Silhouette of a Sun-Kissed Soul // Review

Published on December 12, 2019December 9, 2019 by JessicaLeave a comment

Hello! This is Jess from the past here to tell you about a book I recently read. More specifically, a poetry collection. As you’re reading this, I am in the middle of my finals, so I haven’t done much of anything besides studying. I prepared for this though, by writing this post now (a few weeks ahead of time).

Anyways, today I have a review like I mentioned. This poetry collection, Silhouette of a Sun-Kissed Soul is by Aida Abdykashova. It was sent to me by the author herself, but all opinions are my own- this is a completely honest review!

Goodreads Synopsis:

“silhouette of a sun-kissed soul” is a collection of poetry that captures both delightful and sorrowful fragments of the heart. it is about rotting and blooming, about loving and hurting, healing and forgiving. the poems take you on a journey of three phases: the burning, the rising from the ashes, and, eventually, the glory. this collection explores days of the everlasting youth of a sun-kissed soul amongst the beauty of art, polaroids, flowers, hummingbirds, letters and sunshine.

My Thoughts:

The Good-

This was a very well done collection. It surprised me in many ways. I thought the writing style was great- the poems were written beautifully and it definitely showed that the author put a lot of care into her words and the way sentences were phrased.

I think each poem was very meaningful, and I related to many of them. There were quite a few lines that I really enjoyed, so I circled/underlined them. They were thought-provoking and unique.

Also, there were little photographs in between some of the poems which added to the experience. It became a multi-media piece, which is something I always appreciate and find so intriguing.

The Cons-

While I did enjoy many of the poems in here, I think the organization of them was not done in the best way possible. I wish that the poems followed a different sequence. The poems would often jump from one theme/topic to another, which isn’t something I’m always opposed to, but I do wish this one was more linear.

Also, there were a few typos every now and then, which is understandable for a self-published book. However, they were distracting quite a few times.

Aside from that, though, there are not many negatives to this collection!

My Favorite Poem:

Overall-

I would recommend this one for fans of contemporary poetry! It was a solid collection filled with many amazing poems. It is a worthwhile read.

Rating-

December TBR

Published on December 5, 2019December 3, 2019 by Jessica6 Comments

Hello! Happy December. I did not have a new post up last week because I just wanted to enjoy time at home and not worry about anything going on online.

I am back with a TBR post today, though. I am really excited to share my reading plans with you all because 1. it’s the last month of the year and 2. I’ll be home by the middle of December for winter break so I’ll have a whole lot of time to read!

I’ve luckily already hit my goal for the year, so I’m not stressing myself out to read too much, but there are a couple of books I want to finish!

Let’s just get into what I’ll be reading!

The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost Stories by Henry James

This is my current read. I’ve actually gotten through 3-4 stories, so I’m almost halfway through it, but November was a slow reading month, and I never got to finish. My goal is to read 2 stories a week, but I don’t know if that’ll actually happen because of finals. I’m going to try, though!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

It’s the last month of the year. I really need to finish this one because I think I started it in the Spring. I am definitely going to do it. It’s the next book I’m going to pick up, so it will get read! I swear!

I’ve talked about how I’m going to read this one so many times this year, so I’ll just leave it at that.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

This one is another that has been on my TBR before (I think October?). I am definitely going to get to it, too, because I am part of a blog tour for it! That post will be up in January, so be on the lookout for that!

I’ve also been in the mood for cute contemporary books to get me out of my mini slump, so I’m hoping this one will do the trick!

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

This is the last book I’m going to try to read this month. The cover is a girl surrounded by snow, so obviously, this would be the perfect time to read it. Plus, I just really love Lauren Graham, and I’ve owned this book for way too long. I think it’s time to read it!

Have you read any of these? Let me know what you thought of them if you did! Also, feel free to share your TBR with me :)

The Mystery Blogger Award

Published on November 21, 2019November 20, 2019 by Jessica14 Comments

Hello everyone! I hope you are having an amazing week :) I was recently tagged by Sofi to do the Mystery Blogger Tag! I am extremely honored that she included me, and I am so excited to share my answers to her questions.

THE RULES:

Put the award logo/image on your blog.
List the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
Nominate 10 – 20 people. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice.
Share a link to your best post(s).

The tag was created by Okoto over at OkotoEnigmasBlog.

THREE FACTS ABOUT ME:

I am a sophomore Public Relations student.
I speak Polish.
My favorite color is pink.

SOFI’S QUESTIONS:

Have you ever felt so identified with a character that you end up picturing it as yourself?

