Ten (Or Eleven) Authors Whose Books I Buy Compulsively (58)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I have a serious book buying problem. Like, when I get birthday money, my dad asks: "How many books do you think you can buy with that?" I brush him off, but the truth is? I'm crunching the numbers even before he asks. So it's no shock that I have many books and, more specifically, many books by my favorite authors.

PLEASE NOTE: I have not read all books pictured below. There are a few instances of good reading behavior from me, but definitely not for each and every picture. Which basically means I'm a hoarder. And please try not to judge me for my Rainbow Rowell collection. (I KNOW, OKAY? I KNOW.)

So let's do this thing.

Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 308
Source: ARC from BEA 

(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)

First Reaction: MORE PERFECTION FROM THE MOST PERFECT AUTHOR EVER. *rolls around on the floor, cries tears of joy*

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?


[Summary Source: Goodreads]

Top Ten BEA Books On My Summer TBR List (55)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

In an effort to actually read the books I got at BEA in a timely fashion, I decided this Top Ten Summer TBR List needs to be all BEA books. I'm terrible at keeping to these lists, but I thought I'd at least but on a show. Y'know, to maybe make myself feel better and to do a little publicity for the ones I'm excited about. And to maybe create a little bit of accountability? The books listed are not necessarily my favorite books from BEA, but they are the ones I really do hope I can get to by the end of the summer. (Some of my BEA books come out a bit later. Others I know I probably won't pick up for a bit, even if their release date is on the sooner side for one reason or another.)

Anyway. Here they are.

Top Ten Books With Awesome Friendships in Them (53)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I love books with good friendships. I didn't always have the best time with friends when I was YA-aged, though. I think reading about them kind of makes up for it. Or gives me hope for the future. Or helps me reflect on my current friendships. I don't actually know. I just like friendship books (Although I also like when there's also a love-interest thing thrown in with all the friendship stuff. Delicious.)

PS: Please note - not all of the books featured below are book one in their respective series, but I decided to feature the book in the series that best shows the development of the friendship in question. So pay attention, okay?

Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art (51)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Sometimes I walk up to my coworkers at the bookstore with a book in hand and say "WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS COVER IT'S SO PRETTY." And then I pet the cover and strip off the jacket and check out the binding details. Everyone thinks I'm out of my mind. But I just want to buy second copies of all of these books so I can take the book jackets and put them on my wall.

Here's a list of 10 book jackets I often think of framing. In image form. Because who needs words when I can just show you pretty pictures?

Top Ten Books That Made Me Swoon (45)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I liked what I did last week with the covers that linked to Goodreads and no text. My reasons for why books made me swoon (like with the crying) are very personal and individual to me and and, well, trying to verbalize and share them will probably turn me into an incoherent mess and no one wants to see that. Also, I'd had to put any spoilers out there in the world, and crying and swoons are two categories where spoilers could accidentally fall out of my mouth and into the world and I do not want that. It is bad for blogging business. So here are ten books I absolutely loved that made me swoon. And I hope that you haven't read all of them so you can pick one of them up this Valentines Day, read it, swoon, and totally get where I'm coming from!

Top Ten Books That Made Me Cry (44)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I think for this week's post I'm just going to throw up 10 book covers and that's it. I don't really want to get into the reasons why each of these books lead to the crying and the sads and what have you. Like, even if you can't see why said book would make me cry, just accept it and move on. Because explaining might make me cry again and I just can't. Also, I acknowledge the The Fault in Our Stars by John Green will be on everyone's lists and I'm okay with that. Also, also, I cheated, this list is four more than ten. I'm okay with that too.

(PS: You should be able to reach the Goodreads page for each of these books by clicking the images. Please keep in mind that many of these books are not the first, or even the last, in their series. And furthermore, some of these books aren't out yet - Strange and Ever After doesn't come out until the summer! So consider this hype.)

