Stuffed Animal Saturday: Ringer - Lauren Oliver

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and fat Yeti are reading Ringer by Lauren Oliver!

So Far: I started with Gemma's story, and it begins shortly after their return from Haven. Gemma and Pete are still together, but she is constantly pre-occupied with what happened at Haven and what she is. When Gemma and Pete overhear her father's plans to have Caelum and Lyra killed, they rush to Tennessee in an attempt to warn them. However, once there, Pete and Gemma are taken hostage, most likely because they are mistaken for Caelum and Lyra. We are learning a lot more about Gemma's dad. He seems cold and calculated, but then he has this sort of soft spot for Gemma. Not sure what to make of him yet, but I do think he leans toward the evil side of things. 

Sneak peek: 

"Your daughter," he said, and Gemma's blood turned cold and heavy. "She was made at Haven. One of the first."

"She was born there, yes," Geoff said, and Gemma heard the importance of the correction - born, not made. But did it matter? Made, spliced, implanted - she might as well have been a fast-growing variety of bean sprout.
Fortune coughed. "You ever wonder what makes the difference?" When Geoff said nothing, he went on, "You want to put the replicas to good use, and I'm with you. But what makes them any different from your girl?"

"What do you think makes them different?" Geoff's voice had turned cold. "Someone wanted her."

Someone. Gemma noticed that he did not say I.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC I received via Edelweiss and at BookExpo!

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: A Short History of the Girl Next Door - Jared Reck

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Val the Lovebug are reading A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck!

So Far:

The unrequited love of the girl next door is the centerpiece of this fiercely funny, yet heart-breaking debut novel.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Wainwright is in turmoil. He can’t tell his lifelong best friend, Tabby, how he really feels about her; his promising basketball skills are being overshadowed by his attitude on the court, and the only place he feels normal is in English class, where he can express his inner thoughts in quirky poems and essays. Matt is desperately hoping that Tabby will reciprocate his feelings; but then Tabby starts dating Liam Branson, senior basketball star and all-around great guy. Losing Tabby to Branson is bad enough; but, as Matt soon discovers, he’s close to losing everything that matters most to him.

Humorous and heart-wrenching, A Short History of the Girl Next Door is perfect for readers who fell in love with All the Bright Places' Finch or Stargirl’s Leo.

Sneak peek:

The first few chapters of the book really shows us the narrator, Matt Wainwright, is, so Val wanted to share that! However, in all honesty, we're almost finished with the book and the writing goes uphill from the first few chapters. 

Background: Matt's mom has just made him and his little brother Murray matching bald eagle costumes to wear trick or treating. Matt is a brooding teenage boy so he doesn't want to wear it out. We like this exchange because it aims to show Matt outside of his crush on Tabby.

From the Chapter: "Eagles Do Not Enjoy Twizzlers or the Company of Trolls"

"Mom and I don't do this often. We both tend to try to diffuse the tension with humor -- sometimes inappropriate-- but that doesn't always work when you're the cause of each other's tension.

Twenty minutes later, Mom comes back in the living room and sits down next to me on the couch. We stare at SportsCenter in silence, neither of us really watching. The tension from our little episode is gone, but my stomach still churns at the thought of knocking on every door in the neighborhood in full mama-bald-eagle regalia. I know no one in the bigger picture really cares what some fifteen-year-old kid is wearing to take his little brother trick-or-treating but that doesn't mean I can just rollwith looking like an idiot when inevitably some hot high school girl answers the door to hand out candy between make-out sessions with her texting boyfriend.

"Dude, nice pants."
"Ha yeah, thanks, they're supposed to be bird legs."
"No, yeah, I see. Love the yellow. They girl's?"
"No, no, pretty sure they're just old skater jeans....Not mine...My mom bought them...uh..."
"Yeah. Here's a Twizzler. Have fun trick-or-treating, douche."

