Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For the Rest of 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Can you believe that we are almost half way through 2015?! That idea sounds absolutely crazy to me. Where on earth does the time goes? Let's be honest, probably to reading and looking longingly at books. And now there are more to be excited about! The rest of 2015 looks like it will filled with some awesome books!

1. Armada by Ernest Cline
Release date: July 14, 2015

2. Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
Release date: October 13, 2015

3. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Release date: August 27, 2015

4. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Release date: September 1, 2015

5. Soundless by Richelle Mead

Release date: November 10, 2015

6. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Release date: October 20, 2015

7. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Release date: October 6, 2015

8. Willful Machines by Tim Floreen (Side note: what happened to the other cover? I like that one so much better!)

Release date: October 20, 2015

9. Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

Release date: November 3, 2015

10. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Release date: July 7, 2015

So those are the books that I am most excited about this half of the year! What books are you all excited for?

Top Ten Books I'd Love To See As Movies/TV Shows

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Probably like many people, I have a love/hate relationship with books to movies. So many times I criticize them to until only charred movie tickets remain, but when I read a book I love, I get this knot of hope in my gut that it will become a movie. I think it is getting the chance to see the world that we can only experience in our heads come to life that creates that desire for books into movies. Even if sometimes that are... not exactly right. But no matter how I am feeling about book to movies, I always go to see them, and I always want more of my favorite to become movies. It's mostly a vicious cycle of hope and heartbreak but with movie theatre popcorn.

Movies

1. Red Rising series by Pierce Brown
Surprising absolutely no one, including my family, friends, and unfortunate strangers in coffee shops who as what I am reading, I really want Red Rising to be a movie. My deep love for this book needs a movie form for me to criticize. It would be amazingly epic, and I would get to see a live action Severo be a little shit. Win-win for all. Now tell me which literary goddess I have to sacrifice to in order for this to become a reality.

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl would make a great movie. I would really love it and relate to it, and I'm pretty sure a ton of other people would too! It had friendship and family and the most adorable couple, and it would be a great going away to college and figuring out your place in life sort of movie. I would probably cry just as much as when I read the book.

3. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
First off, I just love this book. It warms my heart, and it would be such a lovely movie. David and Leo are such amazing, well developed characters who grow so much, and I how love to see their friendship in live action. I also feel like this book would be a movie to demonstrate transgender identity to a younger audience, maybe help a few people going through the same feelings that David and Leo were or at least create some understanding. Yo more diverse movies!

4. The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini
Let's pretend that the 2006 Eragon movie never existed, shall we? I do! I would love to see a full movie series of the Inheritance Cycle books. I really loved the series back in the day. All of the magic and dragons were my life force. I would really love to see that world come to life. Oh I would love to see the characters treated better. Yeah. In other words: I demand a redo!

5. The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson
A book like Steelheart was made for the big screen! I mean everyone loves superheroes/supervillians, and it would be interesting to see The Reckoners along side these superhero movies as almost a commentary on them. Also it would be good to see something superhero-y outside Marvel and DC (shh I still love you both). Also David's metaphors! I wouldn't mind laughing at those in a movie.

6. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I ask you, kind readers, what kind of world to we live in when this book is not a movie yet? A sad, sad world. This one would be a tough movie to create with all the stories and perspectives going at once. Maybe it's even impossible to do it justice! But every selfish bone in my body wants to see this movie! Just imagine watch Crowley and Aziraphale get drunk or the apocalyptic horsepersons in the pub or Crowley intimidate his plants. It would be so imaginative and hilarious.

TV Shows

7. 1-800-Where-R-You series by Meg Cabot
Preteen self, this one is for you, kiddo! I loved this series when I was younger, and I always thought that it would make the best TV show. I wanted to be Jess Mastriani so badly with her interesting locator powers and her snarky attitude. Also Rob was pretty much the guy of my dreams at that time.

