Search Results for: page morgan

• Book Review: “The Wondrous and the Wicked” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on April 8, 2015

  The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan

  Publisher: Delacorte
  Publishing Date: April 14
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743150
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia’s power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel’s Harvest is near-and the timing couldn’t be worse.

  Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

  Axia has promised that the world will burn. And now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the demon uprising alone.

  Ingrid is left in Paris with a different gargoyle presiding over her home. Her brother, Grayson, seems to have disappeared, when he’s actually learning more about demon dust with Vander in order to fight off his hellhound instincts. Gabby is trapped in London with Rory, Nolan’s cousin, and she insists on training to become an Alliance member, no matter what Nolan says. Meanwhile, Luc is separated from the Waverly family, and a civil war is approaching the Dispossessed, one that decides whether Luc should become their leader. But Axia’s Harvest could happen any day now, and Ingrid’s life — her blood — is at stake. But who can anyone trust? The Alliance, with their oath to slay demons? The Dispossessed, with their curse to protect humans? Or the Diacrypta, with their newfangled technology that may prove to save them all?

  Okay, so, the publisher summary makes it sound like Ingrid is all alone, the poor dear. What is she to do? And while my summary is a bit jumbled, I can’t say too much without revealing the entire plot. But what is true about both of these summations is that Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc all share equal page time with their voices and perspectives, weaving together seemingly dissimilar parts of the story into one complex and epic plot.

  Trust me. It will all make sense.

  That’s the thing about Morgan’s writing. With The Beautiful and the Cursed, we had several perspectives but it was primarily on Ingrid and Luc. As the plot thickened in The Lovely and the Lost, secondary characters had more to tell the Waverlys and Luc. And now, they all work together to bring down Axia and find their way to a happy ending. That’s not to say this ends everything all neat and tidy (for a moment, there, the Dispossessed does have an elder, a leader, but by the end that’s up for debate — plus, Gabby’s future and Vander’s future and basically all of Paris and these fantastical orders), but it certainly leaves you in an expected but very satisfying place.

  I loved every single character in this book, bad and good and somewhere in between. The places the plot takes them matches their personality and decision-making and the way everything came together. Gabby’s stubbornness felt more like bravery and less like snobbery, and that’s a major character growth. Ingrid was always determined to do what she could to save those she loved, and thank goodness she used more thoughtful reasoning behind her actions in this book than in previous — more growth there. Luc point-blank gave up trying to govern himself. By being more human, he’s able to accomplish so much more — and his support from Marco was a welcome sight. Grayson was just an interesting character all around. We only knew him as a brother in book 1, and a struggling half-demon in book 2, so getting into his mind and understanding his thought process, motivation, and emotional turmoil was very interesting and eye-opening. It makes his big moment really hit you in the gut, too.

  Though the historical aspect may appear simply as a backdrop for the story (that maybe this could take place at any time), it’s not. Morgan chose this time frame meticulously. It all comes down to the blood. All those scientific studies Vander worked on in the previous books help shed light to the situation in this one, and blood transfusions is one of them. Blood transfusions were dangerous in this time, yet new and fascinating and gross and taboo. That’s why Dracula was oddly enjoyable for readers when it first came out. Toss in the science versus religion conversation and this book goes well with that. Gargoyles are placed on cathedrals to keep the demons out. In this book, that’s true too, but they keep the humans within holy places and homes safe.

  So who wins this war in science versus religion? Is it even a science versus religion topic? Is it about race or social class? Is it about the human condition?

  I love this trilogy. It’s so unique, and Gothic, and fantastical, and deserves so much attention! Thank you for the wondrous journey, Morgan!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Lovely and the Lost” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 4:41 pm by Laura, on May 11, 2014

  The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan 

  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Publishing Date: May 13
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743136
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Ingrid and Gabby survived the Underneath. They saved their brother, Grayson, from a future of dark servitude and exposed a plot to undermine the Alliance. But danger still lurks in the streets of Paris, and the Dispossessed, perched on the city’s bridges and rooftops, might not be able to save their human wards this time.

  Two months after surviving the Underneath, Ingrid and Gabby are training hard in their newfound abilities and passions and Grayson attempts to control his shifting. Ingrid works closely with Monsieur Constantine to control her lightning, and Gabby fights demons alongside reluctant Chelle. But disorder erupts upon their father’s arrival and the return of the Alliance. Fallen angel Axia is still plotting to destroy Ingrid, but the Dispossessed, the Alliance, and another secret order have plans for each of the Waverly siblings. There is only so much Luc can manage before things truly begin to tip over the edge.

  Do not continue reading this review if you haven’t read The Beautiful and the Cursed.

  The action, adventure, and fantasy elements are even stronger; stakes even higher; plot even more complicated. What began as a unique spin in paranormal romance (think Mortal Instruments but darker, more dangerous, and with gargoyles) has turned into a lush story for every character involved — so rich in detail, in risk, that I cannot comprehend what the outcome will be in the final book. Side characters like Vander and Nolan are fleshed out further, to the point where the sisters and the reader notice their flaws. In the first book, they made the perfect romantic conquests. The obvious hero of Ingrid and Gabby’s stories. But with this next installment, we learn more about their past, their opinions and values, their future plans. It was a joy to read, because it created a sense of reality in the fantasy.

  The primary narrators — Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc — are showcased once again, with their tumultuous emotions and thoughts, their interwoven adventures and separate plots. Gabby struggles with her scars but is strengthened by her drive to become an Alliance member. Ingrid struggles between Vander and Luc in a way that doesn’t come across as a love triangle — it’s complicated to describe, but it’s so very clear which one she loves as a brother and as a lover that it doesn’t feel like a triangle. Her power is more controllable, but with its growth comes extreme danger for everyone involved. Grayson, on the other hand, lacks control in his shifting, but attempts to harness his demon-side and work with the Alliance instead of against them. And poor, poor Luc…he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place, and his turmoil just made me want to curl up and cry. So much responsibility weighs him down, and he is forever at odds with his love for Ingrid. It’s heartbreaking.

  Like Morgan’s first book, the final 50-odd pages are just pure action from each point of view. It was like a movie with different camera angles, each new narrator coming into the picture just as another leaves. It’s amazing how she appears to easily weave these sequences together. Well done.

  This is more than a second book in a trilogy. This book could stand on its own. It has its own plot, rather than a link between the first and last books. New secret societies with cruel intentions crop up, new influential characters are introduced, new stakes and struggles and topics. A beautiful and thrilling read. I cannot wait till it hits shelves — and I’m really looking forward to the final book!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte Press for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Beautiful and the Cursed” by Page Morgan

  Posted at 7:44 pm by Laura, on August 17, 2013

  The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan 

  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Published: May 2013
  Genre: young adult, gothic, paranormal
  ISBN: 9780385743112
  Goodreads: 3.93
  Rating: ★★★★★

  After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

  In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

  And Grayson has gone missing.

