September Book Haul

Hello everyone!

Today I wanted to share all the books I accumulated in September. There aren't very many, but I'm excited to read them all.

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Triple Moon by Melissa De La Cruz

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography by One Direction

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Did you get any new books in September? What are your thoughts on any of these books if you've read them?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

~Abby

To All the Books I've Loved Before Tag

Hello everyone!

I've seen this tag slowly going around, and since I love the book/movie I decided I wanted to do it. This tag was created by Frankinesce. You can check out her original tag here.

1. Kenny from Camp - Your first book love.

These are the first books I really started obsessing over and got me into reading way more than I was in the past. I read books my whole life, but The Selection series is what got me into the young adult genre.

2. John Ambrose McClaren - The book that got away. (A book that may not be your all-time favorite now, but you'll always love it.)

These are the first books I was introduced to in the young adult genre. I read them all the way back in fourth or fifth grade (I can't remember for sure) and I loved them. I didn't really pick up young adult books at the time, so this series was such a big deal to me. I loved the story and the characters, even though I may not like how Mockingjay ended.

3. Lucas from Homecoming - Your GBF. (Your favorite LGBTQ+ character or book).

I haven't really read any books with LGBTQ+ characters besides City of Bones, and based on that first book, I wouldn't call any of them my favorites. So, I don't have an answer for this question.

4. Josh Sanderson - The book next door. (A book that you'll love no matter how many times you read it.)

Big surprise I chose this series. I just love the characters too much to not enjoy the books each time I read them.

5. Peter Kavinsky - Your one true book love. (Challenge: Pick a book that you don't typically mention as your ultimate favorite.)

I just love this story so much! How could I not mention it as one of the many books I love?

What are some of your book loves?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

~Abby

Fall Book Recommendations

Hello everyone!

It is officially the first day of fall, so what better way to celebrate than sharing some of my favorite fall reads! In the fall, I love reading mysteries, thrillers, and fantasy books. So that's what I'll be recommending to you all today.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

This book is especially good for the fall because of all the supernatural/paranormal elements incorporated within the story.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

This is a fantasy series that is about fairies. That's pretty much all I'll say so I don't give anything away.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

 If I remember correctly, I think this book even takes place in the fall. It's such a great trilogy, and a great one to read in the fall.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

This book incorporates elements of King Arthur in it which is really cool. Perfect for the fall season.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I read this book in the summer, but it's a great book to read in the fall. It's a book about fae, but it was really well done and the writing is so magical. I highly recommend you read it if you haven't already.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

This is a fantastic trilogy, so basically if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend that you do. 

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a great fall read because of all the adventure. It's such a fun and entertaining read.

The Healing Spell by Kimberly Griffiths Little

I believe this book starts out in the fall, but it's a great book to read during the fall time.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

This is a science fiction novel that just screams fall vibes. It's the perfect book to just curl up with on a cold day and binge read.

I hope you got some good suggestions from this list. What are some of your favorite fall reads?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

~Abby

5 Star Predictions

Hello everyone!

I've been seeing this idea floating around the book community and wanted to share my 5 star predictions. I'm going to share 10 with you today, and I'll try to check in once I've hopefully read all 10 and see if they were all 5 stars.

1. The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

He's one of my favorite authors and I want to give more of his books a try. This seems like a good one to pick up in the winter months.

2. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Yet again, she is one of my favorite authors and I've rated both of her other books 5 stars. Hopefully, this one will be just as good.

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I've heard so many great things about this book that I'm pretty sure I'd rate it 5 stars once I get around to reading it.

4. The Diviners by Libba Bray

The premise of this book sounds right up my alley. I think I'll really enjoy it once I read it.

5. Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I had the opportunity of listening to her talk about her book when she came to visit my local library. The way she described this book about World War 2 (which is my favorite era to read about) made it sound like something I'd really enjoy, even though it's a very depressing story.

6. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

I read The Hobbit a while ago and adored it. I'm sure I'll love this book just as much, and I've been putting off reading it for so long.

7. The Diary of Anne Frank

I've heard her story my entire life, but I've never actually read this book. I love reading books on this topic and I'm sure this would get 5 stars from me.

8. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

So I have seen the movie before I read the book, and it's one of my favorites. I think this would be one of my favorite books by Nicholas Sparks once I get around to reading it.

9. Phantom by Susan Kay

I love Phantom of the Opera (both book and movie) and adored Roseblood when I read it earlier this year. I'm sure I'd love this book just as much since it is a Phantom retelling.

10. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

This book has piqued my interest ever since I bought it last year. It sounds creepy and thrilling and I'm excited to see if I'll like it as much as I think I will.

Those are 10 of the books I think will receive 5 stars from me. What books do you think you'll give 5 stars that are on your TBR?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fabulous day.

