TTT Books That Are Worth the Hype

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's topic is Books That Are Worth the Hype.

Alexia's Picks

1. Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This book was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read in my life. Totally worth the hype.

2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I just read this one last month and it hit me like a ton of bricks. So beautiful, heartbreaking and just so damn good.

3. Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake. This book really messed with my head, but it was Blake's best book yet, I'd say.

4. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson. This book messed my brain up so badly, I didn't know what was what.

5. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis. A captivating & delicious book that has a very distinct ending that I can still remember with absolute precision.

6. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Ugh, this book was so good, so heartbreaking and so beautiful. Of the two books of Sepetys that I've read, I'd say this one is the strongest one.

7. The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. This book WRECKED me. I mean, holy cow this book exceeded my expectations and cemented itself as one of my all time faves.

8. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. This book was a lot fluffier than I normally read, but it was so good and totally worth all the hype.

9. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I was a bit late to the game, but this book impressed me in a big way and I finally understood the hype with this one.

10. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. Gorgeous writing, great romance and gorgeous setting. This book was well worth ALL THE HYPE.

Bekka's Picks

 1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I know this is going to be on a lot of lists today, but I couldn't leave it off. It was the very first book that popped into my head when I saw today's topic. 

2. Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I have to laugh because of all the overlap in mine and Alexia's lists. I had no idea she was including so many of the same books I planned to include. But anyway, I love this book. I know it's divisive, but the people who love it, LOVE IT, and it's so well deserved.

3. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. I love this book so much. People went nuts over it when it first came out and I was skeptical, but still thirsty for it. And when I read it, I fell in love. Beautiful writing, amazing romance, fearsome queen main character, and omg the food scenes.

4. Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. Illuminae really is all the things people tell you it is: creative, exciting, scary, action packed, engaging, twisty, and fun. There's no other series out there like it.

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. This series was one I never really planned to read. But then I won it in a giveaway and decided, why the hell not? I'm so glad I did! I love Cinder herself, Iko, the world, the villain, the action, the fun. And there are some darker elements, but these books are just SO FUN.

6. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I know, I know, vampires. How 2009. But really, this series is almost perfect. Rose is and incredible heroine, the very definition of snarky and kick-ass. The friendships in this book are so strong, and I love the mythology and culture of the vampires. This is one vampire series I think stands the test of time.

7. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia. Contemporary doesn't get a ton of hype, but I'm really glad this one did. It's a story about overcoming anxiety and depression and mental illness, of being proud of who you are, of art and fandom and creativity and expression. It's also simply beautiful, aesthetcially. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be so invested in these characters.

8. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. People went bananas about this book when it was first releasing and with good reason! It's a wild ride across Europe but it's gay! Well, actually, it's bisexual which is even better. You'll love Monty, with his self-deprecating humor and his hilariously poor decisions. You'll love the ship and Felicity and the adventure.

9. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Even if this story wasn't relevant and powerful and timely, this would still be the perfect contemporary. Not only does it give a voice to the growing issues in this country, it's also full of believable and lovable characters, especially the family. Seriously, I want Starr's family to adopt me.

10. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. I love this book! It completely swept me away and I swear it felt like I was in Italy alongside these characters, melting by the pool, in heaven, swimming in the waves, riding my bike around town and grabbing some gelato. The writing is immersive and beautiful and perfectly captures the feelings of adolescent longing.

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What books do you think are worthy of the hype?

ARC August

It's time for ARC August again! Hosted by our lovely friends from Read Sleep Repeat, ARC August is a month-long ARC-reading challenge. There will be read-a-thons and giveaways and so much more. You can get all the details on their announcement post.

Over the last six AAs they've hosted, I've low-key participated in them all, but not always officially. I am such a mood reader and as soon as I "have" to read a certain something, I immediately want nothing to do with it. But as of my writing this, I've only read 2 books in July. That's really said for me, when I was getting up to 10+ each month earlier in the year. So I really need something to light a fire under my behind.

Now, because I only read 2 books last month, I don't want to push myself too hard. I do know there will be a bingo sheet coming out, and I really would like to get a bingo. But I also don't want to make reading a chore. Because of this, I've decided to make my official ARC August TBR tiny. Like, teensy.