  No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

  Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

  Lady Ingrid and Lady Gabriella Waverly travel to Paris with their mother to help her set up an art gallery in an old, abandoned abbey they now have to call home. Upon their arrival, they are disturbed to find Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, missing. The staff seem unconcerned, but Ingrid and Gabby are determined to find him. Luc, a servant on edge the second he lays eyes on Ingrid, is the only one who hints of knowing Grayson’s whereabouts. As Ingrid and Gabby explore Paris and forge friendships with an American shopkeeper and rough Scotsman, they begin to discover a world of angels, demons, and gargoyles, and the foreboding connection between the fantastic and the recently murdered girls in Paris.

  An incredibly original idea and brilliant début. This book felt like Hunchback of Notre Dame meets Beauty and the Beast meets The Mortal Instruments meets Paradise Lost meets anything Wilkie Collins could write if he’d thought of writing fantasy. The whole concept of gargoyles being the protectors of humans on earth to do angels’ bidding is remarkable — and yet, so obvious. Of course gargoyles are humans’ protectors: they can be seen adorning every ancient holy building in Europe. They adorn the structures to keep evil out, to keep the demons away. And that is the premise of this novel. Brilliant.

  I especially liked that each chapter peeked into individual characters’ minds while other characters were out experiencing something else. There’s a scene where Gabby is out in Paris alone and a turn of events happens for her; meanwhile, Ingrid is discovering the truth from Luc; meanwhile, Grayson is somewhere dark and in pain. Occasionally scenes will overlap and the reader experiences it through a different character’s perspective, which is very exciting. That being said, I’m thrilled this was written in the third person subjective. A writer could have easily made the point of view in first person, but having the third person subjective allows the reader to not only feel what the character feels (like in first person) but also see all the vivid descriptions that no first person narrative would naturally describe. Each character had a specific tone and voice to their sections as well.

  On that note, I loved the complexity of each character. Gabby, though a bit snobbish and self-centered in the beginning, grew to be a fighter and determined to prove herself. She’d always felt overshadowed by her twin siblings and their deep connection to one another. The opportunities the events in this novel give her allow her to become who she’s always wanted to be: strong and independent. She’s very feisty, too , and I loved her interactions with Nolan, the Scot. Luc is a deeply troubled character, with such conflicting and opposing feelings, a brilliant epitome of an anti-hero. He’s corrupt yet moral, disturbed yet honorable. I felt the most for Ingrid, her private and patient ways, her loyalty and determination, and above all her deeply wounded heart. Her heartbreak is not melodramatic, like many young adult novels accidentally portray.

  This is a must-read.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2013 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Flipping Through the Pages: Autumn Rewind 2018

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on January 3, 2019

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  October through December was a busy whirlwind. In October we had our engagement shots taken, in November Tasha’s debut Empire of Sand released, and in December I made a roundup of my favorite books of 2018––all seven of which were five-star reads!

  Life Highlights

  Part of the whirlwind of the fall months was all the wedding planning we accomplished. I found my dress and veil, we found the photographer and immediately took engagement photos about two weeks after, and we picked our DJ (three of the four things I needed last season!). November brought on Thanksgiving in town, and we had relatives from Ohio and Arizona come in to celebrate in a relaxed and fulfilling way. December was chaotic with all the music commitments, but by the time Christmas Eve rolled around I felt the joy, peace, and wonder of the season. My family also flew out to Nebraska to visit my future in-laws, and we came back in time to ring in the new year with friends. In agent life news, I’m super thrilled to share (again) the sale of KayLynn’s YA fantasy––we worked so hard to make the magic happen, and I can’t wait to share her world with…well, the rest of the world!

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. “November 2018 Recap: On My Shelves” @ So Obsessed With — I admire Hannah’s ability to be a mother and still find the time to enjoy her personal hobbies. In this month in particular, she didn’t blog much but she read 30 books (*gasp!*)! It took me half a year to get to 30 books!
  2. “On Playing Catch-Up” @ BookmarkLit — On the flip side is Lauren, who talked about all the reasons she’s fallen behind on her usual reading, and the ways in which she’ll try to catch up or improve her reading. Plus, I admire a good spreadsheet and goals list!
  3. “My 2018 Retrospective” @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa compiled a heartfelt post looking back on 2018 and all the ways in which she grew, discovered, and improved. It’s so wonderful especially when you have fantastic people surrounding you and supporting you in your hopes and endeavors.
  4. “Most Anticipated Books of 2019” @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie compiles lists of anticipated adult books (this one highlighting the first half of the year) and I love scrolling through them! There are plenty on this list I’m looking forward to myself, including Priory of the Orange Tree (even though I haven’t read any of her other books) and The Au Pair (even though suspense/thriller is not at all something I like to read––this one looks really good nonetheless).

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)

  1. Book Review: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield — Setterfield is one of my favorite authors, purely for The Thirteenth Tale, and it was so great to see that storytelling style happen again in her third novel.
  2. End of Year Book Survey V — I love doing this round up! It really helps you look back on your reading year and realizing which books stand out most to you. Apparently a year goes by and I’m still in awe and anguish over The City of Brass, haha!
  3. 2019 Bookish Resolutions and Reading Challenges — All in all, 2018 was a difficult reading year for me, so I made my resolutions as a way of reminding me what reading is all about: enjoyment. Read what you enjoy. Life is short. No one needs to spend time doing something they don’t like, so I’ve given myself permission to set books aside even if they’re just meh.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner ★★★★.5

  Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce ★★★★★

  Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris ★★★★★

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 15 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall || A Long Way Home
  Ocean at the End of the Lane || Small Great Things || The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill
  The Glass Castle || The Circle || Goodbye, Paris

  Fun Library Books: 16 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace || The Bird and the Blade
  Save the Date || Radio Girls || Kings of the Wyld
  The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress || Dear Mrs. Bird 
  The Glass Ocean || Meet Me at the Museum || Empress of All Seasons
  In Your Dreams

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear
  A Secret History of Witches || The Bird and the Blade
  Kings of the Wyld || The Girl in the Tower || Empress of All Seasons

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter
  Radio Girls || The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress
  Dear Mrs. Bird || Once Upon a River

  Rock My TBR: 11 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals || China Rich Girlfriend
  A Secret History of Witches || The Girl in the Tower 

  Overall Challenge: 47 / 45*

  *It was clear I wouldn’t be able to reach 50 books, and I was bummed about that. So I adjusted it to 45 and felt much better about my accomplishment. (Yes, that’s how this year has been.)

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: New GBBO episodes––for New Beginnings, the two new seasons with Pru, Sandy, and Noel, as well as the holiday episodes––kept me busy during the holiday season. I was also vegging out in front of The Office. It all began with wanting to watch Christmas episodes, and turned into a full-blown multi-season rewatch…

  On Film: Finally saw The Family Stone and Die Hard on New Year’s Eve. One because it’s totally my kind of movie and I hadn’t seen it before; another because everyone’s trying to convince me it’s a Christmas movie (it’s not; it’s set at Christmas with Christmas music but it is not a Christmas movie).

  In the Shopping Bag: Old Navy’s 50% sale in November burned a hole in my wallet, but other than that I’ve kept things on the down low. Girl’s gotta pay for 2019 health insurance.

  Miscellaneous: I swear, I swear, this is the last time I will binge chips and queso. I SWEAR.

