The 20 Questions Book Tag

Becky3 Comments

It’s been AGES since I did a book tag on my blog. We’re talking more than a year here. I just scrolled through my posts now to see when exactly that was, and the last Book Tag I did was The Good Reads Book Tag on JUNE 23RD OF 2017!

God, I’m the worst book blogger. 

I promise I don’t have anything against Book Tags. They are super fun! I’m just never tagged in them, and a lazy book blogger sometimes. So since it’s clearly been forever, I thought I would do one.

I stumbled upon this one on Boston Book Reader’s site, it looked fun, so here we are. I could not find the original creator of the tag, which I feel bad about.

ON WITH THE TAG!

1. HOW MANY BOOKS IS TOO MANY BOOKS IN A SERIES?

I think it depends on the series, because some book series I want to go on forever while others I’m like, THERE ARE TOO MANY BOOKS. WHY MUST I READ ALL OF THESE BOOKS!? JUST TELL ME HOW IT ENDS!

But you want a number? I’ll give you a number. I’m going to go with more than 5, because unless I’m really into the series/world, it becomes a chore after 5.

2. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CLIFFHANGERS?

I like them because it ends the book on a high note, and you’re left thinking “What next?!” However, it really sucks when you have to wait more than a year for the next book to come out.

Also, from a writer’s perspective they are fun to write! If I ever get published, I expect my readers to hate me for my cliff hangers.

3. HARDCOPY OR PAPERBACK?

Floppy paperback, because I enjoy reading from them more. However, some hardbacks are so beautiful, I just can’t resist.

4. FAVOURITE BOOK?

I hate when people ask me this question, because then I have to chose from my multitude of favorites. It’s not fair. It feels like picking a favorite child. If I had to pick, I’m going to go with Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, because I still remember my experience reading that book. It was like I was on a roller coaster of emotions. Jem, Tessa, and Will still hold all of my heart, so much so that I get so happy when they are mentioned in Cassandra Clare’s other works.

A close second is Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, because that book was epic!

5. LEAST FAVOURITE BOOK?

Before this year I did not have an answer to this question, but now I do. It is The Testing of Luther Albright by MacKenzie Bezos. I really did not gel with this book. It was extremely slow paced and an uninteresting story.

6. LOVE TRIANGLES, YES OR NO?

Yes, but only if done well.

7. THE MOST RECENT BOOK YOU JUST COULDN’T FINISH?

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. I’m honestly surprised by this one, because The Remnant Chronicles is a well loved series. It’s not bad, I just can’t connect with the characters. I was also hoping for a more interesting plot. I do plan on finishing it at some point this year, because I was more than 70% of the way through. Maybe the end will change things for me.

8. A BOOK YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard. My cousin, Kate, and I have been binge reading the Red Queen series. I have mixed feelings on the series as a whole. On the one hand, I find the world really interesting, but I’m personally not gelling with the writing style. I don’t think it’s poorly written, but sometimes it has a slower pace. That being said, I’m really vibing with War Storm so far!

9. LAST BOOK YOU RECOMMENDED TO SOMEONE?

I’m pretty sure that it was Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, because I am obsessed with this book! Also, the person I was recommending it to was looking for a YA Mystery Thriller. If you’re looking for a good YA Mystery Thriller, I recommend picking it up. *wink wink* *nudge nudge*

10. OLDEST BOOK YOU’VE READ?

God, I don’t know the answer to this. I think it’s The Iliad by Homer? I had to read it for AP English ages ago.

11. NEWEST BOOK YOU’VE READ?

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson, which I really enjoyed! It was a fun witchy book, that hit me right in the feels. I really liked that at it’s core, this was a book about female friendship. I also loved Mila’s narration. She had such a dry, sarcastic humor that I found hilarious.

12. FAVOURITE AUTHOR?

This is another question I hate, because I don’t have an all time favorite author. I can name a few of my favorite authors. Ally Carter, Marissa Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Maureen Johnson. I think Cassandra Clare too, because she’s got me hooked on her latest series and I loved The Infernal Devices trilogy.

