Can't-Wait Wednesday: We Are The Perfect Girl & Planet Earth Is Blue

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

This week I can't wait for

We Are The Perfect Girl
Ariel Kaplan
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Goodreads

She’s the beauty, I’m the bold one—together, we are the perfect girl…

“Hilarious, heartfelt, and painfully real, this pitch-perfect, sharp-tongued take on Cyrano is the coming-of-age of my teenage dreams.” —Dahlia Adler, author of Just Visiting

Aphra Brown is bold and outgoing. Her best friend, Bethany, is achingly beautiful. Individually, they could both do a little better in the self-esteem department, but together? Together, they have what it takes to win over Greg D’Agostino, a proverbial “ten,” who happens to be fluent in six languages—seven if you count the language of smoldering gazes… What begins as an honest mistake turns into an elaborate deception, wherein Bethany goes on dates with Greg while Aphra coaches her on what to say, and texts him in the guise of Bethany, trying and failing, all the while, to tamp down her own hopeless crush. It’s only a matter of time before things come crashing down. The question is: What will happen when Greg finds out? And can Aphra and Bethany’s friendship survive the fallout? From the author of We Regret to Inform You comes a witty, warm-hearted exploration of love in all its forms, and a cris-de-coeur for self-acceptance when the pressure to be perfect is overwhelming.

Why I want to read this book

I have read, and adored, Kaplan's last two books. At this point, I want to read anything she writes, but I am very intrigued by the concept of this story. It's a Cyrano retelling, and I like the spin on it. Kaplan is good at witty and humorous dialog, and books with female friendships are always high on my list. I am confident this will rate high by me.

Planet Earth Is Blue
Nicole Panteleakos
Age/Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Release Date: May 14, 2019
Goodreads

"Tender and illuminating. A beautiful debut." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me

A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and The Thing About Jellyfish.

Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home.

While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can't express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, "No matter what, I'll be there. I promise."

Why I want to read this book

That whole synopsis is full of feels. I love that we are seeing more books featuring characters in the foster care system, and Nova sounds like a girl after my own heart. Her love of science alone makes me want to know her better, and I like the promise of friendship in there too.

What are you waiting on?

Let us know in the comments!