  Looking Toward the Future

  Clarissa’s Bear No Malice came out January 1, the Beau’s birthday is coming up, followed by my birthday, and lots of further wedding planning (hotel blocks, transportation, rehearsal dinner, save the dates, cake, and attendants’ outfits). Wish me luck!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 6 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Summer Rewind 2018

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on October 1, 2018

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

   

  

  

  

  The biggest and most exciting event in my life this season was that the Beau proposed in Syros, Greece! Our choir (which my parents sing in as well) went to Syros for an annual music festival and we had an unexpected evening free. We decided to make a date night of it, and he made reservations in a tavern made of glass that sat at the top of the island and overlooked Ermopouli, the capital of Syros and where we were staying. As the sun set, we watched the pier come alive and the lights all across the city turn on. We got some great pictures after dinner, and while we were waiting for the taxi we walked further up the hill, where he proposed. We got in the taxi to head back to our hotel, and just as I was saying I wanted to share the news with my parents, we saw them crossing the street! Got out, screamed, took pictures, went to the hotel where other choir members shouted with joy. Lots of champagne popped, lots of stories swapped, lots of toasts exchanged, and you can bet those choir ladies are already planning all sorts of parties for us, haha!

  Life Highlights

  Yes, other big things happened outside of the engagement and traveling to Greece — my childhood friend and college roommate gave birth to a baby girl, and she is a miracle child. My friend and her husband have been trying to have children (and adopt as well!) for quite a while now, so this baby is such a gift for them! Tasha Suri also received THREE starred reviews for Empire of Sand (we’re three for three so far in trade reviews — Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly), so you better get your pre-orders in for this amazing debut fantasy. Finally, I’ll be able to share a deal announcement in the coming weeks, as I’ve sold another client’s work!

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. “All Apologies…No More” @ Bookishly Boisterous — Stop feeling bad about spending money on books! Stop apologizing for going to the bookstore again and getting more books, even though you have plenty at home to read. Stop apologizing for going to the library and borrowing stacks of books you may not finish by the end of the checkout period. It’s okay.
  2. “Why I Re-Read” @ Bookshelf Fantasies — I don’t have much time to re-read, but when I do, I feel and have the same reasons as Lisa does in this post to re-read a favorite novel. Why do you re-read? And if you don’t…same question, why? Reading patterns are interesting!
  3. “Travel By Page: Behind Enemy Lines” @ Belle of the Literati — A twist on Kelly’s usual Adventures in the Great Wide Somewhere series, and perfect for WWII hist fic lovers, especially espionage. Check out these recommendations!
  4. “Living in a Small One-Bedroom Apartment with a Baby” @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Um, wow, Jamie and her husband were super creative and thoughtful when it came to making the most of their small home and baby daughter! I’m impressed…and saving this for possible future (like years in the future, please) reference.
  5. “Reaching a Blogging Milestone” @ So Obsessed With — First, congratulations to Hannah on 1K posts! Second, definitely take a look at this, because she makes some great points about blogging, adapting, and finding ways to keep the blog fresh, very her, and flexible without comparing to others’. I greatly admire her!
  6. “If We Were Having Mexican Margaritas” @ Bring My Books — Lindsey and I text nearly daily, so I’m aware how busy her life is (like seriously, holy crap, she deserves a margarita). On one hand, we have Hannah (above) who has managed to keep going with her blog; on the other, we have Lindsey who is struggling to maintain hers even though she wants to, because life happens and ya know, at the end of the day, you just want your favorite food/drink and your bed. Catch up with Lindsey and answer, what’s a hobby you wish you kept up with but are struggling to find the time to do? (Mine: scrapbooking. Not like stickers and cut-outs, but just plain putting photos in nice albums. I’m two years behind XD.)

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)

  1. Just a Bit of Light Reading — The agony that is a bookworm packing for a long trip! And guess what? I only read and finished one book while away. Haha!!
  2. Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine — GOOD because I love love love love love love love love love this book and it’s sitting on the shelves with Jane Eyre, where it belongs.
  3. Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before — Not surprised at all, because of its debut on Netflix! I hope more readers become invested in this trilogy. I adore Lara Jean.
  4. Book Review: Crazy Rich Asians — Again, not surprised because of the movie! We need more books and movies and TV shows with representation of minority groups.

  Cherished Reads

   

  

  

  

  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman ★★★★★

  The Bird and the Blade by Megan Turner ★★★★★

  Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames ★★★★.5

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 10 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall || A Long Way Home
  Ocean at the End of the Lane

  Fun Library Books: 10 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace || The Bird and the Blade
  Save the Date || Radio Girls || Kings of the Wyld
  The Lost Queen

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear
  A Secret History of Witches || The Bird and the Blade
  Kings of the Wyld

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter
  Radio Girls || The Lost Queen

  Rock My TBR: 10 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals || China Rich Girlfriend
  A Secret History of Witches

  Overall Challenge: 34 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is obviously going on my top favorite teen/romcom go-to movies, right up there with 10 Things I Hate About You. Guernsey was gorgeous and made me want to re-read the book again — I love Lily James. And of course, because fall is around the corner, I’m back on my Gilmore Girls marathon. The Beau and I need to catch up on GBBO’s newest season on Netflix, and the final season of Big Bang is starting, but it’s also football season so our TV is going to be working double-time now.

  On Film: I saw Ocean’s 8 and loved it. Crazy Rich Asians was fan-freaking-tastic and I enjoyed every second of it. I hope book 2’s movie is in the works because I need more Astrid in my life!!! And one Sunday afternoon recently I binged the rest of Outlander season 3 on DVD in preparation for season 4 airing in November. Now to get started reading book 5…

  In the Shopping Bag: I think I mentioned in previous rewinds that I don’t fit in over half my wardrobe and I’m slowly updating it to my new size. And if I haven’t, well, I am, which means the last few weeks required some fall shopping. Deals on ModCloth, LOFT, and Old Navy were in order, and now I can’t wait to wear my new tops, pants, and dresses! (Even though my wallet hates me.)

  Miscellaneous: Planning the wedding! I thought my friends were kidding when they said the venue + catering takes up about half your budget. Nope. They weren’t.

  Looking Toward the Future

  Flowers, photographer, DJ, cake, and dress. Cross fingers I’ve accomplished at least two of those things by the next rewind! The Beau and I have made some headway on flowers, photographer, and DJ so far, which is great. Also, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up (!!!) and The Beau and I will be doing lots of traveling to Ohio, Nebraska, and Iowa. Oh, and of course, TASHA’S BOOK RELEASE IN NOVEMBER!!!!!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 4 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Summer Rewind 2017

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on October 1, 2017

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  The last few months have been dedicated to travel, wishing for cool weather, and reading. Lots of reading. Lots of reading manuscripts, that is. As you may have noticed, I didn’t post very many reviews. While I did read books for fun, many of them were kinda meh and I don’t want to put poor reviews online. Thankfully I found lots of enjoyment in reading clients’ revisions, new projects, and potential clients’ manuscript submissions over the summer. The highlight of the last few months was Jared Reck‘s A Short History of the Girl Next Door release!