Yes, 100%. I’ve talked about these two books many, many times, but I really identified with Aza from Turtles All the Way Down by John Green and Sam from Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone.

Both of these books center around a character with OCD (and anxiety). They captured the thoughts I have in my head so perfectly. I related to these characters so much that both of these books made me cry.

What thoughts do you have about ARCs?

I think ARCs are really important- there have been many instances where problematic elements were caught before publication, which meant that they were able to be corrected. Also, it is great to be able to read

However, I do know that receiving ARCs is a privilege, and unfortunately, not everyone is able to get one. Getting an ARC in countries outside of the US and UK can be very difficult. This is extremely unjust, and I wish more could be done to get ARCs to other countries.

Also, many times, own-voices ARCs are not given to own-voices readers, which is another flaw in the system. I think publishers need to research who they are sending certain ARCs to and should try to find readers who are being represented in the book.

Do you think that a person who gives 5 stars to everything reads is questionable? What’s your thought about giving low ratings?

I do not think someone who rates every book 5 stars is questionable. I personally give a lot of high ratings (4-5 stars), but it’s because I’ve learned to only pick up books I know I will actually enjoy. Of course, there are times when I think I will enjoy a book, but I don’t. BUT, the majority of the time, I do end up loving those books. I think if you love everything you’re reading, that’s all that matters. How other people rate books shouldn’t be a problem unless if they are lying/rating books without reading them.

Giving low ratings is completely fair and valid. Obviously, you should be honest in your reviews and share your thoughts. However, I do not

Name 3 book bloggers that inspire you!

Picking just three is SO. HARD. I’m going to write about just three, but there are tons of bloggers I could mention.

Marie will always be an inspiration to me- her writing style is so beautiful, she updates consistently, and her content is incredible.

Vinny’s blog design is one of my all-time favorites. I think it is so aesthetically pleasing, and it is what I aspire to have my blog look like.

Kristin’s recommendations are some of the best. I really trust her reviews, and I read all of her posts!

Can an author’s reputation affect your thinking about his books?

Yes. If an author writes a problematic book or is just an overall problematic person, it definitely puts me off from their books. Obviously, if they apologize and take action to fix their wrongdoing, I am all for second chances. Often times, that is not the case, though. Some authors do or say problematic things, they argue with the readers who point this out to them, and they never apologize. I do not want to support people like this, so I try not to.

MY QUESTIONS:

What is the last book that made you cry?
How many books do you have on your TBR?
Would you rather only be able to reread books or only be able to read new books?
What was your reading goal for 2019? Did you reach it yet?
What is your favorite book quote?

I TAG:

I hope you enjoyed this post! I had a lot of fun answering these questions, and I’m excited to read everyone’s responses to mine :)

See you next week!

Ways to Organize Your Shelves

Published on November 14, 2019November 13, 2019 by Jessica2 Comments

I rearrange my bookshelves on a seasonal basis- at least. I acquire new books, or I get bored with the way my shelves look, so I change them. It’s something I do pretty frequently. Luckily, there are so many different ways to organize your shelves, and today I’m going to share 3 of them.

*All images used in this post were taken from Pinterest. They are not my own.

By Genre

This is how I typically have my shelves organized. I like this method of organizing because I’ve found it’s easiest for me to find a book I’m looking for. It’s also a good option for mood readers. You can see all of the fantasy books you have or all of the romance books you have, and choose from those sections. I also separate the books I have read from the books I haven’t read, and from there I split them into genres.

It also helps with blogging because when I’m looking for specific books for recommendations, I can easily see all of a certain type of book in one section.

This can also be separated into sub-genres: first YA vs Adult vs Middlegrade, then into contemporary- romance, mystery, literary fiction, etc. vs fantasy- urban, dystopian, etc. Or it can even be divided into different tropes or elements!

Your shelves can be arranged in a variety of ways using this system, which is what makes it such a great option for most.

By Author’s Name

This one’s for all my Ravenclaws.

Organizing alphabetically is something I’ve grown very accustomed to after both volunteering and working at a library. This can be combined with the previous one, or done on its own. It is pretty self-explanatory, but it means putting your books in order of the author’s last name from A-Z (or first name, if you prefer).

If you are good at memorizing an author’s name, this one might be perfect for you! I’ve had my bookshelves organized this way before and I loved it. I’m actually thinking of going back to this way because it’s such a nice system where there isn’t a lot of question over which book to put where.