Val and I really enjoyed this tid bit because eventually, Matt agrees to go trick-or-treating upon seeing how excited his little brother was and later sees the girl of his dreams in the outfit. We liked this chapter because, so often in YA romances from the male perspective, I find that the guy has no real supporting characters outside of guy friends -- having his family play a big part in his life is really cool and important to the plot too!

A Short History of a Girl Next Door comes out September 2017, so make sure to check back here for a review!

Thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers for the ARC I received at BookExpo!

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Brooding YA Hero - Carrie DiRisio

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Sloth are reading Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me by Carrie DiRisio and illustrated by Linnea Gear!

So Far: Sloth is really digging Broody McHottiepants and his tips from the book (I fear that soon Sloth will be going by Slothy McBroodysloth - I mean, he's already got the pose down in the photo). Broody's humor thus far is really funny, playing with the idea of YA tropes.

Sneak peek: The prologue of the book really gives a sense of who Broody McHottiepants is, so we'll share part of that from the ARC (quote may differ from final version).

Alone in his room, Broody McHottiepants contemplated his future. He was the best of all fictional characters ever created - that he knew. His phone never stopped ringing (playing his theme song, from his latest hit movie-adaptation, of course) with Authors begging him to star in their latest novels. An endlessly talented man, he'd been everything from a vampire to a quarterback. Into each novel, he brought his incredibly adjective-filled beauty, his gemstone-colored gaze, his strong, strong arms, and his potent blend of wish fulfillment and slightly toxic masculinity.

And each time, people swooned.

Everyone loved him. He'd recently opened a Twitter account, and there, loyal fans waited for him to speak his beautiful, vivid, wondrous wisdom. As the hero of so many stories, he was uniquely qualified to share the brilliant advice everyone adored.

Sure, he'd had movie and TV deals, too. Even comic books. He'd overthrown evil dystopian governments, won the state championship in sportsball, and always, always found true love.

And yet, something wasn't right. Not today. It wasn't a usual day in New Story City, the place where all character archetypes, from the wisest, old mentors to the youngest, annoying-est siblings, waited for Authors to draft them into new stories.

Most mornings, Broody woke to a summons from an Author. Depending on the type of story, it might arrive by text message, or by carrier-pigeon. Reality shifted easily in New Story City.

But it had been two weeks, and still no Author had contacted him. 

Bonus: Sloth really liked this quote about how Broody stays in shape, so he wanted me to share that as well - Sloth has already added it to his new workout regiment and suggests you do the same.

My workout routine includes eyebrow lifts (for maximum quirking potential), leaping over plot holes, high-jumping to conclusions, bench-pressing my emotions to make them easier to suppress, and climbing up cliffs I've been left hanging on.

Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me hits shelves on October 3rd, so make sure to add it to your TBR and check back here for a review around then!

Thanks to Sky Pony Press for the ARC I received at BookExpo!

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Perennials: A Novel - Many Berman

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, the CPK and I are reading Perennials: A Novel by Mandy Berman .

Blurb from Goodreads: 

The quintessential summer read: a sharp, poignant coming-of-age novel about the magic of camp and the enduring power of female friendship, for readers of Stephanie Danler, Anton DiSclafani, Jennifer Close, and Curtis Sittenfeld

At what point does childhood end and adulthood begin? Mandy Berman s evocative debut novel captures, through the lens of summer camp, a place that only appears to be untouched by the passing of time, both the thrills and pain of growing up.

Rachel Rivkin and Fiona Larkin used to treasure their summers together as campers at Camp Marigold. Now, reunited as counselors after their first year of college, their relationship is more complicated. Rebellious Rachel, a street-smart city kid raised by a single mother, has been losing patience with her best friend s insecurities; Fiona, the middle child of a not-so-perfect suburban family, envies Rachel s popularity with their campers and fellow counselors. For the first time, the two friends start keeping secrets from each other. Through them, as well as from the perspectives of their fellow counselors, campers, and families, we witness the tensions of the turbulent summer build to a tragic event, which forces Rachel and Fiona to confront their pasts and the adults they re becoming.

