Top Ten Tuesday: My Top Ten Books of 2016

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. The above picture was taken and edited by me for the purpose of this post.)

Hello Readers!

Have you survived the holidays? I sure hope so. With only a few days left of 2016, I’m taking the time today to look back at all the books I’ve read.

Today I’m going to tell all about my top ten books of 2016!

(P.S. This list isn’t in any particular order – all were equally awesome!)

Everything, Everything Ι Nicola Yoon

Love & Gelato Ι Jenna Evans Welch

The May Queen Murders Ι Sarah Jude

Reunited Ι Hilary Weisman Graham

My Sister Rosa Ι  Justine Larbalestier

Wild Swans Ι  Jessica Spotswood

All in Pieces Ι  Suzanne Young

Ghosts Ι  Raina Telgemeier

27 Magic Words Ι Sharelle Byars Moranville

The Lovely Reckless Ι Kami Garcia

Baby It’s Cold Outside: Read-A-Thon Challenge Day 6

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Hello Readers!

I know it’s seems like I fell off of the Read-A-Thon challenge bandwagon. I didn’t. I’m still here, still reading, and still going strong.

Yes, I missed the last two days of posting. On Tuesday I was supposed to post about my favorite winter reads, and on Wednesday I was supposed to post some book spine poetry. I’ve decided that I am unfortunately going to have to forego the book spine poetry. While I tried and tried (and tried some more) to put together a poem made from book spines, but I failed miserably. So much so that I’m too embarrassed to show anyone.

BUT!

I have decided that I can (and will!) still post about my favorite winter reads! While I don’t love winter itself (I’m not a fan of being cold all of the time), I do think winter is the perfect time to cozy up on a plush couch, with a steaming cup of cocoa, and sink into a great book.

When I think of the perfect winter reads, I really only think of one. The quintessential winter read – in my opinion – is a favorite of mine: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Set in New York City during the winter, two teens seem to fall for each other via a moleskin notebook.

Why is this a near perfect winter read for me? Well, first and foremost is the setting. Like I said it’s set in NYC during the winter. And if you know NYC in the winter you know it’s a pretty magical place. What makes it so magical? The decked out windows, the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers on every avenue, and the undeniable sparkle the city has.

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is the kind of book that readers can, not only cozy up with, but really fall in love with. It will leave readers feeling warm and tingle-y, with a heavy heaping of hope.

I know, I know I’m gushing, but I can’t help it! That’s how much I love Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares.  If you haven’t read it, pick it up and do so. It’s the perfect time of year to read this awesome book!

Okay …. moving on to my progress report.

As of today, I have finished one book and am about fifty or so pages into another.

I finished Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann. Since finishing that book I moved onto another book … a book that I’ve been looking forward to reading for quite some time, OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu.

I am currently fifty or so pages into OCD Love Story. So far I am enjoying it, and curious to find out where the story is going to go. I really like the main character, Bea. Her voice and her outlook feels authentic and real. I really appreciate that.

Even though I am nowhere near finishing OCD Love Story, I am looking forward to reading more, and finishing it soon.

I’ve been thinking about my goal for this challenge. And looking back to last week I think I was a little over-confident. And maybe a bit unrealistic. Four books?! Who was I kidding!? I’m going to change my goal and hope that I finish two books instead of four. For me, two books in a week is a challenge in and of itself. And one that I’d be happy/proud to accomplish.

So there you have it readers! Two posts rolled into one!

To see what all the other participants are up to, head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat to find out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Seeing Under My Christmas Tree

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. The above image was taken and edited by me for the purpose of this post.)

Hello Readers!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or at least, that’s what the song says. I kid! Seriously, Christmastime is a special time of year, not just for me, but for a lot of people. I’m not exactly sure why – maybe it’s the way Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. Or maybe it’s because it’s the time of year when family and friends gather for good times, good food, and good company. Whatever the reason, it certainly is wonderful.

In between bumping elbows while we scour the shops for the perfect gifts for our loved ones and making dozens upon dozens of Christmas themed cookies, make sure to take some time out to buy yourself a few treats.

