Month: August 2014

Friday Finds #3

Posted August 8, 2014 / Friday Finds, Weekly Memes / 4 Comments

Here are the books I’ve added to my to-read shelf or recently purchased/downloaded to read! Click on the cover for the Goodreads link. Added to Goodreads: Magnolia by Kristi Cook – I’ve seen too many good reviews for this one, even though it doesn’t seem like a book I’d normally read. We’ll see! Not at the top of my list at the moment. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales- Got some positive Goodreads ratings and seems interesting enough. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman – Okay I’ve broken down and added this to my list. It sounds kind of weird, but I can’t stop staring at that beautiful cover! I’ve been wanting to get back into sci-fi / fantasy lately too. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins – This is another one where I’m succumbing to peer pressure. We’ll see. Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young – I think I saw a review for this somewhere. The tagline of “One decision, two paths” is enough for me to say YES to reading this book. Alternate universes created from one decision? Sign me up. Always. Forever. Purchased: How to Love by Katie Cotugno – On sale right now for Kindle! (Thanks, people I follow on Twitter, for constantly alerting me to book sales and spending my entire paycheck).. Upon further investigation, lots of bloggers I follow enjoyed this book. Done deal. Boomerang by Noelle August – This one seems cute and got some good reviews. It’s pretty cheap […]

Review: Since You’ve Been Gone

Posted August 8, 2014 / Book Reviews / 7 Comments

Review: Okay, first let me get out my feelings about audiobooks. I don’t like them. I love the idea of them, but really can’t stand them as I’m listening. They really impact the novel for me. I can’t separate the narrator’s (often annoying) voice from the characters and the story. I want to hear the characters as I hear them in my head, instead of from some actress who thinks she knows what the author intended. I absolutely love being able to “read” while driving or taking a shower or getting ready in the morning. I suffer through audiobooks for that reason alone. I am slowly but surely getting over this aversion, because I find the only way I can “read” two books at once is if they’re in these two different formats. Anyways, in spite of the audiobook, I really enjoyed this one. This has been on my to-read list for a long time. I love the cover and thought the premise sounded really cute. Other bloggers seemed to love this one too, so I decided to use my Audible credit on it. The story follows Emily as she checks of items on the list that Sloane left her. She becomes friends with two people from her school and the girl who works at the pizza shop in the meantime. It was really nice to watch shy Emily come out of her shell and develop her own personality separate from Sloane. As the novel went on, I decided I really […]

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 7

Posted August 7, 2014 / Book Challenges / 5 Comments

Most Underrated Book Class of ’98 by A.L. Player It’s difficult to define “underrated” for me, because that could mean anything. Underrated because I haven’t seen book bloggers talking about it? Underrated because not many people liked it but it’s a really good book? Underrated because it seems like I’m the only one whose read it? I think for this instance I choose the last one. I do tend to follow the crowd when it comes to adding books to my TBR list. Sometimes, I’ll come across a book that it seems no one has read and take a risk on it myself. I chose Class of ’98 by A.L. Player. I’ve referenced it a few times and reviewed it before, but didn’t get any comments from people who have read it. I think this book is underrated in the sense that it’s not widely known or popular. It was a quick read that made me smile. What more can you ask for?

Booking Through Thursdays #3

Posted August 7, 2014 / Booking Through Thursdays, Weekly Memes / 9 Comments

When you visit a friend’s house, do you find time to browse their bookcases? Does it shock you if they don’t have one? Absolutely! Doesn’t every bookworm do this?? I try to check out their shelves to see if I’ve read some of them, so we can discuss it and go crazy if it was a good book. If they haven’t read it and I enjoyed it, I make sure to tell them to read it ASAP if it’s lifechanging. It does kind of shock me if they don’t have bookcases because I have so many of them.

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 6

Posted August 6, 2014 / Book Challenges / 0 Comments

A Book that Broke Your Heart The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini This is the kind of book that I would normally never pick up on my own, but I’m so glad I ended up reading it. I think it was some kind of requirement or option to read it in high school. It was the same year that the movie came out, and both made me cry like a fool. Judging by most reviews of this one, I’m not alone in thinking that this novel is utterly heartbreaking. It tugs on the heartstrings like no other. The Kite Runner is the story of how Amir goes back and tries to right his wrongs, especially those against his only friend Hassan. I specifically remember a scene where Hassan is being tormented by some boys and Amir does nothing to help them, which was the most heartbreaking (for me) of all. This is a book that everyone should read – but be prepared for it to stay with you for a very long time. I’ve hesitated to read his other books because of how this one made me feel. This was his debut novel; how could he ever follow it up!?

