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!

Review: I Believe in a Thing Called Love - Maurene Goo

I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Maurene Goo
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.

Desi Lee has enjoyed many successes. She was school president and valedictorian, she achieved a perfect SAT score, and knew her way around an automotive engine, but Desi has not been lucky in love. In fact, her flirting attempts were so destined to fail, they were referred to as "flailures" ("flirt + failure = flailure"). Desi believe that she could succeed if only she had a step by step guide to getting the guy, and then inspiration came in the form of K-drama.

"MOTHER OF DRAGONS, THIS IS MY FIRST REAL KISS."

Desi was such a fun character. I loved her focus and drive, but I also loved what a hot mess she was when it came to romance. Some of her "flailures" were hilarious. Although I had my reservations with many of these 24 steps, I was still rooting for Desi to get the boy, because she was so sweet and endearing. This was a girl, who strived for perfection, because she never wanted to make her father worry, and at times, put his needs above her own.

"I was literally having a K drama romance-montage moment."

Speaking of Desi's dad, he was fabulous! Desi recounts those first years after her mother's death and how difficult they were, but it only made her and her father grow closer, and they had the type of relationship that would make anyone jealous. Her dad was so precious. His love for both Korean dramas and his daughter were unparalleled, and the interactions between these two were so sweet. I adored every second they spent together on the page.

"You cannot control who you love, Desi, but you can always control how hard you fight, okay?"

I also loved Desi's two best friends, Wes and Fiona. Each brought a little something special to the story, but mostly, they were Desi's biggest supporters and fans. This K-drama plan involved some real scheming, and only the best sort of friends would support that kind of crazy.

"You know that feeling when it's been a crappy overcast day and then suddenly the sun peeks out, right into your face? That's what Luca's smile was like. Like it was beaming straight from outer space and onto my face specifically."

And that leaves Luca and the romance. This was so cute, sweet, adorable, and swoony. Once the K-drama steps were out of the way, we really got to see Luca and Desi honestly interact, and it was wonderful. He was an artist, who was very deep and empathetic. He was the calm to her storm and grounded her. I really enjoyed these two together. But, this was a symbiotic relationship, and both saw improvements in different areas of their life due to the other.

"Finding your self fitting into the negative space of someone else's body perfectly."

And other contemporaries, please take note: this is how you do an epilogue. Lately, my contemporary reads have left me a little wanting at the end, due to the lack of a definitive ending. The stories ended, but the authors did not commit to any solid resolution, however Goo did. So, thank you Maurene Goo for the lovely epilogue. It gave me the closure I needed and wanted.

Overall: This book has a lot to offer. It's a fun rom-com with a lot of heart, made richer by a diverse cast and enough k-drama to serve as a homage to the k-drama fans or an introduction to those k-drama newbie.

**I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.

Have you watched any K dramas?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Songs About a Girl - Chris Russell

Songs About a Girl
Chris Russell
Series: Songs About a Girl, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance.

Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mind-blowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs...

Charlie Bloom was not your typical teen. Therefore, when she was contacted by a member of the current-hottest-boy band to photograph them for their fan site, she declined. Due to interference from her technologically savvy best friend, she found herself a reluctant part of the Fire&Lights world. With each concert, she found herself more attached to each member of the band, but there was something different about her attachment to Gabriel, the brooding bad boy of the band. As they got to know each other, they found they had a connection, and this connection was a lot more meaningful than they initially anticipated.

This is a debut, so I really didn't know what to expect, but you know me, I love a contemporary romance. That coupled with a boy band sold me on reading the story, but this was not simply a contemporary romance. It was made a little more interesting with this thread of mystery, which was woven into the story.

I really like Charlie. She was this ordinary girl, who was thrust into an extraordinary situation. She was quite unprepared for all the negative and positive things that resulted from her work with Fire&Lights, and I found her reactions quite honest and authentic. She was nursing wounds that ran quite deep too. Her mother was dead, her father was somewhat disconnected, she was bullied at school and online. All these difficulties could get a girl down, yet, Charlie kept going. I attribute some of that to her support system next door - her best friend, Melissa, and Melissa's mom, Rosie, but also to her fortitude of character. **Side note: Melissa was a hilarious fangirl of epic proportions, and made me laugh almost every time she opened her mouth. Example:

"It's impossible to be sad when you're eating marshmallows. That's a scientific fact."