A seductive blast of nostalgia, a striking portrait of adolescent longing, and a tribute to both the complicated nature and the enduring power of female friendship, Perennials will speak to everyone who still remembers that bittersweet moment when innocence is lost forever.

A post shared by Sam Kozbial (@kozbisa) on Apr 29, 2017 at 1:21am PDT

So far:

This book sort of has the feel of The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, which I loved. It is an interesting character study, which focuses on Rachel and Fiona, two people from very different circumstances, who wouldn't be friends had they not attended camp together. The early part of the book gives us a look into their last summer as campers. Then, the story jumps ahead six years, when the girls are back at Camp Marigold as counselors. I am already starting to see how their relationship has changed, and how both Rachel and Fiona have taken divergent paths. Berman is also spending quite a bit of time of some peripheral characters. I am not sure why she is, at this time, but I am interested enough to keep reading.

Are you and your stuffed animal 
reading anything interesting? 

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Stuffed Animal Saturday: Aftermath - Clara Kensie

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Gwen and I are reading Aftermath by Clara Kensie.

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Charlotte survived four long years as a prisoner in the attic of her kidnapper, sustained only by dreams of her loving family. The chance to escape suddenly arrives, and Charlotte fights her way to freedom. But an answered prayer turns into heartbreak. Losing her has torn her family apart. Her parents have divorced: Dad's a glutton for fame, Mom drinks too much, and Charlotte's twin is a zoned-out druggie. Her father wants Charlotte write a book and go on a lecture tour, and her mom wants to keep her safe, a virtual prisoner in her own home. But Charlotte is obsessed with the other girl who was kidnapped, who never got a second chance at life--the girl who nobody but Charlotte believes really existed. Until she can get justice for that girl, even if she has to do it on her own, whatever the danger, Charlotte will never be free.

So far:

I haven't even really made a dent in this, and already there are tears. The book starts with Charlotte imprisoned, caged like an animal. She had been left for several days, and Kensie really does a great job narrating her situation, from the awful physical conditions to how she arrived there. My heart broke continuously as Charlotte summoned memories of her twin sister and their plans and dreams. But the real tears started to flow when Charlotte was found. This is where the real story begins.

I am experiencing many of the feels I had when I read Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu. The stories are similar, as they both look at life after the victim is freed, but that is where it ends. Digging in my heels for more of this emotional read.

Are you and your stuffed animal 
reading anything interesting? 

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Stuffed Animal Saturday: #scandal - Sarah Ockler

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Helga and I are reading #scandal by Sarah Ockler .

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

So far:

I just finished my last book right before I went to sleep, so I am only on page one of this book. Therefore, not much to say yet. I will mention why I am reading this book, though. I am a big fan of Ocular's work. So far, I have read three of her books, and they were 4 and 5 star reads for me. Ocular is another contemporary writer, who I can depend upon to deliver the type of story I will like. I was excited to see #scandal was one of the free reads on Riveted, and that pretty much solidified my decision to read this book.

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Alex, Approximately - Jenn Bennett

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

We have been cleaning up around here lately in preparation for a move, and I found this box filled with these little amigurumi. I used to love to crochet these odd little dolls, but alas, my carpal tunnel has stolen that from me. Anyhow, piggy was one of my creations and this Saturday, piggy and I are reading Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett .


Blurb from Goodreads: 
In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

It's #stuffedanimalsaturday at @wlabb. I used to love to crochet quirky amigurumi and piggy was one I made about 10 years ago when my daughter was very emo and loved Glamour Kills a whole bunch. Anyhoo, piggy and I are reading #alexapproximately by @j3nn_benn. So far, I have found a soul mate in Bailey, as we share a talent for avoidance, and this book is hitting the super cute sweet spot for me. What are you reading? #amreading , #bookblogger, #simonteen, #YA

A post shared by Sam Kozbial (@kozbisa) on Mar 11, 2017 at 5:54am PST

So far:

Bailey has been sharing her love of old films online with "Alex" for about a year, when he strongly encourages her to come West for a beach viewing of North by Northwest. This is not a wholly irrational request, as Bailey's dad lives in the same Cali town as her online "film-buff soul mate". As any intelligent person would, Bailey has kept some identifying details of her life secret from Alex. One big thing he doesn't know is that she moved across the country to live with her father, and is now residing in Alex's hometown. She is worried that Alex IRL is not the same as Alex online, so she is on a quest to find him before the North by Northwest viewing event.

I already love Bailey. There is just something about her personality and her voice that is perfect for me. There is also the whole evader thing that we share. I, too, abhor confrontation and love old films. Other things I like:

• I like how every chapter wraps with part of an online chat between @mink (Bailey) and @alex. It's a little bit of a contrast to her real life persona, and can be quite revealing with respect to the story. 
• Each chapter also ends with a film quote. So far, they have all been excellent choices. 
• I am loving all the movie references in general. I love old films. AMC and TCM are two of my favorite cable stations, and if you have not seen any of the films mentioned, you may consider watching them, as they are excellent. 

I should finish this book today, and keep an eye out for my review closer to the book's April 4th release date. 

Are you and your stuffed 
animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own 
Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You - Ally Carter

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Pretty Princess and I are reading I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.


Blurb from Goodreads: 
Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

A photo posted by Sam Kozbial (@kozbisa) on Feb 11, 2017 at 3:46am PST

So far:

This month's #MonthlyMotif challenge was to read a book involving spies, detectives, PIs, or a character in disguise. I have to say, it took me a while to find a book we had that fit the bill. I decided on this Gallager Girl book, because we have a bunch of Ally Carter books, and I have been meaning to get to them. *Averts eyes in shame*

So far, I am pleased with my choice. I may have mentioned this before, but I read for escape. I love light and fluffy books without too much drama, and this one is giving me just that. It's a very sweet first romance type book with the added twist of the heroine being a genius spy in training. The concept is fun, and Carter does a great job presenting life as a Gallagher Girl. I find it quite amusing, when Cammie's train of thought seems like any average teenaged girl, but then the next comment shows her spy entrenched side.

Currently, her two sides are warring with each other, as she wrestles with where her loyalties reside. The boy or the Gallagher Girls?! It's a struggle and has just the right amount of drama I am in the mood for today.

Are you and your 
stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own 
Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: The Rose & the Dagger - Renee Ahdieh

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Moana and I are reading The Rose & the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh!

So like, I know this is Stuffed Animal Saturday and Moana is cute and all but is decidedly not a stuffed animal but like...by the time I got around to taking this photo, I was already on my bed, which had no stuffed animals on it, and 0% of me wanted to go back down my ladder and retrieve one so...gotta do the best you can with what ya got, right????

So far: I actually have not started yet! I just ordered the book a few days ago (probably putting off a paper or something smh) and it arrived in the mail yesterday (along with two poetry books, which I read first since they were shorter, but that's neither here nor there). I'll probably start after this weekend -- gotta catch up on the school readings, ya know -- but I have high expectations because I absolutely fell in love with the first book (review here) and I know I say this all the freaking time but the second book is always the strongest (or like...90% of the time)!!!

Sneak peek: Like I mentioned, I haven't started so I don't know the juicy bits yet, but have the blurb -- straight from Goodreads.

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars. 

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever. 

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive. 

 I fully expect to devour this within hours like I did its predecessor and then cry for ten years about how there are only two books.

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday:Secrets of a Reluctant Princess

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Fat Panda and I are reading Secrets of a Reluctant Princess.

