Ruei's Reading Corner

Final post of my reading for the year 2023! I read a total of 45 books, fewer than all the years before but that's cause I'm busy. Though I will say, for a student, I feel like 45 books is still a decent amount of reading. Below are some books I would recommend from my reading this year, not in any particular order. Even though I didn't read as much, I've definitely tried to step out of my comfort zone (thanks to school) and read multiple genres. Anyways, cheers to books, reading, and a new year! 1. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood.  Of course, Ali Hazelwood will and will continue to make this list. Theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway has a Ph.D. in physics (literally couldn't be me) but is in desperate need of a teaching position. She's hopeful at MIT until a certain Jack Smith, brother of her "boyfriend," shows up at threatens to ruin everything. But their chemistry OMG, a must-read. And can we mention the beautiful cover?? Review here     

Title:  Check & Mate Author:  Ali Hazelwood Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers Release Date:  November 7, 2023 Pages:  368 Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ...

The following books are upcoming releases for December (there's not that much). There are always new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye (not that many this month actually). They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson is releasing December 5, 2023. Synopsis: Eight years ago,Ethan and Rebecca met, two trouble-making kids sharing secrets and first kisses in a treehouse, until Ethan’s mom returned to take him away. Each and every visit, his only goodbye was a flower on Rebecca’s windowsill. Three years ago , Ethan left for the last time to take care of his mother, who’s had a substance use disorder his whole life. Two years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that killed her father. She’s been learning to navigate life as a wheelchair user ever since. Now, they discover if their hardships have torn them apart…or will bring them closer tha...

Title:  Between Shades of Grey Author:  Ruta Sepetys Publisher:  Philomel Books Release Date:  March 22, 2011 Pages:  344 Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions. Buy it on Barnes & Noble and Amazon  

These books are upcoming releases coming sometime in November. There are tons of new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that I'm excited for. The books are not ranked by number so they are displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige is releasing November 14, 2023. Synopsis: For centuries, the enchanted members of the Entente have worked in tandem with the Three Fates—the Present, the Past, and the Future—to maintain destiny across the Thirteen Queendoms. But when Queen Magrit learns of her untimely demise from Hecate, Fate of the Future, Magrit burns Hecate at the stake and decrees death to all Entente in order to live forever. But some survive, including sixteen-year-old Farrow, who hatches a dangerous plan to seek revenge. Along the way, she finds herself falling for the one person who could ruin everything. With life and love hanging in the balance, she must decide who to trust and what’...

Title:  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Author: Mark Haddon Publisher:  Vintage Release Date:  July 31, 2003 Pages:  226 Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years. Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon    

The following books are upcoming releases in October that I'm looking forward to. There are tons of new books being released each month but these ones caught my eye. They are displayed randomly, not in a particular order. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. The Space between Here & Now by Sarah Suk is releasing October 31, 2023. Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Aimee Roh has Sensory Time Warp Syndrome, a rare condition that causes her to time travel to a moment in her life when she smells something linked to that memory. Her dad is convinced she'll simply grow out of it if she tries hard enough, but Aimee's fear of vanishing at random has kept her from living a normal life. When Aimee disappears for nine hours into a memory of her estranged mom--a moment Aimee has never remembered before--she becomes distraught. Not only was this her longest disappearance yet, but the memory doesn't match up with the story of how her mom left--at least, not the versio...

Title:  Life of Pi Author:  Yann Martel Publisher:  HarperCollins  Release Date:  September 11, 2001 Pages:  326 The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon    

Title:  War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line Author:  David Nott Publisher:  Abrams Press Release Date:  February 21, 2019 Pages:  287 For more than 25 years, surgeon David Nott has volunteered in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major metropolitan hospital. He is now widely acknowledged as the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world. War Doctor is his extraordinary story, encompassing his surgeries in nearly every major conflict zone since the end of the Cold War, as well as his struggles to return to a “normal” life and routine after each trip. Culminating in his recent trips to war-torn Syria—and the untold story of his efforts to help secure a humanitarian corridor out of besieged Aleppo to evacuate some 50,000 people—War Doctor is a bl...

I'm back, this time with books that are upcoming releases for September. There are many new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye. They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. A British Girl's Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey is releasing September 26, 2023. Synopsis: Winchester has always been home for Flora, but when her mother dies, Flora feels untethered. Her family expects her to apply to university and take a larger role in their tea-shop business, but Flora isn’t so sure. More than ever, she’s the chaotic 'hurricane' in her household, and she doesn’t always know how to manage her stormy emotions. So she decides to escape to Miami without telling anyone – especially her longtime friend Gordon Wallace. But Flora’s tropical change of scenery doesn't cast away her self-doubt. When it comes to university, she has no idea which passions s...

