Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s theme was submitted by Jessica at A Cocoon of Books. It’s an interesting and unique theme: books with sensory reading memories (where I was, what time of year it was, who I was with, what I was eating, etc.) At first, I thought I’d have trouble with this theme, but then the memories just started rolling in.
Honestly, I remember little to nothing about What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones. I read it in the summer after seventh grade (2003) and Far Away by Staind was super popular. I remember that it came on the radio while I was reading and now every time I hear that song, I think about this book.
I remember that it was hot as all heck when I read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
I read Room by Emma Donoghue in an airport when I arrived five hours early for my flight because I am an anxious person and for some reason, I was just convinced that the plane was going to leave without me.
I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett in an airport amid a blizzard as my flight was delayed one hour… then two hours… then three hours… then four hours…
Some backstory: back in 2013, I lived in a more or less abandoned area of town in a huge house that had been converted into multiple apartments. The house was actually pretty nice but it had five doors. As I mentioned, I am an incredibly anxious person and was therefore always checking to make sure all five doors were locked. It didn’t help that this apartment was like a quarter mile from this super seedy motel where actual murders had happened. My boyfriend had to go to New Mexico for like two months for work and I made the brilliant decision to read Gone Girl while alone in the house.
I read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher on the last shift of my last college job. RIP jobs that paid me to read. I did not take advantage of it nearly enough.
I read Lovers Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie in the guest room of my mom’s house and felt suuuuper awkward about it.
I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green right after my boyfriend moved halfway across the country. Honestly, it was probably not the ideal time to read a sad book like that because I remember sobbing like crazy. I don’t usually cry when reading!
In 2011, I had a job that I absolutely loved tutoring high school kids after school. I made a lot of really great friends and I hope that I made a difference in those kids’ lives. I was in my senior year of college and it was our spring break when I read the entire Hunger Games trilogy over the course of a weekend (plus Monday morning). I wasn’t really paying attention to the fact that it was not actually the kids’ spring break, so I went to the high school a total zombie. I told all my kids to read it.
I was so excited when Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie finally came out. It’s probably my favorite book that they’ve ever written and Luka is one of my all-time favorite characters. I was anticipating it so much that I considered taking a day off work to read it. I ended up not doing that because I couldn’t justify it, but then I woke up with a horrible cold the morning after it came out. I never get sick! I ended up taking a sick day and reading most of the book while trying (and generally failing) to breathe.
Honestly, I could keep going! I have sensory memories about so many books, but I’ll stop here. Do you ever get transported right back to where you were, what was going on in your life, or the people you were with when you read a particular book?
Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s theme is ten books that awaken the travel bug in me, which was a little difficult since I’m one of the (seemingly) very few people in the world that does not like to travel.
I get so stressed out!
I worry about everything!
I’ll probably embarrass myself trying to communicate in a foreign language!
I feel like I have to do something every minute or otherwise what was the point in getting myself there!
But, that said, I did come up with ten books that kind of, sort of made me feel like I might want to pack a bag and go somewhere.
🤩 Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett: First of all, Jenn Bennett could make me want to do anything. But this story of two former friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers made me, a person who hates the very idea of camping, want to go spend a week in the wilderness.
💋 The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde: I don’t really like the ocean. I like sitting on a beach next to the ocean (not in New Jersey, though) but not actually being in the ocean. That said, the yacht trip in The Brightsiders sounded like so much fun and is something I would’ve loved to do with my friends back in the day. Or even now.
⛩️ Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse: I loved the setting in this book! It takes place in Japan and it’s so vivid — the karaoke clubs, the trains, the hustle and bustle of daily life. It would be so fun to visit.
🌳 The Green Unknown by Patrick Rogers: I mentioned in my review that this book made me want to pack up and explore an unknown country. A couple months later, I stand by that statement.
🌀 Break of Day by Andie J. Christopher: Yeah, I know, they get stranded in Cuba during a tropical storm. But the whole thing is so romantic and it just really made me want to go to Cuba. Maybe not during hurricane season.
✈️ The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane: Okay, here’s another one that’s a little weird. The whole premise of the book is that the main character is stranded in Ireland after her plane crashes. But the people she meets are so nice! The scenery is so vivid! I would love to visit Ireland under better circumstances.
💔 Frenched by Melanie Harlow: I might be in a relationship that’s going on ten years… but I might still also be a little tempted to take a trip to France to see if I can meet anybody like Lucas.
🤸 Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie: Basically, I just want to meet the love of my life, Luka Kotova. Going to Vegas is secondary.
💍 Roomies by Christina Lauren: I basically live down the street from NYC. (Okay, it’s a short train ride, but still.) Is it really considered a “travel bug” when a book makes me want to hop on the train and go to a bunch of musicals and meet a cute subway musician? I’m going to say yes.
⚜️ The Beau & The Belle by R.S. Grey: I think that of all of R.S. Grey’s books, this one has the most vivid scenery. It’s set in New Orleans and I really just want to go eat a bunch of food down there.
Did you participate in this week’s theme? What books make you want to pack a bag and explore the world? Let me know in the comments!
Recently, I’ve been getting more into book tags. I have a whole ton of them bookmarked that I want to do at some point, but this one felt timely and appropriate for the first half of January.