Blurb from Goodreads: 
At Beverly Hills High, you have to be ruthless to survive…

Adrianna Bottom always wanted to be liked. But this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. Now, she’s in the spotlight…and out of her geeky comfort zone. She’ll do whatever it takes to turn the rumor mill in her favor—even if it means keeping secrets. So far, it’s working.

Wear the right clothes. Say the right things. Be seen with the right people.

Kevin, the adorable sketch artist who shares her love of all things nerd, isn’t exactly the right people. But that doesn’t stop Adrianna from crushing on him. The only way she can spend time with him is in disguise, as Princess Andy, the masked girl he’s been LARPing with. If he found out who she really was, though, he’d hate her.

The rules have been set. The teams have their players. Game on.

So far:
When her father's success brings Adrianna to Beverly Hills, she sees it as a fresh start and is trying to avoid the mistakes that made her a target at her old school. With the help of her stylist, she falls in with a popular crowd at school, but she often has to suppress parts of herself, as she fears these parts would not be appreciated by her new friends. The bright spot in her week is when she dons her mask and goes LARPing as Princess Andy.

This story is really cute. I am totally in love with Kevin. The interactions between him and Adrianna are quite adorable. I am totally shipping these two. But if I had to pick one favorite thing about the book, I would say it is all the LARPing parts. I almost want to slip into a tunic, grab my boffer and get out there with them.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out for everybody in this book.

Look for my review on March 13th.

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Optimists Die First

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, Swanky Bubbles and I are reading Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen.

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Sixteen-year-old Petula de Wilde is anything but wild. A former crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula shut herself off from the world after a family tragedy. She sees danger in all the ordinary things, like crossing the street, a bug bite, or a germy handshake. She knows: life is out to get you.

The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class with a small group of fellow misfits. Then a new boy, Jacob, appears at school and in her therapy group. He seems so normal and confident, though he has a prosthetic arm; and soon he teams up with Petula on a hilarious project, gradually inspiring her to let go of some of her fears. But as the two grow closer, a hidden truth behind why he’s in the group could derail them, unless Petula takes a huge risk. 

So far:

I will not lie. I had no idea what this book was about before I started it. Kiersten brought it home, and the cover was compelling enough, so I thought I would give it a try. I am about half way through, and I must say, this book is wonderful.

Part of the blurb on the back cover, pretty much summed it up for me

One pessimist. One optimist. One love story. Award-winning author Susin Nielsen's irresistible novel is both heartrending and laugh-out-loud funny. 

There are these parts, where tears creep into my eyes, and then there are these other parts, where I just have to laugh. At this point, I am so invested in Petula's life. I want her family to heal. I want her to heal. I am just rooting for all to be well in her world again.

Swanky Bubbles is also really enjoying this book. He especially loved the part where Petula and Jacob make a short of Wuthering Heights starring cats.

Keep an eye out for my review in February.

Are you and your 
stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own 
Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Empire of Storms - Sarah J. Maas

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Coca-Cola are reading Empire of Storms - Sarah J. Maas!

So far: We have waited far too long to read Empire of Storms, so Coca-Cola urged me to make this my first new read of 2017! We've only read a few chapters so far, but it's really great to be back with these characters after a year.

Sneak peek: Since we have only read a little bit thus far, we decided to use the blurb for the sneak peek. Obviously, if you haven't read the rest of the series, the blurb below might contain spoilers.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

We've heard a few vague spoilers about the book, but we're blocking it out and trying to see for ourselves. Can't wait to see where this book goes!

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Furthermore - Tahereh Mafi

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Ralf are reading Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi!

So far: Ralf is really loving Furthermore so far! The way the story is written is really fun and whimsical - it's kind of reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth and Alice in Wonderland. Ralf loves how this kind of writing defies your expectation when it comes to a standard for the world or even a turn of phrase. It's very fun! Ralf also loves the whimsical chapter/section headings.

Sneak peek: Ralf thought the first page of Furthermore was particularly striking, so he insisted that be the sneak peek I included! (This is from the ARC, so it is subject to change in the finished copy.)

