My Favorite Books in the last 5 Years

Yeah…. It’s been that long….

I’ve gotten busy with a new job venture, lots of life events, etc. I’ll go over that in another post. The main point is I’m BACK! And ready to post about books and reading again.

I have been reading all this time, even if I’ve not been sharing it with you all. Here are some of my favorite books that I’ve read in the last 5 years.

So these books are my favorite from the last few years. Memoirs of a Geisha being #1. That is probably going to be a “comfort book” for a long time, I’ve already read it three times. I’ve just recently moved and couldn’t take my copy with me, but I’m definitely picking another one up soon.

Then, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Quirky, sweet, funny, I loved every page of it. Not as groundbreaking as I expected but it’s still pretty enjoyable and has that female vibe I love.

My Absolute Darling is less known. It’s about a girl raised by her father in a toxic kind of relationship. He gets violent with her, threatening to hurt her, then doesn’t. So this is a story about her coming to the realization that she could escape that. She could be free! The ending is a big twist, really brought the whole thing together.

Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The shining, which I read as well, and man, it’s better than the shining in my opinion. Not as scary, no. But it’s definitely a weird turn and pretty cool! A lot of you have probably already read it and seen the movie so I’ll spare you the whole review.

The Antithesis series. Definitely a sci-fi with demons and angels, and the main character who can’t remember his past before being a mind slave. LOTS of drama, character developing, love and death. I am a big fan of it. It’s got over 6 books readily available on amazon, where i got mine, and it gets you hooked!

The latest in the Vampire Chronicles, Blood Communion. It’s after Lestat becomes “The Prince” and kind of goes over how everyone came together. Fills in the blanks and fleshes out some stuff from since he became Prince to the “now”. It’s a classic Lestat tale and pretty interesting to read. Just…. skip the first chapter. You’ll thank me later!

And of course, The Testaments. Book 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale. It doesn’t follow the show at all, it’s way after the show. When Offred is long gone, 15 years have past, we see the future. We follow an Aunt, we don’t know who, as she goes about her life in Ardua Hall, a library. It bounces between her, witness testimonies, and two girls. Very good read that slowly pieces together what’s happened in the time gap.

I have many many more books that I’m currently reading, I’ll put in another post soon. For now, I hope you guys are having a good day, and have an awesome week!

Liebster Award!

 

So, this is the first award I’ve ever been nominated for, thanks to Katie Jay’s Book Blog! ! I’ve never done this before but I hope I get it right! 

25 Bookish Facts About Me!

So this tag is going around on youtube, but of course I don’t feel like filming anything about books lately, so I’ll just post it here! Then you guys can know me a little bit better.

 

1. I hate slip covers. You know, the paper thing they put on a hard cover book? EW.
2. I read multiple books at once. I am currently reading…. 4? I believe 4.
3. I don’t do audio books. I’d rather not pay that much for a book in general anyways, so audiobooks and “subscribing” to audible is just too much hassle for me.
4. Sometimes when reading a conversation, I’ll act out the expressions while reading. If I’m alone, I’ll actually read it out loud in the expression I think they would have while talking. Why? Because I’m a weirdo.
5. I don’t really “fangirl” over books or series. I’ll like them, even love them, but I don’t get hyped about them.
6. I’d rather read e-books than physical copies. I contradict myself on this sometimes by buying physical copies. And Then I don’t read them, because reading on my phone is just so much easier.
7. I prefer paper backs to hardcover, and especially mass market paperbacks. Idk why, it’s just much more appealing to me.
8. I’m a bath reader! I read my books in the bath, it’s just a quiet place where I’m comfy.
9. I like to be doing something while reading. Either on my computer, or cooking, I like to multitask while reading. No idea why.
10. I’ve never attended a book convention.
11. I don’t “collect” books.
12. The first book I remember reading is The Hobbit. I still have never finished it.
13. I love writing in my books!
14. I also dog ear books. Not library books, but ones I own, I’ll dog ear.
15. I love it when a book is written in diary form.
16. My favorite Author is Anne Rice
17. I spend more time watching Booktube than actually reading XD
18. I don’t like it when a book goes into detail about army movements and battle strategies. Yawn! Just skip that part!
19. I don’t buy full priced hard cover books. If I really want a book that just came out, I’ll buy the ebook version and wait until it comes out in paperback.
20. I haven’t met any authors, ever.
21. I’d rather shop at small bookstores, than at Barnes and Noble.
22. I used to love to read on the bus. I own a car now so I don’t get to, but it was one of my favorite times of the day.
23. i have to have relative silence when reading a book.
24. I don’t read “hyped” books when they come out. Like Passenger? All the hype about it on booktube made me NOT want to read it.
25. After finishing a book, I like to think a day or two before reviewing the book. I can’t gather all my thoughts in one sitting, right there. I have to let it sit for a day or two.