  Life Highlights

  The Beau and I traveled to Iowa for his high school reunion, and I was genuinely surprised how much I loved Des Moines. His friends and family made me feel so at home there. Even the people I briefly interacted with at the reunion itself were very kind. Ah, Midwesterners! (PS I went to Raygun and I promise you, it’s just as awesome as their website. My Christmas wishlist expanded tenfold.)

  Every summer in July my family would travel to Cincinnati to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday, July 4, and just being together. We worried that since his passing, this tradition would fall apart. Thankfully it did not! We were able to gather for a family BBQ in August, and all the dogs tumbled and ran around in the backyard with the cousins. The Beau joined us too, and he went off with the boys to race around the neighborhood in a newly acquired go-kart. Haha!!

  One of my dear friends and old college roommate Lauren got married in September! Her wedding was an event we were all looking forward to in the friend group, as there were many joys and concerns going on in our lives this year. Being reunited with one another from near and far was so rejuvenating! We danced all night, and Amanda’s toddler Hazel was the best dancer in the house.

  Tunes on Repeat

  I think this section will be removed starting in 2018 recaps, because I’m at least a year behind on music. However, if you want something new and different and more on the classical lines, check out this guy! He sings Schubert arrangements with guitar (instead of piano, violin, or organ). Doesn’t his voice just make you melt?

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. What I’ve Read @ Pretty Books — Stacey gives a great review for When Dimple Met Rishi and it made me all warm and fuzzy inside, haha. So I thought I’d share!
  2. Fangirl Friday with Laura @ What Sarah Read — Sarah hosts this fantastic feature for other bloggers to participate in on Fridays called Fangirl Friday. Bloggers can fangirl about anything and everything in a theme of their choosing. It’s a cool way to build community and break out of the standard bookish posts. I had a post in July entirely dedicated to British TV and movies (primarily BBC and ITV), and swooned over North & South and Belle!
  3. Meet Riley Josephine @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie gave birth to a beautiful girl! Come for the cute baby photos, stay for the pregnancy and birth real talk. Jamie opened up about her experience, and her honesty is refreshing. Love you, Jamie!
  4. Back to School: History of Fictional Worlds Syllabus @ The Bookish Beagle — Morgan has worked on this epic post for ages, and I’m so glad it’s finally public! It may not look like a lot of text, but check out this concept: what if we could study the history of fictional worlds? You could major in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings! Or any other fandom you’re a part of! It’s so cool seeing the classes she came up with. I wish this were real!
  5. Three Ways I Tackled My TBR This Summer @ So Obsessed With — Hannah’s methodical posts are probably some of my favorites. She’s shared her reading trends with stats, she’s worked on the Picky Pledge to be more selective about what she reads, and she’s shared a process to determine whether or not she should buy a book. In this post, she shares her step-by-step process for weeding through her TBR (to read or to sell/donate). I’ll have to try this!

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. Book Review: What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum (ARC) — I’m still reeling from this novel. I want to put it in so many people’s hands.
  2. The Intimidating TBR Tag — Not surprised this was a popular post. I think it’s pretty universal for many people! Have you done this tag yet? Which question was most difficult for you to answer?
  3. Book Review: The Dire King by William Ritter — The last book in the Jackaby series, and boy was it a winner! Great on its own, great as a series ender, and it kinda leaves things a little bit open for a spin-off (though I’m fine with it not doing that too!). Have you read the series yet? If not, I highly recommend it!

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  The Map That Leads to You by JP Monninger ★★★★.5

  The Dire King by William Ritter ★★★★.5

  The Paris Architect  by Charles Belfoure ★★★★ (review to come!)

  The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper ★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  A book is a companion, though. You can read it in a special place,
  like on a train to Amsterdam, then you carry it home and you
  chuck it on a shelf, and then years later you remember
  that feeling you had on the train when you were young.
  It’s like a little island in time.
  — The Map that Leads to You by JP Monninger

  “But didn’t the Jews kill Christ, Father?”
  “That’s debatable, my son. But even if they did,
  I would still help them.”
  — The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 15 / 22

  The Light Between Oceans || The Husband’s Secret || W is for Wasted
  The Miniaturist || The Astronaut Wives Club || The Burning Room
  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet || The President’s Shadow
  Orphan Train || Still Life || The Paper Menagerie
  Stiff || Damaged || Dreaming of the Bones || The Paris Architect

  Fun Library Books: 13 / 5 // Complete!

  Heart’s Blood || The Bear and the Nightingale || The Silver Gate
  Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies || A Window Opens
  Alex, Approximately || The Baker’s Secret || Troubled Waters
  Once and For All || Saints and Misfits || The Scribe of Siena
  The Royal Nanny || The Best Man

  Flights of Fantasy / Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 2 / 9

  Heart’s Blood || Son of the Shadows

  Classics & ReRead: 0 / 2

  Rock My TBR: 13 / 12 // Complete!

  Caraval || You and Me, Always || The Miniaturist
  Son of the Shadows || The Sun is Also a Star || Outrun the Moon
  The Secret Life of Violet Grant || This Adventure Ends || The Alice Network 
  Like a River Glorious || The Map That Leads to You
  The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals || A Cold Legacy

  Impulse Buys: 5 / 5

  You and Me, Always || Flight of Dreams || Wait for Me
  The Hate U Give || The Map That Leads to You

  Overall Challenge: 46 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO WATCH THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF?!?!?!

  

  It’s such a great competition show — it doesn’t even really feel like a competition. These bakers are just trying to improve for themselves and for the judges, not necessarily take one another out. They’re helping each other on numerous occasions, actually, and it’s so heartwarming! Guess that’s the biggest difference in British and American television.

  

  This show also makes me wish I were a baker. Yeah, yeah, I hear you, anyone can bake — but I literally cannot. I can make boiling water catch on fire. So instead I’ll eat another’s baked goods and dream of butter sticks and dough and pastry as I watch this show. I never thought something so nice and relatively calming could make for such an intense, emotional show, too! I NEED MORE. But only ones with Sue and Mel and Paul and Mary! No one else! Just them!

  

  On Film: Gifted. I wanted to see so many movies this summer and didn’t get a chance to, so I Redboxed Gifted and just…lost it. What a fantastic movie. So many tears. It’s about a young girl who’s a math genius, raised by her uncle (Chris Evans) who was given custody of her after her mother (his sister) committed suicide. It’s about brilliant minds and parental upbringing, about the importance of family and social relationships, and breaking records.

  In the Shopping Bag: Target and ModCloth, once again, burned a hole in my wallet. I’ve gained weight in the last year (yay (I’m finally in the healthy weight category for my height and age, which has never happened before) and boo — it was the right amount but just too fast), which meant cleaning out pretty much my entire wardrobe and buying replacements.

