Expectancies

                               The Selection by Kiera Cass
       Hardcover, 327 pages

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

   For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

There's a lot of hype surrounding this upcoming novel. It's already been picked up by CW but with no official release date.  Aimee Teegarden, Ethan Peck, Martin Donovan and others are attached to this project that's expected to debut sometime in 2012. CW usually has a good sense in deciding what shows to develop(Vampire Diaries. Duh!), and I feel like this'll be a great competitor now that dystopian is up and coming, especially with The Hunger Games being released in theaters this month.

                         Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson 

Hardcover, 480 pages

Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Taylor’s family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then they get news that changes everything: Her father has pancreatic cancer, and it’s stage four – meaning that there is basically nothing to be done. Her parents decide that the family will spend his last months together at their old summerhouse in the Pocono Mountains. 

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is suddenly around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

Coming from someone who read Amy and Rogers Epic Detour, I feel like Morgan's second book will, no doubt, be promising. She has a great way of building character relationships through a short period of time-as demonstrated in Amy&Roger's-and makes them easy to relate to. The only thing I'm concerned about is that there won't be music talk like there was in A&R's, but I guess we'll all just have to wait and see. :)