My 2015 A-Z Challenge Wrap Up!

I started off this challenge with a list of books that fit each letter of the alphabet and that were on my TBR. As you probably know reading a certain book doesn't always fit your mood so I had to take a step away from the reading the books I specified and just read what I was in the mood for. So, I ended up meeting the challenge with a few more technicalities than I wanted but I completed it and I am so proud!

Here is my final list of books from A to Z:

A. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

B. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

C: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

D: Dime by E. R. Frank

E: Everyday by David Levithan

F: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

G: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

H: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (re-read)

I: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

J.  Joyride by Anna Banks

K. Kagawa, Julie - Talon

L. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (re-read)

M. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

N. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

O. The Outsiders by SE Hinton

P. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (re-read)

Q. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

R. Rogue by Julie Kagawa

S. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

T. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

U. Uglies: Cutters by Scott Westerfeld

V. Very Good Lives by J. K. Rowling

W. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

X. AleXie, Sherman - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Y. Yoon, Nicola - Everything, Everything 

Z. Zevin, Gabrielle - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

In 2016 I plan on participating in this challenge as well as the Around the Year in 52 Books challenge! You can check out these challenges by going to the Young Adult Book Club group for the A-Z challenge and the Around the Year in 52 Books group both of which are on Goodreads! I am also participating with the A Very Shadowhunter Read Along group in their year long (re)read of all of the Shadowhunter novels.

Christmas Questions from Epic Reads

Margot at EpicReads posted a holiday tag on the EpicReads youtube and I thought I would answer the questions on here!

1. What is your favorite book to gift during the holidays?
I don't really have a singular book that I gift because I have friends with very different tastes in books. A lot of times I just get them a gift card so they can pick out their own books but if I were to pick one book that I would gift to literally anyone this year it would have to be I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson!

2. What is the best book you have ever received as a gift?
I've been buying my own books for a while now but the best book I remember receiving as a gift was my UK boxed set of the Signature Harry Potter hardcovers that I got for Christmas last year. I received all of the HP books as gifts as they came out and being they have affected my life so much they obviously had to get the mention.

3. What book do you hope to get this year?
I got a handful of signed books on Black Friday as a gift from my Aunt, but I obviously had to be there to pick them out so I have already received those. I hope that if anyone was to buy me a book that it would be a pre-order for Passenger by Alexandra Bracken or Front Lines by Michael Grant!

4. What is your favorite holiday movie?
ELF! All the way! I quote it so much and just adore it! Oh and the Polar Express! I can watch both of these on repeat for the whole month of December and not tire of them.

5. What holiday song is always on repeat?
I am actually not that into Christmas music (don't kill me) but if I were to play any song on repeat it would probably be Baby It's Cold Outside (Idina Menzel and Michael Buble version). I also love All I Want For Christmas! A not so Christmassy winter song would be Mittens by Carly Rae Jepsen. I think I just need to find the right albums and songs to get myself more into Christmas music, I guess that is my task for the coming year so I can be prepared for next Christmas season! Recommend awesome Christmas albums/songs and artists versions that you like below?!

6. What is your favorite holiday food to either make or eat?
COOKIES! I love making chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, the peanut butter ones with the hershey kiss in the center, basically all the cookies. I also really enjoy oreo truffles, 'poor man's' peanut butter candy, and fudge.

Merry Christmas everyone!
- Amanda

The Shadowhunter Academy Novellas by Cassandra Clare

The Shadowhunter Academy novellas follow Simon Lewis as he tries to regain his memories after the events of City of Heavenly Fire and attends Shadowhunter Academy in Idris to eventually Ascend as a Shadowhunter. While many of the novellas focus on Simon's trials at the academy, his newfound friendship with George Lovelace, and his struggles with Shadowhunter law a good few of them also focus on some other characters that have popped up throughout the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments or will be in the upcoming Dark Artifices and Last Hours series.

Reading these have really made anxious for the Dark Artifices and have made me feel guilty for still not having read The Infernal Devices or The Bane Chronicles yet... /shame/

It wouldn't be a Cassandra Clare work if it wasn't an emotional roller coaster ride of feels induced hysteria. Here are some one sentence summaries that should help you get a small gist of what I was feeling after each book. No spoilers are intended.

Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
One sentence summary: Reading this was like coming home after being gone for several months.

The Lost Herondale
One sentence summary: I am curious as to how the plot of this short may come into play in future Shadowhunter novels.

The Whitechapel Fiend
One sentence summary: Love hearing more of Tessa Gray's story!

Nothing But Shadows
One sentence summary: James Herondale and Matthew Fairchild, some interesting back story in this installment.

The Evil We Love
One sentence summary: The beginning of The Circle as told by Robert Lightwood.

Pale Kings and Princes
One sentence summary: Helen and Mark Blackthorn get some air time in Simon's studies.

