TTT #74: My Favorite Graphic Novels

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Even though it was extremely difficult, I decided to actually pick ONLY 10 of my all time favorite graphic novels to date. This was super hard. Here is what I chose.

Mini Reviews: Crooked Kingdom, The Hating Game, Fate of Flames, & The Sun is Also a Star

Crooked Kingdom (#2) by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads


WOW. I ended up liking Crooked Kingdom even more than Six of Crows. The characters! The scheming and plans! There is nothing not to love about this book. It was non-stop action, and I have so much love for these Characters. I laughed. I cried. I smiled. I cheered. I gasped. I can't believe I kept putting off reading this book. What is my deal? I a going to have to give this book the status of "probable reread." I am not going to lie, most of the time I was reading I just wanted to push all the couples faces together.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Goodreads


The Hating Game is an almost perfect romance novel. If you are a fan of the hate to love romance trope then this book is for you. I adored Lucy and Joshua. I was rooting for them from the very first page. This book is full of office shenanigans, funny moments, cute moments, and some heat. I am so glad I saw all the bloggers exclaiming their joy for this book or it would have completely passed me by. It was my first read of the year and I am so glad.

Fate of Flames (#1) by Sarah Raughley
Goodreads


Fate of Flames is a new favorite of mine! Kiss-ass girls. Check. Creepy Phantom monsters. Check. Elemental powers. Check. Fate of Flames is a quick read that reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Maia was always a fan of the Effigies, but when she actually becomes one she doesn't know what to think. I wish I would have gotten to see Maia actually go through some training, but there really wasn't time considering the immediate threats. I look forward to seeing what book two has to offer.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Goodreads


Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star, it couldn't top the author's first book, Everything Everything. The Sun is Also a Star is delightfully unique and is very much a romance. I loved the different perspectives featuring Natasha and Daniel along with other people they encounter throughout their day. Their story takes place across one day and I loved that. There were some surprises, but a lot of the book was pretty predictable for me. All around it was a very enjoyable read with two very interesting main characters.

Review: Love & First Sight

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist (Jan. 3, 2017)
Length: 281 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary/Romance/Diversity
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: The library.
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Love is more than meets the eye. On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right? As Will starts to find his footing, he develops a crush on a sweet but shy girl named Cecily. And despite his fear that having a girlfriend will make him inherently dependent on someone sighted, the two of them grow closer and closer. Then an unprecedented opportunity arises: an experimental surgery that could give Will eyesight for the first time in his life. But learning to see is more difficult than Will ever imagined, and he soon discovers that the sighted world has been keeping secrets. It turns out Cecily doesn’t meet traditional definitions of beauty—in fact, everything he’d heard about her appearance was a lie engineered by their so-called friends to get the two of them together. Does it matter what Cecily looks like? No, not really. But then why does Will feel so betrayed?

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My Review

Love & First Sight in Three Words: Brilliant. Funny. Warm.

Love and First Sight is many things. Wholly original and wonderfully funny are just a few of the many ways I could describe this book. This is one I won't soon forget.

Filled with laughter, warm feelings, and struggle, Love and First Sight was much more than I anticipated. I actually just grabbed this book on a whim when it came across my path at the library. I had seen it before but never knew much about it so I just randomly decided to take a chance. I usually always read from a list and choose books from that list based on my mood, but after how well this chance turned out I may have to change my reading habits a bit.

Will is blind and has been his entire life. At the age of 16 he takes a chance on enrolling in a public high school for the very first time. Although his first day has some embarrassing moments, he keeps on keeping on and takes it in stride. Will is brave and clever. It was different and enlightening to experience the world how Will does. I could tell the author did his research on what it may mean to be blind and on the surgery that Will has the option of undergoing so he can see again. (The author also talks about some of his research at the back of the book.) Cecily is another important character and a friend in Will's life. She is one of the first he makes at his new school and over time he starts to fall for her, but life is never that easy.

