March, April & May 2016: Recap + On My Shelves

March, April & May 2016: Recap + On My Shelves

Jun 6, 2016

OH, HELLO. Remember me? I wouldn't blame you if you don't! It can't believe it's been so long, but I'm blaming that on pregnancy and the birth of my baby boy. Let me catch you on on the last few months...

1. Markus Zusak Signing - The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite books EVER, so I was positively thrilled when I found out that Markus Zusak had a signing in Atlanta in honor of the book's 10th anniversary. Since he's from Australia, I assumed I'd never get the chance to meet him. Well, I'm glad I did because it was the best book signing I've ever attended! He was incredible, and I'll cherish my signed book forever.

2. Baby Shower in a Box - I got home from work one day in April and found a GIANT box waiting at my front door. I knew Nick and I hadn't ordered any baby stuff recently, so I wasn't sure what I'd find inside. The surprise was even better than I could imagined - my blogging friends sent me a baby shower in a box! I was already so emotional as I approached baby's arrival, and this gift just added to it. I can't thank these ladies enough!

3. Bestie Weekend - Last year, my best friend and I spent a week at the beach - a trip that inspired me to write this post about friendship. We wanted to do something fun again this year but decided to stick closer to home. She came in town for a weekend, and we had so much fun together. We relived some of our favorite college memories in Athens, and she arranged a fun little brunch with some friends to catch up and celebrate!

4. Baby Boy is Born - On May 3, my baby boy was born! I was so nervous about childbirth beforehand and while I'm not dying to go through it again anytime soon, I had a great experience overall. I'm thankful for the nurses and my doctor (and the miracle of an epidural!) - but most of all, I'm thankful for my husband and our baby. The past month of being a mom has been incredible and has brought me so much joy!

Read 24 Books | Favorites:

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Hope Heals by Katherine & Jay Wolf

“She will never see who I grow up to be -- that great question of who I am 

and who I am meant to be -- finally asked and answered.”

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

“There is other love out there for me. But it's different. It isn't this. It isn't this exact love.

It's better and it's worse. But I guess that's sort of the point of love between two people --

you can't re-create it. Every time you love, everyone you love, the love is different.

You're different in it.”

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“You don't need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon.”

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

“At a certain age almost all the questions a person asks himself are really just about one thing:
how should you live your life?”

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

“Early love is exciting and exhilarating. It's light and bubbly. Anyone can love like that. 

But after three children, after a separation and a near-divorce, after you've hurt each other 

and forgiven each other, bored each other and surprised each other, after you've seen the worst 

and the best -- well, that sort of love is ineffable. It deserves its own word.” 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

“I could do this. If whole galaxies could change, so could I.” 

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

[Personal Favorites]

TTT: Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR

Review: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Discussion/Feature: Three Types of Recommended Reads

1. Laurie Isn't a Good Guy; He's a Nice Guy by Maddie Rodriguez on Book Riot - I've always hated that Laurie didn't end up with Jo in Little Women (spoiler alert? ha!), but this article had me re-thinking that opinion. I'm starting to see Laurie in a whole new way... and it's not for the better. 

2. {Bookish} Style Files: Met Gala 2016 Edition by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books - This is one of my favorite posts that Alexa shares every year! It's so fun to see what she pairs with different books - and to read her reasons for choosing each. Have fun admiring her post - and daydreaming about what gowns you'd like for yourself!

3. It's Here: The Summer 2016 Reading Guide by Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy - This is another one of my most-anticipated blog posts - Anne's summer reading guide! There are always new-to-me books on her list, and this year is no different. There are definitely a handful of books that are now on my radar to read this summer!

4. How Re-Reading Re-Energized My Blog by Kelly from Belle of the Literati - I adore posts about re-reading, which shouldn't be a surprise since I co-hosted the re-reading challenge with Kelly last year (this year). I loved that Kelly focused on how re-reading can remind you of why you read and blog in the first place.

Favorite Song: "Bullet" by Chelsea Lankes on Chelsea Lankes EP

I think Spotify's Discover feature introduced me to Chelsea's music, but I can't remember.

