Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books On My Spring TBR

from The Broke and The Bookish

 

 

Today I'm talking about the ten books on my spring TBR list I'm most excited to read.

 

 

1. THE WINNER’S KISS by Marie Rutkoski

 

 2. LADY MIDNIGHT by Cassandra Clare

 

3. WHEN WE COLLIDED by Emery Lord

 

4. THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig

 

 

5. PASSENGER by Alexandra Bracken

 

 

6. THE LOVE THAT SPLIT THE WORLD by Emily Henry

 

7. EXIT, PERSUED BY A BEAR by E.K. Johnston

 

 8. TRUTHWITCH by Susan Dennard

 

9. THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

 

 

10. THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND by Katarina Bivald

 

What books are on your list to read this spring?

Top Ten Tuesday: My Book Boyfriends!

from The Broke and The Bookish

 

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, this week's Top Ten Tuesday (on Wednesday, because I'm slacking) is a Valentine's freebie. Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Valentine's Day Reads (or anti-Valentine's day reads), Top Ten OTPs, Top 10 fictional crushes, top ten great love declarations in fiction, swoony quotes from books, etc. 

 

Of course, I want to talk about book boyfriends. Don't I always?

 

Top Ten Fictional Crushes!

here we go...

 

1. Kaz Brekker (SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo) Not sure why, but I'm obsessed. He's not outwardly romantic and he's way damaged. But he's the perfect mix of Kaz the Myth (Dirtyhands) and Kaz the Boy (no spoilers), and it just hit me in the heart.

 

2. Max Watson (THE START OF ME AND YOU by Emery Lord) Nerd boys forever! Hilarious, sweet, and a good friend first and foremost.

 

3. Josh Mitchell (I’LL MEET YOU THERE by Heather Demetrios) The stream of consciousness snippets we get from Josh's POV were some of my favorite parts of the book. He's struggling with a lot (PTSD, losing a leg in Afghanistan) but he's written so well. His character gutted me in the best way.

 

4. Will Herondale (The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare) I reread the trilogy last year and confirmed he'll always be on my list. Snarky and swoony, it doesn't get much better than Will!

 

 

5. Oscar Ralph (I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson) An artist with a motorcycle and a British accent (and a backstory). Oscar is everything. If you haven't met him yet, I've got no clue what you're waiting for...grab this book NOW!

 

6. Chaol Westfall (Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas) My favorite of the Throne of Glass boys, though I really like Dorian as well. Not saying who I think is best for Celaena because of spoilers. For me, Chaol is my broody favorite.  

 

7. Levi Stewart (FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell) The sweetest love interest I think I've ever read! Genuine and kind, plus he works at Starbucks and would bring me free drinks.

 

8. Jonah Griggs (JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta) Another who'll always be on my list, our very own Leader of the Cadets, Griggs. Sa-woon! 

 

 

9. Frank Porter (SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson) A sweetheart like Levi from FANGIRL. Funny and an all-around good guy.

 

10. Wes Baker (THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen) The grand finale and my original book boyfriend! Wes will never not be on my list.

 

 

 

Real me would probably only date Max, Levi and Frank (maybe Wes if I met him at the point in his life when Macy did, post-juvie), but fictional-world me wants all of them to myself!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Resolutions For 2016

from The Broke and The Bookish

 

First week of January means RESOLUTIONS! I prefer goals to resolutions, and I try to make mine specific and measurable. I’m going to do a separate post listing the books I finally want to get around to reading in 2016, so most of these goals are a bit broader. Reading, writing, fitness and life!

 1. Read 52 books.

2. Don’t beat myself up for setting a much smaller reading goal than in previous years. (Working full time is no joke…it’s taken a huge toll on my reading habits!)

3. Read (or reread) 3 short story collections.

4. Finish The Darkest Minds series. (reread NEVER FADE, read IN THE AFTERLIGHT and THROUGH THE DARK novellas. This has been on my To-Do list since summer 2014, and I'm not letting myself read Alex's newest book, PASSENGER, until I finish The Darkest Minds)

5. Condense my TBR collection into one shelf instead of two. (This is one of my loftier goals…a combination of reading my unread books and slowing down my book-buying. I also want to decrease my “To Read” GoodReads shelf. As of today, there are 88 books on that shelf, though a handful of those have yet to be released)

6. Borrow at least one-third of my books from the library instead of buying them. (From my 52 books goal for the year, that means 17 should be from the library)

7. Write 3 new short stories.

8. Finish revising my manuscript, HALFWAY TO HONDURAS, and send to readers for critique.

9. Continue exercising. (I currently do yoga twice a week and treadmill/elliptical two or three times a week. I have many smaller yoga-related goals, like doing a steady crow pose, but as long as I’m still practicing this time next year, I’ll be proud)  

10. Unapologetically love the things I love. (This is my attitude goal of the year. Two years ago I had a similar, John Green-ish goal of being “ironically enthusiastic about stuff.” Often I think we alter or downplay our passions based on fear of others’ judgement. I know I do. So this year, I’m going to try and eliminate that fear, one small step at a time.)