8. Penryn and the End of Days series by Susan Ee
The epic value that this would have as a TV show is off the charts. While it could be a good movie, Penryn and the End Days as a show would be able to get in all of the world details that I loved in the books. And I am so ready for badass fighting Penryn! Give me ten seasons of this post-apocalyptic masterpiece, and I will be a happy camper.

9. Young Avengers by various writers and illustrators but the Keiron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie was my favorite
Young Avengers would be the coolest TV show! I mean if they are making Marvel shows, then introducing the Young Avengers team seems like the best move to relate to a young adult audience. Plus they are one of my favorite superhero teams. It is so easy to love these complex characters like America Chavez, Eli Bradley, Billy Kaplan, and...well all of them honestly. Just as long as it stays nowhere near the Children's Crusade story line because I can only cry so many tears. Also maybe it might lead to a Runaways TV show, yes? Let me dream big.

10. The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater
This series was meant to be a show, and I wish it was already. I would love to be able to really follow along their journey and really get into all of the mysteries surrounding Blue and the Raven Boys. Plus with a show, the characters can really be explored, and maybe we can see some of the crazy antics they get up to. Another random note: I also really want to see Gansey's cardboard constructed town in real life. I keep picturing it in my head, and I would just really love to see it in the show.

Bonus: Book to movies/TV shows that are actually happening!!!
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (directed by Steven Spielberg. See, kids. Dreams really do come true.)
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, and Grace Ellis
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Would you like to see this books as movies or tv shows too? Do you think some would be better as movies while others would be better as tv shows? Maybe if you are brave enough, tell me who you would fancast in one of these books to movies/tv shows?

Ten Authors I REALLY Want To Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Ah yes. Meeting the people behind the books we know and love. Now when I read this week's topic I took the "REALLY" really seriously. Because these are authors that I don't just want to have a fly-by book signing chat. Honestly with a few, I have "met" at signings. I awkwardly grinned goofily without actually speaking as they made small talk with a deranged looking me in front of them. Needless to say, it was great and I have awesome social skills when it comes to authors I admire. But I want to REALLY meet them. I want to get a coffee and talk about the weather, the latest episode of something, and of course their books. 

Meeting Neil Gaiman is a dream of mine. It would probably be the biggest fangirling moment of the bunch. I just appreciate his work so much, and it would be an honor to grab coffee with him. Plus I don't know what it is about his calm voice, but I would probably fall asleep happily listening to him read a receipt or something. His audiobooks are a go-to thing to make me happy.

So I have met Pierce Brown. He signed my book and talked about his friendship with Teen Wolf actress Holland Roden when he saw my Teen Wolf shirt, and it was awesome. He just seems like such a cool dude, and it would be awesome to hang out and talk with him. And maybe I would try to convince him to giving me a copy of Morning Star right now... Maybe?

Who won't want to meet the person who seriously defined their childhood and created some of the best characters ever? I'm sure she gets asked about her characters and the creation of the Harry Potter world all the time, but I would love to talk about it with her. Particularly everything Remus and Neville.

Have you seen Vlogbrothers? He just seems like such a genuinely nice guy. I would love to kick back and listen to his views on life and laugh at his quirkiness. Which I could just do by watching his vlogs...but in person is better!

I met her for like half a second at a signing, but wow she seems like a person that I would love to chat with! Holly just seems like a fun person with such an amazing imagination, and I was pretty much obsessed with her in high school. I read Tithe sooo many times that my copy is pretty much worn out. Not that I would mention that, because I would want to appear at least a bit cool.

So I am reading The Wrath and the Dawn right now, and what I really need is for Renée to describe people and food to me. It's a weird request but I love her descriptions of those two things. Wecould people watch in a coffee shop and she could describe the barista's eyes and the muffins. I will be the one sitting in giddy awe.

Purely selfish I-love-your-books-tell-me-everything reasons. I would just really love to pick her brain about how she came up with everything. 

I would just love to meet him. I would even a fly-by signing at this point! I just love his books, and I would love to sit and talk with him about them. I would probably bother him about Shade's Children so much that he would hate me.

