Book Bingo Square #1 Done! ✅ Square: Book Set Somewhere You Want to Visit This Year (Seattle); Book: We All Looked Up #bookbingo

My next ARC. What Every Girl Should Know ... a historical YA novel that explores the life of Margaret Sanger, the woman who started Planned Parenthood. #arc #cominginfebruary

By viewing an impending apocalypse through four teenagers‘ eyes, this book shows how a group of young people deal differently with tragedy. I enjoyed the storyline, & how Wallach worked anticipation of the asteroid‘s impact in with the regular lives of the characters. I also liked how society began to collapse as the book went along. Wallach‘s writing is often poignant & heartfelt, & suitable to what people experience at the end of their lives.

Well that sucks. If there‘s one thing I‘ve learned this winter, I‘m a girl who needs her sunshine! 🌞 Seattle gonna have me like 😭 #youaremysunshinemyonlysunshine #seattlebound

For my 2019 Book Bingo, I‘m supposed to read a novel that takes place somewhere that I want to visit this year. I‘m #seattlebound next week, so I picked We All Looked Up, a novel that explores how life changes for a group of Seattle teens once they learn that an asteroid is scheduled to hit Earth. 🌎 #bujo2019 #librarianlife #bookbingo

One part historical fiction, the other part fantasy, debut author Gita Trelease brings to life the magnificent & awe-inspiring French court of King Louis XVI & the infamous Marie Antoinette in Enchantée, a story about a young, poverty-stricken orphan who tries to keep her & her sister afloat by practicing “la magie ordinaire” in a volatile France on the cusp of a revolution. An “enchanting,” absorbing read, recommended for both YA & adults!

Hi, my name is Brooke!
1. Going for 100 to beat my personal best - 87 books last year.
2. So I thought that everyone eats black-eyed peas & cabbage for the New Year, but this intro is showing me that‘s not the case! But anyways, that‘s what I had, and it was delish!
3. Not a superhero kinda girl unless Daenerys Targaryen counts.
4. March ... where my fishies at?!
5. Hey y‘all January babies!!! Happy Bday!

#friyayintro @howjessreads

This book is a vital read for any young person wanting to learn more about sexual health & protection, consent, & sexuality. This book is everything your parents never told you. With frank, honest discussions about what it means to be a teen exploring one‘s sexuality as well as the myriad of options & choices a person has to protect themselves, this novel provides good, solid sexual info to teen readers who may otherwise not know where to look.

To diversify my reading in 2019, I randomly selected various challenges and put them into a book bingo! #bujolife #bujocommunity #bulletjournal #bujoinspo #bookbujo

I read 87 books in 2018, a personal best, so I‘m going for 100 in 2019! #goodreadschallenge #bujolife #readingchallenge #bookbujo #bujotracker #bujoinspo #bujocommunity #goodreads

A few years ago, I bought a set of totally awesome vintage OZ books, but aside from the ones I read in childhood, I am yet to read them! I‘m challenging myself to it in 2019 - and I‘m coloring in the 💛yellow💛 brick road as I go! 😆 #itsthelittlethingsyall #bujo2019 #bujolife #bookbujo #librarianlife #wizardofoz #oz #vintagebooks #bookbujo #bulletjournal #bujo #readingchallenge #bookchallenge

Taut & intensifying, The Good Son explores the mysterious death of a mother, & delves deep into her baffled son‘s mind. Jeong builds suspense & intrigue throughout the novel, slowly peeling away layers of Yu-Jin‘s personality like an onion. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite plot devices, & I never knew if I could trust Yu-Jin‘s perception of the world. This made for a fast, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I couldn‘t put down.

Anyone who enjoys podcasts will love the fresh spin on the “gone girl” novel that Sadie provides. The novel reads just like a podcast episode, complete w/intercutting interviews & sound bites. Even better, Wes‘s podcast about Sadie is out there in the real world for you to listen to! Sensitive readers should note that Sadie is not a happy book, as most real-life cases of murdered & missing girls are not stories w/fairytale endings.

Murphy has again written a book for young women that encourages them to be comfortable in their own skin & proud of who they are. Murphy‘s characters deal w/real upsets, such as rejection, break-ups, & failure, & show readers that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand, Puddin‘ can be too cheerfully optimistic at times. You know the type - novels that have an effervescent happy ending. Overall a fabulously fun read!

I entered Ghosted w/high expectations. Hearing so much about ghosting in the media lately, I was excited to pick up a novel on that very subject. That is, until I realized that this is not the novel that I was expecting. What I anticipated was a slick, fast-paced, contemporary read about the hazards of modern dating. Instead what I got was an emotional & tragic romance. There is nothing wrong w/Ghosted in & of itself, but I did feel a bit duped.

Vox is strongest in showcasing the new American state & the women who are trying to adapt to an oppressive life in it. However, what began as a piece of feminist-focused literary fiction, quickly turned into an action-packed thriller. Instead of focusing on the dystopian elements of the novel, Dalcher instead brings in a lot of technical and scientific detail, as well as a steady stream of “bad guys” who must be destroyed at all cost.

