Love YA Books

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:21:00 +0000

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo

No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

“If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn't spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.”

The moment I read the synopsis, I knew that I had to read this book. Eleanor Oliphant is a lot like me - a forever single, socially awkward, office-working adult who is living with depression. While some may not see why I'd enjoy reading about a sad dork like myself, I honestly thought it was rather quite nice not to feel so alone. Representation matters!

I did see some reviews on Goodreads that talked about how mean Eleanor was, but I honestly didn't feel that way about her. True, she was blunt and honest, but I don't feel she ever really meant any harm by how she felt about others. She didn't have much experience with social interaction, and she was raised to think ill of people who didn't meet certain "standards," so I feel that her "meanness" stems more from her naive personality than anything.

It was fun (and often funny!) to see Eleanor transform herself throughout the novel - not just internally, but reading about her purchasing her first computer, or getting her first wax job, or getting her hair cut & styled for the first time and becoming "shiny." Her slowly improving perceptions of Raymond, the "bumbling" IT guy, really made me think about how initial judgments can really keep us from getting to know some great people. I was glad to see her overcome them in the way that she did - over time, rather than all at once.

There were a few turns that this novel took that I was not expecting, and a few that I did, but I won't get into them here. I will say that this was a great depiction of an aspect of depression (everyone's experience is completely different), and I applaud Ms. Honeyman for writing it the way she did. I also appreciate that she had Eleanor realize that there was nothing wrong with going to therapy, and find that it could actually be beneficial to improving your life, rather than something to be ashamed of.

I would honestly give this book 4.5 stars.

{Fanfiction Friday} Leo Inter Serpentes

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:36:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I know I've been hiding for awhile, and rather than an awkward post about my depression and life, I thought I'd just jump right back in the game. During my blogger slump, I finally caved and decided to give fanfiction a try - and oh boy, I'm so glad that I did! I don't know why it took me so long to get into it. I sort of refused to try it for most of my life, but I was in a really depressive slump at the beginning of the year, and decided to give a Drarry (Draco/Harry) fic a try on a whim, and I have not stopped reading fics since - they've made up the large majority of my reading for the year, in fact. I love that I can just download them to my Kindle for offline reading!

I know I'm late to the whole fanfiction game, but I've come across some real gems, and thought I'd start 'Fanfiction Fridays' to spotlight some of my favorite recent reads. Each week I'll be highlighting a different fic (or series of fics) that I enjoyed reading.

Leo Inter Serpentes by Aeternum

Just one conversation between two eleven year old boys goes slightly differently, and the world changes. Just how much will be different with Harry being sorted into Slytherin, and how much will stay the same? A retelling of the original series, but this time, our hero wears green and silver, not red and gold.

This series was extremely well-written! It basically follows canon, though there are a few small changes that end up completely changing the outcome of the story - the main one being Harry's placement in Slytherin rather than Gryffindor. The trio in this series consists of Harry, Draco and Hermione (who is still a Gryffindor).

There is (eventual) Harry/Draco slash, which I loved, but my favorite part about this series was the focus on the relationship between Harry and Severus Snape. While Snape starts off the series with his usual contempt for Harry, once Harry is placed in Slytherin, he is forced to realize that Harry is nothing like he assumed he would be, and is more like Lily than he would have thought. Snape eventually grows to like (and even care for) Harry, which eventually leads to him adopting him. As odd as the idea sounds, I felt that Aeternum wrote it in a rather believable fashion. This is kind of the relationship that I would have hoped for them in the series, since they are so much alike. I didn't like that Snape couldn't see past Harry's father in canon, but this series totally made up for that.

A few other fun things about this series that I loved include:

Draco's love of language - Harry is able to teach him Parselmouth, he learns Mermish for the hell of it, and even a bit of Gigantus
Harry's pet snake, Ladon, who is snarky, intelligent, and overall wonderful
Dobby's crazy outfits
The cinnamon-roll/fireball that is Scarlett (an OC Slytherin that I just ADORE!)

Right now there are six "books" in the series, following Harry's first six years at Hogwarts, and the author is currently working on the seventh book. I'm so excited! I don't know when it's set to release, but if it's not any time soon, then I'll probably re-read this series again as a refresher (it's that good).

Have any of you read this series? What are your thoughts? If you have any fanfic recommendations, please let me know - there's so much out there to read! I don't mind what pairings (if any), I'll give anything a try.

{Book Blitz & GIVEAWAY!!!} The Devil's Revolver by V.S. McGrath

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The Devil's Revolver by V.S. McGrath

(The Devil's Revolver Series #1)

Publication Date: September 5, 2015

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

She is Hettie Alabama — unlikely, scarred, single-minded, and blood bound to a revolver forged by a demon.

The first book in an epic, magic-clad series featuring the Wild West reimagined as a crosscultural stereoscope of interdimensional magic and hardship, The Devil’s Revolver opens with a shooting competition and takes off across the landscape after a brutal double murder and kidnapping — to which revenge is the only answer. Hettie Alabama, only seventeen years old, leads her crew of underdogs with her father’s cursed revolver, magicked to take a year off her life each time she fires it. It’s no way for a ranch girl to grow up, but grow up she does, her scars and determination to rescue her vulnerable younger sister deepening with every year of life she loses.

A sweeping and high-stakes saga that gilds familiar Western adventure with powerful magic and panoramic fantasy, The Devil’s Revolver is the last word and the blackest hat in the Weird West.

Hettie couldn’t say what had woken her; her eyes had simply snapped open and she’d known something was amiss.

Sure enough, she found the rope had been chewed through, the frayed ends still wet. Dammit, Abby. This was the third time in two weeks. She yanked her coat over her thin nightgown, grabbed her boots and Winchester and padded quickly down the stairs. Outside, she pushed her bare feet into the cold, hard leather and checked her rifle’s action, loading it quickly. Coyotes were often seen roaming the ranch, and there’d been rumors of a pack of wolves roving the hills. But out here, it was men Hettie was more afraid of.

Vicki So, writing as V. S. McGrath, is a published romance author (as Vicki Essex) and has six books with Harlequin Superromance: Her Son’s Hero (July 2011); Back to the Good Fortune Diner (January 2013), which was picked for the Smart Bitches Trashy Books Sizzling Book Club; In Her Corner (March 2014); A Recipe for Reunion (March 2015); Red Carpet Arrangement (January 2016); and Matinees with Miriam (November 2016). She lives in Toronto, Canada

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{Cover Reveal} Escape From The Heartland by Jacquie Gee

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 04:01:00 +0000

Escape from Heartland by Jacquie Gee
(Heartland Cove, #2)

Publication date: August 22nd 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

We hardly know each other, yet somehow, on some unexplainable level, it feels like we’ve known each other forever.

Jules Bates is a fish-out-of-water in conservative, small town, Heartland Cove. A modern girl with modern dreams that have so far taken her all the way to father’s bait shop at the end of town. There, she spends her days, elbow-deep in worm dirt. She can’t remember the last time she’s been on a date, or dressed in anything but a lumberjack shirt and hip waders. Her life seems to be at a stalemate. It’s like her best friend said, “The perfect guy doesn’t just walk through your door and sweep you off your feet, you know?”

