'Tis the Season-a-Thon TBR!

It has been a good long while since I've participated in a readathon. These last few months my reading game has *totally* dipped and it bums me out because I love reading so much! During this time I had zero motivation to participate in any readathons because I just knew it was going to be a massive fail. However, with the year coming to a close and the Christmas season officially kicking off (my personal rule is that the Christmas season doesn't start until December 1st, but I guess post-Thanksgiving still counts 😉), I thought a fun way to get in the holiday spirit is to participate in a Christmassy readathon, so I decided to hop on the 'Tis the Season A Thon train from December 2nd to December 8th!

This readathon has 5 challenges. I'm usually the type of gal that likes to pick out as many books as there are challenges, but given my current rate of reading, I doubt I'll get all of these books read! I am really excited about the books I've chosen, though, and I think they'll be a great combination of different genres and topics to keep my reading motivation high throughout the week. Here's what I'm hoping to read:

North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail by Scott Jurek

A book you received as a gift

My sister gave me this book as a birthday gift a few years ago and I still have not gotten to it! I am really surprised that I haven't because A. I absolutely love memoirs about ultra running, and B. it is currently on my 5 star predictions list. As I'm currently in the middle of a marathon training cycle (let's be real, when am I not?), I'm hoping this will give me some extra motivation for training as the weather starts to get even colder.

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

A book title related to music

A book you received as a gift

While I don't know if this was that authors' intention (obviously I haven't read this yet and don't want to spoil myself through research!), What If It's Us is one of my very favorite songs from the musical Dear Evan Hansen so I think that totally counts for this challenge. This book was also a Christmas gift from my pal Michael last year, so it could also totally count for the challenge of a book I received as a gift. Two birds, one book! 😉

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman 

A book with snow on the cover

A book you received as a gift

This is the sequel to my very favorite book from 2018, Beartown and I am NERVOUS to read it. I loved Beartown so much and I'm really hoping that this book lives up to how good it predecessor was. Fingers crossed! This is also on my list of the books I'd like to read by the end of 2019, so I'm excited to get into it. PLUS this is the third book on my list that counts as a book I've received as a gift (a birthday gift from Michael this year!). Lots of gifts will be read next week! 😊

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

A holiday themed book

A book you read while eating a holiday themed treat

I lumped these two titles and challenges together because I figured it would be more of a game time decision as to which one I go with. I think I'll be listening to these on audio during my commutes, so it really depends on what I'm in the mood for! However, they're both Christmassy books and I can enjoy listening to them with a holiday beverage (egg nog latte, anyone?) while I'm in the car.

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

A holiday themed book

A book you read while eating a holiday themed treat

Bonus buddy read

Similarly to the two titles above, this one is going to be a game time decision. I love a good YA holiday romance this time of year, and since this is the recommended buddy read I figured why not throw it on the TBR and get to it if I can! Again, I'd probably listen to it on audio during my commute, and since it's a Christmassy book, why not also have a holiday themed treat while I read it as well?

Are you participating in 'Tis the Season-a-Thon? 

What are you planning to read?

Savoring the Summer (BEDA Day 14)

With summer creeping closer and closer to a close each day, I’ve been trying my hardest to spend as much time as humanly possible outside. You can already feel the autumn chill in the breeze and I’m not ready to say goodbye to the warmth for another 8 months! I’ve been soaking up the sun on our picturesque campus during my lunch breaks and have been spending what’s left of the daylight on our back porch. I’m currently reading The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker and while its a bit of a slow burn I’m really starting to feel immersed in the story. I love when a book gets to the point when you finally feel invested!

10 Books I'd Like to Read by the End of 2019 (BEDA Day 13)

Reading has been a challenge this year, which of course is a shame as it's one of my favorite things to do. I went into 2019 with a lot of lofty reading goals, and I think at this point they're just too much pressure to strive for. Right now I'm just picking up books when it feels good and trying to find time to enjoy reading instead of making it this pressure-filled free time endeavor. 

That being said, as a list maker, I always need to work off of some kind of TBR (plus TBRs are just fun to make). With the last quarter of the year (!!!) looming, I thought it'd be fun to share the books that I would really like to get to before the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. These are in alphabetical order of author's last name and not necessarily priority, but all of these reads I've had my eye on and have been floating at the top of my TBR for a while. Hopefully I can get to all of these over the course of the next few months!

