I'm gonna toot my own horn here... just a little bit. My favorite book gifting group invited me to be an admin and I'm so excited! If you enjoy RAOKs and swaps, you'll like this group. My favorite activity is Bedtime Blessings, it's like a RAOK posted every night. πŸ’œ Check out the group on Facebook:
Book Lovers Amazon Wishlist Giving!!

#RAOK #swap #bookstagram #kindle #gift #giftinggame #giveaway #bookclub #booksubscriptionbox #readingchallenge

Make sure to check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook for this giveaway!
😍😍😍
A year long subscription to the postcard prompt challenge from Your Adventure Awaits!

LiterALLy BOOKiSh (Book Club)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1208628009497556/?ref=share

*All of my bookish prompts are packed away so digital edits will have to suffice for now.*

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

πŸ–€ 2022 challenge prompt: #25 - favorite author's favorite book
πŸ–€ November bingo prompt: recommended by a parent
πŸ–€ Bookish First bingo prompt: Author has written YA and adult

Original, oddly satisfying and well-written. This was my first Neil Gaiman book but definitely won't be my last.

2 stars - The premise and writing style are what first piqued my interest of We Deserve Monuments when I saw it offered on Bookish First. I really liked the beginning of the story but my enthusiasm quickly faded as the storyline became muddy and stagnant. It felt very anticlimactic. A few dramatic twists and turns to make the story more complicated would have definitely made it more interesting. Overall, it fell very flat.

Wow. I didn't expect to read this book for hours and lose track of time. I was immersed in the story for almost its entirety. There were some lulls in the story and action but considering the very satisfying ending, I decided to give it 5 stars. Thank you to BookishFirst for offering this title in their catalogue. This review is entirely my own. Not on BookishFirst? You're missing out on FREE BOOKS! Sign up with my referral code: c2c277e5792a7a0ab

Sign ups for Literally Bookish's Great Christmas Card Exchange started today!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1208628009497556/?ref=share
#bookreviewsofinstagram #christmascards #penpals #bookmail #cardexchange #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #holidaycards #bookswap #elfster #secretsanta #snailmail #bookgiveaways #bookfun #funwithbooks #bookpals #cardswap #booksbooksandmorebooks #booksandcandles #bookclub #hallmarkchristmasmovies #christmas

😍We still have LiterALLy BOOKiSh 2023 challenge and group bookmarks available for purchase! Please refer to the pinned post in group for details:
LiterALLy BOOKiSh (Book Club on Facebook)

#bookmarks #2023readingchallenge #bookmark #sale #merch #merchshop #groupmerch #bookstagram #readingchallenge #readingprompts #readathon #booksubscriptionbox #hotcocoa #booksandcats #booksandtea #booksandcoffee #reading #novels #library #freelittlelibrary

My rating teetered between a 3 and 4 throughout this book, but the ending tipped it over to a 4. The characters were well thought out. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style but there were times when it was clunky with a poor choice of words. Most of the chapters that took place in the past fell flat for me, and seemed to hinder the progression of the plot due to long-winded events. The conclusion of the story was very redeeming.

This was a unique and well written story. I enjoyed the character development and world building. The main character was very relatable, and you could feel how much she grew and learned by the end of the story. I'll be on the look out for future work from this author. Thank you to Bookish First for offering this title in their catalogue.
https://www.bookishfirst.com/
My referral code: c2c277e5792a7a0ab
#bookishfirst

Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I absolutely loved the writing style and the creep factor. The storyline held my interest immediately although parts of it jumped around, and some actions of the characters seemed inconsistent. Overall, this story is exactly the type I love so I'm rating it 4 stars.

(Bookmarks from SJwonderlandz)

#wakethebones #ya #youngadult #bookmail #bookmarks #bookstagram #debutauthor

Aren't these book sleeves from CAM Creations Booksleeves & More adorable?!?! They're very well made, too. Find CAM on Facebook. ❀️

#booksleeves #booksleeveshop #bookshop #bookishshop #BookAccessories #strangerthings #HocusPocus #nsync #nkotb #thenightmarebeforechristmas #bookstagram

Ordered a Halloween box and extra bookmarks from SJWONDERLANDZ. So cute!
#sjwonderlandz #bookmarks #hocuspocus #bookshop #smallbusiness #swap #fallvibes #halloween #subscriptionbox #bookmail

This book can be very useful for people who suffer from anxiety, and people who want to understand anxiety better.

