Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
I am writing this from Chicago. It looks like the weather may cooperate, and we will get to do a little river cruise today.
It was so wonderful getting to see my daughter dance again. It was such a big part of my life for so long, and I have not been to a live dance performance since she was an underground, therefore, a total treat for me.
My daughter is the third from the left
That face....
Wednesday 1st May, 2019 pic.twitter.com/3LDZXXmnlX— Hedgehog of the Day (@daily__hedgehog) May 1, 2019
I don't know about you, but I was so excited when I saw this (even if I forgot to share it last week)...
🥁Drumroll please... the cover for THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE by @emerylord has arrived and we LOVE IT! We will accept excited replies in text, emoji, or gif form pic.twitter.com/JP7RXnR2jp— BloomsburyUS Kids/YA (@bloomsburykids) April 26, 2019
- Michelle is breaking up with ghost books
- Sophie wants to know what you do and don't want to see in YA books
- Becky shares how her short attention span is affecting her reading
- Monday: #AmReadingYA - How to Be Luminous, Love From A to Z
- Tuesday: TTT - You Can Quote Me
- Wednesday: CWW - Virtually Yours, As Far as the Stars
- Thursday: Blog Tour - Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson
- Friday: Discussion - Too Old for Love?
Bought/Free
- Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen
- No Place Like Here by Christina June
- What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Shienmel
- Teach Me by Olivia Dade
- In the Hall with the Knife by Dianna Peterfreund
- It's My Life by Stacie Ramey
- The Year They Fell by David Kreizman
- Home Field Advantage by Liz Lincoln
From the Publisher
- Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum (finished copy) -- keep an eye out, I will be giving this away to a US reader (sorry), because I have a digital ARC.
What I Read Last Week
Wow! Next week has a LOT to live up to, because this was a week filled with stupendous books. My favorite of the week was actually a book I should have read last year (since I had an ARC), but man! I am so glad I downloaded that audiobook, because My Oxford Year was amazing for me. If you think you might read it, be careful. I read a bunch of reviews after I read the book, which reveal something that had such a huge impact on me, and seems spoilery to me.
It was interesting how many of the books I read addressed body image and the beauty standard too. It was front and center in Sweetie and Perfect Girl, but sat on the periphery in Stars, Fire, and TBT.
Books
- Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Smalls - ★★★★
- With a Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo -★★★★ 1/2
- The Bride Test by Helen Hoang - ★★★★ 1/2 review
- There's Something About Sweetie by Sandya Menon - ★★★★ 1/2
- We Are the Perfect Girl by Ariel Kaplan - ★★★★ 1/2
- Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy - ★★★ 1/2 review
- My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan - ★★★★★ review
- 10 Years Later by J. Sterling - ★★★★ review
What I Am Currently Reading
I am finally finishing the Ruined series (and it's about time).
- Allied by Amy Tintera
- The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt
What I Plan to Read
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- Road Tripped by Pete Hautman
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
ooooh how neat to see your daughter dance!! That It's My Life is such a gorgeous cover that I am so tempted by it!! ❤️ Spoilers are so subjective! It distresses me so much if someone says I spoiled them when I totally didn't mean to.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, spoilers can be subjective, but this reveal I saw for Oxford was the game changer for the whole story. I know I was glad I didn't see it coming, because it was a gasp worthy moment for me
DeleteSounds like you had a great reading week! I hope next week is also filled with good reading!
ReplyDeleteIt was probably one of my most staked weeks ever. Just a lucky run of great books
DeleteSounds like you had a good week!
ReplyDeleteThe Unhoneymooners sounds so much fun, it's definitely on my wishlist.
Any CLo book is an automatic add for me at this point, and it doesn't hurt that the buzz for The Unhoneymooners is good
DeleteIt is great that you are getting to see your daughter dance again. I am glad that the weather is cooperating for your during your trip. I loved My Oxford Year and think that since the author is a wonderful narrator that listening to the audio would be a wonderful experience. I can definitely understand how some reviews would give away too much of that book though and agree going in blindly is the way to go. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that was the author reading the book, but I was kicking myself for putting it off for so long, because it just blew me away. My co-workers were worried about the sniffling and tears, but it was a really beautiful story of taking a chance on love and valuing every second you have with that person. If you saw Kirkus or Publisher's Weekly, they outright spoiled it, in my opinion. THAT is why I don't really read reviews before I read a book. That reveal was such a turning point in the story, I cannot understand how it couldn't be considered a spoiler.
DeleteThat's nice you got to see your daughter dance! I loved seeing the cover for the Map From Here to There. I got The Bride Test for my BOTM so I am excited to see you liked it. I will be keeping my eyes open for that Hope and Other Punch Lines giveaway!! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat Emery Lord book was years in the making and I cannot wait to read it. I hope you enjoy TBT. I thought it was fabulous
DeleteEnjoy your river cruise! Hopefully this reading week lives up to the last one. It’s always fun when you hit a streak of really good books.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
This architecture cruise is supposed to be great and it's beautiful outside.
DeleteOoh fun! I've never done a river cruise myself either. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAnd nice new reads!! Totally new to me ones but I hope you will enjoy them all!