13. BUYING BOOKS OR BORROWING BOOKS?

Both? I really like borrowing books digitally from my library, because I don’t have to worry about late fees and it’s a fun way to try out books. At the same time, buying books is an addiction. You can’t just buy one book. Plus, I can take as long as I want to read them, because they’re MINE!

14. A BOOK YOU DISLIKE THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIKE?

Oooh! We love ourselves a good controversial question. Let me think. Most of the books I actively dislike are books that most people dislike. So I’m going to pick a popular book that I felt meh on instead. There are many of those. The one I’m picking is Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. I liked the characters, but I thought the author could have done a better job at building tension. The plot was uninteresting and I did not find myself incredibly invested in the story. For a book about a tragic event, I did not cry, and I am a book crier!  This just did not do much for me.

16. A BOOK YOU CAN ALWAYS REREAD?

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, since I’ve reread it at least three or four times at this point (minus Winter because I suck at finishing series). I still get so wrapped up in the story even though I know what happens.

17. CAN YOU READ WHILE HEARING MUSIC?

Yes. It’s not preferable, but I can do it. I mostly do this on the train when I want to block out the annoying conversations around me.

18. ONE POV OR MULTIPLE POVS?

Multiple POVS all day every day! I really enjoy seeing the story and world from all sides, especially when it’s a story/world that I find super interesting.

19. DO YOU READ A BOOK IN ONE SITTING OR OVER MULTIPLE DAYS?

Usually over multiple days simply for time. Most days I have a bunch of stuff to do, so it’s hard for me to sit down and dedicate a full day to just reading. That being said, if I’m super invested and have the time, I will spend all day reading a book.

20. ONE BOOK YOU READ BECAUSE OF THE COVER.

I don’t often read books purely because of the cover, but The Selection by Keira Cass is the closest thing I can think of. I mean the covers of that book has such a pretty dress, I can’t help but be intrigued.

We’ve reached the end of the tag, and I don’t know what to say because I’m bad at concluding things…but this tag was fun! No. It really was so much fun! I love answering random questions about books.

I am not going to tag anyone specifically. Mostly because I’m not sure who has done this already, but if you haven’t and you want to after reading my post consider yourself TAGGED!

Please let me know if you agreed or disagreed with any of my answers down in the comment section below. Also, if there’s a tag you would like to see me do let me know down below as well. 

P.S. I started doing this because I thought it would be an easy post. It took me at least a week to write this. Turns out answering 20 Questions is harder than it looks or I’m just lazy. Def just lazy.

Top 5 Books I’ve Read So Far in 2018!

Becky3 Comments

We’ve reached July, which means that half of 2018 is already gone! So far this year I have read 22 books. While I am currently behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 50 books, I still feel like I’ve read a good amount. I thought it would be fun to go through those 22 books and pick out five of my favorite reads so far. I love reading/watching these kinds of posts from other bloggers and Booktubers. It’s always so interesting to see what people are loving this year.

So here’s what I have been loving in 2018. These books are in no particular order, because I decided to save myself the pain of having to put them in order.

Nevermoor

1. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Nevermoor #1)

We’re going to start off with this book, which is the only book I’ve given 5/5 Stars so far this year. I’m really stingy with my 5 star ratings, but I loved everything about this book. The characters, the story, the world, the pacing, so basically everything. Honestly, the best word to describe this book is fun, because it was so much fun!

I don’t read a ton of middle grade. It is not a genre that I gravitate towards, but this book makes me want to try some more books from that genre. The second book in the series is coming out in September, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!

 

The Diviners

2. The Diviners by Libba Bray (The Diviners #1)

Everyone in the book community always talks about how The Diviners is such a underrated series, so of course the hipster in me had to pick it up. There’s nothing that I love more than underrated books.

