#Spookathon Update 2!

So it is 4 days in (I got my dates mixed up earlier....oops!) and I have finished 3 books (see my previous #Spookathon update!  I have only 2 more books for the actual challenges, and then my bonus book to finish!  If I don't get to the bonus, I won't be upset, but I really want to finish all my challenge books.

Finished

  This was not what I was expecting from Stephanie Perkins.  She is the queen of the cute contemporary romances, and this was definitely a thriller with all the violence and murder that goes along with that.  But some of her roots showed, as there was a sweet romance between the main character, Makani, and the "outcast" at school, Ollie.  But boy, beyond that, this was way more than my expectations.

It was pulse-racing, freaky, and bloody.  The who and why behind the murders felt real in it's psychosis.  And there's even another layer besides the current murders to explore in Makani's background.  So secrets and surprises are all over the place, and I. loved. every. minute. of. it!

Five/Five Stars

  Another book that wasn't what I was expecting.  Based on the book blurb, the reader doesn't really know what the book is about.  But if it were any other way, the story would be ruined.  I'd classify this as a mystery with a paranormal edge to it, so while not as bloody, still riveting in it's plot!  Will, the main character, is very paranoid, which ratchets up the tension through the whole book as you see the events unfold through his eyes.  Each character represents a different fear that many humans have and while none are as rounded out as Will, they are essential to the ending of the story.

I can't really say more than that or I'll ruin the experience.  This is one where you are left in the dark a lot, but as soon as the spotlight hits, you'll be gasping.  Loved the twist at the end, and there's even a whole app you can download to explore the world of Dark Eden, which is a cool tie-in.  Check it out here!  Also, there is a sequel, Dark Eden: Eve of Destruction, that I am going to download on audio immediately!

Four/Five Stars 

Currently Reading

  I adore anthology books, and I also love to hate a good villain.  So this one is right up my alley.  I also like the concept here, where the authors are given a prompt by the booktuber to base a story on, and then the booktubers write an essay exploring a side of villains.  I've only gotten to like page 4, but I'm enjoying it so far!

  So this is probably the book that is going to not get finished for #Spookathon.  I have this weird relationship with John Green books; I get really excited about them, but then leave them on my shelf for months.  I'm trying to break this cycle because this one sounds so great, and I'm about 10 pages in.  But I can feel myself wanting to put the book down and breathe already.  It's such an annoying feeling, and it only really happens with me and John Green books.

To Be Read

  This is my bonus book for #Spookathon, and I really want to start reading it!  I think it'll be delightfully creepy, and I have been here for that this spoopy season!  Also, I have heard so many good things about Kendare Blake's writing, so I want to dive in!  but I should probably finish my actual challenge books first.......

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#Spookathon Update!

#Spookathon is going strong!  It’s half way through the week, and I, sadly, am a little behind schedule. Which is frustrating, but real life.

I have manage to finish one book, and am working on two others right now!  I'm hoping I get at least one more done today, so I'll feel a little more on track!

Finished

  I finished Asylum by Madeleine Roux on Monday!  I have fallen in love with audiobooks because I can read while I drive my hour commute to work in the morning and afternoon.  But I was especially lucky, because I listened to this book on my way to the Turtles All the Way Down Tour stop in Orlando, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes away from my house.  CHA-CHING, got to bang out this book!

It was so good too!  Creepy, full of psychological twists, and leaving the reader wanting more.  Which is good, as this is book one in the Asylum Trilogy.  I was so glad that none of the story took place on a desert road at night because I was driving some windy back-roads on my way home and would have freaked out!  Definitely a must-read for the spooky season, but if you're a fan of mystery thrillers with the paranormal thrown in, this book is good all year round!

Four / Five Stars

Currently Reading

  This book is crazy!  I am not a big thriller person, but from page one the story sucks you in!  This is such a different genre from Stephanie Perkins that I never would’ve guessed she was the author. Frightening and twisty, you don’t know who the next victim will be or the gruesome way they’ll be killed! 

  Also a crazy book, but with literal mental illness this time. Each teen in the story has an intense and debilitating fear, which their therapist isn’t able to cure them of. So she suggests they all go to this special program, so they can be “cured”. But Will, the protagonist, runs away and starts spying on the group and the program. And that’s when is gets weird, weird. Loving the audiobook of this; I can picture everything so well. 