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a book I've been looking foward to since before I even know it existed. I loved Summers' last book, All the Rage, and I knew I would read all the books she published once I gave that one a 5-star rating. Well, it's here, so it's time to get on it!

Shimmer and Burn & Splendor and Spark by Mary Taranta. I've already read S&B, but since I do own an arc and I do want to reread before I read its sequel, I'm counting this. I absolutely loved this book last year and I've been eagerly anticipating the next one since last summer. I am so, so stoked. 

Alexia's TBR

I wasn't sure I was going to participate this time even though I've participated in the majority of these things. I wasn't sure if I'd be feeling up to it, but since I did very little reading all month, I needed something to kick my butt back in gear. Unlike in the past, where I've done a whole 10+ books in my TBR, I'm keeping it small.

1. Seafire by Natalie C. Parker. I actually just won this book in a giveaway and since it comes out in August, I am pushing it up to the top of the list. Plus, I've enjoyed Parker's work in the past.

2. I Am Still Alive by Kate Marshall. I knew nothing about this book until last month. Not enough books are set in Alaska, so I'm stoked. This is slightly out of my comfort zone, but I still cannot wait.

3. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry. It's finally time to read this one. This looks like a book I really could have used in my teen years. I've heard good things about it, so I'm hoping I love it.

4. One Of Us is Lying by Karen McManus. I started this one ages ago, but I wasn't in the mood. Definitely looking forward to picking this one back up in August.

5. The Girl With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke. I also started this one ages ago, but again, I was not in the mood for it. From what I remember, it started off really intriguing, so I'm hoping it's still got that intrigue for me.

Are you participating in ARC August? Let us know in the comments what you plan to read!

July Beat the Backlist Wrap Up

It's time to share my progress for Novel Knight's Beat the Backlist Challenge. I knew this month was going to be hard because I had surgery at the beginning of the month. That was a big reason why I read a bunch of books in June. As expected, I did very little reading this month, and in fact only picked up my first book this week. See, told you it was rough. Crossing my fingers that August is better for me.

Read: 0

DNF:
More Happy Than Not

Currently Reading:
Warcross

If you're doing this challenge, how did July go for you?

Alexia's July Book Haul

Holy cow, I cannot believe it is the end of July already! How in the heck is that even possible? This month absolutely flew by. 

I had my surgery on the 5th, and things went well there. I actually had a short, uncomplicated surgery for the first time ever. Surgery took 2 & 1/2 hours and the doctor was thrilled with how well it went. I went home the next day, as planned and have spent the last few weeks healing. 

I haven't read hardly at all, and in fact only picked up a book this past Wednesday for the first time all month. Looking at my huge haul this month, I am startled by how many new books I've added to my shelf. I didn't realize exactly how many there were. 

For Review

After the Fire by Will Hill
Watch You Burn by Amanda Searcy
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
The First True Thing by Claire Needell
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

Won

I Am Still Alive by Kate Marshall
Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Purchased

Fireblood by Elly Blake
Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
Shimmer and Burn by Mary Taranta
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Haunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Strange the Dreamer by Lani Taylor
Legendary by Stephanie Garber

How was your July?

What I've Been Up to This Summer

As you've probably noticed, the blog has been a bit... empty lately. And that's because I've been SO BUSY. I really love blogging, and second only to reading, it's my main hobby. It's also my main outlet for creativity and expressing myself, since I never really write fiction anymore. So it's been a little sad to let it fall by the wayside lately, but at the same time, life is crazy over here. I am tired and when I sit down and open up my laptop, I end up on Twitter talking to my friends or on other forms of social media because they're a lot less emotionally exhausting. (When I stay in private messages; the public world is definitely emotionally exhausting.)

Anyway, I've had a burst of creative motivation this week and I've been chugging along, writing new posts and coming up with some ideas for later this year. I thought I'd share some real life updates with you guys to let you all know what I've been up to.

Pregnancy

20 weeks!

