Category: Features

November, November: the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year

Posted November 8, 2015 in Features / 11 Comments

November may be my new favorite month. This year, November’s brought with it the first hints of fall (the weather has literally dipped twenty degrees over the course of two weeks) new holiday traditions, and a return to a state of calmness in my life. At the end of August I experienced some major life changes, and have moved to a new town, started a new job, and gone on an epic vacation in the course of the past two months. This has led to a decrease in posting and reading, but an increase in amazing life-changing opportunities. However, mid […]

Finding My Groove with Audio Books

Posted September 30, 2015 in Features / 27 Comments

Despite the fact that I’ve been reading since before I could actually “read” (when I was a toddler I was quite fond of carrying around picture books and “reading aloud” to anyone who would listen, which is to say I would make up stories I thought went with the picture) I haven’t actually listened to an audio book until the last month. I started a new job which requires a 1.5 hour commute each way, and I cannot for the life of me read without getting motion sick. It was the perfect opportunity to start venturing into the world of […]

From Plot to Personal: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E Smith

Posted August 26, 2015 in Features, Plot to Personal, Reviews / 2 Comments

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between deals with the dilemma that so many young couples face upon graduating from high school: to break up or not to break up. Over the course of one evening, Jennifer E. Smith’s novel explores Aiden and Clare’s last night in their hometown before they embark on their journeys to colleges on opposite coasts. The premise of this novel really struck me because I was in the exact same position when I was there age. I was in a happy relationship and had been for about two years, was going away to school a significant […]

Don’t Be Author Shy: 5 Tips For Talking To Authors At Events

Posted August 13, 2015 in Features / 14 Comments

Recently on Twitter, the lovely Nova from Out of Time Book Blog asked for advice on talking to authors at events. While I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, I immediately set about crafting a post because I’ve recently had quite a few author meet and greets. At the beginning of 2015 I hadn’t met any YA authors, and by August I’ve met dozens: Morgan Matson, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, Stephanie Perkins, etc (Thanks YALLWEST and ALA for the opportunities!) I’m sharing some of my go-to conversation starter tips when meeting authors that help when you’re dealing […]

Relationship Role Models: Jase & Sam from My Life Next Door

Posted July 30, 2015 in Features / 15 Comments

Relationship Role Models is a new, original feature where I highlight YA couples that portray happy, healthy, realistic and/or constructive relationships. I look at what less than desirable YA romantic tropes they don’t subscribe too, how they function, and how they example healthy, respectful behavior toward one another. This may contain mild thematic spoilers for the novel the couples appear in, but they are kept at a minimum! If you’ve read My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, chances are that you know how perfect of a YA summer contemporary read it is: adorable, heartfelt, compulsively readable and with just […]

Real Talk: Why is an Extensive Vocabulary So Intimidating?

Posted July 20, 2015 in Features / 29 Comments

Real Talk is an original feature here at Girl in the Pages where I’ll discuss random things that come across my mind in an honest and sometimes spontaneous manner. It may be about books, blogging, life, or anything else! I’ve noticed a trend. Many people will recommend to bloggers that they use only “accessible” vocabulary. No SAT or GRE tier words needed. Keep it simple, like you’re talking to a friend. Definitely keep reviews conversational and not too long. Now, if that’s your personal philosophy, that’s totally cool. But I’ve seen this advice given to so many newbie bloggers, and […]

ALA San Francisco 2015 Recap & Giveaway!

Posted July 13, 2015 in Book and Author Events, Giveaways, Travel / 20 Comments

To kick off my two week vacation/hiatus, I attended ALA Annual this year, hosted in San Francisco the last week of June. I heard about ALA at the beginning of the year when my lovely friend Kay @ It’s A Book Life posted about attending ALA Midwinter, and on a whim looked up where the next one would be (never expecting it to be near me because a majority of bookish events seem to not happen on the West Coast). To my surprise and delight, I learned that in June ALA’s annual conference would be held in San Francisco, driving […]

YALLWEST: A Glorious Southern California Weekend

Posted April 16, 2015 in Book and Author Events, Giveaways, Travel / 39 Comments

This past weekend I was ridiculously happy and fortunate to be able to attend California’s first ever YALLWEST, the West Coast companion event to the extremely popular YALLFest event every year in South Carolina. I found out about this festival a few months ago and IMMEDIATELY knew I was going, no matter what. I booked a hotel, asked Max if he’d like to come along (henceforth known on my blog as “The Bookish Boyfriend,” as he’s certainly earned the title after assisting me all weekend!) and my plan was set, come hell or high water. After so many months of […]

I Will Go Down With My Ship: Second Edition

Posted March 27, 2015 in I Will Go Down With My Ship / 25 Comments

I originally launched this feature around Valentine’s Day but it was so much fun that I decided to continue on with it every so often to highlight new ships that I’ve developed! While many of my most desperate ships may not sail, they will, as always, live on in MY heart. Celaena & Chaol from The Throne of Glass Series So I’ve ONLY read through Crown of Midnight so far BUT Celaena and Chaol made me SO HAPPY. I loved that I got to see some romance so early in the series, and it seemed so authentic and something about […]

Life in Fiction: Three Authors I’d Want to Write Me a Romance

Posted December 5, 2014 in Life in Fiction / 13 Comments

Life in Fiction is a feature here at Girl in the Pages where I talk about which authors’ writing I absolutely adore and I’d therefore choose to write the stories of my life adventures. I’ll spotlight three authors for each post/topic who is brilliant at writing in these the given genre and theme. Feel free to participate, just link back! Top Three Authors I’d Want to Write Me a Romance Jennifer L Armentrout is the Queen of writing swoon-worthy romances. I don’t think I’ve ever been hit as hard with fictional chemistry as that portrayed in her Lux series by […]