I'm reading while I puppysit!

This book is written so beautifully. Shriver is a true wordsmith, and manages to make the ordinary extraordinary, and the mundane meaningful.

Who doesn't love this trilogy? It will always remain one of my favorites. Katniss and I were acquainted with each other as early as fourth grade, which put me in the sore position of waiting for Catching Fire and Mockingjay to come out later. I love the quick pace, fierce heroine, imaginative and painfully-possible setting, and its ability to reach so many people regardless of a love for reading.

How could a cover so beautiful contain a story so disappointing? Victorian prostitutes have never been so boring. Amber falls flat as a protagonist and never manages to grow in her dreary, dismal surroundings. Proceed with caution, this historical fiction glutton couldn't do it.

This is hands-down my favorite classic of all time. The story isn't all that exciting or fast-paced; however, Brontë's use of the English language is astounding. Jane's sensitivities just sing to my INFJ soul. Rochester is the stuff that dreams are made of, and Bertha Mason captivates me. This is an enchanting classic for lovers of literature.

If you haven't read Outlander yet, where have you been? This story is packed full of interesting, intoxicating characters, and won't let you take a break for real life. I was glued to the page and had to carry this sucker around at Disney World to devour it in the lines. Be warned, there's definitely some "adult content," but it has all of the swashbuckling Scottish dreamboats with an engaging plot and voice.

If you want breathtaking short stories that pack a punch, look no further. Vonnegut's unique voice and endless imagination is perfectly displayed in my favorite volume of short stories ever, imagining our world in a terrifying yet intoxicating light. I don't have enough praise for this.

This is one of those that I LOVED as a middle schooler, but would probably make me cringe now. It's a classic YA paranormal romance to the T. If you don't like manic pixie dream girls, it's probably not for you. But something about the southern voice charmed me, and it's remained on my shelves for years.

I managed to read this massive novel in a weekend, a rare and exciting feet. It's definitely not for the faint of heart or the relaxed reader - it's heavy, it's pompous, and quite detailed, much like Marie Antoinette herself. It's not one of my favorites and yet it's stuck with me throughout the months. If you like thick historical fictions based on real people, this is your novel.

This was a whirlwind! I am by no means a fantasy-lover and even struggle with YA, but this one was too renowned to resist. It's quick-paced, engaging, and an all-around solid read, particularly for those that struggle with reading. Put this on your stack of go-to recommendations (I work through a library, so I snatch books like these!)

This is one of those books that I read years ago that I just constantly think about. If you enjoyed Shakespeare's classic at all, consider picking this up. I loved the author's voice and passionately adored Juliet's nurse and her husband. My only complaint was when it caught up to the original work's timeline, the charm left and Leveen didn't take any more risks.

This was the only book recommended to me by a certain friend that I didn't love! I typically adore expansive, generational tales, but I didn't understand why these protagonists' stories were chosen to be told. I only cared about two characters and found myself constantly skimming. But don't let me discourage you - this seems to be well loved.

This will always remain one of my favorites. I read it for the third time this year and managed to get even more out of it. Kathryn Stockett is a genius, and I don't know how she manages to make 550 pages seem short. So much is encountered with these three incredible heroines, and much more than simply racism. The Help is a triumph.

This was another one that came from my favorite book reccomender! I adored the setting of Russia in WWII, and actually appreciated that I warred with the love interest. If the author can manage to create tension with me, the reader, bravo! I couldn't put this down and was reading every second I was off stage.

I met Madame Atwood this year, which only enhanced my perception of this book. It is so important, now more than ever. Atwood is a natural storyteller and packs so much punch in so few pages.

It was interesting to read this after Steinbeck's East of Eden the month before; it's short, to the point, and colloquial in comparison. It's not flowery or pretentious, which makes it quite a readable classic. I am starting to be concerned for darling John, though - why does he always have one woman be the "villain" or wonton evil? Does someone have mommy issues?

This book is so popular in the bookstagram community, and despite not being a fantasty-lover, I thoroughly enjoyed this. My favorite part has to be Feyre's unconventional (for YA/NA heroines) choice at the end. All together solid, but oddly enough, is outshined by its sequel.

Woo! I went on a review rampage on GR about this if you're interested. But my favorite book reccomender encouraged me to read this, and of course she didn't disappoint. I'm not even a fantasy lover and I adored the good pacing, romantic tension, and believable characters. Check out A Court of Thorns and Roses for the beginning of this trilogy!

I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review (you can read the complete one on my GR).
I didn't feel like the narrator had a "purpose" in telling the story, which is especially important in historical fiction. The romance was hard to buy into, there were way too many flowery descriptions of loins awakening, and ideas were constantly being repeated (like the poor queen's dead kids. We get it!) Not my cup of tea.

Hello! I am a recovering bookstagrammer who could never really jive with the community. Everything is a game, it's quite political, and I found it more about the "Instagram" side of things and even the photography than books. So I'm going to let myself live a little here and not uphold a flawless theme or whatever else. East of Eden was the best classic I read this year! Anyone else love it? Let's talk.