I really enjoyed being back stage with the band. They charmed the pants off of me. Russell captured the boyish camaraderie perfectly, and their antics were quite fun to read about. Another thing I loved was that he made the characters so age appropriate. Charlie is 15-years-old at the book's onset, and the band members are all around 18, so their behaviors and reactions really fell in line with normal teens of similar age.

"'Carla's famous. She's on TV. Me, I'm just...'
Gabriel looked at me, amber light shining in his eyes.
'Charlie, trust me. You're not just anything.'"

When Charlie and Gabe met, there was this pull, they were drawn to each other. They keep talking about a connection, and as they started to break down each other's wall, they learn that there is indeed a reason for this connection. This little mystery is present throughout most of the story, and I thought I knew where is was going, and I was really wrong. Then, I thought I knew where it was going again, and I was wrong again. And then with the cliffhanger, I thought I had it figured out, but I will be unable to confirm until the next book.

This book is so much more than a contemporary romance. It explores ideas about friendship, family, aspirations, the impact of online media, bullying, love, and loss.

**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.

Do you have a favorite boy band?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Eliza and Her Monsters -Francesca Zappia

Eliza and Her Monsters
Francesca Zappia
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Eliza is an introvert, who leads a double life. To most, she is Eliza Mirk, the odd girl with no friends, who doesn't talk to anyone. Her clothing is chosen in order to camouflage her from the world, and to help her shrink into herself and be as invisible as possible. Underneath all that is LadyConstellation. Her online persona is the creator of one of the most popular webcomics, Monstrous Sea, which spawned a fierce and loyal fandom. Online, she has many fans, and even a few good friends. Online, she can express herself and without revealing too much. Enter Wallace Warland, one of the most popular Monstrous Sea fanfic writers in the fandom. Eliza had worked so hard to keep her online world separate from her everyday, and worries that the wall between the two may come tumbling down, destroying them both.

This book was such a joy to read, and I related to the story and Eliza on so many levels.

Eliza and teenaged me shared a lot of traits. We were both introverts with some level of anxiety disorder, who were drawn to more quiet pursuits as our egregious families looked on in horror. I did not have the internet to fill that social hole when I was a kid, but I do appreciate the outlet it provides for many people. I love that Zappia challenged the ideas regarding online friendships, and showed in multiple ways, that online friends can be real friends.

Zappia really captured the thrill of the fandom, of bonding over a common interest. I have never quite reached THAT level of obsession with any of my interests, it's just not in my personality, but I understand how a common love can bring people together. Just commenting on reviews or posting in forums with people, who love the same books as me, leaves me with a titillation that is just as strong as when I go to a con and chat up someone as I wait on a line. In this book, the shared love of Monstrous Sea is a pathway, which allowed Eliza to make a new friend and broaden her world. It actually opened up a slew of new experiences for her.

Although Zappia did paint a rather positive picture of online life, she also showed that one cannot only live a virtual life. Eliza grew a lot as a person throughout this story. She was a different person at the end, and her life was enriched by the new friendships she forged offline. Not only were new relationships formed, she also worked to strengthen and improve her existing relationships.

"Broken people don't hide from their monsters. Broken people let themselves be eaten."

Eliza was slightly broken, and she knew she was broken. I was really proud of her for all the positive steps she took to become more whole. She put a few cracks in her walls, and opened herself up to new people. She reached out to her family, and tried to show them how much she loved them.  She sought professional help when necessary, and she stepped back from things she loved, when she saw they were destroying her.

"I think that's why they call it a breakthrough. It cracks you open and lets light in."