I think I will just leave you with that thought. Go experience the book yourself.

The Verdict: A MUST read.

2017 Reading Challenges

Last year I only participated in the Goodreads challenge and I was okay with that. I have not been very good at completing the other challenges that I have signed up for in the past. This year I decided to change it up a bit and sign up for one extra challenge. I'm a rebel. Let's discuss the Goodreads challenge first.

Last year my goal was to read 150 books (that included graphic novels and middle grade books) in 2016. I hit my goal just in the nick of time. Woot! What about this year? Next week I will be starting grad school (and still working my two jobs) and therefore my Goodreads challenge is only going to be 100 books for 2017. I feel good about this.

Then I came across The Totally Doable 2017 Reading Challenge and thought I would give that challenge a try as well this. I only have to read 12 books total in a year, each one fitting into one of the categories below. I have a feeling I will actually be able to complete this challenge! Wish me luck!

The Totaly Doable 2017 Reading Challenge

Hosted by Reading Books Like a Boss

**I am not sure which books I will be reading in each category yet. If you head over to the Reading Books Like a Boss blog you will find printables like the one above to help you keep track of the books you read for the challenge!

What reading challenges are you participating in this year?

ARC Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side by Kasie West (Jan. 31, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher. This did not affect my honest review. Thanks so much!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

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My Review

Review in Three Words: Happy. Feelings. Sweet.

By Your Side made me smile and chuckle and swoon. This book proves that Kasie West is the master at writing young adult contemporary romance novels. I have read every single one of her books and this one may just be my new favorite.

The setting of By Your Side will be a favorite among many readers. Who hasn't wondereed what it would be like to be trapped in a library over night? I was worried that two teens getting locked in the library would be too far-fetched, (I do work in two libraries and we have a pretty good closing procedure and an alarm system, yet just a few weeks ago our alarm system wasn't running for several days...) but I think it was believable and it worked. Autumn is a relatble and likable character who also happens to be stuck in a library with pretty bad anxiety. Although she may not think so at first, Dex, the secretive boy from school, is there to help her make it through the weekend at the library. I found Dax intriguing right from the start. I wanted to know his secrets and be his friend.

Readers will get lost in the way Dex and Autumn's story is told. Their time in the library together is entertaining and at times sweet. I loved the writing. At times I could easily feel the chill of the library and the silence in the stacks. When the plot gets more serious the tone transitions nicely and still manages to stay sweet. This is a book worth reading.

The Verdict: Sooooo good!

TTT #73: A Few of the Many 2017 Books I'm Excited For

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I had way too much fun and difficulty with this week's topic. We were technically only supposed to talk about the debuts that we were excited for in 2017, but instead I just made a general list of some of my most anticipated reads. The titles are all linked up to goodreads in case you want to add them to your own shelves! I have a few more than 10...

1. Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts (June 6)

2. Roar by Cora Carmack (June 13)

3. Internet Famous by Danika Stone (June 6)

4. Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau (June 6)

5. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (May 2)

6. The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon (March 7)

7. The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo (May 16)

8. These Ruthless Deeds by by Tarun Shanker, Kelly Zekas (MArch 14)

9. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (April 11)

10. Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton (March 7)

11. The Valiant by Lesley Livingston (Feb. 14)

12. Denton Little's Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin (Feb. 7)

13. The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro (Feb. 14)

14. Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan (Feb. 7)

15. Cashmere by Temple West (This is not the real cover, just a promotional poster.) (Feb. 14)

ARC Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti (Jan. 3, 2017)
Length: 400 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
Source: I received a free ARC from the publisher at BEA. This didn't affect my honest review. Thanks Sourcebooks!
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Hawthorn wasn't trying to insert herself into a missing person's investigation. Or maybe she was. But that's only because Lizzie Lovett's disappearance is the one fascinating mystery their sleepy town has ever had. Bad things don't happen to popular girls like Lizzie Lovett, and Hawthorn is convinced she'll turn up at any moment-which means the time for speculation is now. So Hawthorn comes up with her own theory for Lizzie's disappearance. A theory way too absurd to take seriously...at first. The more Hawthorn talks, the more she believes. And what better way to collect evidence than to immerse herself in Lizzie's life? Like getting a job at the diner where Lizzie worked and hanging out with Lizzie's boyfriend. After all, it's not as if he killed her-or did he?

