Weekly Recap: 6/23 - 6/29

HAPPENINGS OFF THE BLOG

Hi everyone! I'm back from ALA and I had SUCH a great time! I can't wait to do it all again next year (I hope)! If you'd like to read about my time there and see my haul, I shared it all in a post earlier this week, which you can find here. I returned from ALA late Monday night after my flight was delayed due to a soccer team on its way to San Juan. But I did make it home and, although I had a great time, it was also great to be home again. I jumped into getting my shelves organized, but still have a few older books to unhaul.

The rest of the week was uneventful, thankfully. Friday night my husband and I made an impromptu trip to Epcot where we stumbled across Dirk Wunderlich, a Thomas Kinkade Studios legacy artist. We were able to pick up a couple small canvas prints to be signed and sketched, which was a really fun surprise! I'd love to be able to save some pennies and meet him later in the year and get one of the new large Disney paintings signed. (I'm dreaming.) On Saturday we woke up and decided to head to the Salvador Dali museum in St. Pete, which we've been meaning to get to for two years! It was a fairly expensive museum to visit and it was small, but it was really cool to be able to see the surrealist art I've been admiring my whole life up close.

This coming week I'm hoping to spend quite a bit of time reading some of the books I picked up last weekend. I'm also debating whether to DNF my current listen, which is interesting but is dragging on and on and I'm getting bored... How do you decide when to DNF? 

NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK

THIS WEEK I READ

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

On Wednesday I posted my ALA recap & haul
On Thursday I did the mid-year freak out tag
Saturday book review of The Kingdom


UPCOMING REVIEWS

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!

Book Review: The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Title: The Kingdom
Author: Jess Rothenberg
Publication Date: May 28, 2019
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 352
Add to Goodreads

Welcome to the Kingdom... where 'Happily Ever After' isn't just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species--formerly extinct--roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful "princesses" engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time... love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana's memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty--and what it truly means to be human. 

I'm not sure what I was expecting from The Kingdom when I first picked it up, but this book turned out to be a hell of a ride! I am a huge Disney World fanatic - I basically moved to Florida to be able to go more often. I also love dystopian fiction and books written in transcripts so this one was definitely for me!

Ana is a Fantasist, a princess in a park that is remarkably similar to what I'd expect a future Disney World to be. She has lived her life in the park being told of the horrors outside the gates. Ana and her sisters have been told about the terrible world people live in and believe they exist as a reprieve from reality. When Ana meets Owen and begins noticing strange things happening in the park and with her sisters, she begins to question the only reality she has ever known and I love her for it!

While she is understandably naive, Ana is also a remarkable character. It was exciting to follow Ana's journey as she began to evolve and wake up to the world around her. I loved the relationships with her sisters, especially with Nia. It was unsettling to see these women attempting to communicate with each other under the watchful eye of their makers. Speaking of which, "Daddy." Big cringe. On the other hand, Ana and Owen together were such a sweet couple. I loved how much they trusted and helped each other and I also appreciated that their romance didn't overshadow the bigger story at all.

My absolute favorite thing about The Kingdom was the world created by Jess Rothenberg! I could absolutely see this park existing in the future and the different lands were all incredible. I would love to see this as a movie! Has it been optioned yet? Can we make that happen? I already felt like I could see the park.

This story was so much darker than I expected when I first saw the cover floating around. I'll admit, I wasn't in any hurry to read it until a friend kept insisting I'd love it. The rainbows and butterflies are definitely surface level and the real mystery hiding underneath is truly terrifying. The Kingdom is told in flashbacks interspersed with transcripts from the trial and interviews. It made the story seem much more urgent and fast paced.

I loved how unexpected the ending of this book was and I'm seriously hoping for a book two! It definitely seems very open and like there's much more story to be told. If you're looking for a dark dystopia that's more than what it seems, you should definitely give this a try! Especially if you're a Disney fan.

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

We're over halfway through 2019! Can you believe it? It's definitely true that time goes faster as you get older. :/ Alas, here we are and I've read a few books this year, so I'm definitely jumping in on this tag. The last time I did it was two years ago even though I definitely thought I did it last year too... Oh well. I saw the tag this year over at The Literary Huntress!

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ IN 2019

House of Salt and Sorrows was such an amazing, unique read! I won't say much about it since my review hasn't been shared yet, but if you like weird spooky retellings, I definitely recommend this one.

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ IN 2019

While Finale was my least favorite of the Caraval series, it was still an absolutely fantastic sequel and end to the series. I'm still really hoping there will be spinoffs!

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

I actually have two editions of this gorgeous book, but haven't had the chance to read it yet. I'm definitely a mood reader so I'm just waiting on the mood to strike.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2019

Honestly, who's shocked?

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT 

EVERYONE has told me how incredible this book is! I waited forever to finally read it and just... yikes.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I had actually started this book a few years ago, but put it down when it didn't grab my interest. I gave it another chance and was shocked at how much I enjoyed it! I still need to read the rest of the series though.

