Wednesday, November 30, 2016

November 2016 Wrap Up & Book Haul


*November Book Haul*

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern
Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray
The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer


*November Wrap Up*

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket*
The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
The Amateurs by Sara Shepard
Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli


While I didn't get to finish ALL the Harry Potter books like I had hoped to in November,
I did manage to read three of them, so I only have two to go in my Harry Potter rereadathon!
I also started listening to the *Series of Unfortunate Events* audiobooks this month,
mostly because the series coming out in January on Netflix, which I'm super excited for.
And, the books pretty neat.

I love ALL the books I added to my collection in November!
I can't wait to read them all, and I'm hoping to get to them soon.
(I know, I always say that.)

That's my Wrap Up & Book Haul for November!
What books did you read and add to your collection?


Waiting on Wednesday #260 - Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075662-our-dark-duet
Our Dark Duet
(Monsters of Verity #2)
by Victoria Schwab
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: June 13th 2017
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 9780062380883
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075662-our-dark-duet?ac=1&from_search=true

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Kate Harker is a girl who isn’t afraid of the dark. She’s a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human, no matter how much he once yearned for it. He’s a monster with a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She’ll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own.
(Goodreads)

Whoot! Super excited to get my hands on this book!
I read This Savage Song last year, and really enjoyed it.
It was the first book I've ever read by Victoria,
and I'm super curious to see what's going to happen next!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Saturday, November 19, 2016

My Thoughts: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78411.The_Bad_Beginning
The Bad Beginning
(A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)
by Lemony Snicket
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: September 30th 1999
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9780439206471
Genre: Childrens | Fiction | Fantasy
Source: Library

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

(Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I've known about the Series of Unfortunate Events books for quite some time now, but have never actually read them. My kids read the series when they were younger, and while I've been curious about the books before, I never really had the time to pick them up, and didn't plan to anytime soon. That is, until I saw the trailer from Netflix for the new show they created, starring Neil Patrick Harris, and now I want to read ALL THE BOOKS! *Grin*

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Bad Beginning. As I mentioned above, I had never read the books before, and have never seen the movie starring Jim Carrey either, so I had no idea what kind of story I was getting into. But, it was very much entertaining! I loved the characters; the children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny were all wonderful kids, who just really had the worst luck. Count Olaf was evil and despicable, and I'm dying to know what he's going to be up to next. There are some interesting secondary characters as well! The storyline was engaging, and very fast paced. Coming in at under 200 pages, this really was a quick read. I'm really looking forward to reading more of the series!

I actually decided to listen to these books in audiobook format, once I discovered that they were narrated by the super talented Tim Curry. I'm SO glad I decided to read them this way, as Tim was an excellent narrator! The voices he made for each of the characters were so much fun, and I can't wait to continue listening to the rest of the books in the series. (Yes, he narrates them all!) So good.

Overall; The Bad Beginning was an interesting start to the Series of Unfortunate Events series! I'm really excited to get started on the second book, The Reptile Room, to see what's going to happen next for the Baudelaire children!


Friday, November 18, 2016

My Thoughts: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547856-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
by Becky Albertalli
Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Publication Date: April 7th 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 303
ISBN: 9780062348678
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Glbt
Source: Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I've had Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli on my TBR for longer than I care to admit. I even have a finished copy sitting on my shelf, just waiting for me to read it. I finally decided to listen to the audiobook, as I recently posted about wanting to listen to it, and this version came highly recommended.  Having finally read the book, I'm kicking myself for not having read it sooner!

The main character in the story is Simon, a not-so-openly gay, 16-year-old theater buff. Simon is pretty adorable. There is so much about him that I love, including this love for his family and friends, and for the theater as well. I love the emails between Simon and the boy he's been emailing with, Blue, which always had perfect grammar, and never failed to make me smile. And not only is Simon a great character, but there are also some really great secondary characters in the story as well. I loved all of his friends, and family, and his really awesome theater teacher. There are just so many nice people in this book, it's kind of unreal. There need to be more people like this in the world.

