Discussion: Highly Anticipated Books - Nerds, Nerds, Nerds

Today I'm going to tell you about some of the books I'm waiting for an I am SO SUPER EXCITED FOR. There are a LOT of them, so I've narrowed it down to the ones about nerds, LOL. That's right, you heard me - these are the books with the nerdy MCs. 

Can't Escape Love by Alyssa Cole

March 19, 2019
Avon

Regina Hobbs is nerdy by nature, businesswoman by nurture. She's finally taking her pop culture-centered media enterprise, Girls with Glasses, to the next level, but the stress is forcing her to face a familiar supervillain: insomnia. The only thing that helps her sleep when things get this bad is the deep, soothing voice of puzzle-obsessed live streamer Gustave Nguyen. The problem? His archive has been deleted.

Gus has been tasked with creating an escape room themed around a romance anime…except he knows nothing about romance or anime. Then mega-nerd and anime expert Reggie comes calling, and they make a trade: his voice for her knowledge. But when their online friendship has IRL chemistry, will they be able to escape love?

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Nerdy girls, nerdy girls! *leads cheerleading team* I love seeing some nerd-girl rep in romance! Also, I love that this cover has actual POC cover models. I've noticed a definite trend toward illustrated covers, and it seems like it's especially in books about POC characters, and while many of them are REALLY amazing, I think representation matters. This cover is gorgeous, and I'm so happy Avon and Alyssa and everyone involved decided to use real and fabulous cover models and not go the illustrated route on this one. ALSO; every book in this series has somehow managed to be even better than the last, which should be impossible because I'm pretty sure I'm been rating them 5 stars since book 2. As this is the 5th book (including novellas, officially book 3.5), if it continues on-trend I'm pretty sure the awesomeness is going to make my head explode. 

Play It Again by Aidan Wayne

April 22, 2019
Carina Press

The videos are fun.

But it’s the host who has him coming back for more…

When Seattle-based blind YouTuber Dovid Rosenstein finds Sam Doyle’s Let’s Play channel, playitagainsam, he’s instantly captivated by the Irish gamer. Everything about Sam is adorable, from his accent to his personality, and Dovid can’t get enough of his content.

Dovid’s glowing shout-out on Don’t Look Now, his own successful channel, sends Sam’s subscriber numbers skyrocketing overnight. He has more comments than he can read. And while the sudden surge in popularity is anxiety inducing, Sam decides it’s only right to dedicate his next episode to Dovid…which soon leads to a heart-pounding exchange of DMs.

They may have never met in person, but Dovid’s never felt this close to anyone before. What they have feels worth exploring—no matter the distance. But is it possible to already be in love with someone who’s half a world away?
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Ahh! Even the blurb has me clutching my cheeks like an anime character and emitting a high-pitched squee noise. I'm pretty sure there are even little cartoon hearts popping out above my head. I love an online romance, and this sounds so cuuuute. And hooray for having a blind MC, because the world needs more diverse main characters! Can't wait to read this one. *so many little puffy hearts popping*

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

July 2, 2019
Avon

Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: 

- Nude pics are by invitation only 

- If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice 

- Protect your heart 

Only there aren't any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night... and disappears. 

Rhi thought she'd buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won't fumble their second chance, but she's wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…
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Ooh boy! This book has it all! A lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers vibe, high-powered nerds - actually I can't tell from the blurb if he's actually a nerd or not.... It says "two rival dating app creators" and later says he's a former pro-football player and is "in league with a business rival." I sure hope he's a sports nerd, because the world needs more multi-faceted hot guys. Anyway, it's got a nerd-girl heroine at least, and that's a definite plus. I've read other books by Alisha Rai and loved them, and I'm interested to see if this change in cover style reflects any change in writing style. 

What new and upcoming books are you most excited about? Tell me in the comments. Bonus points if they have a nerdy main character! 

Can't Wait Wednesday: I Believe in a Thing Called Love and My Lady's Choosing

I have some books I'm super excited about, and it just so happens to be Wednesday, so I thought I'd do a Can't Wait Wednesday post!

There are two books I have been hearing more and more about, and I can NOT wait to read them! Luckily, they're both in at my local library, so I have big plans to swing by on my way home from work and pick them up.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love

by Maurene Goo
Goodreads  Amazon
Summary: Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.  