Either way, this was one of my favorite songs from the past three months. I've had it on repeat!

New Girl, Season 4 - I used to watch New Girl on TV every week, but I took it off my DVR about halfway through the third season because I was getting tired of it. But when I started craving something funny to watch in March, Netflix's suggestion to watch this was the perfect solution. I enjoy these crazy characters!

Scandal, Seasons 1-4 - I wanted something addicting to watch during my first few weeks home with the baby since a) he slept all the time and b) all of my TV shows are off for the summer! I settled upon Scandal, which I'd been meaning to watch for a while now... and OH. MY. GOODNESS. This show is completely insane!

Pre-Orders: The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski, When We Collided by Emery Lord, Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane, The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry, The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh, The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas and Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Impulse & Bargain Buys: The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner, Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck, The Mother Letters by Amber C. Haines, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (not pictured) and Hope Heals by Katherine & Jay Wolf (not pictured)

Book of the Month Club: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Signing Purchase: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (in What I Loved section) 

Gifted: The Sh!t No One Tells You and The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers by Dawn Dais

From Estelle: Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest and Move! by Lolly Hopwood and YoYo Kusters

For Review: Results May Vary by Bethany Chase

Bought for Kindle: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Audible Credits: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

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Will You Accept This Rose?

Will You Accept This Rose?

Mar 16, 2016

The Selection, The Elite, The One and The Heir by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 2012 | April 2013 | May 2014 | May 2015

Publisher: HarperCollins; HarperTeen

Pages: 336 pages | 336 pages | 323 pages | 346 pages

Source & Format: Gifted; Kindle

Series: The Selection #1-4

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Summary for The Selection (from Goodreads)

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Thoughts on The Selection series

I was at the bookstore with my best friend a few years ago, and she picked up The Selection. The cover caught her eye, and I mentioned that I'd heard it was reminiscent of The Bachelor. We used to watch the show together every Monday night in college, laughing hysterically and getting sucked into the drama. She didn't buy the book that day, but she texted me later saying she'd purchased the e-book and was hooked!

Since then, I made sure I texted her when I saw news about the series around the blogosphere - cover reveals, release dates, etc. When my birthday rolled around this year, she asked if there was anything on my wishlist. I'd been curious about the series after hearing her talk about them (and after Alexa binged them), so I mentioned that I'd love these books. She was thrilled that I wanted to read them, and pretty soon I had all four waiting on my Kindle. I didn't want to let them linger for too long, so I decided to start the first book one morning... and I ended reading all four books in about 24 hours. Oops?

Alexa described this series to me as "book crack," and she's exactly right. Objectively, there are a lot of things that are... questionable... about this series. They're not the most well-written books, and the characters and scenarios sometimes made roll my eyes and shake my head. And yet, the fact that I read all four so quickly must speak for itself. This series is addicting, and I had so much fun reading it!

3 Things I Loved:

• The concept: I found the idea of a competition for the chance to marry royalty totally fascinating! What I didn't anticipate - but found delightful - was that there's more going on behind the scenes. There are big things happening in this world, and the juxtaposition between that and the pursuit of the Prince (or Princess, in The Heir) was so enjoyable. The series was never too serious or too fluffy.

• The entertainment: Listen, there's a reason I read this series as fast as I did! These books are addicting. While they don't necessarily close with cliffhangers, the end of each book left me reaching for next in the series immediately. I had to know what would happen next. So, while the writing wasn't the strongest, I do admire Cass' ability to have me racing through each installment.

• The Prince: Oh my goodness, Maxon Schreave was my favorite from the moment he stepped on the page. My brain was literally like, "Aspen who?" I loved that he was so much more than America expected, and I found myself looking forward to every scene that he was in. I loved that he wanted to do what was best for his country - but still follow his heart. What a sweetheart!