Or does he?

Jayden Sievert is on a mission, to solve the mystery of his life. But first he needs to track down a ghost. One in particular. The legend of Heartland Cove. Arriving in the small town, with his ghostbuster wannabe equipment in hand, he purchases the Caldwell place, much to the horror of the townsfolk—a stately Georgian Manor overlooking the sea, with a less than pleasant past. No one’s been brave enough to set foot in that place for over a decade.

Is this man mad? Or perhaps just a little crazy?

Jayden ignores them all. He knows the key to his success lies in his ability to minimize distractions, but then he meets Jules. Could she be the answer to the long-buried secret that Jayden’s spent a lifetime searching for?

The second in the series of sweet romances set in fiction Heartland Cove, this contemporary coming-of-age romance features a deliciously unexpected paranormal twist!

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Author Bio:

Jacquie Gee is the alias of Jacqueline Garlick. Maybe you’ve read her?

We are one and the same. Two faces of one author with very different writing styles. That way, I keep readers happy by keeping my writing passions separated.

On a personal note, I love to talk… strange for a writer, I know, but I do. I’m told I can be pretty funny, though, my kids see things in a different light. I love to write romances with a strong, sassy, heroines, and scrumptiously, gorgeous leading men. I write sweet romance surrounded by chocolate and an overweight sheltie. Neither of which are related. And there are always with fresh flowers in the room. Raised in a small town in the country myself, I like writing about them best. I mean, who doesn’t love a small-town? Enough about me, what about you?

Drop me a line and let’s get to know each other.

jacqueline@jacquelinegarlick.com I love to hear from readers!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

As an FYI to my readers, I only ever participate in cover reveals for books that I am interested in reading. This book synopsis sounds really interesting to me (c'mon, small-town romance meets ghostbusters?!) and has been added to my TBR, which is why I thought I'd share it with y'all! Thanks for stopping by! ^^

The Harry Potter Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:04:00 +0000

Cassie @ Zombie Goddess Beauty has sorta re-vamped the Harry Potter tag by collecting 18 questions from around the Internets in one tag, so naturally, I had to participate! You can check out her answers HERE, and mine below:

1) What House Are You In?

Gryffindor! This is the house I always felt I belonged in, and it's also the house I was sorted into on Pottermore.

2) What Is Your Patronus?

Well....according to Pottermore my Patronus is a wild boar. I am slightly miffed by that, however. If I could choose, I'd rather it be a wolf.

3) What Is Your Wand?

Once again, per Pottermore, my wand is English Oak wood with a Unicorn hair core, 11 inches & with slightly springy flexibility. I'm quite pleased with it.

4) What Would Your Boggart Be?

Probably somewhere along the lines of Molly Weasley's boggart, by seeing the bodies of those I cared about.

5) What Position Would You Play In Quidditch?

For sure a keeper. It just seems like a fun, and somewhat realistic, position for me to play.

6) Would You Be A Pure-Blood, Half-Blood, or Muggle Born?

I feel like I'd be muggle born, but with wizarding blood far, far down the line (like too far for me to know that I have it).

7) What Job Would You Want To Have After You Graduate From Hogwarts?

Oh, definitely an Auror! I'm a bad-ass that way.

8) Which Of The Deathly Hallows Would You Choose?

The invisibility cloak. How could I choose anything else?! Think of all the adventures that would await me!

9) Favorite Book?

The Prisoner of Azkaban. I just love everything about Harry finding out that Sirius is his Godfather.

10) Least Favorite Book?

It's a toss-up between book five and book seven, because EVERYONE I LOVE DIES!!!!

11) Favorite Film?
I suppose it would be the first one, because they were all so darned cute then!

12) Least Favorite Film?

Ummm....here's where I say that I haven't actually seen all of the films, only some of them (and I skipped some here and there). Sorry, I'm a book snob when it comes to HP, so I can't really answer this one.

13) Favorite Character?
Harry, of course.

14) Least Favorite/Most Hated Character?
It's a toss-up between Quirrell & Fudge.

15) Favorite Teacher At Hogwarts?
Professor Minerva McGonagall.

16) Least Favorite Teacher At Hogwarts?
Professor Quirrell!!!! Even moreso than Umbridge because of reasons.

17) Do You Have Any Unpopular Opinions About The Series?

That depends on what you would consider "unpopular," since almost every opinion on the series has a niche of followers. But I can say that I'm a bit snobby in that I love the books but don't care for the movies. Everything's just so much better in my imagination. Also, I like to pretend that Sirius is safe and sound, and I totally ship him with Remus. And I'm all for Harry/Draco, too.

18) If You Could Save One Character From The Final Battle, Who Would You Save?

Fred.

I tag anyone that would like to participate in this tag. If you do choose to answer, leave a comment with the link to your post so that I can check out your answers (or, if you don't have a blog, feel free to just answer in your comment)! Thanks for stopping by!

#TheReadingQuest

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:40:00 +0000

I seem to have stumbled across an amazing event over at Aentee's blog, Read At Midnight, called #TheReadingQuest, just in time! This event will be taking place from Sunday, August 13th, to Sunday, September 10th, and features some gorgeous artwork by CW @ Read, Think, Ponder - just see for yourself by checking out the awesome game board below (click the image to view the full size):

If you're curious to check out the rules of the event, you can check out the sign-up page HERE. But basically, like an RPG, you can choose your class, and this class will determine your quest (which in this instance is a reading quest). Below are the four classes that you can choose from:

I think I'll choose the Bard for this challenge, and aim for the following books (which are subject to change on a whim):

A Book That Has A TV/Movie Adaptation:

A Fairy Tale Retelling:

A Book Cover With Striking Typography:

A Book Translated From Another Language:

A Banned Book:

I don't really have any plans right now for any of the other paths, as I would be super lucky to even finish all of the above books within the time-frame. I'm curious to see how I do in this challenge, however. Most of the books above were chosen because they're books that have been sitting on my bookshelf, and still have yet to be read! So hopefully this challenge will help me out with getting to them, hehe.

Are you interested in signing up for #TheReadingQuest? Curious to find out the details of how this challenge works? Or, maybe you just wanna check out what the prizes are? Then head on over to Read At Midnight and find out, HERE!

Why I Became A Book Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 17:16:00 +0000

Hello, readers!

I just wanted to check in and give everyone an update on how things are going with this blog, and provide a light background on why I decided to become a book blogger in the first place. I know that I haven't been updating as often as I'd like, but I want to assure you that this blog is here to stay - I am just at a point in my life where I am making a lot of changes (including with this blog).

When I started this blog, I had just learned that book blogging was a thing, and browsing through books blogs for the first time had lit a spark in me that I hadn't felt in a long time. I used to be such an avid reader as a child, and breezed through Goosebumps and The Babysitters' Club books like other kids would breeze through an episode of their favorite cartoon.

I can't recall when exactly my reading habits had started to slow, but I only remember that it had dwindled somewhat in high school to the point where the only books I read where required readings or the occasional Dean Koontz novel, and then when college came it was almost nil. I was in a slump after college (and even during college, to be honest), getting bombarded with life events and family issues that felt like too much to handle. I knew that I had depression at the time, but my anxiety was so bad that I didn't feel that I could talk to anyone about it - in fact, I've had depression for well over 10 years, and it wasn't until a couple of months ago, in May 2017, that I finally was able to see a doctor for it, and get a proper clinical depression diagnosis.

