Worst Of 2017

And now the worst of 2017. I used to love doing these posts. I had so much fun bashing books. Sigh! Since I got married I've noticed I've lost my knack for ranting about books in a funny manner.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm too busy dealing with real life to muster up the energy to hate a book or if it's that whole compromise thing you have to learn in marriage that's making me look at books with more leniency but somethings off. I've also been much better at putting books down that aren't a match for me instead of forcing my way through them. I'm sure if I had forced my way through them they would have been one star reviews. Who knows! I did read some real doozys this year. I feel like my reviews were meaner than they were funny which makes me sad. I'm going to work on that.

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma 
The WORST book this year for sure.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutowski
I loved the first two books so this sad excuse for a ending left me shaking with rage.

The Mothers by Brit Bennett 
Eye twitching ensued while I read this one.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey 
I had to skim through the second half of this one just to finish it.

The Girl From The Sea by Shalini Boland
Oi! I really don't like the trend these types of books are following. I also felt the writing was horribly amateurish.

While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft
Another one I had to skim through just to finish. The writing was an unedited mess.

I guess just six books that I downright disliked isn't too bad right? Ugh! See how I couldn't even use the word hate? I'm not sure what's wrong with me. 

The Best Of 2017

I know, I know. Not ANOTHER  2017 wrap up  post. Sorry but I felt like taking a look back on the best of 2017.

As I went back through all the books I read in 2017 to come up with this list I realized I wanted to highlight the books I loved but also the books that stood out in my mind the most. So I had some five star reads that aren't making it to this list which makes me realize I might change their rating on Goodreads. Anywho, here they are!

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Since I've disliked everything else by Rowell this one shocked me. I'm in love with Lincoln and his story.

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Romantic, funny yet heartbreaking, this one will stick out in my mind for a long time and be reread often.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Hilarious! I laughed so hard I cried.

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
A book with more than just an idea but actual solutions and actions to take.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne 
Great ideas presented here.

IT by Stephen King
King never ceases to amaze me. This wasn't a horror story it was beautiful.

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney 
I liked this one but was surprised how the story stuck with me all year. I'll be rereading this one for sure.

The Break Down by B.A. Paris
Love this newer author. Her tales are suspenseful and wrap up so deliciously.

Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Frank will stick with me for a long time. Adorable story.

Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet 
Symbolism done right.

And there you have it! The best, most memorable books I read in 2017. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's Topic: Ten Hidden Gem Books in X Genre. Since it's Utah Book Week I thought I'd list the top ten books by Utah author's you all need to be reading!

The Hollow City by Dan Wells
This is the number one Utah book I push on people. Why people don't pick it up and read it already is beyond me. It's unique and engaging and just plain entertaining as hell!

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
If you haven't read a Sara Zarr book you need to. But which one? Any of them but I always recommend Once Was Lost. It's issuey and sad but so, so, so beautiful!

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams
This author writes a lot of verse novels and they're sad and heartbreaking and REAL. I love them.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
This Utah author has only given us two books so far but if you love Regency romances and haven't read one of her books you need to! I loved Blackmoore just a titch more so I'm recommending it.

Austenland by Shannon Hale
Speaking of loving Regency romances. Jane, the MC of Austenland, has just a tiny, tiny obsession with them. Watching her obsession play out in this one is a treat.

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
If you love fantasy, this is the fun beginning to a series. I've only read the first one so far so I can't vouch for the whole series.

Elevated by Elana Johnson
This contemporary verse novel blew me away. I thought it was going to be a cute romance and was surprised with a much deeper story that moved me to tears.

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
A scifi retelling of Snow White that was both inventive and delightful. If you think Marissa Meyer and her Lunar Chronicles has the monopoly on sci-fi retellings you'd be horribly wrong. Read this one. You'll see.

Transparent (Transparent #1) by Natalie Whipple
I read this one a few years ago for Utah book month and was not expecting anything great. I ended up loving it...and really need to get my hands on book two. What's up with that?