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#Spookathon 2017

Reading challenges seem to help get me out of my slumps because they have a deadline attached.  And I have been in one heck of a slump lately.  BUT it is the spookiest time of the year, and my favorite holiday is almost here.  So I hunted for a reading challenge that fits right in with the season, and behold, #Spookathon!

Lala from BooksandLala, Shannon from Bookerly, and Paige from Paige's Pages are hosting the #Spookathon, which runs from October 16 - October 22!  The point is to read some spooky books and have fun!

There are challenges to do for the event, but they are in no way a requirement!  I find the challenges make it even more fun though, so I'm definitely doing them!

For this year, the challenges include:

1. read a thriller 2. read a book with a spooky word in the title 3. read a book based on a childhood fear 4. read a book with orange on the cover 5. read a book that has a spooky setting

So my TBR list is a little ambition for a week to read, especially as I have Junior League things to take care of this week, but I'm optimistic (also I picked two audiobooks, so those will get done quickly) I'll get them all read!

Here's the TBR

  1. Read a Thriller - I chose There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins.  I've heard really great things about this book, and it is a divergence from what I'm use to by Stephanie, so I'm excited to see how creepy it is!

  2. Read a Book with a Spooky Word in the Title - I chose Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy edited by Ameriie really just because I wanted to read it, but then it fit the challenge by having 13 Tales of Villainy in the title.  13 is unlucky and villainy implies evil, so they can be spooky!

  3. Read a Book Based on a Childhood Fear - I chose Dark Eden by Patrick Carmen because, while it is not directly about a personal childhood fear, the characters in the book are all being treated for their personal fears.  I thought this would be extra scary because than I'm not just embracing one fear, but multiple fears!

 4. Read a Book with Orange on the Cover - I chose Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, which I realize is not a scary book in the traditional sense.  But it does deal with mental illness, which takes center stage in a lot of psychological thrillers and it is a sort of mystery story as well.  So I think it can squeak into the #Spookathon (plus I was reading it anyway because it's JOHN GREEN!)

 5. Read a Book that has a Spooky Setting - I chose Asylum by Madeleine Roux because, hello, old sanitarium turned dormitories?  That's creepy AF!  I've also been wanting to read this series since the book came out in 2013.

 6. Bonus Book - If I get done with my other 5 books, I chose to add in Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.  I've heard it's super creepy and dark, so perfect for a spooky reading challenge.  It's also been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, so I feel like I need to get to it!

So that's my TBR list for #Spookathon!  Are you all participating?  If you are, let me know what you're reading!  If you're not, give me some suggestions for future scary books I might read this month!

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Reading Challenges and Me

This year I am only doing ONE reading challenge, and that is the: 

I am doing this one in particular because in 2017 I need to do better as a consumer of books.  

Because I can read even more broadly, 

Because I can take the time to highlight books from diverse genres, cultures, and authors.  

Because I can make sure that the books I read are lifting up communities and accurately reflecting the culture and people within said community. 

Because I can lend my voice to the loud cry to publishers of "These are the books we WANT AND NEED!"  

Because I want to make sure that I showcase books that can reflect all of my readers, not just the white, cisgender, straight ones.  

Because I need to recognize when my favorite books/authors are problematic and why.

Because I want to create a safe space for discovery.  

And because above all I want to learn and grow because I know I'm not near knowledgeable enough.

As an "ally" it's time for me to really start putting my money where my mouth is as much as possible.

With all that said, instead of holding myself to a list of specific books that I cement right now, I will update this post with books I hope to read AND books that I do read, along with the review when finished, so I can keep it as flexible as possible.

I want to be able to discover new books and not feel beholden to a book I might not enjoy.

1. Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices edited by Mitali Perkins - Multiple POC, #ownvoices, ethnic diversity, intersectionality

          Review - 5/5 Stars

2. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - African American POC, Asian POC, #ownvoices, ethnic diversity, deportation

          Review - 5/5 Stars 

3. Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older - Latinx POC, ethnic diversity, #ownvoices, mythology, LGBT

          Review - 5/5 Stars

4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Mental health (Bi-polar), suicide

          Review - 

5. Love & First Sight by Josh Sundquist - Disability (blindness), ethnic diversity

          Review - 4/5 Stars

6. Because of the Sun by Jenny Torres Sanchez - Grief, abuse, ethnic diversity

          Review - 

7. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Indian American POC, #ownvoices, family expectations, ethnic diversity

          Review - 

North of Happy by Adi Alsaid - Latinx POC , #ownvoices

A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman - Folktale, intersectionality

The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui - Memoir, Asian POC, #ownvoices 

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - South Asian mythology , #ownvoices

Mirage by Tracy Clark - African American POC, mental illness

Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz - Asian POC, #ownvoices, deportation

This Is the Part Where You Laugh by Peter Brown Hoffmeister - Socioeconomic status, drug abuse

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson - LGBT, #ownvoices, suicide

Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen - Ethnic diversity, intersectionality, women's rights

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury - Fairytale retelling, Middle Eastern POC

When We Collided by Emery Lord - Mental illness

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp - Ethnic diversity, intersectionality, 

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds - African American POC, #ownvoices, 

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo - LGBT, #ownvoices, trans issues

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera - Latinx POC, GLBT, #ownvoices, suicide

Sula's Voyage by Catherine Torres - Asian POC, mythology, #ownvoices

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten - Mental illness

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley - Mental illness, LGBT

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - African American POC, #ownvoices, disability

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst - LGBT, bisexual

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom - Disability (blindness)

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy - LGBT, bisexual, ethnic diversity

So there's my hopeful list.  I'm really excited and encourage all of you to join in too!

The ladies have a great resource list, Diverse Reads 2017 Reading List, that you can check out for recommendations.  Also Naz, over at Read Diverse Books, is holding a reading/reviewing challenge that is also focusing on diverse books (obviously).  So you can hit two challenges with one book AND celebrate diversity in reading!!!

Happy reading everyone!

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Booktube-A-Thon 2016 - To Be Read List

It's that time of year, the BookTube-A-Thon 2016 is upon us!  Happening July 18th through July 24th, the BookTube-A-Thon is a week long readathon hosted by Ariel Bissett! A time for the BookTube community to all come together and do what we read best: consume books in massive quantities!

While my BookTube channel has been inactive for a little bit (this might be restarted soon), I love to watch other BookTubers and definitely want to support this awesome community!  Also, as Ariel mentioned, you don't have to have a BookTube to participate, so I figured I'd give it a go!

Essentially, the overall challenge of the BookTube-A-Thon is to read seven books over the course of seven days.  That is like one book a day!  Eeep!!  On top of that there are six other challenges:

1. Read a book with yellow on the cover
2. Read a book only after sunset
3. Read a book you discovered through Booktube
4. Read a book by one of your favorite authors
5. Read a book that is older than you
6. Read and watch a book-to-movie adaptation
Of course #7 is Read seven books

The books I chose for the challenges are:

                                

Hopefully I get them all read, but I figured if not, that's okay.  It'll still be fun to try!  I'll be updating through Goodreads and Twitter, so sure to be following me both places!  

If you're participating in the 2016 BookTube-A-Thon, leave a link to your TBR video/post in the comments!  Happy reading!

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Join the AW Teen Summer Reading Challenge and win books!

I'm really excited to bring y'all a fun challenge from AW Teen!  There are some great books in their catalog, and this would definitely be worth participating in this summer!

Who: Everyone who loves reading YA!

What: Read any AW Teen title (full list here: http://www.albertwhitman.com/teen/) and review it anywhere (your blog, Goodreads, Instagram, YouTube—wherever!).

When: June 15-August 31, 2016

How: Submit the link to your review here.

• You will receive 1 entry for every AW Teen Book you review.
  
  
• You will receive extra entries for sharing that review on Goodreads, Netgalley, Edelweiss, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other review sites.
  
  
• You will receive even more extra entries for following us on our Albert Whitman and AW Teen social media sites!

The Albert Whitman social media accounts:

AW Teen Facebook | Albert Whitman Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

| Pinterest | AW Teen Youtube

AND THE PRIZE: Six AW Teen ’16 titles!!!!!!

