General Updates:Hey there!

Hello dear readers

It’s me again- Maiya – the Barely-Existant Blogger.

I’m taking over primary blogging duties as Sophie is on vacation, I’ll have to apologize if I miss anything that usually happens.

Tomorrow (according to Sophie’s schedule) is supposed to be a Q&A session, so if you have any questions, go ahead and comment them or email them to me at mindofabookdragon@gmail.com. 

I have a 2 foot tall stack of books currently to-be-read, several of which will probably end up reviewed soon!

I’ll catch you all up on my life/better introduce myself in another post soon, which will maybe provide a bit of insight into me. I look forward to better getting to know all of you (including my fellow bloggers Beth and Emma) over the course of this week and a half-ish, after which I will hopefully become a much more consistent contributor.

Signing off (very temporarily),

Maiya

Book Chat: The Book Junkies March Discussion

Hey, Book Junkies! This month we read The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf chosen by the wonderful Emma. If you’re new to the group don’t worry! We’re a Goodreads group and each month a book is chosen by the moderators (Emma, Beth, and Sophie). We take suggestions for the next month, too! To access our group click here. We would love if you joined us next month! At the end of the month, we put out a book chat discussing the book of that month. Please comment on the Goodreads page your thoughts, we’d love to include other opinions!

As previously stated, we read The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf. Here’s a little synopsis:

A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet debut full of wit, wisdom, heart, and a hilarious, unforgettable heroine.

When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong.

 

I almost raised my hand, but what would I say? “Mr. Bayer, may I please be excused? I’m not totally positive, but I think I might have cancer.” No way. Then everyone at school would know, and they would treat me differently, and I would be known as “Izzy, that poor girl who diagnosed herself with breast cancer during biology.”

But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.

 

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We thoroughly enjoyed laughing with Izzy on this one! Here’s some chat:

Thoughts on Blake?

Sophie: I. Hate. Blake. What scum. I’m glad Izzy finally put her foot down. *scoffs*

Beth: Yuck.

What did you think of Izzy’s voice?

Sophie: I found myself laughing out loud while reading this – she is so funny! Izzy’s voice is so relatable that I couldn’t help but love her.

Beth: She’s so relatable! I loved her so much!

Do you think this book deserves more hype?

Sophie: Yes, I never even knew this was out there until Emma suggested it! I wish I had known sooner because I enjoyed this one. I like the plot and Izzy’s story. I loved all the characters really (okay NOT Blake, but Blake does have one redeeming moment in the end).

Beth: Definitely – especially for its relatable-ness. It’s a simple but clever book and one I enjoyed very much.

What are your thoughts on the title?

Beth: Ahh! It suits this book so well. Simple but so perfect and spot on.

Sophie: Ditto! I love it 🙂

What did you want to do to Blake in that museum scene?

Beth: Bury him alive.

Sophie: Ditto again – I wanted her to kick him where the sun don’t shine.

Did you ever find Izzy even a little bit strange?

Beth: Yes! I just didn’t get that ‘art’ thing. But still, I loved her.

Sophie: Yeah, but I love her quirkiness.

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A note from Emma:

Hey, guys! I’m really sorry I’m not joining you all for our monthly book chat again! I’ve just got some things coming up that are keeping me very busy, unfortunately. Don’t worry! I’m only taking a short break for the next few months, and then I’ll be back! (If you still want me!!)

Read on!

Emma

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For next month’s read we chose A Study in Charlotte by Britanny Cavallaro. This is a mystery that follows the descendents of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Being fans of Holmes and Watson ourselves, this decision was pretty easy. Click here for a full description of the book and to add it to your Goodreads. We would love for you to join us this month! We also have created an April Instagram challenge that will be running for the entire month. You can find it on any of our accounts (Emma @thebookcrunch, Beth @thebooksareverywhere, Sophie @mindofabookdragon).

Thanks for sticking around this month – we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next month! We hope you enjoy A Study in Charlotte!

Happy reading, may your shelves always overflow with books, & read on!