But anywho, while I was going through all of this inner turmoil, I needed something to turn to, and so I decided to try book blogging out, since I felt it would give me a reason to read more. I always loved the comfort that I got from a good book, and challenging myself to read more for the sake of this blog kept my mind occupied and more often gave me that rare enjoyment that only comes when you've read a book that you truly love for the first time.

I'm very grateful for the book blogger community, and for this blog (especially for the numerous times that it has kept me in check with my reading!). While this past year I've been rather absent again due to unforeseen circumstances that have popped up in my life, I'm really hoping that things have settled down to enough of a standstill so that I can once again make a regular return to this blog. I'm going to be blogging again for myself, so that I can continue with challenging myself to read more, and to reflect more on my reading through book reviews and yes, memes (which are fun, and encourage me to think more creatively about the books I've read and hope to read).

Also, I'm not going to beat myself up about posting. I've always been relaxed with this blog, and will continue to do so - I've never kept to a regular schedule about having to post a certain amount per week or month, so I'm not going to start with that now. I always preferred posting when I felt a need or want to do so, and I feel no need to deviate from that path.

Thank you for sticking through this with me, and for taking the time to read this post. I look forward to seeing where this blog takes me, and I'm grateful to have you here with me! If there's anything you'd like to see more of from me, please let me know in the comments - I'd love to take your feedback into consideration when moving forward.

The Most Useful Tools For Getting Sh*t Done

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:29:00 +0000

Girlxoxo, Estella's Revenge, & Traveling With T have teamed up to bring us the December blogger event, #AMonthOfFaves2016, in which daily writing prompts are provided (M-F) as a way for bloggers to share their experiences over the past year. It's a great way to re-cap our thoughts on 2016, so I decided to join in on the fun!

Today's prompt is all about the tools that help us the most when trying to get things done. Now, I'm not gonna lie - I do struggle with both maintaining focus (I'm very easily distracted) and procrastination, so I need all the help I can get. Here are a few things that have helped me stay organized:

The Erin Condren Life Planner

Honestly, any life planner will probably do, but my planner of choice is the Erin Condren Life Planner, which I will never stop gushing about. I have NEVER found an electronic calendar that I've actually followed, so I need to have something tangible to look at. And yes, I track pretty much everything on it: bills, work deadlines, habits, time-of-the-month, etc.

Writing things down helps me commit things to memory better, and decorating does, too (plus, it's fun!). I've found that there have been certain events that I needed to recall by memory, and I was able to do so because I would remember "Oh! This happened during the week I decorated with a Frozen theme. I remember it happened on Friday because that's where I put the Elsa sticker!" Nerdy? Yes. But I love it, and it helps me (and trust me, I basically have the memory of a goldfish, so this has made a huge difference in my life).

Plus, I love the layout of the EC, and how high quality it is. I got the chance to meet Erin Condren and hear her speak at a convention earlier this year, and I really loved her, so I'm more than happy to continue supporting her business by buying her products - I feel the planners are well worth the $55+ price tag, since I use them daily. If the price is a bit high for you, however, there are some decent planners available at Target.

A couple other planners that I've tried out and like are the KitLife Planner and the Day Designer. I recommend that you research which planner and layout works best for you (there are a TON of helpful reviews to be found through Google), as I know that everyone's planning style is different.

Goodreads

Are there any book bloggers out there that don't use this site? I don't know where I'd be without Goodreads - even before I started blogging, I'd use it for everything. Not only can you track what books you've read or are currently reading, but you can also:

update which page you're on (very useful if you're reading a long library book & have to return it before you can finish because it's on hold)
save your favorite quotes by either 'liking' them or adding them to the database
find out what your friends are reading
get curated recommendations based on your previous ratings of books (their recommendation system is the best I've ever seen - I constantly find amazing books through it)

...I could go on and on, but I'll just stop here. I LOVE Goodreads!

*Note if you're looking for a similar website to track TV shows & movies that you watch, then I recommend Trakt. Since I'll watch things on multiple platforms (TV, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.) it really helps to track everything on one site. I mostly use it for shows, so that I remember where I left off.

Microsoft Outlook

Ok, so I really only use this for work, but it has been an absolute life-saver for me. I love you you can sort things easily by creating rules to send things to specific folders you create. I also love that you can flag things and mark deadlines, as well as create color-coded categories to mark your emails under (some categories I use are: Print This, Follow-Up On This, Remember This, etc.). Plus, it's the best to navigate, and there are no ads whatsoever to deal with. I may have to start using this at home...

A few other things that have saved me are Pilot G-2s, which are amazing pens that have never let me down; an endless supply of sticky notes, which I have with me everywhere in case I need to jot something down quickly; and theSkimm, which is a daily email that quickly highlights the news headlines for me in an easy-to-digest way, so that I stay informed despite my hectic schedule (it's free, but they have an amazing app called SkimmAhead that you can subscribe to for $2.99/month if you'd like to integrate their curated calendar of events with your iOS calendar, which I've found to be both fun and beneficial).

So, are there any tools you'd recommend that I haven't mentioned? I'm always on the lookout for new things to try out, so please let me know in the comments if there's something you'd like to share!

Diversity December Bingo

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 23:40:00 +0000

There's a fun event happening this month on Twitter - #DiversityDecBingo. The point is to score BINGO by filling out the card below (though you get total props for filling out the entire card!):

I'd like to give it a go this month, and see how many of these squares I can knock out. I'll update this post with my reads as I finish them, and mark off the bingo boxes as I go.

Now, reading diversely is something I aim to do on a regular basis, but it's pretty cool that a bingo card exists to help diversify my diverse reading (lol). It's important to put yourselves in the shoes of others and understand that your world is not the only world out there, especially now in the aftermath of this year's election. What better way to do that than to read diverse novels that are actually written by diverse authors?

I would love it if you would join me! And don't forget to check out the hashtag #DiversityDecBingo on Twitter to see how everyone else is doing, and to get some great recs on books to add to your TBR!

Non-Western Real World Setting

Set in Japan.

Own Voices

Blank Bingo Card (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

♪ These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things ♫

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:30:00 +0000

Let me tell you, 2016 was not the best year for me, and was emotionally and mentally draining, thanks mostly to a family crisis that is still affecting me. Because of this, you may have noticed that the number of posts on this blog has declined dramatically. It's my goal for the next year, however, to bring this blog back to where I want it to be, and what better time to start than now, rather than wait for Jan. 1?

So I'll kick off this event by focusing on some of the good that happened this year, and writing out a list of my favorite things:

Thanksgiving Week In My Planner, In Honor Of The Gilmore Girls Revival

Erin Condren Life Planner

This planner is an absolute life saver! While it may seem expensive, it's high quality, you'll get your money's worth if you actually utilize it throughout the year, like I do. I've had a hard time remembering to use a planner in the past, but this planner is GORGEOUS, and I've had a lot of fun jazzing it up with stickers and washi tape, which makes planning a whole lot more fun. But even without the decorating, the planner looks great, and you can even pick out a custom cover to make it personalized. I had an EC last year, as well, but this year is the first year I actually started decorating it, and I can say without a doubt that it won't be my last!