Title:  Spells Trouble Authors:  P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast Publisher:  Wednesday Books Release Date:  May 25, 2022 Pages:  320 Double double, twins spell trouble… Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins to learn what it means to be Gatekeepers–the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and nightmares come to life. When their mother becomes the first victim in a string of murders, the devastated sisters vow to avenge her death. But it will take more than magic to rein in the ancient mythological monsters who’ve infected their peaceful town. Now Hunter and Mercy must come together and accept their destiny or risk being separated for good. Buy it on  Barnes & Noble  or  Amazon   

The following books are upcoming releases for August. There are many new books being released, but these are the top five that caught my eye. They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter is releasing August 8, 2023.  Synopsis: It's the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory. She only knows three things for certain: 1. She has a splitting headache. 2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run. And oh yeah... 3. People keep trying to kill her. She doesn't know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there's only one explanation: obviously. . . she's a spy! Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she's not. She's a spy's identical twin sister. Too bad the only person who knows she's not the woman they're looking for is this very grouchy, ver...

Title:  The Love Hypothesis Author:  Ali Hazelwood Publisher:  Berkley Books Release Date:  September 14, 2021 Pages:  352 The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs. Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie an...

The following books listed are upcoming releases for July, the upcoming month. There are many new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye.  The books are not ranked but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon is releasing July 1, 2023. Synopsis: Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in "ghostwriter" until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fa...

Title:  Heart Bones Author:  Colleen Hoover Publisher:  Hoover Ink, Inc. Release Date:  August 24, 2020 Pages:  336 Life and a dismal last name are the only two things Beyah Grim's parents ever gave her. After carving her path all on her own, Beyah is well on her way to bigger and better things, thanks to no one but herself. With only two short months separating her from the future she's built and the past she desperately wants to leave behind, an unexpected death leaves Beyah with no place to go during the interim. Forced to reach out to her last resort, Beyah has to spend the remainder of her summer on a peninsula in Texas with a father she barely knows. Beyah's plan is to keep her head down and let the summer slip by seamlessly, but her new neighbor Samson throws a wrench in that plan. Samson and Beyah have nothing in common on the surface. She comes from a life of poverty and neglect; he comes from a family of wealth and privilege. But one thing they do have...

The following books listed are upcoming releases for June 2023. There are many new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye.  They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar is releasing June 6, 2023. Synopsis: “Welcome to the first ever Junior Irish Baking Show!” Shireen Malik is still reeling from the breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Chris, when she receives news that she’s been accepted as a contestant on a new televised baking competition show. This is Shireen’s dream come true! Because winning will not only mean prize money, but it will also bring some much-needed attention to You Drive Me Glazy, her parents’ beloved donut shop. Things get complicated, though, because Chris is also a contestant on the show. Then there’s the very outgoing Niamh, a fellow contestant who is becoming fast friends with Shireen. Things are heating up betwee...

  The following books are upcoming releases for May! There are many new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye. They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker is releasing May 30, 2023. Synopsis: Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian. At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached… This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexami...

Title:  The Last Thing He Told Me Author:  Laura Dave Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Release Date: May 4, 2021 Pages:  320 Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new...

The following books listed are upcoming releases for April, a new month. There are many new books being released each month, but these are the top ones that caught my eye.  The books are not ranked but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading! 1. Queen Bee by Amalie Howard is releasing April 4, 2023. Synopsis: Lady Ela Dalvi knows the exact moment her life was forever changed—when her best friend, Poppy, betrayed her without qualm over a boy, the son of a duke. She was sent away in disgrace, her reputation ruined. Nearly three years later, eighteen-year-old Ela is consumed with bitterness and a desire for . . . revenge. Her enemy is quickly joining the crème de la crème of high society while she withers away in the English countryside. With an audacious plan to get even, Ela disguises herself as a mysterious heiress and infiltrates London’s elite. But when Ela reunites with the only boy she’s ever loved, she begins to question whether vengeance is sti...

The following books listed are upcoming releases for the month! There are many new books being released each month, but these are the ones that caught my eye.  They are not ranked by number but displayed randomly. Can't wait for them to come out, happy reading everyone! 1. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher is releasing March 14, 2023. Synopsis: Since her mother’s death, Madeline “Gwen” Hathaway has been determined that nothing in her life will change ever again. That’s why she keeps extensive lists in journals, has had only one friend since childhood, and looks forward to the monotony of working the ren faire circuit with her father. Until she arrives at her mother’s favourite end-of-tour stop to find the faire is under new management and completely changed. Meeting Arthur, the son of the new owners and an actual lute-playing bard, messes up Maddie’s plans even more. For some reason, he wants to be her friend - and ropes her into becoming Princess of the Fa...