The Book Blogger Test

Published on February 19, 2018May 16, 2019 by Jessica6 Comments

Hello everyone! I am here with a book tag today because I haven’t done one in a really long time. I wasn’t tagged to do this but it seemed like fun so I just couldn’t resist! I’m not sure who the original creator of this tag is, but I saw it over on Drizzle and Hurricane Books.

The Questions

Describe your perfect reading spot:

I would love to have a comfy seat in a corner of a room near a window. It would need lots of pillows and a big comfy blanket. Currently, I just read in my bed, but I would love to have a spot like this in the future.

Tell us 3 book confessions:

I write in my books- Please don’t hate me!!
I read multiple books at a time
I get in reading slumps pretty often

When was the last time a book made you cry?

I believe it was Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. That book really touched me and I fell in love with it. The parts where Aza has thought spirals was really difficult to read and it made me so upset.

How many books are on your bedside table?

Surprisingly, it is only 1 right now. It is usually 2 or 3, but I cleaned my room and moved some from there. The book is This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills.

What’s your favorite snack to eat while you read?

I rarely ever eat while reading, but I would have to go with pretzels or cheez-its. I prefer to have something to drink, like tea, lemonade, or hot chocolate.

Name 3 books you would recommend to everyone:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- hands down my favorite book
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour- definitely recommend this
Caraval by Stephanie Garber- it was a quick but amazing read

Show us a picture of your favorite bookshelf on your bookcase:

This one is my favorite because I went with a blue theme for the shelf. It is one of my two TBR shelves so I haven’t read any of the books on it. I just really like how it looks.

Describe how much books mean to you in just 3 words:

Can’t live without.

And that’s the end of the tag! I hope you enjoyed it :)

I’m going to tag a few people down below, but anyone can do this tag!

I tag…

xo, Jessica

Turtles All The Way Down- Review

Published on October 26, 2017October 13, 2018 by Jessica14 Comments

As you may have heard, John Green’s new book, Turtles All The Way Down, came out on October 10th. I was extremely excited to read it, because I have loved previous books by him.

I purchased the audiobook and began listening to that a few days after the release. Before I could even get 1/4 of the way through, I knew I had to own the physical copy. On Tuesday, I bought a signed edition from Target, and having it in my hands made me feel so much closer to it. I could actually see the words he had written, and it made the whole experience even better for me.

Goodreads synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

My review:

I immediately fell in love with this book. This was the first book that I truly felt connected to the main character of a novel. I could relate to so many of the thoughts she had and it helped me make sense of my mind. The way John phrased Aza’s anxiety is the best description I have read. It really coincided with my own anxiety, and I could not be more grateful for this novel.

It really focuses on the struggles of everyday life of what it is like to live inside your own head. I feel like I can give this book to someone if I ever had to explain my anxiety to them. For me personally, it is extremely difficult to put my anxiety into words because I can not fully understand it half of the time. But when I read these words, it was as if every thought I had was written out for me.

Not only does she struggle with anxiety, but she also has obsessive thoughts which I can relate to as well. The combination of OCD and anxiety is extremely difficult and draining. You can feel how tired Aza is from suffering from this.

I had tears in my eyes while reading this book.

It was poetic and thought provoking and absolutely everything I needed to read, especially right now.

I think I may have found my new favorite YA book.

Rating: 5/5 stars

xx, jessica

Signed Book Collection

Published on September 16, 2017May 16, 2019 by Jessica2 Comments

Over the years, I have acquired a decent amount of signed books, and I thought I would share them with you guys! I am also working on making my site a lot better, in terms of graphics and design! Let me know what you think of everything :)

