In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Crossed by Ally Condie - Read & loved Matched so I'm looking forward to finally reading this! Only took me 3 months. :/


The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - Supporting my newfound love of this author. If you haven't read her yet, YOU MUST NOW.


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - This is supposedly his best book so far, so I'm expecting BIG THINGS.

Psych Major Syndrome Alicia Thompson - Woooo a college setting! We need more new adult.

Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales - Heard this one is hilarious and with my current workload (srsly i haaate school), I definitely need a fun read.

And a whole bunch of MORE textbooks for school blahhhhhhhhh

What did you get in your mailbox? Let me know!

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.

There aren’t many books nowadays that blow me away. Actually, they’re few and far between. Sometimes however, I get lucky and am taken by surprise. This is totally one of those times.


The concept of this story may seem familiar and basic enough--girl’s sister commits suicide, girl has no clue why, speculation and ~self-discovery~ ensues, right? Well, not exactly. There is speculation and there is a whole lot of self-discovering here, but fortunately, it was done in a completely un-cliche way.


If you know me, you know that I consider characters to be the biggest factor in a great book. They either make or break my enjoyment of the story. That said, I can't tell you how much I loved getting to know every one of these characters! Harper, Jake, Laney and even June, were some of the most real and fleshed out characters I've read. They made mistakes, they had their flaws and quirks, but it only made them that much more... true.

Still not sold? 

Well, if you're looking for that little extra Oomph that sets it apart from all the rest and you're a music fan, you are in luck, my friend! Being a kind of sort of music junkie, I love books that incorporate music, and more than that, I love books that include music without going overboard and FALALALAILUVANDKNOWGOODMUSIC-in-your-face. Saving June has just the right balance for music lovers to enjoy, while also keeping not-so-music-crazy people unannoyed. I also love that the story is pretty reflective of the music featured and is not just thrown in randomly; it ties in well. (Also, the real playlists from the book are included in the back, which I thought was a nice, fun addition.)

With the perfect blend of adventure, romance, and growing up, Saving June is definitely one of the best contemporaries--heck one of the best books, PERIOD--that I’ve read in a while. If Hannah Harrington has managed to do what many long-time authors fail to do with just her debut, I can’t wait to read what she writes up next! Definitely an author to look out for.

2012 Books to DIE For (hardy har harrrrr)

I know this is a little overdue, but this semester has me swamped, let me tell you! And it’s barely my THIRD day back. blahhhh So instead of doing anything fancy, I’ve stuck with what I do best-- a list!

The following books I’m pretty much willing to give a limb for, so in case you’re in need of one and have an extra copy of any which one... you know where to find me! 

Books I’m most looking forward to in 2012

The obvious sequels:

Mara Dyer 2 by Michelle Hodkin

Um, yeah. I don’t even know what to say other than I NEED THIS BOOK OMG. So freakin’ excited!!!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Alex, Alex, Alex<33333 I need to know what happens. ONE MORE MONTH AND I WILL!

Thumped by Megan Mccafferty

Bumped was no doubt, one of my favorite dystopians of last year and definitely the most underrated. Can't wait to see (or read) what happens!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Still on that dystopian kick.

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

This is probably my favorite paranormal-ish series and the only book in that genre in my list. That says something! Love love love this series. And Archer. ;)

From Favorite authors:

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

Courtney Summers AND zombies. You don't need to know anything else.

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt

Lauren has yet to throw out a book I don't love. Pretty sure that streak will keep on going...

The Story of Us Deb Caletti

Sophomores:

The Disenchantments by Nina Lacour

If I wasn't interested in this book (which I am, of course), I'd buy it for the cover alone. Seriously. Cover designer, you nailed it!

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

This one sounds even better than Matson's debut. And people, I LOVED that book.

And the rest....

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Susane always gets the best covers, I swear! If I were an author, I'd be jealous. Of course, lucky for us, the awesomeness is never limited to just her covers.

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

This one is being compared to Anna and the French Kiss. My love for that book is preeettyyy intense, so this one is already pre-ordered. We shall see!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

I may have missed a few, but this is the majority. So if you've read any of these already or are looking forward to 'em as well, let me know! We can anxiously fangirl together.

Favorite Books of 2011

Title says it all. Now, I definitely didn't read as many books as I wanted to this year (I did wayyy more rereading than I should have), but I'm glad for the ones I did. There were some definite winners- from frickin' fantastic debuts to new-to-me authors whose future work I can't wait to read, I can only hope 2012 will be as great!

So, without further adieu... this list is compiled of books *I* read this year. Some were not released this year, and one has not yet been released.

TOP 11 OF '11

11. Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Jan '12)

10. The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

9.  Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

8. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins 

7. Heist Society by Ally Carter

6. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

5. Bumped by Megan Mccafferty

4. One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

2. Where She Went by Gayle Forman

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

There ya have it! Here's to hoping 2012 will be even better! (By the looks of it, it definitely will be! :D)

While I was gone...

I’m baaack! Oh, how I've missed you so! <3333 And ok, you’re probably sick of my absence tangents by now (I know I am) so I’ll just spare you all my lame sad excuses for being a very, very BAD blogger and let you know that while I was away I did actually do some reading. Some books were the OMFG-I-WANT-TO-MARRY-THIS-AUTHOR kind of good and others... not so much. 

I’m a little short on time at the moment to write my usual full, thought-out, ~oh, so eloquent reviews (hardy-har-har) but I have A LIST! I will most likely write reviews for these when things aren’t too crazy SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THIS SHORT POST. 

Anyway, the list.

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ:

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Not sure what I was expecting, but whatever it was, I was completely surprised by this debut. And ok, I was kind of going through a weird ballerina fascination phase, but if you like realistic contemporary AND happen to be a dancer, or are just easily fascinated by them like me, this is a book for YOU.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

When it comes to great, thought provoking stories, this woman never fails to BRING IT. Another amazing book, I WANT HER BRAIN AND TALENT. (I also just realized I've never reviewed a Zarr book. SIGH. I need to fix that stat!)

Amplified by Tara Kelly

Upon first glance, I thought it seemed unique enough and it had potential, but WOAH. I'm loving all these refreshing tales lately, not gonna lie... READ IT. (Also, how can you not love this cover?)

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Gritty and intense, THIS is a book you need to go out and buy as soon as it's released (Jan 3). I know I'm being annoyingly vague, but trust me and do yourself a favor and pre-order. Right now.

... I see a pattern here, do you??? (I <3 contemporary, what can I say.)

Now for the paranormal lovers out there...

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Such a great take on mythology! I STILL have yet to read Cabot's Abandon (it's somewhere in my TBR pile), and now I'm itching to even more (as well as other mythology retellings)! You all know how hard a time I have with paranormal romance, but I had hardly any complaints with this one. That says something.

Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule

I love witches. I love ghosts. Throw 'em together and I am sold! I feel like indie authors definitely don't get the credit or attention they deserve when it comes to their work. So don't let the fact that this is an indie sway you away. If you're looking for a good one, you just found it.

More later.

P.S. I hope you all have been well and are staying warm & cozy so far! It is FREEZING here in TX at the moment and I am dyyying. Off to do more Christmas shopping! :/ BRRRR