Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2015

Top Ten TuesdayTop Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2015

I don’t know about you all, but I’ve read some pretty great books so far this year. I have really fond memories of reading all of these books–and I’m actually rereading one of them already. #sorrynotsorry. This Top Ten Tuesday makes me pretty excited about the rest of the year, too, because if these ten books are any indication of what’s on tap, I’m in for a world of awesome. In no particular order, here are my top ten books that I’ve read so far this year!
Book cover The Start of Me and You Emery LordTHE START OF ME AND YOU • Emery Lord | Guys, this book was just so adorable. I loved Paige and Max so much, and I loved their very slowly growing relationship. One of my favorite things, though? Ryan. Because he might be the early focus of Paige’s romantic attention, but he’s clueless about it, and a complete doll on top of that.

Book cover Saint Anything Sarah DessenSAINT ANYTHING • Sarah Dessen | The more I read of Sarah Dessen’s catalog, the more I fall for her stories and her writing. I felt such strong connections with Sydney and Mac and the Chathams, and that’s because of how amazingly real Sarah Dessen made them. I have a big chunk of Sarah’s back catalog to get to, and I AM READY.

Book Cover I'll Meet You There Heather DemetriosI’LL MEET YOU THERE • Heather Demetrios | GUYSSS THIS BOOK. No question, this is one of my favorite books of the year. Josh and Sky are two of my most favorite people, and the story of their “I used to hate you but now you’re kind of my best friend slash I wanna make out with you” relationship is amazing.

Book cover A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J. MaasA COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES • Sarah J. Maas | This is the book that I’m rereading right now so that I can remember all of the awesomeness better before I write my (sure to be glowing) review. There’s basically nothing about this book that I didn’t love.

Book cover All the Bright Places Jennifer NivenALL THE BRIGHT PLACES • Jennifer Niven | Talk about SOBFEST. I cried so hard reading this book. It’s so sad and beautiful and made an indelible mark on me. I can’t think of Finch and Violet now without some of that intensity bubbling up to the surface.

Book cover A Darker Shade of Magic V.E. SchwabA DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC • V.E. Schwab | I haven’t gotten around to reviewing this one yet, but it’s my favorite book of Victoria’s. I sometimes struggle with her books, but this one…the world-building was excellent and I loved Kell and Lila.

Book cover Every Move Ellie MarneyEVERY MOVE • Ellie Marney | I’ve been trying to hold off reviewing the second and third books in this amazing series because they aren’t out in the US yet, but I bought them all from the Aussie publisher and devoured them and adored them. Mycroft and Watts are a forever OTP.

Book cover Midwinterblood Marcus SedgwickMIDWINTERBLOOD • Marcus Sedgwick | I read this book with my girls for our On the Same Page feature, and it kind of blew my mind. There’s really no way to categorize it, but the slowly unravelling tale was bewitching. There were excellent passages, too, about souls and fate and connections that span lifetimes.

Book cover The Wrath and the Dawn Renee AhdiehTHE WRATH AND THE DAWN • Renée Ahdieh | Another book in my review pipeline, and another On the Same Page read. I loved this story. I loved Shazi and Khalid and their powerful relationship. I loved the vibrant culture so much that my OTSP post was a Pinterest board full of images that reminded me of this world and these characters. There’s a lot up in the air for book 2, and I really can’t wait for it.

Waiting on Wednesday | Revenge and the Wild | Michelle Modesto

Waiting on Wednesday

Revenge and the Wild • Michelle Modesto

Book cover Revenge and the Wild Michelle Modesto

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

STAHHHP. Is this a fantasy steampunk Western? DOES THE SYNOPSIS SAY WAGON TRAIL?! Someone send me smelling salts. Please. PLEASE. I can’t. REVENGE AND THE WILD sounds amazing. Westie sounds like a complete BAMF, with her mechanical arm and her foul mouth. The magic and the gold angle sounds really interesting. I just need this book, guys.

REVENGE AND THE WILD comes out February 2, 2016 from Balzer + Bray

Revenge and the Wild Michelle Modesto

 

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Top Ten Tuesdays

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Top Ten Tuesdays

Guys! This is a super fun topic! Also CONGRATS, BROKE AND BOOKISH LADIES!! Five years of this awesome feature! *applause* Here’s to five more years of awesomeness!

Technically, this is supposed to be the top ten Top Ten Tuesdays of the past five years, but I’ve only been participating since 2012, so I’m limiting my list to Top Ten Tuesdays that I’ve participated in. Going through my archive was really fun, you guys. It’s like reading through an old journal; so much has changed in the way I write, the things I write, the books I talk about, everything. So, in no particular order, here are ten of my favorite Top Ten Tuesdays. This is so meta!

Top Ten TuesdayI remember having a nerdgasm when I found this topic in the Top Ten Tuesday archive. I used it for one of the “pick a past topic” weeks. I had almost no difficulty coming up with my list of ten favorite words. Spoiler alert: first word on there? Felicity.

TT_Bookish confessionsThis Top Ten Tuesday is one of the older ones and I was surprised and also not to see how many of these things haven’t changed at all since the early days of my blogging. Like, all of them. Every single one.