The Universe of Us- Lang Leav: I was at Barnes and Noble one day and decided I wanted to finally buy something by Lang. The first book I grabbed happened to be the Universe of Us and it was signed! It seemed like fate.
Temporary Storms- McKayla Debonis: I received this book from the author, and again, it is a poetry collection!
Losing Hope- Colleen Hoover: I actually have about 3 or 4 books by Colleen Hoover signed because I won them all in a giveaway. However, a couple of them are personalized to the previous owner, so they say to Ashley. But, it is still cool to own because I love Colleen’s books!
Bright Souls Empty Minds- Jennae Cecelia: I have a lot of signed poetry collections, mostly because i received them from authors. This one is obviously another one of them. I absolutely loved this book and Jennae is so sweet!
A Work In Progress – Connor Franta: I was able to attend Connor’s book signing a few years back, so that is how I got this one signed! It is actually the first singed book I own.
Can’t Buy Forever- Susan Laffoon: This is a book I got from the author, but I actually ended up DNF’ing it. I’m really thankful that I was able to receive it, but it just wasn’t for me.
The Princess Saves Herself in This One- Amanda Lovelace: I saved the best for last. I attended one of Amanda’s first book signings about 6 months ago (I think) for the release of her traditionally published poetry collection. I was able to bring my previous copy (self published version) and buy the new one! I got both signed.

I am so happy that I own a few signed books. I know they can be hard to find or expensive, and not everyone has them. I cherish all the books I own, but these have a special place in my heart.

Do you have any signed books? Which ones? Also, I want to do a Q&A when I hit 400 followers, so feel free to ask me questions down below!

April Wrap Up and May TBR

Published on May 2, 2017May 16, 2019 by Jessica7 Comments

I read a total of 8 books in April, which is surprising because it felt like a busy month.

A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas: At first, I found this book very boring and I didn’t think I would like it, but since I was sent it on Kindle to borrow, I decided to pull through to the end. I am happy that I did because the story really picked up. I will not be finishing the series, however. Maas has a lot of problematic scenes in the third book which are offensive and hurtful. 3/5 stars
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken: I did not enjoy this book at all. I also borrowed it from someone on Kindle, so I finished it. It was very slow paced, and not a lot of action happened. 3/5 stars
Never, Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. It’s a super short read, at only a little over 100 pages. There is a huge cliffhanger at the end, and I can’t wait to read parts 2 and 3. This is my 3rd Colleen Hoover book, and I plan on reading a lot more by her because I’ve loved them all. 5/5 stars
Only A Kiss by Ines Bautista-Yao: This book is a cute, quick read. The writing wasn’t great, but I enjoyed the story. I only read it because I got it free on Amazon! 3/5 stars
I Am More Than A Daydream by Jennae Cecelia: This is Jennae’s 3rd poetry collection, and by far my favorite! I read it in one sitting, and related to a lot of the poetry. 5/5 stars
Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven: I loved this book. I read it pretty quickly, and it was really fast paced, which I liked. I loved the main characters, and the story was really empowering. 4/5 stars
The Wingsnatchers by Sarah Jean Horwitz: I received an ARC of this book, and it just came out on April 25th, so I wanted to finish it before release day. It was a cute story, but definitely geared towards middle school kids. 3/5 stars
Night By Elie Wiesel: This book is a true account of a Jewish man during the Holocaust. It was devastating and made me tear up, but I am glad I read it. It really opens your eyes to the horrors people faced. 5/5 stars

Now for my TBR! I don’t have a lot of books on my list, because I never stick to my TBR anyways.

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon: The movie comes out mid-May, so I definitely want to finish this book before then.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: I started this book the last week of April, but I have yet to finish it, so it is my goal to do so.
Silence by Natasha Preston: I also started this a few days ago, and I am almost done. I really, really want to finish it because I accidentally read a spoiler, and now I can’t stop thinking about it!

Illuminae- Book Review

Published on April 8, 2017October 13, 2018 by Jessica5 Comments

Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Goodreads Synopsis: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

My Review:
I recently read Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff and let me tell you- it was a rollercoaster of emotions.

This book is sci-fi, so definitely not my normal read. I went into it without knowing anything, besides that the book community really loves it. I think that really helped with my overall enjoyment, because I don’t think I would have bothered to pick it up otherwise, and I didn’t know what to expect. It tells a story through conversations, interviews, emails, and so much more. It is definitely not your typical YA book. Every page is like a new adventure. It shows different point of views, including a computer’s, and the overall concept was so unique.

The co-authors did an amazing job piecing this book together. The writing was really good, and the page editors knew what they were doing. The layouts are so intriguing and it was cool turning the page and not knowing what was going to be there.

It is so clever and well done, because you learn so much from just snippets of information.

