Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings where bloggers share which upcoming releases they’re most looking forward to. Join us every Wednesday and watch your TBR list multiply.

I have such a soft spot for contemporary retellings of Jane Austen. Unfortunately, there aren’t many out there written by authors of color. Or maybe there are and publishing just seems disinterested in signing these authors? There are innumerable Jane Austen retellings by white authors and I just want authors of color and readers of color to see themselves in these books too. This is why whenever I come across a Jane Austen retelling by an author of color, I immediately add it to my TBR. I am immensely excited for Nikki Payne’s upcoming debut, Pride and Protest. I’m very interested to see how this one navigates gentrification when the lead characters seem to be on totally opposite sides of the conflict. Cover is linked to Goodreads.

Title: Pride and Protest
Author: Nikki Payne
Series: N/A
Pages: 416
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: November 15, 2022

      “A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by debut author Nikki Payne.
      Liza B.–the only DJ who gives a jam–wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at a corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering-hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly–but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head.
      At first, Dorsey writes off Liza Bennett as more interested in performing outrage than acting on it. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, he’s always felt a bit out of place and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza’s protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down, and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionary is the most real woman he’s ever met.”

Are you participating in Can’t-Wait Wednesday or Waiting on Wednesday? Is this book on your TBR? Be sure to leave a link to your post in the comments and I’ll visit!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Breakup from Hell by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings where bloggers share which upcoming releases they’re most looking forward to. Join us every Wednesday and watch your TBR list multiply.

I am spotlighting my first 2023 book for this meme. I know I should be concentrating on all the 2022 releases I haven’t gotten to, but there are so many tempting 2023 novels wiggling their eyebrows at me. It’s also Latinx Heritage Month and I wanted to highlight at least one upcoming release by a Latine author. I am very intrigued by Ann Dávila Cardinal’s Breakup from Hell. I think what makes this one so appealing is that it sounds like one of those funny horror movies that doesn’t try to take itself too seriously, but is determined to provide its audience with one heck of a good time. Sign me up. Cover is linked to Goodreads.

Title: Breakup from Hell
Author: Ann Dávila Cardinal
Series: N/A
Pages: 304
Publisher: Harperteen
Publication Date: January 3, 2023

      “Miguela Angeles is tired. Tired of her abuela keeping secrets, especially about her heritage. Tired of her small Vermont town and hanging out at the same places with the same friends she’s known forever. So when another boring Sunday trip to church turns into a run-in with Sam, a mysterious hottie in town on vacation, Mica seizes the opportunity to get closer to him.
      It’s not long before she is under Sam’s spell and doing things she’s never done before, like winning all her martial arts sparring matches—and lying to her favorite people. The more time Mica spends with Sam, the more weird things start to happen, too. Like terrifying-visions-of-the-world-ending weird.
      Mica’s gut instincts keep telling her something is off, yet Sam is the most exciting guy she’s ever met. But when Mica discovers his family’s roots, she realizes that instead of being in the typical high school relationship, she’s living in a horror novel.
      She has to leave Sam, but will ending their relationship also bring an end to everything she knows and everyone she loves?
      Clever, hilarious, and steeped in supernatural suspense, Breakup From Hell will keep you hooked until the last page.”

Are you participating in Can’t-Wait Wednesday or Waiting on Wednesday? Is this book on your TBR? Be sure to leave a link to your post in the comments and I’ll visit!