New Orleans

Earlier this year, I got the chance to spend four glorious days in the city of New Orleans, LA for a convention that I was attending. I had never been there before, but it was on my bucket list. I had an amazing time, and completely fell in love with the city. I hope that I can go back one day, but until then, I have some great experiences and memories to hold on to!

Just Ranch by Hampton Creek
This year, Target started selling the vegan Just Ranch dressing from Hampton Creek, the makers of Just Mayo. I've been a fan of their mayo since I discovered it in my local WalMart (especially their Sriracha mayo!), but when I found a bottle of Just Ranch in the condiments section at Target, I nearly cried tears of joy! It is delicious, and I always make sure to have some on hand. Vegan ranch was never available where I live, so I just went without it. But now, I pretty much put ranch on whatever I can!

Un-Du Adhesive Remover
I don't know how long this stuff has been around, but I cannot believe I had never heard of it before! Un-Du is one of the best adhesive removers I've ever come across - not only does it completely remove a sticker or label without damaging your paper or item, but it leaves the sticker residue on the sticker, so that you can reuse it again! Plus, I've tested it out on paper with handwriting (both pen and pencil), and it doesn't smear the writing when you wet the page! The paper doesn't warp, either, and it dries quickly.

The Bobby Bones Show
This isn't in any way new to me, but I have just been grateful this entire year to still have the BBS to listen to every morning. I always download the podcasts and listen to them while driving or when I'm at work. This show definitely makes the day go by faster, and gives me something to look forward to. It's been #1 in my heart since '07, and is still going strong.

iPad Air 2
I never thought I'd have one, but I saved enough money at the end of last year to get one, and I am so glad that I did! I use this baby all the time - more so than I use my laptop now. Honestly, I thought I would mostly use it to read manga & comic books, since storing them electronically takes up way less space then keeping them in physical form, but I actually use it more for Netflix, Hulu, and web-browsing. It's lightweight and easy to carry, and I'd recommend it to everyone. I love Apple products, but have only ever splurged for their iPod before, as it's the best on the market, and I love listening to music more than anything else.

What are some of your favorite things from this year? Please let me know in the comments, or join in the fun by creating a blog post of your own!

{Movie Review} Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Spoiler Free!)

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 19:34:00 +0000

IMDb

The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is a sort-of prequel to the Harry Potter series, in that it takes place well before HP, but is itself its own story (even if you have never seen or read Harry Potter, you can still enjoy this movie).

The first of five films, Fantastic Beasts follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, who arrives in New York City only to discover that some of the creatures he had brought with him have escaped. Meanwhile, there have been some mysterious occurrences throughout the city, putting the Magical Congress of the United States of America on high alert.

Main Cast

Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander

Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein

Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski

Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein

Colin Farrell as Percival Graves

I went to see this film on Black Friday with a couple of friends. I had heard more good than bad about this movie beforehand (while still managing to stay away from spoilers), and since J.K. Rowling herself had written the script rather than someone else, I was rather excited.

A bit of backstory on my wizarding world experience: I absolutely LOVE the Harry Potter series. I feel that it really helped shape me as a person, and had a huge impact on my life. I am not, however, as big a fan of the movies as I am the books. I'm not trying to sound snobbish or anything, but I honestly feel that all of the magic and wonder and feelings to be gained from the world that Rowling created can only be experienced through reading the books. While the movies are okay enough, they only show the story that the director wants to tell, they cut out a lot of key details as well as some beloved characters (Peeves!), and they aren't really open to interpretation (and don't allow for imagination) like the novels. Plus, I feel that there is a bond that forms between reader and story that cannot be experienced by film, and if you like the films but have not read the books, then I am sorry to say that you are missing out! *rant over*

So anyway, back to Fantastic Beasts.

From the very beginning of the film, I was completely enthralled. I fell in love with Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Newt Scamander almost immediately, and also started having strong feelings about wanting a Niffler. What completely threw me, however, was how much I ended up loving [Slightly spoilery, but not really? I just feel you should see this movie without expectations, so highlight to read just in case: Jacob Kowalski, a secondary Muggle....er, No-Maj, character. He was definitely my favorite character after Newt! I could say so much more, but in my efforts to be as spoiler-free as possible, I'll just stop there.] *end of possible spoiler*

I felt that Rowling did a fantastic job on the script, and the director and cast did an excellent job on bringing the story to life. Overall, the film was just as witty and enthralling as the HP novels were. I don't want to get into details on the characters or plot, because I feel that the best way to view this film is with as few expectations as possible, but I will say without a doubt that I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and will be buying it as soon as it's released to DVD & Blu-ray. I may actually even go back to see it in theaters again, if I get the chance to. Maybe IMAX this time? At any rate, I cannot wait for the next installment in the series. I'm so excited!

My Rating:

5/5 Stars!

Hot Head by Damon Suede

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:45:00 +0000

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire...

Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181, Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately, Dante is strictly a ladies’ man, and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For ten years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.

Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until a nearly bankrupt Dante proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay porn website where uniformed hunks get down and dirty. And Dante wants them to appear there—together. Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?

"...people should not be punished for loving and hoping and holding their hearts open."

This may be the best M/M romance that I've read so far. To be honest, the majority of M/M novels that I've read have been written by women (the only ones that weren't were geared toward a teenage audience, so there weren't any sex scenes), and I must say, it was a verydifferent experience to read an 18+ M/M novel that was actually written by a gay male author.

The protagonists, Griff Muir and Dante Anastagio, are best friends that work together for the New York City Fire Department in Brooklyn. The story is told in third-person from Griff's point of view, and describes the struggle that Griff goes through with his overpowering attraction towards his straight best friend. Everything about this novel was hot, hot, hot! Plus, I just could not help but picture Kevin McKidd as Griff and Jon Bernthal as Dante - I don't know why (they're just the actors that popped in my head while reading the character descriptions!), but I felt they fit the roles perfectly.

I think what I liked best about this novel, however, was the fact that it touched upon the very real subject of hate crimes and assaults towards the gay community. I see a lot of m/m romances which feature characters that are afraid to come out to their friends and family for fear of their response, but not a lot of them actually touch upon the subject quite like this novel does. I also liked that this novel illustrated how gay bars aren't just places for gay men and women to hang out, or for people to find someone to hook up with or date; instead, it showed how they're actually safe havens, where LGBT+ individuals can go without fear of judgement or retaliation. This isn't really how they're depicted in the media.

Anywho, I breezed through this novel quickly, and I was a bit sad when it ended - I wanted more! According to Goodreads, there seems to be a sequel in the works, but I haven't seen any updates or anticipated release information anywhere, so it may be a while before it's released (if it's released). I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though!

{Movie Review} Everything Before Us

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:09:00 +0000

IMDb

The Department of Emotional Integrity (DEI) documents all relationship activity. A 'relationship score' is given to keep people accountable for their choices. The score is public for all to see, and affects various aspects of daily life. Two couples, teenagers and early 30s, face different but intersecting challenges in their relationships within the rules of the DEI.