I’m just kidding, mostly. What also drew me to this book is the fact that it is a supernatural murder mystery that takes place in 1920s Manhattan. There is something about period supernatural/urban fantasy books that I love, and the 1920s is a time period that I’m fascinated by. This is where most people will blame The Great Gatsby for that, but I’m going to blame Thoroughly Modern Millie (the musical). There’s just something about speakeasies, flappers, and jazz that is fun. Also, I love books that are set in New York, mainly because I love New York (city, in case you need that clarification. The New Yorker in me refuses to call New York NYC).

The Diviners definitely does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of New York in the 1920s. I loved all the lingo that was used in the description and the descriptions in general, something I don’t think I’ve ever said before. On top of the atmosphere, I loved the diverse cast. I did not realize that this book had an ensemble cast going in, but I loved it, and really appreciated the fact that we got to see this story through different lenses. The only thing that didn’t wow me was the ending, but I thought this was a great series starter, and I can’t wait to continue on with the series. I did a full length review for this book, so if you want to hear more of my thoughts be sure and check that out!

 

Nice Try Jane Sinner

3. Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Boy did this book surprise the crap out of me. Saying that, I picked it up thinking I would enjoy it. I’m constantly looking for more books that take place in college, as I am writing a contemporary that takes place in college, which is why I picked it up. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down! I was immediately hooked for a lot of reasons, the main one being Jane.

Jane, our main character, is just awesome. This book follows her personal journey. She was kicked out of high school due to a personal crisis, and her parents push her to attend a high school completion program at their local community college. Jane agrees, but only if she can move out. To tackle her housing problem, she signs up for House of Orange, which is a student run reality show (think Big Brother). Jane has such great wit that comes off in her narration. I laughed out loud multiple times, which is something that doesn’t happen often. I’m honestly more likely to cry than laugh when reading a book. Comedy is something that I don’t think many authors nail well, but Oelke did!

I loved the way that the book talked about serious topics such as depression and religion. It felt very genuine. I think the comedy also aided in talking about these topics in an approachable way. Nothing felt too preachy, and I found the conversation interesting.

This book was honestly so good. The only thing I have mixed feelings on is the writing style. It is told in a journal/screenplay style that takes some getting used to. Once you do get used to the writing style, it is such a fun ride. I’m still sad that this is a standalone, because I just want another book with Jane.

 

Truly Devious

4. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (Truly Devious #1)

This book was the one that made me realize that I really love Maureen Johnson’s writing. Like she’s reached “One of My Favorite Authors” status, because wow. Just wow. There was so much good stuff in this book.

First, we have to talk about the duel timelines, because the way that this story is written is easily my favorite thing about it. Truly Devious takes place at Ellingham Academy, a famous private school for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. When the school first opened, the founder’s wife and child were kidnapped. They were never found and the case remains…UNSOLVED! Fast forward to present day, where Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy. She is obsessed with True Crime and is determined to solve this famous cold case. However, the past starts coming back when Truly Devious seems to have returned. DUN DUN DUN! The story flips back and forth between both timelines, and it’s crafted so well. Both mysteries had me hooked, and I cannot wait to see how they further connect and intertwine.

I could not put this book down once I started it. The pacing was excellent, I loved the characters, especially our main character Stevie, and I just need to know what happens next! Curse you Maureen Johnson and your awful cliffhangers!

 

Lady Midnight

5. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (The Dark Artifices #1)

This is my most recent read, and I absolutely loved it. Hence why it’s on this list. I really enjoy the Shadowhunters world, but some books I love more than others. I was a little nervous going in, but as soon as I started it, I could not stop reading it.

My favorite thing about the book is the characters. The Blackthorn children and Emma are precious, and I love them so much. Christina is also great! I love that Emma has like a close female friend that she can talk to about stuff. If I had to name a favorite character, it might be Mark, because he’s equal parts interesting and hilarious. Seriously, some of the things he says are just so funny.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how Clare explores the messed up shit in the Shadowhunter society. It’s hard to go into detail without spoiling the book, or the end of the final book in The Mortal Instruments series, City of Heavenly Fire. The lines of what’s right and wrong are blurred and I’m a sucker for that stuff.