Any person who creates books as hilarious as the Ashbury/Brookfield books has to be amazing! The Year of the Secret Assignments is one of my favorites since I was in high school, and I would love to meet the women who created all of the books!

To write a book like Ready Player One, you have to be this biggest nerd ever, and I would love to talk with the nerd and just, well, nerd out together. He brings the old school video games, and I will bring 80s movies. It would be amazing!

Now I am going back to working on a final paper! Who are some authors that you want to meet? Would you want to meet any of these authors? What would you talk to them about?

Ten Books I Will Probably Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Hard theme this week: Ten Book I Will Probably Never Read. Even with the "probably" added in there, I still struggled. It just seems so finite, and I would think one and go, "Well, actually what if I...." So it was a struggle because I am willing to give most books a shot at least, but there are some books that I can admit that I will never read.

Ain't Nobody Got Time (or Patience) for That

Some series are just so long. I don't really have the will power to do that. 

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
It's just so long. My sister has been working her way through them, and I just don't have the patience to do that. Do they sound like great books? Yes. Am I really going to make the commitment? Very unlikely.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
When I was a kid, these books were super popular, yet I never read them. Now the idea of trying to get through all those books seems like an olympic worthy event. Just too many!

I Shed Enough Tears Thanks

I already cry so much reading books. Even the happiest books leave me silently crying. But sad books are not my thing. If a book has a sad part, okay that's fine, but if the goal of the book seems to be getting me to dehydrate my body through hours of tears, I will not read it. Ever.

Absolutely anything by Nicholas Sparks

I'm sure Nicholas Sparks is a good writer, but he seems to write a lot of sad books. Since I avoid sad books like the plague, I probably won't pick up on of his books. Same with Jodi Picoult. If you specialize in books that make people cry, I'm going to look somewhere else for entertainment.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

This doubles up as a super long and also super sad book. Maybe if I never watched the movie, I might not have known how sad it was. But I did. The sad secret is out, and now it's very unlikely that I will read this book.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This book is infamous for its level of surprise sadness. Nope, never, nunca, no, nein.

Well Because...

The rest of the Ender Quintet or The Ender's Shadow series by Orson Scott Card
So Ender's Game has to be one of my top 20 favorite books of all time. It had such an incredible impact on me. Same with Ender's Shadow because they are parallel stories. But I am never going to read the rest of that series. I appreciate those books so much, but the idea of trying to force a continuation would be a bit much. Also not a fan of Orson Scott Card as a person. His book is engrained in my soul and I would never change that, but I also think he is awful and I don't want to support him.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I feel ashamed to admit this, but it's probably not going to happen. I have tried about three times to start this book, and I have barely made it to 20 pages each time. The words are amazing, but the slow stream of consciousness kind of makes me lose focus.

Fifty Shade of Grey by E.L James
Yeah, not in a million years. Not of fan of ridiculously awful writing, almost hilariously bad smut, and abuse disguised as misinterpreted BDSM. I read a lot of fan fiction, and the fact that people think of this when they think of "fan fiction to books" makes me cringe. I don't understand how it became so popular.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I can't even explain how I just am not interested in this book. It kind of resurged in popularity and hype during my sophomore year in high school, and everyone was talking about how it was a book every girl should read. And maybe it's the fact that when people tell me I should read something that I lose interest. It is supposed to be good, but I'm not going to read it.

Internet Girls series by Lauren Myracle
I have never been a huge fan of chat speak. Yes I grew up with it, and yes I actually have a shower curtain of ridiculous chat speak (My mom got it). But without getting too into it, I just don't get it. So I can honestly say that I will never read this book. I just wouldn't handle it.



Are these books on your "Probably Won't Read" list too? Or do you think I'm crazy for never reading them? What books are on your list?

Top Ten Books With Characters Who Would Win A Fight

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's prompt is pretty open: Top Ten Books Which Features Characters Who _____. Normally I would spend a long time thinking about topics but this week I knew exactly what I wanted to write about. Recently, I've seen a lot of posts on the internet with "should you fight this actor/singer/whatever" and then guesses the likelihood of you winning against that famous person. Well, these book characters are the ones that you would never want to face. If you met them in a dark alley and pissed them off, you might want to start writing your will. It would be a K.O. from the get-go! These characters are lean mean fighting machines that you would not want to get in the way of. So should you fight these characters? I would say no way.