Here's my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I have visited Chicago 4 times and always wanted to do a cruise, so I am excited
DeleteSo glad you are enjoying your time with your daughter. And right before Mother's Day, how lovely. You just reminded me that I need to finish Ruined as well. I haven't even gotten to the second book yet. Hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteShe took me and my mother on the boat cruise as a mother's day gift and it was grwat
DeleteI'm so glad to hear you're having a good time visiting your daughter. Hope the weather holds out so you can do that cruise today.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have so many good reads coming up! I can't wait to see what you think of the Buxbaum book. I'm reading Sweetie right now and really love it. Makes me want to go back and re-read When Dimple Met Rishi.
The weather has been perfect all weekend. Sweetie was a wonderful character and Menon did a great job showing us Ash's better side
DeleteLove that you got to see your girl perform again! Hope the weather is holding in Chicago. I love that cover of No Place Like Here. All that purpley goodness. I'm super excited for the new one from Julie Buxbaum. I loved Tell Me Three Things. Hooray for The Bride Test! So, so good! I just loved Esme and Khai and Quan... I totally want more. :) I hope you'll love The Unhoneymooners... and I'm super excited for RW&RB... my pre-order should be here soon.
ReplyDeleteThe showcase was wonderful and she had such a big part in the contemporary routine. It's really special to see she still loves dance so much
DeleteGlad you got to see your daughter perform, it must have been a joy if it's been a while. And you liked The Bride Test? I'm so glad, i know some people had complaints but I thought it was brilliant. And I have Teach Me to read, I'm excited, I might make it my next book.
ReplyDeleteI loved TBT. There was so much more to Esme than I expected, Quan was fabulous, and the ending was stupendous
DeleteGlad you're having a great time in Chicago AND getting a lot of great reads in! I'm looking forward to your thoughts on The Rosie Result - I wasn't crazy about the second book so I'm not sure if I should continue!
ReplyDeleteThe second book was tough because of all the drama, but the ending was good and I am excited to meet their son
DeleteThat's awesome you got to see your daughter dance again! Hope you're having fun in Chicago :-) That hedgehog is too cute!
ReplyDeleteChicago was fun, but I am exhausted!
DeleteHope you're having a great time in Chicago! And that you were able to get that river cruise in. :) I know here in Michigan (not too far away) it was a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Amy Tintera but I've looked at her books a bunch of times. She's an author I should try.
The man giving the tour knew a scary amount of information about architecture. He also talked about all the stuff in the works, and there are an overwhelming number of luxury high-rises going up in these parts. The weather was great all weekend. I have other Tintera books, which I have not read, but I can say, the Ruined series is great.
DeleteI'm glad you're having fun in Chicago, and got to see your daughter dance again! You got so many great books! I'm loving your STS!!! Happy Reading Sam!
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
It's strange only getting to see my child every few months, but I relish the time we are together.
DeleteHope you are having an amazing time with your daughter in Chicago. Also, hope you were able to go on the river cruise. The Map From Here to There has such a lovely cover. *.* Can't wait to read your thoughts on Unhoneymooners.
ReplyDeleteHappy readings! ;)
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
We had great weather and do a lot of fun things. Now I am tired. I am excited to be starting Unhoneymooners. Now I will get to see what everyone is raving about.
DeleteI hope the river cruise worked out, and that's awesome you were able to see your daughter dance! I hope you have another great reading week. I just started Red, White, and Royal Blue and I'm loving it.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
The cruise was awesome. We had great weather the entire weekend. All I keep seeing are raves for Royal Blue. I am sure I will enjoy it.
DeleteChicago is such a neat, historic city! Hope you enjoyed the river cruise! I plan on reading The Unhoneymooners this weekend. Hope we both love it! :)
ReplyDeleteThe cruise was awesome. Just started the Unhoneymooners this morning, and it is fabulous!
DeleteOmigosh, In the Hall with the Knife!! I didn't know ARCs were out in and about yet. I'm sooooooooooo excited for this one. Can't wait to see what you think of that one - and Red, White, and Royal Blue. Wonderful post! :)
ReplyDeleteI was agog, when I saw there was going to be a series based on Clue. That game ruled my childhood, and I have enjoyed Peterfreund's books in the past. I have high hopes for this one.
DeleteAwesome seeing your daughter! I miss soccer the same way, for 9 long years and traveling too. I miss it all. My youngest who starts HS in the fall is only in choir and no sports. I won't be going to much. Hope Mother's Day was great.
ReplyDeleteMary
When my daughter left for college, she left me missing her, but also left this empty space in my life that had been occupied by her actives. That was when I really started reading a lot.
DeleteI am so happy to see that you were able to love getting to watch your daughter perform and even from the photo it looks fantastic! And you read so many wonderful books :D I am SO happy to hear you loved The Bride Test and also With The Fire on High because I am looking forward to reading those.
ReplyDeleteHelen Hoang is exactly what we needed in contemporary romance. She is a fantastic new voice, and I think seeing the success of her books is encouraging and will hopefully result in more books like her's
Delete