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My Reivew

Describe The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett in Three Words: Weird. Captivating. Likable.

I was immediately hypnotized by Hawthorn's story. Hawthorn is funny, delightfully weird, and easily has the biggest imagination of any character I have ever met before, making her that much more likable. Hawthorn becomes fascinated with the disappearance of Lizzie Lovett, a popular girl that graduated her high school a few years ago. Not a lot usually happens in Hawthorn's small town so she decides to take a special interest in the disappearance. Thus begins her very random and amazing journey to self discovery and to finding out what actually happened to Lizzie.

This book is extremely hard to categorize. It's a coming of age story with some mystery and humor thrown in. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is well written and unique. The mystery aspect surrounding Lizzie's disappearance is handled well. I never had Lizzie far from my mind while reading, and the excellent pacing of the story along with Hawthorn's imagination is to thank for that.

If you decide to read this book, which you should, you will be laughing from page one and cringing throughout at the many crazy things that Hawthorn does, but not in a bad way. I loved everything about this book, from the small town setting to the eccentric main character. I don't want to say too much more because I refuse to give away any important plot points.

The Verdict: Take a chance on Hawthorn. Follow her as she figures out what real friendship is, has her first real kiss, struggles with how to deal with her different family members, and figures out real life while still holding on to her active imagination.

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon: Sign-up, Goals, & Updates

Well, I just can't say no to a Bout of Books read-a-thon! This challenge is perfect for me since this will be my last read-a-thon before I start classes for grad school. Let's see how many fun books I can read this week. If you haven't participated in Bout of Books before then you really should. It's fun, you set your own goals, and you can win prizes!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

Reading Goals

~ Read at least three books.

~ Write a review within 48 hours of completing a book.

Social Goals

~ Participate in one Twitter chat.

~ Participate in one mini challenge.
   - I did the Book Spine Poetry challenge on Instagram!

Some Reading Options

~ The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

~ To Stay Alive by Skila Brown

~ Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

~ Island of Glass by Nora Roberts

Updates

Monday

• I read and finished The Hating Game! That put me at reading a total of 363 pages after day one.

Tuesday

• I started reading Crooked Kingdom and read 50 pages. I have now read a total of 413 pages!

Wednesday

• I didn't get far because of work. I only managed another 50 pages in Crooked Kingdom. I am sitting at a total of 463 pages.

Thursday

• I read 100 pages today. I am at 563 pages total. I am hoping to finish Crooked Kingdom soon. Work is getting in the way.

Friday

• I didn't have time to read today.

Saturday

• I read another 100 pages in Crooked Kingdom. This book is killing me!

**Sunday (FINAL/TOTAL UPDATE)

• I finished Crooked Kingdom! This means for Bout of Books I read a total of 909 pages. I think this is pretty good since I was so busy this week!

My First Read of 2017

Sheila over at Book Journey is hosting this wonderful "First Book of the Year" party that I have decided to participate in. I participated in this last year and thought it was fun! I never put thought into what my first book of the year would be before last year. Now I'm glad that I do. It takes no effort to sign up so you should probably just go ahead and do that. I also can't wait to see what books everyone else picks! Without further ado...

My First Book of the Year

The Hating Game has been all over the blogs lately and has been impossible to ignore. So what did I do? I snagged myself a copy from the library. I no longer want to be in the dark. I can't wait to read this book! I think it will be the perfect book to start my 2017 reading year with. I am ready for some hate to love romance.

What book do you plan on reading first in 2017?