With genre, it can be a little difficult to decide where to put certain if they fall into multiple genres, or if you only have one or two books from a genre. This one is simple- there isn’t that same room for confusion. Plus, all of your books from an author can be placed next to each other.

By Color

This is one that scares me, but I love the end result of so much. That is by turning your shelves into a rainbow! I’m sure you’ve all seen rainbow bookshelves before. They are a huge trend in the book community.

I love how these look. I personally just don’t think I have enough books for each color to be able to successfully do this. It also just stresses me out to have my authors and series separated.

But, if that doesn’t bother you and you are a visual person, this is perfect for you!

Tell me, how do you have your bookshelves set up? I would love to know!

How To Get More Reading Done Before the Year Ends! / Blogtober Day 30

Published on October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 by Jessica6 Comments

We are nearing the start of the 11th month of the year, meaning we have just about 61 days left to read before 2020. Luckily, I have surpassed my Goodreads reading challenge this year. I wasn’t always so successful, though, and I know how hard it can be to get that last stretch of reading in.

As a busy college student, I’m always trying to find time in my schedule to fit in reading. I thought I would compile a small list of tips that help me read more and maybe they’ll help if you need to finish your reading goals for the year!

🖊Audiobooks are lifesavers

First up, before anyone feels the need to comment: audiobooks count as reading.

I used to never listen to audiobooks. I never really knew where to get them, and I found myself zoning out while it was playing. That all changed my junior year of high school. I started driving to school, which was a long time of me not doing anything. I decided to try out Audible, and I got two free credits. Soon, audiobooks became a necessity for me.

I can still vividly remember listening to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. Hearing the emotion from the voice actors made the story so much more powerful for me. I fell in love.

Now, I usually read one physical book, one e-book, and one audiobook. That way, I can basically be reading at all times. Audiobooks are great because you can listen to a book while cooking, cleaning, driving, etc. which is something you obviously can’t do with a physical book. You can also increase the speed (I usually listen at 2-2.5x’s) which makes the read feel shorter, too (even though 2-2.5 is typically the normal speed I would read the book if I were reading physically).

🖊Put it into your schedule

I started dedicating 15-30 minutes of reading at night. I made it part of my reading routine. I shower, put on my PJs, watch a bit of Netflix or Youtube while drinking a glass of water, and then I read until I’m tired.

This has helped increase the amount I read a lot. Now that it’s a habit of mine to read at night, I don’t get tempted to keep watching Netflix instead. I enjoy this time I have to just read. It’s super relaxing.

You don’t have to dedicate a specific time to read, though. Not everyone has a consistent schedule every day, so that might not work for you. You can tell yourself that you will read for 10 minutes every day instead. It doesn’t matter what time it is. Or you can make it part of your morning routine rather than night!

🖊Never leave without a book

As I mentioned before, I read one physical book, one audiobook, and one e-book at once. This is just my preferred method, but obviously, that’s not necessary. It helps a lot to always have a book on my phone, though. When I’m in class and have some free time, I can pull out my phone to read. On my way to class, I listen to an audiobook. On a bus or long car ride, I bring a book with me.

When it’s accessible, you’ll always find some time to squeeze in a few pages. If you don’t bring a book with you everywhere you go, you might find yourself having free time that you just spend on social media or doing something else that’s not very productive.

🖊If you’re not enjoying it, DNF it

Reading a really painfully slow book that you’re just not into isn’t going to help. It might actually end up putting you in a reading slump because you won’t be motivated to finish. When you normally read one book a week, this one might take you months to finish. It’s not worth it sometimes.

Don’t be afraid to just DNF the book. DNF’ing doesn’t mean that you’ll never pick up the book again and that it’s automatically a bad book. It just means that it’s not working for you right now. Put it down. Pick up something different that will keep you excited about a story.

Those are all of my tips today! They may seem a bit obvious, but a reminder is always helpful. What other ways do you get yourself to read more? Leave a comment letting me know!

Writer’s Block and Finding Inspiration- A Discussion // Blogmas Day 20

Published on December 20, 2018May 16, 2019 by Jessica9 Comments

Inspiration. This is something I struggle with constantly. Where does it come from and how do I keep it?

I haven’t exactly found the answer to this yet.

Personally, I deal with writer’s block constantly, and I am always looking for new sources of inspiration. As someone who loves to write, I find this to be incredibly frustrating. When looking at writers I look up to, it seems as though they are able to constantly produce content and never burn out.