Top Ten 2014 STANDALONE Releases I'm Dying to Read (40)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So a couple weeks ago Top Ten Tuesday asked me to make a list of Top Ten "Shut Up and Give it to Me Now" Sequels. Obviously, I did that. (And I thought up 10 really REALLY AMAZING books for that list.) The problem now is that most of the books on that list come out in 2014 and I'd hate to be repetitive. Therefore, if you want to know what 2014 SEQUEL releases I'm freaking out over, please click that link (I'll also have a recap list at the bottom of this post, so you can also scroll down). But for RIGHT NOW I'm gonna do a 2014 STANDALONE Release list.

Also, for the record, these are listed by release date. So.

Top Ten Books For My Friend Abbey (38)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Maybe 4 months ago my friend Abbey text me to ask what books she should take out of the library. She watches a lot of TV and doesn't read too much, but when she does, she looks for good, fun, YA awesomeness. Now, since she knows about my blog and what I like to do for fun (because we're actually good friends), she chose me for recommendations. However, the trip was kind of a bust - it was a last minute deal and her library didn't have many of the books I suggested on hand. So she got something for her weekend away and then insisted that I write up a list of ten or so books I thought she'd like.

However, since I'm the worst, I never got around to it. But then I saw this list and I was like OH YES I WILL WRITE THIS LIST FOR ABBEY! So Abbey, my dear, here are your recommendations. Only a couple months late.

PS: If you're kind of nerdy, love cartoon/Disney/little kid things, are endlessly entertained by the internet/youtube/tumblr, watch a lot of TV, and are an all-around awesome, fun person, this list could work for you, as well. 

PPS: I will be writing this as if I'm talking to Abbey. DEAL WITH IT.

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 405
Source: ARC from BEA
Rating: Could this book be longer? Because I want more. Because this is probably one of my favorite books of all time.

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Cath is a major fangirl. Growing up, her twin sister Wren was too. But when they get to college, Wren decides not to live with Cath - she wants a different identity than just being a fangirl twin. Cath, on the other hand, isn't really ready to do that. This book is about what happens when a fangirl can't bring herself to leave her comfort zone but finds out she doesn't really have a choice because everything outside her comfort zone is coming for her and she can't stay away.

Let's break this down:

From the minute I heard about this book, I knew I was going to love it. I was actually a little reluctant to pick it up because I hyped it up so much for myself. But that was silly because I was RIGHT to hype it up for myself.

I have A LOT of personal reasons for loving this book. But, even though I loved this book so much largely because of personal reasons, I don't think that's really relevant to why I think you all should read this book.

So here's the attempt at an unbiased review.

What did I love about this book?

To start with, I love how this book revolves around fan fiction. Hell, the book is called FANGIRL. A lot of the time I feel like fan fiction isn't something I'm allowed to talk about in public. And I never do. Even some of my bookish friends don't understand why I read fan fiction. So it's hard to know who will and won't judge me if I admit to enjoying fan fiction. Which is why I say nothing - it's just kind of my dirty little secret. So it's really amazing to me that this book has a lot to do with something I never really feel comfortable talking about.

I also really loved that Rainbow Rowell wrote bits and pieces of the Simon Snow book and the fan fiction Cath and her sister write. It lets the reader get a feel for what's going on and why it was going on.

And then there are the relationships in this book. There's a lot of stuff going on - Cath really has a lot to deal with - but I really felt like everything was strung together seamlessly. There's honesty no one relationship I loved most. I mean, obviously I loved the romance between Levi and Cath, but Cath's relationship with her twin sister, Wren, was equally compelling and heartbreaking at times. And then there's Cath's issues with her mother and fears for her father than totally gutted me. I even couldn't wait to see how Cath's relationships with Reagan, Nick and even her creative writing professor progressed. Each of these people presented issues that pushed Cath throughout this book and forced her to grow as a character and for that I honestly couldn't say which dramatic situation gripped me the most.

