It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 5, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

This weekend was jam packed with BookCon. I really enjoyed the panels and scored some awesome ARCs. My most prized book being One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake. One of my fellow WLABBers, Kiersten, went to BEA, and was quite successful. I now have almost all the books from my last TTT thanks to her *YEAH!* As a matter of fact, when she met with Swoon Reads, they actually brought a copy of Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman just for me after seeing my TTT! I was so touched.

I did NOT read a ton of books, as I knew I wouldn't, but it was still a good reading week. Wonder was by far my favorite read of the week. It was so touching and beautiful. If you have not read this book, read it now!

• Wonder by R.J. Palacio - ★★★★★
• He's So Fine by Jill Shalvis - ★★★★
• Witchtown by Cory Putman Oakes - ★★★ 1/2
• The Bakersville Dozen by Kristina McBride - ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

My library loan FINALLY came up for The Hating Game, and so far, it's quite fun. I am enjoying this love/hate relationship. I am also listening to another Lucky Harbor book, and this one is set with the same "friend group" as the last two, and, as always, it's making me happy.

• The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
• One in a Million by Jill Shalvis

What I Plan to Read

I am working through some of my July ARCs. I was really looking forward to Aftercare Instructions  so I hope it meets my expectations. I am also working on Diverse Books Reading Challenge. This months mini challenge is to read a book that focuses on sexuality/gender identity. I selected Gracefully Grayson, because it is about a trans girl's journey and also has tons of glowing reviews.

• Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin
• The Waking Land by Callie Bates
• Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener
• Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 29, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

This was a great reading week. I fed my romance monster, and added two books to my favorites shelf. If Birds Fly Back was my top read, but The Authentics was a close second. Both were great coming-of-age stories that were just beautiful and engrossing. Loved them!

• Riveted by Jay Crownover - ★★★★
• Out of the Shallows by Samantha Young - ★★★★
• If Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak - ★★★★★
• Called Out by Jen Doyle - ★★★ 1/2
• It's in His Kiss by Jill Shalvis - ★★★★
• The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian - ★★★★ 1/2
• Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams - ★★★ 1/2

What I Am Currently Reading

I totally zoned by #MonthlyMotif challenge, so I am trying to squeeze in a book that has an adaptation being released this year. I chose Wonder, because the movie is coming out soon and I have heard amazing things about these books. My audiobook for the week is another Lucky Harbor book. I was pretty excited when Hoopla had three new ones. So, yeah for me!

• Wonder by R.J. Palacio
• He's So Fine by Jill Shalvis

What I Plan to Read

I am NOT planning too many books this week, because I will be spending the weekend at BookCon. One of my favorite yearly events, and I am so happy it is back in NYC. I picked Witchtown for another reading challenge that ends this month. Fingers crossed I read it in time.

• Witchtown by Cory Putman Oakes
• The Bakersville Dozen by Kristina McBride

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?: May 22, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

Last week was an ok reading week. The two standouts were Making It Right and Internet Famous. I did have a DNF, but we won't talk about that. And as suspected, Be True to Me was sort of nostalgic. I loved so many of the references, and thought Griffin used just the right amount to let us taste the 70s, but not alienate anyone unfamiliar with the time period.

• Making It Right by Catherine Bybee - ★★★★
• Be True to Me by Adele Griffin - ★★★★
• Amish Guys Don't Call by Debby Dodds - ★★★ 
• More of Me by Kathryn Evans - ★★★ 1/2
• Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews - ★★★ 1/2
• Internet Famous by Danika Stone - ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

This is a very cool story of how I got my current read. I was in one of my reader groups (Crownover's  Crowd), and there was a giveaway for an ARC of Crownover's newest Saints of Denver book. However, one of the entries required posting a review for the last Saints book. When I lamented on the thread, how I have been on the hold list since the beginning of April and there were still 6 people ahead of me, I was gifted an eBook. Needless to say, I was very touched by the gesture, and quite excited to read it, because I love Jay's books.

My audiobook is the second book in the Into the Deep series by Samantha Young. Wow! Young is ruthless. How many times can she tear these two apart!

• Riveted by Jay Crownover
• Out of the Shallows by Samantha Young

What I Plan to Read

Planning the normal four books for this week. Hoping for some good things. I am interested in seeing what Williams does with YA, as I have read and enjoyed her NA books. Early buzz on If Birds Fly Back is really good, so hoping it wins my heart too. I am really enjoying all these #OwnVoices books that I have been reading lately, and I hope The Authentics continues this streak for me. And a week of reading is not complete without a sports romance, as far as I am concerned. I have enjoyed the previous books in this series by Doyle, and know Called Out will most likely satisfy my sports romance need.