My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions by Becca Willhite
This cute little romance is perfect for anyone who might just have a few too many fanciful, romantic ideas about love.



And that's just some of the lesser known Utah books that I read and loved. There's tons of books by Utah authors that you've probably read and loved and books that I haven't even read yet. Yep, I have to admit it. Utah has some pretty awesome authors. Am I right?!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Day 1

I know I've been focusing on my Adult Literature Month this...well, month, but I decided to participate in BBAW. So this week I'll following their prompts. It's probably a good thing because I haven't finished another book yet so I don't have anything to review. So today the lovely ladies hosting BBAW have asked us to: "Introduce yourself by telling us about five books that represent you as a person or your interests/lifestyle."

I'm not sure I understand what they're going for but I thought I'd go ahead and try naming five books that will give you an insight into my personality.  Here we go.

A Madness Of Angels by Kate Griffin

If you've followed my blog for any amount of time you probably know that this series by Kate Griffin is one of my favorite series of all time. If you didn't know this let me just tell you a little about it. Matthew Swift is a sorcerer. Matthew Swift live in London. Matthew Swift was murdered. Though his body was never found there's no doubt of his demise. But he's back and full of vengeance...and something else, something powerful. 

The reason I chose this book as an insight into my personality is because this "thing" (can't say much without being spoilery) that is now a part of Matthew makes him incredibly powerful, special and unique. I LOVE stories like this. Call it low self esteem or boredom of the mundane life I live but I always wish I was all powerful, special, and could still be as humble as Matthew is. Love it! 

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

There's this deep part of me that wished I was as self sacrificing as Odd. I know if I had some power or ability I'd become some super villain. Seriously. Wouldn't it be nice to have telekinesis around crappy drivers in rush hour? I'd be flipping cars out of my way blaring Flight of the Valkyries and laughing manically. Sigh! But deep down I really wish I could be as humble and selfless and giving as Odd.

 Elevated by Elana Johnson

The message I got out of this book is one I loved and so desperately wish I could apply to my life. I don't want to be too spoilery but I kind of have to be so if you haven't read this one and plan to, you might want to skip this. At the end of the story Eleanor finally puts herself first. As hard as it is to walk away from Travis she does it. Not because she didn't love him but because she had learned how destructive and damning the relationship was. I'm not saying I need out of my marriage or anything. I just wish I had more love and respect for myself and could learn to put myself first. Not in a selfish way just in a necessary way. 

Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak

If you read my guest post on Suey's blog a few years ago you know all about this one. If you missed it you really should check it out. If you don't want to click on over there. Let me just say this. You know the song Killing Me Softly by the Fugees? About this girl who goes to a club and this guy is singing this song and she swears it's all about her? Well, that's how I feel about this book. I read it and just sat there crying. I swear Markus was writing about me! 

  

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I'm actually a hopeless romantic. I know, you'd never guess it by how much eye rolling goes on around here over the romance in books but I really am a romantic. This book is my type of romance. When Captain Wentworth picks up Anne and puts her in the carriage when they all went for that walk and she was tired...Sigh!!! I just about die. And of course the letter he writes! I cried like a baby the first time I read that. 

So there you have it. WAY too much information about me....well, this is awkward...Just kidding. I hope you enjoyed this insight into my personality. 

Top Ten Tuesday

It's time for another Top Ten Tuesday! OK, it's been awhile and I wasn't going to participate today but I was actually going to post about my New Years Resolutions anyway so why not link up, right? If you want to join head on over to The Broke and the Bookish and link up.

Top 5 Bookish Resolutions

1. I want to finish a bunch of series. Odd Thomas, The Lunar Chronicles, Vampire Academy...see the list goes on and on. I need to finish them!

2. Speaking of series...I want to START a bunch of series. Can you believe I haven't started Daughter of Smoke and Bone or The Grisha Series? Not to mention The Seven Realms and Starbound series. And that's just naming a few. I need to get going on some of these, right?

3. I want to read more adult books. I love YA but it's dominating my reads each year and I love adult books. With that in mind, I've already got an "adult books only" month planned. Remember last time? No? That's OK. There's not much to it. Just set aside a month where I read strictly read adult books. I'm planning on February if anyone wants to join me.

