Sunday, May 6, 2018

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

I am writing this in-between graduation and packing the car, so I'll be brief. It's wonderful seeing my child again. I get to have her for one month, and will treasure every second. I am also excited to see Noor, our fellow WLABBer, again. We will dine and celebrate together.

I didn't get to read as much, since I spent almost all of Friday in the car, and Saturday doing packing/graduation things, but I did listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I chose wisely, because the ones I listened to in the car were fantastic!


On the Blog:
STACKING THE SHELVES


Edelweiss/Netgalley


What I Read Last Week


My top review book for the week was 9 Days & 9 Nights. It was a sequel I always wanted, and was so glad Cotugno wrote it. My top throwback book was Emmy & Oliver. I definitely have a new author for my auto-read list.
  • Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (audiobook): Albertalli always delivers a story filled with authentic teen voices and lots of feels. I enjoyed getting to know Leah, and seeing what happened to our other Creekwood friends after graduation. ★★★★
  • The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold: Arnold always writes these intricate stories, which leave me with tons to think about. I adored the way he took so many random things, and connected them in a way that made sense. A fantastic coming of age story. ★★★★ 1/2
  • The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo: Another cute book from Goo. Lots of fun was had, and it's packed with characters I really liked. It was quite a heartwarming tale filled with family, friendship, and romance, but I wish she had tied up the all those loose ends. ★★★ 1/2
  • Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix (audiobook): I loved the set up of this one, and had an affinity for both the hero and the heroine. The push-pull might have been a little too drawn out for me, but it was packed with laughs. I will definitely read more of this series. ★★★ 1/2
  • On the Line by Liz Lincoln:  A charming nanny-single dad romance. I loved how nerdy the heroine was, and what a doting dad the hero was. I did wish we got to be outside their "bubble" a little more, but still found this to be a solid start to the series. ★★★ 1/2
  • Hangry by Lily Kate (audiobook): This book was hilarious. I have a soft spot for couples with tons of history, and these two go so far back. Seeing those bits and pieces from their childhood and teen years brought miles of smiles to my face, and I was loved the interplay between them too. ★★★★
  • 9 Days & 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno: Seriously, thank you Katie Cotugno for this book. As a fan of 99 Days, I needed this book, and would love more. ★★★★★
  • Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King (audiobook): King remains my favorite when it comes to magical realism, and she blew me away once again with Glory's story. It was such a fascinating way to explore that person at a crossroad. Glory felt like she had no future, and there was nothing after high school for her. She was still dealing with her mother's suicide and feeling detached. These visions were a brilliant way to explore her future, and I loved all the feminist ideas she presented as well. ★★★★ 1/2 
  • Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (audiobook): Gosh, I think I am in love with Robin Benway's stories! They just leave me so warm and fuzzy and are so perfect. ★★★★★
  • Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi: I enjoyed this story of biracial girl trying to navigate her way through two worlds that don't fully accept her. There was a lot of family focus, and the dynamic of the female friendship plays a large role in the story. There is very little plot, but I enjoyed all the ideas presented about identity and being female, and especially appreciated the cultural aspects the author injected into the story. ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

I flipped over Flipped, and had to grab The Running Dream by the Van Draanen to see if she could delight me once again. I am a big Willow Dean fan, and am excited to delve back into her world via Puddin'. I have not started either book at this point, but am hopeful about both.


What I Plan to Read

It looks like a fun week for me. All the books are on the lighter side, and two are highly anticipated reads of mine. Fingers crossed they live up the hype in my mind.









How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

50 comments:

  1. I hope you have fun with your daughter over the next month :-) And yay, glad you chose good audiobooks!

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    1. I am looking forward to spending some times with her. It's been too long.

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  2. Happy graduation to your daughter! Enjoy your visit. ♥ I'm so happy you enjoyed Emmy & Oliver!!! I read that one a few years ago and it just made me so emotional--I was a wreck reading that one!

    - Aimee @ Aimee, Always

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    1. Emmy & Oliver was so wonderful. Really, Nick was right - Robin Benway can do no wrong.

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  3. Happy graduation to your daughter! How exciting! I LOVE some of those covers of your new books- especially Ten After Closing and Kiss Me In Paris, both of which are awesome. And I'm glad to hear 9 Days/ 9 Nights was good.

    Your reads coming up look good too!

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    1. Yup. Now the kid has one month until she has to adult. I hope she enjoys it. 9 Days was so Cotugno, yet so satisfying. I am greedy and want more.

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  4. That's a good book haul this week Sam! Enjoy your time with your daughter and have a great week!

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    1. I got some books I really, really wanted, so I was happy.

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  5. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is one I came across recently and it looked really good. Enjoy your month with your daughter - congratulations to everyone!

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    1. Yeah, I was thinking I needed a good cry book. XD

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  6. Oh nice new reads! Totally new to me ones but I hope you enjoy each and every one of them!

    Here's my STS

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  7. I'll have to read Kill Me in Paris. I've been reading all sorts of Paris books lately. I'll be interviewing the author Of Bonjour Kale this month on my blog. Kristen got the idea to bring not-so-traditionally eaten vegetable, Kale, to Parisians and they love it!