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

The sequel to my favorite book of 2018. I hope it lives up to how good Beartown was!

After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach. 

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute. 

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

November Road by Lou Berney

Frank Guidry’s luck has finally run out.

A loyal street lieutenant to New Orleans’ mob boss Carlos Marcello, Guidry has learned that everybody is expendable. But now it’s his turn—he knows too much about the crime of the century: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

Within hours of JFK’s murder, everyone with ties to Marcello is turning up dead, and Guidry suspects he’s next: he was in Dallas on an errand for the boss less than two weeks before the president was shot. With few good options, Guidry hits the road to Las Vegas, to see an old associate—a dangerous man who hates Marcello enough to help Guidry vanish. 

Guidry knows that the first rule of running is "don’t stop," but when he sees a beautiful housewife on the side of the road with a broken-down car, two little daughters and a dog in the back seat, he sees the perfect disguise to cover his tracks from the hit men on his tail. Posing as an insurance man, Guidry offers to help Charlotte reach her destination, California. If she accompanies him to Vegas, he can help her get a new car. 

For her, it’s more than a car— it’s an escape. She’s on the run too, from a stifling existence in small-town Oklahoma and a kindly husband who’s a hopeless drunk.
It’s an American story: two strangers meet to share the open road west, a dream, a hope—and find each other on the way. 

Charlotte sees that he’s strong and kind; Guidry discovers that she’s smart and funny. He learns that’s she determined to give herself and her kids a new life; she can’t know that he’s desperate to leave his old one behind. 

Another rule—fugitives shouldn’t fall in love, especially with each other. A road isn’t just a road, it’s a trail, and Guidry’s ruthless and relentless hunters are closing in on him. But now Guidry doesn’t want to just survive, he wants to really live, maybe for the first time. 

Everyone’s expendable, or they should be, but now Guidry just can’t throw away the woman he’s come to love. 

And it might get them both killed.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

I've heard nothing but positive buzz about this title, and I love me a good suburban drama.
Can't wait to dive in!

How much can a family forgive? 

A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness. 

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come. 

Ask Again, Yes is a deeply affecting exploration of the lifelong friendship and love that blossoms between Francis and Lena’s daughter, Kate, and Brian and Anne’s son, Peter. Luminous, heartbreaking, and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood—villains lose their menace and those who appeared innocent seem less so. Kate and Peter’s love story, while tested by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity, and grace.

Severance by Ling Ma

Candace Chen, a millennial drone self-sequestered in a Manhattan office tower, is devoted to routine. With the recent passing of her Chinese immigrant parents, she’s had her fill of uncertainty. She’s content just to carry on: She goes to work, troubleshoots the teen-targeted Gemstone Bible, watches movies in a Greenpoint basement with her boyfriend. 

So Candace barely notices when a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York. Then Shen Fever spreads. Families flee. Companies halt operations. The subways squeak to a halt. Her bosses enlist her as part of a dwindling skeleton crew with a big end-date payoff. Soon entirely alone, still unfevered, she photographs the eerie, abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost. 

Candace won’t be able to make it on her own forever, though. Enter a group of survivors, led by the power-hungry IT tech Bob. They’re traveling to a place called the Facility, where, Bob promises, they will have everything they need to start society anew. But Candace is carrying a secret she knows Bob will exploit. Should she escape from her rescuers? 

A send-up and takedown of the rituals, routines, and missed opportunities of contemporary life, Ling Ma’s Severance is a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-adulthood tale, and a hilarious, deadpan satire. Most important, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the connections that drive us to do more than survive.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I'm not quite sure how Liane Moriarty's latest has been sitting on my shelf for as long as it has (it was released last November), but I'm sure if's going to be just as engrossing and delicious as all of her other titles!

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be. 

Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can? 

It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Riley Sager has been a solid thriller author for me since his debut, and I've been hearing this one is his best release yet. Can't wait to read this and get nice and spooked out!

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind. 

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story—until the next day, when Ingrid disappears. 

Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

As this has been compared to one of my all time favorites, Dark Matter, this was put on my current 5 star predictions list. I love a good fast-paced sci-fi thriller and this one seems right up my alley!

Knowledge is power. So when an unassuming Manhattan bassist named Will Dando awakens from a dream one morning with 108 predictions about the future in his head, he rapidly finds himself the most powerful man in the world. Protecting his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, he sets up a heavily guarded Web site with the help of his friend Hamza to selectively announce his revelations. In no time, global corporations are offering him millions for exclusive access, eager to profit from his prophecies. 

He's also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it's come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it's all Will can do to simply survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica. 

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. 

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Another sequel to another 2018 favorite of mine, this title is something I'm sure will be a great whimsical escape during the busier times of the fall.

Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor ... 

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good. 

Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She's hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery - but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan's unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor? 

Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion... 

Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

Of all the books on this list, this one has been on my TBR the longest, and is currently on my 5 star predictions list. If I were to pick a book I'd like to prioritize on this list, it would definitely have to be this one!

When Isabelle Poole meets Dr. Preston Grind, she's just about out of options. She recently graduated from high school and is pregnant with her art teacher's baby. Her mother is dead and her father is a drunk. The art teacher is too much of a head-case to help raise the child. Izzy knows she can be a good mother but without any money or prospects, she's left searching. 

So when Dr. Grind offers her a space in The Infinite Family Project, she accepts. Housed in a spacious compound in Tennessee, she joins nine other couples, all with children the same age as her newborn son, to raise their children as one extended family. Grind's theory is that the more parental love a child receives, the better off they are. 

This attempt at a utopian ideal-funded by an eccentric billionaire-starts off promising: Izzy enjoys the kids, reading to them and teaching them to cook. She even forms a bond with her son more meaningful than she ever expected. But soon the gentle equilibrium among the families is upset and it all starts to disintegrate: unspoken resentments between the couples begin to fester; the project's funding becomes tenuous; and Izzy's feelings for Dr. Grind, who is looking to expunge his own painful childhood, make her question her participation in this strange experiment in the first place.

Top 18 Books of 2018

I'm finally sharing my favorite books of 2018 with you all! It actually worked out that I was able to identify 18 books that I consider to be favorites from 2018, and I'm so pleased that I was able to read so many favorites in one year. 2019 has big shoes to fill! Keep reading to find my list of favorites from 2018 - listed in order of when I read them - and make sure you watch the video above if you'd like to hear my reasoning behind each of my picks!
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajama's by Marie-Helene Bertino Autoboyography by Christina Lauren The Long Walk by Stephen King A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir Nevermoor: the Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid We Are Okay by Nina LaCour Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson Beartown by Fredrick Backman An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti Orange by Ichigo Takano

Highly Anticipated 2019 Book Releases | Blog Ahead #25

Blog Ahead #25

Originally written on October 29, 2018

Now that we are nearing the end of 2018 (so crazy!!!), I'm getting super excited about the 2019 book releases that are on my radar! I'm not usually one who is necessarily on top of all of the new releases in the book world, but I couldn't help but take a peak at a few lists of what's coming out next year so I can identify the titles to keep an eye out for! I'm sure this list will grow as I learn more about what's coming out next year, but for now, these are the top titles I will be looking forward to!

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No One Here is Lonely by Sarah Everett
(January 22, 2019)

Synopsis: "Our entire lives are online, but what if the boy you love actually lives there? For fans of Adam Silvera comes a story about the future of relationships.

Eden has always had two loves: her best friend, Lacey, and her crush, Will. And then, almost simultaneously, she loses them both. Will to a car accident and Lacey to the inevitable growing up and growing apart.

Devastated by the holes they have left in her life, Eden finds solace in an unlikely place. Before he died, Will set up an account with In Good Company, a service that uploads voices and emails and creates a digital companion that can be called anytime, day or night. It couldn’t come at a better time because, after losing Lacey–the hardest thing Eden has had to deal with–who else can she confide all her secrets to? Who is Eden without Lacey?

As Eden falls deeper into her relationship with “Will,” she hardly notices as her real life blooms around her. There is a new job, new friends. Then there is Oliver. He’s Lacey’s twin, so has always been off-limits to her, until now. He may be real, but to have him, will Eden be able to say goodbye to Will?"

