Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To (YET!)

January 9: Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To
(But I totally plan to get to in 2018!!)

Even though I read a LOT of books in 2018,
I still didn't get to read even half of the books I wanted to read!
Here are just a few books I meant to read but didn't. (YET!)

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Warcross by Marie Lu

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Hunted by Megan Spooner

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins


Sigh! I *really* wanted to read all of these books,
but I just never made time for them!
I'm hoping to read them all, and more of the books I'm behind on, 

as soon as possible!!

What books made your list this week??

My 2018 Week in Review - Week 1

Happy Sunday, and Welcome to my weekly Week in Review post!

Here I share all the things I've been up to during the previous week.
Check back every Sunday for new post updates!

Now, here's what I've been up to this week!

My first week of 2018 has been quite productive, at least when it comes to reading! I managed to read 5 books this week, and I currently have three more I should be finished with soon. I hope I can keep up this momentum for a while. It would be nice to get a decent head start on my Goodreads Reading Challenge Goal. :)

This month I began my new tradition of reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen once a year, and I really enjoyed diving back into this book! This time around I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Rosamund Pike, and I loved having her read the story to me.

I also officially began reading the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series this week, and I really enjoyed The Sword of Summer! I'm looking forward to reading The Hammer of Thor in February.

I also wanted to start reading some biographies this year, and the first on my list was Unqualified by Anna Faris, which was so good. (I really need to make time to read her podcast soon!)

I also finished my re-reads of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. Both of these series have new books releasing in March, so I'm re-reading them to refresh my brain before they are released.

I've been so preoccupied with my TBR this past week, that I didn't really get a chance to watch much TV or movies. I did watch You've Got Mail on New Year's Day, which has become my traditional first movie of the year for the past few years. I also watched Father of the Bride, is also a favorite, and never gets old.

As I said above, my 2018 is off to a productive start, and I can't complain about that! I really do hope I can keep up this momentum throughout the whole year, because there are SO many things I want to do!! And with the kiddos heading back to school on Monday, I may actually get to do them. Haha!

That's about all for me this week, so...

My Thoughts: Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Love, Life and the List
by Kasie West
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: December 26th 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780062675774
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source:  e-Arc for Review

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

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being. But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems… and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

This is the first in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I don't know about you, but I'm always super excited when Kasie West comes out with a new book, and I absolutely couldn't wait to get started on Love, Life, and the List as soon as I possibly could! (This obviously wasn't soon enough, thanks to my always growing TBR. Sigh.)

Let me start by saying that I thought the storyline for this book was super cute. I love the idea of having a bucket list to help you get yourself out of a funk that life has thrown you in. This is something that I may have to consider doing myself this year. I think I enjoyed this part of the book even more than the romance parts, if you can believe that, and I would have loved to see Abby add even more things to her list.

I really like the characters that Kasie creates in her stories, and I have to admit that the main character in this book, Abby, is one of my favorites, mostly because I found her snarky attitude to be very relatable. She made me laugh more than a few times throughout the story, and I always appreciate a good laugh, and I enjoyed watching her growth over the course of the story as well. I loved her relationship with her family as well, especially with her granddad.

Overall; if you're a fan of Kasie's contemporary novels, you're definitely going to enjoy Love, Life and the List! It's a really quick read that is full of fun times and cool characters. Having finally read the book, I will now be anxiously waiting to get my hands on Kasie's next book, Listen to Your Heart, which is set to release in May 2018!

My Thoughts: Everless by Sara Holland

Everless
(Untitled #1)
by Sara Holland
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780062653659
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: e-Arc for Review

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

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
The very first thing that drew me to Everless by Sara Holland was the absolutely gorgeous cover for the book. (I can't help it, I just can't resist a book with a pretty cover!) After reading the summary for the book, I knew I wanted to read the book ASAP, and I bumped it up on my TBR as quickly as I possibly could. I'm SO glad I did! This book was awesome, and I'm currently pining away until I get my hands on the second book!!

Everless is a fantasy novel, and it's been way too long since I've read a book from this genre. I ended up enjoying the story more than I expected to, and now I want to read more and more fantasy books as soon as possible. The storyline for the book was completely fascinating. Imagine living in a world where time is money, literally. The more blood and money you have, the longer you live, and the more powerful you are. The lifespan for most people isn't very long, because the powerful tax the poor to death, and let's face it; you only have so much blood. It's a vicious world to live in.

