“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine!
This week I’m waiting on…
Title Damsel Distressed
Author Kelsey Macke
Pages 336 Pages
Genre Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publisher Spencer Hill Contemporary
To Be Published October 14th, 2014
Find It On Goodreads
Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters’ story. Those girls don’t get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing.
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after – in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.
When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace – the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant – aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.
While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.
And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.
This week for Waiting on Wednesday I’ve decided to venture a little outside of my usual comfort zone. As regular readers of Pop! Goes The Reader will tell you, I adore contemporary, realistic fiction and this genre makes up the vast majority of the novels I read each year. That said, there are moments when I worry that I will eventually read one too many and become ‘burned out’ or tired of what can occasionally become a recognizable pattern or series of stories. Which is, in part, one of the reasons I’m so excited about my choice of book today! Damsel Distressed appears to be an intriguing combination of contemporary fiction while still paying homage to the traditional fairytale archetype from a unique perspective that I haven’t encountered before.
While I’ve always been drawn to fairytales that have been re-imagined or reinvented in some way, as in the case of Marissa Meyer’s ingenious and creative Lunar Chronicles series, I think what finally convinced me that I needed to read Damsel Distressed was an absolutely adorable video posted by the author herself on Youtube (You can watch it Here). Seeing Macke’s excitement and passion for her novel was infectious and I found myself immediately desperate to learn more about it. I also love that this novel features a plus-size protagonist, a rarity in a genre that is in desperate need of further diversity and inclusivity. Also cheese fries 😉
I honestly haven’t felt this energized and excited about an upcoming release since learning of Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone and I’ll be counting the days until Damsel Distressed is released! Is it October yet?
10 Responses
This book does sound enticing…thanks for sharing, and enjoy.
Here’s MY WOW PICK – “THE COLLECTOR”
This book sounds great! definitely adding it to my tbr pile. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sharon – Obsession with Books
Sharon – Obsession with Books recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Reborn (Shadow Falls : After Dark #1) by C.C Hunter
This sounds cute and fun, and I love retellings, especially when they have a twist!
Rachel Patrick recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (75)
Spencer Hill Contemporary seems to be releasing a slew of good books end of this year, and this one I am most excited about too! Great pick~!
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Kai A. recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (144): Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future + Don’t Touch
Great pick, I’d never heard of Damsel Distressed before today but it sounds like something I would love and is definitely going on the wishlist!
Fi recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday #69 – Smiler’s Fair
I love the cover and it sounds interesting. thanks for sharing
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Leydy @OUaT & RCE
leydylaura recently posted…Book Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
Wow! This book sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing! Stop by My WoW
Barbara recently posted…The Readers Den: The Reader’s Den Two Year Blogoversary!
Ohh this sounds like it will be a great read 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Olena recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: Otherwise Engaged
This book sounds amazing and the cover is gorgeous as well. I love fairy-tale retellings as well as stories with a twist. Who’d think to tell the story from the “evil” stepsister’s POV? I love how it’s still contemporary fiction, which, like you, makes up of most of what I read.
alice-jane recently posted…A Visit to the Strand & NY
This book sounds pretty frickin amazing, plus that video is so cute. Thanks for sharing it!! I’m excited to add this to my tbr now 🙂 By the way, your writing is super eloquent – you somehow manage to make even a WoW post sound graceful!
Chloe @ YA Booklover Blog recently posted…My Favourite Books: An Epic Infographic & A Giveaway