Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This is the topic from 21 February, since this is my first Top Ten Tuesday and it's on hiatus until next week, I thought this would be a good place to start. :)

Books I Liked More Than I Thought I Would 

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (review to come)

Love love LOVED this. I didn't think I was in the mood for WW2 historical fiction when I started it, and it's not the genre I imagined Kristin Hannah writing. But I became so engrossed in this book immediately and it was the best book I read in 2016.

2. You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
I didn't really know what I was getting in to when I found this book and I didn't even know who Felicia Day was. But this book was excellent, and I highly recommend the audiobook!

3. Girl Hearts Girl by Lucy Suffcliffe
This was another book by an internet personality that I didn't know much about.  I read the book before watching any of Lucy and Kaelyn's videos, and found it touching and uplifting. And it didn't hurt that Lucy is English (like my wife) and Kaelyn is from Michigan (like me).

4. The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
I avoided this book for a long time.  I'd never heard of it until the movie came out, but the previews made it look AWFUL! I decided to give the book a chance because I'd heard it was very different from the movie, and I'm so glad I did!  I've read the entire series plus it's spinoff twice.

5. Snowflower and the Secret Fan
My mom recommended this book to me years ago, but it never really called to me and sat on my metaphorical 'to be read' shelf for years.  I'm so glad I finally read it. I had never heard of footbinding before, and this horrifying practice grabbed my attention and completely hooked me into the book. Upon finishing this, I immediately read (and loved) Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy.

Books I Liked Less Than I Thought I Would

1. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Perhaps I had the wrong expectations going in, but I just couldn't really get into this book and sadly gave it a DNF. 

2. Wreckage by Emily Bleeker

I liked this book, but I was expecting to love it. It came highly recommended and I didn't feel it lived up to my expectations. 

3. One Plus One by Jojo Mayes

After devouring Me After You and After You and experiencing SO MANY FEELINGS, I couldn't wait to read more from Jojo Mayes.  This book was pretty good, but in my opinion it didn't hold a candle to the others.

4. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

I pretty much think Sophie Kinsella is magic, and can do no wrong.  So when I found out she'd written a book about a girl with a severe anxiety disorder (I myself have anxiety, but nowhere near what Audrey struggles with) I was thrilled.  However I found the book a bit slow and almost boring. I forgot that it was even a Sophie Kinsella book.  (I still think she's magic and em eagerly anticipating her latest book.)

5. The Dinner by Herman Koch

This book really fell flat for me.  I disliked the characters and didn't find anything to relate to.  I read the whole thing, but only because I didn't want to abandon it while I was just starting my 2016 Reading Challenge.

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelf or TBR pile, be it physical or virtual. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.






My library holds list is nearly always bursting at the seams, I constantly seem to get that nasty notification "You have reached your hold limit." So here are some of the books I'm eagerly anticipating, already released but not available to me yet.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Book: Three Dark Crowns
Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Three Dark Crowns
Other Books by this Author: Anna duo, Goddess War series, Sleepwalk Society
Goodreads

Summary:
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.The last queen standing gets the crown.

My thoughts:

I loved this book!  I know some people say it started out slow and they had to push past it to get into it, but it wasn't like that for me at all.  Katharine's story had me turning the pages as fast as I could, rooting for her all the way.  And then before I knew it, I was rooting for Arsinoe, and then suddenly I was supporting Mirabella! In books like this, typically you expect to have a heroine, a favorite - but I loved them all!  The premise was dark and twisty, and I knew as soon as I saw it I HAD to read it. And it didn't disappoint.  There was more romance and a little less dark and creepy than I expected, but I can't really fault anything in this book. I loved the premise, I loved the characters and I loved the ending. My only real negative is that the next book in the series isn't out yet!  