1. Penryn from Penryn and the End of Days trilogy
Of course Penryn would win a fight. She was trained in martial arts for her own protection while she was growing up. She isn't afraid to do whatever it takes, especially for someone she cares about. Plus she has a badass angel sword. Not a chance in heaven, hell, or a post-angel-destroyed earth.

2. Sevro from Red Rising trilogy
You wouldn't even stand a chance. He may look weak, but while you are underestimating him, he will already have ended you. He only has one eye and spent a lot of time covered in a wolf pelt, and he could still stealthily beat you.

3. Rose from Vampire Academy
Rose is a bodyguard for a vampire princess. Just take a second to imagine how skilled you have to be to take on whatever wants to hurt a vampire, a supernatural creature that sucks people's blood. Yeah, it's a little daunting to imagine that level of skill. So I would bet all my money on her winning a fight.

4. Elias from An Ember in the Ashes
Masks are the best of the best in the crazy militaristic Martial Empire, and Elias in the best mask. Sure he has a heart and a conscious, but that doesn't mean he couldn't take you down as easily as kicking a pile of sand. The guy is a badass!

5. Johanna from The Hunger Games trilogy
You would not want to be facing off in the arena with Johanna. She is cunning and sly and has insane fighting abilities, especially with axes. She goes through so much as prisoner in the capital that a little fight would be a cakewalk to her. Win against Johanna? In your dreams.

6. Darrow from Red Rising trilogy
Darrow can beat you as a Red and as a Gold. As a Red, he was a helldiver of Lykos. (He repeats it about 60 times just in case you missed the first 59). Not only is he quick and agile but he is incredibly smart and calculating. As a Red, you are knocked out. As a Gold, he is designed to be superior in every physical way possible to normal humans. He was strong enough to survive being broken and modified back together and cunning enough to infiltrate the top ranks in a corrupt hierarchy. As a Gold, of course he would win.

7. Chiyoko from Endgame: The Calling
Honestly, pretty much everyone from this book is crazy scary at fighting, but Chiyoko takes the cake. Training every single moment of her life with the possibility of the Endgame happening, she is a calculating and cold blooded force to be reckoned with. She is mute and uses her silence to her advantage by using stealth to take people down. You wouldn't even see it coming until it was too late.

8. Mare from Red Queen
In both her world and our world, she could beat you easily. She has a whole system of oppression to be angry about and is the only known person (red or silver) to use electrokinesis! Controlling electricity is crazy. She could take the electricity from the very computer that I am typing on, and wow she could probably even use electrical synapses between cells to control your body like Avatar's blood bending. Well great, just freaked myself out a little bit. Don't fight her because I'm a bit scared about what she could do!

9. Natasha Romanoff from Marvel's Black Widow
Pretty sure she could take you down for even considering it. Her past is not the prettiest or happiest. She grew up as an assassin and worked for the KGB before coming over to SHIELD. She's intelligent and deadly. It's not even a contest. She would win, and it won't be pretty.

10. Harry from Harry Potter series
Have you taken down a crazy dark wizard who wanted to take over the world? No? Well he did. Oh and he took down a basilisk and a dragon when he was 12 and 14. I could barely figure out algebra let alone save the world when I was that age. So yeah Harry Potter could take you down easily. But then again, the guy has been through enough and doesn't need another fight.



Do you think these characters could win a fight? Or maybe even who do you think could beat them? What topic did your TTT focus on?

Top Ten Inspiring Quotes from Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I love quotes! I am always a sucker for words that really pack a punch. I like to make note of quotes that are gorgeous or funny, so that I can look back on them later because there are just some quotes that leave me slightly out of breath and whispering, "Wow." So while only some of these quotes are "inspiring," they are ones that I really love and have made an impact on me. Warning that I am going to get a bit sentimental because sometimes that is what a good quote does.