Once upon a time, a girl was born.     It was rather uneventful.     Her parents were happy enough, the mother glad to be done carrying it, and the father glad to be done with the mystery of it all. But then one day they realized that their baby, the one they'd named Alice, had no pigment at all. Her hair and skin were white as milk; her heart and soul as soft as silk. Her eyes alone had been spared a spot of color: only just clinging to the faintest shade of honey. It was the kind of child her world could not appreciate.     Ferenwood had been built on color. Bursts of it, swaths of it, depths and breadths of it. Its people were known to be the brightest - modeled after the planets, they'd said - and young Alice was deemed simply too dim, even though she knew she was not. Once upon a time, a girl was forgot.

We can't wait to see where this story goes!

- Kiersten

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, my sister's cat Annie and I are reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin!

This is Annie lounging around on her bungee chair on a hot summer day with a good book. She doesn't weigh enough to make it bounce but she likes the feel of it anyway.

So far: We just started yesterday and I think Annie might be a little further ahead because of her lazy lounging tendencies but I myself have only just finished chapter seven as I had a few other things to do. However, the beginning is pretty interesting and I really like her portrayal of Mara's PTSD (or is it ~something else~ ?????? 🤔 🤔) and can't wait to read more!

Sneak peek: Annie loves ouija boards so I'll share a scene from one of the first few pages where Mara Dyer and her two friends use one just for one, with her best friend asking "How am I going to die?"

The three of us watched the board. My calves pricked from kneeling on Rachel's carpet for so long, and the backs of my knees felt clammy. Nothing happened. 
Then something did. We looked at each other as the piece moved under our hands. It semi-circled the board, sailing past A through K, and crept past L. 
It settled on M. 
"Murder? Claire's voice was soaked with excitement. She was so sketchy. What did Rachel see in her?
The piece glided in the wrong direction. Away from U and R. 
Landing on A. 
Rachel looked confused. "Matches?"
"Mauling?" Claire asked. "Maybe you set a forest fire and get eaten by Smokey the Bear?" Rachel laughed, briefly dissolving the panic that had slithered into my stomach. When we first sat down to play, I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes at Claire's melodramatics. Now, not so much.
The piece zigzagged across the board, cutting her laughter short. 
R. 
We were silent. Our eyes didn't leave the board as the piece jerked back to the beginning. 
To A. 
Then stopped. 

I can't speak for Annie but personally, I love spooky books so I hope this one has some creepy twists!

- Noor

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Ghost Talkers - Mary Robinette Kowal

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and the Keros are reading Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal!

So far: We must admit that we haven't actually started Ghost Talkers yet - Kero and Kero have been busy guarding the book of Clowe and capturing escaped Clowe cards. They're hoping that they'll be off duty and able to read over the long weekend!

Sneak peek: Since we haven't started reading yet, here's the blurb:

Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Hartshorne, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force.

Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the Corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.

Ginger and her fellow mediums contribute a great deal to the war efforts, so long as they pass the information through appropriate channels. While Ben is away at the front, Ginger discovers the presence of a traitor. Without the presence of her fiance to validate her findings, the top brass thinks she's just imagining things. Even worse, it is clear that the Spirit Corps is now being directly targeted by the German war effort. Left to her own devices, Ginger has to find out how the Germans are targeting the Spirit Corps and stop them. This is a difficult and dangerous task for a woman of that era, but this time both the spirit and the flesh are willing… 

Given their experience with the spiritual world, the Keros are excited to start Ghost Talkers this weekend!

- Kiersten

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday - Vanishing Girls - Lauren Oliver

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

Jeremy and I just started Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, after having it on our shelves forever and realizing we needed to step our game up and read it before Replica comes out this fall.