2 Things I Liked:

• The heroine: I wasn't always America's biggest fan. There were things I admired about her (the way she wasn't afraid to take a stand, etc.)... but there were things that drove me insane, too. I had to keep reminding myself that she was a teenager, and I couldn't expect her to act like an adult. The same was true for Eadlyn, the heroine of The Heir, though she was difficult to like in different ways.

• The world: The world was one of the weaker elements in this series - solely because there was so much more that could have been developed! I didn't realize that the political climate (and history of the country) would play a role in this story, but I loved that it did. There was just enough included that I was intrigued - but not enough to really leave me satisfied! I would have loved if it was a bigger aspect. 

1 Thing I Loathed:

• The angst: Holy cow, I wanted to light these books on fire a few times. I think I was most frustrated while reading The Elite, though I was definitely going crazy during a few chapters in The Heir. In the first three books, it was the love triangle that nearly killed me. I understood America's interest in both boys, but I hated how she handled it. So much back and forth! It made it hard for me to take the books seriously.

While I'd describe the series as uneven overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. They provided a fun and dramatic escape - just what I needed after a few weeks where I didn't spend much time reading! I needed something addicting and entertaining, and they fit the bill perfectly. If that's the mood you're in, I'd recommend picking up these books! There's more to them than meets the eye.

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Spring in My Shelf

Spring in My Shelf

Mar 15, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic and invite everyone to share their answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so I obviously love this feature!

Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR

For Review

1. Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman - Britt-Marie was a character in Backman's My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her even better. I love this author!

2. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I'm a huge fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, which puts this book at the very top of my TBR pile. The summary sounds so intriguing - and possibly heart wrenching, too.

From My TBR

3. Mosquitoland by David Arnold - My secret sister gifted me this book last year, and I've been excited to read ever since I sampled the first chapter and spent time admiring the book's cool cover and endpapers.

4. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon - After finishing the first season of the Outlander TV show earlier this year, I dove into Voyager for more Claire and Jamie. I loved that installment, and now I'm ready for this one!

5. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - I was browsing my Goodreads shelves to put together this list, and I stopped scrolling when I saw this cover. I don't know why I haven't read it yet - it sounds like something I'll love.

6. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer - I was researching audiobooks recently and found a recommendation for this series. I bought the first book on a whim and have already started listening to it. I'm absolutely hooked so far!

From My Pre-Orders

7. The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry - All the Truth That's In Me is one of my all-time favorite books, and I've been anxiously awaiting the release of a new YA book by Berry ever since. I can't wait to dive in!

8. When We Collided by Emery Lord - I've loved both of Lord's books so far, which made this a definite pre-order for me. I'm a little unsure based on the summary, but I trust that Lord's writing will win me over.

9. Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane - McFarlane is one of my favorite adult fiction authors, and I celebrated when I realized she had a new book out this year. I can't wait for my Book Depository pre-order to arrive.

10. The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski - EEEK! I absolutely adore this series, and I am dying to get my hands on this conclusion... even though I'm scared of what it will put my heart through. My emotions aren't ready!

What's on your TBR this spring?

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Yours Truly, Somebody Nobody {Tell Me Three Things Pre-Pub Blog Tour}

Yours Truly, Somebody Nobody {Tell Me Three Things Pre-Pub Blog Tour}

Mar 14, 2016

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Random House; Delacorte Press
Pages: 336 pages
Source & Format: Publisher; ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

What if the person you need the most is someone you’ve never met? Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help? 

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son. 

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

1. Julie wrote one of my all-time favorite books, The Opposite of Love. I bought the book on a whim while I was in college, and I've returned to it again and again over the years. I can't tell you exactly why I love the book and its heroine so much - just that I do. It's the kind of book that I'm hesitant to recommend solely because I want to keep it to myself. That book turned me into a Julie fan for life!

2. I'm absolutely in love with the way Julie writes. I still remember when I flipped to the first chapter in The Opposite of Love. There was something about that opening line - “Last night, I dreamt that I chopped Andrew up into a hundred little pieces, like a Benihana chef, and ate them, one by one.” - that told me I had to take the book home. And I'm pleased to say the writing has been my favorite thing about all three of Julie's book!