Thank you to Bookish First for offering this book in their catalogue. Sign up with my referral code: c2c277e5792a7a0ab

I re-read The Raven Boys and loved it all over again* Join LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook for our discussions of the series.
#theravenboys #theravencycle #maggiestiefvater #favoriteauthors #favoritebooks #bookdiscussion #readathon #bookstagram #bookaesthetics #bookblog #bookrecommendations #bookreview #instabooks #igbooks #fallbooks #bookish #booklife #bookishlifestyle #fantasy #fiction #mykindabook #reread #read

⭐️⭐️/5. I have mixed feelings about this book. I had really hoped to like it more considering the blurb sounded so interesting. I loved the strong, resilient and clever main character. The world building was just okay, and most of the characters felt one-sided or flat. The writing was mediocre, and the core premise of the story has been used many times. Cont...

We're into the last week of giveaways in LiterALLy BOOKiSh (Facebook book club). Our sponsors are donating all kinds of awesome bookish goodies - book sleeves, stickers, mugs, candles, bookmarks, shirts, signed books, e-books, & more! Don't cha just love the background of this graphic? It's a book sleeve fabric offered by one of our sponsors, CAM Creations Booksleeves & More (also on Facebook).

#giveaways #bookgiveaway #bookgiveaways #bookmerch

A very good month for me!
(From most liked to least.)

#wrapup #monthlywrapup #bookstagram #bookstaging #bookstack #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #tbrpile #mybooks #myreads #bookclub #bookcommunity #instabooks #igbooks #booksocial #bookmail #favoritebooks #booktok #bookish #booklife #bookcart #bookmerch #goodreads #storygraph #litsy #bookswap #bookworm

This book was not what I expected after reading the summary. I thought the story was going to be action and plot driven but the characters were surprisingly interesting and complex. I was absolutely invested until about halfway through when the story slightly lost its footing as the details of the different characters became confusing and muddled. The writing was great and I was extremely impressed with how engaging and beautifulit was.

My April wrap-up. Small Favors, Only a Monster and Lady Rogue were definitely my top 3.
Not my best editing. But this is the most books I've read in one month in years.

#wrapup #monthlywrapup #aprilwrapup

πŸŽ‰π—›π—²π—Ώπ—² π˜„π—² 𝗴𝗼! π—šπ—²π˜ π˜†π—Όπ˜‚π—Ώ 𝗠π—�π˜† 𝗧𝗕π—₯π˜€ 𝗿𝗲π—�π—±π˜†!πŸŽ‰
Head over to LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook to play!

#bingo #monthlybingo #bookgame #bookclub #bookcommunity #kindle #reader #barnesandnoble #bookstore #bookmail #favoritebooks #bookprizes #bookgames #readinggames #readingchallenge #bookstagram #bookgirl #booksbooksbooks #tbrpile #bookish #goodreads #storygraph #litsy #library #bookhaul #newbooks #bookfriends #bookpals

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm a big fan of Jenn Bennett and have loved (or almost loved) all of her books so far. While this one was good, it fell a little flat for me. It dragged in parts and didn't pack the emotional punches that I'm used to from this author. The blurb contains the biggest spolier, which is a major bummer. Still a worthwhile read.

Happy Library Week! Which books did you grab from your library?

#bookstagram #library #publiclibrary #libraryweek #ilovethelibrary #libraryhaul #librarybooks #goodreads #bookishlove #bookcommunity #booksocial #bookapp #nonfiction #booksandcats #bookmugs #booksandcandles #bookhaul #newbooks #reading #bookish #booklife #bookishlifestyle #librarylife #mylibrary

This book was extremely entertaining and emotional. You're brought right into the action with little backstory, and the story is complex but woven with mastery. The writing style was phenomenal. The character development, pace and world building were spot-on.
...........
Thank you to Bookish First for offering this book in their raffle!
Please use my Bookish First referral code: c2c277e5792a7a0ab

April Reading Battle sign ups are live.
LiterALLy BOOKiSh (Facebook Book Club)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1208628009497556/?ref=share

We also have a readathon coming up in a couple weeks that will be announced soon. πŸ˜ƒ

⭐️⭐️⭐️This book was good but not great. There was no lightning or thunder for me. It was like being on a roller coaster without hills or loops, waiting for the exciting pivotal point that never happens, then finding out you're actually on the kiddie log flume. The writing was decent and I liked the characters, but I just couldn't feel the passion.
**Looking to make new book friends? Join LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook.
#bookreview #bookstagram

Head over to LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook to check out our Round Robin Game!