  Miscellaneous: The Beau and I are moving into our apartment in a couple days! So most of my time and energy the next two weeks will be preparing for that and nesting. It means I’ve been making lots of insurance and utility phone calls…

  Looking Towards the Future

  As I stated previously, in October I’m moving into an apartment (yay! And for real this time!), and then the whirlwind of holidays and holiday prep begin. I’m always looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas — any time to be with my family and friends — and this year the choir is singing Bach’s Magnificat, so it’s bound to be an excellent music season too.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

   

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind | 4 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2017

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on July 3, 2017

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  One of my friends had a very lovely, private wedding (or engagement party? She’s having a big to-do this time next year, so it was quasi-engagement party, quasi-wedding because she and her husband signed papers), and the cupcakes were too pretty and delicious not to take a picture! Rossetti has been joining me for a lot of my reading this spring, and I love her company. Finally, The Alice Network was my first 5-star read of the year and I was absolutely blown away by the writing, the story, the characters, the plot…

  Life Highlights

  The biggest news is that I was recently promoted to Associate Literary Agent!

  I talked a little bit about Book Expo in an If We Were Having Coffee post, but I also recently went to ALA! The morning was spent attending as many panels as possible for the library, and the afternoon was spent wandering the exhibit floor and documenting Jared Reck’s first public appearance and galley signing. Big day for this agent/librarian.

  Finally, the Beau and I went on a mini trip to see his friends for a pub crawl. Two couples in the friend group are moving out of state within a few weeks of each other, so we all got together and went on a massive bar crawl. It started off with 7 people, and somewhere in the night we had 25+ total. So much fun — and a mandatory brunch the next day was just what the doctor ordered. It’s so hard when you/your friends move away. They’re going to neat places in the country, so hopefully this means more travel opportunities.

  Tunes on Repeat

  Maybe I should eliminate this bit of the feature, because it’s just not happening for me. I’m not into what’s on the radio (and I’m already missing out on John Mayer’s latest, Ed Sheeran, and the 1D solo boys’ music), I’m listening to audio books for the library in the car, and (to be completely honest) what I have listened to is mostly choral music that most of you aren’t all that interested in. Unless you want to hear something? Let me know. Feast your ears on this, in the meantime.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro @ Belle of the Literati — For Kelly’s 30th birthday, this adventurer went on her own and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro! Her experience was incredible. Read about it here!
  2. The Intimidating TBR Tag @ The Bookish Beagle — Morgan’s TBR post was both intense and awesome. I fully plan to do this tag at some point (…just like I fully plan to read all those books on the TBR pile at some point…*ducks*)
  3. On My Nightstand @ What Sarah Read — In a similar vein, Sarah started a new feature called On My Nightstand to showcase some books she’s interested in reading immediately.
  4. When the Movie is Better Than the Book @ Writer of Wrongs — Gillian went there. She went there and admitted what we all know to be true: sometimes, the movie is better than the book. *gasp*
  5. Library Dreamin’ @ Alexa Loves Books — What does your dream library look like? I gotta say, my dream library looks a lot like Alexa’s IRL library…

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. Book Review: Hunted by Meagan Spooner (ARC) — I LOVE this book, and it makes me ridiculously happy to see this was such a popular post!
  2. Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (ARC) — IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YOU MUST REMEDY THAT NOW.
  3. If We Were Having Coffee… — This post is always so popular. For random updates, feel free to read my unedited, walls down, conversational post. In this one, I talk about Band of Brothers, Book Expo, Forge of Empires, and my never-ending war with chips and queso.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

  The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ★★★★★

  The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams ★★★★.5

  What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum ★★★★.5 (review to come!)

  Cherished Quotes

  “Why don’t you sit with the others?” I ask her.
  “I find the company of a book much more interesting.”
  — Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

  Emma suffered daily for friends and neighbors. [The Allies] were doing it for strangers, throwing themselves on that beach, slaughtered tillt he sea ran dark, and another wave came, and was slaughtered, and another, whole cities of men. They have never met Emma, she would never meet them, and still another wave.
  It was so humbling, Emma clung to the tree and did not think she could continue to breathe. The weight of their sacrifice might crush her. Here they had died, and up the beach they were still dying, in flocks and willingly for the idea that she, Emma herself, and her friends and family and neighbors, ought to live in freedom. Who on earth deserved such a gift?
  — The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan

  My hands are flapping again. Tears are running down my face. I am losing control.
  Slipping into a vertiginous vortex. I used to think loneliness was being stuck
  with only the one voice in your head. I was wrong.*

  Here’s the thing about making a friend that I didn’t understand before I started talking to Kit: They grow your world. Allow for previously inconceivable possibilities.*
  — *the following quotes taken from uncorrected proof of What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 10 / 22

  The Light Between Oceans || The Husband’s Secret || W is for Wasted
  The Miniaturist || The Astronaut Wives Club || The Burning Room
  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet || The President’s Shadow
  Orphan Train || Still Life

  Fun Library Books: 8 / 5 // Complete!

  Heart’s Blood || The Bear and the Nightingale || The Silver Gate
  Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies || A Window Opens
  Alex, Approximately || The Baker’s Secret || Troubled Waters

  Flights of Fantasy / Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 2 / 9

  Heart’s Blood || Son of the Shadows

  Classics & ReRead: 0 / 2

  Rock My TBR: 10 / 12

  Caraval || You and Me, Always || The Miniaturist
  Son of the Shadows || The Sun is Also a Star || Outrun the Moon
  The Secret Life of Violet Grant || This Adventure Ends || The Alice Network 
  Like a River Glorious

  Impulse Buys: 5 / 5

  You and Me, Always || Flight of Dreams || Wait for Me
  The Hate U Give || The Map That Leads to You

  Overall Challenge: 32 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Grantchester is back!

  

  I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF SIDNEY CHAMBERS. He’s making poor life choices so far this season (go AWAY, AMANDA.), but I love him all just the same.

  On Film: I mentioned watching Band of Brothers for the first time in my If We Were Having Coffee post, and weeks later I’m still blown away by the show. So let’s add Wonder Woman to the mix! OH MY GOD. When we left the theater, I said to The Beau, “This must be what it feels like to be a white man!” I FELT POWERFUL AND UNSTOPPABLE. More female superheroes, please!!!

  In the Shopping Bag: Shopping? What is shopping? All my money went to travel, conferences, and hotel fees. Wah wah.

  Miscellaneous: I mentioned it before and I’ll say it again: Forge of Empires. I’m seriously obsessed with this app. People have described it like Sim City, and I can’t tell you if it is or not but I’m enjoying every second of it. Have you played it?

  Looking Towards the Future

  Lots of traveling coming up this summer! In July I’m heading to Nashville for a writers conference. Hope to hear some great pitches while I’m there. In August I’m traveling with The Beau to Iowa to visit family and some of his high school friends. And then in September, Jared’s book publishes! HURRAY! Oh, and it’s wedding season for like…a bazillion people, and I’m really looking forward to dancing many nights away!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

   

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind | 3 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2015

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on July 1, 2015

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  Meeting Jenny Han at her book launch party in Brooklyn for PS I Still Love You was definitely the perfect launch into BEA. Also, I’m featuring this food post because ohmygod it was delicious. I ate breakfast for lunch (during lunch hour, so it’s technically not brunch, right?) with my friend Evan and his girlfriend at Another Broken Egg. Not quite pictured: a pancake I also devoured. YUM. Finally, a photo that’s still getting a lot of attention on instagram: my summer reading list!

