friend move, a chance at fame is the real reason to grab her best friends and drive to LA. But when her super-responsible, uber-responsible, younger sister, Lucy, has to tag along, it isn’t quite the summer of fun she imagined.

Add in a detour to her grandparents’ ranch in Texas, and between mucking the stalls, down-home cooking, and drool-worthy ranch hands, this could just turn into the best, and most complicated, summer of their lives.

I’ve really enjoyed the Bloomsbury Spark novels I’ve read so far and Jenny of Wondrous reads told me I’d like this one so, ta-da!

The Sky Always Hears Me, And the Hills Don’t Mind, Kirstin Cronn-Mills (e-book)

Sixteen-year-old Morgan lives in a hick town in the middle of Nebraska. College is two years away. Her mum was killed in a car accident when she was three, her dad drinks, and her stepmom is a non-entity. Her boyfriend Derek is boring and her coworked Rob has a very cute butt she can’t stop staring at. Then there’s the kiss she shared with her classmate Tessa...

But when Morgan discovers that the one person in the world she trusted most has kept a devastating secret from her, Morgan must redefine her life and herself.

I’ve had this on my wishlist for an age, but after talking about it to Caroline (Portrait of a Woman/Queer YA), I knew I had to have it. It’ll also be perfect for LGBT April!

The Guard, Kiera Cass (e-novella)

The second novella set in the world of Kiera Cass’ No. 1 New York Times bestselling Selection series – Aspen’s story!

Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard.

In The Guard, readers get an inside look at Aspen’s life within the palace walls – and the truth about a guard’s word that the world will never know.

A captivating view into the heart of Aspen, one of the men fighting to win America Singer’s love.

I really love this series – such a guilty pleasure!

A Room with a View, EM Forster (paperback)

A sunny tale of love and liberation, A Room with a View is the story of Lucy, on holiday in Italy with her conservative cousin when she meets George Emerson, an unusual young man not of her class. Although drawn to him, on her return home she becomes engaged instead to Cecil, a comically dull gentleman from her own background.

Sundrenched and optimistic, and including many issues which trouble the Edwardian public – radical thinking, women’s suffrage, the constrictions of English social rules – this is a brilliantly witty love story.

I’m in love with the idea of this book, and isn’t this edition gorgeous?! It’s the Penguin English Library edition – I want them ALL.

I also bought myself a lovely finished copy of Two Boys Kissing to add to my David Levithan collection. I really need to stop this whole book-buying thing...

Sophie