I found this movie randomly when browsing through Netflix, and it caught my eye. I love indie romance films - especially if they take place in some type of sci-fiction-y alternate universe (TiMER, anyone?). Plus, the fact that this one featured a mostly Asian-American cast made it a certainty that I'd watch it, as I don't think I've even seen a romance movie with Asian leads that wasn't a foreign film. Every actor was fantastic!

One of the couples featured in the film

Turns out, this movie was created by Wong Fu Productions, a company that I'm actually familiar with thanks to YouTubers like KevJumba (Kevin Wu) and Nigahiga (Ryan Higa) who've worked with them on a few projects. Apparently, Everything Before Us is their first feature film, and was originally released on Vimeo after being successfully crowdfunded on Indiegogo. MAN DO I LOVE THE INTERNET!!!

Anyway, this movie was fantastic, and certainly gave me a lot to think about. The story was great, and different from any movie I've seen before (a definite plus!). I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that it was very....unconventional.

My favorite character had to be Randall (played by Randall Park from Fresh Off The Boat), the DEI agent that worked on the relationship "cases" featured in the film. His character was full of dimension, and really stood out to me every time he was on screen. Of course, the entire film was well done and filled with talented actors - I'm really glad I stumbled across it. If you're looking for a romance film that has actual depth and "realness" to it, then I highly recommend this!

My Rating:

4/5 Stars!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 21:13:00 +0000

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.

Wow. I knew going into this that it was going to be good, due to all of the buzz and positive reviews it had gotten (plus, it's Gaiman), but it wasn't until I picked it up and had begun reading that I knew it would be amazing. The thing about Neil Gaiman is that he is a true weaver of tales - he uses metaphors and language in a way that truly makes his books feel like home. There is a sense of comfort that emanates from his novels in a way that I have never seen before - they are not just books, they are dear friends you never knew you missed. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is no different.

This novel is of the magical realism genre, which is no surprise as everything Gaiman writes has a feel of magic to it. Overall, I'd say that the tone of this novel was reminiscent to that of the movie Stand By Me, as they give off similar feelings of intangible childhood nostalgia, and that sad pang of realization that arrives when you experience that loss of childhood innocence. In other words, this one gave me all the feels.

I know that this review is about as lame it gets, but I fear that anything I have to say about this novel would be sub-par, and wouldn't give it any justice. I don't really know what I can say about this novel, other than READ IT! If you are a true lover of books and stories (which you must be to be visiting a book blog), then you will appreciate a lot of what this book has to offer. Do NOT pass this one up!

My Top Ten Bookworm Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 05:34:00 +0000

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about our top bookworm delights, which I'm taking to mean the little bookish pleasures that I receive or take notice in. Honestly, being a reader is a pleasure in and of itself, but I am a huge nerd when it comes to reading, and nerds love taking pleasure in all the "little things" related to their fandoms, so I had no trouble at all coming out with this list. Without further ado, here are my top ten bookworm delights:

1) When There Are Designs On The Page Ends.

Such as the red birds that are printed on the side of Ketchup Clouds, by Annabel Pitcher:

If anyone knows what this style is called, can you please tell me? Also, if you know of any other examples of books that also have designs on the sides (other than the spine), I would love to know! I have no idea if there is a proper term for it, but it was a nice surprise to see it - I LOVE the extra touch!

2) When An Author Uses Your City As Their Setting In A Book.

I'm from El Paso, so trust me when I say that almost nothing ever takes place here, be it movie, book, TV show, your cousin's bat mitzvah, etc. NOTHING. So when something does happen here, I take notice. And yes, I get delight from it. So thank you, whoever decided to make Jaime Reyes (a.k.a. the Blue Beetle) from El Paso. THANK YOU!!!

3) When You Read A Book That Puts You In Research Mode.

Like when Me Before You had me researching what Dignitas was (it's real, people!!!) and things that a paraplegic individual could do for fun, or when The Martian made me look into what would and what wouldn't be possible to do when trying to survive on Mars.

4) Finding A New All Time FAVORITE Book To Love.

There is nothing like that feeling you get when you are reading a new book and you just know that it's going to be a new absolute favorite! As they say, "Nothing beats a first kiss!" And, on that note....

5) When You Read A Book So Good That Afterwords You CAN'T EVEN.

Do you know that feeling of "book shock" you get when you finish reading something so amazing that you just can't do anything else afterwards but sit in silence with your feelings and stare at the ceiling? I absolutely love that feeling. In fact, I crave it. It's actually what keeps me from devouring one book after another, because sometimes I need to finish processing my feelings before I can even think about starting a new book.

6) When The Book You Had Put On Hold Ages Ago Is FINALLY Available To Pick Up At The Library.

I love it when I get a call from the library to let me know that a book is ready for me - especially when it's one that I had forgotten about, or one that I'd been waiting on!

7) When You Find Someone Who Not Only Loves To Read As Much As You Do, But Who Enjoys Nerding Out About It, Too!

I recently became a part of a *small* online community on FB that nerds out about books as much as I do (we know each other from a larger group that we're all in), and it has been one of the best discoveries, ever! It's just so much fun to nerd out about books with other people who love to read! I love the internet.

8) When A Book You Love Is Released In A Gorgeous New Special Edition.

Such as the illustrated versions of Harry Potter that are in the process of being released; or this gorgeous illustrated edition of The Princess Bride; or the special edition of Fangirl that was released with amazing fanart included on the inside covers. I love, love, LOVE special editions.

9) Cracking Open A Book And Immersing Yourself In The Smell Of Its Pages.

Yes, that's right - the smell. It doesn't matter if the book is old or new, I'll take a whiff of it either way. I love the smell of a good book!

10) Basking In The Magnificence Of Your Bookshelf.

I don't know what it is about my bookshelf, but I just can't help but bask in its glow every time I see it. I love re-arranging my books until they're just right; I love adding new books; I love running my fingers along the spines, and stealing secret glances at it whenever I enter my room. Am I crazy? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just in love.

Do you and I share any bookish delights? Is there something missing from this list that should definitely be on here? If so, feel free to let know about it in the comments!

Waiting On: Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:54:00 +0000

Heroine Complex

by Sarah Kuhn
Expected Publication: July 5th 2016

Being a superheroine is hard. Working for one is even harder.

Evie Tanaka is the put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, her childhood best friend and San Francisco's most beloved superheroine. She's great at her job—blending into the background, handling her boss's epic diva tantrums, and getting demon blood out of leather pants.

Unfortunately, she's not nearly as together when it comes to running her own life, standing up for herself, or raising her tempestuous teenage sister, Bea.

But everything changes when Evie's forced to pose as her glamorous boss for one night, and her darkest comes out: she has powers, too. Now it's up to her to contend with murderous cupcakes, nosy gossip bloggers, and supernatural karaoke battles—all while juggling unexpected romance and Aveda's increasingly outrageous demands. And when a larger threat emerges, Evie must finally take charge and become a superheroine in her own right... or see her city fall to a full-on demonic invasion.

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

First off, let us just take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness that is Jason Chan. I feel that since the cover art is what drew me in to this book in the first place, I couldn't go without mentioning it first. I am a big Jason Chan Fan! Jason Chan is a badass freelance artist - you may know him best from some of his other cover illustrations, such as the ones he did for the Théâtre Illuminata series or The Lotus War series. I'd read anything with a cover by him, lol.