Tricky Wisdom by Camryn Eyde

Book: Tricky Wisdon
Author: Camryn Eyde
Series: Tricky Series

Summary:
Darcy Wright is a closeted lesbian who has been infatuated with her best friend, Taylor, since junior high. Leaving her small northeast Minnesota town for Harvard in a quest to become a doctor, she moves in with med-student Olivia Boyd, a neurotic, anal, gigantic pain in the backside. The first year of juggling medical school is gruelling, but it’s nothing compared to living with Olivia.
Coming out to her friends and family with an anti-climactic flop, Darcy uses her newly publicised sexuality to try and win Taylor’s affections through an ill-hatched scheme that crosses uncomfortable lines. The result is as unexpected to Darcy as Darcy’s affinity for medicine is to Olivia.
The first year of medical school is a nerve-wracking encounter in medicine, learning lessons the hard way, and finding what her heart desires.

My thoughts:

This book came highly recommended to me by my wife, who had read several of Camryn Eyde's books in a week(!) and said this was her favorite. I was hooked from the start and it was a very quick and enjoyable read.  Darcy was likeable as a main character and Eyde did a nice job expressing Darcy's pain and need to separate herself from her longtime unrequited love, her best friend Taylor. (I did NOT like Taylor, and I don't exactly know why Darcy spent so long pining for her. My best guess is that she was a very different person before her jealousy reared it's ugly head.) Olivia was a complex and interesting character and she really kept the story moving. It's not always easy to turn a character from someone you dislike to someone you root for, but that's exactly what Eyde did with Olivia.  Olivia was uptight and neurotic and only a few pages in I remarked to my wife 'ugh, I really don't like her roommate!' But a few hours later, my opinion did a 180 and I said 'Okay, I like Olivia now. But Taylor, ugh!'  (Here I should apologize to my wife for my complete inability to keep my opinions to myself when reading a book we've both read, or watching a TV show, or pretty much anything. I know I'm a pain in the ass so thank you for sticking with me!) 

Darcy and Olivia had strong chemistry from the beginning, even when Olivia was being a judgmental snob. The chemistry ramped up quickly as Olivia's feelings began to change, though Darcy was still stuck in Taylor-town for far too long for my liking!  When Olivia and Darcy became a couple, the dynamic was a bit off, as their chemistry seemed to take a backseat rather than moving forward. But as I read further it became clear that this was part of the quirkiness of their unique relationship.

I thought the end felt a bit...not anti-climactic (there was definitely climaxing!) but maybe a bit sudden. I think this is mainly because this book is part of a series and left more for the next instalment.  I was excited to download the next book in the series as soon as I finished, only to find out it's not been released yet. However I hear the next book is due to be released within the next few weeks! (Miss Eyde, if you need a beta reader to help get the book released sooner, I volunteer as tribute!)

Overall, this was a great read and I'm eagerly anticipating Tricky Chances!

It's Not Okay by Andi Dorfman

Book: It's Not Okay
Author: Andi Dorman
Genre: Memoirs
Goodreads

Book Description:
Andi Dorfman, the beloved finalist of season eighteen of The Bachelor who infamously rejected Juan Pablo and went on to star on season ten of The Bachelorette, dishes about what it's like to live out a love story--and its collapse--in front of the cameras, offering hard-won advice for moving on after a break-up, public or not.
Andi Dorfman, star of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, talks candidly about what it's like to be courted by twenty-five handsome, single men in this juicy, insider's peek at dating--and breaking up--on national TV. She shares entertaining and heartfelt stories about her fellow Bachelor alums--many of whom are still close friends--comes clean about calling out Bachelor #18 Juan Pablo for bad behavior, and reflects on her personal challenges and uplifting experiences in love that she hopes will help you get through your own break-ups with grace and style!

My Thoughts:

I'm a huge Bachelor fan, and after hearing about this book during the last season of Bachelor in Paradise I immediately joined the library waitlist and have been impatiently waiting for it to come in ever since. I finally started reading it last night...and stopped after the first chapter.

I really want to like this book. I really want the inside dish, I eat that stuff up like candy. But there's something about the writing that really puts me off. I don't know if it's the way it sounds like a really cheesy teenage diary entry or the way she refers to the men as numbers. I don't care for the self-help aspect of it either. I'm reading this because I want the inside scoop of your seasons and what happened after, not because I want your help getting over a breakup. And I think the fact that Andi refers to a breakup as worse than a death was the final straw for me.