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On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
(February 5, 2019)

Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families."

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Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks
(February 12, 2019)

Synopsis: "Miriam's family should be rich. After all, her grandfather was the co-creator of smash-hit comics series The TomorrowMen. But he sold his rights to the series to his co-creator in the 1960s for practically nothing, and now that's what Miriam has: practically nothing. And practically nothing to look forward to either-how can she afford college when her family can barely keep a roof above their heads? As if she didn't have enough to worry about, Miriam's life gets much more complicated when a cute boy shows up in town . . . and turns out to be the grandson of the man who defrauded Miriam's grandfather, and heir to the TomorrowMen fortune.

In her endearing debut novel, cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks pens a sensitive and funny Romeo and Juliet tale about modern romance, geek royalty, and what it takes to heal the long-festering scars of the past (Spoiler Alert: love)."

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Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heart Break by Adi Alsaid

(April 30, 2019)

Synopsis: "Has heartbreak broken her for good?

Dumped by her boyfriend the summer after senior year, teen love and relationship columnist Lu Charles has hit a wall with her writing. The words just won’t come to her like they used to and if she doesn’t find a topic for her column, she’ll lose her gig at hip online magazine Misnomer, and the college scholarship that goes along with it.

Her best friend, Pete, thinks she should write through her own pain, but when Lu overhears another couple planning a precollege breakup just like hers, she becomes convinced that they’re the answer to cracking her writer’s block. And when she meets them—super-practical Iris and cute, sweet Cal—and discovers they’re postponing their breakup until the end of the summer, she has to know more.

Have Cal and Iris prolonged their own misery by staying together, knowing the end is in sight? Or does the secret to figuring out all this love business—and getting over it—lie with them? One thing is certain—if Lu can’t make a breakthrough before summer is over, she can kiss her future goodbye.

From the acclaimed author of Let’s Get Lost and North of Happy comes a touching exploration of love, relationships and the pain of breaking up."

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
(June 4, 2019)
***Cover not released as of writing this post***

Synopsis: "The new series centers on Alex Stern, a 20-year-old California high school dropout with a criminal past who is mysteriously offered a second chance as a Yale University freshman. Ninth House, the first book, follows Stern’s freshman year, where she is charged with monitoring Yale’s secret societies, who engage in sinister occult activities."

What 2019 book releases are you most excited about?

Books I Wish Would Get Adapted | Blog Ahead #18

Blog Ahead #18
Originally written on October 26, 2018

I'm not usually ~up on the times~ when it comes to TV and Movies. I'm not entirely sure what is out or what is coming out. But I do have a list of books that I would love to see come to life on the screen. I know that there has been rumors and rumblings of a couple of these getting adapted, and I'm not sure what has or hasn't been confirmed, but either way I would be so excited to see these on the screen!

1. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

2. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

3. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

5. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

6. The Wolf by Wolf Duology by Ryan Graudin

7. The Humans by Matt Haig

8. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

9. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

10. The Lumberjanes Series by Noelle Stevenson

What books would you like to see adapted in to TV or Movies?

Book Stores I'd Like to Visit | Blog Ahead #11

Blog Ahead #11
Originally written on October 23, 2018

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to find a cool local bookstore to check out! I thought it'd be fun to make a list of some of the stores I'd like to visit sometime in my life and *hopefully* they will come to fruition. And let's be real, the biggest appeal is to just picture yourself dancing around the aisles of these shops like you're Belle in Beauty and the Beast, amirite?

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The Last Bookstore - Los Angeles, CA: This bookstore is so cool and aesthetically pleasing! Not only does it have thousands of titles to choose from, there are so many cool archetecture pieces in this store, some of which are constructed from books (e.g. the book tunnel shown above)! It would be so much fun to spend an afternoon getting lost in this store and seeing it all in person.

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Books Are Magic - Brookyln, NY: I constantly see Instagram posts of this mural and I've been DYING to get a snap of my own for literal years now. I thought that this was just a random mural, but it turns out that this is an actual bookshop in Brooklyn - not so far from where I live! I could totally make this a stop on my next trip to NYC, whenever that may be. This is such a cute little store and, based on their social media posts, I definitely think I could feel right at home here!