And what better than treating yourself to some great books! Even though my family has firmly expressed that they do not, or rather, will not to contributing to my book buying habit. Even so, there are a few books on my wishlist.

And those books are…

This Is Our Story Ι Ashley Elston

The Leaving Ι Tara Altebrando

The Bell Jar Ι Sylvia Plath (I do have a copy of this already BUT! It’s in terrible shape, and I’d like to new copy for my collection)

Tell Me Three Things Ι Julie Buxbaum

American Girls Ι Alison Umminger

Please Don’t Tell Ι Laura Tims

I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1 Ι Skottie Young

Drive Me Crazy (which I read as a eArc) and This is All Your Fault, Cassie Parker Ι Terra Elan McVoy

Girl Online Going Solo Ι Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella) (

Any edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Ι Lewis Carroll (that I don’t currently own, that is).

Baby It’s Cold Outside: Read-A-Thon Challenge Progress Update

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Hello Readers!

I’ve been a busy bee lately. In between holiday festivities and Christmas shopping/wrapping I’ve been squeezing in some quality reading time.

Since I started participating in the Baby It’s Cold Outside Read-A-Thon I have finished a total of one book. I know that doesn’t sound like a milestone, but it is, mainly because I haven’t been reading as much/as steadily as I used to.

Anyway, I read one book so far. And started on my second book.

I started Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann. I started this book about a week ago, but I basically just started it. Since starting the Baby It’s Cold Outside Read-A-Thon I finished this book. I finished it in just under a day.

Since finishing Ask Me How I Got Here I (literally) just started Corey Ann Haydu’s OCD Love Story. I’m seriously only about 7 pages in, and so far, so good!

So that’s it!

I’m having a great time reading and participating in Baby It’s Cold Outside! If you want to see what all the other participants are doing, be sure to head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat and click on all the links!

Baby It’s Cold Outside: Read-A-Thon Challenge Teaser Tidbits & The Page 99 Test

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Hello Readers!

Happy Sunday! And welcome to day two of the Baby It’s Cold Outside: Read-A-Thon Challenge (which if you didn’t know is being hosted by the lovely ladies over at Read.Sleep.Repeat). Today’s challenges are interesting, and ones that – be shocked – I haven’t heard of before.

So, if you’re like me, let me explain….

Teaser Tidbits means that I am two pick up the current read and choose two random lines to tease all of your readers! The point is to entice you to pick up the same book and read it, not spoil it for you!

The Page 99 Test means that I am to pick up any book that I’ve been wanting to read (I have a lot so the challenge itself will be picking a book), turn to page 99 (obviously), and read that page. After reading I will offer you readers a summary of what I read, and I will also tell you, based on that page if I still want to read that book.

So are you ready?!?

Teaser Tidbits:

I’m a currently reading Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann. It’s a YA novel written in verse about a teen girl who makes a choice that will ultimately change everything about life as she knows it.

Teaser # 1:

Teaser # 2:

The Page 99 Challenge:

The book I randomly picked off of my (overfull) bookshelf is an ARC of Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr. This is a book that I really, REALLY want to leave so I hope that page 99 lives up to all of my expectations.

I flipped to page 99 and read. It seems that one of the main characters, Gem, finds a mysterious backpack stored below her bed. She knows it’s her fathers, but she didn’t see or know he’d even been in the room. She questions her sister, Dixie, and even though she denies knowing how and when it got there, Gem doesn’t believe her. She also doesn’t believe that whatever is in that backpack is good.

Having read page 99 I have to say YES! I still want to read Gem & Dixie. I want to know what’s in the backpack, and why their dad would stow it away in his daughters bedroom. Besides that, from that one passage, I really like the “voice.” It seems authentic and honest.

So there you have it readers – the teaser tidbit and page 99 challenges for the Baby It’s Cold Outside: Read-A-Thon!

There are a ton of other great blogs participating in this read-a-thon. You should head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat ‘s website and check out who is participating so you can read all of their awesome posts!