I really love the main character in the story, Jules. At one time, Jules and her father were servants for rich aristocracy in the kingdom, until an accident forced them to flee in the night. When Jules realizes that father is dying, her only option is to return to Everless to earn more time to save her father's life. But Everless is a dangerous place, and Jules has secrets to hide, and questions that need answers, and she's willing to stop at nothing to get those answers. Jules is awesome; I love her strength and determination. And while I'm a fan of romance in the story, I was pleasantly surprised that there was very little romance in this book, (even though there was potential for some.) I barely noticed this, however, as I was so engrossed in the story and by the fact that this girl literally takes care of herself, and I LOVED that. Girl power!

Overall; I really enjoyed Everless so much, and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Evermore, which is set to release in 2019! (Ah, it's such a long wait!) It's been quite a while since I enjoyed a fantasy novel this much, but I did, and now I can't wait to read more fantasy books as soon as possible! If you're a fan of fantasy, do check Everless, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did!

Waiting on Wednesday #300 - Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

Restore Me
(Shatter Me #4)
by Tahereh Mafi
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 6th 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780062676368

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

Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good? (Goodreads)

This week I officially began my re-read of the Shatter Me series,
just to refresh the story in my mind before Restore Me is released in March!

I have to admit that I'm pretty curious about this new book, especially since I thought the story was over when Ignite Me ended.
I was really surprised to see that there would be three new books in this series.

And, I really, really hope that Kenji is in these next few books.
I really loved him in the previous ones!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2017

January 2: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2017

1. V.E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic) - I had heard SO many things about this author, but had not yet read her books, even though I own them all!

2. Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus) - I seriously think I was the only person who had not read this book before! I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to!


3. Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express) - This author has been around for longer than I can remember, but I had never had a chance to pick up her books before! The movie came out gave me a good reason to. I enjoyed the book!

4. Amy Tintera (Ruined) - I had a few of Amy's previous books on my TBR for way too long before finally picking up Ruined last year. I still need to get caught up on this series!


5. R.J. Palacio (Wonder) - How often had I seen tihs book before finally picking it up! I'm so glad it was chosen as one of our book club picks last year!

6. Wendy Spinale (Wonder) - How did I not know about this author sooner?! I really enjoyed Everland, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!


7. Jenn Bennett (Alex, Approximately) - I had a few of this authors books on my TBR for I finally picked up Alex, and now I just need to catch up on them!

8. Hannah McKinnon (The Summer House) - I read this book while I was on vacation at the beach, and I was hooked! I have another of Hannah's books on my TBR, and I can't wait to read it!


9. C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) - Again, I think everyone has read this series but me, but I FINALLY read ALL the books in the series last week, and really enjoyed them!

10. Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic) - Yes, I've been living under a rock and somehow had not picked up a book by Alice before! I changed that last year, and now I want to read more!

What a fun list, right? I read a lot of awesome new authors in 2017,

and I'm looking forward to discovering even more in 2018!!

What are some of your new-to-you authors for 2017?

My January 2018 TBR

Happy January, Bookworms!!

2018 has finally arrived!! And it brings with it a really awesome TBR!!

Seriously, there are SO many books I plan to read this year,
and my January TBR is awesome.

So without further ado, here's my January TBR:

Books I'm Reading:

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
(Finished the Kane Chronicles series, now I'm finally moving on to Magnus Chase!)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
(Because I've heard good things about the book, and the movie looks awesome!)

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
(Because I'm curious! I hope I can read this one!)

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine
(I've been meaning to read this one for a while now!)

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meaghan Spooner
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
(I'm SO curious about this one!)

Books I'm Re-Reading:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
(Starting my re-read this month in preparation for the new book in March!)

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
(Starting my re-read of this as well in preparation of the new book also releasing in March!)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
(Starting my yearly tradition of reading this this year!)

After You by Jojo Moyes
(Just finished Me Before You last month, now reading this before Still Me is released in a few weeks!)

