Category: books

Heya! I’m back with another tag :)) I discovered this tag from @emmaschapter!

1. What are your top 3 bookish pet hates?

• Insta-love (I didn’t realize I had a problem with this, but I’m starting to really dislike it!)
• Werewolves and Zombies ugh
• Slow burn that is just too slow. It’s bad because most of the time chemistry between characters (if any) just fizzles out and strikes too suddenly.

2. Tell us 3 bookish confessions

• I refuse to read classic/non-fiction books for recreation because I’ve associated them with school and stress.
• I haven’t read many popular series because I would rather reread books that I know are good
• I only buy physical copies of books now after reading the epub and KNOWING it’s worth my extra money

3. When was the last time you cried because of a book?

Probably More Than Forever by Jay McLean! Check out my review of the book here! You’ll love it if you enjoy the childhood friends to lovers trope :))

4. How many books are on your bedside table?

Currently 1! I have stacks of books all around my room though (some are on random stools lol)

5. What’s your favorite snack while reading?

Nothing really! If I am eating while reading it could be anything but most of the time I’m too focused on reading!

6. Name 3 books/series you’d recommend to everyone

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
• Trick by Natalia Jaster
• Addicted series by K.B. Ritchie

7. Show us a picture of your favorite shelf on your bookshelf

My room is in a mess now because I’m trying to sort my life out! So I’m going to have to pass on this~

8. Write how much books mean to you in 3 words

Everything. Everything. Everything.

9. What’s your biggest reading secret?

Hmmm. Probably that I started reading books with sexual scenes when I was 10? I just never found it a problem. Is that considered lol

---

I quite enjoyed this tag because I could be nostalgic but also it’s really simple! If you do it too, please leave a link in the comments and I’ll check your post out :))

Today is my birthday!

If you followed Monday’s post, you’ll know I’m splitting my birthday celebration into two parts 🙂 I created a tag called 20 years of books and birthdays to talk about the books I’ve read throughout my life that have greatly impacted my life/personality/reading habits/etc.

In part 1, I talk about books 1-10 which I mainly read in my childhood. Part 2 below includes books I read more recently!

Hope you enjoy~

---

11. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I’ve only read I’ll Give You the Sun once but I remember it becoming my favorite book for years. I don’t remember much about it now but I recall becoming more self-confident after reading it. I think I learned from the teen characters in the book and wanted to be a better person afterwards.

12. Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Vampire Kisses is the OG amazing Vampire book. It started my love for the paranormal creatures before other books like Vampire Academy or Twilight came about. Not many people know about this series but please read it if you get the opportunity to do so~

13. Fang by James Patterson

Book #6 of the Maximum Ride series. I loved the main character Max and grew up wanting to be as independent, as strong, as charismatic, as captivating, as intelligent as her. I don’t remember exactly why I loved this book specifically but when i was looking through titles for this list, Fang just stuck out most to me. TBH the plot was probably just amazing. I need to reread it soon~

14. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent is significant to me in terms of two things. One, I really liked the different factions in the books. It kinda made me reflect on what I wanted to be known for – e.g. whether I was erudite, candor, etc. Two, I think Tris was the first true kick-ass heroine that I loved (at least in book 1). She inspired me and probably many young girls to be dauntless and even divergent.

15. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy is the second Vampire series that I love and will defend forever! Rose Hathaway (the main character) is sassy, takes no bullshit, and can fight to defend herself and her loved ones. Another female protagonist who I wanted desperately to learn from!

16. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Another iconic book! TBH I never really loved The Hunger Games series at the start but I reread it when the movies were released/I matured a little more, and I got it. I really liked the values that Katniss stood for and how she protected her loved ones. THG taught me that there are some things in life that are worth fighting for and everyday I live by that.

17. Some Kind of Perfect by Krista & Becca Ritchie

I read the Addicted/Calloway Sisters series in 2017 at a horrid time of my life. I was having major national exams and needed a break. This NA series taught me that it was okay if things don’t always work out in life and that good things come to those who wait. I loved reading about the characters so much that this last book was so bittersweet. I was sad that the story was ending but grateful that after their darkest days came a true happily ever after.

