Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where the participants tell their readers about an upcoming release they are waiting to read. This week I've picked Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart. 

How far would you go to become someone else?

A masterful young adult thriller from the author of blockbuster bestseller We Were Liars.

 Imogen is an heiress, a runaway, and a cheat. Jule is a fighter, a chameleon, and a liar. Imogen is done pretending to be perfect, and Jule refuses to go back to the person she once was.

Somewhere between the mansions of Martha's Vineyard and the shores of Cabo San Lucas, their intense friendship takes a dark turn.

A masterful thriller from the author of the unforgettable We Were Liars.

Not going to lie - my hopes are high for this one. There have been some brilliant YA thrillers I've read (We Were Liars definitely being one of them), alongside others like Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas. The blurb for this one doesn't give too much away, so I'm definitely curious to see just what trouble these characters get into...

Releasing 6th September 2017 from Allen and Unwin

Review: Charisma by Jeanne Ryan - The high price to pay for popularity

Charisma by Jeanne Ryan

Released: 1st December 2016

Published by: Simon and Schuster

Genre: YA Thriller

Source: Publisher

Pages: 372

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

An edge-of-your-seat thriller from the bestselling author of, Nerve, the book behind 2016's hottest YA film, starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco & Juliette Lewis.

A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences... Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness - that is, until she’s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows.

The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

We live in a society full of different personalities. Some are the life of the party, possessing the ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and exude that general air of confidence in whatever they do. Others however can experience the opposite, and like Aislyn in this book suffer crippling social anxiety. Then of course, there is the whole range of in-between on the introvert/extrovert spectrum; though the question posed in this novel is - who would want to be the 'average' level of sociable when you can be the star? Charisma is a quick read which does go some way in exploring the controversial topic of gene therapy and its implications, as well as the importance of finding other ways to be yourself; and own it. 

Who'd have thought I'd hang out with folks from the Nova Genetics teen group, with at least two of us acting way more extroverted than usual? And way happier. Thank you, Charisma.

Before learning of Charisma and how it could supposedly improve her life, Aislyn is no stranger to the opportunities which gene therapy creates. Her brother Sammy with cystic fibrosis is a regular visitor to Nova Genetics and Dr Sternfield, where it is hoped that he'll be accepted into a new clinical trial for a drug that could be the cure. So, when she learns of a top-secret trial from Sternfield which involves the 'CZ88' drug 'Charisma', she boldly takes the chance. However, with a drug previously untested on humans before the risks are high, and when her friends Rosa, and even party-boy Shane seem to have also taken it and are experiencing side-effects, Aislyn may just be second-guessing herself. 

While I did find some parts of the plot a little too predictable, and the trope of 'trying to get popular to win over the nice cute guy who would never like me otherwise (even if he does already)' somewhat cliche, I could appreciate the fast pace of the story. I also hadn't read any YA novels which had this focus on gene therapy before, and the author's notes at the end did reinforce the possibilities of where more research into that area will take us in reality. In an age where especially in the realm of social media there is a silent competition to see who really does 'have it all' - the most friends, the witty comments, and perfectly worded captions, this book provided a glimpse into the dangers of going too far to reach that level of fame. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

In all, though it wasn't a perfect read for me, Charisma is still worth trying for its glimpse into a controversial topic, and the importance of having a good support network to ultimately feel comfortable in your own skin. 

Review: The Estate (The Industry #2) by Rose Foster - A #LoveOzYA thriller not to be missed

The Estate by Rose Foster
Series: The Industry #2

Released: 22nd July 2016

Genre: YA Thriller

Source: Publisher

Pages: 414

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Booktopia | Bookworld

Kirra Hayward has many questions. What is the Estate? Will she be safe from Latham there? Will her code cracking skills be used for good or evil? Will she ever make it home? As she reluctantly joins the ranks of criminals, Kirra begins to realise the Estate isn't quite the place of refuge she hoped it would be.

There's a bully to avoid, rumours of a second code cracker on the run, and the feeling that someone at the Estate wants Kirra gone. For good.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This review may contain spoilers for The Industry

Ever since I heard that Rose Foster's The Industry was sure to have a sequel, I just couldn't wait to read it. With anticipation high, so were my expectations for this novel - and it definitely did not disappoint. In The Estate Kirra Hayward is working within the Industry itself, having completely left her old life behind. As one of the only people who can crack the elusive Spencer coding, she's in a valuable, yet dangerous position. What this book does so well is execute the perfect combination of suspense, character development and action - what more could you ask for?

What I really appreciated about The Estate's storyline is the emphasis Foster places on developing all of her characters; broth primary and secondary. Each member of the Industry is given a unique personality and their own quirks, from the protective Desmond to the distant yet slightly maternal Aurelie who Kirra lives with. Flo, who Kirra is paired with as a 'Retreiver', is especially complex. Kirra's own conflicting emotions over whether she wanted to continue living this other life where secret documents are always circling, assassins are on the loose and people's lives are at risk, were also explored. Everything from the dialogue to the plot twists seemed fitting and flowed well, building greatly upon the foundations set in the first book of the series. 