3. I'm thrilled that Julie has written both adult and young adult fiction! I've always been a fan of adult fiction, but it was blogging that helped me develop a love for young adult fiction. After reading The Opposite of Love and After You (Julie's adult fiction books), I was desperate for another book by her. It was a happy surprise when I learned she was releasing a young adult book! I truly hope it introduces more readers to her work.

1. The potentially tricky concept actually worked! When I heard Julie was coming out with a new book, I had a major dance party. When I read the summary, I was excited and a little nervous. The premise - the heroine receives an email from someone calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN) with an offer to be an anonymous guide to her new school - seemed like something that could be really intriguing... or really cheesy.

Thankfully, Julie pulled it off! I shared Jessie's skepticism when she got that first email (was it an elaborate hoax to humiliate her?!), but I found myself anxiously anticipating each new email and IM as I turned the pages of the book. The way their friendship developed had me itching for the moment when SN's identity was finally revealed! The concept could been awkward, but it ended up being one of my favorite things about the book.

2. I loved the different relationships. I'll admit - my favorite relationship was the one between Jessie and Somebody/Nobody, but that's partly because their banter made me smile so much! I could totally understand why Jessie started to let her guard down while talking to SN, and I was definitely hoping that would SN would turn out to be a certain somebody from Jessie's school... This relationship had me grinning from ear to ear!

I loved the friendships. I appreciated the honesty from Jessie's best friend from home, Scarlett, and how they supported one another and worked through their issues. I enjoyed watching Jessie make two new friends in Los Angeles, too! There was tension in Jessie's relationship with her dad and with her new stepmother and stepbrother, but I liked that family relationships were important in the story - even when they weren't perfect!

3. There's so much honest emotion in these pages. Tell Me Three Things brings together two very different emotional experiences in such a seamless and believable way. Jessie is grieving after her mom died of cancer - and after her father remarried and moved her across the country. In a lot of ways, she feels abandoned and alone. I ached for her! I felt like Julie did such a wonderful job of depicting Jessie's grief in a realistic way.

At the same time, Jessie begins to develop a friendship with SN... and a crush on someone at school. So, the sadness permeating the book because of her loss is intertwined with the joy of falling in love. I found myself tearing up and giggling while I was reading! I was so emotionally invested in the story, and I loved how Julie paired first loss and first love. (PS - I read the last chapter five times. That's how happy it made me!)

1. “In the Venn diagram of my life, my imagined personality and my real personality have never converged.”

2. “Perfect days are for people with small, realizable dreams. Or maybe for all of us, they just happen in retrospect; they're only now perfect because they contain something irrevocably and irretrievably lost.”

3. “She will never see who I grow up to be -- that great question of who I am and who I am meant to be -- finally asked and answered.”

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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Three Cases of Family Secrets & Ghosts from the Past

Three Cases of Family Secrets & Ghosts from the Past

Mar 10, 2016

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 486 pages
Source & Format: Borrowed; ARC
Series: Passenger #1
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Thoughts on Passenger

I'd been curious about Passenger from the first moment I read the summary and saw the cover, even though I'd never read anything by Alexandra Bracken before. I was fascinated by the concept of a girl who learns she's able to travel through time and discovers a number of secrets about her family's past. As a historical fiction lover, it sounded like it might be right up my alley! When Alexa offered to loan me her copy, I couldn't resist. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. 

The time travel, though complicated, wasn't too hard to grasp. However, it did take a little time to introduce the way this world worked, which made the beginning slightly slower than the second half of the book. I absolutely loved the setting, especially because it changed frequently. Bracken immediately immersed me in each new destination, and I loved getting to visit so many different places and time periods. It could have easily been confusing or undeveloped, but Bracken managed to pull it off perfectly.