Bitter of Tongue
One sentence summary: Simon had to get kidnapped at some point. 

The Fiery Trial
One sentence summary: Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn get a cameo and Simon trips on Lake Lyn water.

Born to Endless Night
One sentence summary: Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood have a fantastic character dynamic and I am so excited for their little plot twist!

Angels Twice Descending 
One sentence summary: I was so smiley and happy and then I was emotionally destroyed.

Graphic Novel Wrap Up | #2

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

 This was a really interesting story about Jin, Danny, and a monkey king. Jin is a young Chinese-American boy who has just moved to a new school and just wants to fit in with everyone else. Danny is an All-American boy who is embarrassed annually when his cousin Chin-kee comes to visit. The monkey king struggles with wanting to be the master of everything and not wanting to be a monkey. Each story adds a new facet to a great story of self-discovery, understanding your worth, and being comfortable with who you are. Each character damages their lives with choices they have made and now they need to right the wrongs. This is a great story for anyone to read because it makes you think about choices you have made. Plus it is just a fantastic graphic novel with beautiful art and story telling. ★★★★

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

This was such a fun read! If you have ever thought back on an event in your life and wanted to change it thinking that it would only get better this book illustrates just how wrong you might be. Katie has it pretty good, she helped start an amazing restaurant and is now moving on to owning a new restaurant but things are not happening the way she wants them and when given the chance she is able to write her mistakes away. I love Katie and Lis and would love to read more of this story and the magic involved. The art in this book is gorgeous and the story was so intriguing and quick to read. ★★★★

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Through the Woods is a collection of "spooky" stories based around the woods. Knowing that this is a Middle Grade/YA book I new that it would not be super scary but it was spooky enough to be perfect for the month of October when I read it. I really enjoyed the second story of the book. It had a good rhythm and flow to it. The rest of the stories were just okay. None of the stories in this book blew me away but I definitely appreciate what Carroll was trying to do. I kind of wish the stories fit together better and that the conclusion would have tied all of the stories together. The art is lovely and the stories are unique and interesting. ★★★

Here by Richard McGuire

Here is a graphic novel that focuses on the corner of a living room and how that one corner evolves over billions of years. The most interesting thing about this book for me was that it was not a linear progression of time and that multiple years of time were depicted in one image. It was so interesting to see how time and history can be shown through a fixed point. This is such a surreal and thought provoking novel that makes me think of how the would may have changed over the course of time in my own fixed point, my own corner of the world. What was here 50, 500, 5 million years ago? What will be here in my place in another 500 years? I definitely recommend you leaf through this a few times to get the full impact. I have noticed something new each time. ★★★★

Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Saga is a FANTASTIC sci-fi graphic novel!

"When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe."

Saga is all about this family and their fight to stay together despite all of the attacks coming at them for being from two different races and having a child together while their planet and moon are fighting a civil war. This story is crazy, awesome, action-packed, and graphic. It is definitely for mature audiences. I have enjoyed every single volume of this story, so much that I had to start buying the individual issues to sate my obsession. The art style and the amazing cast of characters are just two more reasons you should dive into this story sooner rather than later! ★★★★★

Bookish Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are becoming very popular in the lives of many pop culture geeks and nerds of the world as well as foodies, readers, and homemakers. If you are into geeky gamer gear you may have your eye on Lootcrate, Nerdblock, or 1up Box. If you are a foodie you may get a Graze Box or Nature Box. If you enjoy getting things for your dog friends there is always the Bark Box. If you are a fan of jewelry you may have seen the Flitwicks Box and the Fandom of the Month Club. The list goes on and on!

For readers like me, and probably you too since you are on my blog, there are several book related boxes that have become all the rage recently especially in the realm of YA literature. Here are just a few of the boxes that I know of that contain books and book related goodies and a few quick notes about them:

• Owlcrate - YA book box based in Canada - each monthly box has a theme
• Uppercase Box - YA book box based in the US - 3 price level options
• The Book Drop - book box based in US - run by an independent bookstore
• The YA Chronicles - YA book box based in Australia - boxes center around a theme
• Illumicrate - YA book box based in UK - boxes are delivered quarterly
• The Bookworm Box -  book box based in the US - all profits are donated to charity
• The Bookish Box - book related home, beauty, and apparel products - based in the US

There are so many great options and surprises wrapped up in these boxes of goodies. I have seen the products that all of these boxes have put out (not all in person unfortunately) and I am really impressed with the quality that each box puts forth. Out of the ones above I have personally purchased the Owlcrate, Uppercase, and The Book Drop boxes and I will go a little more in-depth on what each of these boxes are and my opinions on the boxes. If you are interested in other boxes mentioned above please click on the links and visit their websites where you will be able to find out more information about the different services they provide. Now, on to the reviews!

