Can't-Wait Wednesday!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.

This week I can't wait for:

What I Carry
Jennifer Longo
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Goodreads

For readers of Robin Benway's Far From the Tree, a powerful and heartwarming look at a teen girl about to age out of the foster care system.

Growing up in foster care, Muir has lived in many houses. And if she's learned one thing, it is to Pack.
Light.
Carry only what fits in a suitcase.
Toothbrush? Yes.
Socks? Yes.
Emotional attachment to friends? foster families? a boyfriend? Nope!
There's no room for any additional baggage.
Muir has just one year left before she ages out of the system. One year before she's free. One year to avoid anything--or anyone--that could get in her way.

Then she meets Francine. And Kira. And Sean.

And everything changes.

Why I want to read this book

I won't lie, and say they didn't have me by name-dropping Far From the Tree. I LOVED that book, and if I can have more of that? I say, YES, please. I am also all about taking this emotional journey with Muir. The foster care system can be a complicated and inhospitable place, and sometimes it's nice to read the more hopeful stories dealing with this topic.

Taming of the Drew
Stephanie Kate Strohm
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Goodreads

Cass McKay has been called stubborn, temperamental, difficult, and that word that rhymes with “witch” more times than she cares to count. But that’s all about to pay off. She has finally landed the role she was born to play—Kate, in The Taming of the Shrew—in the summer apprentice program of a renowned Shakespeare theater company in the forests of Vermont.

But Cass can barely lace up her corset before her troubles begin. Her leading man, Drew, is a complete troll, and he’s going to ruin Cass’s summer. Even worse, Cass’s bunkmate Amy has somehow fallen head over heels for Drew. Cass can’t let Amy throw herself at a total jerk, so she comes up with a genius plan to give Drew the personality makeover he so desperately needs: they’ll tame Drew just as Petruchio tames Kate! But as Shakespeare’s classic plays out offstage, Cass finds it harder and harder to resist falling for Drew herself.

The best kind of entertainment, The Taming of the Drew is smart, funny, fresh, and original. You’re going to love this badass heroine and her friends. You might even end up liking Drew, too.

Why I want to read this book

You all know I love Stephanie Kate Strohm. She knows how to write a funny book, and you know who loves funny books? This girl! This is also the last book in her backlist, which I have not read. So,  I will get the great satisfaction of having read her entire catalog, once I read this book. I also am doing a hard push to read YA Shakespeare retellings. This is Strohm's take on Taming of the Shrew (I'm sure you struggled with figuring that out 😉), and I am curious to see how she spins the tale.

What are you waiting on?
Any backlog books you want to read soon? 
Let us know in the comments!