Tag: books

• Book Review: “Assassin’s Apprentice” by Robin Hobb

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on April 27, 2016

  Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

  Publisher: Del Rey
  Published: April 1995
  Genre: adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780553573398
  Rating: ★★★

  Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill–and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

  As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

  Fitz can’t remember too much of his early life, apart from working as a stable boy and bonding really well with the animals. When King Shrewd acknowledges Fitz is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry, he has a plan sorted just for Fitz, one that marks him above a commoner but not quite nobility. Fitz will be a trained assassin, using his Skill to assist his mission. But as raiders attack the kingdom’s coast, Fitz’s assignment becomes all too real, and a complicated web of deceit may be his undoing.

  This book seems to have followed me around for the last few months without any intention on my part! It was a gift from my Secret Santa, Samantha, it was one that a friend eyed and purchased over the holidays, and it was chosen as the Flights of Fantasy Book Club pick for March. MARCH. It is now April and I’ve finally finished it. A belated review for this book club pick. And hopefully I can shed some light as to why.

  Hobb’s writing style is one that begs to be absorbed across long sittings. Once you’re involved with Fitz’s narrative, the prose becomes engrossing and the story picks up its pace. But if you’re a chapter-before-bed kind of reader, you may be out of luck with this one. Reading small portions each day made the book feel slow and plodding.

  This first book in the Farseer trilogy is also full of character development and insight. We watch Fitz grow from about six years old to early young adulthood, and experience a whole spectrum of events with him. He’s an outcast because he’s a bastard child, but he’s neither commoner, servant, nor noble. He’s of royal blood but cannot be given special privileges, yet there’s no denying he has the Skill, which runs through royal families. He’s in quite the predicament, and the King, as well as his subjects, treat Fitz as such.

  Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it took me two months to get through it. If I had time to sit across a weekend and be completely immersed in it, I’m sure I would’ve loved it. I am curious to see what happens to Fitz, and the writing really is beautiful — so I plan to read the second book too.

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  This qualifies as book 5 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

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  This book qualifies as book 7 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR

• That One Time I Binged on Kinsella… II

  Posted at 5:55 am by Laura, on April 25, 2016

  

  Welcome back to the second edition of That One Time I Binged on Kinsella! Last time we discussed I’ve Got Your Number and The Undomestic Goddess, as well as what inspired my Kinsella binge in the first place: Can You Keep a Secret? Now we’re here to discuss two more non-Shopaholic Kinsella books.

  

  

  Twenties Girl (★★★.5) surprised me in many ways. At first I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as everyone said — a ghost great-aunt? really? — but I absolutely sank into it! Lara’s romantic storyline hit a little too close to home for me, so I found it difficult in the beginning. Sadie, Lara’s great-aunt/ghost, could be annoying and conceited, but that changed as the story developed more and we could explore her character. There’s a surprising thread in the story that deals with art and art history, which was fun and really amped up the pace. When Lara’s Trump-like uncle gets involved with the art deal — and the overall family history — Lara comes to terms with many aspects of her life and takes control.

  And it’s that “taking control of your life” thread that made Twenties Girl enjoyable. The Lara at the beginning of the book is clinging to a rather poor and directionless job, lacks strong familial relationships, feels isolated from friends, and is quite obsessive with a dead relationship. Sadie tries to snap her out of it, simultaneously teaching her (in her nagging, Sadie way) to live each day fully and to know when to fully invest in something worthwhile. By the end of the novel, Lara has sorted her priorities and knows what she wants in life.

  Remember Me? (★★★) has an intriguing premise: what if you lost your memory from the last three years, and found your life is completely different? New appearance, new job, new set of friends, a marriage? Now if that happened to me, I’d have a full-blown panic attack. But in typical Kinsella fashion, Lexi uses these positive changes (she’s gorgeous! She’s the boss! She has a hot, rich husband!) to her advantage and attempts to put the pieces of the puzzle together in a humorous way. How did she go from poor and struggling to a success? There are two accidents in the novel, and I had such a great theory going from about page 50 that was completely debunked in the last three chapters. Prepare for the twist!