Sophie, Beth, & Emma

Book Review: The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

Hey there! Looks like Tuesdays will be the day where I post extra reviews. I consume books pretty fast, so I think it might become a regular thing. Anyway Maiya’s makeover of our blog is coming soon, and I’m excited to see what she has in store for us!

Today’s review is of The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens.

Since I see a lot of reviews post some stats about the books they review, I’m going to start doing that, too.

Title: The Lies About Truth

Author: Courtney C. Stevens

Publisher: HarperTeen

Description: Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she’s unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she’ll always be trapped in the past.

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I was super impressed by this book. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I knew there was something about it that I wanted to read it. I got this for Christmas from my wonderful parents along with some others, and I am just meandering my way through my piles of tbr books. I had planned to read it at some point this month and I finally have *pats self on back* (I have abandoned my tbr pile after this – too many books and I’m confining myself!!)

Anyway you’re reading this for my thoughts on the book so here they are! It started off slow, but picked up pretty quick. I found myself feeling just so much for Sadie. I can’t fathom having to start over my life in that kind of way. I can see why she felt so inferior – she had lived and seen herself a certain way for seventeen years and suddenly everything has changed.

I love that Gina, Gray, Trent, Max, and Sadie were all childhood friends. I personally have fantasized about having friends from that long ago. (Please tell me I’m not the only one!) Something about having that kind of history with someone attracts to me a lot.

Grief is something that strikes people in so many different ways, and it’s very evident in this story. Sadie and Max have to deal not only with the physical changes that came with the accident, but also the emotional trauma that came with being in the car with Trent. I think there’s something so heartbreaking when we read about Max holding his dying brother’s hand. I have been struck in the feels. Give me a moment.

Gina and Gray are characters not to be overlooked either. They inadvertently caused the crash and they have to live with that guilt. It something awful, and I can’t begin to imagine the pain they’re experiencing throughout the novel.

Sadie’s list is something I came to appreciate. It’s her own way of organizing how she must heal herself. There’s something relaxing about crossing things off lists, and it shows progress well. I feel like I’m actually being productive when I do! (Honestly, I have so many lists going on at the same time it’s hard to keep up with them :P)

I just want to take a minute to applaud Sadie’s parents. She does some kooky things and has complete meltdowns sometimes and they’re there for her the whole time. Her parents are perfect for her situation, and I would hope everyone would be as understanding as they are in a situation like that.

The ending? Well, that was great. Well written to the point where it leaves lingering questions but ties up loose ends at the same time. It was sad to let these characters go, but I loved how hopeful their last lines were. I am very satisfied with how things played out.

I hope this review helped you in any way! Add it to your Goodreads here. I gave it 5/5 stars 🙂

Happy reading!

Sophie 🙂

Bookish News: Emily Henry’s Big News

Hi, there! I know this might be old news to you, but it’s relatively new and it’s something I want to talk about because I love Emily Henry’s writing! So on Instagram Emily Henry announced two BIG things that are happening for her!

Number One:

The Love That Split the World has been optioned for film! Yes, you read that right – this wonderful book may be turned into a movie! Seeing the announcement made me so excited for this! Lionsgate, which has done others like Divergent and The Hunger Games, has  snagged rights to producing it.

We all know how book-to-film adaptions go – they’re never always as good as the book, but some do well in trying to capture the essence of the novel. Let’s not have a repeat of The Percy Jackson and the Olympians movies shall we?

Number Two:

SHE’S WRITING A NEW BOOK!!!!!! Eeeep! I can’t believe it! As you can tell, I love TLTSTW and am looking forward to her next pieces. Here’s the description on Goodreads (so far): The daughter and son of two long-feuding families fall in love while trying to uncover the truth about a curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations, with the help of the strange magic that haunts the homes and forests of Five Fingers, Mich.

This is set in my home state so I’m even more intrigued. This is titled A Million Junes and is set to come out next year by Razorbill. Click here to add it to your Goodreads 🙂

How’s that for a segment of Bookish News? What are your thoughts? Have you read The Love that Split the World? Any other book-to-film adaptions you love (or hate)?