Future Shock (HC)

Elena Martinez has hidden her eidetic memory all her life—or so she thinks. When powerful tech giant Aether Corporations selects her for a top-secret project, she can’t say no. All she has to do is participate in a trip to the future, and she’ll be set for life. Elena travels with four other teens with special skills, including Adam, a science prodigy. Soon they find themselves running out of time, and deadly secrets are uncovered. Can Elena and her new friends figure out how to change their futures?

NO COVER AVAILABLE

Resurrecting Sunshine (ARC)

Seventeen-year-old Adam Rhodes is famous, but he’s been in a downward spiral since he lost the girl he loved, Marybeth, who went by the stage name Sunshine. Then, Adam is approached by Dr. Elloran with Project Orpheus, who wants to resurrect Sunshine. As the process sweeps Adam and Marybeth ever closer to reliving the tragedy that destroyed them, Adam must decide how far he’ll go to save her.

NO COVER AVAILABLE

Until I Break (ARC)

Two boys: One is a star athlete and top student with a deep-seated need to prove himself. The other is a chip-on-his-shoulder quarterback who will never settle for second best. When gunshots echo through the halls of Broadmeadow High School, whose finger is on the trigger? This unforgettable novel counts down the twelve months leading up to an explosive moment.

Biggie (PB)

At an obese 300+ pounds, Henry “Biggie” Abbott prefers classroom success to sports. As Biggie’s junior year begins, the girl of his dreams, Annabelle Rivers, starts flirting with him. He’s been told to follow in his dad’s footsteps and play baseball, but Annabelle might be the one to actually convince him to try.

Girl Last Seen (HC)

YouTube stars and best friends Kadence and Lauren recently had a major falling-out over Kadence’s boyfriend. Kadence launched her solo career when a nasty throat infection paralyzed Lauren’s vocal cords. And she knows how deceptive Kadence could be sometimes. But nobody believes Lauren when she claims she had nothing to do with Kady’s disappearance.

Hurricane Kiss (HC)

For sixteen-year-old Jillian McKay, the threat of Hurricane Danielle means a long car ride with her neighbors—including River Daughtry, the former star quarterback of Harrison High. The guy who was headed to glory until suddenly he disappeared to a West Texas juvenile detention center. Once cocky and flirtatious, he’s now silent and angry. But their evacuation route is soon gridlocked. As the teens wait out the storm, they confront the past and realize survival is more than just staying alive—it’s about fighting for yourself.

Join the fun and get your read on this summer!

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Backlist Books Reading Challenge - Masterpost

As I posted previously, I am participating in some book challenges in the new year!  This particular one, Backlist Books Reading Challenge, hosted at Pretty Deadly Reviews, is a majorly needed challenge for me!  I have a TON of older books that I haven't gotten to that I want/need to read!  With this challenge, it gives me an excuse to focus on those older books!

There isn't a level element with this challenge, unlike Pretty Deadly's LGBTQIA Reading Challenge.  But there will be a review requirement so you can be entered into the giveaway at the end of June and end of December.  There will be a link-up post over at Pretty Deadly's blog to link your reviews up.

While there isn't minimum or maximum to how many books I read, I once again am going to shoot for 12.  Some of those are going to be ones I read for the other two reading challenges, but others will be just because!  Once I'm done reading a book, they will be listed below, along with the review!

Hopefully I get to 12, but I'm not going to say I will for sure, the amount could go up or down depending on my other obligations. But even if I read one backlist book, that will be one less I have on my TBR pile!

Books I've Read

1. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Lauire Halse Anderson (Review/Goodreads)
2. Throne of Glass by Sarah. J. Maas (Review/Goodreads)
3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater (Review/Goodreads)

I'm really excited for this, and the two other challenges I signed up for!  You can check out more info and sign up yourself at the link above!

Happy reading!

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Full House Reading Challenge - Master Post

As I posted previously, I am participating in some book challenges in the new year!  This particular one, Full House Reading Challenge by Book Date, looks to be especially fun!

It is a bingo-style challenge, where you have to "fill up" each square on the card below.

In this post I will list all the books I've read, what square they fill, and the review for each!  