  Though it’s mostly discussed through Lexi’s romantic entanglements — her husband versus Jon, the successful but laid-back architect her husband employs — Kinsella touches upon glossy exteriors and their hidden flaws. On the surface, it looks like Lexi woke up to the perfect life. But those perfections do not make up Lexi, a quirky, fun, kind, flawed individual. She has a beautiful, state-of-the-art, magazine-spread home, but there’s nothing in there that feels personal, homey, or lived in. She’s the head of a department in a big company, but her employees see her as a cutthroat snake, something Lexi most certainly is not. She’s married to a gorgeous businessman, who fits everything on a dream checklist, but that checklist does not equal a dream relationship. It seems perfect and wonderful and safe, but flaws make life enjoyable. And in the case of Lexi’s relationship with Jon, they are far more equal to each other, and that’s a healthy lifestyle.

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  I read Kinsella at just the right time in my life. As I alluded to a few weeks ago, the beginning of 2016…well, sucked. Kinsella brought smiles and humor. And in each of the novels I read, I found a little something to relate to that also lifted me up. Can You Keep a Secret? spoke to me on a billion levels, most especially in the career fumbles and trying to prove oneself. I’ve Got Your Number shared the same fluctuating confidence and self-doubt I experience daily, and The Undomestic Goddess reminded me that it’s possible to try new things and still remain exactly who you are. Twenties Girl taught me to be bold, and Remember Me? encouraged me to look beyond the glossy exterior and into the heart of things.

  I’m sure plenty of readers felt the same way about her novels, for any of the protagonists in any of their situations. Kinsella’s books are semi-predictable, they’re quick reads, and you can guarantee some laughter. But I think that’s what makes them so enjoyable: her voice is accessible and relatable to so many women. You can’t help but love the characters and wince over their hilariously embarrassing situations. You’re glad this isn’t your life, and at the same time, this is your life. And it brings such comfort.

  Have you read Kinsella? What are some of your favorite books?

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 6 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, mini review, review

• Book Review: “Picture Perfect” by Holly Smale

  Posted at 4:10 am by Laura, on April 22, 2016

  Picture Perfect by Holly Smale

  Publisher: HarperTeen
  Published: January 2016 (UK: June 2014)
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780062333636
  Rating: ★★★★

  Since she returned from her last modeling job, Harriet’s biggest worry has been the wait between phone calls from her perfect boyfriend, Nick.

  Then Harriet’s dad gets a job in America. In New York City, land of skyscrapers and taxicabs. A place so exciting that Harriet isn’t even upset to leave her friends and her plans behind, especially since she’ll be able to see Nick while she’s there.

  Except…when her parents said they were moving to “New York,” they meant Greenway, New York, two hours away from the city by train. Which means no glamorous apartment, no geeking out at museums, and no romantic dates with Nick.

  Harriet is eager to escape into the now-familiar world of fashion. But modeling in New York is nothing like what she’s used to. Will this geek be able to stand out in the big city—or will she get left behind?

  Read my reviews of Geek Girl and Model Misfit!

  Shortly after Harriet receives her A Levels and before her birthday, her family announces they’re moving to New York for six months for her dad’s job. Harriet’s beyond excited to move to NYC temporarily, because she’ll finally live out all her American TV- and movie-dreams and she’ll get to spend loads of time with her boyfriend Nick. Except her family isn’t moving to New York City — they’re moving to Greenway, over an hour outside NYC. Desperate for friends, adventure, and excitement, Harriet jumps at a chance to be back in the modeling world again, only to find herself just as lost and confused as before.

  If Geek Girl was a riot of good fun and Model Misfit a journey in social development, then Picture Perfect is much more of a coming-of-age and self-love kind of book. Harriet depends on lists that mostly detail dreams and expectations rather than feasible realities, and she’s constantly disappointed by the outcomes. She’s lonely and doesn’t know how to tell anyone that because she either expects them to know how she’s feeling without saying anything, or she doesn’t want to put a damper on the situation.