#roundrobin #swap #bookswap #penpals

This book definitely had good moments but it won't be a stand out of my year. I enjoyed the storyline and character development overall. The writing was mediocre. There was a lot of fluff including dialogue; it could have easily been told in 400 pages. I am interested to know what happens next but would rather continue reading the books that have been sitting on my shelves. *Looking to make new book friends?Join LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook!

I really enjoyed this book. I sometimes sensed hints of Fable, another pirate book I recommend. The story and characters were great. The pacing was steady for the most part but had a few hiccups at the end. This book held my interest to the point of not wanting to put it down. I'm glad I have book 2 on hand! 4 stars. **Looking to make new book friends? Join LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook to read reviews, play games, join discussions and more!

This book was not what I expected, it was better. The cover, as gorgeous as it is, is misleading. Without reading the blurb, I thought it would be fantasy but it very much is not.

I usually struggle with first person POV but it was written very well. The MC had a clarity to her tone that created compassion from the reader. (Not full review)

Check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh (on Facebook) for giveaways like this during Giveaway Weekend!

#bookreview #bookstagram #givingback #bookgiveaway #bookishgiveaway #bookclub #bookcommunity #instabooks #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #tbr #booksleeves #bookshop #smallbusiness #bookstuff #bookmerch #goodreads #storygraph #barnesandnoble #bookstore #bookmail #favoritebooks #booktok #booktube #library #booksocial #readthis #hardcover #bookswap #secretsanta

Overall enjoyable with an engaging pace. I appreciated the character development and writing style. I did feel that some of the conclusions happened too quickly without a good lead up. Three solid stars and a promising start to my 2022 reading.

CHALLENGE PROMPTS COMPLETE
LiterALLy BOOKiSh: #15
Forever Young YA Readers: (not YA)
The 52 Book Club: #4
The Nerd Daily: #4
Words & Whimsy: #11 (easy)

#bookreview #bookstagram #bookstaging #bookstack

Looking for a fun yet attainable 2022 reading challenge? Check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh, AND our challenge is on Story Graph!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1208628009497556/?ref=share

#newyearnewbooks #2022readingchallenge #2022readinggoals #bookstagram #bookclub #booksofinstagram #goodreads #readreadread #bookcommunity #newbooks #reading #bulletjournal #bookplanner #storygraph #bookswap #bookmail #tbr #bookgoals #bookishlove #youngadultfiction

Thank you to my Secret Santa for my Santa Thing books! Merry Christmas πŸŽ… πŸŽ„

#santathing #bookmail #swap #bookswap #ninthhouse #leighbardugo

Check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh (book club) on Facebook for details and sign-up. πŸ’™
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1208628009497556/?ref=share

#bookreview #bookstagram #readingchallenge #2022readingchallenge #2022books #bookclub #bookgroup #bookdiscussion #readathon #readabook #bookish #booklife #bookishlifestyle #librarylife #libraryhaul #bookmail #favoritebooks #booktok #booktube #booksociety #bookworm #buddyread @LitsyEvents

(Stole this idea from @readwhenthebabyreads on @literally.bookish)
My top 5 and worst 5 of 2021.
The "worst 5" are hard for me to sort because I easily DNF books that aren't promising.

Have you read any of these? Do you agree with my list?

#bookstagram #bookgirl #igreads #bookish #booklife #bookishlifestyle #fantasy #ebooks #goodreads #worstbooksof2021 #bestbooksof2021 #bookcommunity #instabooks #booksbooksbooks #bookclub #booklist

Do you use Bookish First? If not, you're missing out on FREE books. Next week they will feature I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys, and I'm pretty stoked. I have enough points to claim this book. Check it out for more details AND use my referral code so we'll both earn extra points. πŸ˜‰ My referral code: c2c277e5792a7a0ab
https://www.bookishfirst.com/

#bookishfirst #freebooks #bookreviews #bookishfriends #bookstagram #bookish #coverlove

The LiterALLy BOOKiSh 2022 Reading Challenge was just announced! Join the fun in our Facebook group. πŸ˜ƒ
#bookclub #bookgroup #readingchallenge #2022readingchallenge #yearlyreadingchallenge #bookgame #bookbingo #bookmail #buddyread #bookfriends #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #tbrpile #bookreview #bookblog #favoriteauthors #favorite #readwithus #booknerd #booklove #coverlove #ilovetoread #goodreads #bookgiveaway #bookgiveaways #bookcommunity

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw ⭐
This "book" fell short, literally, it's a short book. So much potential, so much disappointment. There was no story here, no substance, but there could have been. The writing was decent but the characters were emotionless, and the story was nothing but nothing. This book seemed to be everywhere and publicized very well but it's a prime example of not believing in the hype.

