Hey loves! School has been back in session for a week now, and I am so overwhelmed by the work. Luckily, whenever I need to wind down and relax, I can pick up a book and escape for a bit.

Last year I had you guys choose which books I brought with me to college, so this year I thought I’d do the same! Here are all of the books I took with me- the ones you guys voted on, plus a couple of extras!

Also, if you want to be part of polls like this in the future, be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram :)

First up, I asked y’all to vote on my sci-fi and fantasy ARCs. I picked a few that I was the most interested in reading at that moment, and unsurprisingly, you guys chose Furyborn. I was a little disappointed only because I wanted Lady’s Guide to win and Furyborn is so big and heavy. But, I brought it anyway!

This was a close race the entire time, but in the end, A Heart in a Body in the World won! This poll I had no preference for, so the results would have been fine no matter what book won. I have heard really amazing things about this book, though, so I’m very thrilled to read it (eventually).

This one was a tie, but I decided I would let myself be the tiebreaker, and in that moment, I was feeling I Was Born for This more than Jenn Bennett’s book. There is no reason for that decision, I chose at random.

Next, I asked for a couple more contemporaries. These are all ones that have been on my shelf for about the same amount of time, so I wanted to start working through them. When We Collided has such a pretty cover and it feels like a good quality paperback- this is such a random fact but I love paperbacks so I wanted this to be known. I have also heard good things about this one, so hopefully, I will enjoy it.

I genuinely thought You would win for this one (or that at least there would be some competition), but If We Were Villains won by a lot, as you can see. I’m currently in the middle of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which I heard is really similar to this one. I’m really liking the literary fiction genre, so if they actually are similar, I can see myself giving both of them high ratings.

I accidentally put The Perfect Mother in two polls, so just ignore that. But, it won for this one, so I brought it with me. This is a book of the month book I got probably a year ago and I honestly don’t really remember what it’s about anymore. But, I do want to read more thrillers, especially in the fall months.

This is another where the result did not surprise me in the slightest. This is another big book though, so taking it to school with me was not the best idea as I have very limited space, but I really need to read this series ASAP. I have heard such amazing things, and again, it’s perfect for the spooky season.

Current Reads:

These are the books that I started before going back to school but had not finished. I obviously brought them with me so I can finish them!

The Secret History: Mentioned this earlier. I’m really enjoying it but it’s a pretty long book and I haven’t been prioritizing it much.

The Lady Rogue: I have already finished this one and I have a whole review up for it that you can check out!

The Starless Sea: This is an ARC that I need to read before it comes out-  it’s also one of my most anticipated releases so I need to get on it! I just started it recently and it is phenomenal already!

Others:

I also brought these two for the zodiac-a-thon (which I completely failed by the way).

Truly, Madly, Deadly: I technically read this one before, but it was pre-book community days and I don’t remember much. I might not have even finished it, so I want to!

Wild Beauty: Beautiful cover, really interesting synopsis. What more could I want?

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Thank you so much to all who voted on the books :)

Also, let me know which ones I should prioritize because I can not decide which of these to read first!

See you soon!

Hey, loves! Happy Tuesday :)

Today I thought I would do this tag that Boston created! She actually tagged me to do it but I haven’t been able to sit down and film it, so I thought I would bring it to book bloggers instead!

If you are an active Twitter user, as I am, you would know that there is always tons of drama in the book community on there. I wouldn’t even call most of it drama… just people blowing trivial topics up. Boston’s tag is meant to be lighthearted and poke fun at some of the ridiculous arguments that have started!

Definitely be sure to check out her video for some background info on all of the drama!

Let’s get into the questions :)

Dick Soap Gate- Your favorite smutty book

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas: I haven’t read many smutty books, but I’m slowly getting more into them! This one was good, I really enjoyed it. It is also definitely one of the smuttiest books I’ve read.*

*But I don’t have much to compare it to, for reference

Incest Shipping- Your favorite sibling duo

Caraval by Stephanie Garber: The first one that came to mind was Scarlet and Donatella from the Caraval series. I recently finished this one, so it’s on my mind. I loved the relationship these sisters have. They are very protective of each other but also know how to lay low and give each other space if needed. I think they are a great duo!

