Waiting on Wednesday (20).

Waiting On Wednesday is from Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

One pregnancy. Four friends. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written YA novel.  

Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How they begged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For a while anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result. Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind. 

I love both the cover and the premise. I think it's interesting that this instance of pregnancy doesn't solely focus on Ellie, but also the boy involved and their friends.

REVIEW! The Day Before.

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Lyrical? Check.
Emotional? Check.
Calming, beautiful and deep? Check, check and check.

*If you didn't already know, all of Schroeder's novels are written in verse. Don't be quick to knock 'em off as "stupid poetry." They're amazing, thought-provoking and raw. Refreshing, even. Read and you'll discover their loveliness.

As for The Day Before, it's a wonderful combination of family stress versus unknowing-the-future stress. In such few words you get this complete sense of Amber and her family; it's very touching. As the title suggests, the book takes place over the course of one day - "the day before," in particular. You're not kept in the dark as to what it's referencing; there's no guessing, no waiting, no cliffhangers. The story is straightforward - you simply tag along.

Cade is that quiet/shy/boyishly cute kind of guy. His interactions with Amber don't come off forced. Rather, they're genuine. My only gripe is the quick progression of the romance. I'm not okay with situations that make it seem as if the characters are falling in love after knowing one another for a few hours. This isn't to say that the romance doesn't work within the context of the story, because it does. It works. I'm all for Cade and Amber. It's just that, ultimately, it's not too believable.

The ending comes rather quickly, too. I was just getting into that lulling rhythm that Schroeder provides with her verse, when I realized the story was coming to an end. I like the premise of the story, and the characters, so much that I wish I'd gotten to spend more time with them.

Short and sweet: It's beautiful. Go read it. Then read all of her other books. They're great.

Bout of Books read-a-thon: End!

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I made it! I read right up until the finish time (okay, a little past that), but I made it. Bout of Books was just what I needed before heading to school; it gave me the chance to step up my game and read as much as possible, since I know I won't have the time once classes begin. Of course, what's a read-a-thon without the interruption of a hurricane? Yep - I sat through the hurricane. (With my electricity intact - when does that ever happen?) Granted, prepping for the hurricane and being swept up in all of its drama set me back a bit. So, let's see how I did.

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MY GOALS:

1. Finish my TBR pile. (*I didn't even touch it.)

2. Try something new. (New genre?)

3. Read something recommended.

UPDATES:

8/22

Number of books I’ve read today: 1.

Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/23
Number of books I’ve read today: .5
Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/24
Number of books I’ve read today: .75
Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/25
Number of books I’ve read today: 1.
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.

8/26
Number of books I’ve read today: .5
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.

8/27
Number of books I’ve read today: .75
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.

8/28
Number of books I’ve read today: 2.
Total number of books I’ve read: 4.

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Four total books:

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan.

Had it for a while. Love all of his stuff. Loved this one too.

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

This was the #1 recommended book. I've read Marchetta in the past, but was hesitant about this one because it's not so much "my thing." Which is why I've counted this as my "something new." The lingo is strange at times, and the plot, I discovered, isn't one I would normally be drawn to. And yet, it's beautiful. Really, you should read this ASAP.

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.

I LOVE all of her books, which are verse novels, if you didn't know. They're beautiful, too.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. 

Okay. So maybe I haven't quite finished this one yet. I'm still counting it! It will be finished today. It was also another one recommended to me. So far, so good.

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All in all, I could've done much better. I blame my headaches and the hurricane. (Ever try to read an e-book with a headache? My advice: DON'T.)

But no worries! This just means I'll push myself to do even better during my next read-a-thon. HUGE thanks to Amanda @ On a Book Bender for hosting and listening to me whine about my reading troubles.

In My Mailbox (22).

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson.

I can't express my love enough for all of Lisa Schroeder's books, so I'm beyond excited to start The Day Before; I've read really good reviews for it too, so that's always good to know!

As for Amy & Roger, I've had it on my TBR list for a while now, but since so many people have been recommending it, I decided to bump it up.

TGIF! (15)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Book Associations: Which genre, authors, or particular books do you think people associate with your reading style?

Contemporary, contemporary and more contemporary. I'm the Contemporary Lit Queen. Usually people associate Sarah Dessen as my favorite author, and continually recommend her books (but I've already read all of them, of course). I can't think of any other particular/specific books that people associate with my reading style, though.



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Waiting on Wednesday
REVIEW! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
REVIEW! Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance

Bout of Books read-a-thon: begin!

I'm featured! "Who am I Stalking?" *

Waiting On Wednesday (19).

Waiting On Wednesday is from Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

My Beating Teenage Heart by C. K. Kelly Martin

Ashlyn Baptiste is falling. One moment she was nothing—no memories, no self—and then suddenly, she's plummeting through a sea of stars. Is she in a coma? She doesn't remember dying, and she has no memories of the life she left behind. All she knows is that she's trapped in a consciousness without a body and she's spending every moment watching a stranger.

Breckon Cody's on the edge. He's being ripped apart by grief so intense it literally hurts to breathe. On the surface, Breckon is trying to hold it together for his family and his girlfriend, but underneath he's barely hanging on.

Even though she didn't know him in life, Ashlyn sees Breckon's pain, and she's determined to find a way help him. As her own distressing memories emerge from the darkness, she struggles to communicate with the boy who can't see her, but whose life is suddenly intertwined with hers. 

I love this premise. It reminds me almost of The Everafter, but with people rather than objects being the clues. I also really enjoy stories about the "inbetween," so to speak.

Bout of Books read-a-thon: Begin!

 Feeling overwhelmed because you have too many books and not enough time to read them? The Bout of Books Read-a-Thon is just what the book doctor ordered. (Hosted by the fabulous Amanda @ On A Book Bender.)

Read as much as you can whenever you can between

 12:00am 8/22 and 11:59pm 8/28 (your time zone).

Go HERE for the details and sign-up list.

Then spread the word!

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QUICK NOTES:

• You must be signed up in order to enter any of the TEN super awesome giveaways.
• The sign up form for the read-a-thon will be open through Saturday 8/27.
• Find a list of everyone signed up to participate on the Bout of Books Master List page. Please say hi to your fellow readathoners! You may make new blogging friends.
• There's a list on Twitter of everyone who indicated they’d be updating on Twitter. Use it for finding other Bout of Books Readathoners rather than staying updated on their progress.
• If you do want to track everyone’s progress run a search for #boutofbooks. Just don’t forget to use #boutofbooks yourself! It will be easier to keep track of everyone and cheer them on this way.

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MY GOALS:

1. Finish my TBR pile.

2. Try something new. (New genre?)

3. Read something recommended.

UPDATES:

8/22

Number of books I’ve read today: 1.

Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/23
Number of books I’ve read today: 1.5
Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/24
Number of books I’ve read today: 1.75
Total number of books I’ve read: 1.

8/25
Number of books I’ve read today: 1.
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.

8/26
Number of books I’ve read today: .5
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.

8/27
Number of books I’ve read today: 2.
Total number of books I’ve read: 4.

REVIEW! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.  

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong. 

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm just as confused as Mara. Or at least I was.

For the first half of the book, I sat there thinking, This is Fight Club. This is totally Fight Club. (For the record, I love Fight Club. And if you've read it - or seen the movie - you know what I'm talking about.) But Mara surprised me. More than once. In fact, there are surprises in nearly every chapter. It's true; Hodkin keeps you on your toes.

Mara is a strange character, both fierce and goofy. It works. I like that she's not pegged into one personality type. And her family is involved. They're not conveniently away on an all-expenses-paid family cruise. They're not severe workaholics that leave the kids to fend for themselves. They're present - both her parents and brothers. And they have significant roles! They help propel the story forward, rather than intrude and waste time.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Noah, the stereotypical bad boy who reads like a cliche. Plus, I don't fall for possessiveness. It's just creepy. As such, he falls majorly flat as the romantic interest. I just don't buy it. There's this lack of trust that causes me to guess if his intentions are true.

But then there's Jamie. Why, why, WHY couldn't there have been more Jamie?! I love that kid. I want him back. He's beyond quirky and steals every scene he's in.

Bottom line is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is fast-paced and keeps you alert. It's also a bit outrageous at times, and ends abruptly after such a long buildup, so be prepared for a major cliffhanger. Otherwise, enjoy the thrill!

REVIEW! Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance.

JENNA & JONAH'S FAUXMANCE by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers-known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still, it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on. . . . Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm a sucker for reality television shows, and while this isn't about a reality show, it reads like one. So I was all in and ready for the drama. Plus, I'm a huge fan of Franklin and Halpin's work (see: The Half-Life of Planets). Unfortunately, Jenna and Jonah isn't drama-rific. It's fluffy. And cute. And more fluffy.

Don't get me wrong: I wasn't expecting some deep, emotional tearjerker. But I did expect some semblance of a plot. Instead the pace reads incredibly fast and leaves no room for any buildup - which is a shame, because I am actually interested in both Charlie and Fielding; they're good, snarky characters that aren't able to develop. However, I could do without their romance, which appears without any cause or purpose.

The story's just whacky and unbelievable. It makes for a fun read when you need something light and quick.

I'm featured!

Today you can find me over at Amanda's blog, On a Book Bender, for her very first Who am I Stalking? feature. Come check out my answers to her bookish/grammar questions!

Don't worry. She's not really stalking me. I think.

TGIF! (14)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

The Reviews We Don't Write: Have you ever read a book and not wanted to review it? Are some books too personal that we want to keep our thoughts our own?

Naturally I think, Of course not. I review every book I read. But that's not true. I don't. Firstly, it's impossible. Secondly, sometimes I actually don't want to. Sometimes it's because the books most definitely are too personal, that if I went to review them, my review wouldn't make much sense or accuractely describe the book to unbiased readers. Sometimes it's because the books leave no impression upon me - good or bad, if I have nothing to say about it - at all - then I feel that I shouldn't bother reviewing it. Sometimes it's because I just want to read for the fun of it. Don't get me wrong - it's always fun (both the reading and reviewing.). But there's also this satisfaction with finishing a book and immediately moving on to the next, without a care in the world about what, exactly, I thought of it; it allows me to just feel whatever emotion the book evokes.

In short, yes, there are times that I read books and don't want to review them. And yes, I do believe that some books are too personal and I'd prefer to keep my thoughts to myself.

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REVIEW! Past Perfect

A read-a-thon, Mara Dyer, & other news

Harry Potter Reread, Week 2

REVIEW! Past Perfect.

PAST PERFECT by Leila Sales

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Stable, but iffy.

Past Perfect is the longer, drawn-out version of your favorite cutesy teen romance read. It's got the Romeo & Juliet knock-offs, complete with star-crossed lovers and feuding families. The aspect that's entirely different is that it takes place in a Colonial Village tourist attraction. The details of Chelsea's surroundings really help paint the picture; you get a clear sense of the area in which she reenacts. Another good thing? This doesn't take place during the school year. So no locker-slamming, bathroom-crying drama!

I love the concept of the War that happens between the feuding attractions, but I wish it'd gotten more attention. It starts off strong, then moves into the background, then comes to the forefront again. It ends up making Past Perfect a very slow-moving mishmash of feuding, getting over your ex, moving on to someone new, dealing with crazy parents, and fighting with friends. The story just doesn't quite pull it all off cohesively. It's as though each part is dealt with separately, with loose strings keeping them attached. The climax isn't even climactic; it's just there.

Also, there are a lot of characters, so unfortunately none of them - including Chelsea - get characterized much, if at all. Their personalities are very one-note.

Thankfully the writing kept me attached to the story.

A read-a-thon, Mara Dyer, and other news.

Feeling overwhelmed because you have too many books and not enough time to read them? The Bout of Books Read-a-Thon is just what the book doctor ordered. (Hosted by the fabulous Amanda @ On A Book Bender.)

Read as much as you can whenever you can between

 12:00am 8/22 and 11:59pm 8/28 (your time zone).

Go HERE for the details and sign-up list.

Then spread the word!

 

 

In other awesome news, I woke up to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer being delivered to my front door! Can you say "OMG"? Because that was my reaction. Plus, Lindsey threw in the cutest little cupcake card, which was the second best surprise of my morning. I know I've already said it a zillion times, but thank you, Lindsey! (Check out her blog here.)

 

Also, I am now out of my reading slump. Hip hip hooray! I hate reading slumps. And I hate reading slumps that last longer than one week. It wastes very valuable reading time. Thankfully I've had some great people keep me company while I whined and sat on Twitter all day. Don't know what I'd have done without them. Stare at a wall, maybe? Gone into a coffee coma? We'll never know.

 

In less stellar news, I am still awaiting my email that will permit me early access to Pottermore. It's been... what? Maybe three days since they started letting people in? And my patience is already gone and my anticipation is through the roof. It's killing me, people! I am living vicariously through those on Twitter that update me about its wonders.

 

In even less stellar news, school starts up again in roughly one and a half weeks. I am not thrilled to be going back to gross food and work. But, this summer was eventful and awesome, so I can't complain. I hope all of your summers were amazing, too.

Harry Potter Reread: Week 2.

WEEK 2: HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

AND HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE

I know this week is is meant to highlight both the 3rd and 4th books of the Harry Potter series, but I really need to dedicate this post to my love for the 4th.

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE by J.K. Rowling

What is it that I love about this book? Is it the Quidditch World Cup? The Triwizard Tournament? Not even close.

Get ready, because I have four letters for you.

S.P.E.W.

Yep! I love S.P.E.W. Or, The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. It's quite a mouthful, I know. It's also a mouthful that easily gets overlooked and forgotten. But how could anyone forget Hermione's passion and dedication to helping the house elves? How could anyone not root for her while she petitioned and made badges? I mean, you've got to love Dobby and Winky (even though they weren't super keen on Hermione's cause).

This is one aspect of the book that I wish had been taken further. It gave both the book and Hermione that extra oomph, going beyond the typical quidditch, exams and Voldemort problems. But, oh well. I'll always remember S.P.E.W.!

Is there something or someone in the series that you love and think gets overlooked?

 

*Check out the intro to the Great Harry Potter Reread!

TGIF! (13)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Author Block Party: If you could gather a handful of authors to hang out with, who would you choose?

Julie Kagawa, William Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, Melissa Marr, Stephanie Perkins, J.K. Rowling, John Green.

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REVIEW! The Duff

Waiting on Wednesday

Harry Potter Reread, Week 1

In My Mailbox

REVIEW! The Duff.

THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have no idea really why this is titled The Duff, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend. I expected the story to revolve around that single term, to both develop and explore it, but it doesn't. It's simply mentioned and then repeated needlessly. That let me down a bit. I didn't want the term to be introduced, then cast aside by Bianca's friends (and a certain important someone) telling her she's truly attractive. My reaction went a little like this: Um.....Did I miss a chapter? Or two? The term is what drew me in, but I didn't get the great concept to match.

Aside from that, every action and word of dialogue is predictable. I knew exactly what was happening in terms of plot; there were no surprises or tension. The story just keeps moving, singing its same old tune. So even though some parts are cute, especially those including Wesley, the overall story falls flat.

I wish the characters were a bit more believable and less cliche. The typical high school plot and stereotypes makes it seem stale, like a story I've read ten thousand times before, just with new names thrown in.

The writing itself is all right - neither beautiful nor horrific. The descriptions are simple and there's a lot of repetition.

It's not a bad read, but it's not a great read. In relation to other similar YA titles, The Duff ends up being the Duff.

400 follower + 1 year blogoversary giveaway winners!

First of all, I love you guys. All of you. This past year of book blogging has been nothing but amazing, and I hope the following years are even better. A lot of you entered the giveaway, but sadly there could only be two winners. (Blame my wallet!) But many thanks to everyone that participated and commented!

The winners are ...

Mary @ Anxirium

&

Loreal @ Muggle-born

Congrats! Both have already been contacted.

Waiting On Wednesday (18).

Waiting On Wednesday is from Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

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

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

I'm such a sucker for love stories. And I love when stories have a short time period. I'm thinking this will be cute.

Harry Potter Reread: Week 1.

WEEK 1: HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER'S STONE

AND HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS



HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE by J.K. Rowling

This is the book that started it all, the big #1. So what's not to love about it?!

The one thing, or rather, person I absolutely love, though, is none other than my beloved Draco Malfoy. That's right. I'm gaga for Draco. I have a thing for bad-boys-who-aren't-really-all-that-bad. And when I first read the HP series, my love for Draco developed over time, with each book. Now, reading it all again, my love for him doesn't have to take time to develop; I delved right in. Here's a few of my fave Draco quotes:

"You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"I do feel sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

Who's your favorite character in the series?



HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J.K. Rowling

My favorite character in book two, upon my first reading of the series, was Dobby. Now, having reread it, my favorite character is Tom Marvolo Riddle. (See a theme here? I like all of the anti-heroes.) 

But it's not simply the character, it's everything surrounding him. The diary, the basilisk, Ginny, Moaning Myrtle. It's just ingenius. During a first read, the details may escape you. But seeing them over again shows, even in movie form, the exact plotting and type of character it took to put everything together. Tom isn't just evil; he's smart. I think it's amazing that every loose end fits together.

Is there anything new that caught your eye, too?


*Check out the intro to the Great Harry Potter Reread!

In My Mailbox (21).

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.
The Duff by Kody Keplinger.

I won A Long Way Gone, and decided to give in to The Duff to see if it can get me out of my reading slump. Here's to hoping!

TGIF! (12)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Taking it Personal: Which books have affected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno.

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Top Ten Tuesday

Blogoversary giveaway! (*5 days left!)
The Great Harry Potter Reread! Come join us! (*Pretty please?)

In My Mailbox

*Very sorry for my blogging absence/laziness this past week! I've been in a reading slump, which caused a blog slump. The good news is I discovered 290483545 Starbucks in NYC. (AKA paradise.)

Top Ten Tuesday: Trends I'd Like to See More or Less of.

Top Ten Tuesday is brought to us by The Broke and the Bookish.

TOP TEN TRENDS I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OR LESS OF

I'd like to see more...

1. Contemporary lit - I don't always want to be a vampire-loving faerie queen caught in a war with angels and trapped in a utilitarian compound.

2. Verse novels - You know, books like Lisa Schroeder's. Verse. Poetry.

3. Older characters - I don't understand why setting a story in college is so taboo and unheard of.

4. Horror stories - I don't always want an overly cheery or depressing read. I like a good thriller.

5. Male MCs - I can't stress enough how much I love reading a male POV or having male main characters. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't want to read about guys.


I'd like to see less...

6. Faeries - Don't get me wrong, I loooove stories about fey. (Iron Fey & Wicked Lovely series, anyone?) But I've seen some others surfacing, and they seem to mimic one another.

7. Mythology - The ideas all seem really cool and interesting, but the executions have been less than stellar.

8. Dystopian - I've read the Hunger Games and tried Possession. It's just not for me.

9. Historical romances - Not my thing.

10. Series - Why can't a story wrap up in just one book anymore? I don't want to have to invest all of my money in like twelve sequels.