Owlcrate - "Magical Monthly Reads"

What comes in the box?

The Owlcrate box always comes with a new release YA book (sometimes an adult book) and the book is usually a new release from the month that the box ships out (example: the November box has a November new release book in it). Along with the book there are usually 3-5 other bookish goodies and some kind of exclusive from the author or publisher. Each month is curated around a specific theme and items are usually from other small businesses such as Etsy shops. 

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since March 2015  which was the first ever box they released.

What purchase options are there?

There is currently only one type of box being offered but you can subscribe for 1, 3, or 6 months at a time.

What is something special about this box?

I love the themed aspect of this box. Each month has a theme and that is all we know about the box until it is dropped off by the owls. I always try to venture a guess at the book and sometimes I am wrong and sometimes I am right! The theme also gives me a hint as to what books to stay away from when book shopping.

What is my overall impression of the box?

I love this box! Each one gets better and better and I am always surprised as to what will be in the box. The attention to detail and the wonderful owners behind the box make this a subscription that you shouldn't miss out on! I even got a book that was slightly damaged and they were quick to respond and get a replacement sent to me right away.

Uppercase Box - "YA Books Delivered to You"

What comes in the box?

The Uppercase box delivers a new release YA book and 1-2 exclusive book related items. You also get an online interactive "Uppercase Reading Experience" via codes placed throughout the book that you enter on the Uppercase website to get exclusive content or be a part of the discussion on the book with other Uppercase subscribers.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since October 2015 (and a one box trial back in March 2015).

What purchase options are there?

There are currently 3 plans available for you to choose from:

• The lowest price option is the Book Exclusive plan and costs $17 a month before shipping. This plan only includes the book (which is the same as the Expert plan book) and the Uppercase Reading Experience. 
• The second option is the Expert plan which includes the book, 1-2 bookish goodies, and the Uppercase Reading Experience. The cost for the Expert box is $23 per month before shipping. 
• The third plan is the Personalized Plan which is tailored to you and is not a "cookie cutter" box that everyone receives. This plan is $29 per month and includes a new released book and 1-2 bookish items. The personalized plan does not have an online, interactive component nor are the books guaranteed to be signed/include a bookplate.

The Expert and Book Exclusive plans also guarantee that the book will be signed or come with a signed book plate and usually come with a promotional item.

What is something special about this box?

One of the perks of the Uppercase box is the fact that you get a signed book or a bookplate to put in your book each month. I love having that little piece of a connection with an author especially since signings just don't happen that often in my area. I also think the fact that this box only has 1 or 2 items will appeal to those who don't want a bunch of extra trinkets. 

What is my overall impression of the box?

This is a fantastic box! It is well worth the price and the items are high quality and usually exclusive to the Uppercase Box. The packaging is different because the "box" is actually a bag and it is delivered inside a padded envelope. 

The Book Drop - "Run by an independent bookstore at the beach"

What comes in the box?

The Book Drop box comes with one paperback book and usually some kind of extra bookish item. Most of the time the book comes signed or with a bookplate or signed swag. On rare occasions the lovely people at Bethany Beach Books includes a bonus book or item! I receive the YA box called A Little Bit of Everything.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since August 2015!

What purchase options are there?

This box has the most options that I have seen in a subscription box yet! There are adult boxes - the Jane and the Ernest, 3 genre based YA (14+) choices, and 3 genre based children's (8-12 yo) boxes. The Jane box includes a book that is either contemporary, historical fiction, or literary fiction. The Ernest box includes a book that is either thriller, action, or non-fiction. The YA box choices are Romance/Love, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything. The Children's box choices are Pleasant Reads, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything.

What is something special about this box?

I love that this box is so diverse an that there is literally something that could please everyone! I also really love that this is a box that is run by an independent bookstore from my state and that this is a great way for me to support them even when I can't make a trip there as often as I do the more local indies near me. These boxes have a very personal feel to them and are always packaged with great care.

What is my overall impression of the box?

This box has its own little niche to serve of people who prefer paperbacks or don't want the newest most hyped books out there. I am so impressed that I have gotten books that I haven't really heard of before (aside from A Thousand Pieces of You) and that they have been some fantastic reads.

In Conclusion

I seriously love each of these boxes and it has been so much fun getting a surprise each month. It is like Christmas or your birthday each month when a box pops into your mailbox. Anyways, I hope that my reviews of these boxes help you gain a better understanding of what these products are and why they are such a hit with loads of people. I wish I could review all of the bookish boxes out there for you but I have to draw the line somewhere. :)

If you receive any of the boxes featured in this post or know of any other boxes that should be on my list please leave a comment below sharing your experiences and varied knowledge! 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Publication Date: April 1st, 2014
Edition: Paperback/Audiobook Pages: 288
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

Synopsis

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love (Goodreads).