I, on the other hand, go through periods where I can write for hours everyday, and then I’ll go weeks without writing at all. I hate the inconsistence, but I haven’t been able to commit to a daily schedule. Life and other commitments just get in the way sometimes.

So, how do you handle this?

Remember that it’s ok to take a break

Breaks are necessary. It’s important not to overwork yourself because you’ll end up burned out really quickly. I do not believe that a writer must write everyday. Sure, it definitely helps. But as long as you are practicing your craft often enough, at least 4-5 times a week, then you are fine. I’ve definitely even had extended periods where I didn’t write outside of school because I just couldn’t.

That doesn’t mean I’m not a writer. Exhaustion will not produce your best work. So take a nap, meditate, go for a run, etc. Writing can be done at any time.

…But don’t take too long

Yes, it is important to take a break sometimes, but don’t use it as an excuse for not writing. I am definitely guilty of this. I tell myself that I need a break or I need some time to rest, and then I never end up writing.

Sometimes you just need to force yourself to pick up that pen and paper. You don’t always need INSPIRATION necessarily, you just need MOTIVATION.

Usually the hardest part of doing anything is actually starting. If you have been dealing with “writer’s block” for a while now, then I want you to go and pick up a pen/pencil/marker/crayon/whatever and just w r i t e.

Let out whatever it is you’ve been holding in. Yes, you. Right now.

You might find that once you start, you won’t be able to stop, and you’ll forget why you were struggling so much before.

Remind yourself why you love it

Why are you writing to begin with? Writing is hard, and can be very painful at times. But if you’re doing it because it’s something you love to do, then you can push through the unbearable parts.

Just taking the time to remind yourself of this can be very beneficial. It can be the extra push you need.

Where I get inspiration:

My inspiration comes from a variety of sources, and it usually changes every time I write. But, here is a list of common places I get it from because I feel like it could be very useful

past poems/stories i’ve written
other poets
lines from books
song lyrics (this is a big one)
conversations i overhear
life experiences
pictures
dictionary- finding synonyms of random words (sounds strange but works)
movies
going outside for fresh air

I am a firm believer that consuming media allows you to create better. You learn from others, and you also develop your own style. You find what you like, as well as what you don’t, and use that to make your own art.

Where do you get inspiration? Leave me a comment letting me know down below! I love to hear the process that other writer’s go through :)

2019 TBR- Books I Want To Get to ASAP // Blogmas Day 14

Published on December 16, 2018May 16, 2019 by Jessica1 Comment

Hello everyone! I missed two days of Blogmas because of school and other reasons, but I’m putting up 3 posts today (so make sure you check out the other 2 which should be up a couple hours after this one) to make it up to y’all!

I know I told you guys that for 2019, I’m not buying any new books- I am solely going to read the books I own but haven’t read yet, and will use the library more often. So, I thought that I would do a post about the books I definitely want to go to in the new year!

This is a long one, so I won’t be giving any explanations, sorry! (also these are not in any order)

Gerald’s Game by Stephen King

The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Afterparty by Ann Stampler

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

You by Caroline Kepnes

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavalaro

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

The House by Christina Lauren

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I am so so excited about all of these books, and I can’t wait to look back on this list at the end of the year and see how well I did! Leave a comment letting me know which ones I should get to ASAP :)

2019 Reading Goals // Blogmas Day 12

Published on December 12, 2018May 16, 2019 by Jessica8 Comments

2018 has been a weird year. It simultaneously felt like the longest and shortest year ever. There were so many ups (I graduated high school, went to prom, my first Bookcon, started college, I moved, etc), but there were also a few downs.

But now we’re moving onto a new year, which always brings hope and promise of better, exciting things.

For today’s post, I wanted to create a list of my reading goals for the upcoming year because I didn’t really follow any this year, and I thought it would be fun! It will also be fun to look back on them at the end of the year and see if I am still following any!

Read one e-book a month

I recently purchased an Amazon tablet, so I want to make sure I get plenty of use out of it. I have been reading a lot of e-books recently, so this shouldn’t be a problem at all. I definitely have way over 12 e-books currently, and I really want to get the number down.

Don’t buy any books (5 freebies)

I’m trying to go for a ‘no-buy nineteen’ because I own way too many books that haven’t been read yet, and I definitely have enough to get me through the year. To give you an idea, I have over 90 books on my owned TBR, and I usually read about 60 books in a year. That means I have plenty of options for books.

I am going to allow myself 5 freebies though, because I want to be able to read some 2019 releases, and sometimes you just have to have a book, you know? For the most part though, I will only be reading books I already own.