Happy reading!

Sophie

Book Review: A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston

Hey! Since my epic failure of trying to read more than one book at a time, I’ve finished one of them – A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston. My friend read this for our high school’s book club and said it was really good, so I decided to give it a go this month.

Here’s what the description is:

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister’s place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin’s court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time. But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from , home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.

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This wasn’t what I expected – in a good way 🙂 i have not read the original A Thousand and One Nights but I do love retellings.

The interesting part of the story was that our narrator remains nameless (for the most part) the entire book. I don’t know what to call her, so she’ll just be “the narrator.” Obviously her not having a name served a purpose. I think it was to show the different culture that she lived with than ours. It was a traditional patriarchal society, and while the women were subordinate to the men, they did have a certain strength and verve I admired throughout the book.

Lo-Melkhiin is a character that kind of grows on you. I’m still not sure how I feel about him. On one hand, the Lo-Melkhiin is someone what isn’t himself the whole book. The way he acts toward the narrator and his general behavior is something that you start to understand the more you delve into the book. The feminist in me just can’t seem to get over the society that the characters live in. However, it is neat to see what a society like that would be like – comparatively of course.

There’s an element of magic within the book that I liked. The narrator finds a certain power within her. While it is a real kind of magic, it is a kind of strength and resilience that I love. I love how her character develops. Her sister is wonderful, too. Instead of mourning the narrator, the sister works to help her from her home. The fantastical quality is that both sisters bring to the book is excellent.

My Goodreads rating was 4/5 stars. Definitely would recommend this!

Happy reading,

Sophie 🙂

General Update: My Bookish Life pt. 6

Hey it’s Saturday! Yesterday, Maiya and I did a thing 🙂 Below you can see a shot from our first shoot! Yeah, we went downtown in our city, and took a bunch of pictures for the blog
and Instagram/Twitter. This was the first time we did something like it and I hope you like them! There will definitely be more pictures to come from this :)

Okay, next week will be a bit hectic for me – we’re going on a field trip Monday, a college visit Thursday, and we’re flying to Florida Friday! Other than that everything is pretty chill. Please hang in there with me!

This past week has been chill actually. We didn’t have school Thursday or Friday due to conferences and I actually didn’t have any homework to do or catch up on.

Prom update: I am not going to ask the second guy I was talking about. *sighs* He’s still into his ex-girlfriend so either way it’s best to wait for him to get over her. I do have my friends working to set me up with one guy we know from our band. *cough* Maiya *cough* He’s a nice guy, so I wouldn’t mind going with him.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Cori McCarthy who wrote You Were Here  (which is lovely so go check it out)!!!! I had a wonderful time, and

Posing with my  signed copies

we chatted about everything from blogging to our favorite t.v. show Bones. I could not have had a better time. My awesome friend Sarah came with me, and had a great time, too! Cori was lovely enough to agree to do a Q and A on our blog here, so keep your eyes peeled for that! I also have the pleasure of helping her announce any other bookish news she may have in the future. If you have yet to read You Were Here I highly recommend going and getting a copy and supporting this awesome person. When I walked into the Barnes and Noble, there she was, just sitting all nice and waiting. I think I squealed a little. Cori and I had been communicating prior to meeting, and I was so excited to finally see her in person! She saved me the last Mik mug and gave it to me as a surprise – I couldn’t believe it. Cori also gave me a copy of her out of print book The Color of Rain which I’m hoping to get into this coming month.

All my goodies from the signing 🙂

I am still in shock that I actually met one of my favorite authors. Does this feeling ever wear off? Lol 🙂 It was amazing. *happy sighs* So I guess in conclusion that was one of the best moments of my bookish life 🙂

What else have I done in the past week you ask? Oh you know the usual. Freak out over a calculus test, band recruitment, hang out with my friends. Of course buy books. How could I not buy more books. It’s a small problem, okay? I don’t need help I can kick the addiction if I really wanted to!