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading/listening to this book! The main thing that sold me on this book was that it is a book about books. The book mentions so many books and authors it makes you want to read even more (here is a list of books mentioned in Storied). 

I love the characters, I love how the story progressed, I enjoyed the little twists and turns, and I adored the beautiful and bittersweet moments in the book. There is so much that I can say about this book but I really don't want to give away too much. The synopsis says enough! Oh, and I adore Amelia! She is my spirit animal!

This book has some great quotes about books and love, and just some really funny moments. 

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books about books or books about bookish people because sometimes you just need to read a book about people like yourself. 

“Sometimes books don't find us until the right time.” 

“They had only ever discussed books but what, in this life, is more personal than books?” 

“You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, What is your favorite book?” 

Get to Know Me | Questions and Answers (#1)

Hello All! I've been wanting to do a Q&A/ get to know me kind of post for a while now just to help you get to know me more. Thanks to those who have asked questions on Instagram! Lets start with some basics: my name is Amanda, I am 24 years old, and I teach middle school science.

A few people may remember my Instagram started as @amandareads21 in January of 2015. I started the separate Instagram account specifically for my book pictures because I wanted to share them with people that would appreciate them and the friends and family that follow my personal IG just weren't the audience I was going for. Then I started thing that my username was pretty generic and didn't represent me the way I wanted it to so I wanted to go by a different username and create a stronger presence within the bookstagram community. So, in June after BookCon I made the change, I started this blog for my reviews, called it The Bookish Hollow, and started "making a name for myself" under the new handle. I love sharing pictures and reviews of the books I read and I have thoroughly enjoyed this past year of sharing my reading with you. Now, on the the questions you sent!


First book you read? - thebookishangel 
I am not really sure. The first books I remember reading in Elementary school were Eric Carle books (I loved Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and the Magic Tree House books. I was also a huge Scholastic book fair nut and was a member of the Magic Tree House and Dear America book clubs.

What book got you into reading? - fictionandtea
Matilda by Roald Dahl!

Do you have any siblings who are obsessed with books? Where are you from? - fictionandpages 
I have a 30 year old brother that is not a fan of reading, so unfortunately no. I don't really have much family that is into reading. My mom has read some things that I have forced on her. I make up for the lack of bookishness in my family by having friends that love to read books and the people I know through bookstagram/blogging of course! I live in the state of Delaware in the U.S.

How old are you? - rosexblood 
I am 24 years old! I am a 90's baby and the song Unbelievable by Owl City featuring Hanson is my theme song! Plus Hanson is my jam!

How has your life changed by having a bookstagram and blog? - livthebooknerd 
This is a really interesting question! My life hasn't changed too much really. I spend a little more time taking pictures of the books I am reading and buying and chatting with other 'grammers. I also put more effort into my reviews to make them interesting to read. I have also been able to get some galley's from a local bookstore and NetGalley.

Who's your favorite book villian? - samreadstoomuch 
Hmmm... I really love to hate Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events and Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter Series.

Favorite series/show? - maddiejo3l 
Once Upon a Time, Doctor Who, House, Sherlock, Supernatural, and Criminal Minds are just a few of my current favorite TV shows. My all time favorite TV shows are probably Lizzie McGuire and Boy Meets World.

Book that surprised me the most this year? - sarenasashabooks 
I have read many a good book this year and could say that they have all surprised me in some way or another but to narrow it down I have 3 different ways to answer this question...

1. The "no words/please leave me to my tears" book - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson and My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga 
2. The "holy plot twist, Batman" book - Damage Done by Amanda Panitch
3. The "overwhelmed by awesomeness" book - Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Favorite Book Adaptation? - totoro_books
The Hunger Games movies are probably my favorites! I love the HP adaptations and The Fault in Our Stars but I think The Hunger Games movies have been consistently the best!

What are your opinions on ARCs, do you think they give blogger status? - booksbyvale
I enjoy getting access to the few ARCs that I do get and I kind of enjoy getting early access to new books. I don't particularly like that ARCs are given out for some sequels just because if it is an establish series or the first book was well received then I feel like the sequels should be kept from everyone. I do think that bloggers that receive lots of ARCs do gain a bit of status but so have the booktubers. I don't really care about the status of ARCs I just enjoy getting a first look and be able to recommend some new books to people. I would still blog even if I didn't get to review a few ARCs.

What do you and your favorite book hero/heroine have in common? - booksbyvale
Hands down my favorite protagonist is Matilda! I connected a lot with her when I was younger being the bookish loner that I was. I loved her bravery and though my family is nothing like hers I connected with how books were her escape and school was what I looked forward to, even with the bullies.

If your question wasn't answered here then I may have already answered it or I am saving it for it's own post! Thank you all so much for asking such wonderful questions! If you have a question you would like me to answer next time, please comment down below!