Squares Filled/Books Read

Published in 2015 - The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden (Review/Goodreads)

You Didn't Want to Put It Down - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Review/Goodreads)

Would Make a Good Movie - It's All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick (Review/Goodreads)

Way Out of Comfort Zone - Built by Jay Crownover (Review/Goodreads)

I'm really excited for this, and the two other challenges I signed up for!  You can check out more info and sign up yourself at the link above!

Happy reading!

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My 2016 Reading Challenges

If you've been following my blog for a little while, then you'll know that 2015 was an awful year for my personal reading with 2014 not being too much better.  I've been getting into slump after slump and it's been awful.

So to kick start 2016 and my reading again, I've since joined a book club and I'm going to be attempting the following reading challenges:

First up is the Backlist Books Reading Challenge, hosted by Pretty Deadly Reviews.  I have a lot of books (which I'm sure a lot of you do as well) that I haven't read yet, but were published years ago.  It's a problem that I thought this challenge would help me fix.

The details from Pretty Deadly Reviews:

• This is a 2016 challenge, running from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2016
• For these purposes, I’m counting backlist books as anything published a year or more before the day you read it. So if it’s January 1st, 2016, the book you’re reading must have been published in 2014 or earlier
• Books must be read and reviewed. You do not need a blog to enter, but a tumblr, a Goodreads account, just some place to put a little blurb after you’re done reading. A review can be a traditional review, a booktube video, a few sentences on GR. It’s up to you
• I’m not going to have any levels or anything like that. Read as much or as little as you want!

SIGN UP HERE

Next up is another one from Pretty Deadly Reviews, the LGBTQIA 2016 Reading Challenge.  LGBTQ+ literature is one of my favorite genres and an area where we desperately need more books!  I love readings books published that incorporate a LGBTQ+ character, so I'm really excited about this one!  The level I'm doing is highlighted below.

The details from Pretty Deadly Reviews:

• This challenge will run from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2016.
• The book must contain an LGBTQIA main character.
• Books must be read and reviewed. The review can be any kind of review you want, traditional, a few sentences, a vlog review. Anything goes.
• Backlist books also count as part of this challenge.
• There are going to be different levels that correspond to the colors of the rainbow:

• Red = 5 books

• Orange = 6-12 books

• Yellow = 13-20 books

• Green = 21- 30 books

• Blue = 31- 40 books

• Purple = 41- 50 books

• The Giveaway will be for one LGBTQIA book. International is okay, but you MUST be signed up for the challenge. The giveaway will be held at the end of the year.

SIGN UP HERE 

Finally there is the Full House Reading Challenge, hosted by Book Date.  The point of this one is to fill up the bingo card she has on her site, completing a "full house".  There are different challenges within each square, like "Read a book with a setting starting with B".  So this one, while having a motivating force is a little more fun-centered than the other two.  Also this one allows books read for other challenges which is helpful.

The details from Book Date:

• Challenge will run from Jan 1st to December 31st 2016
• Write and publish a post stating your intention to participate. In the post please include the Challenge graphic and a link back to this post. Then link your intention post at the bottom of this post.  Make sure it is the actual post and not just a generic link to your blog.
• Add your reviews back here on the link in this post. At the end of every three months there will be a U.S. $12 prize with a book of your choice from the Book Depository or U.S. Amazon voucher, for the entries. There will be a new linky then for the next quarter and so on to the end of December.
• Reviews are not mandatory and if you prefer to keep a list of the books read and the category they cross off the card, then you can still enter for the completion of a Full House by linking to that list on the final linky or in a comment.

• Jan - March Link Up

• April - June Link Up

• July - September Link Up

• October - December Link Up

• Each review can only be linked up once in the year. However it doesn't matter when you read the book in 2016 - which month, just link as you remember or have time. So if you read it in January you may not get around to linking it until say... May. That is fine.
• Books may cross over from other challenges that you are doing. 
• There will be a final post to link in a summary post for the challenge for those who have completed a full house. This will close on the 2nd January 2017  and a winner will be chosen using random.org for a U.S. $30 prize which again can be used to buy books at the Book Depository or be received as an Amazon voucher.

SIGN UP HERE

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