  Her biggest fear, and one I’m sure many of us can relate to, is being left behind. Abandoned. Forgotten. In a way, she was abandoned by the modeling world and thought she came to terms with it. It’s not until Wilbur appears that Harriet realizes just how much she missed modeling — and she thrusts herself into that world again, only to realize she’s clinging to thin threads here as well. She can’t make friends in the US, she fears losing her friends back home, she’s worried she’s losing Nick, she feels she’s lost her parents — so she scrambles in the fashion world, too.

  Smale’s style is snappy and quick, making the pages fly by. Facts are flown about, numerous stumbles and falls, high-action roller coasters and molasses-slow pity walks from the neighborhood station — Harriet experiences it all in New York. While the first book focused on the intriguing, glamorous world of fashion, and the second book on Harriet’s fascination with Japan and her growing social skills, Smale took a step back and dug deep into Harriet’s character with this third book. What makes Harriet Harriet? How can she stand out? Does she need to stand out? Can she learn to love herself exactly the way she is? I enjoy books that focus on the introspective character, and Smale holds nothing back!

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  This book qualifies as book 4 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Star-Touched Queen” by Roshani Chokshi (ARC)

  Posted at 4:30 am by Laura, on April 19, 2016

  The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi 

  Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
  Publishing Date: April 26
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781250085474
  Rating: ★★★★

  Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

  But Akaran has its own secrets — thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

  Maya was cursed since the day she was born. Because her mother died and she lived, the other harem wives of her father, the Raja, believe in Maya’s horoscope: her marriage is one of death and destruction. When the Raja asks Maya to give her life for her kingdom on the brink of war, Maya painfully agrees to do so — and instead finds herself in Akaran with Amar, a raja who promises equality and power. But strange things are happening in Akaran, and as Maya tiptoes the edge of secrets, she’s thrust into unraveling an ancient mystery, one that could alter thousands of lives and truly bring about devastation.

  I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe
  had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones.
  I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.

  What a ride. There are no comparable titles, only authors, that I can give. Chokshi’s writing is vivid as Erin Morgenstern’s and as otherworldly as Laini Taylor’s. Toss in the beauty of Indian myth and folklore, and you’re destined for an adventurous read. I haven’t read a YA fantasy quite is unique (and steeped in non-Euro culture) as this (either ever or in a long while!). Chokshi is like a breath of fresh air!

  Maya’s journey is unique, yet familiar. Though there are words and beliefs and myths completely unfamiliar to me, it’s Maya’s quest for answers and character growth that’s recognizable. The last third of the book heavily relies on Indian mythology, I felt, with a fantastical, otherworldly quest Maya must fulfill in order to restore the balance between the mortal world and Akaran. Hang on tight. It may seem a little confusing, but it’s entirely worth it in the end. You are, along with Maya, experiencing several reincarnated lives, and every word in this book matters!

  “I know your soul. Everything else is an ornament.”

  Amar is also a great character for a love interest. It’s easy to see why Maya’s drawn to him, and it’s understandable when her trust begins to falter. How can someone so ethereal, composed, and determined to show compassion and equality also refuse to tell her anything deep about himself, about his world, his past? What is he hiding? And why can’t he share it with her? All this complications made for an intense relationship, and a key to Maya’s quest, and I deeply enjoyed the character exploration.

  Chokshi is officially on my watch list. I’ll happily read anything else she publishes!

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from St. Martin’s Griffin for review!

  *quotes taken from uncorrected proof

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  This qualifies as book 4 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

  Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, review

• Classic & Re-Read: “Emma” by Jane Austen

  Posted at 4:30 am by Laura, on April 15, 2016

  Two birds with one stone in this post! Each challenge has slightly different questions, so this’ll make for an interesting review and discussion of Jane Austen’s Emma.