Handbook for Mortals Drama- An overhyped book

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: Sorry, but this book is just way too overhyped. Don’t get me wrong, it was good. But it wasn’t anything special by any means. I didn’t even want to read it initially, but because it gained so much popularity, I decided to pick it up. I had expected to love it so much, but the hype definitely made it fall flat for me.

JKR Drama- A character that makes questionable choices

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Jay Gatsby makes incredibly questionable choices. I mean, he bought a house across a lake just so that he could sort of coax Daisy, his love from years ago (who is now MARRIED), back to him. Strange, odd man.

Marie Kondo- If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: I thought about this question recently for a collab youtube video I was a part of. I chose this book for a few reasons- it’s long so you can read and re-read it forever and always find new parts that you didn’t pay much attention to. Also, the writing is so beautiful and it’s an inspiration for my own writing, so I would definitely want to keep it around. Also, it’s fantasy, and since I mainly write contemporary, I would want a break from it at times.

Tomi Adayemi vs Nora Roberts- Two books with similar titles

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Obsidio by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman:

These are just the first ones to pop into my head but there are THOUSANDS of examples.

Booktube Group Photo- A full-cast audiobook you love

Daisy Jones and the Six by TJR: I will use any opportunity to promote this book. IT IS AMAZING. Please read it. Listen to the audiobook. And then read it physically. Then read it one more time (if you want to be as crazy as me).

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this post! I had a lot of fun writing it and thinking up these answers :) If you would like to do this tag, then I tag you! If you do it, please leave a link in the comments so I can check it out, too.

I have been loving audiobooks for quite some time now, so I want to share my love of them with you guys through this tag! I just stumbled across it today on Kristin’s blog, so be sure to check out her answers as well.

Have you always listened to audiobooks or when did you begin?

I have not always listened to audiobooks. I began around my junior year of high school, so about 2.5/3 years ago. I discovered the Overdrive app where I could listen to audiobooks from my library on my phone. I have been listening ever since, but have expanded my platforms- I’ve tried Audible, Scribd, etc., but my favorite is Libby.

What is your favorite audiobook?

The Woman in the Window: This is such a good thriller, and hearing the story rather than listening to it really added to my enjoyment. I think this one is perfect for audio listening.

Daisy Jones and the Six: Full cast, great story. Do I need to say more?

What is your least favorite thing about audiobooks?

I listen at 2.5 speed, so if I lose focus for even a couple of seconds, I miss so much of the story. With audiobooks, you can multitask, but it can be easy to get distracted as well. Sometimes I have to rewind the audiobook because I missed a huge chunk of the chapter.

What do you think is the difference in experience between physically reading a book and listening to it?

There was actually a study done that showed that there is no difference in the way you process the story when you either listen to a book or read it physically. However, your experience is different. An audiobook narrator can either make or break the story for you. Some people listen to a book and hate it, but when they physically read it, they like it a lot more. So the difference is really in the way you experience the story. Sometimes one format doesn’t click with you the way another would.

How and when do you listen?

I listen on my phone through the libby app, as I mentioned before. I listen pretty much whenever I have time- between classes, while cleaning/cooking, before bed, in the bath, etc.

What style/genre do you prefer?

Anything but fantasy. I love contemporary romances and thrillers the most, but I can not do audiobooks for fantasy novels. There is just too much to pay attention to, so I need to take my time and see the actual words on the page. Otherwise, it can get very confusing.

What are some audiobook/narrator recommendations?

Talking as Fast as I Can: If you like Gilmore Girls, you will love this. It was funny, fast-paced, and really interesting.

Turtles All the Way Down: This is another one of those books where I am glad I listened to the audiobook. It really enhanced the experience for me. Very well done.