But what makes this book even more awesome (other than the amazing cover art) is the fact that it is a superhero novel in which the "personal assistant" (not even a sidekick!!!) ends up becoming the hero for once. Also, this book takes place in San Francisco, which is one of my dream cities to live in, and the heroine is Asian-American! We need more diversity in novels, and we also need more superhero novels (that are actual novels rather than graphic novels - though I love comics, too!).

And, as if news of this novel weren't exciting enough, it seems that Heroine Complex is going to be the FIRST book in a SERIES of superhero novels starring Asian-American super-heroines! This book is just so full of WIN!!!

So, what do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

#TagTime: 15 Weird Questions, Answered

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:33:00 +0000

I saw this tag a while back on Christina Reads YA, and I've been meaning to do it ever since. I love tags, and this one is a nice way for you all to get to know me just a tad bit better. Here goes:

1. A nickname that you get called.

I don't really have any nicknames, unless you count "Kim." Though in high school a friend gave me the nickname "KitKat" for a little while, since my initials are K.K. (don't worry, my middle name is Elaine!). My 4-year-old niece calls me "Kimalee," since she can't pronounce my name properly yet. My younger sister (her mom) used to pronounce it that way too, when she was little.

2. A weird habit.

I constantly check in the middle of the night that the front door is locked. I also like to double (and triple) check that I've turned things off, or that I've unplugged things, etc. You just can't be too careful.

3. A weird phobia.

I have social phobia and social anxiety, which is why I prefer to communicate with people through the internet, lol. Though to be honest, it freaks me out to talk to people online, too. When I was little, I was afraid that It the Clown was going to eat me, so I used to tape a letter to my bedroom door asking him not to. Once in a while I still check my closet and underneath the bed to make sure nothing is there...

4. A song you are ashamed to like so you blast it in private.

I am slightly ashamed at the number of Joe Jonas songs that are on my iPod, but I can't say that I'm particularly ashamed of any specific song. Meh. I have songs on my iPod that are in Turkish and Hebrew, not to mention all of the K-Pop, J-Rock, and Mando-Pop songs that are on there. I don't care if people hear it. Ain't no shame in my game. I love music!

5. A pet peeve.

When people crack their knuckles or chew/talk with their mouth full - I can't stand it!

6. A nervous habit.

Bouncing my leg up and down when I'm sitting. Also, pacing back and forth while listening to music on my headphones (I do this in short bursts multiple times throughout the day - especially when I'm feeling stressed).

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

All over. I tend to sleep in the middle, and I change the direction my head is at based on what I feel like that night. Yes, I have the bed to myself, so I can do what I want - mwahaha!

8. The name of your first stuffed animal.

I can't remember my first stuffed animal! I think the earliest one I can remember that had a name) was a yellow stuffed bunny I had received for Easter that I named 'Buster,' after Buster Baxter from Arthur.

9. What do you buy at Starbucks?

I like to mix it up, but my go-to drinks are:

Peppermint Mocha
Iced Green Tea Latte
Mocha Frappuccino

All with Coconut or Soy Milk, and no whip. I like their teas, too, but even if you say "easy ice," they fill those f*ckers up, so it's not worth the cost, really.

10. Beauty rule.

Always floss.

11. Which way do you face in the shower?

I tend to move around, but my preference when I am freezing cold in the morning is to set the water to "scalding hot" and face towards the shower.

12. A weird body skill.

I have none that I know of. Though I suppose it is a weird sort of "skill" how my body is often falling or bumping into things as often as it does...it's insane. I'm surprised I'm still alive, really.

13. Comfort food.

Pasta. Or pizza. Basically Italian food. Yum!

14. A word or phrase that you say all the time.

Scheiße (German; pronounced: Sh-eye-za). It's my go-to curse word. Variations may often include: Scheiße Minnelli, or Scheiße LaBeouf.

15. What do you sleep in?

Pajama bottoms & a comfy tee shirt. Though lately I've taken to wearing a cotton night-gown. They're just so...airy. And they make me feel like a lady.

So, do you feel like you know me better?! Haha. Ok. Now it's your turn! If you've honestly taken the time to read this post in it's entirety, then consider yourself tagged! Just do me a favor and let me know in the comments if you've completed it, that way I can check out your answers (or, if you don't have a blog, feel free to answer in a comment, instead!).

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 16:38:00 +0000

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Like nearly one in five people, Matt Haig suffers from depression. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt’s inspiring account of how, minute by minute and day by day, he overcame the disease with the help of reading, writing, and the love of his parents and his girlfriend (and now-wife), Andrea. And eventually, he learned to appreciate life all the more for it.

Everyone’s lives are touched by mental illness: if we do not suffer from it ourselves, then we have a friend or loved one who does. Matt’s frankness about his experiences is both inspiring to those who feel daunted by depression and illuminating to those who are mystified by it. Above all, his humor and encouragement never let us lose sight of hope. Speaking as his present self to his former self in the depths of depression, Matt is adamant that the oldest cliché is the truest—there is light at the end of the tunnel. He teaches us to celebrate the small joys and moments of peace that life brings, and reminds us that there are always reasons to stay alive.

"I was scared of the quiet. I was scared, I suppose, of having to slow down and soften the volume. Scared of having nothing but my own mind to listen to."

A bit of a memoir, self-help "guidebook," and analytical "note-to-self" all in one, Reasons To Stay Alive truly lives up to it's title. This book contains an amazing and accurate description of what it is like to struggle with depression and anxiety. I myself struggle with both, however thankfully I have never experienced a panic attack such as the ones the author has been through *knock on wood*. The thing about mental illness, of course, is that you never have two people that share illnesses also share the exact same symptoms, experiences, or feelings. Each story is completely unique, and while the name of the disorder may be the same, not everything that applies to one person will necessarily apply to someone else.

With this particular memoir, a lot of what Matt went through seemed like it was on another plane of existence from what I go through, but at the same time, I would find myself making exclamations out loud to myself because I would come across words or passages that I completely clicked with, and was excited to see were things that I wasn't alone in feeling.

I mostly read memoirs to step in the shoes of others and see how people live differently from myself, but it is a refreshing feeling to find myself understanding so much of what an author is trying to convey. Each chapter was short, and was its own story in and of itself, while connecting to give a larger picture of not only what the author has gone through in his depression, but to give a feeling of hope - that no matter how difficult or hopeless you can feel, there can still be moments waiting to occur that will bring you out of the darkness and into the light, and there can still be a better tomorrow.

What I appreciate most, however, is how honest Matt was about how depression is not something to be "overcome" or "defeated" - it is always there, and once you have it, even when you manage to find what brings light and hope into your life, it will still be a part of you. He actually delves into how he has found aspects of his illness to appreciate, stating that if didn't have depression, he may not feel the emotions he feels about certain things as strongly as he does. He also adds that the illness causes you to see things in a different way, affecting every aspect of your thought process and how you perceive things, and that many key people who were known for struggling with depression (such as Robin Williams, Abraham Lincoln, and Angelina Jolie, amongst others) were probably not great "despite" having depression, but most likely because of it.