Bookish Things: My Reading Journey (#2)

This has been a trend in the booktube sphere and I thought I would share what I remember about how I got started reading and the evolution of my reading through my life up until now.

I was introduced to reading through my parents. They always read books to me when I was young. The main books that I remember reading when I was in early elementary school were the Little Golden Books, mainly Disney ones and I still own all of them now. I loved picture books and I remember A Bad Case of the Stripes was a favorite of mine.

Mid-Elementary school lent itself to chapter books, I read everything from Amber Brown to Magic Tree House books. I read poetry from Shel Silverstein. Some of my favorite books were Because of Winn Dixie, Fever 1793, and Caddie Woodlawn. I don’t really remember how much reading was apart of my life but I do know I enjoyed book fairs and the books I do remember reading.

Late-elementary/middle school was where I really blossomed as a reader. I began reading Harry Potter, Series of Unfortunate Events, The Princess Diaries, and Lurlene McDaniel books. This was my horse phase, I read all of the horse books I could get my hands on, my favorites being the Heartland books. I also read a lot of the Dear America and Royal Diaries books and even was part of a book club for the Dear America books. These books were my intro to historical fiction and lead me to reading more about Pocahontas, Hellen Keller, and Anne Frank among many other historically significant people as well has historical events such as the sinking of the Titanic. At this point I had become a library card holder and begged to go to the library whenever I could. I checked out 5 books or more every two weeks and devoured them. 

This was a huge turning point in my reading. My school had this program called Reading Counts where we earned points for the books we read and we had to earn so many points a marking period (basically like the current Accelerated Reader program). My school also gave prizes to the top reader of the grade, and I am a competitive person so that program did it’s magic for me because I became an avid reader!

I am very thankful that my parents never tried to shelter my reading. I was allowed to read whatever I wanted. I discovered a lot of things through reading. I learned many lessons about life, love, and friendship through the words in hundreds of different books. I remember checking out books with titles like “When Dad Killed Mom” and my mom supporting my choices and just reminding me that if I had questions I could talk to her. It was so nice to not be hindered by someone else’s prejudices and being able to read what I wanted. Most of my character and personality has come from the books that I have read and I feel like I grew wiser faster than most of my age group because of the opportunities I had through reading.

In high school I think I read more than I paid attention during class. High School was where I discovered Scott Westerfeld, Anna Godbersen, and so many other fantastic writers. I also got pulled into the Twilight craze in my senior year. I stuck with mostly YA books in high school with the occasional classic and play title that I had to read. I also branched into poetry and really began to enjoy the genre because of Emily Dickinson and Mattie Stepanek. This was also where I started trying to keep track of how many books I read in a year, but that was pretty hard without the discovery of GoodReads.

In college I used reading as my escape even more. I devoured the Maximum Ride Series, the Mortal Instruments, and the Millennium trilogy. By this point I had reread Harry Potter for the 10th time and still loved every word. I discovered John Green, the Gone Series, Hunger Games, and read so many different kinds of books. 

After college to now I have transferred into a hobbyist reader. It is the thing that I love to do in my free time. I reread some favorites but more recently I have been focusing on collecting classics that I haven’t read and growing my TBR exponentially. I am still an avid reader and I have a set reading goal each year now that I have GoodReads helping me keep track. I am still a huge fan of YA but I have also been reading middle grades and adult. I also discovered how to get ARC’s from NetGalley and began reviewing books.

I am now a teacher and am working a full time job so my reviewing has fallen off in consistency but if you would like me to write a full review of a book that I have read this year please let me know and I will get one done asap! Thanks for reading!

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: February 10th, 2015
Edition: Hardcover Pages: 304
Acquired: Books of Wonder
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

Trigger Warning: suicide, depression

SYNOPSIS: 

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. 

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince. (book synopsis from goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

My impression upon finishing this book can be represented by one word: incredible! The writing, the characters, the plot, the emotion... all of it was wonderful and perfect. It is hard to say you love and enjoyed a book with such a heavy topic as the main focus of the book but I did. The reading experience for this book was light and heavy at the same time and the emotion was so raw it was like being inside Asyel's mind.

This book starts off depressing because Aysel is depressed. She is living in a huge shadow cast by her father's missteps and doesn't know how she can escape it. She has walled off or been pushed away from people and even her own family has a hard time reaching out to her. The emotion of this book and Aysel's narration is scary. You kind of get sucked into her depression and even though I can't connect to her situation I can empathize because I know what it is like to be talked about and judged by people, doesn't every one? At least a little bit? Aysel's narration is also scary because it is so believable and natural. Nothing about this book seemed forced or over done. The progression of the story pulled me deeper into the black hole it had quickly become and I let it because I was so enthralled by the intricate web of words, actions, and moments Warga has crafted.