Another thing I loved was the setting for this whole book. Technically this book is New Adult because it takes place in college. But this NA book is so much more like my college experience than any other NA book I've read (aside from maybe Just One Day by Gayle Forman). Obviously I know I'm not going to be able to relate to every book I read, but I feel like every NA book I hear about is about sex and drugs and, honestly, I just don't know that many virgin good girls who went to college and fell in love with a bad boy they managed to reform. Fangirl's version of college might be on the opposite end of the spectrum, but it least it gives an alternative - one that's way closer to my own experiences.

Finally, I'd like to get a LITTLE personal before I wrap up... y'know those advice columns in magazines? Dear Abby or whatever? I feel like I've sent a million questions to some unknown advice column inbox somewhere over the last, I don't know, 4-9 years of my life, and this book is is my answer. Even now that I'm finished with college, I know that this is a book I'm going to keep coming back to A) because it resonates with me so much and B) it's a book I think I can keep learning from, even though I'm 23 and out of college.

Oh. Also? Levi is my hero. I wish I could have one one of him in real life for so, so, so many reasons. (Sans the conflict in the middle of the book, of course.) Kay, thanks, bye.

The long and short of it?

Plot: I'm in love with everything that happened in this book. Even the bad stuff.
World Building: I wish this didn't sound so very much like my college experience, but it does.
Character Development: Obviously Cath grew enormously over the year this book narrates, but so do ALL of the other characters (except MAYBE Cath and Wren's mom) and that's yet another thing I love about this one.
Prose: This book is coated in Rainbow Rowell's particular brand of quirk and awesome. As always, I love.
Would I Recommend This Book?: I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves well developed characters and situations and is a little bit of a fangirl/boy. I also think that anyone who's ever felt like they need to hide the fact that they read/write/know what fan fiction is should pick this one. It's also a really good depiction of an introvert's college experience and, if you're a bit of an introvert yourself (like me), you might find a little bit of advice in this book as well as a brilliant story.

Did you relate to this one as much as I did? Or do you think you will when you finally get your hands on it? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: February 26th 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Page Count: 325
Source: Purchased
Rating: Nerdgasm to end all nerdgasms

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
"I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Park is the token Asian kid, Eleanor is the heavyset, redheaded new kid. Park lets Eleanor sit next to him on the bus when no one else will, even though he doesn't really want to. One day Park notices Eleanor reading his comic book over his shoulder. The rest is history.

Let's break this down:

Can I tell you guys? The last 50 pages of this book? They were like a downhill slope for me. I basically lay down at the top of the hill and rolled all the way to the bottom in record time. Stopping was impossible - unthinkable even. Like, what does the word "stop" even mean to the last 50 pages of this book? Nothing. Reading Eleanor and Park's ending (nay - new beginning?) was the only thing that actually mattered to me LATELATELATE that night (seriously, it was like 2am and I had to be up early the next day).

But don't let that last paragraph fool you. The ending of this book wasn't even the best part. No. The whole thing was the best part.

I'll start with the nerdiness.

First of all, I FREAKING LOVE that Rainbow Rowell set her book in the time when Watchmen was first coming out in individual issues. I can't really explain why I love this nod to nerd-dom so much. It's just part of my nerd DNA. As is the love I feel regarding the other comics and nerdy references in this book. Mostly, I think my joy came from finding an author who gets my comic book loving side as well as my adorable, complicated, heartbreaking relationship loving side.

Because that's the kind of relationship Eleanor and Park have.

Nothing comes easy for these two. Eleanor's a complete mess, Park's worried about Eleanor, his "friends" and a bunch of other things. And all of this combined just makes me worry about the two of them like they're really people. But it's not just their individual situations that pull on my heartstrings (although, seriously Rainbow Rowell, who do you think you are right now?). No, it's the two of them together.

Like I said, the last 50 pages of this book are a tumble down a hill you cannot resist. But all of the pages before it were equally wonderful. Eleanor and Park come together so slowly and sweetly that you almost can't believe there's such thing as insta-love in the world. The whole thing is just so unintentional yet undeniable, stunning yet soft and quiet. Honestly, it's everything. Just everything. Which obviously doesn't make very much sense. Unless you've already read Eleanor & Park. Then it might make sense. Because, y'know, you've read it and have some kind of understanding of what I'm talking about.

The long and short of it?

Plot: So simple and understated but stunning none-the-less. Honestly, two outcasts? This story's been done before. But it hasn't. Not THIS story. Not Eleanor and Park's story.
World Building: I don't know much about racism or high school in the 80s. Or the area Eleanor and Park are from. But none of that really matters to me because the setting matters so much less than the context. Or, well, I guess the circumstances matter, but those seemed plausible to me, in any case.
Character Development: Eleanor is a totally different person at the end of the book - again, in a very plausible way. And Park. Well. Park turns into everything I think you knew he could be at the start of the book by the end and that's the very best, isn't it?
Prose: I squirm with delight whenever I flip through the pages of this book and read the words on the pages. I just don't have words for how much I love Rainbow Rowell's writing. So I'll let you translate my joyous squirming instead.
Would I Recommend This Book?: YES. Please with the yes. Especially if you're a big nerd and love when authors acknowledge your aforementioned nerdiness. But even if you just enjoy a book about issues or kissing. Because this book as both. So nerds, issues and kissing. Something for everyone. Which is why you have to read this one right now.

Were you guys impressed with the level of geekery in this book, or were you more interested in ELEANOR AND PARK, whether together or individually? Feel free to share your fan-personing (or lack of fan-personing) in the comments below!

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013 (28)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013. I've read 46 books this year, according to Goodreads, and while there are A LOT of books (*cough* all 6 Tamora Pierce books I've re-read to mention a few *cough*), here are the 10 that I think you all should make sure you get to in a very timely fashion. And when I say 10, I mean 12, because I've put two second-book-in-trilogy books on this list and OBVIOUSLY you need to read the first one first. Obviously.

1. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina was my first book read in 2013 and it did NOT disappoint. I loved the dragons, the twists, I loved the writing... just about everything. I hadn’t read a dragon or high fantasy book in a very long time (mostly from fear that nothing would ever match up to Tamora Pierce - whom I love) and this book totally destroyed any and all fears I had about recent high fantasy publications ruining one of my favorite genres. And, just in case you’re having some trouble starting this one, skip the prologue and come back to it at the end. It’ll make more sense once you’re done. Oh, and be PATIENT. It’s worth it. (My Review)

2. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Even though I read this book when my windows were still frosted over this past winter, I could still feel the heat. The romance, the twists, the family relationships - even the cover is enough to make a person want to read this book. Seriously. Try to say no to that cover - especially now that we’ve made it to the summer months. I’d say it’s almost impossible to deny this potential beach read. And y’know, even if you curl up inside with the AC blasting while you make your way through this one, you’ll probably feel the summer humidity just like I did. And that’s not just the kisstastic relationship in the book doing the talking. (My Review)

3. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

I picked Unravel Me for this list instead of Shatter Me in hopes that my nomination of this book will lead you to go read Shatter Me first so you can read this one (if you haven’t already devoured this series). That way I secretly/sneakily put two books in one item on this list. Why? Because this is one of those series that really makes the dystopian genre and trilogies in general look good. Not to mention I love the strike-throughs. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I sometimes like knowing there’s something different out there for me to dig into. It’s oddly comforting - even this book is so very much NOT comforting in any way. Also? SUPERHEROES. (My Review)

4. Ferryman by Claire McFall

Is it possible for a book to not really have a genre? If it is, this book really don’t have one. I would say it’s supernatural, if I had to pick one - maybe paranormal? But not really. If anything, it’s a contemporary book put in a supernatural/paranormal/Greek Mythology context. And, whatever genre you’d place it in, it’s wonderful. Probably one of my most favorite reads AND reviews of the year. Claire McFall might be a small time Scottish writer, but I definitely hope she A) gets the recognition she deserves and B) keeps writing! (My Review)

5. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

This book is just so different from your usual dystopian - probably because the book doesn’t dwell on the dystopian. Instead it fleshes out the dystopian just enough and then focuses on the danger, the philosophical issues and the relationships between the characters. But, for once, the philosophical part is my favorite (that’s NOT usually the case for me) because the book asks you to consider what it is to be human and that’s something we should all consider on occasion. (My Review)

6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My favorite fantasy read of the year, Graceling is the book I should have read 5 years ago but didn’t. And with the number of times I picked it up, put it down and picked it up again? I’m honestly ashamed of past Gaby. This book is so fantastically fantastic. All of the everything is just so perfect and well paced. Seriously. If I could time travel, I would go back in disguise (y’know, as to not create a paradox or anything crazy like that - thanks for the time travel education, Doctor Who) and hand myself this book. Because 5-years-ago Gaby REALLY should have read this book. And so should all of you. (My Review)

7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Everything in this book is absolutely made of awesome and I believe everyone should read it - intolerance for slow/confusing beginnings be damned. It’s just so beautifully layered and complicated that no one should miss it, no matter what the excuse. FURTHERMORE, Melina Marchetta is a GENIUS because EVERYTHING in this book is in it for a reason. There are no extra words or unnecessary plot devices. This author is NOT wasting your time, nor does she think you anything less than clever. (My Review)

8. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Yet another series where I mention the second in order to coerce you to read the first. Through the Ever Night is just so touching, wonderful and heroic. I finish the book and I feel like all of the characters are real people I should be able to spend my days with. Even more so, the relationships between these oh-so-real characters are so sigh-worthy that I could read about them all day and be perfectly content. Oh. Also. The action, danger and dystopia-ness in this serious is pretty crazy and awesome too. (My Review)

9. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Sometimes I read retelling and my reaction is: “That was great. I could go for another.” But at the end of this book I couldn’t even think of what I would read next because my mind was still on this book. And it wasn’t that I wanted to have more time with these characters. I actually felt fairly completely at the end of it all. I just needed to take a deep breath and process the fact that I’d finished such a brilliant book. I just needed to savor the ending and not rush past it to the next book in my stack.

10. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Sometimes, when I get to the end of a book, I tear through the last however many pages. It’s like a freefall into an ending that you know isn’t going to give you exactly what you wanted - but what you needed instead. But instead of getting upset at the book for not give you what you wanted (as opposed to the all knowing “needed”), you just close the book and sigh. Because it was THAT GOOD.

*ADDENDUM BECAUSE I'M FOOLISH AND I FORGOT*

11. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 

Another second-book-in-series I have to put up here. I liked Cinder and LOVED Scarlet. I think it's because there were more characters to work with - the shifting POV was done PERFECTLY - but for whatever reason this fairytale retelling was in no way obvious. And even if the storyline WAS obvious, I DID NOT want it to happen that way. So. Go pick up this series RIGHT NOW because it's totally a new favorite of mine. (My Review)

Have you read any of these? This year? Last year? Any year? If you have, did you love? If you haven't, DO YOU WANT TO? Talk to me in the comments below!

Top Ten Books on My Summer TBR List (27)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So for this week's Top Ten Tuesday, I've decided I was NOT ALLOWED to put books I don't already OWN on this list. So I went to my bookshelf, picked 5 BEA books and 5 finished copies I bought/won I haven't read yet but am DYING to read (and weren't on my Top Ten list from last week). Which is how I compiled my Top Ten Books on My Summer TBR List.

TOP FIVE BEA BOOKS

1. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

afkjhafheiruknajn MAGGIE STIEFVATER. RAVEN BOYS. RONAN. *cries joyously*

2. Just Like Fate Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young

I've had my eye on this one for a long time so when I saw it just SITTING ON THE FLOOR at BEA I got all kinds of grabby hands.

3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

*More incoherent keyboard slamming*

4. Across a Star Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

I JUUUUST finished For Darkness Shows the Stars the other day and I'm SUPER EXCITED to not have to wait for the sequel. 

5. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Me and the outer space Titanic book are going to have all kinds of fun this summer.

TOP FIVE FINISHED COPIES

6. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
I won this one from Cassie and I'm exciiiited to read it this summer *delight*

7. Parallel by Lauren Miller
See Just Like Fate above? Yeah, I like Sliding Door type books and I'm so thrilled to work through both of these.

8. Pivot Point by Kasie West
ANOTHER book with two girls on the cover and Sliding Door plots. I'm probably going to have to be careful in reading all of these so I don't get sick of the plot line...

9. The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
This one sounds really quirky and you guys know I looooove me so quirky.

10. From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
A nice fat book for me is what I'm seeing here. A lot of people I know really liked this one, so I'm all about digging into it ASAP.

So what did you guys put on your summer TBR list? Anything on my list you want to add to yours? Maybe you have something you think I'D want to read? TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT (in the comments below).

Top Ten Beach Reads (26)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week the logging world is all about the beach reads, which is perfect because summer's coming and it's time to get the stack of beach reads ready for... well... THE BEACH. I hope you already have plans to get out and see the stretch of sand nearest you. But of course, if you're landlocked, these reads are also pool/park/god I feel lazy and don't want to think too much reads. So pay attention and start compiling those stacks of summer books!

1. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

A cute, short, vaguely angsty book you can DEFNITELY read in one afternoon on the beach. I really can't think of a single reason not to bring this one with you on an afternoon out. (My Review)

2. This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

So my logic here is that the beach is kind of what happy looks like in the summer and that's the title of this books so DING DING DING we havea winner! Not to mention this book takes place in the summer and highlights the importance of ice cream in the summer. (My Review)

3. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Pretty cover plus romps to England plus cute boy plus silly OCD protagonist = beach giggles. (Even though England doesn't actually scream beach in any by shape or form.) But yeah, London weather or not, take this one with you to the beach, okay?

4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This book is wonderful. It is a delicious nerdy romp of amazingness that may or may not make you cry a little. But tears aside, this incredibly meaningful book has this aspect of levity that is so totally read-in-one-sitting-able that it might be JUST what your (my?) day out at the beach needs. 

5. Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle

I recognize that this book is actually a Christmas book with lots and lots of snow by it's a fun, adorable romp that might cool you down just a bit at the beach. Not to mention, you get 3 fantastic authors for the price of one (as well as 3 kisstastic couples for that same low price!).

HEY NOW SURPRISE CHANGE OF PACE! 

(Because when do I ever just write a list?)

So while writing this post, I spontaneously decided to make the last 5 books of this list the 5 books I've stacked up to be MY summer/beach reads this summer. Because, like, obviously you all wanna know what that looks like (it's fine, I'm only a little narcissistic). 

6. The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Doctor Who references? Where? What? Can I haz it? Oh I WILL haz it. By the pool, because that's where I would take the Doctor (Just Kidding, I'd take the Doctor with me wherever, whenever - because we're meant to be together. Thanks to Shakira for embodying my relationship with 10).

7. All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All of Susane Colasanti's books are wonderful contemporary reads that make for excellent beach books. It's one in particularly is quite short - a book you could definitely finish in an afternoon while taking in some sun at the beach. Besides guys, have you seen this cover? The models are ON the beach! 

8. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Another cover where the model is on a beach. But that aside, have you EVER met a Sarah Dessen book that you couldn't bring to the beach with you? And this is NOT just because a lot of her books take place on the beach - I mean, she even made up her own beach town!

9. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I honestly believe roadtrip books are amazing summer beach reads. Ad not just because books about roadtrips obviously must happen during the summer when involving teens if they want to be contemporary and realistic because: HI school. I mean, I guess a spring/winter break road trip could work, but summer's definitely the best. 

10. Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham 

Roadtrip, roadtrip, roadtrip!! And not only is this a roadtrip book (see my beach-reading excitement or roadtrip books in the entry above), its ALSO a concert/ex-friends getting back together book. These are all things I love. Especially things I love to read about over the course of beach day. 

11. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Another shortie, this one about Nantucket, which is one of those places like Cape Cod and Marhta's Vineyard and the Hamptons that walks around oozing a beachbeachbeachbeach vibe. So, obviously, a book written in said location would be worthy of beach read status.

Yeah. That's 6, not 5, but I have to keep you guys guessing, right? (Also: I COULDN'T DECIDE WHICH BOOK TO CUT). Anyway, it's okay because I already have all 6 of these books and they really are all stacked and ready to go!

TELL ME: Which of these have you read? Which are in your stack to read at the beach this summer? In the event that all 11 of these books fit into NEITHER of the categories I just listed, you should probably consider FIXING THAT. Y'know. If you trust me and all that jazz. Oh, and be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know just how silly/absurd I'm being this week!

Top Ten Books Everyone's Read But Me That I'm Dying to Read (19)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It's Top Ten REWIND week! So I went on The Broke and the Bookish blog, looked at the list of previous topics and decided to COMBINE two topics. So I'm taking Top Ten Books Everyone's Read But Me and Top Ten Books That I'm Dying to Read and rolling it all into one. Because why would I be dying to read all these books that my blogger friends have read and raved about?

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I've actually already purchased this book. It's sitting on my bed back in NYC, waiting for me to reenter the country and pounce on top of it. Which I will, partially because everyone loves it and because my friend Leah once told me that whenever she shows the author pictures to our friends back at school they ask if I've aged, taken on a pseudonym and written a book. Because apparently I'll look like Rainbow Rowell in a couple of years? I don't know. 

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I actually have plans to read this one with Rachel and Gillian as soon as I can download the ebook from my library website. Which could take a while. But a lot of people I know have been raving about this book recently (notably Judith), so I should get on that. 

3. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I LOVE fantasy and everyone tells me this one's REALLY GOOD. And Margot's always raving about it on Tea Time. So basically I have a million incentives to read this one, so I just need to DO IT, y'know?

4. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This is another book I'm just about to start. Again, I love fantasy so I'm excited for this one - partially because everyone loves it, but also because all three books are already out so I won't have to wait. 

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I only hear good, squeal-y things about this book. And I love squeal-y books. But I'm waiting until the cover redesign to buy all of the books in the series. 

6. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

I think everyone read this series back when I was devouring Tamora Pierce books/only had eyes for fantasy books. So I guess I need to backtrack and work my way through this series.

7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Confession time? I'd never even heard of Melina Marchetta until a couple of months ago when my friend Leah (yes, the same Leah from #1 on this list) told me she was her favorite (this is when I confessed my love of Tamora Pierce to her). I bought Jellicoe Road soon after but haven't gotten around to it yet. Soon, Leah. Soon.

8. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

My friend Lexi has been pushing me to read this one since LONG before I was a blogger. And then I became a blogger and you guys were all READREADREAD. I'm getting there, guys, I promise. Especially since book 2 is coming out super soon. And Sarah J. Maas is going to BEA. All exciting.

9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This is another complete trilogy. And it's about outer space? I like outer space. I didn't always - I wasn't that little kid who wanted to be an astronaut or anything. But the recent development of my obsession with Doctor Who has changed a couple of things in my life, to be sure.

10. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Yet another finished series. Everyone FREAKED OUT when Boundless came out, so angels or not, I REALLY want to read it. 

Considering one of the qualifiers of this list is "books everyone's read," tell me, WHICH SHOULD I READ FIRST? Let me know in the comments below!