Narrow physical TBR down to < 50 books

This goes along with the last one, but I really want to narrow my TBR down to less than 50 books. I miss the times when I would finish a book and then go to the bookstore to pick out my next one.

Although I’m not allowed to buy any books in 2019, I am still allowed to go to the library or borrow books on the Libby app- which is why this is a separate goal. You’d think that the two would be put together, but it’s possible for me not to buy any books but still not decrease my TBR.

Read one ARC a month

I have a ton of unread ARCs that I thought I would get to ASAP, but somehow they all piled up and now they are overwhelming and stressful. I plan on reading at least one a month (hopefully more), so that I can finish all of them by the end of the year. In fact, I am dedicating February to reading as many ARCs as I can because I really want to finish them all and get rid of the guilt hanging over me.

Read one book a week (52 total books)

I have read over 50 books a year for the past 2 years, so this one shouldn’t be a problem for me. For 2018, I set my reading challenge to 1 so that I would focus on quality over quantity, and I think I did that pretty well.

But, this year I want to set a reasonable goal that I know I can accomplish easily so that it is not stressful and will still allow me to read for quality.

Read at least 3 non-fiction books

I used to love reading memoirs, biographies, and other non-fiction stories. It stemmed from my desire to learn. I miss reading non-fiction, so I want to read some more of it this year. While I hope to read more than 3 NF books, I want to give myself an easy goal that I can easily accomplish.

Unhaul at least 5 books

I have a serious problem with collecting/hoarding books. There are some books that were sent to me by publishers or given to me as gifts that are duplicates of books I already have, and yet I never get rid of them. I feel like each book is a part of my soul, and giving them away is taking a part of me with them.

But, I know that I do not need all of the books I have, especially if I hated them/have multiple copies of them. I will try to donate/give away at least 5 this year (I know that sounds so easy, but it’s hard for me, ok?).

Let me know what your goals for 2019 are! I’d love to hear :)

NaNoWriMo Tracking & Reward System | Week 1 Update

Published on November 7, 2018May 16, 2019 by Jessica11 Comments

Hello everyone! Today marks one week of NaNoWriMo! I’m happy to say that I’m actually surviving, and I’m on target with my word count. I didn’t know if I would even make it this far, so I’m extremely proud of myself and all that I’ve accomplished. I’m past 10k words at this point! That is so crazy to me.

I didn’t realize that all I needed to get myself to write was a bit of a push. I wish that I had forced myself to participate in NaNo in the past, like I did this year. Maybe I could have written multiple novels by now.

I think what’s really helping me is my tracking and reward system! If you didn’t see my last post, you can check it out here. I mentioned the Lightspeed Planner, which I have been using since the start of the month. I am absolutely loving it! I would highly recommend checking it out and possible buying one for yourself.

Here is what a blank page looks like:

How I use it for NaNo:

Each day looks slightly different, but I always write my word count goal in either the “must do” or the “should do” spot because it is a huge priority for me. I don’t plan on ever putting it in the “could do” category unless I absolutely have more important things taking up my time. If it’s in the “should do” category, it’s because I have a big homework assignment that I need to complete before I can write. Otherwise, it always goes in the “must do.”

As for the notes section, I use that to track my actual progress. I write down how many words I started the day with, then I write how many I ended with. On the right side, I put down the total words written that day. If I am on target for NaNo, I give myself a star sticker for that day. I really want to keep that streak going and have a star every single day, so this is another motivating factor. The planner also has a little pocket in the back, so I can keep all of my stickers with me!

In the planner, there is also a performance tracker. You can rate yourself on a scale from 10-100% based off of how well you performed in a given day. The way I use it is that every 10%=200 words. Therefore, 100% means I wrote 2000 words! It’s very hard for me to write 2k words in a day, so I haven’t yet reached this. However, it motivates me to push myself so that I can get as high up as possible. My highest was 90% one day, which I am extremely proud of!

Rewards System:

The back of the planner contains some pages for you to set your goals. I’m using this as a rewards system for each milestone I hit in NaNo. Here’s how it looks:

10k words- Chick-fil-a trip
25k words- clothes shopping
40k words- buy myself a book
50k words- get the new Kindle Paperwhite!!

This has been a great way to push myself to keep going. I want the Kindle Paperwhite so bad, so I’m only letting myself get it once I hit 50k words. Ideally, this would be by November 30th, meaning I won NaNo. However, if I don’t make it, I’m still going to use this to make sure I finish this draft after NaNo is over!