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Powell's Books - Portland, OR: This is one of the most well known independent bookstores in the country and of course I'd love to pay it a visit! According to the Powell's website, Portland has named them the city's top attraction, which is something I can 100% get behind. If I ever travel to Portland, I will definitely be bringing an extra suitcase with me in order to get all of the books I'm sure to buy home!

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Shakespeare & Company - Paris, France: Shakespeare & Company has a really interesting history (which you can find a brief version of here) and I think it is many reader's goal to own a book with the coveted "Shakespeare & Company - Kilometer Zero Paris" stamp on the inside flap, myself included. Honestly, I can't think of anything more perfect to do on a trip to Paris than sitting outside at a cafe with a good book from Shakespeare & Company and a glass of wine. Sign. Me. Up!

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The Open Book - Wigtown, Scotland: One of the coolest BNB concepts I've heard of! In Scotland's National Book Town, you can rent the apartment above The Open Book AND run the shop during your stay! You can create the displays, interact with customers, and live your best life as a bookseller. I am so into this idea and I feel like this would be the perfect place to travel to when I'm older! :)

What bookstores do you want to visit in your lifetime?

Finally Fall Book Tag!

I didn't have a video lined up for this week so I thought I would do an impromptu book tag! When I asked which one folks would like to see on Twitter, the majority of people voted for the Finally Fall Book Tag, originally created by Tall Tales. I really liked the prompts in this one so I'm happy that I took a moment to record this tag! I know this tag has been floating around for a long time, so if you haven't done it yet, consider yourself tagged! ;)
QUESTIONS

1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting! 

2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief. 

3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new. 

4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of. 

5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines! 

6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story. 

7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read. 

8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day. 

9. Fall (luckily, it’s my favorite season) returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon. 

10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”! 

11. Spread the autumn appreciation and tag some people!

Finished the Book Tag!

It's been a LONG time since I've done a book tag, and recently Alyssa at Books and Cats tagged me in the Finished the Book Tag, originally created by Headless Reader! I was psyched to get tagged because I honestly forgot that book tags are options for video ideas. XD This tag really talks about what I do when it comes to finishing books and discussing things like star ratings, statistics, and reviews. Hopefully one of those things piques your interest and you enjoy the video!
QUESTIONS

1. Do you keep a list of the books you have read?

2. If you record stats, what stats do you record?

3. Do you give star ratings for books and if so, what do you score books out of and how do you come about this score?

4. Do you review books?

5. Where do you put your finished books?

6. How do you pick your next book?

7. Do you have any other rituals for when you have finished a book?

8. Who do you tag?

Lowest vs. Highest Rates Books On My TBR

*adds another reading challenge to the list*
I've been wanting to take on this challenge for a while because I just absolutely love the idea of it whenever I see it pop up on someone's channel! The idea is to make a TBR out of your highest or lowest rated books (or in my case, both) on your to-read pile on GoodReads and then read and react to them! I'm hoping to do a reading vlog/book diary for each of these, then after reading everything rank these 10 books as a whole and see how my opinions compare to the opinions of GoodReads! This should be a fun series to take on and I can't wait to see what I think about each book. Lowest Rated Books
Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent This One is Mine by Maria Semple The Vacationers by Emma Straub The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances by Ellen Cooney
Highest Rated Books
Orange, vol 1 by Ichigo Takano A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti Deathnote, vol. 1 by Tsugumi Oba Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 10-12 by Hiromu Arakawa

~*Spooky Scary*~

It's October and I'm LIVING MY BEST LIFE! I don't know what it is but I freaking love October. Spooky books, Halloween specials, candy everywhere you turn, Brett's birthday, hot beverages, comfort food, football.... you really can't ask for more! Something is just so fun about this month and I feel like I'm ~in my element~. If only we could have October then skip over winter... that would be ideal. :P I've been celebrating my favorite month with a new wallpaper on my work computer (I know, I know... my life is truly glamorous):

You can find this wallpaper in all sizes here!