And there they are! What are your 2016 resolutions, bookish or otherwise?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The First Half of 2016

Another exciting Top Ten Tuesday with The Broke and The Bookish! Here are the new books I'm most excited to get my hands on in 2016:

1. THE WINNER’S KISS (The Winner’s Curse #3) by Marie Rutkoski

2. LADY MIDNIGHT (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

3. THE LAST STAR (The 5^th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey

 

 

4. A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir

5. THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING by Morgan Matson

6. A COURT OF MIST AND FURY (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas

 

 

7. PASSENGER by Alexandra Bracken

8. WHEN WE COLLIDED by Emery Lord

9. STARS ABOVE by Marissa Meyer (Short stories from the Lunar Chronicles)

 

10. SUMMER DAYS AND SUMMER NIGHTS: TWELVE LOVE STORIES edited by Stephanie Perkins (includes stories from Leigh Bardugo, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, and Veronica Roth, among others)

 

 

 

And that's my list! You'll find me at the bookstore quite often in 2016! What book releases are you most looking forward to next year?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015

A very exciting Top Ten Tuesday hosted by the Broke and the Bookish this week…favorite books of 2015! 

I’m anxious about posting this with two weeks of the year left…just since the beginning of December I’ve read some of my favorite books of the year! But as of right now, here’s my top ten.

(kind of in order of my favorites…the top 3 rotate depending on my mood.)

1. QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas

Book 4 in the Throne of Glass series has the most perfect pacing of any fantasy book I’ve read. It’s also a book of Big Moments, where many of the events/confrontations we’ve all been waiting for finally happen. We follow many different characters (though the story remains in 3^rd person), including Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, and characters we were introduced to in later books like Manon, Rowan and Aedion. Normally I have a set favorite POV in books like this and get bored with all the others, but I honestly enjoyed every page of this.

 

2. SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen doing what Sarah Dessen does best: complicated family dynamics, supportive friendships and self-discovery. That’s what drew me to her stories initially, and SAINT ANYTHING reminds me of my favorite Dessen books (THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER, ALONG FOR THE RIDE). Sydney’s reckless older brother is sent to jail, stealing their parents’ attention and casting Sydney into the shadows. Then Sydney meets the Chatham family and learns she might not be as invisible as she thinks. Read my full review of SAINT ANYTHING here. 

 

3. WINTER by Marissa Meyer

The long-awaited finale of the Lunar Chronicles is FINALLY here! WINTER is part-Snow White retelling, part space odyssey as our entire crew heads to Luna for the big showdown with Queen Levana. At 800+ pages, the book was everything I’d hoped for! The story’s evolution from the beginning of this book to the end (not to mention from CINDER to WINTER) is amazing to see. And Winter herself has become one of my favorite Lunar Chronicles characters. I’m so happy Marissa is publishing a short story collection (including a WINTER epilogue!) so we can follow up on our favorites! 

 

4. ALL THE RAGE by Courtney Summers

I’ve talked nonstop about this book since it came out in April. It’s a harsh look at the victim blaming culture in our society after a teenage girl is raped at a small town party. She comes forward and is ostracized, bullied horrifically by classmates and townspeople—especially the sheriff, father of the accused rapist. Courtney Summers also uses great imagery and sharp prose to make the reading experience even more visceral. Read my full review of ALL THE RAGE here.   

 

5. THE START OF ME AND YOU by Emery Lord

I was late to the Emery Lord party, but now you’ll have to drag me out because I am never leaving! THE START OF ME AND YOU follows Paige, who's still shaken up over last year's drowning death of her boyfriend of two months. She decides junior year is her fresh start: new activities (somehow she gets roped into joining Quiz Bowl), going out with friends (she’d spent the past year avoiding parties), and finding a new boyfriend (her old crush seems like a good place to start). Then her crush’s adorably nerdy cousin, Max, befriends her and throws a wrench into her plans. This synopsis (and the one on the book flap) does the story no justice. Emery Lord writes friendships we need to see more of in YA: supportive girls who’ll do anything for one another. Paige’s friendship with her three friends, especially Tessa, was the star of the book for me. In addition to, of course, the perfection that is Max Watson. Nerd love! Full review to come. 

 

6. SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo 

Kaz Brekker and his street gang take on an impossible heist: break into the heavily secured Ice Court and steal one of its prisoners. Succeed, and they’ll be beyond rich. Fail, and they’ll probably all die. I loved following Kaz’s team of thieves, spies, and convicts—the story is told from five of the six crew members’ POVs—and, even though their morals are a little askew, I adore them all. Especially Kaz, Inej, and Nina. If you weren’t crazy about the Grisha trilogy (I made it through Book 1 but that’s it so far), still pick up SIX OF CROWS. A much more enjoyable cast of characters, even better worldbuilding, and great pacing. Read my full review of SIX OF CROWS here. 