Puddin‘ on a Sunday #bookclubbin

Be prepared to be horrified when you pick up Baby Teeth. Stage holds nothing back as she brings to life the terror of living with a child who might very well be psychotic. Readers shouldn‘t enter this story expecting redemption to take the reins & rescue the Jensen family. If you‘re interested in reading a horrific, yet savagely fascinating story that goes into the mind of a psychopathic child, then by all means do not hesitate to read this novel.

The Jewel is a refreshing combo of dystopian YA crossed with a fluffy royal read with a dash of fantasy thrown in for good measure. What results is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller, which is also full of glittery girly bits, which makes it a lot of fun. Ewing has created a precarious world in The Jewel, and readers will be left guessing as they try to figure out this game alongside Violet.

Zen and Gone is an ambitious YA novel that unfortunately takes on too much. W/plot lines involving recreational drug use, orienteering & survival, Buddhism, & schizophrenia, it‘s easy to get lost & overwhelmed by all of the informational tidbits bogging down this novel. Even more unfortunate, the storyline is just not compelling or entertaining. W/out a strong plot or characters, there‘s little motivation to plod through this detail-laden book.

While this is not a novel that will provoke a lot of apprehension, Kepnes nonetheless does a fantastic job of getting into the heads of her characters. On the other hand, there‘s a lot that didn‘t work with Providence as well. The storyline wasn‘t very compelling, & while Kepnes goes deep with her characters, I always felt one step removed from their lives like I was an outsider looking in instead of being right there with them in the story.

The Last Mrs. Parrish is fun, it‘s scary, it‘s thrilling, and jaw-dropping. When the POV switched from Amber‘s to Daphne‘s halfway through, I thought I was going to hate it, but things just got juicier. Full of twists and turns, this one is worth your while.

The Great Alone is a lyrical portrayal of survival in a beautiful, wild Alaska, & a gripping story of a family being terrorized from within. While often beautifully haunting & raw, this book is not without its faults. Hannah often relies on cliches & predictability to carry the story, making it a bore at times. Furthermore, twists that you see coming a mile away are not twists, & feel cheap when they are all crammed within pages of each other.

#halfwaycheckin A little hard to believe that we are halfway through the year already. I set a goal for 2018 to read 52 books for the year, and I‘m actually at 42 right now. So I guess I‘m being more productive this year than I thought I‘d be 😆 #isitreallyjuly #bujo

Since You‘ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson is a breezy, yet heartfelt tale of friendship and finding yourself. It‘s an easy read as the writing is effortless & conversational, plus you‘ll likely find yourself getting lost in Emily‘s many escapades as she strives to discover just what Sloane is trying to tell her through this list. In all, this novel is a fun summer read guaranteed to make you laugh and reminisce about crazy summers of the past.

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir feels like a novel pulled from today‘s headlines. With ordinary families & individuals receiving extraordinary fame by way of reality TV and social media, and with the #MeToo movement taking the world and media by storm, The Book of Essie is a product of our times. Where it falls short is in its plot and delivery. The story is captivating and horrifying at the same time, but is wearily drawn out.

Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia is a sexy, heart-pumping thrill ride into the backwoods of Tennessee & the MMA circuit. This is a refreshing entry in the YA genre, which is often oversaturated with tropes & cliches. By bringing in MMA fighters to the dating game, Garcia has found a way to make this teenage love story feel dangerous & exciting. Perfect if you love a swoon-worthy love story with a touch of southern charm & a dash of rage.

Tell Me Lies is an eye-opening cautionary tale exploring how the wrong guy can wreck you & destroy your life if you let him. Almost painful & uncomfortable to read at times due to Stephen‘s stark & blatant manipulation, this is an impt. novel of the times, & will hopefully help readers recognize the signs & impact of a destructive love interest. Tell Me Lies is a vital read for young women & serves a much greater purpose beyond a work of fiction.

Good Me, Bad Me by debut author Land is a slow-building psychological suspense novel that gets into the mind of a serial killer‘s daughter as she tries to come to terms w/her mother‘s murders, while attempting to have some semblance of a “normal” life. While there are a few twists, none are as shocking as might be hoped, & are in fact, somewhat expected. Overall this is a solid, if not somewhat vanilla, entry in the psychological suspense genre.

Kristin Hannah‘s novels have always been a summer favorite of mine. She makes it easy to forget time while reading her books. I‘ve been looking forward to The Great Alone ever since I first heard about it. Attempting to survive in the Alaskan wilderness in the 70s before technology made calling for help & mapping your way as easy as 1, 2, 3? Sounds like my kinda read 😉

Our YA book club‘s #summerpick puts Kelly Clarkson‘s song in my head every time I read the title 😆 #booksandsunshine #poolside

This book is a big read in a small package. Readers are introduced to the quirky, but endearing Keiko, & are quickly pulled in by the sights & sounds of her convenience store. The novel focuses on the unfortunate societal norms of women, & Keiko just can‘t see what the problem is. If she is happy, why aren‘t others happy for her? This is an engaging, comical read about a woman who doesn‘t fit the mold, & even better, has no desire to conform.

