The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver - Using a playful parallel-universe structure, The Post-Birthday World follows one woman's future as it unfolds under the influence of two drastically different men. Children's book illustrator Irina McGovern enjoys a quiet and settled life in London with her partner, fellow American expatriate Lawrence Trainer, a smart, loyal, disciplined intellectual at a prestigious think tank. To their small circle of friends, their relationship is rock solid. Until the night Irina unaccountably finds herself dying to kiss another man: their old friend from South London, the stylish, extravagant, passionate top-ranking snooker player Ramsey Acton. The decision to give in to temptation will have consequences for her career, her relationships with family and friends, and perhaps most importantly the texture of her daily life. Hinging on a single kiss, this enchanting work of fiction depicts Irina's alternating futures with two men temperamentally worlds apart yet equally honorable. With which true love Irina is better off is neither obvious nor easy to determine, but Shriver's exploration of the two destinies is memorable and gripping. Poignant and deeply honest, written with the subtlety and wit that are the hallmarks of Shriver's work, The Post-Birthday World appeals to the what-if in us all. 
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin - Elsewhere is where 15-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different from it. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? 
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult - The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and one man's last chance at gaining salvation. Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen. For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child. Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish? 
The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson - Nina, Mel and Avery have been best friends since they were tiny. But one summer can change everything. When Nina goes away for a month, she comes back to find the world has changed. Mel and Avery have their own secret: one Nina can't be part of.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.Other symptoms may include:
The Lottery by Beth Goobie - Last year, I read Beth Goobie's Beyond Wings and loved it. It was so sad and beautiful and INTENSE, so I knew right away that I wanted to read more from Beth Goobie. While I probably preferred Beyond Wings, I still adored The Lottery. 15 year old Sal is this year's 'lottery winner' at a school that has been taken over by The Shadow Council. Sal is to be ostracised completely from every other student and is at the beck and call of the Council, who terrorise the other students. Sal, herself, is already in a dark place, and with the help of her brother and her clarinet she might just make it through the year.
The Savage by David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean - Picked this one up entirely based on Nymeth's review. The story itself isn't very long, finished it quite quickly. I almost shed a tear at the end, it was that beautiful. LOVED Dave McKean's illustrations of the Savage. Really, just go read Nymeth's review, because she says everything that I want to say, only better. And then go out and read the book.
Life on the Refigerator Door by Alice Kuipers - I saw this reviewed somewhere, it turns out it was over at Trashionista. Another really quick read. I finished it the same morning I read The Savage while Joshua was napping. I like the idea of it, a novel written in notes between a mother and daughter too busy to spend much time together. But as Keris said in her review, as a reader, I didn't spend much time with the characters, so some of the emotional impact of the story was lost on me.
Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Louise Rennison - Goodybe Georgia, I will miss you! Loved this series. I thought all of the books were hysterical, some more than others. No huge embarassing moment in this one, but lots of fun bits involving Angus, and Libby and friends. It ended the way it should, but I wanted it to be just a bit longer and a little more satisfying.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fingersmith and Affinity by Sarah Waters
Unsticky by Sarra Manning
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