I have officially reached the halfway point in this pregnancy. It has been rough. When I was pregnant with Rosalie I had fair amount of health problems: pre-eclampsia, gallstones, a breast lump, SPD, and morning sickness throughout the entire nine months. This pregnancy is about the same. I've had chronic fatigue, bad liver pain, extreme morning sickness to the point of losing like 10-15lbs. I had a gestational diabetes scare recently, but thankfully I passed that test with nice and low numbers. No tumors or infections have shown up yet, and my blood pressure so far is normal, but I am having a terrible time walking. So I'm sick and hobbling all of the time. It's been wonderful.

Despite the pain and illness, I've reached some really fun milestones so far. We found out that this baby is going to be a boy! We have a name picked out and we've started buying his clothes and going through Rosie's old things to get him some hand-me-downs. I feel him moving all the time, from the inside and the outside; he's in constant dance party mode!

Family

Rosie, Mike, and I took a wonderful vacation at the end of June. We went to Bucks County, PA, which doesn't sound like much, but it's where we lived before we moved to NC. We got to see some family and my best friend and Rosie got to meet everyone for the first time. The big highlight of our trip was going to Sesame Place! Rosie absolutely loves Elmo and Big Bird, so she had the time of her life seeing them in person. Plus it was a water park, so there was a ton of swimming and even some rides. The whole place is designed for littles, so virtually nothing was off limits. 

Best Day Ever

As you all know, summer has been excruciatingly hot across the country, which has made it hard to get Rosie out and about. Plus with me being hugely pregnant and sick already, it's really not comfortable to be out too much. We've spent a lot of time indoors this summer. Rosie has even figured out how to work the WiiU game pad lol. We've been utilizing the libraries and the indoor park, plus the kiddie pool and umbrellas in the back yard. I think we may make a day trip to Pigeon Forge, or maybe a weekend to Atlanta sometime next month. 

Reading

I haven't been reading as much recently as I was at the beginning of the year. But I have read some really great books this summer. I spent the month of May rereading the last few volumes in the Harry Potter series, books I haven't visited in years. It was so much fun to relive this series and discover new things previously unnoticed. 

I discovered some new favorites books! Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins really sticks out. I also finally read Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman while on vacation and cried like a baby in the middle of the night when I finished it. Talk about a heartbreak. The graphic novel Bingo Love really surprised and impressed me, too!

Right now I'm reading Bright We Burn by Kiersten White which is by far my most-anticipated release of the year. However, I'm in the biggest reading slump ever right now and haven't been reading much at all. In fact, I've been spending most of my free time on Call of Duty or watching horror movies. Anyone else ready for fall?

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How has your summer been? Tell me in the comments all about your recent travels and what books you've loved over the last few weeks!

Halloween in July Book Tag

I found this tag on Hardback Hoarder on BookTube. I don't know if you guys know this, but Halloween is my favorite holiday. When I was a kid, we went ALL OUT on the costumes, the makeup, the trick-or-treating. I had a bunch of cousins and we all went out as a group together. I love it so much I already have Rosie's costume put together for a holiday that doesn't happen for like four more months now. I love the atmosphere, the cool weather, the early sunset, the scary movies, the creepy crawlies. I love everything about Halloween. So when this tag came into my feed, I knew I had to do it immediately. 

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1. What book gave you the creeps?

So, I love horror. I consume horror on the regular. I mean, I've watched three horror movies in the last three days and I have another queued up and ready to go as soon as Rosie goes to bed. So I know my stuff. And when I say that this book scared the unholy crap out of me, I mean it. It is to this day the scariest shit I've ever read.

2. What book gives you the best Halloween vibes?

 

Considering this book is set over the course of October, features a Halloween party, costumes, spooky accidents, and a creepy, mysterious costume shop, this is THE book for Halloween vibes. I wish it had a spookier cover to go along with the perfect Halloween atmosphere.

3. What is your favorite vampire book?

 

Is anyone surprised, really? I freaking LOVE this series. I love Rose and Dimitri. I love the lore, I love the world, I love Lissa, I love everything. Except Adrain lmao.

4. What book scared you so much you had to sleep with the lights on?

 

Oh my god. When I finished this book I immediately hid it from myself. It scared the crap out of me for days and I was so glad to be rid of it when I returned it to the library. One of the scariest and most surprising endings ever.