I'm not going to delve too much deeper into this, because I honestly can't do this book justice by my review. All I can say is that for an illness that has too much social stigma attached to it due to what basically amounts to a lack of knowledge and/or an inability to accept the unknown, Matt Haig does a phenomenal job of writing about it in a way that would allow anyone unfamiliar with the true nature of the disease to begin gaining a more basic understanding of it. For those who are familiar, or who battle depression on a day-by-day basis, this novel is a beacon of hope (as corny as it sounds) that shows that it is always possible for you to start breathing again, and to have a life that you truly enjoy - if you just hang in there and keep working towards it, eventually you will find your own Reasons To Stay Alive.

There is always hope.

Thank you, Matt.

Waiting On: Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 17:39:00 +0000

Anticipated Release Date: August 30, 2016

A darkly funny and spectacularly original exploration of friendship, goodbyes —and spontaneous combustion.

“Katelyn Ogden was a lot of things, but she wasn’t particularly explosive, in any sense of the word.”

Mara Carlyle’s senior year at Covington High in suburban New Jersey is going on as normally as could be expected, until the day—wa-bam!—fellow senior Katelyn Ogden explodes during third period pre-calc. Katelyn is the first, but she won’t be the last senior to explode without warning or explanation. The body count grows and the search is on for a reason—Terrorism! Drugs! Homosexuality! Government conspiracy!—while the seniors continue to pop like balloons.

Mara narrates the end of their world as she knows it with tell-it-like-it-is insight as she tries to make it to graduation in one piece through an explosive year punctuated by romance, quarantine, lifelong friendship, hallucinogenic mushrooms, bloggers, ice cream trucks, “Snooze Button™,” Bon Jovi, and the filthiest language you’ve ever heard the President of the United States use over Skype.

Aaron Starmer rewrites the YA rulebook in Spontaneous, a ridiculously funny, super honest, and truly moving exemplar of the absurd and raw truths of being a teenager in the 21st century . . . and the heartache of saying goodbye.

"The best book on spontaneous combustion you will ever read."

-- John Green

Why I Can't Wait To Read This

You mean you can't tell from the description alone?! How about that glowing recommendation from John Green (who has read a surprisingly large number of books on spontaneous combustion)? Honestly, based on the synopsis alone, this book sounds friggin' awesome! I love YA novels that stand out from the crowd, since nowadays everything sounds almost exactly the same.

Plus, while it sounds like a funny enough plot, I like that there still seems to be seriousness around the main character, who just wants to graduate without bursting into flame:

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

So, what do you think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in by linking-up to your own Waiting on Wednesday post over at Breaking The Spine.

Short Stories (As Companions To A Series)

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:18:00 +0000

Periodically, I like to participate in the Friday Feature & Follow that is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. As you may have noticed, it's been a while. They have also just returned with this link-up after a two-month hiatus, so we're in similar boats! This week's prompt is:

Short Stories (as companions to a series):

What do you love about them and hate about them?

I am a huge fan of authors using short stories to complement their series, especially if they actually add substance or background to the characters instead of just being used as filler. In fact, some of my favorite series have great short stories that excite me as much as the full novels do!

There's just something about discovering an amazing new series, with a detailed world and many characters to love, that makes you want as much of that world to hold on to as possible. This is why fan-fiction is so popular. Who says the story has to end? We are a consumer population, and we can't help but want to consume more of what we love - reading does not escape this.

Besides, novellas are fun, and as long as my favorite authors continue to write them, I will continue to read them. A few of my recommendations include:

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer wrote enough short stories to go with her series, The Lunar Chronicles, that she released a bound collection of them, called Stars Above. I fell in love with all of her characters in the series, and love that I got to learn more about them from the novellas that were released.

The Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks

I like this series enough that I enjoyed reading more stories that had to do with the underwater world created by Anna Banks. It was fun to read the stories, and it helped ease the wait in between books.

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

This series was soooo freaking good that the wait in between novels was utterly agonizing! Luckily enough, Veronica Rossi released these two novellas, which are both stories that I feel are pertinent to the central story, and were actually both stories on characters I found myself wanting to know more about while reading the main series. These are definitely not to be missed!

What do you think? Are there any series you love that you feel benefit from having companionable short stores to go with them? Please let me know in the comments below!

Notes On My Unexpected Hiatus (or, Surprise! I'm Still Alive)

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:34:00 +0000

Wow. I never intended to go on such a long hiatus, especially without any notice to y'all, but I have really just been doing my best to keep myself together. I had an unexpected family emergency which suddenly left me caring for my young nieces, and took up all of my free time. I can't go into too many details, out of respect to the people involved, but I do want to apologize for taking so long to at least inform you of my absence. On the plus side, things have finally (maybe) started sorting themselves out in some areas, and I may once again finally have time to continue with this blog.

Between you and me, I normally read about 60 or more books in a year, but so far, this year, I haven't even read one. In fact, I am still at the beginning of a book that I actually started reading at the very end of 2015. Don't get me wrong - All The Light We Cannot See is an incredibly well-written and engrossing story, I've just had too much on my mind to concentrate on it, and too much to deal with to make the time to do so.

On a lighter note, I decided to read something a bit faster paced to see if I can at least get out of this slump, so this week I started reading Rainbow Rowell's Carry On. Also, thanks to a very long and tedious task at work this week that required very minimal brain function, I was able to get back into the Books on the Nightstand podcast, which excited me because it helped to ease me back in the book world, both by catching me up on the latest book-related news and by giving me some awesome new releases to add to my TBR.

Once again, I truly am sorry for leaving you all in the dust, but I've just had way too much on my plate. It is my hope that now that things have started turning themselves around, I might have more time to devote to this blog, and to my favorite pastime, reading. Once a reader, always a reader...

Be on the lookout for some new content coming soon, as well as a giveaway (once payday arrives) to celebrate reaching 1,000 likes on Facebook! Yay!

Thank you all for sticking with me!

{Top 10 of 2015} Best Books I've Read In 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 05:53:00 +0000

At the end of every year, I like to participate in this five-day Top 10 of _____ event. This year, of course, the event is titled Top 10 of 2015, and it is hosted by Fiktshun, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Tales of the Ravenous Reader, and Two Chicks On Books. As I am a huge fan of making lists, I find this event to be a lot of fun! I enjoy reflecting on the books I've read all year, and thinking about which book should make what list, and why or why not. The first topic of the event is The Best Books I've Read In 2015, and while I read a lot of great books this year, I was able to narrow it down to the following ten:

I think my favorite book this year was Fangirl, which just blew my mind with how good it was! I can't believe how much I have in common with Cath - it really improved my reading experience a great deal. It's just nice to find someone to relate to while reading. Plus, I loved the whole world that Rainbow created, and I'm excited to get to read the spin-off novel, Carry On!

Furiously Happy was a close second, which I loved because I enjoyed the author's humor, and could actually relate to her. Like Jenny, I struggle with depression and anxiety, though I don't feel I'm at a level where I could accomplish what she has. It's an inspiration, though, to read about all of her experiences. I highly recommend this one!

So, what were some of the best books that you've read this year?

Please share in the comments below!

Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 23:28:00 +0000

Yet again, I will be participating in Megan's reading challenge, dubbed the Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge. Megan hosts a challenge every season, and while I have yet to fully complete one, I always end up reading some great books that I wouldn't have picked up if it weren't for this challenge (which is sort of like a bookish scavenger hunt, as you have to find and read books that fit under the given categories - one book can only count towards one category).

This post is basically where I track what books I am able to read during the challenge, but feel free to check out the categories below and see if this challenge is something you'd like to participate in. It runs from Nov. 1st - January 31st, so you can still sign up if you'd like to give it a try - it's fun! Here are the categories for this season's challenge:

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages.

10 points: Read a debut book by any author. (The book does not have to be a 2015 debut.)

10 points: Read a book that does not take place in your current country of residence.

10 points: Read a book (200+ pages) that someone else has already used for the challenge.

The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew (Read by Tara)
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (Read by Kathie)

15 points: Read a book published under a pseudonym.

Trapped by Jack Kilborn (a pseudonym for J.A. Konrath)

15 points: Read a book with “boy,” “girl,” “man” or “woman” in the title (or the plural of these).

~~Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell~~ (464 pages; 5 stars)

15 points: Read a book with a one-word title (e.g. Attachments, Americanah, Uglies, Wild, etc.).

20 points: Read a book with a person's first and last name in the title .

~~The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden by Emma Trevayne~~ (247 pages; 3 stars)

20 points: Read a food-themed book.

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

20 points: Read a book with a verb in the title.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

30 points: Read two books with the same title (by different authors).

Relic by Renee Collins
Relic by Douglass Preston & Lincoln Child

Trapped by Jack Kilborn
Trapped by Michael Northrop

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Sold by Zana Muhsen, with Andrew Crofts

30 points: Read a nonfiction book and a fiction book about the same subject.

Two books about depression & mental illness:

~~Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson~~ (non-fiction)
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (fiction)

POINTS SO FAR: 35

Top 10 Book-To-Movie Adaptations That I'm Looking Forward To Watching

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:38:00 +0000

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

Normally, I'm very picky when it comes to Book-To-Movie adaptations - I tend to get let down easily, despite the fact that the film trailers may have seemed promising. Nonetheless, I've decided to participate in this week's Top Ten Tuesday, as there have been some really good trailers released lately, and honestly, you just never know. Some of these may tank, but some may be real gems! Here are ten adaptations that I'm hoping will be worth watching:

*Click on the film title to view the book on Goodreads*

The Martian (2015)

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm not gonna lie - since I heard beforehand that Matt Damon would be playing Mark Watney, I ended up picturing him as the character while reading it. I thought he was a perfect fit, so I hope I still feel the same way when I finally see the film! I've heard good things about this one so far.

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

I know this looks like it will be NOTHING like the book (especially since there's no Igor in the original novel), but I still want to see it. I love James McAvoy, and I'll give anything he's in a try, but perhaps more-so to this since it is (very loosely) based on one of my favorite novels. Besides, it's not as if Frankenstein hasn't been butchered enough already, lol.

The Danish Girl (2015)

Wow. This trailer looks amazing! I haven't read the novel yet, but it's based on a true story, and I've added it to my ever-growing TBR. I can't wait to see this one!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Okay, so I admit that I haven't read the book, and am unsure if I will ever get around to reading it, but this trailer looks totally awesome. As an avid fan of zombie flicks, I will definitely be checking this one out.

Deadpool (2016)

I am so excited for this movie! Ryan Reynolds has been great in every sneak peek and promo vid that I've seen so far, and he really gets into character (I even love how they poke fun at him for The Green Lantern movie!). I'm stoked to see this one! And don't worry, this is the only comic book adaptation that I will be listing in this post, otherwise all the upcoming Marvel & DC films would take over this list!

The Jungle Book (2016)

I don't even remember much about the animated Disney film (other than 'The Bare Necessities'), but this trailer looks pretty good - the animation seems top-notch, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (2016)

No trailer for this one yet, but I don't even need to see one to know that I HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE IN THEATERS! I am so excited!!! J.K. Rowling is writing the script, and it's a Potterverse movie, so I know I won't be let down!!!

Looking For Alaska (2016)

I'm a little iffy on this one, as it is one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME, so I know I'll be super critical of any film version released, but I really enjoyed The Fault In Our Stars adaptation, so I know I'll have to give it a chance. I haven't seen Paper Towns yet, but I love the cast, and I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy that one, so I'll try to stay positive! I have trust in the team that is putting it together.

The Circle (2016)

If you haven't read this book already, you really should! It's about a girl who goes to work for "The Circle" (a company that really sounds a lot like Google...) and all of the cult-like craziness that she gets swept up in while with the company. It looks like they've signed on Emma Watson to play the lead, as well as other big names like Tom Hanks, Karen Gillan, Patton Oswalt, & Bill Paxton! The cast has really gotten me excited, so I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this one.

His Dark Materials (? - BBC Mini-Series)

I know this isn't a technically a movie, but how can I not list this?! Almost any series that's brought to life by the BBC is gold (e.g. Sherlock, Merlin, etc.), so I have total faith that this series will surpass all levels that the Hollywood film failed to reach.

So, what book-to-movie adaptations are you looking forward to seeing? Let me know in the comments if I'm missing anything so that I can add it to my mental "To Watch" list!

{Giveaway + Review} Return Once More by Trisha Leigh

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:30:00 +0000

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?

Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.

If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?

Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.

Or would you have the strength to watch him die?

But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

From the moment that I read the synopsis, I knew that I had to read this book. Thanks to Doctor Who, I have a strong fascination with the idea of time travel, and the consequences that could arise when making changes to the past, no matter how insignificant they may initially seem. In this novel, Kaia Vespasian is on her way to becoming one of the Historians, a group of time travelers in charge of observing and recording historical events in an effort to reflect on mankind's actions and determine what lead to its downfall, so as to prevent history from repeating itself. Of course, along the way Kaia falls in love, encounters her brother's band of renegade space pirates, catches someone tampering with time, and discovers a terrible conspiracy. Definitely non-stop excitement!

Aside from the plot, however, what I loved best was the author's writing. Trisha Leigh is an intelligent writer, and really did a fantastic job at leaving no stone unturned. Just when I feared that there was contradictory information, or plot points that didn't quite make sense, my questions would all be addressed, and the writing would smooth it all out - like when I wondered how on earth so many historians could witness the same events in time without running each other (a question that was of course answered later on in the story). Ms. Leigh seemed to have a reason behind every word she wrote, and took great care to ensure that it all wove together seamlessly for her readers.

I don't want to give anything away, which is why I am shying from speaking much about the plot in this review, but I feel I must add that a lot of what made this story so enjoyable was the fact that there were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout the novel. By the end of the story, I was so engrossed that I did not want to put it down! It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am very much looking forward to reading part two, but in the meantime I will most certainly be checking out Ms. Leigh's other series, The Last Year, to tide me over until its release. This one gets 5 out of 5 stars!

My reaction upon reading the final cliffhanger.

Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales, and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies, reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.

Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who numerous, loud, full of love, and the kind of people that make the world better. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories—made up, of course, but true enough in their way.

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