Eliza had a wonderful, but flawed family. They didn't quite understand her, or at least she didn't think they all did, but there was so much love. They tried, and they made mistakes, but they never stopped trying, and some of them surprised me. Sometimes your punk preteen brothers can be one of your biggest supporters. Zappia did such a lovely job exploring the family dynamic, and I couldn't have asked for a better family for Eliza.

And now for my favorite part of any story: the romance. This was a slow burn, and it was so sweet. My thoughts on Wallace were all heart-eyes, and then, I grew very angry with him, when he was sort of being a selfish twit, but then I forgave him and he wormed his way back into my heart. Seriously, he was the words to her pictures!!! What more can you ask for in a relationship?!

This book was fun, but had a lot of depth. It touched on some pretty hefty topics: PTSD, depression, suicide, anxiety, but it was tempered with lots of love, friendship, romance, fanfic, and lovely illustrations.

This book was near perfect for me. I loved the story, the characters, the story within the story, and it gave me many feels. I am struggling to properly express my love and affection, but believe me, there is so much of both for this book. Zappia has earned a place on my go-to author list with this book.

**I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.

Are you artistic ?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Dark Breaks the Dawn - Sara B. Larson

Dark Breaks the Dawn
Sara B. Larson
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

At the time of her 18th birthday, the Light kingdom has been at war with the Dark kingdom for over 10 years. As she just gains access to her powers, Princess Evelayn is charged with restoring balance to this land, but will she be able to master her powers in time?

I was so excited that Sara B. Larson was writing another series. I was a HUGE Defy fan, and was not disappointed with her new novel. Once again, Larson gave us strong female lead in Evelayn, but under the surface was a young woman, who was struggling with the responsibilities that were thrust upon her before she was ready. Evelayn had just come into her powers, and had yet to master them, but now she was charged with saving her kingdom! That in and of itself was quite stressful, but then she was weighed down with being the last of her line, and was being pressured to marry and produce an heir as soon as possible. I don't know about you, but my head would be spinning, and Larson did an admirable job relaying those feelings to the reader. The stress, the worry, the panic; I really shared in all Evelayn's emotions, and really wanted her to succeed.

"And she had already been forced to become a queen, to shoulder the burden of a war, to learn to wield her power all at once...."

I found the world and its magical elements quite thrilling. The way they could smell emotions, and use light as a weapon. The way the royals could shift into animal forms, and even the rules associated with how the power was passed from generation to generation was quite intriguing. It was presented in small chunks, so as to avoid info dumps, and I thought Larson painted a vivid picture for me.

"Light and Dark Draiolon had been gifted their powers to bring day and night, summer and winter, to the world - to work together to create a perfect harmony."

The story is filled with many interesting characters, but I immediately fell for the high lord, Tanvir. I knew he was special from that first meeting between him and Evelayn, and my love for him just grew and grew from there. I was shipping those two from the start, and even though what happened happened, I still believe in this ship. After all, this is a fantasy, anything is possible.

"You're stubborn and headstrong, but you're also so determined...so brave. I want to throttle you and kiss you -- all at once."

The story moved along briskly, once the major plan to save the kingdom was hatched. There was plenty of action and harrowing situations to put me on edge, but that ending! There are two ways books in a series can end. The author can either close a story arc and open another OR they can leave you with a broken heart and a cliffhanger. Larson opted for the latter. I definitely shed a few tears there, and I do understand her choice, as this is only planned as a duology, but my heart! My aching heart!

One of my new favorite things is to read the afterword when I finish a book. That is where I learned about how this story was inspired by Swan Lake, and is sort of the prequel to that story. I have seen parts of this ballet performed, but didn't really know the story. What I have learned is that, there was a prince, who was hunting. He was going to kill this swan, but then she transformed into a human princess. The princess was under the spell of an evil sorcerer, and could only be saved by a prince, who would vow a lifetime of fidelity to her. I can easily spot the threads of Swan Lake woven into this tale, and appreciate Larson's interpretation.

Overall: A fast-paced journey into a new and lush world, ending in a somewhat heartbreaking cliffhanger, which left me wanting for the next book.

**I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.

Have you seen Swan Lake ?

Let us know in the comments!