I may skim through it as quickly as humanly possible to get the gossip I came for, but that's about it. I downloaded Courtney Robertson's book after seeing recommendations in some Goodreads reviews, and it had me absolutely hooked from the first page. I can tell I'll have that one finished by tomorrow night! And then I'll see if I feel like skimming through Andi's book...but somehow I doubt it.

I really hate giving this rating, especially to something I wanted to like so badly...but the title really says it all for me. For me, it just wasn't even okay.

Flashback Friday: 2016 Reading Challenge

I fell a bit short of my 100 book challenge last year, but that's left me more determined than ever to finish this year.  I started this blog to track my 2017 challenge, but I don't want to limit myself to ONLY the books I'm currently reading, so I'll try to sprinkle in some books I read last year, as well as some tried and true favorites.

So without further ado, all of the books I read in 2016:

You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

Book: You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)
Author: Felicia Day
Genre: Memoir
Goodreads

Summary:
From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.
The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day—violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world... or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet Geeks and Goodreads book clubs.
After growing up in the south where she was "home-schooled for hippie reasons", Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star.
Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir.

My thoughts:

I will be honest, when I got this book I pretty much had no idea who Felicia Day was.  Her name was familiar, but I didn't really know anything about her. I was on an audiobook kick, and at the time my audiobook jam was memoirs read by the author.  My Audible trial was ending and I needed a new book, so I grabbed this one and gave it a try.  But I don't think Felicia would mind.  In fact, her introduction tells me that's exactly who she expected me to be.

I got to know Felicia as I listened to this audiobook, and by the end I felt as if I'd met a wonderful new friend.  This book was funny, touching, and introduced me to a new world of gamers. I absolutely loved hearing about Felicia's adventures in World of Warcraft and how losing herself to the game inspired her to create something incredible. This book makes me desperate to see what The Guild is all about, and search for everything Felicia Day has ever been involved in.

Felicia Day, I'm sorry I didn't know who you were before, but now I think you're absolutely fabulous. Thank you for bringing this book into my life!

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Book: The Magicians
Author: Lev Grossman
Genre: Fantasy
Other books by this Author: The Magicians Trilogy, Codex, Warp
Goodreads

Plot:
Like everyone else, precocious high school senior Quentin Coldwater assumes that magic isn't real, until he finds himself admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. There he indulges in joys of college-friendship, love, sex, and booze- and receives a rigorous education in modern sorcery. But magic doesn't bring the happiness and adventure Quentin thought it would. After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey that may just fulfill Quentin's yearning. But their journey turns out to be darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined.

My thoughts: 

I really wanted to love this book.  The premise sounded intriguing, and people have compared it to an adult Harry Potter mixed with Narnia.  My friends who have read it gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. I went in expecting to love it. And that, I suppose was the problem.  Well, not the only problem.

To say The Magicians is the grown up Harry Potter is like saying an episode of Caillou is the kid version of...well, anything.  That is to say, replace the likeable main characters with a whiny brat, and replace his friends with other people who suck.  Cram a bunch of adventure into one book, but replace 'adventure' with a bunch of mundane stuff. 

I wanted so badly to love, or even like, this book. There were moments where I could tell I might. I was right on the precipice of getting lost in the world of Brakebills...and then it disappeared. The high point for me was Quentin's test to join the school. It was different, it was interesting, I had no idea what was about to happen. At this point the book held a lot of potential for me. But it was downhill from there.  Joining a secret elite magic school is one of the most exciting things I can imagine, and there's so much potential for some amazing world building. But I didn't get much of a feel for the school, or the magic learned within, or the characters. For the most part, the story was just dull.