For a 600+ page book, it did not feel like one, and I can’t wait to continue on with the series. I’m reading her books in publication order, so next up for me is Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy. I’m hoping to get caught up in time for the release of Queen of Air and Darkness.

It was surprisingly a lot easier to put this list together than I had originally thought when I first started writing this post. I think I have read many books in the okay to good range, but only a few have really blown me away.

I think/hope the second half of the year will be better, if only because some of my most anticipated releases are coming out. Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake and Muse of Nightmares being at the top of my list.

What have been the best books you’ve read so far in 2018? Do we share any favorites? Let me know down in the comment section below. Also let me know if you’ve read any of the books I mentioned!

P.S. I’m reading War Storm by Victoria Ave right now and I’m surprised at how much I’m loving it. That’s another post for another day.

A List of Schedules for BookCon 2018 I Could Find (and Some Tips Too!)

BeckyLeave a comment

BookCon is only five days away, five! I feel both excited and not prepared at the same time. So, to get more prepared, I thought I would put together a list of all the BookCon schedules I could find. I had a feeling that this list would be helpful for anyone else attending BookCon, so I decided to share my list with you all.

This list is mainly filled with the publishers schedules I could find. I will be updating this list as more information becomes available. Also, I know that the BookCon website is pretty up to date. If you don’t see something here that you are looking for, I highly recommend checking out their website.

List of BookCon Schedules

Penguin: https://assets.penguinrandomhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/18202219/PRH_BookCon-2018-Daily-Schedule-.pdf 

SimonTeen (Riveted): http://rivetedlit.com/2018/05/22/everything-happening-with-riveted-by-simon-teen-bookcon/

Macmillan/Tor: http://macmillanusa.tumblr.com/post/173988971408/bookexpobookcon-2018

Epic Reads (Harper Teen): http://www.epicreads.com/blog/bookcon-2018/

Fierce Reads: http://fiercereadsya.tumblr.com/post/174373435708/are-you-attending-bookexpo-and-bookcon/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Novl (Little, Brown and Co for Young Readers): https://www.thenovl.com/blog/2018/5/29/novls-bookexpo-bookcon-2018-schedule

Quirk Books: http://www.quirkbooks.com/post/drop-and-say-hello-bookcon

Scholastic: http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/scholastics-2018-bookcon-schedule?linkId=52402723

Hachette: Per BookCon, most of their In Booth Signings are on the BookCon website. They are Booth 1938/1938. No official schedule released by the publisher yet.

Scholastic (IReadYA): No official schedule has been released yet, but there are some events listed on the BookCon website. Look under Scholastic and Booth 1538/1539.

OwlCrate: https://www.instagram.com/p/BjStczonyn9/?taken-by=owlcrate

If you see that I’ve missed something, please let me know down in the comment section below so that I can add it to the list.

Also, if you’re looking for some tips and tricks for BookCon, I made a whole video on my BookTube channel dedicated for it.

Are you super pumped for BookCon? Tell me about the thing that you’re most looking forward to! For me, it might be the Dear Evan Hansen Panel because I’m currently obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen. I’m also hoping to attend some of the writing panels, because those are new and appeal to me.

P.S. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me and I will answer to the best of my ability. Fair warning, even though I’ve been to BookCon four times, I’m no expert. 

Top 5 Books I Would Save in a Fire

Becky8 Comments

If there was ever a fire that threatened to burn my house down, I would literally start chucking things out of my bedroom window. One of my windows overlooks the front of my house so it’s perfect for saving things. Among the first things that would go would be my notebooks, my favorite polka dot dress, my RM photocards, and the quilt my grandmother made for me. I would also try to find some way to get my nice iMac out of the house too, before I made my escape.

Honestly, my book collection would probably be one of the last things on my mind if this scenario was real. Most of the books in my personal library can be replaced. There are a few special things, but they’re not as special to me as let’s say my collection of converse sneakers (I know this seems random, but I love my converse).