Aside from the structure and characters, the action scenes are what really set this book apart and provided wow factor. There is an electric dynamic throughout the story, and being set in Vienna added an extra level of interest. It was good to see the camaraderie in Kirra's immediate peers, but also the thrill of characters' true colours being exposed. I really hope there will be a third book because I have to know what happens next!

FINAL THOUGHTS

WOW. This is a thriller that will keep you glued to its pages. Rose Foster has proven herself to be a masterful storyteller with great insight into her characters and how they will react in high-octane situations. With code-cracking, assassins, and plenty of action to spare, The Industry series is one you need to read. 

There's also this twitter giveaway ending 5th Feb for a chance to win both books - signed!

#YA #Giveaway! RT to win a signed copy of The Industry AND The Estate by Rose Foster. One AU winner only. Ends 5 Feb pic.twitter.com/qFLgttPtJO

— The Industry Series (@IndustryBooks) January 20, 2017

My Top 10 Bookish Recommendations for Christmas 2016

Christmas. The time of the year where avid readers make huge lists of what new titles they hope to find under the tree, and everyone else around them questions whether they REALLY need MORE books. Well:

Alongside the flashbacks of hearing 'All I Want for Christmas is You' on repeat, it's also the busiest period the year for us booksellers. I love being able to give recommendations at work to customers looking for that perfect bookish gift for their loved ones, and also seeing how people coming into the store strike up a conversation with each other on what they've read and enjoyed. In this post I'll be sharing some of my personal top picks and favourites. 

1) For the MG reader who loves a good Australian story which will warm your heart:

The Matilda Saga by Jackie French showcases the best of the Australian spirit, from Federation and beyond.

2) For the teen who wants a realistic contemporary about friendship that's perfect for summer:

Tara Eglington's latest release is a well-written, relevant and bitter-sweet story on the evolution of a friendship and young women finding the confidence that was within them all along.

3) For the teen who wants an addictive YA series with a sci-fi edge and intense twists:

Suspense, romance, action, evil organisations and rebelling against your own special DNA. Rachael Craw's SPARK series captivates with every installment, and always leaves you wanting more. 

4) For the teen who wants an emotional read about the bonds between families, and finding your true self:

Hardcastle deserves high praise for this debut which ebbs and flows with the intricacies of healing and coming up for air after being submerged in the depths of grief.

5) For YA feminist who wants a story about girls who won't back down:

Summer Skin pushes the boundaries regarding a portrayal of the subcultures which may be present in university life, and poses a refreshing storyline that is both emotionally charged and powerful.

6) For the adult feminist who wants a powerful story about survival and seeking retribution

The Natural Way of Things was certainly deserving of the Stella Prize this year. Equally harrowing and gripping, this is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it. 

7) For the YA readers who want a witty and accurate portrayal of the challenges which come with the final year of high school:

The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub is a brilliant novel where five different teens converge - with rather unexpected results. This is a read which is definitely relevant for the young adults of today. 

8) For the YA sci-fi fan who loves action set in space:

The Diabolic certainly doesn't shy away from the action, and is a gritty YA read which plays on the themes of manipulation and loyalty really well. Illuminae (and now Gemina) are told in such a unique way, also with bucket-loads of action to keep you hooked from start to finish. Finally, the Starbound trilogy offers three memorable novels which intertwine with different focal characters. 

9) For the pop-culture/gaming fan who wants a story filled with adventure:

Whether you're a gamer or not, I haven't come across anyone who hasn't loved this book (It definitely surprised me!). In a future where virtual reality is the norm and can be exploited, this story is one that you won't want to put down. 

10) For the bookish thrill-seekers who want to be on the edge of their seats

I've been reading more in the crime/thriller genre this year than ever before, and have come across some great reads with all the shocking situations and 'WOW' moments you could ask for. The Dry is Jane Harper's debut novel, and an impressive one which expertly depicts the impact of rumour and scandal shaking a rural Australian town. Emma Cline's first book is also a hit - beautifully written and yet haunting, a stark depiction of a loss of innocence. Girls on Fire is perhaps the most brazen of the bunch, venturing into territory you didn't think it would dare go, but it sure burns those boundaries down. Finally, Megan Abbott's works never fail to impress me, and You Will Know Me is no exception. Her prose is always on-point and whip-smart, this time unveiling the brooding malevolence in the world of elite gymnastics. 

Over to you! Have you read any of these books? What categories and novels would you suggest to add?

Mini Reviews: The Dry Husband's Secrets with My Sister Rosa and The Couple Next Door

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
Released: 27th January 2016
Published by: Allen and Unwin
Genre: YA Contemporary/Thriller
Source: Publisher
Pages: 448
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
RRP: $19.99
Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

What if the most terrifying person you'd ever met was your ten-year old sister? A spine-chilling psychological thriller from one of Australia's finest YA authors.

 'I promise,' said Rosa. 'I won't kill and I won't make anyone else kill.' I can't see the loophole. Since the guinea pig there's been nothing. Months now without Rosa killing as much as a mosquito. As far as I know.