Baby It’s Cold Outside: A Read-A-Thon Challenge Into

(The above image was created by me via PicMonkey.com for the purpose of this post)

Hello Readers!

I normally do not participate in a whole lot of challenges, and you’re probably wondering why? Even though they are super fun and interactive, there are a number of reasons of why I don’t normally join in on the fun. Those reasons range from time constraint issues to the challenge doesn’t necessarily suit my style/tastes.

But I found one that I think really fits, not only this blog, but me!

I decided to participate in Baby It’s Cold Outisde, a week-long read-a-thon challenge hosted by Read.Sleep.Repeat.  Before moving forward with this post, I just want to say THANK YOU to the ladies of Read.Sleep.Reapeat for hosting such a fun-filled week of challenges and of course reading!

The Baby It’s Cold Outside Read-A-Thon challenge is a week-long challenge that runs from Saturday December 17th through Saturday December 24th. Each day during this week-long challenge I will be posting, not only a ton of content, but fun-filled book-ish content!

During this read-a-thon challenge I am hoping to read a total of four books. While that doesn’t seem like a whole lot of books, I feel like I haven’t been reading as much as I want/should lately, and if you haven’t read a lot, four books certainly can be a challenge.

So, what four books am I hoping to read? The four books I hope to read this week are:

• Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann (which I started already, and am hoping to finish).
• The Romantics by Leah Konen
• Heartless by Marissa Meyer
• OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

So readers I truly hope that you’ll stay tuned to check out my posts and my progress during this week! And for more information, be sure to check out Read.Sleep.Repeat!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading To in 2017 (The First Half, That Is)

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The above image was taken and edited by me for the purpose of this post)

Hello Readers!

Honestly, it’s really difficult for me to say which 2017 books I’m looking forward to reading next year. Mainly, because I feel like I don’t know what’s coming out next year.

With that said, I’m going to go on record and say this: 2017 will be the year that I try (and try really hard!)  to get to all those books I’ve been meaning to.  Here are those books I’m hoping to read within the first half of 2017.

(Is it me,  but can you believe it’s almost 2017?!)

P.S. I Still Love You Ι Jenny Han

The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King Ι Maggie Stiefvater

Game (Jasper Dent #2) Ι Barry Lyga

The Leaving Ι Tara Altebrando

OCD Love Story Ι Corey Ann Haydu

Hold Still Ι Nina Lacour

Small Town Sinners Ι Melissa C. Walker

Before I Fall Ι Lauren Oliver

Looking for Alibrandi Ι Melina Marchetta

Wanderlove Ι Kirsten Hubbard

Top Ten Tuesday: New To Me Authors (2016 Edition)

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. The above image was taken and edited by me for the purpose of this post)

Hello Readers!

Seriously! How is it December? I mean, where did 2016 as a whole go? I know, you’re as shocked by this as I am, right?!?

Well, it’s December. Winter is here, Christmas is on it’s way, and the 2016 reading year is coming to a close. I am happy to say that I reached my reading goal this year. Of those books, many were books by new to me authors.

Before jumping into this Top Ten Tuesday post, let me explain a little bit. A few of the authors on this list are very well known. Why did I include them in this post/on this list? Because this year was the first time I’ve read any books written by them. While they may be household names in the book world, if I haven’t read a book by them up until this year, I am considering them new to me.

Here is a list of the ten books I read this year by new to me authors!

Nicola Yoon (read Everything, Everything in 2016)

Suzanne Young (read All in Pieces in 2016)

Kate Hattemer (read The Land of 10,000 Madonnas in 2016)

Adriana Mather (read How to Hang a Witch in 2016)

Eileen Cook (read With Malice in 2016)

Carrie Firestone (read The Loose Ends List in 2016)

Sarah Jude (read The May Queen Murders in 2016)

Jenna Evans Welch (read Love & Gelato in 2016)

Goldy Moldavsky (read Kill the Boy Band in 2016)

Danielle Paige (read Stealing Snow in 2016)