Reading from multiple POVs can sometimes drive me crazy, but I loved being able to hear from both Etta and Nicholas. They were very distinct characters, and I enjoyed them separately - and together. Because yes, there's definitely some swooning going on in these pages. Their relationship grows as the action builds, so the two elements complemented each other nicely. I also appreciated that Bracken didn't just keep it light - she addressed important aspects of the past (like prejudice, feminism, race, etc.). That definitely added depth to this story! All in all, I loved the book and cannot wait to see where the story goes from here. I have a feeling things are only going to get better (though maybe worse for these characters...) in the second book!

So Quotable
“It's our choices that matter in the end. Not wishes, not words, not promises.”

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Release Date: June 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins; HarperTeen
Pages: 352 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Kindle
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Thoughts on Emmy & Oliver

I'd heard a lot about Robin Benway before I finally picked up her duology (Also Known As and Going Rogue) last year. While I found them quite entertaining and funny, they weren't super memorable reads for me. However, Emmy & Oliver came out that summer, and it seemed like I everywhere I turned I was hearing it praised. So, it was on my radar - but I wasn't convinced that I needed to read it. But when it went on sale for Kindle, I decided to take the plunge.

Not long ago, I couldn't decide what I was in the mood to read and figured I'd just sample a few books until something grabbed me. I started reading Emmy & Oliver... and I realized that I was almost a third of the way through the book before long. I couldn't put it down! The premise of the book is intriguing - Emmy and Oliver were best friends and neighbors, inseparable until Oliver's dad kidnaps him. He's vanished without a trace, and it's ten years before anyone finds him. Returning home is hard, both for Oliver and for everyone who knew him. And Benway depicted it all so perfectly that I couldn't believe I'd almost passed on this book.

I loved how this book explored the challenges of Oliver's return - how much had changed, the complex emotions he felt for both of his parents, the way his disappearance had affected the friends that had been left behind, and the way everyone struggled to know how to react. I found it so believable, and I really sympathized for all of the characters involved. And though it's a heavy topic, Benway infused a lot of humor and joy into the story. It was the perfect balance of heartache and happiness. I thrilled as Emmy and Oliver's friendship blossomed, and I teared up as they opened up to one another. Benway had me so emotionally invested in these characters! I know I haven't said much about certain aspects of the book, but that's because the emotion of it was what truly won me over. I couldn't put it down, and I absolutely recommend it!

So Quotable

“Could you please stop dripping your sarcasm all over my car’s interior?”

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins; Katherine Tegan Books
Pages: 336 pages
Source & Format: Edwelweiss; e-ARC
Series: Charlotte Holmes #1
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Thoughts on A Study in Charlotte

I must confess - I requested this book on Edelweiss because I fell in love with the cover. I've never read any Sherlock Holmes (though I've seen the movies with Robert Downey Jr. and the TV show with Benedict Cumberbatch), so I wasn't necessarily drawn to it for that connection. However, I'd had a great experience with another YA series inspired by Sherlock Holmes (the Every series by Ellie Marney), so I was hoping this would be another win for me.

Now that I've read it, I have another confession: I honestly don't know quite how I feel about it. When I first started reading it, I considered setting it down. I wasn't connecting to the characters, and I just couldn't seem to find my groove with the writing. But I decided to stick it out a little longer, and I soon realized that I was almost halfway through the book. The main reason I kept reading? I wanted to see how the mystery would be solved! But I kept getting annoyed along the way. The characters frustrated me. The writing wasn't bad, but there were so many places where information was just dumped on the reader. The book depicts drug addiction, but it does so in a way that I found confusing. It was almost like people in the story didn't take it seriously enough, and there didn't seem to be a realistic resolution to that storyline. I don't know - I just found that my issues with certain aspects drew me out of the story. 

In addition, I'm not sure it really brought anything new to the table - though I can't really say for sure since I haven't read the books that inspired it. Ultimately, I probably just wasn't the right reader for it. If you're curious about it or a fan of Sherlock Holmes, it's probably worth giving it a shot. Personally, I don't see myself continuing this series in the future. I'm just not invested enough in the characters to want to find out what happens next!

So Quotable
“I don't need someone to fight for me. I can fight for myself.” 

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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