Waiting on Wednesday: The Fault in Our Stars and Bittersweet

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hardcover: 272 pages

Release date: January 10th, 2012

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Goodreads Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 


Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler 

Hardcover: 384 pages

Release date: January 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Goodreads summary: Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. 


So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life...and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. 


It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last.... 

I'm so excited about these books! I love both John Green and Sarah Ockler and of course their books. Somehow, I know they're gonna be awesome just by reading the synopses.

What are you anxiously waiting on this week? Just leave a comment of the link to your WoW post!

Guest Post by Author Claudia Lefeve

I’d like to welcome author Claudia Lefeve, who was kind enough to write a guest post for Teen Readers' Diaries. Below is the playlist of all the songs that she listens to while writing Parallel.

The Playlist 

Thank you Clarissa for hosting me today on Teen Readers Diary! I know you've read Parallel already, but for those that haven't, I decided to do a playlist of all the songs that I not only listened to while I wrote it, but also fit with the theme and characters of the book. I hope you enjoy!!

Ordinary World - Duran Duran

I think this is would be the main title track for Parallel. Etta is currently living in a world that is not her own, then finds herself in another. "Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away...But I won't cry for yesterday, there's an ordinary world, somehow I have to find, and as I try to make my way to the ordinary world, I will learn to survive..."

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

"There's a ball ahead, many battles are lost, but you'll never see the end of the road while you're traveling with me."  This is what Etta will slowly discover what's in store for her and realizes that she has Cooper right at her side, while she faces her biggest battle to come. 

World In My Eyes - Depeche Mode

This fits totally with the scene where Cooper takes Etta back to her true reality. It takes some doing, but Cooper finally manages to convince Etta to take a little trip..."Let me take you on a trip, around the world and back, and you won't have to move, you just sit still...Let me show you the world in my eyes..."

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears

Can we say evil antagonist? I won't add spoilers in this post and tell you who it is, but you'll know who I'm referring to once you read Parallel. "Welcome to your life, there's no turning back, even while we sleep, we will find you...Nothing ever lasts forever, everybody wants to rule the world."

I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Ramones

This playlist wouldn't be complete without a song that's all Alex. "Hey, little girl, I wanna be your boyfriend. Sweet little girl, I wanna a be your boyfriend."

Who Do You Want to Be - Oingo Boingo

Growing up as an orphan, Etta always imagined herself as anything other than a foster kid. Not only does she have an active imagination, but supplements the void in her life by watching a lot of t.v. "Who do you want to be today? Who do you want to be?...Nothing could be worse, then when there's nothing on T.V..."

Now I'm probably dating myself with all these 80's tunes, but trust me, these songs never go out of style, and when you write a book about alternate realities and time travel, who says the 80's are dead? Paradox(book two) will probably be a bit more edgy, as there's a lot more traveling and obstacles Etta has to face to embrace her true destiny.

About the Author:

      Claudia Lefeve was born and raised in Gulf Coast border town of Brownsville, Texas; a curious place where folks see curanderas in lieu of shrinks, tortillas are served at every meal, and even gringos speak Spanish. PARALLEL, the first book in the Travelers series, is her debut YA speculative novel. She currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two pugs.

The Fury, the first installment in a series of short horror novellas, is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.   Parallel is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.