5. What is your favorite book about witches/goblins/ghosts/demons?

I love this series so much! It was one of the first YA series I ever became straight up addicted to, way back when I was actually a teen. There is so much in here to enjoy, and the books are short and FAST. I love the friendships and the shipships and the magic most of all. Plus all the tie-ins of Irish mythology. I just love it so much. Also the family dynamics! 

6. What book do you wish was scarier than it was?

I don't know if you guys remember back to the stone ages when this came out (2011) but the marketing was real. There was so much emphasis on how scary and creepy it was, especially with all the spooky pictures. So when I read it I was excited. Except that it ended up being such a letdown. Instead of the creepy spooky story I was expecting, it was like time-loop X-men with a gross ship. Not scary at all except for the very first scene. 

7. What is your favorite book that takes place in October?

I literally couldn't think of anything for this except to repeat a previous answer, The Accident Season. Other than that, I can only come up with Harry Potter, which is totally cheating. Also I am looking forward to reading the Hocus Pocus sequel which, you know, SHOULD take place on Halloween haha.

 

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Tell me about all your favorite spooky reads! I am so tired of summer and am already kicking into Autumn mode!

TTT Books With Sensory Memories

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week's topic is books with strong associated memories

Bekka's Picks

So, this is a strange topic. I'm not sure I have particularly SENSORY memories attached to any book. But there are certain books where I will never forget what I was doing when I read them. So that's what I'm sharing with you guys today.

1. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. I have some really fond memories surrounding this book, but also one really, really terrible one, too. First, I got this arc at BEA 2016. I had the best time camping out early for it and then racing to the line to make sure I got my copy. Then, when I read it on the train home from New York, something really awful and triggering happened on that train. I was totally fine, so don't worry about me. But it's something that will stick in my head forever.

2. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. I got this particular arc at BEA 2012, my first ever BEA experience. And I read it in one sitting that night in the hotel room, my feet aching, my ankles swollen, exhausted from my first ever book convention. It was made extra special because the book that got me into blogging was The Dust of 100 Dogs, also written by A.S. King.

3. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. I think we all have some strong Twilight memories. I remember eagerly anticipating the final installment; going to the midnight release to get it. It came out the summer after I graduated high school; I was living with my boyfriend at the time, on my own really for the first time. I brought that book everywhere I could. I read it on the bus to work, I read it during breaks, I read it at the pool, I read it everywhere to the point where I started to annoy the shit out of my friends lol.

4. Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This book is always going to be special to me because I read it while I was in labor with Rosie. I even took it to the hospital with me. And it was the first book I finished after she was born. When I see the cover or think about the characters, I'm always brought back to the day she was born. I'm so happy I loved it, too, since that'd be awkward, tying a book I hated to the  most important event of my life lol.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I read this one while Rosie was a newborn as well. I can clearly remember being curled up on the couch, teeny tiny baby Rosalie nestled on my chest, feeling her heartbeat, her warmth, and reading this book. Those early weeks when all baby wants is to be snuggled are some of the most precious moments, and I'll always remember them along with this story.

TTT Books to Read in 2nd Half of 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl
This week's topic: Books To Read in 2nd Half of 2018

This was actually last week's prompt, but we missed it due to some health complications all around.

Alexia's Picks

1. Mirage by Somaiya Daud. I was definitely curious about this one when I requested it, but I wasn't 100% sold on it. And then a fellow blogger, whose opinions I trust, fell in love with it and I knew I had to move this one up on my review pile.

2. Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes. I love this author, but her books seem to be a hit or miss for me. This one looks right up my alley, so I'm hoping it's a hit for me.

3. What If it's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera. If I don't read this one by the time 2019 rolls around, I will hate myself. I need to read my copy of it SOON.

4. Nightingale by Amy Lukavics. I've only read one of this author's books and I really enjoyed it. Super stoked to read this one around Halloween time.

5. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry. I am so excited for this one. I was raised Catholic and by the time I was a teenager, I considered myself to be an atheist. I am very curious to see how they handle the Catholic versus atheism thing.