If you know me at all, you'll know that I'm a sucker for a good love story. That's exactly what you get with this book. The storyline was cute and lots of fun to read, and reading it made me want to stuff my face full of waffles and Oreos. (I finally get the Oreo thing that everyone always talks about!) I also like that the book kept me guessing right up until the end. I had no clue who Simon's mysterious Blue was, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end.

As I mentioned above, I listened to the audiobook version of the book, and I'm so glad I did. The narrator, Michael Crouch, did a wonderful job telling me Simon's story, and I loved all the different voices he did for the characters. I'm looking forward to listening to more audiobooks narrated by him in the future!

Overall; Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is the first book I've read by Becky Albertalli, but it definitely won't be my last! I'm now even more excited to read her next book, The Upside of Unrequited, which sounds amazing, and is set to release April 11th 2017 from Balzer + Bray!!



Thursday, November 17, 2016

My Thoughts: The Amateurs by Sara Shepard

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24974965-the-amateurs
The Amateurs
(The Amateurs #1)
by Sara Shepard
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: November 1st 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781484742273
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery
Source: Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

I need some answers about my sister. Help…

Five years ago, high school senior Helena Kelly disappeared from her backyard in Dexby, Connecticut, never to be heard from again. Her family was left without any answers—without any idea who killed Helena, or why.

So when eighteen-year-old Seneca Frazier sees a desperate post on the Case Not Closed message board, she knows it’s time to change that. Helena’s high-profile disappearance is the one that originally got Seneca addicted to true crime. It’s the reason she’s a member of the site in the first place.

Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, she agrees to spend spring break in Connecticut working on the case with Maddy Wright, her best friend from Case Not Closed. However, the moment she steps off the train, things start to go wrong. Maddy’s nothing like she expected, and Helena’s sister, Aerin, doesn’t seem to want any help after all. Plus, Seneca has a secret of her own, one that could derail the investigation if she’s not careful.

Alongside Brett, another super-user from the site, they slowly begin to unravel the secrets Helena kept in the weeks before her disappearance. But the killer is watching…and determined to make sure the case stays cold. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

Imagine my excitement when a mystery package arrived on my doorstep one of afternoon, and inside was a copy of The Amateurs, the newest release by Sara Shepard, and lots of awesome swag as well! Would you believe me if I told you that I've only read two of Sara's books in the past, even though I have quite a few more on my TBR? And that I haven't read the Pretty Little Liars series, even though I have the first few books just sitting on my shelf? Believe me, unfortunately, I haven't. BUT, I was super excited to read something new by Sara, and this book sounded really awesome!

When I read the summary for the book I knew that it was going to be an interesting read, and it totally was. The story is told from multiple characters points of view, and I love that, as I feel we get so much more information that way. Seneca, the main character, proves to be quite the amateur detective, and along with some other members from the Case Not Closed message board; Maddy, Brett, and Aerin, she sets out to solve a high-profile murder that has left unsolved for quite some time.

I really enjoyed the mysterious storyline for the book. I've read enough mysteries lately that I feel like I've gained some pretty good sleuthing skills, and while I was able to figure out a few things early on, there was one twist that completely caught me by surprise. I totally should have seen it coming, as I had some suspicions, but I didn't. That twist left me super anxious to see what's going to happen next in this series, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book as soon as possible!

I'm also curious to see if this new series will become a tv series as well, now that the Pretty Little Liars show is coming to an end. I'm not much of a tv person, but I'd watch it if it does.

