Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Believe the Hype!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Popular books that lived up to the hype!

I know there are a LOT of readers out there, who are leery of hyped books, because they sometimes are fail to deliver on the stellar reading experience we were promised. The follow are a list of books, which I kept seeing EVERYbody raving about, and when I finally read them, I joined in the chorus of adoration. Each of these earned a 5-star rating and a place in my heart.

Monday, July 30, 2018

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Review: Surviving Adam Meade - Shannon Klare

Surviving Adam Meade
Shannon Klare
Series: Surviving Adam Meade, #1
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Claire Collins has a plan: get into college and leave North Carolina behind. What she doesn’t have is an idea for how to get rid of the local football star and womanizer extraordinaire—Adam Meade, who she can’t even avoid (despite many efforts), because Claire’s dad is the high school football coach.

Seventeen-year-old Adam Meade never fails. He always gets what he wants… until he meets Claire, the new girl who leaves him unnerved, pissed off, and confused. But there’s something about her that he just can’t resist…

With the bite of lemon meringue pie and the sugar of sweet tea, Surviving Adam Meade is a sexy and compelling young adult novel about two strong-willed people who think they know what they want but have no idea what they need.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Odd One Out - Nic Stone

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for Odd One Out!

Odd One Out
Nic Stone
Series: n/a
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Waited on by: Sam
From the New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin comes this illuminating exploration of old friendships, new crushes, and the path to self-discovery.

Courtney "Coop" Cooper Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn't mind. But right now, my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl.

Rae Evelyn Chin I assumed "new girl" would be synonymous with "pariah," but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I'm right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is . . . perplexing.

Jupiter Charity-Sanchez The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move. . . .

One story. Three sides. No easy answers.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: What Comes Next!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

What Comes Next!

So, that's vague, right? What I am eluding to are sequels I can't wait to read. Many of these are continue stories, where previous books left me hanging or were just set in worlds I can't get enough of. Whatever the reason, I am really happy, that the authors have graced me with additional books.

Monday, July 23, 2018

In a Nutshell Reviews - The Summer of Change Edition


In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

I always like looking for how my Nutshell books are connected. These three books share a common thread of romance, obviously. I mean, I read these books, they must have some romance, but they all also happen to take place during the summer. These are just any old summers for these characters either, these are summers of change.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Discussion: Audiobook Love

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where we discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

This Week’s Topic: What Do You Love About Audiobooks?

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Blog Tour: So Glad to Meet You - Lisa Super

So Glad to Meet You
Lisa Super
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Diversion Books
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Daphne Bowman, a bookish drama nerd in public school, might never have crossed paths with Oliver, the popular, outgoing mascot for his private school's football team, but one event has bound them inextricably. Daphne's older sister, Emily, and Oliver's older brother, Jason, who were high school sweethearts, committed suicide together seven years earlier.

When Daphne uncovers Emily and Jason's bucket list—a list comprised of their "Top Ten" places to visit before they die—she knows she has to tell someone. The one person who might actually get what she's going through and who might not think it's silly that she wants to complete the list, is also someone she's never spoken to—Oliver Pagano. Throwing caution to the wind, Daphne sends Oliver a Facebook message that will come to change the course of both of their senior years—and maybe their entire lives.

Tackling grief with a wry voice and an unflinching eye, So Glad to Meet You tells the story of two people who, in searching for what they've lost, end up finding what they never knew they needed—each other.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Unstoppable Moses - Tyler James Smith

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for Unstoppable Moses!

Unstoppable Moses
Tyler James Smith
Series: n/a
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Waited on by: Sam
In this coming-of-age debut, a seventeen-year-old boy has one week in the aftermath of a disastrous prank to prove to the authorities, and to himself, that he’s not a worthless jerk who belongs in jail.

Moses and his cousin Charlie were best friends, wisecracking pranksters, unstoppable forces of teenage energy—until the night they became accidental arsonists and set in motion a chain of events that left Moses alone, guilt-stricken, and most likely trapped in his dead-end town.

Then Moses gets a lucky break: the chance to volunteer as a camp counselor for week and prove that the incident at the bowling alley should be expunged from his record. And since a criminal record and enrollment at Duke are mutually exclusive, he’s determined to get through his community service and get on with his life. But tragedy seems to follow him wherever he goes, and this time, it might just stop him in his tracks.

“When people say reading makes us more empathetic, they are talking about books like Unstoppable Moses by Tyler James Smith. A lyrical, hilarious, so-real-it-hurts debut that reminds us all just how much we have to lose, and why it’s important to never give up. I’m so happy this book is in the world.” —Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, Morris Honor-winning author of The Smell of Other People’s Houses

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: We Are Family!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

We Are Family!


I LOVE sibling stories, and I have read many wonderful books filled with siblings. Since I am a sister and have a sister, I want to talk about books that show us the ups and downs of having and being a sister.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Discussion: I'd Read That!


This Week’s Topic: 
A minor character, who NEEDS their own story

Dani at Perspective of a Writer hosts the meme I Heart Characters, which is a way for people to feature their favorite characters. I often fall in love with minor characters, and couldn't wait to share one I believe needs her own story.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Reviews: And They Both Got Into Harvard!

I was really surprised to read two books, back-to-back, where a character in the book gets into Harvard. The school has like a 6% acceptance rate, but you know, this is fiction. Regardless of the Harvard thing, I really enjoyed both these books. There were a ton of feels to go around, and both left me feeling rather happy in the end.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Home and Away - Candice Montgomery

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for Home and Away!

Home and Away
Candice Montgomery
Series: n/a
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Waited on by: Sam
Tasia Quirk is young, Black, and badass. She's a senior, she's got great friends, and a supportive and wealthy family. She even plays football as the only girl on her private high school's team.

But when a mysterious box arrives, family secrets spill out, and her identity is suddenly called into question. The box is filled with mementos from Tasia’s life, including a birth certificate with a blank paternity line and a photo of her mom in the arms of some white dude... who looks kinda like her. Turns out, the man she always thought was her father isn't. Her brother is really her half-brother. And she's actually bi-racial. ​

Tasia is determined to unravel the lies that have overtaken her life. Which means priority #1 is tracking down her bio dad. Along the way, Tasia discovers that forgiveness is more than an eleven-letter word, and there's a fee for answers. The artsy bisexual boy living with her new grandparents wants to help her find them—if she can stop fighting who she is, beyond the color of her skin.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

My Favorite Books Released in 2018 (So Far)!

This is one of the WORST Questions you can ask a reader. It's so hard to pick a favorite, but after reading more than 200 books this year, I have found some really special ones.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Summer TBR Wipeout


I don't know why I keep letting this happen, but I am sitting with a plethora of unread book, many of which are past due ARCs. As a way to motivate my reading, I thought I would join Summer TBR Wipeout, which is hosted by The Candid Cover

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for Five Feet Apart!

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: You're a Grand Old Flag!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Red, White, and Blue Covers!


In honor of Independence Day in the US, I am sharing some red, white, and blue covers from some great books I have read, which also feature the idea of freedom in some form.

Monday, July 2, 2018