 

7. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir

My favorite 2015 debut. This brutal fantasy world is based off ancient Rome and follows Laia, who sneaks into the military academy as a spy in an effort to save her kidnapped brother. There she encounters Elias, top of his class but desperate to desert instead of serving the Empire after graduating. Fantastic worldbuilding, both POVs are equally strong—I would’ve read a full book about either character—and play off each other well. It was originally marketed as a standalone (but clearly written with the hope for a sequel) and now we’re getting a second book next year! Read my full review of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES here.

 

8. AMY AND ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson

Warning: you will want to take a road trip after reading this! After her father dies in a car accident, Amy and her mom are moving to Connecticut. Still too scared to drive, Amy’s family friend Roger tags along. Quickly disregarding the planned route, Amy and Roger see the sights—and deal with all sorts of emotional baggage—along the way. Full of fun add-ins like Morgan Matson’s own road trip pictures and playlists, this book is such a fun read. The light and heavy emotional moments balance perfectly. I can’t believe it took me until 2015 to read this one! Read my full review of AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR here.

 

9. BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray

A plane full of teenage beauty pageant contestants crashes on an island. Is it a Mean Girls-style cafeteria brawl? Lord of the Flies? Or could they actually work together? Libba Bray’s novel is a genius look at society’s portrayal of teenage girls. Each character was fleshed out so well, and the friendships were positive and supportive. A whip-smart, hilarious and poignant read. Read my full review ofBEAUTY QUEENS here.   

 

10. JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman

I devoured this book in, wait for it…just one day. It’s part-travel adventure, part self-discovery. Allyson ditches her European tour group to visit Paris with Willem, an actor in a traveling Shakespearean company. The first half of the book follows Allyson’s choice in the day that follows, while the second half details Allyson’s return home and first semester of college. It’s a romance for sure, but Allyson spends most of the book figuring out who she is. I enjoyed the character development, and now I’m desperate to plan a trip to Europe!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015

Linking up with The Broke and The Bookish for the first of several end-of-2015 posts. Here are some authors I fell in love with this year!

 

1. Emery Lord: I read THE START OF ME AND YOU in one day and have already put a hold on OPEN ROAD SUMMER at my library. I love her characters' friendships, the humor, and the nerdy gift to the world that is Max Watson. <3 I was late to the Emery Lord party, but now that I'm here, I won't be leaving anytime soon!  

2. Sabaa Tahir: I bought AN EMBER IN THE ASHES on a whim during a trip to Tennessee (needed another book to read in the car). The worldbuilding (based on ancient Rome) is stellar, the characters are compelling, and the storyline kept me guessing. Can't wait for the next book in 2016!

3. Laini Taylor: 2015 was the year I finally started the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. I've read books 1 and 2 so far. I liked book 1 fine, but DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT grabbed me and refused to let me go. I might be in the minority, but I enjoyed seeing Karou and Akiva's separate journeys. Book 3 is on my Christmas list, and I'm excited to see how it ends!

4. Jenny Han: Lara Jean was my introduction to Jenny's writing, and what a darling she is! She bakes, wears sweaters, and is a bit naïve to the world. I kind of wanted to scoop her up and hug her throughout the entire book. Jenny writes such great family dynamics; the sisters were my favorite relationship!

5. Aaron Hartzler: WHAT WE SAW is a gutsy story based on the Steubenville rape case. Aaron writes fearlessly about victim-blaming and speaking up. Not to mention, his teenage dialogue is spot-on. Can't wait to see what's next from him.

6. Margo Rabb: This book has everything. A road trip, game show questions, romance novels...all mixed into one! Margo writes a wonderful story about self-discovery, which is my favorite topic to explore. She has another novel called CURES FOR HEARTBREAK that I'm itching to get my hands on, too.

7. Cheryl Strayed: By now, everyone has heard about WILD, Cheryl's memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I read this book while traveling though South Africa this year, and it helped me take risks and be brave.  

8. Roxane Gay: My new year's resolution this year was to ask questions. If I don't understand something, ask for clarification. Instead of automatically accepting something, question it instead. Feminism is a huge part of that, and Roxane's essays really helped me sort out my personal views on important social issues and current events.

[I’d read one book from these authors in the past but found a new appreciation for them in 2015]

9. Courtney Summers: I read FALL FOR ANYTHING a few years ago and liked it, but 2015 was the year of Courtney Summers for me. ALL THE RAGE is a book that will never leave me, and I binge-read the bind up of CRACKED UP TO BE/SOME GIRLS ARE. She writes high school stories like no one else I've read. They're brutal, but so important.

10. Libba Bray: I didn't click with A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY when I read it in high school, but BEAUTY QUEENS is one of my favorite books I read this year. It's satirical and challenges social norms, particularly how society views young women. Smart writing that had me laughing out loud.

What authors did you discover this year?