So far: So we technically started this book on Thursday, but by started I just mean "decided to read" because on Thursday I was on a post-Illuminae mourning period and only read a few pages and Friday I had a migraine all day and didn't read at all, and now it's Saturday. Jeremy read ahead a little while I was popping Excederin and he thinks, from what he's read, the writing is pretty strong and Lauren Oliver's unique style comes through pretty quickly, but he doesn't have an opinion on the story just yet.

Sneak peek: Partially because I don't have the book physically with me right this second (but, Noor, you have a photo of it, you say. But consider this: time is not real) and partially because I'm not that far in, I'm going to share the blurb off Goodreads.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident. 

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.  

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other. 

Jeremy and I can't wait to explore the mystery! If you have any thoughts on the book, let me know in the comments!

- Noor

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: And I Darken - Kiersten White

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Grumpy Puff are reading And I Darken by (my name twin) Kiersten White!

So far: We're only 20 pages into And I Darken right now, but Grumpy Puff is really enjoying it! She likes how Lada has a tendency towards biting people. Grumpy Puff thinks they probably deserve it and much more misery. She can't wait to see Lada become even more vicious as the book continues.

Sneak peek: Speaking of biting, here's a passage where Lada bites someone. (It's from the ARC, so it may vary from the final copy!)

Lada stood as tall as her short, stocky legs allowed. "This is my home! I am the Order of the Dragon! I kill infidels!" 

One of the three men accompanying Vlad murmured something in Turkish. The nurse felt sweat breaking out on her face, her neck, her back. Would they kill a child for threatening them? Would her father allow it? Or would they simply kill her for being unable to control Lada? 

Vlad smiled indulgently at his daughter's display, then bowed his head at the three men. They returned the bow and swept out, acknowledging neither the nurse nor her disobedient charge. "How many infidels have you killed?" Vlad's voice, this time in the melodic romance language tones of Wallachian, was smooth and cold. 

"Hundreds." Lada pointed the knife at Radu, who hid his face against the nurse's shoulder. "I killed that one this morning." 

"And will you kill me now?" 

Lada hesitated, lowering her hand. She stared at her father, recognition seeping across her face like milk dropped in clear water. As quick as a snake, Vlad snatched the knife out of her hand, then grabbed her by the ankle and lifted her in the air. 

"And how," he said, her upside-down face level with his, "did you think you could kill someone bigger, stronger, and smarter than you?" 

"You cheated!" Lada's eyes burned with a look the nurse had come to dread. That look meant injury, destruction, or fire. Often all three. 

"I won. That is all that matters." 

With a scream, Lada twisted herself up and bit her father's hand.

And I Darken hits shelves June 28th, so look out for a review near the end of this month!

- Kiersten

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Sunday: Tell Me Three Things - Julie Buxbaum

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

Ok, so I got really excited last night about starting this book, and I thought to myself, "I should do a Stuffed Animal Saturday post tomorrow!" Cue me waking up and realizing it was actually Sunday. I blame spring break for my complete lack of awareness of time. Anyway, Sloth was really excited and still wanted to do the post, and how could I deny Sloth making his return to the blog for another week? I couldn't. And so here we are: Stuffed Animal Sunday!

First order of business is to introduce Sloth's new sloth friend! His name is French Fry, and he's a nice little sloth. French Fry isn't quite as adventurous as Sloth, but he still loves to read! This Sunday, we're reading Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum!

So far: Sloth and I got Tell Me Three Things at Yallfest a few months back. (I will eventually make a post about Yallfest. I promise.) Since things are slowing down for the school year, with spring break and all my show commitments coming to an end, we finally got a chance to dive into it! So far, Sloth and French Fry really like it! It's a good mix of heartfelt and light hearted, and we're excited to keep reading!

Sneak peek: Since I'm actually writing this after reading more than just the blurb, I could pick something from farther into the book; however, the very first paragraph is so compelling that I knew I wanted to use it for this post right from the beginning - after I got Sloth and French Fry's approval, of course.