Why I can't wait: It's a book about K-Dramas, you guys! Give me K-Dramas in more mediums, yesss, preshus. *grabby hands*

My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel

by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris
Goodreads  Amazon
Summary: The romance novel that lets you pick your path, follow your heart, and find happily ever after.

You are the plucky but penniless heroine in the center of eighteenth-century society, courtship season has begun, and your future is at hand. Will you flip forward fetchingly to find love with the bantering baronet Sir Benedict Granville? Or turn the page to true love with the hardworking, horse-loving highlander Captain Angus McTaggart? Or perhaps race through the chapters chasing a good (and arousing) man gone mad, bad, and scandalous to know, Lord Garraway Craven? Or read on recklessly and take to the Continent as the “traveling companion” of the spirited and adventuresome Lady Evangeline? Or yet some other intriguing fate? Make choices, turn pages, and discover all the daring delights of the multiple (and intertwining!) storylines. And in every path you pick, beguiling illustrations bring all the lust and love to life.

Why I can't wait: It's a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Regency romance novel. Um, what's not to love? Also, I love that there's a female option for your love interest!

Have you read either of these books? What did you think? And most importantly: which one should I read first?!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Anonymous Noise Vol 7 by Ryoko Fukuyama

Time for another episode of Can't Wait Wednesday, sponsored by Wishful Endings!
 
The book I can't wait for this week is actually a comic book! The 7th volume of the manga Anonymous Noise.
 

 

Summary: Nino takes the stage at the school festival, ready to deliver the message held fast in her heart. Both Yuzu and Momo have composed songs for her, but which piece of music will be the one to awaken her? Meanwhile, Kuro’s secret feelings seem to have reached a turning point as well… And is In No Hurry finally ready to take things to the next level professionally?

(from Goodreads)

 

I recently checked out the first 6 volumes from the library and devoured them all in one gulp! I can't wait to read this next installment and find out what happens next. I'll likely post a review for volumes 1-6 all in one big review here sometime soonish (because I read them back to back and now couldn't tell you what happened in which volume to save my own life...) and look forward to sharing Volume 7 with you as well!

How about you? Is there a book (or comic book!) you're particularly looking forward to right now?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Cam Boy (Murmer Inc #3) by Quinn Anderson

Time for another episode of Can't Wait Wednesday, sponsored by Wishful Endings!

The book I can't wait for right now is Cam Boy, the third book in the Murmer Inc series by Quinn Anderson.

Summary: After years of making minimum wage, college dropout Josh Clemmons may have found his salvation. Murmur Inc., a local adult entertainment company, is hosting auditions for new performers, and Josh has been invited to try out. If he can make it as a porn star, he can kiss his money troubles goodbye.

Mike Harwood is a loud-and-proud professional adult entertainer. In the past three years, he’s starred in dozens of films, and he’s very good at what he does. But as focused as he’s been on work, he’s neglected everything else, including his love life. He’s so used to faking attraction, he can no longer tell when something real is staring him in the face.

Josh gets the job, but when porn fails to live up to the fantasy, he quits to do cam work instead. But he can’t stop thinking about the one scene he filmed, and the captivating man he filmed it with. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Mike knows better than to mix business with pleasure. Then again, with true love on the line, this unorthodox office romance may need a second take.
(from Goodreads)

I ran across this book on NetGalley, and was (sadly) turned down in my request for an ARC/eGalley. Undeterred, I went and bought the first book in the series, Hotline, which I will review on this blog shortly. Hotline was awesome, and I immediately went and bought the second book in the series, Action. I'd even pre-order this one if I could find it on Amazon!! Luckily I shouldn't have to wait too long, as Goodreads lists the expected publication date for this one as February 12th.

Is there a book you can't wait for?

Can't Wait Wednesday - Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

I decided to try doing one of these "Can't Wait Wednesday" posts. :)

Right now, I can't wait for a number of YA books, which is odd for me. The number one book I can't wait for is right now is:

Daughter of the Siren Queen

(Daughter of the Pirate King #2)
by Tricia Levenseller
YA Fantasy
Expected publication: February 27th 2018 by Feiwel and Friends

Summary: Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.
(from Goodreads)

 

 

I recently read (listened to?) Daughter of the Pirate King and LOVED IT SO HARD. Thankfully I've won an ARC copy of Daughter of the Siren Queen through Goodreads giveaways, so I just have to be a little more patient. :)