Top Ten Characters I’d Like to Check in With

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic is “Top Ten Characters You Want To Check in With.”

1) Teddy Lupin from Harry Potter– I know wanting to check in with the second generation of Harry Potter characters will probably be on everyone’s list today, but I couldn’t help myself! I loved the parallelism between Harry and Teddy’s characters and would love to see what he (and all of his various cousins since, you know, everyone’s related now) is up to now!

2) Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries– My favorite YA protagonist of all time, I’m so lucky that my dreams of following Mia further are coming true! I cannot thank Meg Cabot enough for writing The Royal Wedding!

3) Kate Quinn from The Wrong Side of Right– So I just finished this book this past weekend and I ADORED it. It was an excellent standalone but I became so invested in Kate’s life as the illegitimate daughter of a prominent politician that I really want to know what happens to her after becoming a part of her new family!

4) Amy & Nick from Gone Girl– Um, I really want to know what happens to that poor, poor child of theirs. And what twisted turns their marriage has taken since the end of the novel.

5) Nyx from Cruel Beauty– I loved this dark heroine from one of my favorite fairytale retellings ever, and I’d really love to read more about her the end of the dark fairytale. She was so wonderfully flawed and sassy and realistic that I would definitely want to read more about her adventures!

6) Carlisle Cullen from Twilight– For all of its faults, I loved the rich historical back story of the Cullens, and what they choose to pursue with their unlimited lifespan. In particular I’d like to know what amazing sort of medical strides Carlisle has made, and if/how he’s managed to help more vampires get in touch with their humanity.

7) Mara Dyer from The Mara Dyer Trilogy– The last book left SO many things unanswered, and had me doubt everything that I’d read! I really want to find out what happens to her, Noah, Jamie and the rest of the characters who are inflicted/gifted with powers!

8) Allyson & Willem from the Just One Day duology- So the novella Just One Night brought some closure, but after reading about what life-changing journeys the both of them went on after simply meeting, I want to know how actually, finally being together impacts their lives!

9) Grace Brisbane from The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy– The ending lacked so much closure, I was SO MAD when I first read it. Nothing was conclusive, from the state of Grace and Sam’s relationships (wolves vs. humans) to the state of Grace’s future (college?) to the state of her relationship with her parents. I would LOVE an epilogue book, perhaps set a few years in the future!

10) Daemon & Katy from The Lux Series– I know it’s implied that hybrid babies are super dangerous and stuff, but I really want them to make perfect alien babies together.

Who do you want to check in with? Did any of my picks crossover to your lists? Did you go with characters that lacked closure, or ones who you want to see how their families turned out? Link me up to your TTT posts in the comments!

Top Ten Books I’ve Recently Added to my TBR

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic was “Top Ten Books You’ve Recently Added to Your TBR.” My list this week is a mix of old, new, and upcoming releases, including full novels and novellas!

1) None of the Above– A really fascinating looking novel that focuses on a girl who finds out she’s intersex…and how that news impacts and changes her life.

2) Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between– I love Jennifer E, Smith’s romances, and I especially love how the cover of this one coordinates with her others!

3) Happy Again– A novella featuring what happens after with Graham and Ellie from This Is What Happy Looks Like.

4) The Wrong Side of Right– I’m really interested in the political setting of this book! Plus, the cover is gorgeous!

5) Vanishing Girls– I’m ready to give Lauren Oliver another chance after being underwhelmed by Delirium, and I love thrillers.

6) Heir of Fire- So I just finished Crown of Midnight last week and I need Heir of Fire in life. Immediately.

7) Vendetta– I’m interested in the “mob” aspect of this debut, and if the multiple brothers prove to be a cast full of swoon worthy male leads.

8) Passenger– I haven’t read anything by Bracken but I love historical fiction-time travel hybrids (it reminds me of Revolution by Jennifer Donnely which I loved) so I want to try this one!

9) Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda– Everyone is raving about this book!

10) A Darker Shade of Magic– Besides the fact that it combines London, magic, and parallel universes (all things that are total hooks for me) I feel like the only blogger who hasn’t read it yet!

What have you recently added to your TBR? Link me up in the comments!

Top Ten Books From My Childhood I’d Like to Revisit

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic was Top Ten Books From Your Childhood/Teen Years You’d like to revisit. I decided to split my list in half between favorite childhood picture books and middle grade books!

Childhood:

1) Madeline– My absolute favorite childhood book, Madeline was my childhood role model. When I was eight I even got to “meet” Madeline at a Nordstrom Madeline brunch, and I had a lifesize Madeline doll!

2) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom– A close runner up for my favorite childhood book, my copy is so old and battered and I compulsively have to pick it up when I come across it. I also can’t read it without reading out loud. It’s so catchy!

3) Franklin– I loved the Franklin series! I had a lot of his picture books with the little read-a-long cassette tapes.

4) Jesse Bear- These books were gifted to me by my aunt and some of the first books I read when first learning how to read!

5) The Ramona Quimby series– I LOVED Beverly Cleary. She was my favorite childhood author.

Middle Grade

6) The Baby Sitter’s Club series– I was OBSESSED. I still have all of my BSC books and I especially loved all of the mysteries and super specials! (My favorites were Dawn and Stacey).

7) Amelia’s Notebooks– These were so fun to read! I still own most of them!

8) Bloomability– I love all of Sharon Creech’s books, and this is my favorite next to Walk Two Moons. I loved that this one explored Europe!

9) The Westing Game- I love love love this middle grade mystery. It’s like a game of Clue.

10) The Nancy Drew series– If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know I’m a huge Nancy Drew fan! Nancy is sassy and progressive for her time, and her mysteries were always intriguing. You can read more about my love for all things Nancy Drew here.

What books made your list this week?

Top Ten Books On My Spring 2015 TBR

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic was SO fun, as it highlights all of the spring releases I’m anticipating! I luckily have some of these pre-ordered already, and am hoping to get my hands on the others, as these are all books I’d love to have my own copies of! The titles are in no particular order, and links go to Goodreads.

1) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

2) Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

3) A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

4) The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

5) The Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

6) The Heir by Kiera Cass

7) The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

8) Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

9) End of Days by Susan Ee

10) Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

What books made your list this week? I’d love recommendations! Let me know in the comments what made your TTT this week!

Top Ten Books for Readers Who Like Older-Skewing YA

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic was a fill in the blank “Top Ten Books If You Like ____.” Personally I love to read YA that focuses on older teens, struggling with issues such as college, relationships, jobs, etc. that are problems that are very real for young adults but generally get ignored in favor of the high school age range in YA fiction. A lot of these themes I have yet to encounter in the New Adult genre, so I try to find YA novels that focus on the 18-early 20s age range whenever I can. Therefore, I decided to list my picks for Top Ten Books If You Like Older Skewing YA.

1) Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas- This book has everything you want from a spring break thriller: murder, jealousy, partying, muddled motives and crazy twists. Haas really pushes the boundaries and includes a lot of more taboo YA topics and weaves them together in this disturbing tale, and it’s fantastic! Read my review here.

2) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- This novel focuses heavily on the freshman college experience, from the ordinary to exciting aspects. Such a well written book representing an under-written time frame in YA! Read my review here.

3) Just One Day by Gayle Forman- Also focusing on going to college, it explores the emotional toll of one’s first adult relationship, intimacy and all. Read my review here.

4) I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios– Exploring post-high school and before college life for Skylar and Josh, this book doesn’t censor much and is bracingly realistic in its representations of poverty and the military/veteran experience. Read my review here.

5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor- The writing in this series is so sophisticated and Karou has the spirit of a truly old soul. Read my review here.

6) Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout- I’ve seen this series marketed as “Upper YA” and it definitely contains more mature themes. The series is action packed and sexy. Read my review here.

7) The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore- Another series that focuses on college age kids combined with a chilling ghost story that leaves out any high school drama.

8) Trouble by Non Pratt- Focusing on teen pregnancy while not turning into an “issue” book, this story is raw and emotional and the most non-preachy book regarding teen pregnancy that I’ve come across. Read my review here.

9) Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge- This dark fairytale retelling will definitely appeal to older YA readers with it’s complex plot, flawed characters, and a focus on the marriage between Nyx and Ignifex. Read my review here.

10) I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson- While still focusing on high-school aged characters, Nelson’s beautiful prose tackles tough topics, from sexuality to dysfunctional families to adultery and consent. Read my review here.

What inspired your TTT list today? Link me up in the comments and I’ll stop by!

Top Ten ALL TIME FAVORITE Books From The Past 3 Years

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic focuses on the top ten books you’ve read within the past three years. A majority of my picks are YA, with a couple of adult novels I read for my literature classes in college that really stuck with me! Titles will link to my reviews, or Goodreads if I have not published a review at this point.

1) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- This series. It was unlike any other YA series I’ve ever read, and had me simultaneously terrified and enthralled at the same time. It was fantastic. I loved all of the psychological elements!

2) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- This is the novel that started my love affair with anything Rainbow writes. I love how it depicted the young adult experience in college.