6. Heartless by Marissa Meyer. I got this book from my Secret Santa a few years ago and I still haven't read it. I need to make it a priority before the end of the year.

7. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. I am not a huge historical fiction reader, but Sepetys does historical fiction so well and I have enjoyed her first two books so I'm excited to get to this one.

8. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. This one was another one that I wasn't totally sold on. I was worried that the book wouldn't be worth the hype. And then the reviews started pouring in. Gushing, glowing reviews. So the next time I went to Barnes & Noble, I picked this one up. Really hoping I love this one like everyone else seems to.

9. Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles. It was the cover that first drew me to this book. Reading the synopsis felt like being punched in the stomach. I knew as soon as I read the synopsis that I had to have this book.

10. Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh. I am a cover whore and this cover is freaking GORGEOUS. I knew before I even saw the cover, that I wanted to read this book and I cannot wait to dive in at some point this fall.

Bekka's Picks

 1. Bright We Burn by Kiersten White. I love this series so much. It's an all-time favorite of mine. Of course, I'm currently reading this right now. I've only just started though because I've been having some minor health issues that have made it hard to read.

2. Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd. I was SO EXCITED when I got this arc in the mail. I have also started this one and I find it fascinating. I love a good murder mystery and magic!!

3. Boneless Mercies by Aprile Genvieve Tucholke. I am probably one of the only weirdos who actually enjoyed reading Beowulf in high school. So a retelling of that epic poem was obviously going to go on my TBR. Add that it's written by AGT and I am pumped.

4. The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. I struggled with Thomas's debut, but this book is my entire aesthetic. I cannot wait to read it.

5. Sadie by Courtney Summers. After reading All the Rage when it first came out, Summers is now an auto-buy author for me. 

 6. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. I will read anything and everything Kiersten White writes. As you can tell, since she's on this list twice. 

7. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson. The Remnant Chronicles (including a TKOD reread) are on my TBR for 2018. I plan to finish that series and jump into DOT immediately.

8. Nightingale by Amy Lukavics. I love this author's books! I am never scared by what I read except when I'm reading Amy Lukavics. So obviously her newest is on my TBR for later this year when I'm ready to get spoopy.

9. A Room Away from the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma. Another auto-buy author for me, and one of my all-time favorite writers. I've read all of her books and I cannot wait to devour more of her words.

10. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth. This sounds similar to the Wayward Children series and I LOVE that series a whole lot. So of course I want to read something that explores similar ideas. I have hiiiigh expectations.

What are you looking forward to reading later this year? 

Book Review: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Book Title & Author: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
Published by: Dutton Juvenile on June 14th, 2011
Genre: Magical Realism
Pages: 348
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis:
Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

Review:
Ughhh, Nova Ren Suma is a freaking WIZARD! I mean, wow. Her books are so odd, so strange, so unpredictable, but above all else, her books are BRILLIANT. I read her books kinda backwards, as I have already read her later books and just last month, read her debut. I can see how she has grown as a writer & storyteller. Her books all have this mysterious & magical quality to them that I just ADORE.

Did I mention she's an auto-read author for me? Because she is and has been since last fall when I first read one of her books.

With Suma's books, you don't usually know what's going on. There's a lot of suggestible things in her books that make you really wonder what the hell is going on. With magical realism, you wonder what's real and what's magic. I wondered that in her other books, but I definitely wondered it in Imaginary Girls, maybe even more than her other books.

Ruby bugged the absolute crap out of me. She was annoying, clingy, pushy, authoritative, cruel and all sorts of other adjectives. While I couldn't stand the way she treated Chloe (I'll get into that later) it was the way she treated everyone else that pissed me off. Especially, the guys that lived in the town. She was utterly awful to them. I never thought I'd be defending the male gender in this book, but holy crap was Ruby cruel to them.

She treated Chloe like crap too. She was overbearing, critical, bossy and just basically acting like a parent. This made absolutely no sense because Chloe had been living with her father for awhile, so clearly she had at least one functional parent. Ruby saw herself as Chloe's mom, and I knew this was going to be a potentially big issue with unhealthy boundaries. And it was a big issue as the book unfolded.