1. First Ever Female Doctor Who: Favorite Female Protagonist
I loved both Dani from The Big F and Jane from My Lady Jane. There were so many great female protagonists in 2017, though! It was hard to choose!
2. GCC Cuts Ties with Qatar: An Author You Cut Ties With
I don’t want to name names, but I cut ties with an author that I really loved who had the audacity to go on Twitter and complain about a (positive) review that I wrote for her latest book. She claimed that I gave away “the whole plot” when I didn’t even write about anything that wasn’t in the plot summary. I’ve loved her books, but I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. I won’t be reading anything else that she writes.
3. La La Land Oscar Mix-Up: A Book That Surprised You
Turtles All the Way Downby John Green surprised me in a good way. It had been while since he released a new book and I was really hoping that I’d still love his writing – and I did.
All the Bright Placesby Jennifer Niven surprised me in a bad way. Honestly, I think I’ve talked this to death, but I thought that the way she handled the mental health issues in her book was incredibly irresponsible.
4. Hurricanes and Earthquakes: A Book That Rocked Your World
A lot of books rocked my world in 2017! I had more four- and five-star reads than ever before. The Hating Game, The Hate U Give, and Anything You Can Do top the list of my favorites.
5. Louvre Abu Dhabi: Favorite Book Cover Art
2017 had some great cover art. I mean, just check out my all reviews page! Three favorites, though, would have to be A Million Junesby Emily Henry, Queens of Geekby Jen Wilde, and Infiniby Krista & Becca Ritchie.
6. Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi Sells for $450M: A Take-My-Money Book
Every year, the answer is the same. I should probably just set up a direct transfer from my bank account to Krista & Becca Ritchie’s. I tried not to repeat books here, but I adored Infini’s cover and I preordered it, so… Anyway. Damaged Like Usand Lovers Like Usare obviously also on this list.
7. Total Eclipse: A Sequel That Overshadows the First Book
I don’t think any of my 2017 reads really qualify! I found most sequels kind of disappointing if I’m perfectly honest.
8. Muslim Ban: Favorite Diverse Book
27 Hoursfeatures an almost entirely LGBT+ cast of varying ethnicities (I think I gave it four stars) and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtueis about a young, bisexual British man and his biracial best friend/crush traveling around Europe (I gave it four stars as well).
9. Italy Doesn’t Qualify for World Cup: Most Disappointing Book
I saw a lot of people raving about Next August by Kelly Moore, but I couldn’t even make it through the first half. It was my one true DNF of the year (I don’t count Norwegian Wood since I just got bored and put it down).
10. Prince Harry Engaged: Favorite Ship
I loved Joshua and Lucy from The Hating Game! (Sorry for repeating books again, but they stand out in my mind as the best couple of the year.)
11. Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Most Anticipated Book
I’m not really sure what this question is getting at, so I have multiple answers for you.
My most anticipated of 2017 that I actually read in 2017 was A Conjuring of Lightby V.E. Schwab.
The book I most anticipated in 2017 that doesn’t come out until 2018 is My Plain Janeby Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.
And as a bonus, the book I was most anticipating for 2017 that I didn’t actually read is One of Us Is Lyingby Karen McManus.
What do you think? Would your answers be different? Did you do this book tag? Let me know!
Happy 2018! In honor of the new year, I thought I’d talk about the best of the best of last year. Here are my top ten reads from 2017. I know I always say “in no particular order,” but this time, they are in descending order. This was such a hard decision because, for the first time in quite a while, I had way more than ten five-star books to choose from!
Coming in at #10 on my list is Infiniby Krista & Becca Ritchie. Has a book ever ripped my heart out quite so much as this one? Luka Kotova is still in my head all these months later. I’m honestly tearing up just thinking about him.
At #9 is The Rules of Magicby Alice Hoffman. Hoffman is an amazing storyteller and, here, she perfectly captured the ambiance of New York with a little magic. The book is at times heartbreaking, at times funny, and always enjoyable.
I’m happy to put Operation Prom Dateby Cindi Madsen at #8 on this list. This book was cute and fluffy and left me wondering why I’d never found a boy like that when I was in high school. I’m eagerly anticipating Cindi’s next YA release.
Next up, at #7, is Turtles All the Way Downby John Green. I’m sure this book is on literally everybody’s “Best of 2017″ lists, but it certainly deserves its spot. This book was about anxiety more than anything else, and I have to applaud it for portraying the nitty-gritty details and not just the cute, quirky bits that often make their way into YA novels.
Book #6 is Everything, Everythingby Nicola Yoon. I flat-out devoured this book. It’s such an interesting concept for a YA book and was so well-executed.
Rounding out the top five is Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agendaby Becky Albertalli. This was my only re-read of the year and I absolutely adored it. Like, even more, the second time around.
It’s getting hard to rank these books, but #4 would have to be Anything You Can Doby R.S. Grey. This was the first book of hers that I ever read and it still stands as my favorite.
We’re getting close to the end, and heading off the top three is The Hating Gameby Sally Thorne. This just barely got the edge over #4 on the list because of the resolution at the end.
#2 on my list is My Lady Janeby Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. This book was just so much fun, so engaging, and never once felt like it was nearly 500 pages. I cannot wait to read their next Jane book.
Finally, at #1, is The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas. I am still in utter shock that this was a debut novel. Angie Thomas masterfully described race relations in America without ever once sounding pushy. This book should be required reading.
The Bibliophagist 