Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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:
I Kissed Alice
Anna Birch
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Imprint
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Goodreads
For fans of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and FanGirl, Anna Birch's I Kissed Alice is a romantic comedy about enemies, lovers, and everything in between.

Rhodes and Iliana couldn't be more different, but that's not why they hate each other.

Hyper-gifted artist Rhodes has always excelled at Alabama’s Conservatory of the Arts despite a secret bout of creator's block, while transfer student Iliana tries to outshine everyone with her intense, competitive work ethic. Since only one of them can get the coveted Capstone scholarship, the competition between them is fierce.

They both escape the pressure on a fanfic site where they are unknowingly collaborating on a graphic novel. And despite being worst enemies in real life, their anonymous online identities I-Kissed-Alice and Curious-in-Cheshire are starting to like each other... a lot. When the truth comes out, will they destroy each other's future?
Why I want to read this book

I love this format so much! Where two people THINK they hate each other, and then, unknowingly, strike up an anonymous friendship. It's always fun to watch it play out. The battle for the scholarship plus fanfic has me more than interested in this book.

Boys Don't Knit
T.S. Easton
Series: Boys Don't Knit, #1
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Goodreads
Knitting is a man’s game.

After an incident regarding a crossing guard and a bottle of Martini & Rossi (and his bonehead friends), 17-year-old worrier Ben Fletcher must develop his sense of social alignment, take up a hobby, and do some community service to avoid any further probation.

He takes a knitting class (it was that or his father’s mechanic class) under the impression that it's taught by the hot teacher all the boys like. Turns out, it’s not. Perfect.

Regardless, he sticks with it and comes to find that he’s a natural knitter, maybe even great. It even helps ease his anxiety and worrying. The only challenge now is to keep it hidden from his friends, his crush, and his soccer-obsessed father. What a tangled web Ben has weaved . . . or knitted.
Why I want to read this book

I remember seeing this years ago, and automatically adding it to my TBR. I loved the title, and the whole concept of being able to knit as part of one's probation is something I can get behind. Since I added this to my TBR, I have read another book by Easton, Girl Can't Hit, which I absolutely loved! I adored the characters, the humor, and the story as a whole. I am looking for some laughs, and feel confident, that this book will deliver what I need.

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

32 comments:

  1. Ohhhhhh I need to get my hands on a copy of Boys Don't Knit, it sounds amazing and also that it had the potential to break down stereotypes of masculinity. I love visiting your blog Sam, you have brilliant recommendations and showcase books I probably wouldn't have discovered myself.

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    1. The author definitely challenged those stereotypes, and I loved seeing Ben, his dad, and his friends bridging that gap. And, you're so sweet. Glad I could spread the love for lesser known books

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  2. "For fans of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and FanGirl" totally sold me on that first book. That just calls to me so much. The second book sounds fun too. I think I have an ARC on my TBR that is also about men knitting.

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    1. If it lives up to the synopsis, it should be great. The description made me think of
      Amelia Westlake Was Never Here. I have Real Men Knit too. Fingers crossed we both enjoy it

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  3. I Kissed Alice just makes me smile! I love that trope too! Boy don't knit sounds very cool, and I can relate to wanting to do something that made sense to no one else.

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    1. I loved Boys Don't Knit. The diary format was fun, and it was wonderful seeing Ben's love for knitting grow

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  4. Boys Don't Knit sounds amazing - and there's actually a new book coming out I have my eye on, Real Men Knit!

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    1. I have an ARC of that. Early reviews are mixed, but I am excited to read it

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  5. boys don't knit...love that title. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Right? And, it was great seeing Ben dispel that myth

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  6. I Kissed Alice sounds like a good one. The whole secret online identity even when they know each other in real life. That can be fun. And I love the parenthetical title of the Easton book. The (in public) addition just makes me smile. :)

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    1. That type of romance worked really well for me with Tweet Cute and other books, so if these characters are strong, it should be a win for me once again. Ben had to work through his stereotypical male upbringing to feel comfortable knitting in public

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  7. That first one totally sounds like one I'd love, and I do still want to read Boys Don't Knit as well! Great picks this week.
    Check out my Wednesday post at Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Boys Don't Knit was fun. It was about being comfortable being yourself, as well as community. I really enjoyed it

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  8. Ooh cute picks! Both are totally new to me ones! I hope you enjoy them both once you get to read them!

    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  9. I really like the sounds both of these! Thanks for sharing them.

    My CWW

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    1. Boys Don't Knit was a winner. Now I just have to try and read Alice to see if I was right about both

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  10. Well I love that title of Boys don't Knit Sam!!

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    1. It's a theme Ben has to deal with during the story, and I was happy with where he ended up at the end

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  11. These are both completely new to me but I love the sound of both of them. I am really kind of surprised that I haven't heard of Boys Don't Knit since that is a title I wouldn't think I would forget. I hope you enjoy both of these!

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    1. Knit even had a sequel. I know they were released in the UK first, but eventually got to the states. I tend to gravitate to those books with less hype, I guess

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  12. I like I Kissed Alice because I love fanfiction so seeing it featured in any book is a guaranteed way to have me interested. And I also like when we see boys taking up hobbies that have traditionally been labelled 'not for them' even though all hobbies are for everyone! Can't wait to see what you think of these ones ^.^

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    1. I never read any fanfic (that I know of), but I know it has a wide audience. I am not really involved in any fandoms, and I feel fanfic is one of those things that plays a big role there. Easton definitely took on the whole girl/boy thing in Boys Don't Knit, and I liked the way he approached it.

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  13. Replies
    1. I really enjoyed Boys Don't Knit. It was fun and even heartwarming.

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  14. I Kissed Alice looks super cute and I love that it has illustrations!

    Amber Elise @ Du Livre

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    1. I saw a thing about how they had to redo the cover. The girl in the bottom corner originally was tan with blond hair, and they felt like she was being portrayed as a POC. But, yeah, the illustrations are great, and I like when they throw pictures in with the story. What can I say, I miss my picture books from back in the day

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    1. I love the illustration on I Kissed Alice, and I think it matches the artwork that will be in the book. Knit's cover is cute, and it shows the Martini Rosso, that get's Ben in trouble, and the obvious knitting. Great symbols from the story.

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