FAVORITE NEW TO YOU OR DEBUT AUTHOR

This debut novel is right up my weird little alley! I loved this book so much that it went right onto my favorites shelf. I can't wait to see what this author does next.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

Nathaniel Thorn! Such a snarky, wonderful character. Definitely pick this book up if you haven't already!

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

Milla is my favorite heroine of the year. She's so strong and true to herself and I love her.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

I've never cried over a book, but I ALMOST cried at how awful After was and how much I hate that it became a movie.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

This one made me happy when I realized that I still loved it after a re-read. I was scared that I didn't like Bardugo anymore after not loving Six of Crows or King of Scars.

FAVORITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION

Apparently I haven't seen many so I'm going with Aladdin. Technically I think it fits and I really enjoyed it! The one I'm most looking forward to is It Chapter 2, though.

FAVORITE POST YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR

Hmmm... probably this list of weird books for weirdos because I like weird books and am a weirdo.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

Definitely the Owlcrate edition of Sorcery of Thorns. If you haven't seen it yet, it's purple and it's gorgeous.

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

  

Aside from those already mentioned, these three are sequels that I seriously need to get my hands on ASAP! I still can't believe there will be a second Handmaid's Tale book.

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WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR?

ARE THERE ANY FILM ADAPTATIONS YOU'RE EXCITED FOR?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

ALA 2019 Recap & Haul

Hi, bookworms! You may have noticed that I have been extremely absent over the past several days and that was because I was at ALA Friday through Monday! I completely failed at commenting back and blog hopping because I didn't have my laptop with me, but I've come back! I had a great trip, although I did not take a single picture. Whoops!

I arrived in DC on Friday night where Erin (@asthebookends on Instagram) picked me up from the airport and managed to snag us a hotel room with two beds that was essentially a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and living room. It was two miles from the convention center, but at the incredible rate we got, it wasn't such a bad trek.

Saturday morning was a bit of a mess, but we managed to locate parking and make it into the convention center before the exhibit hall opened. We were both exhausted, but did manage to meet Renee Ahdieh and get copies of The Beautiful. I also wanted to meet Ruta Sepetys, but we ended up going back to our hotel pretty early to catch up on some rest. Once there, we went through our hauls for the day, which were AMAZING! That evening, I walked a mile and a half through the National Mall and Chinatown to meet Amber (Du Livre) for dinner while she had a spare moment! It was great to be able to catch up over good food!

Sunday was a full day of walking, books, and signings. I met Brigid Kemmerer (again), Kat Cho, and Erin Morgenstern. Yes, I DID snag a copy of The Starless Sea and I can't wait to read it! There was a lot of sitting and chatting with friends, new and old. I was able to grab many of the books I'd missed the previous day and also found quite a few new ones I'm really excited for! We headed back around 4 and I got some reading in before calling it a day.

Monday was the last day of ALA and there was a breakfast going on for librarians that Leigh Bardugo would be attending. I was dying to go, but hadn't purchased a ticket because of the "librarians only" stipulation, although several other bloggers had. Once the breakfast began, a friend told me there were many open chairs and asked if I would be able to attend. I got the confirmation and we RAN to get an Uber and make the 15 minute trip to the breakfast location. Leigh was gorgeous and hilarious as always and there were copies of Ninth House on every chair. It was a Bardugo fan's dream! After, we moseyed around, I met Tara Sim, and that was about it. I was home by 10 and I can't wait to do it all again!

You may have noticed that we didn't do a single touristy thing and that is for one reason: I found the perfect roommate who is almost as introverted as I am and was perfectly happy to sit in the room and read. XD I'm definitely planning on attending next year in Chicago and I really hope I'm able to meet some more of you there!

ALA 2019 HAUL

I am SO EXCITED to get to all of these amazing books! Some were finished copies and obviously most were upcoming ARCs. Wish me luck as I attempt to read every single one!

Weekly Recap: 6/16 - 6/22

HAPPENINGS OFF THE BLOG

Hi everyone! As you're reading this I'm in Washington, DC at ALA Annual! I'm so excited that I get to be here this year. I really didn't think it was going to happen until a friend offered to split a hotel with me and everything fell into place. I've been super busy this week getting ready to leave, so I have not been doing a great job at posting or blog hopping. I can't wait to visit with all of you when I get back home though! The only new book I'm sharing this week is one I got in a trade, but you can believe I'm currently loaded down with more books than I know what to do with! I'll be doing a post when I get home to share my ALA book haul! If you're here, I hope you find me!

NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK

THIS WEEK I READ

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The topic was anticipated releases for Top Ten Tuesday
On Wednesday I went back down the TBR hole
Friday book review of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe


UPCOMING REVIEWS

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!

Book Review: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

Title: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
Author: Lauren James
Publication Date: July 3, 2018
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 290
Add to Goodreads

Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met, never even spoken to – someone who is light years away?

Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity amongst the stars. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth – with a single passenger on board. A boy called J.

Their only communication with each other is via email – and due to the distance between them, their messages take months to transmit across space. And yet Romy finds herself falling in love.

But what does Romy really know about J? And what do the mysterious messages which have started arriving from Earth really mean?

Sometimes, there’s something worse than being alone...

I don't read a ton of sci-fi, but I am a sucker for stories about people isolated from reality and this one sucked me right in as soon as I saw it. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe is about a girl named Romy who has been stuck onboard a spaceship completely alone for most of her life and it is a wild ride.

First of all, Romy is an insanely strong but relatable character who is doing better than I ever could. I am an introvert of the highest order, sometimes going a few days without talking to anyone outside my house, but I truly don't know how I'd survive years alone on a spaceship. I loved that Romy was able to keep things resembling normal with routines she'd stuck to all her life, but I could also understand how desperate she was for outside contact.

There are a couple important characters aside from Romy in this book. The first is the only person from Earth that Romy has remained in contact with. The second is J, a boy she's received a message from and who also happens to be heading for her ship. This book is told as Romy counts down the days until J arrives and the tension slowly builds as the numbers diminish.

This book made me feel more suspense than any other book that I can remember reading recently. From the first page there was a feeling that something was a little off. Of course, a big part of this is picturing anyone in the void of space by themselves, but there was always something else nagging at me. The plot twists in The Loneliest Girl in the Universe had me going back and reevaluating what I knew and it was amazing! I even messaged the author (who was lovely, by the way) when I turned the last page.

There isn't much else to say without giving away major plot points, but if you're in the market for a sci-fi thriller, this is the one for you. This is a quick, unsettling read and I can't wait to see what Lauren James writes next!

Down the TBR Hole #14

Hi everyone! It has been awhile since I've done one of these posts, but with yesterday's Top Ten and my ever growing TBR list, it seems like it's time to clear a few out. I hope.

The Down the TBR Hole meme was started by Lost In a Story and it is the most perfect tool for cleaning off shelves that I've come across. Here's how it works:

• Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
• Order on ascending date added.
• Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
• Read the synopses of the books
• Decide: keep it or should it go?

THE BOOKS

EDGE OF END BY SUREN FANT

I don't remember how I found this book, but I know why I added it after reading the synopsis again. It sounds AMAZING. But it has less than great reviews and the people who liked it describe it as "insightful." This is now what I'm looking for in a horror book. I don't need lessons on what the meaning of life is in this kind of read. VERDICT: PASS

THE WITCH HUNTER BY VIRGINIA BOECKER

I'm sure I added this as a result of a Goodreads giveaway, but never got around to actually getting a copy. Witches really aren't my thing, to be honest, although it does sound interesting. Has anyone read this? Is it worth keeping? VERDICT: UNSURE

MAGONIA BY MARIA DAHVANA HEADLEY

This one DEFINITELY got me with the pretty cover. I remember a lot of hype for this book when it was published followed by a lot of lackluster reviews. There are just too many amazing YA fantasy books out there that I really want to read. I think I'm going to have to wait on this one. VERDICT: PASS

THE RULES BY NANCY HOLDER & DEBBIE VIGUIE

I feel pretty sure that Jessica from A Great Read loved this book and that's why it has survived on my list for so long. This book sounds right up my alley and I'm definitely going to get to it eventually. VERDICT: KEEP

DOLL BONES BY HOLLY BLACK

I picked up this book back before I knew who Holly Black even was. It sounds super creepy and I HATE dolls. But it's also middle grade which seems to be more miss than hit for me. VERDICT: PASS

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Do you rely on reviews when you're picking your next read?

Do you prefer books with a deeper meaning to them?

Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday #243: Anticipated July - December Releases

Today's Topic: 

Most Anticipated Releases
of the Second Half of 2019

Happy Tuesday! This is my favorite kind of topic! It's the easiest and the one that seems the most helpful because I find out about tons of new books I hadn't heard of yet. I'll only be including books I haven't had the chance to read, although I highly recommend checking out House of Salt and Sorrows and Wilder Girls! 

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

The Institute by Stephen King

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning

There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Weekly Recap: 6/9 - 6/15

HAPPENINGS OFF THE BLOG

Hi everyone! This has been a bit of a stressful week and honestly I'm just glad it's over. :/ I did get a little reading done and discovered some really wild graphic novels. I've also continued to do a ton of trades and clear out my shelves in anticipation of ALA... which is under a week away! I can't believe it's here and I can't wait! I finally saw Aladdin this week and I have a lot of conflicting feelings. I'll talk about it more this week on the blog, but I definitely still don't know if I actually liked it or not! If you've seen it, did you love it?

NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK

   

THIS WEEK I READ

  

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

On Monday I did the Do I Have That Book? tag
The topic was unpopular opinions for Top Ten Tuesday
Thursday ARC review of Sorcery of Thorns


UPCOMING REVIEWS

(I'm finally going to review it for real.)

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!