Since my epic failure of trying to read two books at once, I have finished both of them and another. Reviews of all three coming soon! I am now reading The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine, and so far it’s really good. (Click the link if you’d like a full synopsis and to add it to your Goodreads.) It picks up right amidst the action, and I can tell I will love it.

As the end of the month approaches, keep an eye out for a book chat from The Book Junkies. This month we read The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf. I will also be posting a wrap-up and some of my anticipated reads for April. I’m ahead on my reading challenge and I hope to keep it that way!

How are you all? How was your week?

Happy reading! (And Happy Easter to those who celebrate!)

Sophie 🙂

Q & A Friday: Book Love Tag

Hello, there oh glorious Friday. Yes, it’s Friday (finally) so let us celebrate with a book tag. Next week I’m hoping to have an author interview prepared for you, so stay tuned!

I wasn’t nominated for this tag directly, but Beth from The Books Are Everywhere left this up to anyone to do and I was looking for a tag so I’m going to do it.

1.Your favourite book couple.

Annabeth and Percy forever. They were my first OTP and I’ve been to Tartarus and back with them.

2. Your Top 3 Book Boyfriends

Beau – The Love That Split The World

Percy – Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

Beck Van Buren – Mosquitoland

3. Imagine your favourite book couple. Who would propose, and how? (If there’s already been a proposal: who would be more into organising the wedding?)

Percy would. He’d be quirky and classic all in one. It would end with an underwater kiss of course.

4. Unpopular opinions time! Name a popular pairing you can’t stand.

Katniss and Peeta – no hate, I just don’t feel very strongly about them

5. Favourite and least favourite romantic trope?

Favorite? When he and I are best friends, I want him to know me inside out

Least favorite? When he thinks he’s better than everyone else and puts me down because of that, seriously – no jerks

6. Do you ship non-canon couples often? Name some if you do.

Oh yeah I do. Umm, off the top of my head all I can think of is Simon and Penelope from Carry On.

7. Your opinion on love triangles. Go!

If they’re done well, then yes. Please just save the drama if it isn’t necessary.

8. Favourite & least favourite love triangle.

Favorite? Percy, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and Annabeth

Least favorite? I whole-heartedly agree with Emma and Beth on Peeta, Gale, and Katniss

9. Sometimes romance just isn’t the way to go. Favourite friendship?

Meg and Natalie from The Love that Split the World (you didn’t say I had to choose a non-romantic relationship to begin with!!)

10. Favourite scene with your bookish OTP?

When Beck and Mim go to the vet’s office 🙂

11. Imagine your favourite book couple again.Who’s most excited about Valentines Day (either ironically or genuinely)?

Percy, genuinely 🙂

As you can tell, I have so many OTPs it’s crazy. I love them all, and I love adding them to my ever-growing list. Sometimes it’s hard because I want them to be with me half the time and the other half I want them to be with their significant other. #TheStruggleIsReal

What’s your opinion on OTPs? Do you have any? If so, do tell who they are 🙂

Happy reading!

Sophie 🙂

Yay or Nay Wednesdays: eReaders

Hey, there! Happy Hump Day 🙂 So since this is the first un-prompted book chat I’ve done, I decided I’d discuss the merits of the eReader. Yes, I know this is a widely debated topic. Due to its widespread nature, I want to put my two cents in, too. I decided that for my Wednesday chat days (I alternate with Beth), I’m going to debate a certain topic. I’m rambling now, so on with the debate!

The Case: eReaders

The Arguments

Pros: 

• lightweight – since the books are digital, they’re all tiny and easily transportable
• all in one – if you really buy into the eBook thing, you could have your whole library at your command, given you have enough space
• cases – you get to pick pretty cases
• cost effective – other than the start up cost of the actual reader, eBooks are much cheaper than buying your paper copy

Cons:

• the smell – you can only sniff an eReader so many times
• cost – depending how fancy you want your eReader, they can get really expensive
• the feel – they just don’t feel the same as a book
• turning pages – I personally love flipping through pages, the swipe just doesn’t do it for me

The Verdict?