I am sure after reading that paragraph you are wondering "if this was a depressing book and it made you so sad why did you give it 5 stars?" Well you have to read for yourself but here is what I can tell you.

• This book has 5 stars because of Aysel and Roman. Their friendship, though born from a mutual desire to end their lives, is a beautiful thing and they learn so much about each other and themselves from their relationship. Aysel's science nerd-ness was fun for me as well. Plus I just want to hug them both so hard. 
• This book has 5 stars because of Tyler and Mike. They both have small inklings that something is up with Aysel and though they don't come at her head on they both make her think about her decisions. 
• This book has 5 stars because of the ending. Oh my gosh, the ending. No tears were formed but my eyes were prickly and I just can't even with the ending. It was done extremely well. I can't say more. 
• This book has 5 stars because of the Author Note at the end. I could already tell that Jasmine had put her heart and soul into this book but the author note sealed it. 

We have all been in a bad place at some point in our life in some way, shape or form. You may have lost someone, or felt alone, or any number of other reasons that may have made you feel less than someone else. Aysel and Roman's stories show you just how deep depression can go and how it can affect your choices and ultimately your life. The way their story unfolded gave me as the reader a chance to experience what it might be like to be lost in my own life like Aysel and Roman felt. This book will humble you, it will ground you and make you take a step back to inventory the people in your life and how they affect you. Being able to talk to someone and having people who care for you is a wonderful thing. 

I know that this book will not be for everyone. The subject matter of this book makes it hard to read but it must be read by those who are willing. This book has made me reflect on my role in my own life as well as the lives around me. My Heart and Other Black Holes is a destructively beautiful book and my heart aches for the characters and more importantly the real people throughout the world that are going through similar situations. I hope that this book will bring forth more people that are willing to be a pillar of support to those who need it.

“Depression is like a heaviness that you can’t ever escape. It crushes down on you, making even the smallest things like tying your shoes or chewing on toast seem like a twenty-mile hike uphill. Depression is a part of you; it’s in your bones and your blood.” 

I hope that my review will convince you to read "My Heart..." if you can, because I think it offers a unique perspective on mental illness that people should experience. If you have read and found new perspectives through Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filler, or Looking for Alaska by John Green then I would highly recommend My Heart and Other Black Holes.

Bookish Things: Unread Books (#1)

Introduction

In an attempt to make this blog more than just reviews I am starting a new segment called "Bookish Things" where I talk about different bookish topics and my take on them. The topics I have planned so far are: My Reading Journey, eBooks vs. Hard Copies, Book Covers, and Annotations. I am hoping that this can become a regular addition to my other posts and that my viewers will suggest new topics for me to write about!

Bookish Things: Unread Books

I thought this would be an interesting topic because if you don't know I own over 700 books (rough count). Of those 700 I may have read about 300 books. Yes, I currently have more unread books than read books on my shelf (obviously this only accounts for books that I own, I have read more than 300 books in my 24 years).

Some people may be outraged by this, "Why would you keep buying books if you can't read them right away?" you say? Well that is easy. Buying books for me, and book shopping in general, is therapeutic for me. I enjoy it, and the books when I eventually read them. I can not deny myself the simple (but expensive) pleasure of buying books when I want to. It's fun and I love my collection of books. I have to give mad props to the people who can buy a stack of books and read them before buying another stack of books. That takes some serious will power and I just don't have it.

Another question that has probably crossed your mind is "Do you buy them all new?" No, I do receive some books as gifts but I buy most of my books from library sales, bargain outlets, or used book stores. When I do buy new books I try to purchase from independent book shops in my community rather than supporting big chains. Sometimes supporting Amazon, Book Depository, or Barnes and Noble is inevitable depending on the book I am looking for.

Finally I am sure some people are thinking "how do you plan to read all of these books?" I don't know. I just pick a book that I want to read at the moment and go with it! Sometimes it may be a reread but for the most part I focus on books that are unread. I hope I can read all of the books that I currently own as soon as I can but I can't really guarantee that. It all depends on my tastes and moods at the time. Will I get rid of books that I don't have interest in anymore? Most likely. I don't want to hold onto a book that someone else could be enjoying but as long as it still holds my interest then it will be read eventually.

I buy books to support the author. If there is an author I love I will purchase all the books I can by them even if I can't read them right away.

I do have some plans to curb my purchasing of books to only books I am extremely excited about and the subscription books I get from Owl Crate and The Book Drop. Obviously I am not going to stop buying books or ban myself from them for an extended amount of time (some girls have shoe shopping, my form of retail therapy is book shopping) because I seriously enjoy getting books. I am not ashamed of my TBR pile, it is a glorious mountain!