WWW Wednesdays #3

Posted August 6, 2014 / Weekly Memes, WWW Wednesdays / 3 Comments

What are you currently reading? I just started If I Stay by Gayle Forman last night. It’s been sitting in my office for a few weeks since my coworker let me borrow it. I’ve been caught up in the Isla is Coming readalong and the two ARCS I wanted to review, so it’s been hanging out on my windowsill for a while. From what I’ve gathered, it’s a pretty quick read. The Lola readalong starts tomorrow, so I hope I finish If I Stay by the weekend to keep on pace with everything! So many books, too little time. I’m also so close to being done with my Since You’ve Been Gone (Morgan Matson) audiobook. I’m too cheap to buy another one so I’ll be anxiously awaiting the arrival of my next Audible credit. What did you recently finish reading? I just finished Aspen by Rebekah Crane yesterday. That book totally exceeded my expectations. Before that, I finished my other ARC, Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner. I expected to like that one more than Aspen, but it was a little more predictable than I was hoping. I liked that both books were really unique and featured topics and characters unlike other books I’ve ever read. I’d highly recommend them both! What do you think you’ll read next? Besides Lola and the Boy Next Door for the readalong, I’ll probably read Where She Went by Gayle Forman (assuming I like If I Stay!) Everyone loved it, so I’m sure I will too, but […]

ARC Review: Aspen

Posted August 6, 2014 / Book Reviews / 6 Comments

Review: This book was definitely not what I was expecting. Based on the synopsis, I thought I was going to get something more paranormal. I figured Katelyn’s ghost would be talking to Aspen and trying to live her senior year vicariously through Aspen, since she wouldn’t get the chance. In reality, Katelyn’s ghost would just appear as a figment of Aspen’s imagination until she came to terms with what she’d done. What a great read this book was! I loved all of the characters, the plot moved flawlessly, and it was wrapped up in a way better than I expected. Aspen was a totally normal girl: she had weird friends and hair she hated. She made mistakes. Her mother, the pot-smoking hippie with a boyfriends coming through a revolving door, was awesome. I was totally fascinated by their mother-daughter relationship, because it was pretty much the reverse of what it would normally be. My mom would never encourage me to have sex or say things like “a little sex would put a smile back on that face” and “orgasms make you live longer too.” It was a really cool dynamic that worked in some ways and need help in others. Her friends, Kim and Cass, totally loved each other but would never admit it. I was hoping for a little more about them when the book ended, but it didn’t bother me too much. Katelyn’s former best friend, Suzy, and boyfriend, Ben, are suddenly in Aspen’s life too. One thing that […]

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

Posted August 5, 2014 / Book Challenges, Features / 1 Comment

I’ve joined another challenge – the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon! The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team This challenge is all about reading more books than you normally would in a week. I’m actually planning on taking a few vacation days that week, so I’m really hoping to spend some time reading on the beach and beating my usual records! Lately I’ve been reading a book every 2-3 days, but previously I could/would read a book per week (or even longer, depending on my plans for the week!) My goal for this challenge: Read 7 books in one week

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 5

Posted August 5, 2014 / Book Challenges, Features / 0 Comments

A Book That Makes You Happy Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Despite the fact that I just finished this book a few days ago, this is the first one that came to mind when I thought of books that made me happy. I smiled like a lunatic at the sheer cuteness that happened on every page of this book. It was a fairly standard young adult romance with some predictable pieces, but it was exactly what I expected – in the best way possible. When I saw people doing the #IslaIsComing readalong, I decided to join in because so many bloggers were raving about how adorable the series is. This book should be the poster child for all young adult authors.

Top Ten Tuesdays #2: Recs for YA Virgins

Posted August 5, 2014 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 9 Comments

Top 10 Books I’d Give to Adult Readers Who Have Never Read Young Adult Don’t even get me started on the age-related stigma placed on young adult books. The bottom line is, you should read whatever makes you happy! I prefer reading about younger characters and putting myself back at that age. I like books I can relate my own experiences to – even if those experiences happened a few years ago. Reading “adult” books makes me think of the future, getting older, and other problems I don’t want to deal with at this stage in my life. I’m sure at some point, once I’m older, I’ll branch out a little more.. In the meantime, here are the top 10 young adult books I would recommend to adults (or adult books with younger characters growing up)! Looking for Alaska by John Green: This is my all-time favorite book, and definitely John Green’s best work. Readers of all ages can connect to this story and appreciate all of the character development and thought that he put into it. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen: I recommended Sarah Dessen to a friend who wasn’t into young adult books, and now she is completely hooked! This story was a gateway drug for her into the world of YA. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: I always call this a modern-day Catcher in the Rye. Any adult reader who enjoyed that book, will enjoy Perks. After you finish the book, watch the […]