Month: June 2016

Just Call Me a Potter Purist

Posted June 30, 2016 in Discussions / 29 Comments

2016 seems to be the year of the revival of Harry Potter fans. Cursed Child is debuting on stage, the screenplay is being released, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set to hit theaters this fall. It seems like everywhere one turns Harry Potter has come back into the forefront of the media. However, I’ve found myself completely apathetic to almost everything that’s going on. As much as I have always and will always love Harry Potter, I can’t shake the wrongness that I feel when […]

The Summer of Sailor Scouts! Introduction, Tag, & Giveaway!

Posted June 29, 2016 in Features / 25 Comments

Hello and happy summer, lovely readers! I am so excited to announce that 2016 is going to be The Summer of Sailor Scouts! Origin Earlier this year, Alexa of Alexa Loves Books, Cee of The Novel Hermit, Kristin of Super Space Chick, Sierra of SDavReads & I all discovered that we shared a mutual love and appreciation for Sailor Moon! After exchanging plenty of flailing tweets and constantly bringing up our love for this magical and empowering story, we felt it was only right to celebrate it – and that’s what happening this July. Every week will feature a brand […]

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes | Review

Posted June 27, 2016 in Reviews / 10 Comments

“Belief shouldn’t be compatible with lies, but is.” Every so often there are books you come across that are unpleasant, that fill your stomach with a sense of dread at the knowledge of the subject matter, but that you soldier through reading anyways because they are so damn important. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes is one of those books. From just the synopsis, it’s clear that the novel is going to deal with not one, but several unsavory topics: a cult, a botched amputation, and the juvenile detention system. However, despite dealing with so many intense […]

My Lady Jane | When History Goes Out the Window

Posted June 20, 2016 in Reviews / 16 Comments

Well. That certainly was NOT what I was expecting. I am a huge Tudor history buff, and I used to read about them like nobody’s business (Philippa Gregory was a high school staple for me). So when the lovely ladies at the EpicReads tent at YALLWest were hosting a signing for My Lady Jane ARCs, I was like I absolutely need one. While this novel is quite unlike any other historical fiction book that I’ve read, it’s uniqueness is not one that I’ll ever forget. While at times it’s absurdity became a bit much for me, I’m thrilled that it’s […]

Summer Reads with Substance

Posted June 16, 2016 in Book Recommendations & Lists / 22 Comments

As summer is upon us, many bloggers and readers will gravitate toward certain types of books to keep in their beach bag. Personally, summer usually leads me to craving contemporary reads with a summer or warm weather setting. While summer is the perfect season to get lost in a fluffy, feel-good novel, there’s also some amazing summer reads out there that contain plot lines and themes with a lot of substance. Below are four of my recommendations of both newer and back list titles that will satisfy your summer reading cravings while also bringing more substance to your reading experience. […]

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016

Posted June 13, 2016 in Top Ten Tuesday / 21 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly feature hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic focuses on releases we are most excited about for the second half of the year. I LOVE TTT prompts like this because it always exposes me to new titles for my TBR (and makes it a million times longer, but who’s complaining?) June Forever regretting that I didn’t get my hands on this at YallWest. August Have I ever read a Colleen Hoover book before? Nope? Does the cover and synopsis already have me convinced I’m going to love […]

Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynne Weingarten | Review

Posted June 13, 2016 in Reviews / 4 Comments

“The world is only as fair as you make it.” *Please note this review may contain some spoilers, both in and out of spoiler tags. You’ve been warned! Sometimes I’m in a mood where nothing will appease my reading palate but a really good thriller. I’ve been on an ebook reading streak recently, and all of those books have happened to be heavier in their content and story lines. I decided to continue the streak with Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls as soon as I saw it become available on Overdrive, as the cover has always struck me as being […]

My Current Obsession with E-Books

Posted June 6, 2016 in Features / 36 Comments

A few months ago I talked about how I was having trouble finding my groove with audio books, and it was frustrating me since I spend 15+ hours a week just commuting, and I needed a way to work reading into my weekdays without having to physically carry a book around. My backpack is already heavy enough, and it’s a hassle to pull a add carrying a physical book around throughout my commute that includes driving, riding a train, and then walking to my office. Add in the fact that I can barely read in a moving vehicle without getting […]

The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski | Review

Posted June 1, 2016 in Reviews / 4 Comments

“You don’t need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon.” I really, really hate to be the black sheep regarding this book. The prose, as expected from Rutkoski, is gorgeous and vivid and exists in its own level of perfection. The novel has a strong beginning and compelling ending, and many long awaited outcomes finally come to fruition. However, I once I strip away the enchanting writing style and my love for Kestrel and Arin, I can’t overlook the fact that this book, like it’s predecessor The Winner’s Crime, really slowed for me and lost […]