I tried to keep reading, hoping I would start liking it, find something redeeming about the characters, or that something would finally grab my interest.  I really wanted to finish the book, but mainly for the sake of finishing it because I hate abandoning books.  But in the end, I decided I'd rather not waste my time.  I'm on half-term this week and I just don't want to spend the entire week on one book that I'm not even enjoying when I could read something much more enjoyable.  And so, with regret (but also not that much regret), 40% through the book, I gave up.

One reviewer on Goodreads put it best - this book is like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. And I seem to feel the same about The Magicians as I do about Marmite...blech.

I didn't finish this book, but I can see that other people may think it's great. Don't forget that my rating is based purely on my own opinion. :)

The Heir by Keira Cass

Book: The Heir
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection
Genre: YA

Plot:
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My thoughts:

I liked this book, even though I sort of felt like I shouldn't. I'm glad that The Selection series didn't draw out the Maxon-America relationship any further and instead focused on their daughter. It was nice to see them happy and in love, and see what comes next for their family. And instead of The Bachelor, we now get The Bachelorette! While the premise for it seemed a bit iffy this time around, I really liked reading about the Selection process from the other end.

I liked Eadlyn (although it took me nearly the entire book to get used to her stupid name) even though at times she came off bratty and entitled. She showed a lot of personal growth through the book, which made me root for her. I also liked several of the selected, and I haven't decided yet who I want her to end up with. Eadlyn seems just as torn as every lead in the Bachelor franchise claims to be.

I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but it did lead for a nice little cliffhanger for the last book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was another quick and fun read. I rotated between the kindle version and the audiobook so I never had to stop reading it, and I really hope my library hurries up with The Crown!

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Book: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Genre: YA
Other Series by this Author: Oh. My. Gods., Forgive My Fins, Darkly Fae, Hero Agenda, City Chicks, Creative Hearts
Goodreads

Plot:
Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates.
Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it's also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters. . . .

My Thoughts: 

I'm a complete sucker for anything Greek-mythology based.  I go crazy for books about the Greek gods and the myths surrounding them and will read just about anything in the genre I can get my hands on. Years ago I read Tera Lynn Child's Oh. My. Gods. books and loved them, so when I saw she had a series about the descendants of Medusa, I knew I had to read it.  I liked this book, but I didn't love it.  It was a SUPER quick, easy, fun read. I will probably read the rest in the series, but I'm not in a rush.  

What I DID love about this book was the twist on the Medusa myth.  In this universe, Medusa and her sisters were actually monster hunters and Athena changed the narrative to the story we currently know because of her jealousy. 

All the Feels by Danika Stone

Book: All The Feels
Author: Danika Stone
Other Books by this Author: Edge of Wild, Icarus, Intaglio, Ctrl Z, Internet Famous (coming soon)
Goodreads

Summary: College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.
Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.

This book started out a little slow for me, it took me a little while to get hooked.  I actually started this book and couldn't get into it, read another book and then came back to it. It took me a while to get behind Liv's meltdown over the death of Spartan, but as the story continued I really got into the book.

I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan and I am no stranger to literary heartbreak. Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorite shows,  so I'm used to producers doing evil things to our hearts (Mark and Lexi...Callie and Arizona...sigh!) I completely understand shedding tears when a beloved character meets their demise, and I totally get being in a bit of a daze and unsure how to move on. And maybe I would react similarly if Harry Potter ended with Hermione's death, so I guess I can't judge too much. But it was hard for me at first to understand how Liv let her entire life slip away for months, lost completely to this particular depression.

I'm a Harry Potter fan extraordinaire, but I'm not really part of the fandom, per se. I follow (and have submitted confessions to) Harry Potter blogs on tumblr, I collect wands and wear my Ravenclaw scarf with pride. But I have never done the fanfic thing, or vids or cons or anything covered in this book.  But this book has me re-thinking that - except for the fact that I absolutely don't have time to get sucked down that rabbit hole!

Once I got past my original uncertainty, I fell very quickly into the world of fandom and found myself completely immersed.  I loved the way the #SpartanSurvived movement blew up overnight and Liv found herself fandom famous. I was so happy that this book, which started out a little flat for me, completely picked up and did indeed give me - maybe not not ALL, but - tons of feels.