What are your quirky reading facts? I can’t wait to hear from you guys! 🙂

Has anyone else stumbled upon Sarah Gerard’s Binary Star?

So I’m currently reading this book and… I’m not sure if I want to continue or not. It is packed with pretty little quotes and things that could explain how a star works, and also explain how her relationship is going… if you can pick up on it.

Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell – A review

Goodreads Link

Amazon Link

 

 

 

This is one of my Blind Date with a Book finds, and I’m glad I read it! I’ve always been curious about the ocean and the lives of people who live near it.

This story follows Willa and The Gray Man. The island called Jackson’s Rock is cursed – whoever thinks about it gets distracted and a splitting headache. Willa is drawn to the island by the curse. The Gray man draws her to him, to pass the curse onto her, and escape.

Saundra Mitchell does well with this book, balancing Willa’s friendships, family life, along with the murder she was the only witness to, and the lesson of moving on in life. The scenery you can see vividly in your head – the fog hugging you, the water throwing you, the lighthouse guiding you. You are emotionally tied with Willa and The Gray Man. You want both of them to get their own end, even if that destroys the fate of the other. There’s also magic. You are reminded of myths and legends, magic and history. It really all ties well together in this emotional journey.

I gave this book a four out of five. If I had read this book back in high school, it would have had a very important lesson for me.

Life update!

Not because something is going on in my life. No, more like too much is not happening in my life yet. I have a huge move coming up (From apartment to first house!!) and I’m slowly trying to get rid of things before we start packing up. I have finished one book this month.

One book for February you guys. I’m far behind my goals.

I will post a review of it soon, and I am reading a few books at the same time right now. But… I’m also looking for a better job, cheering on my boyfriend for having two jobs, and figuring out how to handle this moving process in the middle of such chaos! Mentally not okay with reading so much right now.

I was in a reading slump for most of the month. Then I flew through the second half of Mist Walker by Saundra Mitchell. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. I want to finish reading The Ask and The Answer next. So much going on for that book, you guys!

I’m also working on a couple of journals! My bullet journaling facebook page has taken off way more than I expected it to! It has more views and like than my booktube facebook page! Crazy stuff, and I’m not even trying that hard! I want to ride this wave as long as I can, but have NO ideas. Show off my high school journal? Make up a new system for the bullet journal? I don’t know. Exciting stuff though, completely side swept me.

How is your week going?

Book Tag Time | Marvel Avengers

Let’s do another tag you guys!

I’m doing this one, inspired by YA By the Way, because guess what’s coming out soon?

 

Click the pic for IMDB

 

I can’t wait for this! So instead of waiting in agony for this movie, I’m going to do a book tag in honor of it! Here we go:

A Review of a Love Story

Nick frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart. Norah is questioning all of her assumptions about the world. They have nothing in common except for their taste in music, until a chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming a first date that could change both their lives.

Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story that reminds you how you can never be sure where the night will take you…

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford’s Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the alethiometer. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called “Gobblers”—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person’s inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.

The Improper Bride | Release Blitz!

About the Book

Title: The Improper Bride

Author: Lily Maxton

Genre: Historical romance

Cold, arrogant, and demanding Henry Eldridge, Marquess of Riverton, would never dally with a mere servant. But when Henry is injured in a horrible fire, his pretty housekeeper Cassandra nurses him back to health, throwing them together day and night. As he slowly heals from his burns, their friendship blossoms, and the class walls between them start to crumble. Cassandra is surprised by glimpses of a kind and thoughtful man beneath her employer’s hard façade—and even more surprised when she develops tender feelings for him. But anything between lord and servant is impossible…and besides, as a widow, she knows love only leads to heartbreak.

Henry is changing, as well. His close brush with death has opened his eyes to his self-imposed emotional isolation…and has urgently reminded him of his duty to marry a well-bred lady and produce an heir. Determined to do right by his family name, he immediately begins searching for a suitable bride. But Cassandra is the only woman who is never far from his mind or his heart. Contrary to everything he’s been taught to believe, he realizes his lovely housekeeper might just be his perfect match. Now, if only he could convince everyone else of that. Especially Cassandra…

Author Bio

Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst

cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to

good use and embark on a career as a writer. When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to

tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.

You can find Lily at http://www.lilymaxton.com, on Twitter (@LilyMaxton), or

on Facebook (facebook.com/LilyMaxton).

Links

href=”https://www.facebook.com/LilyMaxton”>Facebook

the-improper-bride”>Goodreads

Scandal-ebook/dp/B019CB3TJ6″>Amazon

bride/”>Entangled Publishing