As much as I couldn't stand the way Ruby treated those around her, I found her so captivating. Especially when strange things happens and she hints that she had a part in the strange incidents. The lengths Ruby goes to keep Chloe alive are both crazy & awesome. I won't say more about that because I don't want to spoil anyone who hasn't read the book.

Final thoughts: This book is so atmospheric as all of Suma's books are. So creepy, dark and mysterious. I cannot wait to get my hands on her upcoming release.

Book Review: The Complication by Suzanne Young

Book Title & Author: The Complication (The Program #6) by Suzanne Young
Published by: Simon Pulse on April 24th, 2018
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
Synopsis: 
How do you go back to a life you can’t remember? Find out in this sixth novel in the New York Times bestselling Program series from Suzanne Young.

Every cure has a cost.

Tatum Masterson learned this after years of being monitored by The Program. She witnessed it when her boyfriend, Wes, came back changed, erased. And now, even the newest “cure” has a heavy cost—one she and Wes paid.

The Adjustment came into Tatum’s life just when she thought she needed it most, a promise for Wes to get back his forgotten memories. But when the procedure went wrong, a revelation shattered everything Tatum thought she knew.

Now, with no one left to trust, Tatum must find out what really happened last summer. And with the help of the boyfriend she lost, Tatum will have to dig into the past and future of The Program and its handlers.

And discover the true cost of a cure.

Review:
I cannot believe I have to say goodbye to this series. I never wanted it to end and now that I finished the final book in the series, it hurts. It hurts almost as badly as finishing the Harry Potter series hurt. That's how much I loved this series.

I really wish I had reread at LEAST The Adjustment before I read this book. I was having a heck of a time remembering characters and it was driving me insane. I would remember a certain character and then wrack my brain trying to remember where I knew them from. Which timeline? The before timeline with Quinlan McKee or the after timeline with Sloane Barstow. I started to wonder if my memory was still problematic after my health scare in November.

Suzanne Young is an absolute wizard at storytelling. She managed to keep all the threads from all of the books in this series together. I think all of my questions about this world were answered by the end of this book. She wrapped up all the threads of all of of the storylines. It takes a wizard to be able to do that effectively.

By now, I've come to expect bombshell after bombshell in this series and this book did not disappoint me in that way. I got my bombshells. Some of it I guessed and some of it I didn't, but that's another mark of a fantastic storyteller like Suzanne Young.

I was not a huge fan of the romance between Tatum and Weston. I'm trying to remember if I liked them together in The Adjustment, but I don't remember. I mean, they weren't horrible together and they did have chemistry together, but I felt like they were better as friends. Especially once certain things came to light. Especially about how The Program fit into everything concerning Wes & Tatum.

It was so good seeing all the familiar faces. Realm, Dallas, Sloane, James and several others. I think having all these familiar faces make cameos made the book even stronger. I actually want to reread the entire series now because I didn't realize how much I had missed these characters. Especially the ones I hadn't seen in awhile like Sloane, James and Dallas.

Final thoughts: Awesome ending to an awesome series. I am sad to see it end, but I look forward to seeing what Suzanne Young writes next.

Book Review: Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

Book Title & Author: Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
Published by: Feiwel & Friends on October 3rd, 2017
Genre: Magical Realism
Pages: 340
Format: ARC
Source: Gifted
Goodreads
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:Love grows such strange things.
For nearly a century, the Nomeolvides women have tended the grounds of La Pradera, the lush estate gardens that enchant guests from around the world. They’ve also hidden a tragic legacy: if they fall in love too deeply, their lovers vanish. But then, after generations of vanishings, a strange boy appears in the gardens.
The boy is a mystery to Estrella, the Nomeolvides girl who finds him, and to her family, but he’s even more a mystery to himself; he knows nothing more about who he is or where he came from than his first name. As Estrella tries to help Fel piece together his unknown past, La Pradera leads them to secrets as dangerous as they are magical in this stunning exploration of love, loss, and family.

Review:
Is "holy wow" a phrase I can use without sounding weird, because that's the only way to describe how I feel after reading this book. Full disclosure: It took me a really long time to get through this book, but I'm going to attribute that to my health being in the crapper. When I finally picked it back up in June, I found myself captivated by the writing and the story that the writing told.