I'm working really hard (and have been for MONTHS) to find the motivation to not instantly crawl into bed as soon as I get home at the end of the day. I feel like I'm so mentally and physically drained after my commute that I only have the energy to lay in bed and scroll on my phone until I pass out, which is NAHT how I want to live my life tbh. So I'm trying to make an effort to not walk directly into my bedroom, maybe do a bit of exercise (a mini ab/ body weight workout), and read whatever book I'm in the middle of before shoving food in my face and pouring myself into bed. We'll see how well I do pushing through the lack of motivation because it's honestly been so tough this year for some reason.

Speaking of books I'm currently reading, I've been absolutely LOVING Beartown by Fredrik Backman! It's one of those books that I want to read as fast as I can to find out what will happen next, but also want to take my time with so it doesn't have to end. Luckily my schedule keeps me pretty sleepy so it forces me to put the book down and take my time with it :P but it's a top contender for favorite book of the year at this point which I am, of course, THRILLED about! The live discussion of this book will be on my channel this Saturday at 8PM EST. Join us if you'd like!

Attempting to take a National Black Dog day photo with Lupita... she wasn't having it. :P

Thankfully, we've had a bit of a reprieve lately from the insanity that was last week. Things have seemed to calm down a bit, even if I only was able to have a one day weekend this week (I had to work an open house on Sunday #SAlife). We did find out that Brett will be needing surgery on his nose, which will happen at the end of next week. Of course, neither of us are thrilled because the hospital told us that he wouldn't need surgery, but I guess what the specialist says, goes. Hopefully the surgery and his recovery goes smoothly and we can finally move on from this situation!

Mug that I got at a New Staff Orientation I went to on Monday #newstaffperks #swagswagswag

This weekend is a much needed looooong weekend. As you know from last week's post I was originally intending to run the Newport Marathon this weekend, but since I've deferred my registration my calendar is WIDE OPEN which I am so excited about. I will be putting a nice long run on my schedule and lots of quality reading time. I'm personally hoping for a rainy/gloomy forecast to really make this long weekend as relaxing as possible. I love me some gloomy weather! #emo :)

5 Star Predictions Round 2!

I'm excited to start in on my next round of the 5 Star Prediction project! I recently wrapped up my first go around on this project, and I had such a good time going through and picking out 5 more books that I think will be 5 star reads for me! Like last time, I'm not going to put a limit on the time I have to read these, and I will definitely be wrapping up my results of this round whenever I get the chance to read all 5 books!
BOOKS MENTIONED
The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock North by Scott Jurek Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero The Oracle Year by Charles Soule Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! | 2018

WOW. We're already half way through 2018. Where has this year gone? Seriously. On the bright side, being half way through the year means we get to do some mid-year check ins on our reading, and what better way to do that with the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! I did this tag last year and really enjoyed answering the questions, so I thought why not do it again this year? I hope you enjoy watching!

QUESTIONS
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2018.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty The Long Walk by Stephen King 
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2018.
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.
Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
5. Biggest disappointment.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
6. Biggest surprise.
2AM at the Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn
7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Liane Moriarty
8. Newest fictional crush.
Gabe Donnelly from 99 Days by Katie Cotugno Adam Parrish from The Raven Cycle  by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Newest favorite character.
Madeline from 2AM at the Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino Elsa from My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologizes by Fredrik Backman
10. Book that made you cry.
Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa
11. Book that made you happy.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
12. Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year. 
Ready Player One The Handmaid's Tale
13. Favorite review you've written this year. (Booktube version: Favorite video you have done so far in this year) 
[LOL FORGOT TO DO THIS QUESTION]
14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book of the Month Month {June 2018}

In an effort to actually start reading all of the books that I order from Book of the Month, I'm going to read a whole stack of my previous BOTM picks in the month of June and call it Book of the Month Month! :P I love the BOTM service, but for whatever reason, I don't tend to reach for my BOTM picks, even though I'm super excited for the books I pick out each month! I'm hoping that by mainly focusing on BOTM books next month, I will feel more inspired to reach for them when I'm deciding what to read. If this month goes well, I'll probably do another Book of the Month Month in the future! :) Here's what books I'll be focusing on in the month of June:

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emie Lang
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman

The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs