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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*  Title: Twelve Steps to Normal Author: Farrah Penn Series: Standalone Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Date Published: March 13, 2018 Pages: 384 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: James Patterson presents this emotionally resonant novel that shows that while some broken things can't be put back exactly the way they were, they can be repaired and made even stronger. Kira's Twelve Steps To A Normal Life 1. Accept Grams is gone. 2. Learn to forgive Dad. 3. Steal back ex-boyfriend from best friend... And somewhere between 1 and 12, realize that when your parent's an alcoholic, there's no such thing as "normal." When Kira's father enters rehab, she's forced to leave everything behind--her home, her best friends, her boyfriend...everything she loves. Now her father's sober (again) and Kira is returning home, determined to get her life back to normal...exactly as it was before she was sent away. But is that what Kira really wants? Review: Twelve Steps to Normal is not a book that I would’ve picked up on my own. I tend to lean more towards fantasy novels. However, when I picked up this book to review, I fell in love with it. This book is AMAZING! Seriously, read it!! First, I have to mention the representation in this book, which I loved because things like addiction and alcoholism are not represented enough in YA today. This book mainly focused on the main character’s father and his struggle with being an alcoholic. The main character, Kira, has spent her recent life on kind of rocky terms with her dad. This book follows the journey that Kira, her father, her father’s friends, and her friends take, coping with this new life. Something that I loved was the friendship in this book. A huge part of Twelve Steps to Normal was focused on the friendships between different people. Friendship is typically overshadowed in YA, but in this novel, Farrah Penn exquisitely executes the friendships between several people, which made the book for me. Overall, Twelve Steps to Normal is a phenomenal, fast-paced book, and I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a read! Buy Twelve Steps to Normal:
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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.* There's no point in wishing. We can't change anything about the past. We can only remember. We can only move forward.  Title: The Astonishing Color of After Author: Emily X.R. Pan Series: Standalone Genre: Magical Realism, Contemporary Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Date Published: March 20, 2018 Pages: 480 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird. Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life. Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love. Review: The Astonishing Color of After is one of the most unique books I have ever read. I received it for a review, and after getting about half of the way through the book, I had trouble finishing it. However, I continued reading and I am so glad that I did. After the brief struggle midway through the book, The Astonishing Color of After because one of my favorite books of 2018 so far. The characters were so well executed, I truly felt an attachment to almost all of them, which is hard to come by in books. The way that these characters were written just blew me away. What really stood out to me in this book is how the characters interacted with each other. I’m so used to seeing perfect characters never making any mistakes. It was so refreshing to see these character be… real. Another thing about this book that I loved was the setting change. The setting in this book does change a few times, and when it does, Emily X.R. Pan made sure that every setting was described so well that the reader feels like they are living in that world. Overall, The Astonishing Color of After is a phenomenal book, meant to be read over a few days, which I believe to be necessary to completely enjoy this book. If you get stuck in the middle like I did, please please continue reading! You will not regret it, I promise! Buy The Astonishing Color of After:
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.* Welcome to Cessation, Serendipity Jones. The last place on the continent where you can do whatever the hell you want.  Title: Gunslinger Girl Author: Lyndsay Ely Series: Standalone Genre: SciFi, Western Publisher: James Patterson Date Published: January 2, 2018 Pages: 432 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great.... In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot. Review: Gunslinger Girl is one of the most extraordinary and unique books that I have ever read. I was drawn in immediately and finished this book quickly. There are so many things to love about this book! The first and most important thing about this book that I loved as the world building. First off, the sheer abundance of the world building in Gunslinger Girl is impressive enough as it is. But Lyndsay Ely took it a step further and created incredibly detailed worlds. The first world before the main character, Pity, leaves has immense explanation even though we only have a few chapters of it. The next world, Cessation, is even more well thought out. There are so many elements of it that are just phenomenal. However, what really pushed the world building over the top was how well it intertwined with the plot. The next thing that I loved was the characters and how complex they were. Of course, there is Pity with her entire backstory being revealed throughout the entire book. Almost every one of the characters has some kind of backstory or complexity to them, which I absolutely adored. Finally, the last thing I want to mention is how unexpected Gunslinger Girl was. There were plot twists left and right, with death, character betrayal, and more thrown in to keep the reader guessing. That is something that I find isn’t very common, especially in YA, so I was very happy to see that included in this book. Overall, Gunslinger Girl is an amazing, genre-bending novel filled to the brim with plot twists, phenomenal characters, and intense world building. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it! Buy Gunslinger Girl:
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*  Title: Marella Author: Morgan Sheppard Series: Wraidd Elfennol, #0.5 Genre: Fantasy Date Published: March 20, 2016 Pages: 105 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: Marella has grown up on the island of Wraidd Elfennol, where humans, animals and the very Elements live in harmony together. Since she was a youngling, the draw towards Water has always been the strongest. It is one of the reasons Marella wants nothing more than for that Element to be her Primary, so she can become a Water Weaver, gifted in hydromancy. Each youngling goes to the main village of Charon for the Test to find out which of the Elements they are strongest in, which in turn, will determine their futures. Marella’s best friend since childhood, Daren, is also going for his Test. They have been best friends since childhood, getting into many adventures together, as their families spend rest days together. Yet when the day comes where their fates will be decided, doubts and insecurities creep into Marella’s mind. What happens when you don’t get what you wish for? And what happens if you do? At this time of their lives, when their paths are about to take Marella and Daren to different places, will they get what they wish for? Review: Marella is an incredibly intriguing book. Although the whole choosing thing was very reminiscent of other novels, it was very unique in the plot aspect. I really enjoyed reading Marella and I can’t wait to continue the series. The number one thing about Marella that I loved was the animal-human communication/connection! Essentially, the humans are assigned an animal after their test. This animal becomes their life partner and is able to communicate with them. I thought this was very unique and added an element to the book that really pushed it over the top. Another thing that I really enjoyed was the characters. It was so different reading from a younger perspective than I usually do, which was really interesting. In addition to that, the characters were very fun to follow as they were going through a huge change in their life. This made for some pretty enthralling scenes. Overall, Marella is a phenomenal book with a bunch of fast-paced and entertaining scenes. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a traditional type book with a twist! Buy Marella:
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*  Title: The Season for Love Author: M.W. Arnold Series: Standalone Genre: Contemporary, Romance Publisher: MLR Press Date Published: December 16, 2017 Pages: 220 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: The Season for Love is the season to heal all life's troubles. Believing she was responsible for the death of her husband, Chrissie Stewart retreats from all those who love her. A chance meeting with mysterious stranger, single-parent Josh Morgan and his bewitching young daughter Lizzy, breathe new life into her and gradually, she feels able to start to let go of the memory of her lost love. Unexpected links are revealed between the two families that strengthen the growing bonds she feels to this man and with the encouragement of her best friend Annie, herself hiding a hidden conflict from Chrissie, she battles with her demons to believe in her ability to trust and love again. Everything comes to a head on Christmas Day; which all goes to show that this is truly The Season for Love. Review: The Season for Love is a wonderful romance book with a very dark undertone. The story follows Chrissie, a woman who believes she is responsible for the death of her husband. She consequently shuts out her entire family. I just have to mention in this review that this book is filled with grief. Something I really appreciate were the little details, such as Chrissie’s diary, that made the grief seem realer. This continues on throughout the entire book, using different aspects of Chrissie’s life to make the book seem more like reality. The next thing that I obviously have to talk about is the romance. I think it was very cliche but in the best possible way. I absolutely loved how Josh didn’t just automatically swoop in and save Chrissie with a snap of his fingers. The whole book focused around Josh’s journey in helping Chrissie and Chrissie’s journey in helping herself, which is something that usually authors fail to covey. Another thing I loved was that Josh had his own life and did not completely focus on Chrissie, which tend to happen in these types of novels. The last thing that I want to talk about is Annie, Chrissie’s best friend, and Deb, Chrissie’s sister. I think that they were such a crucial part of Chrissie’s journey and I really enjoyed how it played out in terms of how Annie and Deb helped Chrissie in a way that Josh couldn’t. Overall, The Season for Love is a heartwarming and very well executed romance novel that is absolutely perfect for this time of year. If you are in search for a lovely romance with a twist, this book is definitely for you! Buy The Season for Love:
 It's been forever since I have posted a reading update! I am currently reading two books. The first book that I am reading is A Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. I am really enjoying it and although I still have a long way to go, I am excited to finish it and see what happens! The second book that I am reading is the first Stefan's Diaries book. It is by no means a literary masterpiece, but it is a super fun book to read after watching and reading the entirety of the Vampire Diaries series.
Do you do a IMWAYR post? If so, please leave the link in the comments below, and I will definitely check it out! Don't forget to comment and subscribe to get notified when I post! :) When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable.  Title: Siege and Storm Author: Leigh Bardugo Series: The Grisha Trilogy, #2 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance Publisher: Henry Holt and Company Date Published: June 4, 2013 Pages: 496 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads Synopsis: Darkness never dies. Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. Review: Siege and Storm is a great sequel and addition to the Grisha Trilogy. Thankfully, I was not disappointed after I finished reading this. In fact, it was quite the opposite.I found myself really enjoying Siege and Storm. However, there were a couple of things that I didn’t like. So, with review is going to be a pretty healthy mix of the good and the bad. First off, the good. As I mentioned in my Shadow and Bone review, something that I really love about this series is the world and world-building. The intriguing world that we were introduced to in Shadow and Bone just got more and more interesting throughout Siege and Storm. The world as we used to know it has expanded and it gives an amazing glimpse into the rest of the Grishaverse world, including places such as the True Sea. The next thing that I liked was Alina’s slight but very important change in character. In Siege and Storm, we see Alina struggle with her “inner darkness” to not be a hero, anti-hero if you will. I found this very unique. I have not seen anything like this before in YA and I think it should be implemented more. It added a lot of depth to Alina’s character, and truly pushed her character to the complex stage that we all know and love. In Siege and Storm, we get introduced to a handful of new characters, all of whom I loved! They each had a story and a complex background. Next, we have the first thing that I didn’t particularly like. After reading the Six of Crows duology, I had high hopes for the diversity aspect of this series. Sadly, my expectation was not met. I had a problem with the lack of diversity in Siege and Storm. Especially after reading Six of Crows, I expected tons of diversity, which just wasn’t there. Overall, Siege and Storm is a phenomenal book. It is packed full of action, romance, twists and turns, and intense fighting sequences. So, no matter who you are, this book is definitely a must-read! Buy Siege and Storm:
 I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by Alaina over at An Infinite Book World! Thank you so much for nominating me (this banner was also made by her so the credit for it is hers)! The Rules: -Put the award logo/image on your blog -List the rules -Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog -Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well (Okoto Enigma) -Tell the readers three things about yourself -Nominate 10-20 people -Notify your nominees -Ask your nominees any 5 questions; with one weird/funny questions (specify) -Share a link to your best post(s) Three facts about me: 1. I love dancing. Right now I am injured, but normally I am dancing almost everyday! 2. My favorite tv shows include The Vampire Diaries, Riverdale, and much more! 3. I love animals. I have a cat (his name is Shadow) and I love him to pieces. In addition, I've loved all animals for as long as I can remember. Alaina's Questions: 1. What is your most anticipated release for the rest of 2017? Well, that isn't too hard considering there isn't much of 2017 left! I am going to have to go with Brave by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I haven't yet read the beginning of the series but I know I will love it because Jennifer is my favorite author! 2. Were there any books that inspired your blog? Yes! Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout inspired me to start my blog! 3. What is one book that made you cry buckets of tears? Hm... I am going to go with Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. 4. What was your most recent book purchase? I actually can't remember :). 5. How has your day been? My day has been pretty good! My Best Post(s): This is a really hard question since I have been blogging for so long, but I am going to just say that i consider my reviews to be some of my favorite/best posts! My Nominations: -Debbie @ My Eclectic Reads -Anny @ The Mystique Reader -Ash and Lo @ Windowsill Books -Megan @ Megxnmarie -Tracey-J @ Books and Other Pursuits -Hanna @ Hanna's Book Obsession -Kathy @ Books and Munches -Haley @ Fangirl Fury -Alex @ Coffeeloving Bookohlic -Emily @ Who Gave the Write My Questions:
1. What is your most recent read? 2. What is your favorite book merchandise? 3. How many books have you read this year? 4. Do you participate in any challenges? 5. What is your favorite food?  I am SUPER excited about this post! This post is going to be a list/combination of things that I wish I could have in my dream reading space. The reason I am so excited to do this post is because I usually just read on the couch, so it is so much fun to find evyerthing that I want in my dream reading space! So, without further ado, let's get onto the post! 1. Bookshelves What is a reading space without bookshelves? After lots of browsing, I narrowed my choice down to two bookcases. The bookshelves on the left are the Billy bookshelves from Ikea. I love the look of the wall to wall shelves and I think it would be a great addition to a dream reading space! The floating shelves on the right are from Target. I would love to use them as a way to display my favorite books!
2. Chair Obviously, I need somewhere I can curl up with my book! The chair on the left from Arhaus looks so comfy and like I can snuggle up with a blanket and read for hours. The couch on the right is also from Arhaus. I picked it because sometimes I would rather lie down and reading rather than sitting in the comfy chair! If these appeal to you, Arhaus has a wonderful selection of couches on their Sectional Sofas page!
3. Lighting Of course I need some lighting to read. I couldn't decide between these two lamps so I am including both. The one on the left is so adorable and the one on the right is super classy.
4. Blanket I actually have this blanket, and take it from me. It is incredibly soft!  5. Decorations Last but certainly not least, I need some decorations. I would love a book themed pillow like the one on the left from Society6. I think it would be adorable to have one of these cute "read" signs like the one on the right from Etsy.
 What harm can a little hope do? -The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo Oh my, I am LOVING this book so far! I started reading it about a week ago. Since it is a series of short stories, I have been reading a story or a half of a story every few nights. As someone who loved the Six of Crows Duology and the Grisha Trilogy, I am really enjoying this book. If you do Teaser Tuesday posts, leave the link in the comments and I will be sure to check it out! Don't forget to comment and subscribe to stay up to date with my future posts!  Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.
Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price. Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse. This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves. |
Currently Reading:Destiny Rising
by L.J. Smith Reading Challenges:Goodreads 2018: 1/100
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