Xander was a high point of the book for me.  His character was well developed and quirky, in a way that is very different from the typical love interest, which I found refreshing.  Another high point for me was DragonCon. I've always somewhat secretly wanted to attend a convention, so I loved living vicariously through Liv.

This book is a must-read for anyone deep into a fandom, or others like me who are fandom-curious.  Enjoy the feels!

The One (Selection #3)

Book: The One
Author: Keira Cass
Series: The Selection
Other Books by this Author: The Selection Series, The Siren

Goodreads

Plot:The time has come for one winner to be crowned. When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

My thoughts:
I loved America in The Selection.  In The Elite, I wanted to throw things at her for a good portion of the book. In The One, I felt much less violent toward her, though I still found myself occasionally annoyed at her failure to throw Maxon a bone (i.e. even just hinting at her feelings toward him, as it was EXTREMELY obvious that he was deeply in love with her and just needed some reassurance from her), or her inability to see reality (Maxon's feelings, Aspen's feelings, etc.)  I was so tired of the Maxon-America-Aspen love triangle in the last book, and was relieved to see it winding down as America's feelings grew stronger. I really felt like the series redeemed itself after the last book and the ups and downs of this story kept me invested to the last minute.

The Elite (Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Book: The Elite
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection
Other Books by this Author: The Selection Series, The Siren

Goodreads

Plot: The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?
America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

My thoughts:


I did not like this book as much as I liked the Selection. For me it felt a bit like the sophomore slump of the series. While I still devoured it, I found the characters much less likeable in this one. At one point or another, I think every single character made me want to throw something at them. Mid-way through the book, I found myself extremely tired of America's love triangle, hoping it didn't continue much longer. Perhaps it's because I never felt as invested in America's relationship with Aspen for whatever reason, but I just kept pleading in my head for her to just LET HIM GO. I have nothing against Aspen, I just didn't like the way America was treating Maxon and I was desperate to move on to some other aspect of the story. This did have some interesting plot turns and it's worth reading, but I didn't feel the same pull as I did with the first book. At the time of this review I have finished the next two books in the series, and The Selection series has redeemed itself in my eyes.

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Book: First Comes Love
Author: Emily Giffin
Other books by this author: Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One and Only

Goodreads

In this dazzling new novel, Emily Giffin, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed, Where We Belong, and The One & Only introduces a pair of sisters who find themselves at a crossroads.
Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.
Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and this close to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter ends up in her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.
On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.
Emotionally honest and utterly enthralling, First Comes Love is a story about family, friendship, and the courage to follow your own heart—wherever that may lead.

My thoughts:

I've seen some mixed reviews about this book, but I personally loved it. There were no shocking twists or any real plot to speak of, but it still kept me turning the pages as fast as I possibly could, caught up in the worlds of Josie and Meredith. This was simply the story of two sisters, still learning how to deal with tragedy and with each other, 15 years later. And I thought it was extremely touching. I found something endearing about both sisters, though I felt closer to Josie as she progressed through the story. This was a quick and super enjoyable read for me. I've been a fan of Emily Giffin's since Something Borrowed, and though nothing has ever quite matched that first book, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one.

The House of Night series

The House of Night is a series of 12 books. I started reading in November and finished the series in January. I'm going to review them together.

Book: Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted, Tempted, Burned, Awakened, Destined, Hidden, Revealed, Redeemed
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night
Genre: Young Adult (vampire)

Plot: After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them)

My thoughts:
I found this series after I finished the Vampire Academy series (and it's spinoff) and was looking for something similar.  These were very quick and addictive reads, and while they weren't as sophisticated as the Vampire Academy books, I found myself very drawn in by them.  I found the first couple of books very predictable, but that just made me want to keep reading to see if I was right (I was). By the time Kalona entered the scene, they were much less predictable and more intriguing.