  Life Highlights

  In the last week of April, I met five spectacular authors. Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad, Wicked Folly), Trisha Leaver (The Secrets We Keep), Shannon Lee Alexander (Love and Other Unknown Variables), and Lisa Aldin (One of the Guys) came to the bookstore for signings.

  Now, it may not be in my personal life, but I’d definitely say the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge ranked as a pretty good highlight. *waves English flag*

  At the end of May, I traveled back to Virginia to see Lindsey and she, Ashley, and I went to BEA! We met loads of bloggers, made contacts in the industry, and gathered several books. I’m so glad I finally got to experience BEA first hand, and I’m looking forward to Chicago next year. Lindsey and I capped off the trip by attending a beach concert and seeing Andy MacMahon (and it was on the date of our official friendiversary! May 30th was the day we first emailed each other about our guest blog posts (here and here)).

  In June I signed my first contract to have one of my authors publish a book! Be on the lookout for Tara Sim’s Timekeeper in Fall 2016!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Every time I hear Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson I think of one of my friends rocking out in his car so hard it shook. Now we run around like crazy kids, hopping up and down during the chorus and belting out the lyrics.

  Better Than Words by One Direction, because ever since Lindsey showed me this video (1:30) I can’t help but crack up and squeal in a disgustingly tweeny fashion.

  Really, the entire Mumford & Sons album. I was concerned, but I should know by now to trust those men. I can still speed down the highway with their music.

  Signs by Brett Eldridge. Or, again, the entire album.

  Raised by a Good Time by Steven Lee Olsen has a story behind it, a connection to my agenting. One of my authors has a wonderfully tense and heartbreaking YA Southern fiction manuscript, and this song reminds me of the male protagonist…if he had a better upbringing, that is. It fits his “would have been” character so well.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  There was a lot I enjoyed these last few months, bookish and not so bookish…

  1. 2015 Bookish Trends @ Love at First Page — Danielle talks about cover design trends in 2015. I’ve also seen more drawn artwork/typeface, a la Fangirl, and I’ve really liked that too.
  2. “Time Travel To” Feature @ Alexa Loves Books, So Obsessed With, and Belle of the Literati — These three ladies decided to transport readers through time by showcasing some of their favorite books written in/about a certain historical time period, and sharing books they plan to read as well. Alexa covers romantic Regency England, Hannah the American Civil War, and Kelly the exciting Tudor England.
  3. Matching songs to books with #UKYADay: Taylor Swift Meets UKYA @ Pretty Books and Tunes & Tales: Four @ Alexa Loves Books — Stacey’s post focuses solely on Taylor Swift songs and which books they’d go well with, while Alexa’s post was inspired by One Direction’s news (*sobs*) and thus 1D songs.
  4. Why I Won’t Stop Taking Pictures of my ARCs @ Lily’s Book Blog — What an interesting read. I used to think, years ago, that the mark of a great blogger meant how many ARCs you received from publishers. And while that’s a great asset to have, that’s not what blogging is about.
  5. Tune in Tonight: Belle @ So Obsessed With — BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T KNOW THIS ALREADY, BELLE IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER EVER EVER. And I died when I saw Hannah’s post.
  6. Four Bookish Blogs I’ve Added to My Reader Recently @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie discusses blogging friendships coming and going, the community and culture, and features four blogs (Scribbles & Wanderlust included!) she’s added to her to-visit list.
  7. 5 Classics I Want to Read Before August 1 @ LvsBks — Ashley was inspired by the BEA trip to revitalize her blog, and what better way than to discuss classics she plans to reread or discover in the summer. What are your favorite classics?
  8. Let’s Discuss Little House @ So Obsessed With and Little House Lit @ Alexa Loves Books — If you haven’t caught on yet, Hannah and Alexa have the best discussion posts. Seriously. Plus, Little House is what my mother lives and breathes. I couldn’t hide from this discussion.
  9. The Status of All Things: It’s Complicated @ Rather Be Reading — Estelle makes some excellent observations about online identities becoming a brand, how sometimes your online identity prevents you from sharing other aspects of yourself, and how we rely so much on technology we forget about living in the moment with friends and family.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. The Accidental April Book Haul — April was nuts. Absolutely nuts. Not only did I have a billion ARCs to read, but I accidentally won galleys, received books from editors, purchased books with my tax return…It was quite a lot, and apparently worth sharing!
  2. Stepping Back for the Summer — As a result of April madness, I decided to step back and read all those backlist titles I own. Several of you are doing the same thing, either with book-buying bans, stepping back from ARCs, or just plain reading what’s already on your TBR shelves.
  3. First Book Expo America Experience — Instead of gushing about what I did, I wanted to share my expectations, the reality, and the small (compared to others) book haul I gathered from the event. First BEA = success!
  4. Book Review: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan — I can definitely see why this was popular. The book’s publication was timed perfectly with the Duke and Duchess’s wedding anniversary and birth of Princess Charlotte. Also, come on, the book was awesome.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan ★★★★★

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman ★★★★★

  A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.
  –Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

  I wasn’t faerie, but I was part of this earth, and the earth was a part of me,
  and I’d be content to dance upon it for the rest of my life.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?
  —Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

  Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 6 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency || Emma
  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? || The Girl With the Glass Bird
  Murder is Bad Manners
  

  #ReRead2015: 3 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl
  Anna and the French Kiss

  Overall Challenge: 42 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Gilmore Girls — WHY DIDN’T I WATCH THIS WHEN IT AIRED. I mean, really. If I were to leave a note to my YA self, I’d tell her to listen to Audrey and Mrs. A and watch Gilmore Girls. And I’m in that lovely middle age between Rory and Lorelai that I can appreciate all ends of the drama and love and laughter. As I’m typing this, I’m in the first third of the 6th season, so no spoilers! (Feel free to follow #LauraWatchesGG.)

  On Film: Far From the Madding Crowd was amazing. It’s hard to adapt Thomas Hardy novels, and this movie nailed it. Perfect score, brilliant cinematography, stunning costumes, and fantastic acting. I knew Carey Mulligan would be wonderful (I’ve got such a girl crush on her), but toss in those British men and wow Matthias Schoenaerts and I was a goner. Where’s my Gabriel Oak? Seriously. Let’s cover some hay stacks together.

  In the Shopping Bag: *snort* Nothing. I have to avoid my usual haunts (ModCloth, Book Depository, BookOutlet, Abe Books, Target, Etsy) because I’m on an everything-except-necessities-buying ban.

  Miscellaneous: Adagio’s Harry Potter Tea. Guys, this is amazing. Stina is amazing. She showed up to the Jennifer Niven event with a bag filled with different kinds of tea (including a chocolate tea!) and I’m still excited about it. They’re delicious, distinct flavors, and they come in really neat tins that I fully plan on keeping.