  

  Stacey @ The Pretty Books is hosting the Classics Challenge in an effort to read more classic literature — and you can define “classic” however you wish! Sign up and start reading literature that’s standing the test of time. 

  Book #1 of 2016:
  Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

  

  

  

  WHEN I Discovered This Classic

  The first time I read Austen must’ve been in middle school, around 12 years old. I bought two volumes that had her six novels, and I’m pretty sure I breezed through all of them. Only four stick out to me and I read often — Emma would not be one of them! It was firmly one of my least-favorite at the time, so I just stuck to the BBC adaptation and called it a day.

  WHY I Chose to Read It

  It’s been over 14 years, more or less, since I read it, and I love the BBC adaptation. So maybe my adolescent opinion isn’t worth listening to and I ought to re-read this classic again! (Plus, come on, Austen said she loved Emma-the-character. Gotta give her a chance!)

  WHAT Makes It A Classic

  Because it’s Austen. But I’m not sure what exactly made Austen a classic. Possibly because her stories are universal, satirical, well-written, interesting. Austen understood people.

  WHAT I Thought of This Classic

  I definitely have a higher opinion of Emma! Though it’s still not one of my favorite Austens, it was nice to be back in her style of writing. Mr Knightley is sassy and realistic, I do not like Frank Churchill (what an awful flirt), Mr Woodhouse is far more of a hypochondriac than I remembered or expected, and Emma, though difficult, was fun to watch. Check out my full thoughts in my re-read section!

  WILL It Stay A Classic

  Of course! It’s Austen, it’s a classic. It inspired one of the greatest 90s movie classics, too: Clueless. That match-making-gone-wrong story is a classic trope as well. Not sure if it started because of Austen, but it’s something that audiences gravitate to.

  WHO I’d Recommend It To

  Anyone who enjoyed the BBC adaptation, Clueless, or matchmaking stories. Emma is so much more than that, but it’s definitely the draw to the novel.

  

  Kelly @ Belle of the Literati is hosting a fun challenge for bloggers: The Re-Read Challenge! Not much of a “challenge,” per se, because why wouldn’t you want to re-read and re-experience some of your favorites? Sign up and start re-reading!

  Book #2 of 2016:
  Emma by Jane Austen

  

  

  

  WHEN I First Read

  As stated before (the one overlap question, yay!), I was probably 12 when I first read Emma.

  WHAT I Remember

  Nothing particularly detailed in this book except that I found Emma to be snobbish when I first read it. I also remembered Mr Knightley scolding her a lot. (And yet, of course, the BBC adaptation became most of what I remembered. How do you know when a show/movie blurs the original work too much?)

  HOW I Felt After Re-Reading

  Relieved the BBC stayed true to the work, and pleasantly surprised. I took some notes while I was reading (because who doesn’t do that with a classic?), and here’s what stood out:

  HARRIET / MR MARTIN / MR ELTON — Emma’s snobbery clouds Harriet’s judgement of the sweet and perfect Mr Martin in chapter four. How incredibly fast! Harriet was such an impressionable character, but she came to her own by the end. I was also surprised with how large a role Mr Martin had in the books, too, as a tertiary character. His random appearances spark Harriet out of each of her “I love Mr ___” stupors.

  EMMA / MR ELTON / FRANK CHURCHILL — What Churchill did to Emma is exactly what Emma did to Mr Elton, in a way. Both characters unknowingly led another on; such flirts! Yet I have a hard time forgiving Churchill the way I could forgive Emma. Emma, at least, didn’t seem like she realized she was flirting with Mr Elton and leading him on. In adaptations it’s quite obvious Elton is infatuated with Emma, but in the book it wasn’t. Despite Churchill’s explanatory letter and apology (side note: I love that Austen has letters from men in her novels so they can explain themselves!), I have a hard time understanding how Jane Fairfax could still marry him after all those months.