How do you feel about your unread books? Share in the comments below.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 1st, 2015
Edition: ARC Pages: 307
Acquired: received through local bookstore
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SYNOPSIS: 

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster. (book synopsis from goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

OH MY WORD! This book! It had me laughing, it had me “aww” ing, and most importantly it had me riveted to my seat! I read this book in the matter of a few hours!

Madeline has an immune disease that makes it impossible for her to leave her house for fear that she might come in contact with one of her triggers that could very well kill her, and though she has learned to be tolerant and zen about it she still yearns for the outside world. This yearning is turned into overdrive when Olly moves in next door and nothing is the same afterward.

Half way through the book I was thinking “aw this book is so cute” Maddy and Olly’s relationship magnifies in front of your eyes and you can’t help but to be completely engrossed in the entire thing. It is almost like you are seeing the world for the first time just like Maddy. Maddy’s condition has had her locked in her house with only books to comfort her and to give her the adventure she couldn’t experience otherwise. If you are bookish you will relate with Maddy on a very emotional level. 

Maddy is so innocent and sassy and you get a really good fell for this throughout the novel in the instant messages, drawings, book spoilers, and personal dictionary entries. Yes, the romance is a bit insta-lovey but honestly it really fits Maddy’s character. This book has it’s inconsistencies but I think it is intentional because Maddy is our narrator and her perspective is completely different from what we would perceive as outsiders. I also wish we got a better understanding of what SCID is and why everything had to be white and what triggers Maddy has. Again, I think this is somewhat due to Maddy’s narration and the way her perspective is presented to the reader.

After you get over the cuteness you realize this book has a much deeper connotation to it and WHOA! I’m not usually one to talk about a plot twist but this book has a particularly fantastic one and was in a very interesting direction. This book took me by surprise and I loved every second of it!

MUCH RECOMMEND

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA lit! Everything, Everything is wonderfully written and was so much more than I expected! Also this book could definitely satisfy anyone who is on a diverse book kick because this book confronts illness and Maddy is multiracial. This book seems like it will be one that will have some mixed reviews (it already does) but I really think that everyone that is intrigued by the synopsis should read the story because it will throw you through a loop and draw you in to Maddy’s life. Please pick this book up and give it a go!

The Rise and the Fall of a Theater Geek by Seth Rudetsky

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers 

Publication Date: June 23rd, 2015

Edition: eARC Pages: ?

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Summary

The shows, the neon lights . . . the cute chorus boys! It's where Justin has always wanted to be--and now, with a winter internship for a famous actor, he finally has his chance to shine. If only he could ditch his kind, virtuous, upright, and--dare he say it?—uptight boyfriend, Spencer. But once the internship begins, Justin has more to worry about than a cramped single-guy-in-the-city style. Instead of having his moment in the spotlight, he's a not-so-glorified errand boy. Plus, Spencer is hanging out with a celebra-hottie, Justin's best friend Becky isn't speaking to him, and his famous actor boss seems headed for flopdom. Justin's tap-dancing as fast as he can, but all his wit and sass might not be enough to switch his time in New York from nightmare-terrible to dream-come-true terrific (goodreads).

What I Thought

This book had a rocky start for me. The main character Justin is pretentious and annoying at times and reminded me a lot of first season Rachel from Glee. The good thing is that the book got better. Justin is an openly gay teenager with a boyfriend and is very comfortable in his own skin. I like that this book didn't focus on Justin's sexuality. Justin is out and honest about who he is and crushes on boys just as hard as any teen girl would.

Justin also has great friends that complement his ostentatious personality. Spencer and Becky are the friends that take no crap, they make Justin see how controlling and manipulative he is and call him out for it. This is where things get even better.

Justin has to participate in an internship to earn credit towards graduation. Being the theater geek that he is Justin secures a Broadway internship for him and his friends with different companies. Justin furthers his rise in Broadway when he randomly meets a rising star at a musical and decides to intern for him.

The internships aren't what any of the three friends thought they would be but through it all Justin learns how to control himself and be a better friend, solves a mystery, and got the Broadway internship of his dreams..

If you love Broadway, mystery, shenanigans, or just want a fun and fluffy read I would say give this book a shot! 

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: October 28th, 2014

Edition: Audio Book Pages: 449

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 stars)

Summary

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons (goodreads).

What I Thought

The gist of this book is simple, one group of people hate the other group of people and they fight each other to the death to keep living their lives. One of these groups happen to be made of dragons that masquerade as humans to survive, pretty simple right? Not when you throw two teenage dragons out into the human world knowing nothing about human emotions but they watched a heck of a lot of TV to be able to reference pop culture like NCIS. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book but it was kind of contradictory at times when Ember was interacting with people and the things that went through her head. 