 Che Taylor has four items on his list: 1. He wants to spar, not just train in the boxing gym. 2. He wants a girlfriend. 3. He wants to go home. 4. He wants to keep Rosa under control. Che's little sister Rosa is smart, talented, pretty, and so good at deception that Che's convinced she must be a psychopath. She hasn't hurt anyone yet, but he's certain it's just a matter of time. And when their parents move them to New York City, Che longs to return to Sydney and his three best friends.

But his first duty is to his sister Rosa, who is playing increasingly complex and disturbing games. Can he protect Rosa from the world - and the world from Rosa? My Sister Rosa will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page to the last.

Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This book just goes to show that nobody is as they seem - even a seemingly harmless and adorable ten year old girl. I have to say, My Sister Rosa is a #LoveOzYA novel that ticks a lot of boxes - it has a diverse set of characters, unique premise and enough twists to keep you guessing. Though I didn't find this novel quite as enthralling as Larbelestier's previous release Razorhurst, it certainly packed a punch in its own way. Rosa is just plain creepy - hiding her extremely manipulative nature under the guise of a cloying sweetness which melts almost everyone's heart, she's definitely a force to be reckoned with which Che can only hope to control before it's too late. With parents who don't want to accept the truth of what she's capable of, it's definitely a tough road. There's more to this story than that though - it's also about a budding romance, new friends who may just bring Che out of his comfort zone, and uncovering the truth behind a twisted mastermind in ways you won't see coming.

FINAL THOUGHTS


Siblings, psychopaths and disturbing revelations - this is a concoction that works in My Sister Rosa.

The Dry by Jane Harper
Released: 31st May 2016
Published by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Genre: Adult Crime
Source: Borrowed
Pages: 352
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

Luke Hadler turns a gun on his wife and child, then himself. The farming community of Kiewarra is facing life and death choices daily. If one of their own broke under the strain, well... When Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returns to Kiewarra for the funerals, he is loath to confront the people who rejected him twenty years earlier. But when his investigative skills are called on, the facts of the Hadler case start to make him doubt this murder-suicide charge. And as Falk probes deeper into the killings, old wounds start bleeding into fresh ones. For Falk and his childhood friend Luke shared a secret... A secret Falk thought long-buried... A secret which Luke's death starts to bring to the surface...

Jane Harpers debut novel 'The Dry' epitomises Australian crime fiction at its finest. Expertly crafted, this book set in a baking rural town reeling from an unthinkable tragedy is both gritty and effortlessly compelling. Featuring a cast of characters who seem so real, you'll become even more enthralled by this novel the further you read, as bursts of nostalgia and dark secrets come to light. This is a story of a town on the precipice of boiling over with rumours, and the many well-known faces embroiled in both current scandal and from years gone by. Glimpses into the past histories of the characters, with their relationships and tribulations, were tantalisingly woven into the fabric of the present - deepening the mystery further.

Anybody can lie.

Everybody has secrets.

No alibi guarantees innocence.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Read this and be hooked - trust me, it's worth the hype.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Released: 1st April 2013
Published by: Pan Macmillan
Genre: Adult Mystery
Source: Borrowed
Pages: 406
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died... Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .

Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

This is the first novel I've read by renowned Australian author Liane Moriarty, and I can now see why her books have been bestsellers. With a knack for taking the mediocrity of domestic life and injecting it with suspenseful family drama, this book really is a true page-turner. Told through different perspectives and with glimpses into those fateful events of the past, Moriarty has woven a captivating tale exploring the strains of relationships, quests for retribution and ongoing consequences of decisions made long ago. Read this and be drawn in by the quick chapters with mini-cliffhangers that keep your heart racing, shocked by the twists along the way, and satisfied by an ending which you can take a lesson or two away from.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In this story, nobody knows what alternate paths their lives may have taken had other choices been made...but at least for you, deciding to read this book is almost certain to be a chance you won't regret taking.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Released: 14th July 2016
Published by: Bantam Press
Genre: Adult Thriller
Source: Borrowed
Pages: 304
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

Fast-paced and addictive, THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR announces a major new talent in thriller writing. You never know what's happening on the other side of the wall. Your neighbour told you that she didn't want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn't stand her crying.

Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half hour. Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She's gone. You've never had to call the police before. But now they're in your home, and who knows what they'll find there.

What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?

This is a thriller which is methodical in approach and quite tightly woven to create a glimpse into a situation where one couple's mistake in leaving their baby daughter unattended changes the course of an entire family. The writing style itself is very 'to the point' without any pomp or flowery prose, which may not be to everyone's liking, however it is undeniable that this is a read which you can get through quickly and with relative ease. How well do you really know the people who raised you, or your partner, or - the couple next door? What secrets could they be hiding? What lengths will someone go to in covering their tracks? These are the questions which this book raises well and will keep you turning the pages in the process. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'd definitely recommend this for fans of Mary Kubica and 'Pretty Baby'.

Over to you - What thrillers have you read recently?