2018 Holiday Books and Movies

HOLIDAY BOOKS ON MY TBR PILE: I knew Snow in Love was going to make my list this year since it features a story by one of my favorite authors, Kasie West. Mutts and Mistletoe has cute dogs on the covers so I couldn't pass that up and Christmas Camp is written by the person who wrote the Netflix hit A Christmas Prince, which was horrible yet entertaining, making it another must read. Carols and Chaos offers a historical fiction Christmas story by an author I love while Moonlight Over Manhattan and Love & Other Train Wrecks just sounded like enjoyable reads.

NEW TO ME: With Vanessa Hudgens playing the main character I couldn't say no to The Princess Switch (Netflix). A sequel to A Christmas Prince? Of course I will be watching A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (Netflix). Switched for Christmas (Hallmark) features Candace Cameron Bure while Road to Christmas (Hallmark) stars Chad Michael Murray. The Holiday Calendar sounds like another Netflix Christmas hit and The Grinch is a favorite of mine.

OLD FAVORITES: As a fan of musicals and musical competitions, The Mistle-tones (Freeform) had to make this list. I watch The Holiday and Love Actually every single year, they both have a great cast! I haven't watched Olive the Other Reindeer in quite some time, but I am hoping to change that this year. Rise of the Guardians is such a well-made movie and I didn't get around to watching it last year. Yes. Die Hard is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. Yes. It is a Christmas movie. Fight me in the comments! ;)

Puppies Crash Christmas is both a wonderfully adorable delight, and gives me great anxiety. This video is only available on Hulu. It is 30 minutes of adorable puppies wrecking a cute Christmas scene with Netflix show Easter eggs scattered throughout.

Tell Me in the Comments: What holiday books are you planning to read? Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?

Review & Giveaway: Twelve Months of Awkward Moments

Twelve Months of Awkward Moments by Lisa Acerbo (Aug. 30, 2018)

Length: 234 pages

Publisher: Torrid Books

Source: I received a free review copy as part of Xpresso Book Tours. Thank you!

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Rating:

Synopsis: Dani can’t wait for senior year at college. A straight-A scholar whose anxiety is a daily struggle, being awkward, introverted, and studious has become a way of life. She vows this year will be different. It’s time to move beyond her comfort zone, but that’s not easy. Dani’s wild roommate and handsome best friend hate each other; her crazy family won’t leave her alone; and a new job forces her to be social. Unfortunately, when college romance finally calls, Dani is unable to answer thanks to a stalker who has her all tied up. Can she stay alive long enough to find love and graduate?

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My Review

Twelve Months of Awkward Moments is a unique addition to the new adult genre. Dani is a smart girl who has anxiety. As someone who struggles with anxiety on a daily basis, I could easily relate to what she was going through, and I thought the author did a good job at capturing those feelings. The supporting cast of characters including her roommate, her best friend, and mother are also realistic and well-written. Dani has bad luck when it comes to men, and now she has a stalker. There was a good amount of suspense over who the stalker was, the author doing an excellent job at keeping us on our toes about who it could be. Poor Dani has had interactions with a lot of creeps. The plot was fast paced and the mystery kept me turning the pages. However, I was disappointed about how the stalker situation was resolved and the lack of a solid romantic relationship, but it did have a satisfying ending. The Verdict: Overall, I think Twelve Months of Awkward Moments is a fast-paced romantic suspense that I think fans of new adult novels will enjoy.

The Author

Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and tries to pursue some type of further education. 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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Mini Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince (#1) by Holly Black (Jan. 2, 2018)
Length: 370 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: I borrowed a copy from the library.
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

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My Review

I have always enjoyed books about the Fae. I am a big fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Wicked Lovely, and An Enchantment of Ravens, to name a few. With that being said, The Cruel Prince was as equally wicked as it was enjoyable. Although it was extremely hard to like any of the horrible characters, even the humans, I loved reading about their crazy antics on every single page. Jude is dramatic and power hungry while Cardan is cruel and selfish. Although they hate each other's guts, something else lies underneath their interactions. I may have enjoyed this quick read, but I would have liked a little more meat to some of the characters to better believe all their actions. Yet, I was still entertained by every lie and every secretive action. I also want to note that Holly Black does a wonderful job at describing this world of the Fae with its vicious creatures and beautiful lands so much so that I had no trouble envisioning this fantasy world while reading. I will be reading book two. The Verdict: It may not be perfect, but it's a strong addition to the young adult fantasy genre.

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesday is a bookish meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words

It consists on answering these three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I'm Currently Reading

I am halfway through The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and am enjoying it so far. I'm also finally reading The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang!

  

What I Recently Finished Reading

I adored What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and laughed my ass off while reading the graphic novel Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner.

  

What I Plan to Read Next

I will be reading 12 Months of Awkward Moments by Lisa Acerbo for a book tour and another graphic novel for class titled All Summer Long by Hope Larson.

What are you currently reading?

Mini Review: What If It's Us by Albertalli & Silvera

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera (Oct. 9, 2018)
Length: 437 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: I bought myself a copy!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? But what if it is?

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What starts off with a meet-cute for the ages, turns into a whole bunch of date do-overs filled with both equally adorable and awkward moments. Arthur is my favorite character in this love story. He has no chill and talks as much as I do. I can't help but love him! Ben has his own flaws, but is also a great guy. Readers will get to see into each boys' lives with their complicated friendships, caring parents, and their thoughts on every interaction they have with each other. What If It's Us is incredibly well-written, all the characters have their own unique personality, and I couldn't help but laugh and swoon the entire time while reading. I ship Arthur and Ben so freaking hard, and I think many other readers will as well. I think fans of these authors will not be disappointed. The Verdict: Read it. Why are you second guessing yourself? Go get a copy!