While I do love my Nook, I just end up buying a physical copy of the book if I love it (All the Bright Places is one very good example). The weight of the book doesn’t bother me all too much. It’s nice to see how many pages I have left while I read, too. It’s not that I want to rush, it’s just a novelty to see how much progress I’ve made.

What are your thoughts? Do you own an eReader? 

Happy reading!

Sophie 🙂

Bookish News: Under My Skin Cover Reveal

I recently signed up to help us with book reveals and other announcements with Xpresso Book Tours. Since they come at some wonky times, some of these will come on non-designated days (by which I mean not Mondays).

Today is my first one, and I’ll be revealing the cover for Under My Skin by Laura Diamond. (Please note it was originally titled Hello, I Love You.)This is a new book from Swoon Reads Romance.

Title: Under My Skin

Author: Laura Diamond

Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: April 12th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. But staying alive requires Adam to become keenly focused on both his pulse and the many different daily medications he must take in exactly the right dosages. Adam’s torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.

The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man’s heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.

And then a donor is found…

Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals . Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn’t even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents – something Darby has never had.

Darby’s always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.

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Now doesn’t that sound like an interesting book?! I’m super excited and curious to see what this book entails. I have heard of similar books, but this one definitely sounds unique. It kind of reminds me a bit of All the Bright Places in that the boy and the girl meet in unusual circumstances. I will definitely be keeping this on my radar.

Now, are you ready for this awesome cover?!?

Wait for it….

Feast your eyes my friends. Isn’t it great? I really like it. It seems pretty fitting to the description of the book. Go add it to your Goodreads!

There is also giveaway being held for a copy of this book. Click this link to enter.

I hope you enjoy this and get excited!

Happy reading,

Sophie 🙂

Book Review: Starflight by Melissa Landers

Another review here! This is finally the last one I have before being all caught up (until I finish the two I’m reading now of course). This book was sent to me through Uppercase Box in the February package. It was signed by the author, and came with a few other goodies. Check out the entire box review through the second link above 🙂 Melissa Landers also wrote the Alienated series, but this is the first of hers that I’ve read. I am very pleased with her writing, and I’ll have to check out her other series when I get the chance!

Here’s the description on the flap:

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She’s so desperate to reach the realm that she’s willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he’s been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe…

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Have you seen the movie Overboard? If you haven’t you definitely should – it’s quality, and it’s some of the inspiration for this book. I learned that through the little extras included with Uppercase.

I’ve read a lot more sci-fi than I thought I liked this year. It’s good, and I did not give it enough of a chance last year. This genre is so exciting and interesting. Anything can happen in it. Solara and Doran’s world is one that is vaguely familiar, but twisted around and constructed in such a different way that makes it really interesting. I love that life originates on Earth, but it’s a luxury to live there. I think living somewhere else than Earth would be really interesting.

Solara is awesome. I like her creativeness and her ability to think on her feet. I would like to think I’d be as tough as her if I was in her situation, but I’m not sure. I like the sure and true things. I’m also one for rules. Her badassery is rival to that of Adele’s from Wolf by Wolf.

Doran’s turn of character was nice. It wasn’t immediate, and he did have moments of weakness. It was something that was needed and added to the story.

The relationship between Solara and Doran is one I totally ship. It wasn’t rushed – it took months to develop. Sometimes I feel like the relationships in these YA books are so fast! You meet the boy/girl at the beginning of the book and it seems like two days later they’re already in love! The time lapse never seems quite believable.

The rest of the crew I grew to love like Solara did. They’re my family, too. Cassia and Kane are definitely people I’d want to be friends with. Captain Rossi is an awesome father figure. He is someone I felt like I could look up to and be guided well. Renny is just an awesome guy. I’d have him swipe me some books 😉

THE PLOT TWIST THOUGH!!! I did not see that coming. It was out of left field! It was good though. One I wish was developed and included more in the plot!

Okee dokee, I’ll let ya go now! Happy reading!

Sophie 🙂