  Looking Towards the Future

  There’s really only one massive event for July through September, and that’s my childhood friend Amanda’s wedding. Apart from that, there are some neat events going on at my B&N, including an Outlander Day and Harry Potter Day. September is also the kick-off for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s 30th Anniversary season, and as VP of the Alumni Association I have to help coordinate some alumni events surrounding that.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Winter Rewind 2015

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 4, 2015

  

  As my blog gets more and more hits from writers researching agents and what they’re looking for, I thought that I could connect to the blogging community and writing community better by participating in the Monthly Rewind meme (for fantastic examples, check out Jamie, Hannah, and Lindsey’s blogs). It gives a better idea of who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m reading and enjoying outside of book reviews and #mswl tags on Twitter. Unfortunately, I do not have the time (or dedication) to do one every month, so I decided to do a Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  My childhood friend Amanda is getting married in July, and I went over to her place to help make hundreds of paper flowers. The one pictured is the flower I have to create by the wedding — and it takes about an hour to make just one!

  The B&N I work for has a partnership with a retirement community that has connections to celebrity tours. This was my way to meet Jane Seymour (yes, Dr. Quinn!). She’s lovely, and seems genuine and down-to-earth. I had a blast that day working the event with her.

  I went to Virginia and, among many things, I visited Shenandoah Valley. Pictured is one of the falls on the trail I hiked. The trees may not have been green and leafy, but this view was completely worth it.

  Life Highlights

  Jane Seymour! Of course. How could I include that photo and not say it was a life highlight? In March I celebrated my quarter-century birthday! Finally reached the age everyone thought I was three years ago. Also, when I said I went to Virginia, it’s because I visited Lindsey! This was definitely a highlight in my personal life and blogging life. Lindsey and I “met” through a TTT post, and later admitted to owning multiple copies of Jane Eyre as well. Soon we discovered we were basically the same person (except for our different preferences in dinosaurs…(another topic of conversation)) and now we text, tweet, and instagram one another every single day. I mentioned something about having a gorgeous dress with nowhere to wear it, she said “let’s go to an opera!” and I said “okay!” and BOOM! La Traviata, Shenandoah, and Williamsburg two months later. I highly recommend visiting people you meet in this community!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Hozier’s “Like Real People Do” gets me every time. I stop what I’m doing and listen.

  Ed Sheeran and John Mayer performing Ed’s “Thinking Out Loud” at the Grammys. I love Ed. I love John. I love this song. I love them together.

  Mikky Ekko’s “U” is one of the B&N in-store plays, and just about the only one I actually enjoy listening to (after She & Him, of course. Gosh, I love them).

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. #DOTFreadalong Group Review @ Bring My Books — Several of us got together in February to read Daughter of the Forest and do a group review together. Check out the results!
  2. Dive into Diversity: Religion in YA Books @ Rather Be Reading — This is a topic I find I need to talk to readers about more and more. The community where my B&N is located is a predominately white + Christian + wealthy community, and yet there’s not a whole lot of religion-bent books for YA and MG readers, Christian or otherwise. Something to chew on.
  3. #BookWorldProblems @ So Obsessed With — Um, Britney gifs. Win. Really, all of Hannah’s posts pertaining to organization and creativity, too, make my heart flutter.
  4. On the Acquisition of Books @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa is working on the Picky Pledge, wherein you examine your shelves and purge the books you haven’t read and are certain you’ll never get around to reading. You become pickier about the ARCs you request, and take the time to appreciate the books you do have. In this post, she examines her life before and after blogging. It’s quite eye-opening.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. TTT: All Time Favorite Books — This was incredibly fun to write, even though it was difficult to narrow down. It was extra exciting to see the response from other bloggers, readers, and authors (thanks, authors, for reaching out!).
  2. Book Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale — I’m so happy to see this on here! Geek Girl is fantastic and hilarious and I’m beyond thrilled it’s here in the US.
  3. TTT: Haven’t Read These YA Fantasy Books — Sorry, y’all, still no progress on this. Although, Morgan did send me a copy of Cinder, so we’ll see!
  4. Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary — I broke out of my usual blogging mode and decided to write a post on contemporary realistic YA. The response to this was overwhelming, and I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it! Have you had a connection to a particular genre? Have you thought about why that is?

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  The Start of Me & You by Emery Lord ★★★★★

  The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski ★★★★

  Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier ★★★★★

  At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life.
  And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness,
  if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near,
  but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly.
  I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet,
  he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me.
  Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
  —Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 2 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency

  #ReRead2015: 2 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl

  Overall Challenge: 19 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Bletchley Circle — OHMAHGAWD I love this. Usually that’s guaranteed for BBC productions, but this one in particular is fascinating. The same brains as Sherlock (thinking outside the box, using all available evidence to come to daring conclusions), historical (post-WWII), all-female powerhouse cast…perfect.

  On Film: Imitation Game — My love for this comes from more than Benedict Cumberbatch, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode, and Keira Knightley…but they’re a huge reason why I loved the movie so much. Only brilliant acting can get this complex story across. What is human, what is machine? What is natural, what is obscene? Whom can you trust?

  In the Shopping Bag: ModCloth floral tunics. Really, anything ModCloth + floral. I can scroll that site for days.

  Miscellaneous: I’ve found I need to rely more and more on my old college study habits while I’m agenting: background noise. Not music, because I’ll sing along or go into my musician mode and analyze it. Not movies or TV shows, because the words will conflict with my reading. So I go straight to sound websites meant for peace and  productivity, like Noisli and Coffitivity. Lifesavers, folks. I can’t even begin to tell you how focused I’ve become with these sites!

  Looking Towards the Future

  The end of April and all of May will be packed with exciting events. First is the Jennifer Niven book-signing at my store. I’ve been looking forward to this since January, so you can bet I’m thrilled for this! Next up is a visit to Chicago and Milwaukee for the WD’s Writing Workshops. I’ll be there representing my agency and chatting with writers about their books! Later in May I’ll be back in NYC for Book Expo America! This would be my first time at BEA, and I’m looking forward to meeting other bloggers, authors, and chatting with editors. My whole life surrounds meeting people online and speaking to them over the phone, so it’ll be nice to put faces and text and voices together into living, breathing beings! (Follow me on Twitter and Instagram so we can plan a meet-up.) Last, but not least, just curling up with a good read and telling y’all about it.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• End of Year Book Survey II

  Posted at 3:40 am by Laura, on December 28, 2015

  

  This is the second year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. What started off as a fun recap on her blog has turned into an excellent way for other bloggers to catch up with each other and what happened to them/the blog that year.

  So without further ado, here are some of my reflections on my 2015 book life! Note: This includes all books read in 2015 – they do not have to be published in 2015. 

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 66
  Number of Re-Reads: 3.5 (I’m halfway through a 4th one!)
  Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary

  

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2015?

  AHHHHHHH of course we must start with the toughest question. I think, of the top five books I chose, it would be Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  Uprooted by Naomi Novik was definitely a good read, but I didn’t love it the way the blogging community seemed to. A lot of it had to do with the romance plotline. That particular kind of romance with that kind of guy isn’t my cup of tea, but everything else about the book was fantastic. A forest as a villain? Yes.

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2015? 