TT_words topics

Another Top Ten Tuesday that was super easy for me. I feel like I have to point that out because sometimes they’re hard. Not only has none of this changed, but I think it points to something really important for me and my reading: I have really good instincts about what I’ll like and what I probably won’t.

TT_Childhood favoritesOne my happiest early blogging memories was when I posted this Top Ten Tuesday and April from Good Books and Good Wine retweeted it and left a really nice comment. I was still pretty new to the blogging community and I had such a fun time writing this post, and so I was really stoked to have someone else enjoy it too. Also, those Sweet Valley High titles. DAMN.

TT_Character namesI love a good, unique name, friends. It’s a fine line between “unique” and “weird,” though, so you won’t find things like Royal or Rule on this list (same offending author). But names that sound pretty and roll off my tongue are always appealing, even if they aren’t names I’ve ever heard of before. One of my favorite character names is actually not even a character that we ever meet: Festival. THE JOYOUS FEELINGS. There are a few names I’d add to this list now, as well (but…not Royal or Rule).

TT_places to visitYAY FOR FAKE PLACES! And also awesome real places! One of the very best things about reading is getting to experience different places and worlds, so this Top Ten Tuesday was easy peasy.

TT_characters to check inFor real? This Top Ten Tuesday could’ve been 50 characters long. It’s a little heavier on characters from books I’d just read, but I wouldn’t change a thing now that I’ve had some time to meet new characters and remember older ones.

TT_inspiring quotesOne of the newer Top Ten Tuesdays on my list, but I loved putting it together and sharing some of my favorite quotes. There are so many more, even though I’m not as good as I’d like to be when it comes to marking down passages while I read.

TT_awesome siblingsGuys, I have  a pretty awesome sibling myself, so I always love reading about them. It’s nice to know that not all character’s siblings are tools or bullies and that they have a supportive, awesome friend who will always be at their side.

TT_favorite heroinesSooo, I slacked off with the words on this post, I’ll admit. But I found some pretty awesome fan art for my really awesome heroines, so that makes this one of my favorite Top Ten Tuesdays.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, they lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over their shelves and make their own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday lists on their site!

Book Review | Saint Anything | Sarah Dessen

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review | Saint Anything | Sarah DessenSaint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Published by Viking Juvenile on May 5, 2015
Genres: Contemporary YA, Families, Relationships
Pages: 417
Format: eARC
Also by this author: The Moon and More
Source: the publisher via NetGalley
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
five-stars

Peyton, Sydney’s charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion’s share of their parents’ attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton’s increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

[Read more…]

Book Review | The Girl at Midnight | Melissa Grey

Book Review | The Girl at Midnight | Melissa GreyThe Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
Series: The Girl at Midnight #1
Published by Delacorte on April 28, 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy YA, Young Adult
Pages: 357
Format: ARC
Source: a fellow blogger (thanks for sharing!)
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
four-stars

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she’s ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she’s fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it’s time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it’s how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren’t as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

[Read more…]

Book Review | The Start of Me and You | Emery Lord

Book Review | The Start of Me and You | Emery LordThe Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
Published by Bloomsbury on March 31, 2015
Genres: Contemporary YA, Relationships, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: a fellow blogger (thanks for sharing!)
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
five-stars

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics, The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

[Read more…]

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Books on my Summer TBR

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books on my Summer TBR

Reading during the summer is one of my favorite things to do. Well, I love reading ALL THE TIME LITERALLY, but there’s something extra fun about spending the day sitting outside, working on my tan, deep in a good book. These 10 books are just a few of the ones I’m most excited to bring outside with me this summer! I’m just now realizing that there’s lots of fantasies here. Not usually my go-to summer reading fare (that would be contemporaries), but I’ll go with it.

Summer TBR

THE ROYAL WE | I’ve been seeing lots of people reading this and enjoying it, so it’s been on a few of my lists about books I’m looking forward to reading soon. Because HELLO, a princess romance. Who doesn’t want this.

ARCHANGEL | Guys, I don’t know if you can see it in this smallish image, but I don’t know WHAT is going on with this girl’s facial expression. What does it mean? It’s like…ecstasy? And a feather? *is puzzled* But I found a copy at The Book Barn a few weeks ago when I was visiting Alyssa and I’ve heard great things about it and about Sharon Shinn.

BETTER WHEN HE’S BRAVE | Jay Crownover. ‘Nuff said. Although I will add that I like her Marked Men series a little better than Welcome to the Point. It hardly signifies. I’ve had this one preordered for months in two different formats, so….

THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO | DYING to read about Tim. SO MUCH DYING. I’m planning on doing a little reread of Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books before this one comes out, and I’m dying for that, too.

REPUBLIC OF THIEVES | I’m a little ways into this third book in the Gentlemen Bastards series and will probably be reading it in small bits for a few months. I like to take my time with these.

THE CURIOUS WORLD OF CALPURNIA TATE | Have I mentioned lately how refreshing and admirable and incorrigible Calpurnia Tate is? I loved her in her first book, THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE, and was BESIDE myself when I found out there was going to be a sequel. One of my favorite middle grades, friends.