ONE

So before I share some of my favorites from books, I want to share my favorite quote ever. It's from the TV show The Fades, and though it's said by a relatively unimportant character, it really caught my attention. I was struggling with managing my anxiety at the time, and it just applied so well to how I was feeling and how I wanted to live. It's a quote that has an impact on how I live my life daily and has become a sort of mantra for when I am feeling anxious.

TWO

I tend to hoard what I write. Very rarely my work sees the light of day. But I always loved this quote and the importance of it in writing. It's good to write by yourself, but feedback from others can make the work stronger. One day I will actually follow that advice!

THREE

I loved when Prof said this in Steelheart. In some books and movies, it gets glossed over, immediately jumping into action. Sometimes it happens in life too. I think it's really important to think of the consequences of actions. 

FOUR

I really loved this quote because it applies to everyone all the time. It's not just about the coming out in an LGBTQIA sense. It's about that every person is constantly changing and reintroducing themselves over and over again. Life is just a massive series of redefining ourselves and having to coming out to friends and family as just slightly new people.

FIVE

This is just soooooo true, right? Okay, so maybe it's not inspiring, but it is just so freaking true! When something happens, it really does feel like it all happens at once, no matter if it is good things or bad things. Plus it's Neil Gaiman so the words are gorgeous.

SIX

I love this quote! It really says something about the personal cages that people put themselves in. Also if you have never read Breakfast at Tiffany's, do yourself a favorite and read it. I do love the movie, but it has a completely different tone than the book. 

SEVEN

Lolita is a pretty messed up book, but it is my favorite exploration of the unreliable narrator and the way it is sort of a meta about reading and fiction. I also just love what the quote says about reading and how important the reader is in the experience.

EIGHT

Just such a gorgeous quote. The Monster in Frankenstein has such a place in my heart for the love of life and the way he was treated. This quote just shows how important life is.

NINE

This is part of a much larger speech by Ender about loving his enemy, but I really love this line specifically. It just makes me smile.

TEN

Oh Remus, Remus, Remus. Indeed, sometimes that does make you feel better when you are feeling down or moody. Especially when it's chocolate after facing dementors.



What do you think about these quotes? What quotes have made an impact on your life?

Top Ten Characters I'd Like To Check In With

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Woah this is a big question: which characters would you like to check in on? The world after a book ends is something we all think about. A lot. Sometimes for hours after we finish and sometimes years. So asking which characters to check in on is a really big question. Narrowing it down was not easy, especially because TV and movie characters kept popping in my head too! And that only prompted questions that I would want to ask each character. It just spiraled from there. I mean after a book or movie ends, what's the worst that could happen?

Beware that these may contain some spoilers. Just fyi.

Books

1. Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter
First off, congrats on your being a Herbology professor. Seriously, fulfilled my headcanon dreams with that bit. But Neville, buddy ol' pal, why didn't you end up with Luna? Do you realize how emotionally invested I was in you two ending up together after the last book? Even the movie had you two wanting to ride off into the sunset! What happen, bro? Here have a treacle tart and a butterbeer and tell me all about it.

2. Wade Watts from Ready Player One
There are so many things that I need to know. What happened after you won? I mean your world was still a post-apocolyptic mess that essentially lived in the OASIS. Oh and did IOI and the sixers stop trying to kill you? And are you and Art3mis dating now? How is Aech?! Thank god there is going to be a sequel because I can't handle these questions not being answered!

3. Nobody Owens from The Graveyard Book
I am just so curious about what the rest of your life is like. Like you grew up in a graveyard. Raised by ghosts! How can you possibly function like a normal person?

4. David Piper and Leo Denton from The Art of Being Normal
It may be the "just finished this book" fever talking, but I need two more books detailing your lives.  I need details from your fifteen/sixteen year old now until you both are best friends in rocking chairs. Because you two have to be friends forever. I demand it.