3) Angelfall by Susan Ee- The best YA depiction of fallen angels on the market, hands down. Also, RAFFE.

4) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell- This story handled so many harsh realities and social justice issues so well, while still at its core retaining its story of teenage romance.

5) Trial By Fire by Jospehine Angelini- My favorite read so far of 2015, it takes magic and science and blends them together in the best world building I’ve seen yet. Also, ROWAN.

6) Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas- The most mind-blowing read of the past three years for me. Haas is clearly the queen of contemporary YA thrillers, and she needs to grace us with more of her twisted stories!

7) Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge- The best fairy-tale retelling I’ve encountered, it was written so sophisticated with wonderfully and wickedly flawed characters that constantly tread the line between hero and villain.

8) Cinder by Marissa Meyer- I never thought I’d love Sci-Fi, but Meyer blended Sailor Moon (my favorite thing) with fairy tales (my second favorite thing) to create a truly epic series.

9) The Red Tent by Anita Diamant- I read this for a religious studies class in college and it was such an awesome feminist interpretation of one of the most marginalized females in the entire Bible. It will literally change the way you think about history.

10) The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz- I read this for a multiculural lit course in college and was immediately stuck by the rawness and grittiness of Diaz’s writing, which was so unlike anything I had read before, and his use of magical realism. It made me want to explore more new genres and read more out of my comfort zone.

Did any of these make your list? Did you struggle with choosing only ten books for this week’s topic? Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Bookish Problems

As usual, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Book Related Problems You Have.

1) Storage: I feel like this is going to be on everyone’s list this week, but it’s a serious issue! I feel like I am pretty good about using the library (probably about 40% of the books I read I check out) but even with three tall bookcases I am overflowing. My book buying has definitely increased since starting my blog, but it’s also made me much better at avoiding buying titles that I won’t like! I also just can’t get on the e-reader bandwagon because books are like art for my house- part of the experience of reading is holding it in your hands and displaying the beautiful covers!

2) Time: As I try to challenge myself a little more each year with my reading goals, it of course takes up more and more time (not to mention the time to write reviews for almost every book I read!) I love reading and blogging but sometimes it’s hard to balance both (finding enough time to read content to blog about and then finding the time to write about it!)

3) Staying On Top of Reviews: Piggybacking on #2, it can make me a bit anxious if I end up reading faster than I’m reviewing. I’m usually very good at keeping on top of this but right now I have 4 books I’ve read in the past 2 weeks that I’ve yet to write reviews for.

4) Book Hangovers: I don’t know about you but sometimes books just put me in moods. (For instance, it’s hard not to feel melancholy right now after finishing I Was Here by Gayle Forman.) Sometimes the residual feels make it hard to be able to get on with my reading list.

5) Book to Movie Adaptations: A curse and a blessing, sometimes there is nothing worse than seeing one of your favorite books of ALL TIME be turned into a cringe-inducing movie. (I was SO disappointed in the Beautiful Creatures movie, and let’s not discuss Twilight and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix…) But sometimes they can be glorious (I loved the adaptations of If I Stay and Divergent).

6) When People Ask to Borrow Books: Unless you are my boyfriend or my aunt (both whom I know extremely well/know where they live so I can check on my pretties) it’s not happening. This has put me in SO many awkward positions before, but I’m so OCD about the condition of my books that I cannot lend them out and feel OK about it. Likewise, I never ask to borrow others’ books because I don’t want to put them in that position! There’s obviously an exception for books that I’m not planning on keeping, which I’m happy to pass along/donate.

7) Spending Hours Wandering Around the Bookstore: And being with people who don’t understand why you can’t just go in, grab something, pay for it and leave. It’s not about the purchase it’s about the whole experience. A trip to the bookstore (or library) is never a quick errand for me.

8) My Bag/Backpack Weighing 5,000 Pounds: Because I always have some sort of reading material with me. I’m THAT person who brought four HARDCOVER books to London for a 12 day trip because I was scared I was going to run out of reading material and I’m not about that e-reader life.

9) Having Others “Judge” My Reading Taste: This is so not cool, but something I faced a lot of as an English Lit major. “YA” was practically a sacrilegious term for some of my classmates, and most of them thought I was kidding when I told them my senior thesis was on Harry Potter. As long as what someone is reading isn’t derogatory/demeaning/abusive I won’t be one to judge.

10) Buying Books Feels Good: There’s nothing better than seeing books in your mailbox. Sometimes my heart screams yes but my wallet says no.

Do you share any of my bookish problems? Let me know in the comments!