4. Read more! I used to read 75-125 books a year and in 2015 I barely manage 50. This is pathetic! I can read more than that! I set my Goodreads challenge at 65 for this year. Honestly, I hope to do better but I need to be honest with myself. It might not happen.

5. Plan each month ahead. I never plan on what I'm going to read each month but I think I'm going to try it this year. I think it will help motivate me to go into my personal library and pick out several books I want to read that month and then get excited about them! However, if it becomes a chore and makes reading work I'll abandon this goal with out a hint of guilt. I don't want reading to become a bother.

Top 5 Personal Goals

(I don't usually set New Year's Resolutions but I do ponder my life and habits at the end of each year and think about what I need to give up and what I need to gain)

1. I have officially named 2016  The Year of NO! What do I mean? I'm a horrible, pathetic people pleaser. I seriously can not say no! And if I do manage to squeak out a refusal to an outing or favor asked of me, I have this all consuming guilt that leads to anger and hate towards the invitee or favor asker. It's ridiculous! This has got to stop. So this year I plan on saying NO. If I say no to you, please don't get upset. Understand that I deal with anxiety and stress and depression and sometimes I just can't go out or do that favor. Sometimes I just need to say NO.

2 Cliche! I need to exercise again. I used to go running and haven't been for ages. I need to drop a few pounds before my poor joints can handle running again but I could at least go walking!

3. The whole house remodeling thing has sort of fallen to the wayside. Mostly it's just outside stuff now but there are some little things left inside that need done and my Library/Sitting room needs to get finished! I'm totally going to focus on it this year. I can't wait!

4. Go on Vacation. I know this sounds silly and vain but I NEED vacations. I need something to look forward to and I need that stress release a vacations offers. Now if I can just get my husband on board.

5. Blog more. My blogging is so sporadic. It's hard to work up the energy sometimes but I really miss it...even if it's not like it used to be. I still want to have somewhere to talk about books and movies and life!

There you have it! Think I'll manage any of these? I hope so.

End of the Year Book Survey 2015

I thought I'd participate In The Perpetual Page Turner's End Of the Year Survey! You should join me, Head on over an link up if you want to join too!



1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

I read the last three Ruby Oliver series this year and They. Were. Awesome. I love this series! I need to own it! I need to read it again and again! 

2. Book You Were Excited About And Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Girl Stolen by April Henry. I've been trying to get my hands on that on forever. It was a huge disappointment. Completely unbelievable and predictable.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Elevated by Elana Johnson. I thought it would be cute but I was very pleased with the message in this one.

 
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
I wish I could say the Ruby Oliver series but no one has read them....yet! I did push Bone Gap by Laura Ruby on my friend Suey and she read and loved it. Yay!


5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?
Starter: Throne of Glass Sequel: P.S. I Still Love You Ender: Real Life Boyfriends (Ruby Oliver 4)

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Rainbow Rowell. I've only read one of her books so far and, actually, I wasn't fond of the story but the writing was amazing!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don't read coffee table books but this one was a pleasant surprise. So cute!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Poison by Lan Chan was very action packed and exciting!

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Uh, The Ruby Oliver series again. I'll be re-reading that one again and again.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Didn't like the book but the cover is just lovely! 

11. Most memorable character of 2015?
Madeleine from Big Little Lies. She's hilarious and kind and I'll never forget her.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?
Animal Farm by George Orwell. Whether you loved it or hated it you have to admit; this one makes you think.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb. Sadly I didn't love it but I've been meaning to read it forever. I can't believe I didn't pick it up sooner.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

I'm not a highlighter. I need to be better at that. As it is, I don't have a favorite quote. 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
Shortest was The Well Rested Mother the coffee table book I mentioned earlier. The Longest was Dune by Frank Herbert

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

I always spot the big twist or mystery a mile away but while I caught one thing in this one, something else shocked the crap out of me! 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth from my reread of Persuasion.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Juliette and Kenji from the Shatter Me series.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. I love her books.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Dune by Frank Herbert. Jenni pushed this one on our entire book club. I'm glad she did.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
Captain Thorne from Cress. My little girlish heart flutters at the mention of his name.