For the sake of fun, and this week’s Top 5 Tuesday, I’m going to figure out which 5 books I would save if I had the chance. Let’s go!

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme that the lovely Bionic Bookworm does. If you are interested in doing any of her topics on your blog she welcomes it! Don’t forget to check out her upcoming topics if you’re interested in participating in future Top 5’s! 

 

DSC00534

1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I was obsessed with the Disney adaptation of this book and went through a giant Alice in Wonderland phase when I was 16. Admittedly, I have yet to finish the original story. I’ve started it a few times, but then got distracted by other things. It’s on my bucket TBR list and I will get to it eventually.

I currently own two copies of the book. One is a Barnes and Noble classics edition that is a bind up of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and other short stories Lewis Carroll wrote. The other copy is a beat up old print version I stole from my grandparents’ house. Even though the Barnes and Nobles edition is much nicer aesthetically, the older copy is the one that’s going out the window. The fact that it’s from my grandparents’ collection makes it irreplaceable.

 

DSC00538

2. The Fairy Tale Book (A Collection of 28 Fairy Tales)

This is another book from my grandparents’ collection that I just can’t part with. These were the stories that my grandpa used to read to me before bed when I stayed over their house. I loved hearing these stories, and always imagined that I would read them to my children and grandchildren. This book is one of a kind, and literally cannot be replaced. Seriously, I don’t even know where I would go about finding this. It’s falling apart though, so it will have to come with me and my iMac when we make our escape as it would not survive the fall from the window.

 

Winter

3. Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Okay, so admittedly this is a random choice, but this book has been haunting me since the day I accidentally set it down. I was so excited for this book to come out, but also sad that this series was coming to an end. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my all time favorite series. Sometimes when I love a series so much, I dread the end and put it off for as long as possible. In my head, if I haven’t finished it that means it’s not over yet (at least not for me). There’s still new material to be absorbed. For example, I still have not watched the last season of Psych, which is up there with Arrested Development for my favorite TV series.

So when I got Winter in my hands, I wanted to read it as slowly as possible, because I didn’t want it to end, but I also NEEDED to know what happens next. This was a recipe for disaster, because one day I got distracted and moved onto something else. Then once I remembered I wanted to read Winter again, I LOST THE BOOK! I found it a year later with my shoes (I have a serious shoe addiction). Since finding it, I have been waiting for the right opportunity to binge read the series so that I can appreciate the finale in all it’s glory.

I feel like I’ve been on a journey already with this book, and I’ll be damned if it burns in a fire before I get the chance to read it! So it’s coming with me, if only so I can finally read the god damn thing!

 

harry potter hufflepuff

4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling (Paperback Hufflepuff House Edition)

This is another random choice since Harry Potter isn’t one of my all time favorite series. With that being said, I have lots of house pride (GO HUFFLEPUFFS) that legit came out of nowhere. Don’t ask me why, I cannot come up with an answer that makes sense. I’ve tried. It wasn’t due to this book, though me buying this book didn’t help.

Anyway, I’m obsessed with the paperback version of the Hufflepuff House Edition. It’s bright yellow with bright yellow sprayed pages, and has all these cool facts. It’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing books I own. I just love this copy so much and can’t be without it. Theoretically, I could buy another version of this edition, but in the heat of the moment, with my house burning down around me, I’m not taking any chances.

 

Uncommon Criminals

5. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter (Heist Society #2)

Watching your house burn down is some serious trauma, so if I was ever in this situation I would need a good book to read while I dealt with all this trauma. All of the books I’ve already listed are great options, but I’m going to need one of my all time favorites to get me through this situation. And right now Uncommon Criminals is calling me, begging me to save it from the fire.

If you know me, then you know that I love a good heist story and the heist in this book is particularly good. It is the second book in the Heist Society series by Ally Carter, and I think my favorite in the series. This book is a ton of fun, and I have a blast every time I reread it. It is just the escape I would need if I was ever in this situation.

