Having a winter birthday means I have a lifelong complex about the cold. It always limited the birthday activities I could have (I’m still longing for all the pool parties I missed out on having), limited who could come (many people were away visiting family or on vacation), and my parties and celebrations were overshadowed by the holidays. I vowed to myself that ONE YEAR I would finally spend my birthday somewhere tropical, where I could lounge on the beach and enjoy the outdoors and perhaps have a cute birthday outfit that wasn’t obscured by a winter coat. Well my friends, that year has arrived! I’m kicking off the first month of 2017 with a birthday trip to Hawaii, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Being a book blogger, however, always presents the dilemma of WHAT BOOKS DO I BRING ON VACATION WITH ME? I’ve been working a few weeks now on cultivating the perfect vacation TBR, with a mix of physical and ebooks on my new Kindle (thanks, Dad!) that I’m planning on bringing on my trip.
I’ve never been to Hawaii in the winter, so I’m not sure if the warm weather will make me want to read contemporaries or stick with my more fantasy-based winter reads. I’m therefore bringing a mix! I’m packing one of my most anticipated reads on my TBR, After I Do (seriously, everyone gives this 5 stars!) and a Sarah Dessen book because she’s the queen of YA contemporary. I’m also bringing Something Strange and Deadly and Wayfarer because I’m seeing Susan and Alex on tour in January and I want to be more caught up on their novels by the time I see them!
I swiped up another Sarah Dessen book, Along for the Ride, via Overdrive because her contemporaries are perfect vacation reads. Nowhere But Home gets such incredible reviews, and I’m feeling like 2017 may be the year of more adult fiction for me. I received a review copy of Pretty Fierce through Netgalley and I can’t wait to get to it as well!
Finally, we have the books that I have library holds on that I’m crossing my fingers come in before I leave on my trip! I am completely obsessed with Gilmore Girls so I really want to read Lauren Graham’s memoir. The Nest and The Hating Game are two adult fiction reads that I’m really, really looking forward too so it would be great to have them in time for my trip as well.
Do you put this much thought into your TBR plans for your vacations? Do you bring physical books with you or just e-books (I’ll admit, I do worry about my hard copies getting damaged!) Do you recommend any of the above reads on my TBR plan? Let me know in the comments!
I have a beach trip coming up and have been searching for the best beach reads– since it’s not something I usually think about, or gravitate towards. I have The Hating Game on hold from the library and am hoping it will be available while I’m gone. I LOVED Along For the Ride & you reminded me that maybe a reread isn’t a bad idea!
I am 75% of the way through Along for the Ride and I must say I am really loving it! I am really fascinated by the family dynamics and I really love Eli!
Oh, this is incredibly exciting! I hope you have an amazing birthday trip to Hawaii. As for your TBR, I approve of the four physical books you mentioned, as I’ve read the first three and loved them and am currently reading Wayfarer and loving it 😉
Thank you so much Alexa! I’m really looking forward to the mild weather! I need to hurry and finish Truthwitch and get to Wayfarer so I can get up to speed and see Alex and Susan on tour!
OH MY GOD PLEASE READ NOWHERE BUT HOME AND THE HATING GAME
that’s all
YAS QUEEN. Nowhere but here is on my kindle waiting for me! Unfortunately I am verrrrry low on the wait list for the hating game (I may have to cave and buy it since everyone loves it so much!)
Hawaii sounds perfect this time of year! I hope you get lots of sun and warmth before returning to the ice 🙂 In terms of books, these all have such pretty covers! I haven’t read any of them yet but they look like perfect beach reads. Have a wonderful vacation, Cristina!
Thank you so much, Lauren! Hoping to make a big dent in my TBR this trip. 🙂
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the warm weather for me its really cold here in the Northwest. Your TBR looks good. I hope you get those books from the library!
Thank you! Still waiting on the library holds, but fingers crossed!
Sarah Dessen’s books are definitely the perfect read for holidays! Happy birthday and have an amazing one!
Thank you so much Tasya!
Sarah Dessen novels are great for vacations. I love reading them with warm weather!
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Yes there’s something about them that just screams summer nostalgia! I’m almost done with Along for the Ride 🙂