This series is probably a but young for me, though it had some adult language and content. The characters were at times annoying but definitely likeable. I enjoyed that it was a slightly different spin on vampires (sorry, vampyres), and I definitely can't deny that I was hooked. Once I started, there was no stopping...no matter how many books became available during that time!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

I don't have a favorite genre, but I would be lying if I said I didn't absolutely LOVE me some YA fiction. I may be a bit...ahem, out of the target demographic...but there is just something about YA books that completely draw me in. I used to be embarrassed by my love of YA, but no longer. I've just finished listening to the audiobook of The Selection, so I've chosen it as the first review of my new blog.

Book: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Other Books by this Author: The Selection series, The Siren
Goodreads

 Plot

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Thoughts:

This book essentially combines two of my somewhat-guilty-but-not-really-all-that-guilty pleasures: The Bachelor and Dystopian society YA novels. And that could never be a bad thing!


Though it took me a little while to fully grasp the workings of it, I found the caste system interesting, if not completely original. For some reason the relationship between America and Aspen didn't draw me in as much as I wanted to. I don't know if I wasn't completely in the zone when I started the book, or I wasn't yet used to the narrator of the audiobook, or perhaps because I knew America would be a part of The Selection, but for whatever reason it just fell a little flat for me. But once it got in to The Selection itself, I was hooked.


Besides the fact that Prince Maxon's first line made me cringe (America was right to be annoyed by the 'my dear'!), I found myself 100% Team Maxon. Annoying pet names aside, I found him endearing and I was really rooted for he and America to end up together. I like America's spirit, and I loved learning more about the castes and the society, as backwards as it seemed.


I've seen some negative reviews and only just today read about some controversy surrounding this book on Goodreads. I can see why some people may not have liked the book, I don't think it's everyone's cup of tea. In fact, I went in not expecting to really like the book. But I couldn't have been more off. I listened to this book constantly: while drying my hair, riding my bike to work, during my short lunch break, while making lunches for the kids, basically any chance I could. Audiobooks are pretty new for me, and I love love LOVE physically reading, so I usually have an audiobook for commuting to work and any mindless tasks such as folding laundry, and a book on my Kindle to read basically any other chance I get. But I got so immersed into this story, that I couldn't bring myself to stop and read something else. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd better get back to listening to The Elite...

And so it begins...

I have always loved reading, for as long as I can remember. As a child I used to devour books - I read at the table while eating my cereal in the morning, I lived for D.E.A.R. at school, I stayed up way too late reading my favorite books. The fictional Rory Gilmore (of Gilmore Girls) and I grew up together, and we shared our bookworm tendencies.  Like Rory, I was never without a book.  If I was nearing the end of a book, it wasn't unusual for me to be out and about with two books in my purse. I brought a book to dinner out, where sometimes my mom and I sat across from each other at TGI Fridays, each with a book in hand in a companionable and wonderful reading-filled silence. In college I brought a book for the bus ride from my dorm to my classes. Any time there was a waiting room (at the dentist, the doctor, the vet) or a line to wait in (the DMV springs to mind), my book was always there to keep me company. There was even a time or two I brought a book to a bar. When I moved across the country and made the drive to my new home 20 hours away, it wasn't music that kept me company, but audiobooks.  Nowadays, my Kindle goes with me everywhere I go (I know it's terrible to admit it but I LOVE my Kindle. I have an entire library with me at all times, I no longer need to load myself up with paperbacks in case I finish one).  And audiobooks? They are my newest obsession.  You mean I can 'read' a book while I fold laundry, make dinner, do the dishes or bike to work?  Amaaaaaazing!

Last January, I made myself a lofty goal to read 100 books in 2016.  I fell a bit short, due to the pressures of life which always seem to get in the way of reading.  (But not anymore, thank you again, audiobooks!!)  This year I made a more achievable goal of 75. But you know what? I shouldn't settle...aim for the moon...even if you miss, you'll still have read tons of amazing books! 100 books it is! But I'd like to up the ante a bit.  I want to review every book I read this year.  I may live to regret this, but only time will tell.

And so it begins...