  EMMA / MR KNIGHTLEY — The confessions to one another before the proposal are awesome. They’re not apologizing for their behavior, but they can explain their conduct and recognize or admit to their faults. It’s huge for Emma to do so. She’s always arguing with Knightley, but he tends to make a fair point. After all of that, she’s still the same kind of Emma — argumentative, observant, nosy — but with growth and wisdom. They don’t completely change at the turn of a page, like many characters in books do. They grew up.

  EMMA — You can’t really blame Emma for her pompous attitude and rudeness, though. She has the most hypochondriac of fathers, no travel experience, and the only challenging conversations she has are with Knightley, who, despite his scolding, treats her more like an equal than anything else.

  WOULD I Re-Read Again

  I’m not sure I would read this Austen again any time soon, but I would definitely reread it again in my lifetime!

  What books have you reread recently? What classic have you read recently?

  Posted in books, Classics Challenge, ReRead2016, Reviews 2016 | 8 Comments | Tagged books, classics challenge, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, reread2016

• Mini Reviews V

  Posted at 8:35 am by Laura, on April 13, 2016

  Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

  Publisher: Viking Children’s
  Published: March 2016
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  Rating: ★★.5
  Summary: Destined to wind up “wed or dead,” Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she’d gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan’s army, with a fugitive who’s wanted for treason. And she’d never have predicted she’d fall in love with him, or that he’d help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

  Mini Review: Everything that didn’t work for me could very well be the Golden Words another reader seeks in a book. I adored the Middle Eastern-inspired aspect of this fantasy (the Buraqi, the landscape, the history), but did not care for the gun-slinging Old West vibe (which I wasn’t keen on in the first place). I liked how badass Amani was, yet at the same time I felt as if I didn’t know her well enough to feel a deep connection to her character, one that singles her out among the other YA fantasy female protagonists. I liked how intricately plotted this was, but on the other hand I felt this was more plot-driven than character-driven (and I’m very much a character-driven reader).

  

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  This qualifies as book 3 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

  This book also qualifies as book 3 of 10 library books in 2016. 

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  Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
  Published: May 2015 (ppbk)
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  Rating: ★★★★
  Summary: Before Sloane, Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, and she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—someone who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. There’s just a random to-do list with thirteen bizarre tasks that Emily would never try. But what if they can lead her to Sloane? Getting through Sloane’s list will mean a lot of firsts, and with a whole summer ahead of her—and with the unexpected help of the handsome Frank Porter—who knows what she’ll find.

  Mini Review: Morgan Matson is another auto-buy/auto-read author for me. Her books tend to be summer-themed with strong friendships at the heart of the story. Though this friendship felt more one-sided to me throughout most of the book, it was still a friendship that propelled Emily’s character growth in a natural way. Without Sloane’s list, Emily would’ve sat at home, bored to tears. This list kicked her butt into gear and created a whirlwind, adventurous summer! What was great about the list (I’m a huge fan of lists) is that even though it’s definitely meant to bring Emily out of her shell and explore, it doesn’t seem outrageous or forced. The cute romance on the side was unassuming, too, and blossomed naturally. Check out my full review (and ice cream and playlist!) over on Lindsey’s blog, Bring My Books!

  

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  This book qualifies as book 3 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 8 Comments | Tagged books, flights of fantasy, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, mini review, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “When We Collided” by Emery Lord (ARC)

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on April 5, 2016

  When We Collided by Emery Lord

  Publisher: Bloomsbury
  Publishing Date: April 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781619638457
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Vivi and Jonah couldn’t be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi’s zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there’s something important Vivi hasn’t told him.

  Meet Vivi: bubbly, energetic, artistic. Meet Jonah: reserved, responsible, quite the talent in the kitchen. When Vivi and her mother move to quaint Verona Cove for the summer, she wants nothing more than to feel free and impulsive, her true self. It’s a chance meeting at the pottery shop that brings her to Jonah, a boy overburdened with adult responsibilities due to his father’s death and mother’s shut-in mourning habits. They cling to one another — Vivi to Jonah because he’s good, kind, relaxed, and easy-going; Jonah to Vivi because she shows him how to feel free and find beauty in the small things — but by the end of the summer, Vivi’s zest for life almost becomes too much.