I hope you enjoyed this tag! If you like audiobooks, I suggest doing this tag yourself! I would love to see your answers :)

 

Hey loves! Can you believe we are already halfway through the year? I am so proud of myself for all of the reading I’ve done so far (59 books!!) and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the year takes me.

Today I am doing the mid-year book freakout tag, and let me tell you, I really did freak out while picking my answers to these. It’s so hard to choose, ok?

Thanks for reading this post! If you do this tag yourself, be sure to let me know so I can check it out :)

Hey, loves! Today I felt like doing a tag because I haven’t done one in a few months and they’re always fun. I am not sure who started this one because I’ve had the questions saved for months on the notes app, but didn’t save the post I saw it on by accident. I tried looking for it but wasn’t able to, unfortunately.

If you do know, please leave a comment and I will be sure to add that!

1. Inside flap/Back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough?

I think that the synopsis on the book itself is usually just enough or not enough. It is rarely “too much” because then it would reveal the entire book and no one would read it. I personally prefer when it’s not enough because I like to go into my books blind, so I don’t want to know more than a few lines describing it.

2. New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: Audiobook, E-Book, Paperback, or Hardcover?

I am a paperback person. Always have been. However, I also love listening to audiobooks, but those I typically borrow from my library. Therefore, if I’m getting a new book, I would like it in paperback!

3. Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books, take notes, make comments, or do you keep your books clean clean clean?

I definitely write in my books, and if you’ve been following me for a while you know that I do. I used to use a lot of colors- highlighters, rainbow pens, post-it flags, etc. More recently, I’ve stuck to black pen and the occassional yellow post-it note. I’ve always loved the look of a well-worn book. I do the same to many of my books.

4. Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you’re deciding on a book? What if you’re unsure of the author’s gender?

I prefer to read books by female authors, especially if the main character is female, but I don’t really pay that much attention to who the author is when deciding on if I’m going to read a book or not.

5.  Ever read ahead? or have you ever read the last page way before you got there? 

Sometimes when I’m reading a scene with a lot of action or dialogue, I skim read it because I want to know what’s going to happen next, but I always go back after the scene and re-read the sentences I skimmed. I never read the last page first, though.

6.  Organized bookshelves, or outrageous bookshelves?

Organized shelves- Sometimes they can be a bit messy when I run out of space (I end up cramming books everywhere). They are currently organized by genre and then alphabetically by the author’s last name.

7.  Have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)?

Yes, 100%. I think most people have done that.

8. Take it outside to read, or stay in?

I do both. It obviously depends on the weather, but also on my mood. Some days I don’t want to get dressed up to go outside, so I stay in. Sometimes I can’t stand to be inside anymore so I go out to a nice park. I like both equally, though.

That is all for this tag! I tag anyone who wants to do it- if you do, be sure to leave the link for me so I can check it out :) See you on Tuesday!

Hello loves! It’s been two weeks since my last post. I took an unexpected hiatus because school was taking over my life and I just didn’t have the time to dedicate to a post.

But I’m back to regular posting, so you can expect a new post (at least) once a week!

I saw this tag over on Wonderland of Books, and I wanted to do it myself because it looks like a lot of fun :)

Rules

• Name a book title from your TBR for every letter of the alphabet (can exclude words like ‘the’ if need be) these must be books that you have physical/e-book copies of and not ones you intend on getting but haven’t yet.
• Try and include different authors for every single one
• At the bottom of your list put how many you could fill in (out of 26)
• Tag other people to join in and link back to the person who tagged you!

A B C

D E F

G H I

J K L

M N O

P Q R

S T U

V W X

Y Z

 

Total: 21/26

This is a pretty good number, I think! I scrolled through my “Owned TBR” shelf on Goodreads for a good 45 minutes trying to find them all! Out of 91 books, I think this is a good number.

I tag all of you who want to do this! It was a lot of fun :)