In magical realism, it generally takes me a lot longer to get into the book, but 9 times out of 10, it's totally worth it and I end up really enjoying or even loving the book. Thankfully, this was one of those 9 out of 10 times and it also made me realize I need to read ALL of McLemore's books ASAP.

Normally, writing like what was in the book bugs me because it just seems too flowery and I hate flowery writing. In this case, it worked and somehow made the book and its contents more magical. From learning about the secrets of LaPradera to witnessing two separate romances, both of which I enjoyed (which is rare) to learning the mysteries of Fel and how he fit into everything.

One of the biggest hooks for me in books, is the inclusion of family and this book had that. From the five cousins to their mothers and grandmothers etc. And this family was very close knit, which is another huge plus for me. They had all experienced loss of some sort. Whether it was loss of a lover or loss of family.

I loved the bisexual representation in this one. It was so well done and there was so much of it. More than I usually see in even a contemporary and definitely more than I see in magical realism. Ugh, it was beautiful.

Learning about the history of the Nomeolvides women was totally fascinating and I found myself hooked on that, far more than I expected to be.

Final thoughts: If it hadn't taken me so long to get through this book, I'd be giving it a full 5 stars. I definitely need to read the rest of McLemore's books and so should everyone else.

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

This tag originated on BookTube, created by Chami. I love doing this every year so of course now that we've reached the halfway point, I'm doing it again. I lost my 2018 goals post, so I won't be able to do a check-in for that, so this will have to suffice for mid-year orginization.

My goal for my Goodreads reading challenge is 50 books. Last year I was a new mom and had no idea what reading was going to be like. This year, I decided to go easy on myself because of that. That being said, I'm currently at 47 books read as of June 29th. So I think I'll do okay! Now, onto the questions.

1. Best book you've read so far in 2018.

The Song of Achilles was actually the first book I read this year, and though 5-stars is my most-given rating this year, this is still the best of the best. 

Runners up include Gemina, The Prince and the Dressmaker, and Dear Martin.

 2. The best sequel you've read so far in 2018.

 I loved Caraval, but I loved Legendary so much more. Tella is such a great, proactive main character and her love triangle brought me to my knees.

Runners up include Gemina and Obsidio.

3. New releases you haven't read yet, but want to.

So these three are like my most-anticipated reads for 2018 and I've totally dropped the ball here. But I hope they will be read this summer! Children of Blood and Bone absolutely will but I may leave the other two for Halloween time.

4. Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

I am so excited for all three of these. Boneless Mercies and Sawkill Girls are all about dark, angry girls and maybe queer girls?? Undying is the sequel to Unearthed with fucked my WHOLE brain up so I need to know wtf is going on.

5. Biggest disappointment.

 I could not express to you the level of betrayal I feel from this book. Follow Me Back was crazy, compelling, fun, and surprising. Tell Me No Lies fell flat in every way possible. It depended on the characters being stupid and acting out of character. It was a hot mess.

6. Biggest surprise.

  I obviously don't start books with the intent to dislike them, but at the same time, I've never felt HUGE feelings ove a graphic novel. The Prince and the Dressmaker however? AMAZING. Incredible. A must-read.

7. New favorite author.

 I loved everything about this book from the window into a new culture, to the humor, to the adorable romance. What I loved most though was the main character, Mei. I can't wait to read anything Gloria Chao writes in the future.

Honorable mention to Nic Stone and Kim Wilkins.

8. Newest fictional crush.

Hands down this goes to Jacks from Legendary. What an insufferable asshole, I love him.

9. New favorite characters.

 All of the sisters from Daughters of the Storm, most especially Bluebell and Rose. I loved Bluebell for her strength and her loyalty and I related to Rose as a mother on such a deep level that I'd never experienced before.

10. Book that made you cry.

 I wasn't sure what to expect from Call Me By Your Name, especially since it has some, well, questionable scenes. But wow did I cry like a big old baby when it was over. I felt like I lived a whole lifetime and when the book was over I mourned the characters.