  Most Surprising (Good): The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, only because I didn’t have very high expectations for it, and now I’m gaga over the trilogy.
  Most Surprising (Bad): This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer Smith. I thought I would fall to pieces over it, and instead the book fell flat for me! Major bummer.

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2015?

  A lot of what I recommend when I’m working at the bookstore tends to be contemporary YA that’s a bit on the lighter side (plenty of teens and parents ask for books that “aren’t so dark and heavy” or “the romance isn’t the main focus of the plot”). So with that in mind, I’d say I pushed Sophie Kinsella’s YA debut Finding Audrey and Holly Smale’s Model Misfit the most (and equally).

  5. Best Series You Started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

  Best series started: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
  Best sequel: The Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman
  Best series ender: The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan (mostly because this is the only ‘series’ (rather than duology) that I finished this year)

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2015?

  Stacey Lee! Her debut Under a Painted Sky convinced me to read all of her future work, forever and ever amen.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?
  

  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, because I’m not a memoir person at all.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  Teri Brown’s Velvet Undercover was definitely thrilling and hard to put down. Right up there with Blankman’s books. It’s that espionage element I’m surprised I love so much.

  9. Book You Read in 2015 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Probably Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest cause it’s so damn good.

  

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2015?

  Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch for series continuity and overall Balzer + Bray brilliance, or The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston for the way it almost looks like a portrait (the background has brush strokes and everything!), or Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, again a credit to B+B brilliance. I DON’T KNOW. I love covers!

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2015?

  Sorcha (of Daughter of the Forest). Gosh, she’s nearly everything I could want in a character. Sorcha is strong, intelligent, wise beyond her years and yet still innocent, determined, driven by instinct.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2015?

  Daughter of the Forest. How many times will I need to mention this book before I convince you to read it, too? We’re only on Question Twelve!

  

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2015?

  It sounds terrible to say I didn’t read a thought-provoking/life-changing book (well, Daughter of the Forest, again, is close on the life-changing), but there are a couple books I read this year that can inspire great conversations.

  • Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman is all about the underbelly of German government before Hitler became Chancellor, a period of history so rarely discussed in American schools.
  • A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis opens up a whole host of discussions about mental illness, asylums, feminism, and crime in nineteenth-century America.
  • Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway dissects the ways a tragic incident can change not only the life of the victim but other lives surrounding him as well.
  • Dumplin’ has a body positive message, one I’d never seen before (but surely had been mentioned or discussed in literature at some point…right?)
  • Finding Audrey is one of few positive mental health books where things do not end in tragedy (why must mental illness always end tragically?)

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2015 to Finally Read? 

  Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I think I’ll be answering this question with Outlander books forever. For shame I didn’t read them before!

  

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2015?

  Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life. And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness, if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near, but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly. I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet, he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me. Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
  —Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2015?

  After checking my Goodreads stats, the shortest was picture book The Animals’ Santa by Jan Brett (my favorite of her books!) at 32 pages and the longest was Drums of Autumn at 1,070.

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Rook by Sharon Cameron. The intricacy, the plot, the world, the way it both mirrored and differed from Scarlet Pimpernel. Gosh, that door stopper was good. I remember I wasn’t quite in the right mindset to read the book, so it’ll be reread again eventually.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  RED AND SORCHA.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Grace and Dr Thornhollow from A Madness So Discreet. I said in my review:

  What an individual. And what an opportunity for Grace to fall in love and forget her entire past and the scars it left behind, an opportunity for a scientific man to crack open his shell and break free and fall in love. Thank goodness McGinnis did not go that route!

  

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. She’s an automatic read and buy for me, and I didn’t think it was possible to love a YA male character more than Matt Finch, but then Max Watson showed up and SHUT THE FRONT DOOR I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, recommended by Hannah @ So Obsessed With, and thank goodness! I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy…well, frankly, “royal family fanfiction” (because WHAT), and I TOTALLY DID.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2015?

  Red. ‘Nuff said.

  

  23. Best 2015 Debut You Read?

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, again. Best newly discovered author and best debut!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  Gosh, those are two completely different things in my head. The best world-building may go to A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas, and the most vivid setting will (of course, you guessed it) Daughter of the Forest. Both are fantasies, but one is entirely new and the other based on Ireland.

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  Murder is Bad Manners / A Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Talk about a classic MG detective mystery!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2015?

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey, but I think that has something to do with the fact it was late at night and it reached a point in the story that touched me so deeply I couldn’t help but cry. I’m emotional like that.

  

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Kate Alcott holds a special place in my heart, so I’d say her “Gone With the Wind”-behind-the-scenes book A Touch of Stardust was a hidden gem in 2015.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  The Winner’s Crime. Right in the feels.

  

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2015?

  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon. It’s a quirky and unique adventure-that’s-not-quite-an-adventure MG, and the author used his own artwork to enhance the story. He’s definitely someone to watch.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  I Remember You by Cathleen Bell was…odd. I still don’t know what it was I read, and I remember feeling unsettled the entire time I read it. Again, not mad, necessarily, just…frustrated.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2015? 

  Probably Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. I stumbled across it after joining the ReRead 2015 challenge, and I love her mixture of discussion, challenges, tags, and reviews (plus she reviews a lot of historical fiction, which is hard to find in a YA-saturated blogosphere).

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015? 

  A Madness So Discreet because there were so many things I wanted to talk about and discuss. The quotes alone said it all, though!

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  Best discussion: “Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary” received a lot of traffic on the blog / “Book Buying Habits” received a lot of traffic on the blog and feedback on Twitter.
  Non-Review post: “First BEA Experience” had a lot of comments, received a lot of traffic, and is picking back up in stats again.

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  My very first Book Expo America! I met so many bloggers, had meetings with my favorite editors, gathered up some excellent reads, and successfully navigated New York City solo.

  

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2015?

  Making my first sale as an agent!

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  Most popular non-review post of 2015: First BEA Experience.
  Most popular book review post of 2015: The Doldrums

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  My Thankful For post for Thanksgiving should’ve received a little more love, I think. We all need to take a moment to be thankful for what we have and what we’ve been given.

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  BookOutlet.com, though if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, the jury is still out…

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  I made a goal to read 50 books in a year, and I read 66! I also participated in ReRead 2015, but only read 3 books, so I don’t think that was…completed or successful. Haha!

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

  I genuinely can’t say. Maybe The Fiery Cross (Outlander‘s fifth book) or Son of the Shadows (the second Daughter of the Forest book).

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2016 (non-debut)?

  Anne Blankman’s Traitor Angels or Stacey Lee’s Outrun the Moon or Ruta Sepetys’s Salt to the Sea.

  3. 2016 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  Apart from my answer for #6 in this section, I’d say Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor. I’ve already read it (review coming in February!), but it’s one of those books I have to have my hands on now. There’s also Evelyn Skye’s The Crown’s Game, too.

  

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2016?

  The next Jackaby book, though the title and publication date have not been announced. If the publication timelines are anything like what’s already been published in the series, we’ll see it this fall!

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2016?

  Announce more book deals!

  6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Tara Sim’s Timekeeper, coming out in the fall. For obvious (agenting) reasons.

  

   ~

  What books were highlighted in your End of Year survey?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 10 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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