The Corpse Queen
By Heather Hermann
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Fantastic book! Everything was great from the writing style and pacing to character development and world building. I loved the story; it was creepy, weird and original. A well deserved 5 stars!

#bookreview #bookstagram #thecorpsequeen #gothic #gothicbooks #bookish #booklife #bookishlifestyle #fantasy #favoritebooks #5starreview #5stars #tbr #tbrstack #onmyshelf #mustread #booksbooksbooks #newbooks

⭐⭐.5/5

Easy, fun, quirky and fluffy. Not much substance and the writing was mediocre. Nothing to note that was memorable, really.

*colorful vertical*

#bookplanner #alwaysfullybooked #bulletjournal #selfcare #readingchallenge #readinggoal #hobbies

I was very excited for this book. Based on the synopsis it should have been right up my alley. The writing was pretty good but the plot had major pacing issues and the story didn't become interesting until 3/4 through the book. If I hadn't already bought the rest of the series I probably wouldn't continue with it.

How cute is this booksleeve made by The Handmade Sales? 😍

Should have DNFed this one but I felt compelled to finish it because I was gifted a copy. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021; saying I'm disappointed is an understatement. The MC is annoying whiney, and hard to root for. She was very melodramatic. It took too long for anything to happen in the story, it was shallow and was mostly boring. The writing style had no pep. I do think the author has a talent just waiting to peek out.

Dark and Shallow Lies is an excellent book. The story is unique, and the world building is executed superbly. The characters are complex, relatable, endearing, emotional and interesting.

I usually struggle with books written in first point of view but not with this book; it seems it is the only way it could be told. There were lulls and hiccups in pacing....

11 Paper Hearts
by Kelsey Hartwell
⭐⭐⭐

This book was cute, on par with YA contemporary. It started off very slow but once the pace picked up it remained consistent. The end didn't jive with me though, and it could have wrapped up much tighter. An unnecessary event is tossed in toward the conclusion like an like an apple in a pumpkin field, unexpected and out of place. Overall enjoyable but not memorable.
#bookstagram #11paperhearts #youngadult

@literally.bookish has recently announced its fall event, Falling for Fall Bingo. The prizes are pretty great! To see the list of prompts, head over to LiterALLy BOOKiSh on Facebook.

#bookbingo #bookgame #bookgroup #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bibliophile #booklife #bookishlifestyle #groupread #buddyread #bookmail #bookprizes #goodreads #bookaddict #bookpals #penpals #bookish #booksbooksbooks #tbrpile #bookswap #bookprompts #bookreview

4 stard. The writing style is gorgeously stunning, and the story is so original, fresh and magical that it will whisk you away to a unique world. It's rare to find a book that you can just keep reading, not worried about the time. The only quality that bugged me was my biggest pet peeve- too much description. Overall, I'm very impressed with this author and excited to read her other work. Thank you to #NetGalley for offering this book.

⭐⭐ A very slow start had me uninterested but the story became engaging about 1/3 through. The plot was unique & imaginative but some of the dots didn't connect. The execution was lacking as most of it felt rushed, the characters came to conclusions out of the blue with no lead up. The "secret" that was revealed at the end by the MC didn't make much sense since the story is told in first person POV. It felt disjointed but had potential.

This book is hard to rate fairly. A few parts felt like 4 stars, others 2 and 1, but most were 3. The writing had a soothing, elegant flow and the characters were interesting but the story lacked oomph and action. I often found myself bored and paying attention to the page count. It simply felt like the plot was not progressing. I did, however, enjoy how the past and present were woven together. Overall, an easy, unmemorable read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can always expect the unexpected from the consistently-pleasing Riley Sager. A slow start quickly leads to unforeseen twists. The writing was engaging and the storyline unique. The unlikeable, whiney MC was my only gripe; her inner monolgue was cringy and grated on my nerves. A solid 4 stars overall, but The Last Time I Lied remains my favorite of his work to date. Thank you to NetGalley for offering an e-ARC.