Seven hundred and thirty-three days after my mom died, forty-five days after my dad eloped with a stranger he met on the Internet, thirty days after we then up and moved to California, and only seven days after starting as a junior at a brand-new school where I know approximately no one, an email arrives. Which would be weird, an anonymous letter just popping up like that in my in-box, signed with the bizarre alias Somebody Nobody, no less, except my life has become to unrecognizable lately that nothing feels shocking anymore. It took until now - seven hundred and thirty-three whole days in which I've felt the opposite of normal - for me to discover this one important life lesson: turns out you can grow immune to weird.

Tell Me Three Things comes out on April 5th, so look out for a review soon!

- Kiersten

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Illuminae - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, we're reading Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!

So far: Illuminae is a book told through a dossier (that's on my list of favorite words just so y'all know) of letters, diagrams, files, emails, etc. and tells the story of an invaded planet, a plague, two teenagers, and some other weird things.

I generally have a specific taste for sci-fi type books so I'm a lil wary about them and dossier might be my favorite word but it isn't my favorite storytelling method, which isn't to say I dislike it. However, Illuminae, the little I've read of it, has proven to be interesting and I hope it continues to be.

Sneak peek: We aren't too far in, but here's an excerpt we really liked!

Two minutes out there is about all it takes to teach you how little you know about everything. You're a speck of animated carbon and water with about seven centimeters of ballistics-grade ceramic between you and absolutely nothing. Ninety-three billion light-years of  ****ing nothing. No up. No down. No sky. No ground. Just endless dark shot through with tiny spears of sunlight older than you and your entire species stacked end to end. You want to feel small? Spend sixty seconds in a Cyclones cockpit, chum. Look out at the nothing and feel it looking back. Then you know exactly how much you add up to.

We hope there's more existential space talk, because we're always suckers for that. Illuminae comes out October 20th, so if you're interested, only a few more days!

- Noor

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!

Stuffed Animal Saturday: Financial Accounting 9th Edition, Jerry J. Weygandt, Donald E. Kieso, Paul D. Kimmel

Stuffed Animal Saturday is a meme that we post here at We Live and Breathe Books to showcase the book we're currently reading with one of our favorite stuffed animals and discuss our stuffed animal's opinion (well, it's really our opinion, but that's besides the point). We hope you enjoy our quirky feature as much as we enjoy writing it!

This Saturday, me and Hydrant are reading Financial Accounting, 9th Edition, by Weygandt, Kieso, and Kimmel. While this is not our typical genre of book, we decided to try it out.

So far: We're on chapter two, but its looking like we're going to be spending the whole semester reading the book. What we know from our reading so far: accounting is very very important and everyone uses it, or at least the finished numbers of it, in business. Which is what makes the world go round, so we're learning very important stuff. Seems really educational for a Young Adult blog, but hey, we're open to reading anything here at We Live and Breathe Books. I'm also reading some lovely pieces on coding java, power politics in the Soviet Union, and more!

Sneak peek: The following is an excerpt from the opening section ("What is Accounting?") of "Chapter 1: Accounting in Action."

What consistently ranks as one of the top career opportunities in business? What frequently rates among the most popular majors on campus? What was the undergraduate degree chosen by Nike founder Phil Knight, Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, former acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Thomas Pickard, and numerous members of Congress? Accounting.1 Why did these people choose accounting? They wanted to understand what was happening financially to their organizations. Accounting is the financial information system that provides these insights. In short, to understand your organization, you have to know the numbers.

Accounting consists of three basic activities—it identifies, records, and communicates the economic events of an organization to interested users. Let's take a closer look at these three activities.

In all seriousness, I've been insanely busy the last few weeks and I've read at most the few pages of an actual YA book (I know, what a sad life I live). But when things settle down, I'll be able to get my act together and start reading more YA, but for now, me and Hydrant are still reading my Financial Accounting book.

- Amrutha

Are you and your stuffed animal reading anything interesting? 

Let us know in your own Stuffed Animal Saturday!