5. Gold-Eye and Ninde from Shade's Children
I just want to know if you guys are okay. How is the world like without the overlords? H-h-how are the kids? Oh gosh I want to cry! Just be good to each other.

TV/Movies

6. Allison Argent from Teen Wolf
I just wanna know how France is. How are the baguettes? Is Issac doing well? Is there a place to shoot crossbows in Paris or are you in the country? When you say your last name, does it feel weird knowing that everyone knows your name actually means Allison Silver? Because she's just in France.  Right, guys? SHE'S JUST IN FRANCE!

7. Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori from Pacific Rim
No more Kaiju! Now what! Did Raleigh and Mako move into a cute apartment together so they can be awkward little badasses together? Did they find some other professions to be complete badasses without the Jeagars? Did they find a way to put Jeagars in space to fight other nasty aliens? Come on, guys. Give me the 411.

8. Paul, Mac, and Anna from The Fades
This show is amazing! It won a BAFTA! Yet it only has one glorious season that I watch religiously about twice a year. I literally have too many questions to fully form a coherent check in. Just tell me what happens after episode 7? The world is pretty much ending and everyone is pretty much dead AND THEN WHAT? Oh god, this is going to haunt me because I will never ever get an answer.

9. Martha Jones from Doctor Who
First off, you are amazing. Second, what are you doing now? Are you still working with UNIT? And finally third, how did you and Mickey get together? I love you both, and the two of you together just made my life. I am going to need to know the full story. Don't leave out any details.

10. Nathan from Misfits
Nathan, bud, I was just wondering where you even are? I mean you go to Vegas in a webisode and get put in jail. Then "Save me, Barry!" is the last we hear from you? Seriously, what on earth happened? Are you still in jail? What about Marnie and the baby? Did you hear about the other Misfits? Yet more questions that will never be answered, and each eats a whole in my soul.

I feel like I need a bit of a breather after writing all of that. Hit too many emotional nerves, and more keep going through my head: Moses from Attack the Block, Teddy Lupin from Harry Potter (Does everyone say amazing things about your mom and dad? Do you need a hug?), Kieren Walker and Simon Monroe from In the Flesh, Lyra from His Dark Materials! Being emotionally invested in characters is a struggle!


Which characters would you check in with after they left a gaping hole in your heart? What questions have been gnawing at you about these character?

Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Like many of you know, the infamous TBR list just keeps getting longer and longer, like those colorful connected scarf strings that come out of magician's pockets and just never stop coming. So many books, so little time and money, am I right? Here a few exciting books that are new additions that have recently inched their way up my TBR list:

1. Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
I just read/listened to Steelheart over my spring break (which was EPIC *wink wink*), and wow I am pumped to read Firefight. I like to space out series that I read so that it all isn't over so quickly, but I have to read this stat. It's mandatory that I get my awful metaphor fix from David.

2. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
I was so excited to get this book and listen to the author at the Oxford Literary Festival. I have read a book with a teenage transgender character before but never as the main character. The book was about a sibling's reaction to a transgender sister, but I felt it missing something because it wasn't from the transgender person's point of view. Lisa Williamson has created a book with a transgender main character (yay!) and has so much respect for getting the experience as accurate as possible to spread knowledge (double yay!) So I am very very excited to crack this gorgeous book open!

3. Vendetta by Catherine Doyle
This book's a bit different for me, but I'm curious about reading it. Like the last one, I picked this up at the Oxford Literary Festival, and after listening to the author talk, I'm itching to read it. Romance and the mob? I can be down for that.

4. Angelfall and World After by Susan Ee
I have seen this series on book blogs EVERYWHERE. Never heard of it before this year but when NetGalley offered both of these before the final book comes out, I jumped at it. So I'm going to give it a go!

5. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I keep hearing amazing things about this book and V.E. Schwab, and I finally picked up a copy! I'm really excited to read it. Plus that cover is just so swoon worthy. Be still my cover loving heart.