• If Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak
• Called Out by Jen Doyle
• The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian
• Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 15, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

This weekend was the culmination of the past four years, and I really enjoyed my daughter's graduation. It was so different from my own. They marched onto the field to live music played by the Brazilian Ensemble, which was so much more festive than Pomp and Circumstance. I went to my state's flagship school, and there were almost as many total graduates at my daughter's ceremony as there were in just the electrical engineering department at mine. Her's was so much more intimate and personal, and I enjoyed it throughly. Below, is a picture of her cap with a quote from ACOMAF and the last stack of books she got for me.

Back to the reading, no bad reads last week, but I was a little disappointed with Wayfarer. I loved when Etta and Nicholas were together, and they spent the majority of this book separated. They had great, separate adventures, but it was not the same for me. One surprise read was Dairy Queen. I had seen it on someone's Top Ten Tuesday as an example of sports done right. They had it on Overdrive, so I checked it out. It was utterly adorable (pun intended) and delightful. I really enjoyed the look at the life of a farming family, and thought DJ was hilarious.

• Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - ★★★ 1/2
• Making a Play by Victoria Denault - ★★★ 1/2
• Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock - ★★★★
• The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone - ★★★ 1/2
• 16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick - ★★★
• That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim - ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

Right now, I am reading Liberty and listening to the second Dairy Queen book, The Off Season. DJ, I am glad to report, is still bringing smiles to my face.

•  Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind of) Liked Me by Andrea Portes
• The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

What I Plan to Read

I have a few anticipated reads lined up for the week. Making it Right is the final book in the Most Likely To series, and I think it's going to be the best story yet, as this character is the most complicated of the three the series follows. I had requested Be True to Me, because Griffin knocked my socks off with The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone. Her new book is set during the bicentennial summer, and I have some vague, but fond memories of our celebratory block party that year. Visions of bike decorating, playing in the fire hydrant, and wearing the bicentennial quarter on a ribbon around my neck are flashing through my mind, and I am eager to revisit that time period with Griffin. I requested my final read, Amish Guys Don't Call, on a whim, because it sounds like a like of fun.

• Making it Right by Catherine Bybee
• Be True to Me by Adele Griffin
• Amish Guys Don't Call by Debby Dodds
• More of Me by Kathryn Evans

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 8, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

I didn't read as many books as I expected, since ACOWAR was such a beast, but I did enjoy my reading greatly. Julie James delivered, as always, with great characters, a fun story, and even P&P references. I was pleased with the direction that SJM took the story in ACOWAR. The battle portion resulted in many tears for me, but I still did not feel that the book had the impact of ACOMAF. ACOWAR was a solid addition to the series, but it was following such a strong book. Saints and Misfits was a fabulous #OwnVoices debut from SK Ali, which had a lot of really meaningful messages.

In other news, I finally completed my Reading Challenges page. Sure, it took me five months, but it's done!

• Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James - ★★★★
• Follow Me Back by AV Geiger - ★★★★
• Boomerang by Noelle August - ★★★
• A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - ★★★★
• Saints and Misfits by SK Ali - ★★★★
• Everything All at Once by Katrina Leo - ★★★★ 1/2

What I Am Currently Reading

I have been wanting to read a Samantha Young book for a long time, and I am really enjoying this NA second chance love story. I am also finally finishing the Passenger duology. I read the first one back in July of 2015. That means I read the BEA ARC, which underwent many changes before publication. I am hoping the I can still follow the story.

• Audiobook: Into the Deep by Samantha Young
• Book: Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken

What I Plan to Read

I know, it looks like I am slacking on my reading this week, but I have a very good excuse. On Friday, I must make my last trip to Syracuse to attend my darling daughter's graduation and move 4 years of her life back home. I am anticipating a jam packed 4 days, thus, a huge reduction in my reading time, but it will be worth it.

So, I believe the universe wants me to read The Unlikelies, because like Daughter of the Pirate King and Spellbook for the Lost and Found, I received a physical copy the very same day I was approved for a DRC. I don't know, three times seems meaningful.

• The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone
• That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim
• 16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

This week, I added 2 books to my favorites shelf: Spellbook of the Lost and Found and Words in Deep Blue. Fowley-Doyle delivered magical story in Spellbook. It was all there again, the captivating story, the beautiful writing, the complex characters. She has earned her place on my auto-buy list. Words in Deep Blue is my first Crowley novel, and I now want to read everything she has written. This was such a beautiful story of a girl working through her grief. It was filled with love and hope and banter and books! A second hand bookshop one of the auxiliary characters in this story, and there are tons of bookish discussions. I loved every second of it.

• Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney - ★★★
• Hope Flames by Jaci Burton - ★★★
• Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle - ★★★★★
• Perennials: A Novel by Mandy Berman - ★★★
• Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley - ★★★★★
• Rush by Shae Ross - ★★★ 1/2

What I Am Currently Reading

My current audiobook is another Julie James. She can write books about lawyers and FBI agents, and I will read/listen to every one. I am reading Follow Me Back, which is a mystery told through tweets, DMs, and police transcripts. I always find stories told in multiple formats entertaining, but I just started this book, so I don't have much to say yet.

• Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger
• Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

What I Plan to Read

I planned less books this week, because ACOWAR comes out Tuesday, and it has quite a few pages, but I am SO EXCITED to read it. I am also looking forward to reading Everything All at Once, as early reviews are very positive, and also stoked to read Saints and Misfits. I am reading Saints for my Diverse Reads Challenge, as I am challenged to read a book with religious diversity. This one caught my eye, because it was blurbed as a novel "that feels like a modern day My So-Called Life…starring a Muslim teen." I'm in!

• A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
• Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno
• Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

Last week was a total contemporary bonanza! I started off with two amazing books: A Million Junes and Eliza and Her Monsters. Loved them! And the week continued to be strong packed with solid reads.

• A Million Junes by Emily Henry - ★★★★★
• Stand-Off by Andrew Smith - ★★★ 1/2
• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia - ★★★★ 1/2
• 180 Seconds by Jessica Park - ★★★★
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo - ★★★★
• Songs About a Girl by Chris Russell - ★★★★
• Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen - ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

I am listening to Hope Flames, and I am somewhat acquainted with the town from the novella, which was fun, so I sort of expect more of the same from this one. I am reading Romancing the Throne, which sounds like it could be fun, but the reviews are all over the place. I am just keeping an open mind with this one.

• Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney
• Hope Flames by Jaci Burton

What I Plan to Read

I just could not wait any longer! I am reading Spellbook before a bunch of books that will be published earlier than it, but I am just an eager beaver. I am also pretty amped to read Words in Deep Blue, as I keep seeing raves for it. Since I am doing an admirable job knocking out my ARCs, I randomly selected one of my sports romances for this week, because I just love those sports romances. They are my guilty pleasure.

• Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
• Perennials: A Novel by Mandy Berman 
• Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
• Rush by Shae Ross

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus.

This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.

What I Read Last Week

I had a decent reading week. No 5-star reads, but plenty of good, solid books. I was quite delighted by Duels and Deception, and it was my favorite of the week. Keepsake is the last book in the True North series, and it was another solid addition to a series that has surprised me. Who knew I would love all these damaged heroes so much?

Is it me, or does there seem to be so many books that have social media outraged? Ramona Blue appears to have been a victim of the 1 star reviews due to one of its plot points, that was reveal in the original blurb. It's kind of a shame, because for me, it was story with this positive message about not putting yourself in a box and living beyond the labels. That you can grow and change and that your future is not predetermined. The main character's sexually is just one of the things about herself that she begins to question, but it's become the focus. -- sigh --

• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - ★★★ 1/2
• Deacon Locke Went to Prom by Brian Katcher- ★★★ 1/2
• Ever After by Jude Deveraux - ★★★ 1/2
• Duels and Deception by Cindy Anstey - ★★★★
• Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy - ★★★★
• Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson - ★★★★
• Keepsake by Sarina Bowen - ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

I am listening to Stand-Off for my Monthly Motif Reading Challenge. For April, the book must have won a literary award or be written by an author who has been recognized by the bookish community. I selected this book, because I read and loved the first book (Winger) and Andrew Smith is a Printz Award winner. I am super excited about my reading selection: A Million Junes. Emily Henry debut, The Love That Split the World was one of my favorite 2015 reads, therefore, I was so excited when I was able to get an early copy of AMJ via the First to Read program. I am about one third into this book, and it is beautiful and magical. *heart-eyes*

• Reading: A Million Junes by Emily Henry
• Listening to: Stand-Off by Andrew Smith

What I Plan to Read

Of my reads this week, I am most excited for Eliza and Her Monsters. Once again, I was fortunate enough to get approved for one of my WOWs. I swear! I squeed out loud when I saw my approval notice.

• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
• Songs About a Girl by Chris Russell 
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
• 180 Seconds by Jessica Park

What are you reading?

Let us know in the comments!