11. Book that made you happy.

You know, there are so many, but this hands down has to go to my Harry Potter reread. I read through Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows, which are definitely the darker and sadder books of the series. But being back with these characters, in this world I love so much it's like a second home, well, nothing could have made me happier. I also hadn't read those three books in a loooong time (I've only read DH once! The day it came out!) so I had a ton of fun rediscovering the many tiny details Rowling wove into the story, as well as appreciating the characters on an even deeper level now that I'm an adult and have better reading skills than I did ten years ago.

12. The most beautiful book you bought so far this year.

 I can't take any pictures rightnow because the sky is hideously cloudy and it's pouring down rain, so there's no good lighing. But have you guys SEEN Furyborn? Even if you don't want to buy it for yourself, I highly recommend going to a bookstore just to take a look at this beauty in person.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Oh my god, there are SO many. I have a whole list of 2018 TBR books I want to get to this year. Not to mention all the new releases I haven't gotten to yet. I think the ones I'm pushing myself to get to the most are The Cruel Prince, Fireblood, Song of the Current, and Children of Blood and Bone.

Book Review: Four-Letter Word by Christa Desir

Book Title & Author: Four-Letter Word by Christa Desir
Published by: Simon Pulse on May 15th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis: 
Eight friends. One game. A dozen regrets. And a night that will ruin them all, in this high stakes gripping story of manipulation and innocence lost, from the author of Bleed Like Me.

Chloe Sanders has wasted the better part of her junior year watching her best friend Eve turn away from her for the more interesting and popular Holly Reed. Living with her grandparents because her parents are currently serving as overseas volunteers, Chloe spends her days crushing on a dark-haired guy named Mateo, being mostly ignored by Eve and Holly, and wishing the cornfields of Iowa didn’t feel so incredibly lonely.

But shortly after spring break, a new girl transfers to her high school—Chloe Donnelly. This Chloe is bold and arty and instantly placed on a pedestal by Eve and Holly. Now suddenly everyone is referring to Chloe Sanders as “Other Chloe” and her social status plummets even more.

Until Chloe Donnelly introduces all her friends to a dangerous game: a girls vs. guys challenge that only has one rule—obtain information by any means necessary. All the warning bells are going off in Other Chloe’s head about the game, but she’s not about to commit social suicide by saying no to playing.

Turns out the game is more complicated than Other Chloe thinks. Chloe Donnelly hates to lose. She's got power over everyone—secrets she’s exploiting—and she likes to yank their strings. Only soft-spoken Mateo is sick of it, and when the game turns nasty, he chooses Other Chloe to help him expose everything Chloe Donnelly has done. But neither realize just how much the truth could cost them in the end.

Review: 
I will read anything Christa writes. She is one of my auto-read/auto-buy authors and she has been ever since I read Fault Line several years ago. I was super excited to get my hands on this book. It looked dark, compelling and very character driven, which are all things that I enjoy in books and awhile I did enjoy parts of it, it wasn't as good as her previous books were.

The two biggest issues I had were: character development and pacing. There was character development, particularly for Chloe S., or "other Chloe" as she was nicknamed as well as character development for Mateo & Chloe Donnelly, but the other five players in this game called Gestapo? Yeah, not nearly enough character development. We learn their secrets because Chloe Donnelly learns their secrets, but I wanted so much more in the way of character development. Especially for Other Chloe's closest friends, Holly & Eve. 

In a book like this one, character development for all the main players has to be the most import thing, but to have decent character development for only 3 out of the 8 players in this game was very disappointing to me. I felt like even Other Chloe's parents and grandparents were better fleshed out than Cam, Aiden, Holly, Eve & Josh were. I definitely didn't expect that and like I said, I desperately wanted more.

The pacing also really bothered me and to be honest, I felt like there was quite a bit that could have been removed from the book. Certain things that slowed the book down. In a book like this, I was expecting a fast paced book with not a lot of "filler" and that wasn't what I got with this book. Surprisingly, I don't feel like Other Chloe's romance with Mateo was filler. I freaking LOVED them together and the way the book ended, just tore up my insides.

Final thoughts: If there was a bit more character development and smoother pacing, I think I would have loved this book. I will still continue to read Christa Desir's books, but this one was not my favorite.