23. Best 2015 debut you read?
Throne of Glass...that was Maas' debut novel right?

24. Best World building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Poison by Lan Chan. Very intricate world indeed!

5. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
I want to give another shout out to the Ruby Oliver series but I'll give another series some love. The Georgia Nicholson books. I read books 3 and 4 and liked them both. They're so funny.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
Out of the Easy by Ruta Septey. 1:00 am and I was crying like a baby.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Bone Gap. Seriously people! More people should be reading and talking about this book!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
We Were Liars. And not in a good way. It was the most depressing pointless book I've ever read.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. Um, yeah. Unique. Let's call it unique.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?
Flowers of Quiet Happiness


2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?
Ugh, I don't know. I'm really tired of my review format so it felt like writing reviews was a chore. I plan on changing that this year, though.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
Uh, it's a toss up between the perfect recipe post I wrote and a new feature I started with Suey called Book Banter.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I didn't do much this year. I'd have to say I really enjoyed the Dewy's 24 Hour Readathons this year. I got to participate in both.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?
Despite being a little light on money this year I still bought a ton of books this year. Now isn't buying books the best?!

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Normal life getting in the way! It's tough being married. I love it and all but it really takes its toll on my reading.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Most comments and a lot of views too goes, ironically, to my post Hello, is there Anybody out there?


8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
My Rant & Rave posts are something new I started this year. I wish they got a little more love because they sure are fun to write.


9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
The Pioneer Book Store in Provo UT is awesome. It's the most clean, organized, beautiful used book store I've ever seen. Check out the post I did all about it.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I only did one reading challenge. The Goodreads Challenge and I set a goal of 50 books and read 50 books! Wahoo!!!

Top Ten Tuesday

It's Top Ten Tuesday again! This week's prompt: Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors for me. Head on over and link up if you want to make your own list. What with it being Utah Book Month I should list UTAH authors but I'm having a hard enough time coming up with ten authors so you'll have to be satisfied that only  two of the authors on my list are from Utah. Here we go.

UTAH AUTHOR

Sara Zarr. Couldn't find a picture of her holding one of her books.
UTAH AUTHOR















Sheesh! That was hard. There's plenty of authors I love but would I really read ANYTHING they wrote? No, probably not. These ten, though, yep! I'd read anything from them.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's prompt: Top Ten authors I REALLY want to meet.

Sarah Addison Allen
I really love her books and think she'd be a delight to meet.

Dean Koontz
Come on, I have to meet the creator of Odd Thomas!

Kate Griffin
One of these day's I WILL meet the author of the Matthew Swift books! I have to!!!

Neal Shusterman
Honestly, there are books of Shusterman's that I'm not a fan of. But, there are book of his that I absolutely adore. Either way, I'd love to meet him.

Stephen King
Again, another author who is a hit or a miss with me but still, can you imagine meeting this  amazing author?!

Jane Austen
Yeah, so I could never actually meet her but I'd REALLY, REALLY like to. Who wouldn't want to meet the creator of Mr Darcy and Captain Wentworth or Mr Knightly?

Markus Zusak
Actually, I've met Markus before. He's absolutley as awesome as his books...which is why I'd love to meet him again!

Kate Morton
I've actually only read one of Kate's books but I plan on reading the rest for sure! This woman can weave a story!

Lindsey Leavitt
This one actually makes me a little crazy because I've has the chance twice now to meet her and didn't do it. How stupid is it that I've never met her? Seriously need to rectify that!

Rosamund Hodge
After reading Cruel Beauty...I just really need to shake this author's hand...or hug her. You know, whatever.


This prompt totally wasn't fair. I have like a billion other authors I'd like to meet. This isn't even my top ten. I can't narrow it down like that. These are just the ones that have been on my mind lately. I need to meet them? Any author's we share in common?