Waiting on Wednesday: The Opposite of Amber and Mercy Lily

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's picks:

 The Opposite of Amber by Gillian Philip

Goodreads' description:

"'They found the fifth girl right after the snow melted ...the place where he left her was winter water, crazed with ice-feathers and dusted with snow. The traces from her body were gone, the ones that said his name, but she had an extra skin of ice that protected her and she looked perfect, like Snow White.'

Ruby and her older sister Jinn live together on their own, just about making ends meet. Jinn is beautiful, with glittering blonde hair, and makes it her business to look after Ruby. They are horrified by, but try to ignore, the local newspaper stories of prostitutes who are murdered, their bodies eventually discovered underwater. Then the no-good Nathan Baird turns up on the scene - again - and Jinn starts to change. First Nathan moves in with Jinn and Ruby, making Ruby feel an outsider, and then Jinn and Nathan move out, leaving Ruby alone. Jinn no longer has time to look after Ruby. And it seems to Ruby that Jinn herself needs looking after. Her beautiful glittering hair starts to lose its shine. And then Jinn disappears. A deeply moving, chilling, and incredibly powerful thriller that celebrates the love two sisters have for each other and mourns the events beyond their control that will conspire to drive them apart."

This one sounds really different — there are hints of a fairytale nature to it, but also a mystery/thriller...love that the emphasis is very much on the sisters here, rather than romance. And it sounds quite chilling (pun intended!)

Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert

Goodreads' description:

"A poetic, moving story about a teen who must make an unimaginable choice.

Mama has slowly been losing herself to MS. After traditional treatment fails, she takes bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain. Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that Mama wants to die.

One beautiful summer day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all—mercy. They live in Oregon, where the Death with Dignity Act allows a patient to make the decision to end their own life.

While navigating first love, friendship, and the other normal worries faced by high school sophomores, Lily also has to choose: grant Mama's request, or cling to Mama's fading life for all it's worth."

I don't often go in for super sad books, but this one just has such a fascinating premise. From the fact that she must nurse her mother with bee sting therapy to the ethical dilemma posed, it all sounds so different from most contemp YA! Plus, it has such a pretty cover...that lily is simple but very striking against the black background, and the title font is lovely as well.




What books are you waiting on?