18. Trick by Natalia Jaster

Trick is the best NA book I’ve ever read. I never knew NA fantasy was really a thing until I read this masterpiece. Natalia Jaster continues to impress with every book and I’m so grateful that they exist when I need pick-me-ups and humor and some romance in my life ❤

19. More than Forever by Jay McLean

This is the newest book I’ve read which made it to this list. I read More than Forever at a very appropriate time as I neared my 20s. It’s always nice to know that it’s okay for relationships and plans not to work out because you’re young and to realise that things will be fine in the end. I needed this in 2019 and I’m glad I read and fell in love with this book. You can check out my review of More than Forever here!

20. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic is a very unique book in this list. I’ve struggled to finish it for almost a year now but I refuse to DNF it because I actually love love love the parts that I have read. And because I’ve been midway through this novel for a long time, I feel like the book has become a staple of my nineteen year old life. So in honor of my last year as a teen, I’m including A Darker Shade of Magic in this list.

---

I spent a long time thinking about the 20 books that meant the most to me over my 2 decades alive. I’m extremely grateful to have read about worlds that intrigued me and met characters who inspired me. I hope that I will continue to love reading for as long as I live 🙂

If you’ve read this far, I hope you’ll leave a comment to let me know what books have greatly impacted your life!

So this week is my birthday week 🎈🎈🎈I’m turning 20 on the 13th of September!! lol yes I’m celebrating a birthday week because this tag is far too long for one blog post. I’m splitting it into parts 1 and 2.

I’m both excited and just really scared for my twenties. On one hand I feel like I’m still young but I’m also getting older much quicker than I expect. I decided that this is a day where instead of just looking forward, I want to reminisce about all the things I’ve done. Hence, I’ve created my own tag called “20 years of books and birthdays”.

It’s really simple – essentially I’ll list the 20 books that have impacted my life the most in the last two decades that I’ve lived. They could be books I read during my childhood or other memorable periods periods of my life. Books that I feel shaped me to be who I am today.

I hope you enjoy part 1! Part 2 to come 🙂

---

1. Rainbow Magic Treasury by Daisy Meadows

I remember this book very fondly. I loved the Rainbow Magic series and was a fan from the start. I remember being given this Treasury which contained the first 7 books of the series and reading and rereading it numerous times. This was definitely the foundation of my love for books.

2. Princess Charlotte and the Birthday Ball by Vivian French

Tiara Club was another book that I read so many times as a child. I don’t remember much about it anymore but I always feel really warm inside when I see the book on my shelf so I decided to include this~

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Surprise surprise I included a book from the Harry Potter series. Among the 7 books, Sorcerer’s Stone is my favorite because I loved the world building in it.

4. Faery Rebels by R. J. Anderson

Faeries are my favorite paranormal characters because of their portrayal in this book. R. J. Anderson created characters that were strong, wild, feminine and so amazing to 13 year old me.

5. Arrival by Charlotte McConaghy

Arrival was my favorite book for a long time. It was an amazing high fantasy story that I loved. Sadly the series stopped after two books and I will never know how it continues, let alone how it ends.

6. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My entire youth revolved around one (1) Percy Jackson. This series taught me so much – it taught me to dream, to have courage, to be proud of who I am, to stand up for myself, and so much. The Lightning Thief started this entire incredible series, how could I not include it in my list.

7. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Another book from the Percy Jackson series – if this doesn’t confirm how much I love this series, I don’t know what will. The Last Olympian is my favorite book of the series. In particular I reread the battle scenes so many times as a youth. Those were definitely good days!

8. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

One more for my boy Percy. But in all honestly this book is the most read book in my shelves. I remember spending 2013 just reading and rereading The Son of Neptune to have more of Percy in my life after the events of The Lost Hero (aka the previous book before Son of Neptune).