Overall; I think The Amateurs is an interesting beginning to what should prove to be a highly gripping series! I'm super excited for the next book in the series, whenever it is to be released, so I can see what happens next. Check it out!


https://www.instagram.com/p/BK5-gothvPh/


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #259 - The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30255943-the-wish-granter
The Wish Granter
(Ravenspire, #1)
by C.J. Redwine
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 14th 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062360274
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30255943-the-wish-granter

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

An epic, romantic, and action-packed fantasy inspired by the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from C. J. Redwine, the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen. Perfect for fans of Graceling and the Lunar Chronicles.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul. (Goodreads)

Whooo hoooooo!!
I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on this book!
Have you read The Shadow Queen??
It's a really awesome Snow White retelling.
If you haven't read it, you should.
I can't wait to read this sequel!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: All Time Favorite Movies



November 15: Movie Freebie -- Top Ten All Time Favorite Movies

So, I'm not really much of a movie person, but there are some movies that I absolutely LOVE. And, I'm a sucker for a romantic comedy, and anything funny. Here are some of my faves!


1. You've Got Mail - Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks... AOL... And Books. Best movie ever!

2. Father of the Bride 2 - I don't know what it is, but I just love this movie so much. Steve Martin is awesome.


3. Pride and Prejudice - I watched this movie right after reading the book for the first time, and totally fell in love with it. I really like the BBC version as well!

4. 10 Things I Hate About You - Heath Leger and his smile. Enough said. This movie is everything.


5. While You Were Sleeping - This movie is SO sweet! And it totally made me fall in love with both Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman! A fave to watch any time, and especially around Christmas time!

6. French Kiss - Yep, another Meg Ryan movie! I love both her and Kevin Kline as well in this. And, FRANCE!!


7. The Replacements - This movie has it all. Romance. Football. Oh, and Keanu Reeves. Wink.

8. The Wedding Planner - This movie is so sweet! Jennifer Lopez is awesome as the wedding planner!


9. The Princess Diaries 2 - Ok, I love Princes Diaries 1, but I love PD2 even more, because, Anne Hathaway, and Chris Pine = Swoooon!

10. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation - Ok, I love this movie because it's just so hilarious. I watch it multiple times every year, and not just at Christmas time. Best Christmas movie ever!


Like I mentioned above, I'm not much of a movie person. I never have been.
But, the movies that I do love, I LOVE WITH A PASSION!!
If I could only watch these movies for the rest of my life, I would be ok with that.

However, there are SO many movies I still need to see,
but it's something I'm working on!!

Tell me, what are some of your favorite movies??

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #258 - Dreamfall by Amy Plum

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31371729-dreamfall
Dreamfall
(Dreamfall #1)
by Amy Plum
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 2nd 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062429872
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31371729-dreamfall

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Cata Cordova suffers from such debilitating insomnia that she agreed to take part in an experimental new procedure. She thought things couldn’t get any worse...but she was terribly wrong.

Soon after the experiment begins, there’s a malfunction with the lab equipment, and Cata and six other teen patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld with no memory of how they got there. Even worse, they come to the chilling realization that they are trapped in a place where their worst nightmares have come to life. Hunted by creatures from their darkest imaginations and tormented by secrets they’d rather keep buried, Cata and the others will be forced to band together to face their biggest fears. And if they can’t find a way to defeat their dreams, they will never wake up. (Goodreads)

A new book by Amy Plum!! I'm so excited!!
This cover is deliciously creepy, and the story sounds really awesome.
I've already pre-ordered my copy, and I can't wait to read it!
Hurry May 2017!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

My November 2016 TBR & Most Anticipated Releases!!


Hellooooooo, November!!

Is anyone else as ready as I am for 2016 to be over already?
Seriously, this year has been brutal. Sigh.
Moving on...

For my November TBR, I will be attempting to catch up on a few October books,
some November releases, and...
FINALLY FINISHING THE HARRY POTTER SERIES!!

Seriously, this is something I've been trying to do for Years,
and I'm determined to finish this year.

Here's my November TBR:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Romantics by Leah Konen
The Amateurs by Sara Shepard
Gemina by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
The Diabolic by S.J Kincaid

Here are some more exciting November releases:

A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Heartless by Marissa Meyer

SO MANY BOOKS!
Here's hoping I can do better than I did in October.
Haha!

What books are you most excited to read in November??