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    1. I had read the author's last book, and am excited to read Kiss me in Paris. Its the kind of cute contemporary I love.

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  8. Enjoy having your daughter home! I am happy to see that you liked Noah since I have that one sitting on my shelf. I noticed Hangry on Hoopla and may have to grab that one since you made it sound like a lot of fun. Have a great week!

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    1. Noah was weird and wonderful, and Hangry was fun. The history between those two were my favorite parts.

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  9. Have fun with your daughter. Yay for picking good audiobooks. They really make driving fun. Hope your week is a good one and enjoy your new reads.

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    1. I was sad that my daughter wanted to listen to music on the way back to NJ, because the part of The Running Dream I listened to was so good. I want to get back to it.

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  10. Van Draanen has more books out there?! How did I not know this? I’ll have to read this one.

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    1. So far, the book is wonderful. I already squeezed a few tears out.

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  11. Enjoy your mother/child time...and those books all look very tempting!

    Thanks for sharing...and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. I am happy to start getting some fall review books. I don't have much for after July, but I am trying to be conservative so I can do more backlist books.

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  12. Have fun with your daughter! I’m glad you liked Leah on the Offbeat. I’m on a waitlist for that one.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Leah was good. Albertalli knows how to craft a good teen story. Hope you enjoy it when you get it.

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  13. Hope you have a great time with your daughter!! Yay for a successful book week.

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    1. It's going to be a busy month finding an apartment and preparing for the move, but I am excited to have some time with her before she is gone.

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  14. I saw the graduation pic you posted of your girl on Instagram. So exciting! :) Love the cover of Kiss Me in Paris. I'm kind of bummed that my library currently only has the audio of 9 Days and 9 Nights. I really want to read that one, not listen. I may end up buying it. Emmy & Oliver... oh, what that book did to my heart. I adored those two precious people.♥

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    1. I didn't go to my own grad school graduation, but my mother guilted the kid into it. It was nice. They kept it short, and at least we had time together. My library only has the audio of 9 Days as well, but their YA selection is less than stellar. If you liked 99 Days, I think you will love 9 Days. Seriously, we finally get some closure, and answers, and there is heartbreak and heart ache, but it was awesome. Emmy & Oliver was just perfection. I am slowly working my way through Benway's books. Audrey, Wait! is next in line.

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  15. Congrats to your daughter - enjoy your time together!! I'm so curious about Ship It, so I hope you like it a ton!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Ship It looks so cute. I am really excited about it.

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  16. Aww, I wish you enjoyed On the Line by Liz Lincoln more!!! I thought it was super cute!! You had such a great week!! Congrats <3

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    1. I did enjoy it, I just wanted more. It had a strong H/H and the romance was great. Not huge complaints and I think it may turn into a great series.

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  17. It sounds like you're going to have a great few weeks! Enjoy the time with your daughter! And enjoy your new books!

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    1. A very busy few weeks getting ready for the move, but I am happy to have my child home for this time.

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  18. Wow! Lots of great books you got this week! Glad you got to spend time with your kids!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays

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    1. Yes, I am very excited about so many of my new books

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  19. Yay for being reunited with your daughter and getting to spend a month with her. I hope that you enjoy every minute of your time together.

    I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Emmy & Oliver. That's one I've eyed for a while now but couldn't decide if I wanted to try it.

    Hope you enjoy all of your new reads :)

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    1. Emmy & Oliver delivered all sorts of wonderful feels. Benway really writes wonderful story, that just touch my heart.

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  20. Wow you read a lot last week! That's awesome. I adored When Life Gives You Demons and Listent to Your Heart. I hope you enjoy all of your new books!

    Have a wonderful week, Sam. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  21. It looks like you had a busy weekend! Enjoy having your daughter home!! Have a great week!

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    1. Too busy. I hardly ever drive, so going from NJ to NC and back to NJ in one weekend was way more driving than I like to do, but at least we had good weather.

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  22. Sam. I totally read this as you were graduating and I was super confused for a second. Haha. I totally picked up Hangry from hoopla because I saw your update about it on twitter. I'm optimistically trying to finish it today!

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    1. I thought Hangry was fun. I hope you like it.

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  23. So many of the books you read recently are on my must-read list. Love seeing this quick thoughts!

    Hope your trip went well!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. The trip was nice and quick. Down to NC on Friday, back in NJ on Sunday. Those short blurbs are some of the hardest to write, but I am glad to see someone is reading them. XP

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  24. I skipped Emmy & Oliver when it first came out, so I may have to revisit that one. You are going to read Listen to Your Heart? I hope you enjoy! Will be on the lookout for your review.

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    1. My first Benway book was Far From the Tree, but I have had Emmy & Oliver for a long while. It was wonderful. Benway just writes incredibly heartwarming stories.

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  25. I hope you'll have a wonderful time with your daughter! <3
    I'm so, so happy you loved Emmy & Oliver, I fell in love with Robin Benway with this book, it was sooo adorable and heartwarming and made me so, so happy as well <3
    Wishing you a lovely week, Sam! <3

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    1. I am trying to read all Benway's books, because the two I have read were just perfection.

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