Those are the 5 books I would save if there ever was a fire in my house. This was such a fun scenario to think about and it better stay fictional. While those are the 5 books I would save, I don’t want to part with a majority of my books. They’re too precious to lose in flames, along with the rest of my stuff.

Let me know which books you would save (and link me to your Top 5 Tuesday post if you created one). I would love to hear your answers and talk about all things books.

P.S. HUFFLEPUFFS FOR LIFE!

 

 

Top 5 Books That I Think Will Be 5 Star Reads!

Becky7 Comments

Recently, I’ve been trying not to set high expectations for books because I’m afraid they will let me down. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re going to fall in love with a book and have it just miss it’s mark. *cough Six of Crows cough*

With that being said, I think this trend is so interesting and fun. I love hearing people’s thought processes behind their book selections, so I thought I would take a stab at it myself.

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme that the lovely Bionic Bookworm does. If you are interested in doing any of her topics on your blog she welcomes it! Don’t forget to check out her upcoming topics if you’re interested in participating in future Top 5’s! 

 

Hero of ages.jpg

1. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn #3)

This is a given (or at least I hope it is). I loved the first two books in The Mistborn Trilogy (The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension). They were my favorite reads of 2017. I love the characters, the world, and need to see what happens after the ending of The Well of Ascension. Plus, Branderson is excellent at writing conclusions. The first two books had solid endings, so I have faith that he’ll bring things home with an epic conclusion. Also, I gave both of the previous books a 5 star rating, so the third book has got to be a 5 star read too, right?

 

lord of shadows.jpg

2. Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare (The Dark Artifices #2)

I have yet to officially start The Dark Artifices series by Cassandra Clare. Most of the people I’ve heard talk about it say that it’s her best work yet. I really enjoy the Shadowhunter Chronicles world as a whole, but not every single book has blown me away. In fact, I feel sort of meh on The Mortal Instruments series. Literally, the only reason I read it was so that I could see the crossover with The Infernal Devices (which I LOVED) and so that I could read The Dark Artifices. I say again, I hear it’s epic and blows the other two series away.

The reason I chose Lord of Shadows over Lady Midnight for the 5 Star Rating is because I’m really not sure what I’ll think of Lady Midnight. I don’t hand a lot of 5 Star Ratings out, so while I know I will like the book, I’m just not sure if it will completely blow me away.

Lord of Shadows on the other hand has literally blown away everyone who has read it. I feel like I have not come across a review that wasn’t a rave review. Plus, it’s supposed to hit you hard in the feels and I’m more likely to give a book a higher rating if it hits me hard in the feels.

 

Red Sister

3. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (Book of the Ancestor #1)

Okay, so now is when things get hard for me. As I said before, it takes a lot for me to give a book 5 Stars and it’s hard to predict what will be my new obsession. So the first book I’m going out on a limb on is Red Sister.

I’ve really gotten into the fantasy genre in the past year or so. This is a fantasy that has been on my radar because there are assassins and I live for assassins. Not only does this book feature assassins, but it’s all female assassins who I think are nuns? That concept just hooks me. Plus we get to see assassin school, which is always a good time. This book sounds like it is exactly what I’ve been in the mood for lately, so I’m hoping for 5 Stars.

 

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.jpg

4. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

I have lots of good feelings about this book. I recently read Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson which I loved and am obsessed with (seriously, I need the sequel now). That book is a mystery like this one, and since reading it I’m in the mood for a good mystery.

Not only does this sound like a good mystery with an complex plot, but it gives me Inception/Memento vibes. It follows Aiden Bishop who is always too late to save Evelyn Hardcastle, so he is forced to repeat the same day over and over again. In order to get out of this loop, he has to solve the mystery. Playing with time and dimensions is a Christopher Nolan thing, and this sounds exactly like the kind of film he would direct. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director of all time, so the fact that it’s giving me these vibes tells me that this book could be next obsession.