  The book is told in dual POV, and that alone makes Vivi and Jonah’s personalities that much more interesting and contrasting. Vivi is free-spirited and artistic, so naturally her narrative tends to be a wordy, head-in-the-clouds, stream-of-consciousness thought process. Jonah’s dealing with grief and responsibility, burdens on his shoulders he’s too young to carry, and while it weighs him down he still finds reasons to carry on each day. But if you were to look at their narratives separately — all the Vivi chapters together, all the Jonah chapters together — the growth and development is astounding. You can see, bit by bit, Vivi’s mania going into overdrive. You can see Jonah begin to crack and grieve properly, allowing him to move on. And at the turning point, when everything collides, then stabilizes…it leaves you breathless.

  Lord is known for her friendship stories. There would always be a romance involved, but it was the friendship that made her work stand out. While this new book is primarily a romance, friendship continues to pervade the pages. Vivi befriends everyone in town, and falls in sync with Jonah’s family. Jonah relies on his friends and practically-family in the restaurant. The support network for these two, separate and together, is beautiful and authentic and so true to life. You could know someone inside and out and still not know them. The deepest, darkest secrets.

  Another thing I loved about this book is how Lord handles feminism and mental illness. She’s a huge advocate online for both, and for that I think of her as one of the strongest women in our generation. She’s forward and upfront about everything, no ounce of “airing dirty laundry.” This book sounds like her, and it’s a comfort to see how she manages to weave everything together. It’s a progressive book, a book for men and women, adults and teens, friends witnessing friends with mental illness, individuals suffering from mental illness themselves, girls of all kinds expressing themselves in all ways without shame, boys doing the same and respecting girls as human beings. It’s all so beautiful.

  Can I please just have lunch with Emery Lord now? Please?

  Thank you, Lindsey, for providing this book received from Bloomsbury for review! 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 4 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Flipping Through the Pages: Winter Rewind 2016

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on April 1, 2016

  

  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

  

  

  

  On one particularly rough day, the doorbell rang with a welcomed surprise: flowers from one of my clients! Just because. They brightened the following weeks in many ways. In February, I donated a foot of hair. Needless to say, my neck thanks me for it. And then in March, a couple friends from college sent me an awesome birthday package that contained these nerdy owl socks.

  Life Highlights

  To be honest, 2016 has been quite brutal so far. I’m still shocked, devastated, frustrated, heartbroken, and a whole mix of sad words, so I’m clinging to the joys of spring and March to keep me going. The birthday, taking up yoga, getting back into running, flailing over author cover reveals…March was on the right track. April has already proven to be filled with good news, so let’s hope everything looks brighter here on out!

  Tunes on Repeat

  As to be expected, the music I listened to on repeat truly reflect the state I’ve been in these last few months.

  ABBA’s “Chiquitita” and “The Winner Takes It All” were just…blasted. All the time. Day and night, in my room, in the car, on Spotify. Sometimes I cried like there was no tomorrow, sometimes I sang and danced. But they’ve been permanently imbedded in my mind and I’ve no doubt I’ll forever associate them with this time in my life.

  Little Mix’s “Wings” is a song I had on my running playlist back when I ran through Valley Forge. A good pick-me-up, girl-power kind of tune for exactly that: getting you up and moving.