9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I’m a huge fan of contemporary romances now and it began because of Anna and the French Kiss. I know that there are some problems with the book itself and it’s been years since I actually read it. However, I can’t lie about the influence this book has had on my reading habits.

10. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Last book of part 1 goes to City of Fallen Angels. Among the Shadowhunter Chronicles novels, I remember this book the best as I was obsessed with it at a time where I really fell in love with reading. I have heard many opinions about City of Fallen Angels being the weakest plot of The Mortal Instruments series. However, it was a significant part of my life and I will always be fond of it.

---

That’s all for part 1! Part 2 will be out on my birthday – 13 September 🙂 See you there~

Hullo hullo. I’ve decided to try a different blog post today, my very first tag!

This tag is called the NY Times ‘By the Book’ tag, and it was created by booktuber Marie Berg. (I tried to search for her video but it doesn’t seem to exist anymore?) I first found out about this tag through lostinpages, so here’s the link to her post.

Without further ado, let’s do this!

1. What book is on your nightstand now?

I mostly read ebooks but I have been trying to get back into physical novels. So the book on my nightstand now is A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

2. What was the last truly great book that you read?

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is amazing. It’s the best Mulan retelling that I have read. The characters and the world-building are culturally accurate and very detailed and vivid. Definitely one of, if not the best, read of 2019 for me.

3. If you could meet any writer – dead or alive – who would it be? And what would you want to know?

There are many writers I want to meet but some of them might not want to meet me (and also not all authors are nice eek). Natalia is someone I’ve followed for a few years. She is really amazing with readers, she’s down-to-earth and someone I feel like I could have great conversations with!

I would definitely want to know what Poet’s real name is, it’s killing me. FYI, Poet is the main male character from her novel Trick. It’s the best fantasy new adult romance novel that I’ve read. The writing is whimsical and so different from anything else I’ve ever read. I’m always telling people to read the book (or any book of Natalia’s TBH), it’s so so worth it!

4. What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?

Maybe because it’s not super age appropriate for me now but I have the first 70 or so books of the Rainbow Magic series! This was my childhood and I have such fond memories of it!

5. How do you organize your personal library?

I have 4 shelves. I keep one shelf for contemporary novels and the others for fantasies. Books I love are kept in the front and those I am merely okay with are in the back!

6. What book have you always meant to read and haven’t gotten around to yet? Anything you feel embarrassed never to have read?

Oh wow there are so many books I’ve meant to read but never got to. One of them is The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I tried, like really really tried, but never got into it. I don’t feel embarrassed per say but sometimes left out because book twitter definitely loves the book and it’s main pairing.

7. Disappointing, overrated, just not good: what book did you feel you were supposed to like but didn’t? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing?

I’ve had such a long and difficult history with Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi I read it when it was first released in 2012 (yes, I was an OG) and I didn’t like it. I reread it again this year and I only gave it 2 stars out of 5. Lots of people love it but I was never truly sold on the story. I have to acknowledge though that the 3rd book Ignite Me is amazing. So it’s specifically this book of the series that I feel that I’m supposed to like but don’t.

The last book that I put down without finishing is A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. I’ve never been into the mystery genre much so I kinda expected it but I also didn’t like the main characters much. I felt very distant from them and I wasn’t hooked as quickly as I wanted to. I tried reading this in May 2019 and stopped really quickly.

8. What kinds of stories are you drawn to? Any you stay clear of?

I love contemporary romance novels and fantasy stories. With paranormal fantasy, I am drawn mainly to faeries, vampires, witches/warlocks while staying clear of werewolves and zombies (really strongly dislike zombies IDK why).

9. If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be?

I don’t think the books I read are ones that I would recommend the president. FYI, I’m not American so my president isn’t you-know-who.

10. What do you plan to read next?

I’m currently in the middle of Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. As per my last review on Ugly Love, I am in a mood for NA contemporary romance novels so I expect that I’ll be binging Colleen’s books for a while. I do intend to read the books on my May/June TBR as well, including A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Scwab, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Illuminate by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff but we’ll see!