~Abby

Tips for Writing

Hello everyone!

Along with my love of reading, I also really enjoy writing. I wouldn't consider myself a professional or anything, but it is an enjoyable hobby for me. I hope in the future I can get a novel of mine published. Right now I'm focusing on a collaborative series with a couple of my friends. From this (and my other writing projects), I've gathered a few tips I thought I could share with anyone who's interested in writing.

Put yourself in the characters shoes.

Before you can properly write a character, you need to know this character really well. You can't just create a person out of thin air and expect them to work in your story. To know your character, create a list of traits of both physical and personality. Once you're list is made, you can then evaluate how your character would react in the different scenarios happening in your story. In order properly write the character, you need to step out of your shoes and into the characters. You become the character in a sense while you're writing.

Have an end goal.

What helps me when writing is having a goal set in mind about how the book/story is going to end. Without this knowledge, I have no direction for my story to go in and it can lead to writer's block which is no fun. You don't have to plan out every single scene, but having an end goal in mind is very helpful.

Share your work with others.

What really helps me as I'm going through the writing process is sharing it with others. Your project doesn't have to be complete before you receive feedback. I like to share my stories with my close friends after I get a few chapters done to see if they enjoy the story and get any ideas/opinions from them that I can. This has really helped me improve as a writer.

Continually read.

Just because you become a writer doesn't mean you should stop reading. In fact, reading can help improve your writing. It can also count as research for your novel. For example, if you're writing a book from multiple perspectives, it might be helpful to read books told from many perspectives to get an idea of how to approach it in your own writing. 

Find your own style.

You may not find your own style of writing after your first project, it may take awhile. I feel like I'm still finding my own style, it's continually evolving. If you're sarcastic, incorporate sarcasm into your writing. Finding your own style can help your audience get to know you a little better as an author.

I hope these tips were helpful. Let me know if you liked this post so I know to do more like it in the future.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

~Abby

Favorite First Sentences

Hello everyone!

I did a post like this a few months back and decided I wanted to do it again because it was so much fun and I only shared 5 last time. You can check out my original post here. First sentences are what get me hooked to a story, so they are a pretty big deal.

"Guilt is a hunter."

-Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys

"There are moments in life when you know things will never be the same."

-The Cinderella Society, Kay Cassidy

"How did it happen this time?"

-The Goddess Test, Aimee Carter

"You do not enter a race to lose."

-Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Leigh Bardugo

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

-Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

"Sire?" she repeats. "How soon do you want it to get there?"

-Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher

"The Demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts."

-Clockwork Angel, Cassandra Clare

"You've had bad days before, right?"

-Love and Gelato, Jenna Evans Welch

"Even as a little girl, I had thought that the swamp was a magical place where new lives began and old ones ended, where enemies and heroes weren't always what one expected, and where anything could happen, even to a clumsy princess."

-The Frog Princess, E.D. Baker

"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book."

-The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket

Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome day.

~Abby

Back to School Book Tag

Hello everyone!

I found this book tag over at the blog Books With Noel. You can check out her post here. It looked fun, so I wanted to try it, especially since I just recently started going back to school.

1. Fresh New Outfit - A book with the best-dressed characters.

I'm going to go with The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy since a lot of the book revolves around finding your own style and they do dress really nice.

2. New Science Partner - New Sci-Fi book you want to read.

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston has sounded interesting to me ever since it came out earlier this year, but I have yet to pick it up.

3. Favorite Teacher - A book with a great mentor.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has great mentors that I love.

4. New Supplies - Favorite new reading or writing accessories.

I haven't gotten anything recently, so I don't have an answer for this question.

5. Old Friends - A book you want to reread.

The Selection series by Kiera Cass. It's been a while since I reread this series and I'm in the mood to read it again, so maybe it will happen soon.

6. Ready for Sweater Weather - A book featuring cold weather.

The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans is set during Christmastime which is generally pretty cold.

7. Open House - A book that made a memorable (good or bad) first impression.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. It was the first book I'd ever read by her and I fell in love with the story.

8. Too Early for This - A book you would get out of bed for.

Any of my favorite books/series.

9. The Textbook Costs How Much? - A book you spent too much money on.

I generally don't spend a lot of money on books. I find them for discounted prices if at all possible.

10. Best School in Literature You Want to Attend

Obviously Hogwarts, but if I had to pick a different school I'd go with Camp Half-Blood because it sounds amazing!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic day.

~Abby

Review: Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Hello everyone!
I finished reading Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch a few days ago and adored it. This novel follows Lina who moves to Italy to live with her father after her mother dies from cancer. Lina is given one of her mother's old journals and learns makes some surprising discoveries about her past. The story goes from there and is so much fun to read.