  And of course, it wouldn’t be March without some Irish music. The High Kings were played on repeat as well. “The Parting Glass,” sung by anyone really, is one of my favorites.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. Am I Outgrowing YA? @ Novel Ink — Christy shared her thoughts on her YA slump vs reading slump, and wondered if she was outgrowing YA or just not reading the things that capture her attention. Have you felt the same about a particular category or genre?
  2. Book People Talk Movies: The Great British Bake-Off @ Bring My Books — January’s theme on Lindsey’s blog was Reality TV, and Gillian was more than happy to push Lindsey into the obsession that’s GBBO. It even inspired “Signature Dish Saturday” on the blog with Gillian’s Banana Chiffon Cake.
  3. To Continue On or Not? @ Perpetual Page-Turner — For some, DNFing a book is easy. Or the kind of DNF that’s “let me just put this down and I’ll get back to it later.” But in this discussion, Jamie questions whether to continue a series. How do you decide whether or not to continue reading?
  4. “Is this silly enough for you yet? Gothic enough, mad enough, even for you?”: Nostalgia for the ‘Victorian’ @ The Victorianist — No no, you’re not crazy, that is what Moriarty said to Sherlock in the special episode. Emily Bowles, a PhD candidate at the University of York, discusses the TV show Dickensian and the importance of nostalgia’s “shaping influence in the afterlives of the Victorians and their texts.” A part of me is still so romantically stuck in the academic world that I couldn’t help but share this!
  5. Lies Bookworms Tell Themselves @ Paper Fury — Look me in the eye, bookworms, and tell me you haven’t had at least one of these thoughts.
  6. “You Must Allow Me to Tell You…” @ So Obsessed With — Hannah highlighted twenty great declarations of love in literature, classics and contemporary, for Valentine’s Day. Check it out.
  7. Falling in Love with Revision @ Clarissa Harwood — Something I think all writers should consider reading.
  8. Taking the Guesswork Out of My Book Ratings @ Boomark Lit — It seems bloggers are very much influenced by their immediate emotional reaction to book, and thus it appears everything is 4 or 5 stars. But how can you critically differentiate a 4-star book from a 5-star book when it’s entirely influenced by an emotional reaction? How was the writing, the plot, the character development, the world-building, all the other ingredients that make a book great? Lauren’s got a neat system she’s shared on her blog.
  9. One Weird Trick That Makes a Novel Addictive @ Jezebel — While the article seems to start by saying addictive novels are dependent on the author’s gender, that’s not it at all. Catherine Nichols is instead sharing the elements of classics still read today that make them compulsively readable, relatable, and addictive.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. That One Time I Binged on Kinsella — Intended to be Part One of a two-part post! My winter was full of Kinsella discoveries and humor, and I’ve enjoyed every page. Glad to see you have, too!
  2. Book Review: “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys — If you haven’t read Sepetys yet, do so now. She’s phenomenal.
  3. 2016 Bookish Resolutions and Reading Challenges — One of the things we all need to do throughout the year is step back and examine our resolutions, personal challenges, goals, and areas for improvement.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller ★★★★.5

  Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys ★★★★★

  Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella ★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  “’Manners cost nothing, sir,’ I said. ‘It takes as much
  time to be rude as it does to be polite.’”
  –The Forbidden Orchid, by Sharon Biggs Waller

  “You have a horse, you ride wherever you want, you shoot
  things with your gun, you go out in the night and find lost
  children and jump under wagons to save little girls.”
  —Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

  “I saw a girl who races to help others but doesn’t help herself.
  And right now you need to help yourself. No one should walk
  up the aisle feeling inferior or in a different league
  or trying to be something they’re not.”
  –I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 3 / 10
  Future Perfect || Blackhearts || Rebel of the Sands
  

  #ReRead2016: 1 / 5
  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

  Flights of Fantasy: 3 / 5
  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix || Rebel of the Sands
  Lady Renegades

  Classics Challenge: 0 / 5
  *currently reading Emma*

  Rock My TBR: 3 / 12
  Walk on Earth a Stranger || Arsenic for Tea || Twenties Girl

  Impulse Buys: 3 / 5
  Can You Keep a Secret? || I’ve Got Your Number || The Undomestic Goddess

  Overall Challenge: 13/50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: The final season of Downton Abbey took over my Sunday nights, and just about any other time I was watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. I need more shows like MFMM! Grantchester is back for season 2, and Endeavour is on its way for season 3, but really now. More great mysteries, please.