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
(Re-reading this and finishing Gemina before Obsidio is released in March!)

e-Books I'm Reading:

The Spring Girls by Anna Todd
A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole
Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

Eh, I didn't realize how many books had sequels coming out in March!
I better get started on reading, and soon!
Seriously though, I have SO many great books on my list this month.
I'm really excited for both the new reads, AND the re-reads!
I hope I can keep up with them all. Wish me luck!!

What's on YOUR January TBR??

Happy New Year!! 2018 Goals & Resolutions

Welcome, 2018!
The new year has officially arrived!!
(And it's starting on a Monday, isn't that awesome?!)

2017 was full of lots of ups and downs for me, but overall, it was a halfway decent year! There are a LOT of things I want to work on and do differently in this new year, in hopes of making things in life a little better. I love how a new year means new possibilities, and I'm super excited to see what 2018 has in store for me!!

Here are just a few of my Goals and Resolutions for 2018:

*2018 Bookish Goals*

Read 150 Books
In 2017 I set my goal at 100 books, and managed to read 150 instead! (Which is the most I have EVER read in a year!) I'm hoping to do that again in 2018!

Read more of what I want to read.
I started doing this in 2017, and I enjoyed it SO much, I want to keep it up in 2018!
I especially love re-reading my old favorites, and reading books I never made time for before.
(AND catching up on ALL the books I'm behind on!)

More Audiobooks
This was actually one of my most favorite goals/resolutions from 2017,
and one that I definitely want to keep up!
I've totally been bitten by the audio bug. :)

Read Books I Normally Wouldn't Read
I stepped out of my comfort zone last year and discovered some new favorite books in the process! I definitely want to keep that up in 2018.

Stay Caught Up
Even though I read 150 books in 2017, I still never managed to stay caught up!
That's something I'm hoping to work on this year!


* Other 2018 Goals*

Maintain Current Weight
2018 is officially the FIRST year in over a decade where *Lose Weight* is NOT on my list of  yearly goals. I am insanely proud of the amount of weight I lost in 2016/2017, and my goal is this year is to just stay healthy and active!

Couch to 5K
I'm pretty happy with the treadmill/track plan I have at the moment,
but since I've lost so much weight, I'd like to try the Couch to 5k program again!

Watch More Movies
Every year I set a goal to watch 100 movies, and every year I barely reach the goal on time. I need to work on that this year, and I really want to branch out and find new movies to watch!

Catch up on TV Shows
Ugh, I never have time to watch TV, but I really want to work on that this year! There are SO many shows that I want to watch, and the few that I do watch I'm insanely behind on, so I really want to work on that this year.

Listen to Podcasts
I have SO many podcasts on my phone waiting to be listened to, but I never seem to have time!
Yet another thing I need to work on this year.

Keep up with Bullet Journal!
I started keeping a bullet journal in 2017, but I didn't do a very good job of actually keeping up with it. I'm hoping to do better this year!


*2018 Resolutions*

Do Better at Being Organized
(Both online and in real life!)

Make More Time for Myself
(I do not do this often enough.)

Do better at blogging and social media.
(Because I am the absolute WORST at staying caught up.)

Save Money
(No spending unless absolutely necessary!)

Declutter House
(Because we have SO much stuff.)

Be Myself.
(Because I love just doing my own thing.)


There you have it, friends!
Just a few of my goals and resolutions for the new year!
Let's hope I can actually keep up this year.
*grin*

December 2017 Wrap Up & Book Haul!!

It's the LAST DAY of December, Bookworms...
AND the Last Day of 2017 as well!!

I'm closing out the year with a pretty great book month.
Not only did I read a lot of books, but I added a lot of new ones to my collection as well.
Keep reading to find out more!

*My December Book Haul*

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
The Death Cure (Movie Tie-In Edition) by James Dashner
The Fever Code by James Dashner
The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ready Player One by Earnest Cline
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Frostblood by Elly Blake
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

*My December Wrap Up*

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle
A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Screenplay) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

*Not Pictured*
Roomies by Christina Lauren
Can't Let Go by Gena Showalter
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
The Chronicles of Narnia Series (Books 1-7)
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Before Now by Norah Olson


As I said, a pretty great book month for me!
I'm *really* hoping that I can keep up this momentum in 2018,
so that I can knock even MORE books off my ever-growing TBR.
*wink*

Tell me, how was your December??
What books did you read and add to your collection??

Until next year, Friends!!