6. Half Wild by Sally Green
I loved Half Bad. Loved it. The writing, the characters, the way Nathan made my heart ache with sadness. So of course I am psyched to read the sequel. Give me more of that heart ache.

7. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
I saw this on someone's TTT a few weeks ago, and it just seemed like a book for me. Mysteries and serial killers? Sign me up! Then lucky me, I found it at a used bookshop. Oh how the cheap book goddess smiled upon me that day.

8. A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovic
I've had this book in my NetGalley bookshelf for a while, and I have been waiting for the perfect time to read it. The story seems all dark and mysterious, and just look at the elegant cover. I'm a sucker for a good cover and some ghosts.

9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Yes, that's right. You read that correctly. No need to gasp and do the old lady clutching her pearls motion. I have never read To Kill a Mockingbird. I never had to read it in high school or college, and I'm pretty sure as an English major that may be a sin. But mainly I have this on my TBR list because my sister reads a ton of my book recommendations, and I rarely read hers. So I am making reading this one a priority! Especially before the sequel comes out.

10. Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I have been eyeing this book for a long time now. It just looks amazing and right up my alley! I read the first 8 chapters over at Epic Reads, and I need it right now. I just have to wait one more week, and then the book will be in my hands. I can be strong enough to do that, right?


What are your recent additions to your TBR list? Have you read any of these?

Top Ten Books from My Childhood that I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Oh childhood favorites, how I love you. I read a lot as a kid. Library day was the best day. School book fairs were a gift from the heavens. I would even make excuses to my friends that my mom or dad wouldn't let me come hang out just so I could finish a book. Yeah reading was a big deal to me. Books were such a major part of my growing up, and even now the books form my childhood still have a huge impact.

1. Shade's Children by Garth Nix
Garth Nix has written many series, but the stand alone Shade's Children will always be my favorite. I have reread this book so many times, and I still just love it. The book is dark and exciting and has characters that really stick with you. Honestly, it would make the best movie.

2. Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
The best. Ever. That's not even sugarcoating it. This book was such an important book in my reading life, and I have such a place in my heart for Ender Wiggin. Ender's Shadow was also the first and best parallel book that I have read. Just amazing.

3. Sweep series by Cate Tiernan
Okay so I totally thought I could be a witch when I was younger. Like really. And I am going to say that it was all this series fault.

4. Everworld series by Katherine Applegate
I inhaled these books. Since they were so thin, I would buy one, and almost by the time we got home, I was done and ready for the next. I loved how the books switched between characters and explored different mythologies.

5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Oh my heart, this series! I will be honest: I never finished the series, but I would love to some day! But all the same, I loved the magic in the stories and how big and wonderful the world seemed.

6. Ashbury/ Brookfield series by Jaclyn Moriarty
I have already talked about this series, but it was such a good one! All of the Ashbury/ Brookfield books constantly left me laughing too loudly in public places. I actually really want to reread them again soon.

7. Everything Meg Cabot!
I had such a Meg Cabot phase. I couldn't get enough of her books and thank goodness there were lots of them to feed my obsession. My favorites out of all of them were the 1-800-WHERE-ARE-YOU series, the Mediator series, and All American Girl (or what I like to call "The book that got me into ska")

8. Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew
I loved mysteries growing up! I hunted through the school library trying to get all that I could, and I couldn't get enough. Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys were always my favorites. I got a collection of the first five of each as a gift and loved them.

9. Lois Duncan
This woman was a goddess of thrillers to me. I would stay up all night reading them and then continue to stay up thinking about all the twists and details. I still have never read her famous I Know What You Did Last Summer but I loved Ransom, The Third Eye, Locked in Time, and Stranger with my Face.

10. Simon Pulse's Romantic Comedies
My heart might mostly be filled with paranormal, fantasy, and thriller, but I have a special place for romantic comedies. While not exactly masterful works of art, Simon Pulse's romantic comedies (recognizable by the cartoony covers) were so fun and adorable! My favorites: 30 Guys in 30 Days, She's Got the Beat, and A Novel Idea.


What are some of your childhood favorites? Have you read some of mine?