Up and Coming: January 2015 Releases

Up and Coming was created so I could share four soon-to-be-published-this-month books I think deserve more attention. (In other words, these are the books you should be adding to your TBR pile!) I'll be doing these at the beginning of each month, so feel free to do the same if you'd like :)

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Book 1 in an untitled series

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin Books USA)

To fight her destiny as the missing heir to a powerful and dangerous secret society, sixteen-year-old Avery West must solve an ancient puzzle in a deadly race across Europe. Forbidden love and code-breaking, masked balls and explosions, destiny and dark secrets collide in this romantic thriller, in the vein of a YA DaVinci Code.

Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada at the Champs-Elysees when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war.

They are part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle of Twelve, and Avery is their missing heir. If they discover who she is, some of them will want to use her as a pawn. Some will want her dead.

To thwart their plans, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the landmarks of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul and through a web of ancient legends and lies. And unless she can stay one step ahead of beautiful, volatile Stellan, who knows she’s more than she seems, and can decide whether to trust mysterious, magnetic Jack, she may be doomed after all.

THIS COVER IS SO BEAUTIFUL (which initially attracted me) but add in forbidden love and dark secrets? SOLD. I'm so glad I don't have to wait a long time for this one :p

Twisted Fate by Norah Olson

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books (HarperCollins)

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit — shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him.

As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too. The more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right — and wrong — she is about everything.

Although it sounds like this could go either really great or really bad, I'm strangely interested in the plot. It has been getting a lot of mixed reviews, so I'm excited to read it for myself.

All Fall Down by Ally Carter
Book 1 in the Embassy Row series

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Other books by Ally Carter: Heist Society, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay — in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

I've been looking for more mysterious novels to try (as you may probably be able to tell) and I've heard tons of good things about Ally Carter, so this is perfect for January. Ally said that All Fall Down will be better than Heist Society (which I have not read yet), so I'm looking forward to it!

Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Poppy (Hachette Book Group)

Other books by April Lindner: Jane, Catherine

While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food ... and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too.

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.

I first heard of this book over at Paper Cuts (hi Rachel!) and was immediately drawn to it because ITALY and ROMANCE. One of my professors at university is leading a three-week study abroad trip there this coming summer and if I can't go, reading this will slightly make up for it. Also, this makes me think of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which was definitely my favorite movie from 2003-2006.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman and Fairest by Marissa Meyer are the two other releases that I am REALLY looking forward to, but I'm sure everyone has been talking about it.

Which January releases are you most looking forward to?
Have you read any of them yet?