 

The Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Even though this book has a very similar title to the previous book, it is completely different. Honestly, this is probably my most random pick on the whole list because it’s literary fiction. Literary Fiction and I don’t always see eye to eye. It just is a genre that is hard for me to get into, because I’m usually bored by the story. I think this book might be different though.

It has gotten great reviews from a lot of BookTubers, one of them being Emily from Books with Emily Fox. I think that our taste in books is very similar, and she gave this book a great review! She described it more like chick lit than literary fiction, and I’m all about chick lit. Especially, chick lit that hits me in the feels, which it sounds like this book will do. So I think it’ll be a book outside of my reading preferences that will blow me away.

Those are the 5 books that I think I will end up giving 5 stars. This honestly was SO much harder than I thought it was going to be. Now I’m afraid that I won’t end up loving any of these books like I thought, but I’ll just have to read them and see.

When I do eventually read these books, I will do an updated post and let you know what I ended up thinking of them. Maybe try it again? I don’t know, we’ll see.

For now, let me know if you gave any of these books 5 Stars. Also, let me know which books you think you will give 5 Stars. I just want to know, because I think this topic is so interesting.

P.S. I’m back 🙂

 

Discussion: Why I’m No Longer Doing Monthly TBRs

Becky6 Comments

Creating your monthly TBR (or To Be Read list) is something that you do when you are a book blogger or BookTuber. After trying it for a year, I have come to realize that I hate doing it. They’re not my jam for a few different reasons and I thought I would share those reason with you those.

1. I’m a mood reader.

I’ve learned so much about my reading self over the past year thanks to this blog. One of the things I’ve learned is that I’m a mood reader. I tend to enjoy books way more when I’m in the mood for them.

When I create a monthly TBR, it’s to know what exactly I want to read that month. For example, when I plan to read a ton of fantasy, I sometimes find myself in the mood for a fluffy contemporary (and vice versa). When this happens I feel so conflicted, but usually end up sticking to my TBR and not reading books I want to. This has a negative impact on my reading, which brings me to my next point.

2. Sticking to a monthly TBR pushes me into reading slumps.

When I’m very strict about sticking to the TBR I’ve made for myself at the beginning of the month, I find that the next month I get into a mini-reading slump. Which sucks! Nobody wants to be stuck in a god awful reading slump.

I think that when I force myself to read books I’m not in the mood for, it makes reading feel like a chore. When it feels like a chore, I don’t want to do it as much. Then the reading slump attacks and I’m fighting to get out of it.

I don’t want reading to feel like something I have to do. It is supposed to be fun, right?

3. I find TBRs limiting.

Once I create my TBR for the month, there’s always at least one book I become aware of that I want to read asap. However, the books on my TBR are books that I’ve been meaning to read for like ever, so I feel bad picking up that book.

Also, I post my TBR on the internet and feel like I have to stick to them because of that. I’ve let the people know what I’m reading and I don’t want to disappoint the people! I know it sounds silly, because I don’t think you guys care how much I stick to my original TBR, but it’s the way I feel sometimes.

4. They make feel like I’m not reading the books I want to read.

So this one is a little melodramatic, but some months I make a TBRs that do not excite me. Or rather when I post them, I’m excited to read all of the books on the list and then my mood changes. New books catch my attention and I want to read those, not the ones I put on my list.

But I stick with my list most of the time and when I get to my wrap-up I feel like I’ve read nothing I really wanted to read. Which sucks! Reading is a hobby for me and I want it to be fun. It should be fun, but some months it doesn’t feel fun.

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Basically, monthly TBRs are sucking the fun out of reading for me, and I’m not standing for it anymore. Since it’s a new year, I’m trying a new thing and seeing how it works for me.

So I’m done with them, at least for this year! We’ll see if this works better for me, or if I miss making those TBRs. However, I’m excited to see where this decision leads me!

What is your opinion on TBRs? Do you love making them or secretly hate them, like me? Let’s discuss down in the comment section below.