So, this is my #rainbowread for May (#bluebooks), & I‘m pretty pumped to start it soon. It‘s about an awkward Tokyo woman who begins working at “Smile Mart,” a convenience store, when she is eighteen. While she is happy with the path she has chosen, her coworkers try to convince her that there is more to life than this. I have a strange affinity for Japanese novels, & I‘m hoping I love this one! #midnightbookcrush #readnext #japaneselit

With Delirium, Lauren Oliver has written a frightening tale of a world where the one thing that makes life worth living - love - is illegal. Readers will enjoy the development of Lena‘s character, watching her grow from an obedient member of an intolerant society to a young woman who goes after what she wants in life. Delirium is full of heart, passion, and terror, and will be cherished by anyone who loves a good dystopian novel or romance story.

Jones is a brilliant writer, who always captures the essence of what makes us human in her stories. While exploring the fragile nature of life, & examining how love makes us whole, Jones finds a way to make easing into this novel effortless for her readers. While certainly not always happy, this book at least rings true to what it means to be a wife, a husband, a son, a daughter, a lover present, & a lover past.

Excited to have an #ARC of the next Tudor Queens novel, and a beautiful spring day to read it! #alisonweir #janeseymour #hauntedqueen

Really enjoying this one so far! #booksonaplane #louisianareads

I‘m only a quarter through this book, and I‘ve already cried more times than I can count. #sadstories #socialissues #schoolshootings #childPOV #debutauthor #onlychild

I was excited to jump into this book after reading the premise. Dystopia is my thing, and I hadn‘t read a book about a dystopian dog world before. However, this novel suffers from poor execution, outlandish plot points, & confusing storytelling. I think that if the book took itself more seriously, did some major world-building at the beginning, & had a more believable & knowledgable narrator, it could be so much more than it unfortunately is.

A worthy follow-up to Scythe, Thunderhead is action-packed from page 1. This plot-driven novel doesn‘t hold back on the thrills and chills, and will appeal to readers who enjoy a fast-paced story that keeps them on their toes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #YAlit #bookreview #scythe #thunderhead

Meet Cute is a collection of short stories spotlighting young couples meeting in a “cute” way. Most of the stories in this collection are rather good, which is a rare find in a short story anthology. My favorite story was The Unlikely Likelihood of Falling in Love! So cute & fun! Other standouts were Click (want to get matched based on your online presence, anyone?) & The Dictionary of You & Me (ahhh, a library love story!) ❤️

Foolish Hearts isn‘t bad, but it‘s not a stand-out either. There‘s nothing special about it ... in fact, the underlying romance plot has been told too many times before. “Self-sabotaging teen falls in love unexpectedly. Don‘t worry when your world falls apart because you can trust that everything will tie up with that neat little bow in the end.” I found myself bored too many times, just because the plot really lacks originality. #YAlit

Denver gave me the flu blues, so it‘s me, Stormy, & Meet Cute this Valentine‘s Day! ❤️📖❤️

Red Clocks has been touted as a modern day Handmaid‘s Tale, a precarious cautionary tale about a future where women no longer have say or choice when it comes to their own bodies. In all, RC is a beautiful, effortless read which provokes thoughts & questions, but doesn‘t provide many answers. Readers who enjoy character development & interconnected stories will find RC enjoyable, but shouldn‘t enter into the novel expecting much world-building.

#readtherainbow2018 My January red reads were Scythe & Red Clocks. ❤️ #readtherainbow #readingchallenge2018 #redreads

Ahhhhh, I‘m so excited! Denver Week is almost here 🌲❄️🗻✈️ #alamidwinter2018 #librarianlife #leavingonajetplane #denverbound #bujo #bulletjournal #bujo18 #weeklyspread

Decided to add another book challenge to my reading repertoire ... Read the Decades ... one book for each decade since 1900! #bujo2018 #readthedecades #readingchallenge2018 #bulletjournal #bujo #bookishbujo #bujolife

I have to share my spread for the upcoming week because it‘s just so “dog-gone” cute! It‘s in celebration of my favorite Mardi Gras parade coming up next weekend ... Barkus. Yes, Mardi Gras has gone to the dogs 😂💜💚💛 #bujo #weeklyspread #bujoinspire #bujocommunity #bulletjournal

Future Home is a scary tale of a world going backwards. Part 1 was pretty dull w/pregnant Cedar visiting the home of her birth mother, & musing on everything under the sun. However, things pick up in Part 2, which I couldn‘t put down. Tightly wound & thrilling enough to have me gripping the pages, Part 2 is a terrible adventure. Part 3 is also good, focusing on the inevitable end. Overall, an interesting & thrilling story once you get past Part 1.

Pumped that my #readtherainbow RED book for January finally came in! I‘ve had this one on my radar for awhile now ... hope I ❤️ it! #redreads #janinbooks18