Firstly, I'd just like to say I loved the authors writing. If you didn't know, Jenna Evans Welch is the daughter of Richard Paul Evans, so I'm sure he aided in her love for writing. This book was so easy to read and I never wanted to put it down. It was pretty fast-paced for a contemporary which I appreciated. I don't really care for slow-moving plots. 

I loved that the book was set in Italy. It almost felt like I was in Italy with Lina as she was discovering things about her mother's past. I now want to go visit Italy so badly! Also, the friends Lina made along the way were so lovable and welcoming. I really appreciated how this contemporary not only focused on a romance but also familial relationships. 

Overall, this book was AMAZING! I rated it 5/5 stars. I loved everything about it: the setting, the characters, the relationships, the writing, etc... I had no idea how addicting this story would be going into it, but I really enjoyed myself while reading this novel. I now want to pick up her second novel to see if it's just as good. (I hope so.) I highly recommend this book to anyone!

Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome day.

~Abby

Favorite Classics

Hello everyone!

Recently, I was thinking about all the books I've had to read for school, and it got me thinking about the classics I've read. I either really like the classics or don't. Today I'm going to share some of my favorites with you.

Night by Elie Wiesel

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

What are some of your favorite classics? I'm trying to read more classics, so I'd love any suggestions.

Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome day.

~Abby

Book Scenarios

Hello everyone!

I was stuck thinking of blog posts to write, so my friend suggested doing this one to me. Basically, there are going to be a couple scenarios and I can only pick four book characters to help me through those scenarios. This is going to be fun to decide which characters I'm going to use.

Alien Invasion
1. Tanner (Michael Vey) - He could try and crash their spacecraft to the ground.
2. Marlee (The Selection) - She would try to rationalize with the aliens and try to work things out with them. Plus she'd make an effort to get along with everyone else in the group.
3. Jaron (Ascendance Trilogy) - He knows what to do in tough/stressful situations and would come up with a plan to help everyone.
4. Tobias (Divergent) - He is a well-trained fighter, which may come in handy.

Road Trip
1. Keefe (KOTLC) - He'd make jokes along the way and come up with some fun games to play on the way to the destination. And he'd get us out of any trouble we may encounter along the way.
2. Rune (Roseblood) - She could be my singing buddy since she has such a beautiful voice. Or she could just entertain us all with her singing.
3. Peter Kavinsky (To All the Boys I've Loved Before) - He'd be the designated driver since he loves driving Lara Jean around so much. And he seems like the safest option to have as a driver.
4. Augustus Waters (TFIOS) - He wants to live life to the fullest. A road trip would be perfect for him to find adventure which is exactly the reason why I'd go.

Zombie Apocalypse
1. Attia (Blood and Sand) - She is a woman gladiator and could hold her own if a zombie tried to attack.
2. Ostin (Michael Vey) - He is very smart and knows a lot of random facts that could probably help us survive. 
3. Hermione (Harry Potter) - She could team up with Ostin and make a plan of survival and her magic would become very handy.
4. Jace (Mortal Instruments) - He fights supernatural beings on a regular basis, so zombies for him would be a piece of cake.

Booby Trapped Maze
1. Forkle (KOTLC) - He is very intelligent and would not only know how to avoid the booby traps but what to do if one is set off.
2. Seth (Fablehaven) - He's had his fair share of experiencing booby traps and would be very helpful sharing his insight.
3. Diana (Wonder Woman: Warbringer) - She could help navigate the maze plus she's very good at defending herself and others around her.
4. Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) - I'd just want him to share his knowledge of adventure and how he got away from difficult situations.

Shopping
1. Biana (KOTLC) - She has a great fashion sense and would know what would look good on me.
2. America Singer (The Selection) - She's lived in the palace so she would know what kind of things to buy. Plus I feel like we'd get along very well.
3. Taylor Ridley (Michael Vey) - She is popular and a cheerleader so she would obviously have a good taste for fashion.
4. Imogen (Ascendance Trilogy) - I would want her opinion since she is so simple and would be honest.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.
~Abby

August 2018 Wrap-Up

Hello everyone!

August has been a pretty crazy month with me adjusting to being back in school. Regardless, I read 9 books which isn't bad at all. I'm still working on getting back into a regular routine of blog posts.

Grace and the Fever by Zan Romanoff

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review here.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

⭐

Winter by Marissa Meyer

⭐⭐⭐

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

⭐⭐

Nightfall by Shannon Messenger

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender
⭐⭐.5

Adultolescence by Gabbie Hanna
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review here.

Resisting the Rebel by Lisa Brown Roberts
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings
⭐⭐.5

What books did you read in August?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

~Abby