I will admit, the beginning was a little hard to get through because there are a lot of technical science terms introduced, but they are essential to the story. It was a little confusing because there were so many names and characters. Once you get through the first few pages you get a feel for it and get used to the terms.

I totally and 100% ship the main characters, Ezra and Kady. Their connection is just so real and so honest. I love the sarcastic and teasing relationship they have because that relates to me a lot. I really felt connected to these characters, even if I have never gone through something like this.

There are a couple of plot twists at the end that I did not see coming at all. They were completely shocking to me (my literal reaction: No no no no no no).

I will definitely pick up Gemina, the sequel, soon because after the cliffhanger I need to know more.

Rating: 5/5 stars

{HUGE} March Book Haul!

Published on March 30, 2017November 12, 2018 by Jessica7 Comments

March was a great book buying month for me. I purchased from BookOutlet for the first time this month and I am so glad I did. Most of the books I bought just based off the covers and synopsis, and haven’t heard anything about them previously. I am excited to see if I like them or not. I also received a lot of books, or bought them at other places! Trust me, I wouldn’t have the money to buy all these books if they weren’t in sale!

I won’t be able to give a long description of the books because it would be too long, so there are just my initial thoughts!

BookOutlet:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff– I heard great things about this book so I had to buy it! I already finished it so a review will be up soon.
Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour– This is a book I have heard good things about for a while, so I look forward to reading it! (Update: It is AMAZING)
Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco– This cover is so beautiful and the synopsis really intrigued me.
Joyride by Anna Banks– I don’t even remember what this is about but it’s probably a contemporary based off the cover! I really like the cover and that’s why I bought it.
Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz– Another gorgeous cover, this book is more of a mystery though, if I remember correctly.
Thin Space by Jody Casella- Mystery/Thriller book!
Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams- The synopsis sounds interesting! It’s about a murder/er I think!
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley- I don’t like the cover of this but I wanted to make my order an even number (10 instead of 9) so I just added it to my cart last minute.
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting- I didn’t realize until after I made the purchase that this is the 3rd book in a series, so I probably won’t read it anytime soon.
The Fall by Bethany Griffin- I don’t think I will be a huge fan of this book, but I want to give it a try.

If you have ever thought about purchasing from BookOutlet but were unsure of the state of the book, I can assure that they come in great condition! All the books I bought came unharmed in any way, and because they are so cheap, I was surprised. BookOutlet buys the extra stock of books that sellers have at a cheaper price, so they are brand new. I am so glad I made this purchase. I bought 10 books for only $30.

Target:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard- This book has both good and bad reviews but it was hyped a lot so of course I bought it (it’s about time).

Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC):

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The Map That Leads to You by J.P. Monninger– I received an ARC of this book this month and I am extremely excited because it’s the first arc I have ever received. It doesn’t come out until June, and I am really excited to read it.
Carmer and Grit by Sarah Jean Horwitz– I’m honestly not sure how I received this book because I don’t remember entering to get it. I am happy though and it looks like a great read! It comes out in April.
Can’t Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon– This is not an ARC but the author sent it to me to review. It is out, so you can purchase it if you would like! My review is up if you want to check it out here.

Used Books:

Second Sight by Philip R. Craig and William G. Tapply- I purchased this book at a used book store near me! It is the first purchase I made there, so it was a bit rushed and I picked this book randomly.

E-Books:

It Starts Like This by Shelby Leigh- This is a poetry collection that I have been wanting to read for a while, so of course I knew I needed it when it went on sale!
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas- I have been wanting to read this for ages, and someone on Twitter was kind enough to lend it to me through kindle!
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken- Another book that was lent to me, and I can not wait to read!
The Chaos of Longing by K.Y. Robinson- Another poetry book that has great reviews.
Uncaged Wallflower by Jennae Cecelia- I think I might have gotten this in February actually, oh well. After reading Jennae’s first book, I wanted to give this one a go, too.
Because You’re Mine by Colleen Cobble- I got this book on NetGalley to review so I need to post a review of it when I finish!
Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti- I also got this book for free (I don’t like e-books so I only get them if they’re free LOL) but it sounds interesting!

So that is my whole haul! I can’t believe I received/purchased 22 books this month (new record for me). Let me know if you have any of these and what you think about them. Also, let me know If you want a review of any of these.

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