  On Film: The Intern. Folks, if I loved Kinsella as much as I did and needed a movie that had a hardworking female career woman struggling through life, The Intern was a surprising treat.

  In the Shopping Bag: 70% off sale in January at ModCloth! Flights from Munich to London in February! All the Kinsella impulse buys in March! Guys, retail therapy was rough this season. It’s back to saving. I need money for BEA and for my European jaunt in June!

  Miscellaneous: To get back into yoga, I revisited Yoga with Adrienne. Adrienne is wonderful! I’ve completed her 30-day challenge and it’s fantastic. Do you have a favorite YouTuber or video work-out instructor you run to?

  Looking Towards the Future

  While the beginning of 2016 was rotten, I know the following months will be absolutely wonderful, no matter what life throws my way. My dear friend Amanda has her baby shower in April, I’m reuniting with all the bookish folks at Book Expo America in May, and in June I’m wandering through Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and England. I love traveling. It’s the best.

  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 | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Advance Excitement at a Glance XXIII

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on March 30, 2016

  

  A monthly meme to keep up with the latest publications, featuring advance copy reviews to look forward to reading.

  Last month I was awful and didn’t get to either of the books on my AEaaG post. Here’s hoping April releases have better luck. And there are so many to look forward to! If you love historical fiction, get your hands on Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (April 5) and Fever at Dawn by Péter Gárdos (April 12). For some crazy adventure, Love, Lies, and Spies by Cindy Astney (April 19) may be just the thing. Finally, fantasy and diversity seekers should get their hands on The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (April 26). You already read my review of Lady Renegades (April 5), so let’s dive into what I’m super focused on…

  

  When We Collided by Emery Lord
  (Bloomsbury, April 5)

  Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi’s zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there’s something important Vivi hasn’t told him.

  At the time I’m writing this post, I’m a quarter into the book and am already mesmerized. Plus, it’s Emery Lord. I love Emery Lord. All hail Emery Lord.

  What books are you looking forward to in April?

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 7 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, advance reading copy, books

• Book Review: “Lady Renegades” by Rachel Hawkins (ARC)

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on March 19, 2016

  Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins

  Publisher: Putnam
  Publishing Date: April 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780399256950
  Rating: ★★★

  Read my reviews for Rebel Belle (book 1) and Miss Mayhem (book 2) before continuing with this review!

  Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

  Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.

  After several weeks of what proves to be a boring, average summer, Harper and Bee begin to wonder just how immediate and threatening David’s powers actually are. They don’t need to wonder for long, because Paladins begin attacking Harper one after another, all claiming David sent them to kill her. Harper and Bee need Blythe’s help to find David before his powers get out of control and Harper’s dwindle away.

  The comedic elements in the trilogy were a bit lost in this final installment (bummer!) and replaced with a quest (road trip) and more magic (thanks, Blythe). Harper’s so caught up in her anxiety — losing her powers, losing David — that a lot of her more humorous one-liners and observations took a backseat. Secondary characters took on the funny lines, so it’s not all doom-and-gloom suddenly in this energetic, Buffy-esque trilogy.

  I’m not quite sure what I expected from Lady Renegades, except that it wasn’t this…and yet it was. I could guess the ending off the bat, but I’m here for the journey. The journey part is what deviated from my expectations. Getting from A to B took some random pit-stops in bizarre places with strange people, with surprises here and there to the plot and general story arc. And while it was odd…it worked. For that, I’m pleased. What is absolutely guaranteed, in this book and the others, is Ladies Kicking Butt. *applause*

  These three girls pile into a car for two weeks and travel across the south to little podunk towns, bars, flee-markets, and motels in their quest to find David. Each stop reveals more clues, which all point in the direction Harper hopes it wouldn’t. Time is ticking before the start of senior year — if Harper actually gets to experience senior year with rogue David on the loose — and Harper’s not sure what the future has in store for her or Pine Grove.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from GP Putnam’s Sons BFYR for review!

  .

  This qualifies as book 2 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

  Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, review

• 

• 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 travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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