COURT OF FIVES | Kate Elliott is an author that I am just fidgety with excitement to read. I’ve never read any of her books, but am so excited to dive into her catalog.

REBEL MECHANICS | Umm, did you say Revolutionary War? You did? Oh, ok. *grabs book instantly* But also, spies? *trips over self to get to book faster* God, I hope this book lives up to my expectations, even a little bit. PRETTY PLEASE, BOOK.

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE | This is one of our summer On the Same Page books, and I. AM. STOKED. Never read any Dianna Wynne Jones, but this one just sounds so magical and imaginative. Can’t wait.

THE HEART OF BETRAYAL | Book one in this series was (well, is) legit. I should probably reread it so I can get all up in the vibe before I pick up book 2. But I definitely remember the ending and the jaw-drop and the world-building.

What books are you guys reading this summer?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and make our own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday‘s on their site!

Waiting on Wednesday | Blackhearts | Nicole Castroman

Waiting on Wednesday

Blackhearts • Nicole Castroman

Book cover Blackhearts Nicole Castroman

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward “Teach” Drummond, son of one of Bristol’s richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There’s just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents’ deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she’s stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

I swear, friends, I had no idea that this cover was just released today until I looked at Twitter late in the afternoon, but YAY PIRATES. I am dyinggg over the prospect of being able to read about the infamous Blackbeard before he became infamous. There’s nothing about BLACKHEARTS that doesn’t appeal to me: the time period, the setting, the plot. Loving it all.

I will admit to being SUPER nervous about the end of this book already because, well, Blackbeard eventually became that nasty pirate. And, like, I don’t know this Anne person. Sooo…fingers crossed that this one doesn’t have a heart-breaking ending, guys.

BLACKHEARTS comes out on February 9, 2016 from Simon Pulse

Blackhearts Nicole Castroman

Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten Most Anticipated Books in the Second Half of 2015

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Most Anticipated Books in the Second Half of 2015

Wooo, guys. Sometimes I can’t even with these lists. The “ten” just feels SO CONSTRICTING. It’s SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF MY LIST. There’s way more than 10 books that I’m dying to read in the second half of 2015. Nothing out of the ordinary here. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that there are books I’m excited about that didn’t make the cut. But, like, barely because I want to read them ALL.

Top Ten Tuesday

Guys, I’m starting the dog days of summer off RIGHT. I’m dying for THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO. I can’t wait to read about Tim. COURT OF FIVES will probably be my first Kate Elliott book, unless I dive into one of her old-school fantasies before then. THE WOLF WILDER just sounds…so beyond amazing, I can’t even deal. I DO NOT EVER pass up on new Jay Crownover books, like BETTER WHEN HE’S BRAVE, even though I prefer her Marked Men series to Welcome to the Point. And DUH QUEEN OF SHADOWS. DUH.

Top Ten Tuesday

I just really read the synopsis for SORCERER TO THE CROWN the other day even though it’s been on my TBR for a while now, and it blew me away. NEED IT. VENGEANCE ROAD is pushing all of my Western buttons. A MADNESS SO DISCREET sounds creepy and perfect for fall. WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER = see VENGEANCE ROAD + Rae Carson. And I’ve been solidly in Marie Lu’s corner since her Legend series. Book 1 in The Young Elites was good, but ended so strongly, I can’t wait to get my hands on THE ROSE SOCIETY.

Top Ten Tuesday

Lots of contemps here! YAY! ROMANCING THE DARK IN THE CITY OF LIGHT…I mean, PARIS. And feelings. I am in. FIRST & THEN sounds adorable, adorable, adorable. When I found out that Rick Riordan was tackling Norse gods in MAGNUS CHASE AND THE GODS OF ASGARD, I died for a few seconds. Legit needed resuscitation. WINTER. WINTER. OMG. I am a big fan of Brigid Kemmerer’s Elementals series, even though the last book was a let down. I’m still excited to read THICKER THAN WATER, though. She does relationships really well.

What books are you guys looking forward to in the second half of 2015? I left SO MANY good ones off my list! WAHHH!

On the Same Page | Peter and the Starcatchers | Dave Barry + Ridley Pearson

on the same pagePeter and the Starcatchers: Peter and the Starcatchers #1 • Dave Barry + Ridley Pearson

Friends, I do love me some Peter Pan. I grew up loving the Disney version, sure, but my faaaavorite Peter Pan when I was growing up was the live-action version with Mary Martin. You know, the one they just remade with Allison Williams. Also, HOOK. I’m honestly not sure what about the Peter Pan story appealed to me. Maybe it was Neverland. Maybe it was the Indians or the pirates. I don’t think it was Peter himself, but I still loved the idea of the boy who never grows up. So when we decided to read PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS for our May (yes, we’re late posting this one) On the Same Page book, I was pretty excited. A middle grade origin story of Peter Pan written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson? Uh, yes please.

Short of just writing a review of the audiobook, which is narrated by Jim Dale, I wanted to focus this one on the specific aspects of how we meet Peter, Captain Hook, Neverland, Tinker Bell, Peter’s ability to fly and not age–all of the things that have been left to the imagination before now. It was pretty fun to read. [Read more…]