Seriously though, this book was hilarious! Ember and Garret take turns narrating their sides of the singular story of the rivalry between Talon and St. George. I really enjoyed the audio book for this book particularly because they had two different voice actors for Ember and Garret and they portrayed the characters so well. There are some interesting twists and turns and some silly, witty dialogue that is just fun to read.

I would recommend this book as a guilty pleasure/ light and fluffy read, it is practically a contemporary novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was fast paced and hysterical just how blind Ember and Garret can be to everything they experience but I think that is what makes this book great. There is a bit of romance, brother/sister rivalry, and surfing mixed in to make this one very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable read. I am definitely going to read on through the series!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: YA/NA Fantasy/Retelling

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: May 5th, 2015

Edition: Hardcover Pages: 416

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Summary

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever (goodreads).

What I Thought

A Court of Thorns and Roses was such a fantastic read! If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings then this is an awesome book for you. Feyre is not provincial french woman with a brutish man pining after her. She is the Katniss of her family, she hunts for food for her family so they can survive. Her sisters are mild versions of Cinderella's stepsisters and don't help out much with providing for their family. Feyre shoulders all of the responsibility for her distant sisters, her wounded father, and herself because of a promise she made to her mother. When out hunting one day Feyre comes across a wolf like creature and has to kill him or be killed. Feyre's murder of the wolf (Faerie) has brought another faerie to her doorstep with an ultimatum: cross to the faerie realm to never return to the mortal lands or die. Feyre begs for her family's well being and is then whisked away by Tamlin back to the Spring Court that he calls home. The main plot of this book is Feyre's introduction to the Faerie Courts and the Fae culture with a bit of mischief, nefarious creatures, and a Faerie that is plaguing her own people.

As with Sarah's other series (Throne of Glass) I love her writing style in this book. It is a style that I can't read fast but rather I enjoy 'drinking in' slowly. Feyre has a lovely artistic eye and her descriptions are beautiful. I love how this story progresses and how Feyre grows as a character. She can be a bit timid and whiny at times but she really grows into herself and finally allows herself to be expressive and take charge of herself, even if it still gets her into loads of trouble. I was not disappointed by this book at all, the world is crafted well, the characters are wonderful (Tamlin and Lucien *heart eyes*), and the romance is kind of hilarious to me. The romance is a bit "instalovey" but I still like how it happened because it was funny! The Fae element of this book is so interesting and unique.

I want so much more! This book set up what will surely be an amazing series with a great cast of characters! Besides there is a giant library that any of us book lovers would want and gorgeously detailed paintings and murals. This books is fantastic and I would recommend to anyone who loves a good YA fantasy or Beauty and the Beast like stories.

Another Day by David Levithan

Genre: YA Contemporary/Magical Realism

Publisher: Knopf Books

Publication Date: August 25th 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 300

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★ (3/5 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Summary

Every day is the same for Rhiannon. She has accepted her life, convinced herself that she deserves her distant, temperamental boyfriend, Justin, even established guidelines by which to live: Don’t be too needy. Avoid upsetting him. Never get your hopes up.

Until the morning everything changes. Justin seems to see her, to want to be with her for the first time, and they share a perfect day—a perfect day Justin doesn’t remember the next morning. Confused, depressed, and desperate for another day as great as that one, Rhiannon starts questioning everything. Then, one day, a stranger tells her that the Justin she spent that day with, the one who made her feel like a real person . . . wasn’t Justin at all (goodreads).

What I Thought

***This review SPOILS parts of Every Day the first novel in the companion series

Do NOT continue if you haven't read Every Day Go here for my review of Every Day***

What can I say about Another Day? Was it interesting to read? Yes. Was it mind blowing-ly awesome? Not quite. If you don't already know Another Day is the retelling of the events of Every Day from Rhiannon's point of view. If you don't know who Rhiannon is, or what Every Day is about I suggest you go read that first.

Let me preface this by saying that I read Every Day and Another Day back to back and I don't recommend doing that. Why? Mainly because it was kind of boring to rehash the same events from a very slight change of perspective.

Honestly I feel like they should make a compilation book and mesh Every Day and Another Day together where the chapters alternate between perspectives because I found myself going back and rereading A's accounts anyways. I think this companion novel would have been better if it started instead where it ended and continued the story from there when Rhiannon decides to try and find A.

This book wasn't a complete disappointment though, I promise! I still really enjoyed reading it and I found parts of what Rhiannon was going through to be really interesting especially the days that A doesn't see her. I would love to know more about her family and her friends (Preston is my favorite!) but she isn't a completely 3 dimensional character that could stand on her own, at least not well enough to stand next to A, her narrative just fell a little flat.

All in all this book did what Levithan set out to do, answer the question of what it would be like to know someone who switched bodies every day. This book was fun to read as a huge fan of the first book but it wasn't compelling enough to stand alone like a companion novel should. I would definitely recommend this to those who really are interested in Rhiannon's POV.