I really hope you guys enjoyed this post! I am loving my system and how well it’s been working for me so far. Let me know if you have a system of your own and how it works for you, cause I’m always open to new ideas.

Also, check out the lightspeed planner, which you can buy here!

Top 10 Books of 2017

Published on December 30, 2017May 16, 2019 by Jessica11 Comments

2017 was a really amazing reading year for me, and while I am sad for it to be over, I am also really excited to see how well 2018 goes for me! I read so many great books, so narrowing this book down was extremely difficult! But, I have done it, and here are my top 10 books of the year!

10. Never Never

I absolutely love Colleen Hoover, and I have read so many of her books (and I own so many more). I read this e-book towards the beginning of the year, and while it is really short, it was so fascinating. I haven’t gotten to part 2 or 3 yet (I have no excuse), but just the first part was enough to make me fall in love. Hopefully I will get to the other 2 very soon!

9. Eighteen Years

I just recently finished reading this but it was a great collection of poetry! I wanted to read it for such a long time and then I finally got around to it. It was so emotional and strong.

8. Always and Forever, Lara Jean

This is the finally book in the trilogy, and it was my favorite. It was such a great way to end the story of Lara Jean. I fell in love with the characters even more, and it was so sad to think that it was going to be over. I really enjoyed the book, mostly because the series was really important to me.

7. Caraval

Coming in at number 7 is this widely known book! I absolutely loved reading it and I was so fascinated the entire time. The plot twist was crazy, and the world was so interesting. I am glad I decided to read it, even though it’s not something I would normally pick up.

6. Illuminae

This is another book that I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards but I got it for a really good price online. I was a bit confused by it when I first started it, but soon I was completely hooked. I absolutely need to read the second book, but I haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet. I highly recommend giving it a try because the style was so unique.

5. The Princess Saves Herself in this One

This was the first book I finished in 2017, and it set my year off on a good start. When I think of poetry, this is the book that comes to mind. Since reading it in January, I now own a total of 3 copies (all signed) and I have read it twice. The poetry is amazing, the author (Amanda Lovelace) is so sweet, and the message is empowering. I suggest this book to everyone and I talk about it so often.

4. Talking as Fast as I Can

If you love the show Gilmore Girls (like I do), then you have to read this book! It is written by Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and it is an autobiography. She talks all about the show in a comedic way, as well as different events in her life. It was so interesting to listen to (I got the audiobook) especially in her voice.

3. Everything Leads to You

This book really showed me a different side of the film industry that I hadn’t thought about in the past, so it was so interesting to learn about. The entire story was also really cute. I will probably be re-reading this soon, too.

2. The Hate U Give

I’m sure you have already heard about this book, but if you haven’t, you need to go read it right now. It was so POWERFUL. It really took my breath away. The story is very relevant to the world right now and deals with race issues (black lives matter movement). I think this needs to be read by everyone, and it would be a great book to read at school.

1. Turtles All the Way Down

This is John Green’s latest novel, and it was BEAUTIFUL. It was such a relief to read a book that accurately portrayed OCD and anxiety. People often think I am exaggerating when my compulsions get the best of me, but they are true. I wish I could hand all of my friends this book to read in order to understand me better. I often don’t know how to phrase my own anxieties, but he did it in the perfect way.

What were some of your favorite books of the year? I would love to know! Leave it down in the comments :)

xo, Jessica

Goodreads Synopsis:

My Thoughts:

The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost Stories by Henry James

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

THE RULES:

THREE FACTS ABOUT ME:

SOFI’S QUESTIONS:

Have you ever felt so identified with a character that you end up picturing it as yourself?

What thoughts do you have about ARCs?

Do you think that a person who gives 5 stars to everything reads is questionable? What’s your thought about giving low ratings?

Name 3 book bloggers that inspire you!

Can an author’s reputation affect your thinking about his books?

MY QUESTIONS:

I TAG:

*All images used in this post were taken from Pinterest. They are not my own.

By Genre

By Author’s Name

By Color

🖊Audiobooks are lifesavers

🖊Put it into your schedule

🖊Never leave without a book

🖊If you’re not enjoying it, DNF it

Remember that it’s ok to take a break

…But don’t take too long

Remind yourself why you love it

Where I get inspiration:

Read more diverse books

Read one e-book a month

Don’t buy any books (5 freebies)

Narrow physical TBR down to < 50 books

Read one ARC a month

Read one book a week (52 total books)

Read at least 3 non-fiction books

Unhaul at least 5 books

How I use it for NaNo:

Rewards System: