Anticipated Fantasy Books For The Second Half of The Year–Why is time so slow? | Top Ten Tuesday #34

June 14, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks41 Comments

How is it Tuesday again already? I swear, time passes by SO FAST nowadays. (Except when it comes to books, apparently, since it’s taking FOREVER for my anticipated books to be released. *SIGH*)

Anyway, it’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This week’s theme from The Broke and the Bookish is:

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year (since we did a topic about the releases we were excited about for the first half of 2016 back in the beginning of the year) Feel free to tweak it how you want to — like most anticipated fantasy for the second half of 2016 or debut authors. Whatever you want!

There are literally so many books being released in the next months that I am dying to read, so I decided to narrow it down to the top ten fantasy books I’m looking forward to–and there are STILL SO MANY I am dying. But whatever. I would die to have these books. ~~Except not because I’d probably miss chocolate and just general good things in life too much for that.~~ But you know what I mean.

Everyone knows lists are fabulous, so I won’t deprive you of them any longer! Let’s do this.

1. This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (July 5th 2016)

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I absolutely ADORE Victoria Schwab’s books. And I’ve heard so many amazing things about This Savage Song and I’m seriously dying to read it. GIMME. I have nothing else to say.

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (August 9th 2016)

I haven’t read much (read: any) books by Jay Kristoff but SO MANY people adore his writing, especially with the release of Illuminae. Not to mention Nevernight seems so cool! Assassins, intrigue, and sounds of murder. What could be better? (I’m completely sane, I promise.)

3. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (August 30th 2016)

Sooo like most people I thought An Ember in the Ashes was a standalone? But nope! Can’t say I’m disappointed though. Can’t wait to see what this book’s like! ❤

4. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (September 26th 2016)

AHHHH if you haven’t checked out this book yet you DEFINITELY should because it sounds amazing! Just read the synopsis. *nods* I must have this. I MUST.

5. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (September 27th 2016)

Oh, did I ever happen to mention that I LOVED Six of Crows and Leigh Bardugo’s books? No? Well, I do. Six of Crows is absolutely LIFE for me (along with all my other favourite books of course) and I NEED CROOKED KINGDOM. NEED IT. Now. I-would-trade-chocolate-for-it need. (Big deal, you guys.)

6. Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge (September 27th 2016)

I don’t think I’ve actually expressed how much I enjoyed Rosamund Hodge’s books! Well, technically I’ve only read Cruel Beauty from her, but I do plan on reading Crimson Bound soon enough. I hope. Either way her newest book seems so good. I will definitely be picking it up! (Just look at that cover, people. How can you resist?)

7. The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan (October 4th 2016)

Ah, Rick Riordan. Always popping up with new books. I definitely don’t mind though! I read and really enjoyed The Sword of Summer last year, and I am totally looking forward to continuing with the journey.

8. A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray (November 1st 2016)

THIS COVER GIVES ME LIFE. Omg it’s so beautiful and I want this book so so much. That is all. (GO READ THIS series if you haven’t already though!! If only because the cover is literally BEGGING to be picked up. But also because the story is great!)

9. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8th 2016)

If you didn’t know already, I really love the Lunar Chronicles! (It’s seriously the best.) Marissa Meyer is such a gifted writer. So a book describing the Queen of Hearts pre-Wonderland? YES PLEASE.

10. Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes (December 13th 2016)

And last but not least, Crystal Storm which is releasing in December! (*sob* Why December??!) The fourth book in the series, Frozen Tides left me totally hanging and begging for more and I’m honestly dying for this book. I suppose I’m lucky there will be so many other good books to keep me occupied before it’s released?? XD The series started off as meh, but really got better. Woo!

OH, and I just HAVE to add this one.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (July 31st 2016)

Do I even have to explain anything for this one?! Didn’t think so. Good. Because I have no words other than alagla;hndgrgnalsajflkdjf complete gibberish. Ahem. So excited!

Honorable mentions (Pretty much most of the other books I’m looking forward to that I wasn’t able add to the top ten): Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (September 6th 2016), Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (September 27th 2016), Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch (September 20th 2016), The Midnight Star by Marie Lu (October 11th 2016), Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst (November 22nd 2016), A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess (September 20th 2016)

SO MANY BOOKS. So many books are being released in the second half of 2016 (a lot in September, I’ve noticed!) and I’m so giddy for them all to be released! Apart from these fantasy books, there are so many other books being released as well–don’t me started on all the contemporary books I also want to read! That’s a list for a different day. (I have too many books on my TBR SOMEONE STOP ME.)

So now tell me! Which of these books are you looking forward to the most? What other books are you looking forward to that aren’t on this list? Feel free to leave your TTT link below as well, I’d love to stop by (and add more books to my never-ending TBR pile)!

Happy Tuesday!

Reasons why fantasy is one of the best genres ever | Top Ten Tuesday #33

June 7, 2016June 7, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks48 Comments

Hola mi amigos! Don’t ask what that was, I have no idea. (My long-ago Dora days are kicking in.) Anyway, it’s been a LONG TIME since I’ve participated in a Top Ten Tuesday, and it’s about time, don’t you think? Making lists is one of my favourite things to do, so I’ve been quite sad that I have been depriving myself and the world of said lists. Ahem. ANYWAY. Rambling a bit there.

This week’s theme from The Broke and the Bookish is “Ten Reasons I Love X — could be a certain book, character, author, your indie bookstore, a fandom, a tv show, reading, a hobby, a genre. Honestly anything you want to gush about.” As you know, I went with reasons why I love the fantasy genre! Let’s do this.

1. It lets us escape into a different world.

Some people can argue that this applies to other genres as well (pretty much anything that’s fiction when you think about it) but I feel like it applies most strongly to fantasy? It generally tends to actually create a whole new world which is what makes it so magical and intriguing to read about. Sometimes reality just doesn’t cut it, you know? Whenever an escape from reality is required, fantasy is always such a good choice. What better way to escape than into a world completely different from yours?

Hogwarts — I can’t be the only one who loves Harry Potter because of the world, right?

2. It takes us on an adventure.

It’s not even necessarily a physical adventure, though that’s what it is most of the time. It might be an emotional adventure too, where the events lead to an emotional roller coaster (that happened so many times… my feels were overwhelmed). We love to read books because of all the feelings we go through and going on an adventure alongside the characters definitely brings out all sorts of emotions, am I right? *cough* Percy Jackson *cough* Harry Potter *pretty much all my favourite fantasy books*

3. We get to use our imaginations.

One of the best parts of the fantasy genre is the amount of freedom authors have to spin their story. No boundaries of real life, nothing but their own creativity and it’s SO GREAT to read. There’s just such a thrill in being carried into a story of someone else’s imagination, in a completely new (and fictitious) world. So many new ideas, and tons of creativity. How can you not fall in love with all that?

dragon-fantasy-4 — DRAGONS. (Unfortunately they don’t exist in real life, soooo.)

4. Childhood memories

This seems like an odd reason with no correlation whatsoever, but remember those times back when you were a child, and you believed in everything, from fairytales to unicorns to dragons to fairies? Now, grown up we no longer believe in such things, but fantasy is now allowing us to go back to those times when we thought they existed, and read about them. Maybe this isn’t such a huge reason but for me at least, whenever *I* hear of a book about fairies, I can’t help but remember those days… 😉 There’s just something that feels so… I don’t know. Child-like, when it comes to fantasy despite it being the opposite of such. (Please tell me I’m not alone here?? I feel crazy right now. o.O)

5. There is a strong emotional message/theme.

You know how people enjoy contemporary a lot of the time because they’re able to relate and sympathize to the characters and their situation? How there’s a strong emotional theme (to the good books, at least)? Well, that’s not only for the contemporary folks. In books of the fantasy genre, there are tons that despite their out-of-worldness and fantastical elements, actually have an emotional theme that we’re able to relate to. That attachment, paired alongside the intriguing idea of a different world, is what makes fantasy such a gem for me. It’s like such a great mix between relatable and unrelatable? If that makes sense.

6. It puts things into perspective.

I mean, I suppose a lot of books across a variety of genres does so (considering how the characters’ lives always seem to be so much more worse and dramatic than ours in real life..) but especially in the fantasy genre. I mean, no matter how bad your life might be, when you compare to the lives of all the suffering characters in books, I’m sure it won’t seem as bad. Am I right? Like, you try comparing your life with Celaena Sardothien in the first book… um yeah. I doubt your life’s that bad. Just saying. 😛 (You should be glad, tbh.)

7. Options are endless.

The fact is, there are an infinite amount of ideas in fantasy. The options are actually endless. As such, it actually kind of makes me disappointed when I see that some fantasy novels are so similar because there are SO MANY things that fantasy can touch on. As long as you have imagination, fantasy can never die out of lack of ideas. And there’s just something so wonderful about that. ❤ There’s just something so comforting knowing that no matter what, fantasy is there and ready for us to delve into. Does that sound crazy? ~~Probably but humour me.~~

8. Gives us something to root for.

When it seems like there’s nothing left in real life that seems worth rooting for and you’re just dead and lost all motivation for anything, pick up a fantasy novel! More often than not you’ll find something you root for, whether it’s the characters, their cause, a romance, and who knows what else. Sometimes it’s just that hope and rooting for something (even if it’s fictional) that helps us feel good.

9. (Usually) crushes our emotions and kills us.

Only partially joking about the ‘kills us’ part. Usually I find that fantasy always has me so drained after reading because me emotions always go through such a roller-coaster. And is it just me, or does it seem like fantasy is the genre where cliffhangers are used most often?? And let me tell you, those are absolute deathhhh. Agh. And then I typically fall into this state of shock and hangover where I cannot do anything but just sit in awe of the book. So. I still love these books even though they turn me into such a mess? #logic

10. It’s fun!

So I may or may not be just out of steam for now and grasping at straws for the last one, but I do feel like this counts. Fantasy is fun. It’s enjoyable. One of the main reasons we read at all is for fun, and fantasy provides exactly that. Fun! And who doesn’t like that? It’s entertainment, guys. No matter what emotional havoc it caused and all the turmoil and tension we go through while reading it, it all shows just how easy it is to get hooked into a fantasy novel (well, any genre of novel really, but for the sake of this post I’m making it more specific). I’d be lying if I said that I don’t pick up fantasy novels for entertainment. 😉

Alright, so I think that’s it! I think I covered most of the important reasons why I love fantasy, for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! I have been considering making a similar list like this for contemporary, feel free to let me know if that’s something you’d be interested in. What are your thoughts on this? Are you a fan of fantasy? Did I miss any other reasons? Or is fantasy not your thing? I’d love to know your thoughts! Feel free to leave a link to your own Top Ten Tuesday as well if you want. I’d love to stop by!

Enjoy your Tuesday, guys! Sending you lots of cake and chocolate. You’re welcome. ✌️ I know I need it! (Who doesn’t is the question.)

Re-reading! Library books! Woo! | WWW Wednesday #47 (April 20th)

April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks13 Comments

Hey everyone! I think this post was actually supposed to go up earlier, but I guess there was a glitch and it didn’t. (Technology can be a bother sometimes.. *sigh*) But anyway here I am with this week’s WWW Wednesday! I actually managed to get A LOT of reading done, by some kind of magic witchcraft. And I enjoyed basically all of them, so yesss. Success right there! Alright, so let’s get into the what of everything.

Currently Reading

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I started my re-read of The Raven Boys yesterday! I’m hoping to have this and at least the second book finished before the release of The Raven King (which I can’t wait for, by the way). I don’t actually talk about this series much (or ever), I’ve noticed, but I actually do like it! Re-reading it now is making me enjoy it more than the first time, I think. Just a little.

Recently Finished

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Kutkoski
It’s a Wonderful Death by Sarah J Schmitt
A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern
What We Left Behind by Robin Talley

The Winner’s Curse was the book I had been reading last week, and, well, I finished it! It was a re-read, and I loved it just as much as when I read it the first time. ❤

It’s a Wonderful Death was a surprise read for me, actually. I hadn’t planned on reading it, but I got it from the library the other day and since it seemed like a quick read, I decided to read it! And gosh, I loved it. It was such an insightful yet fun read!

A Step Toward Falling was another library book I got. At first I wasn’t that into it, but by the time I reached the end, I really enjoyed it! I’m definitely going to be trying out Cammie McGovern’s other novel, Say What You Will, sometime as well.

And finally, I also read What We Left Behind. I’ve been really into the library and contemporary books this week, it seems! This, as well, was a really good read. Full of diverse and interesting characters, I had so much fun reading this, especially since the author dealt with the LGBT themes so well.

Laughter is fabulous. Ergo books that will make you laugh is even better. So read these! | Top Ten Tuesday #32

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks37 Comments

If you’re anything like me, you most likely adore or at least mildly appreciate books with humor. I mean, who doesn’t? When (the right) humor is included, whether it be from witty dialogue, character interactions, or anything, a book generally becomes 10 times better. Generally. Or at least better, in general. (I’m saying ‘general’ too much, aren’t I? But generally, that’s how it is. Humor make books a better place. Right? Right.) Of course, it does depend on the quality of humor–but that’s a discussion for another day. So. The topic this week, for Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish, is Ten Books That Will Make You Laugh (or at least chuckle)–which is utterly perfect! Though making this list has made me realized how little books I had to choose from for this list… but nonetheless, here it is! In no particular order, as usual. If you haven’t read these books yet, YOU SHOULD ~~MUST~~. Just sayin’.

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Ahhh, the sly and little tidbits of humour in this one absolutely killed me in this one! I loved them to death. Fangirl was SUCH a fun read and I remember smiling so much throughout this book! Not to mention it definitely caused me to laugh out loud various moments. Cath and Reagan, Cath and Levi, so many awesome exchanges in this book.

Reagan was sitting up at Cath’s desk when Cath woke up.
“Are you awake?”
“Have you been watching me sleep?”
“Yes, Bella. Are you awake?”
“No.”

#relatable (about the not being awake thing. I don’t usually have a person watching me sleep. I’ll leave that to Bella. And Cath, apparently. 😛 LOL.)

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I still have not read Lola or Isla (BUT I WILL I PROMISE) but Anna and the French Kiss, I can say, is adorable! Although it’s not something that will make you collapse in a fit of giggles every couple of pages (I’d love to come across a book like that though, LOL) I don’t doubt that it will cause a few chuckles or at least some large grins for most of you.

“Thanks. I forgot how to flip off the English. I’ll use the correct hand gesture next time.”
“My pleasure. Always happy to educate.”

3. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

SIMONNNNN. (!!!) I think half the reason I loved this book so much was just because of Simon. I honestly want him to COME TO LIFE. (I say for the millionth time.) But seriously. This book is amazing, and not just because of Simon! (Though he plays a big part.) The humor in this is fabulous too, so it’s double the win!

“What’s a dementor?”
I mean, I can’t even. “Nora, you are no longer my sister.”
“So it’s some Harry Potter thing,” she says.

4. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Oh my gosh, this book. It had its faults, for sure, but it was so much FUN to read. Aha, like seriously. Perhaps the humor might appeal to different people, depending, but to me, it was great. This book was so light-hearted and really enjoyed reading from Harper (the main character)’s perspective. Definitely try out this book if you’re looking for a mostly fluffy and amusing read!

“Just . . . I don’t like crying girls, okay?” We were quiet for a second while I took that in. “That was very nice of you, David,” I finally said. “Now hold on because I’m about to drive into a fence.”
“Yeah, okay,” he muttered, his eyes still closed. “You do that.” Then his eyes shot open. “Wait, what?”

5. A Darker Shade of Magic (& A Gathering of Shadows) by V.E. Schwab

One of the biggest things I loved about this book, and its sequel is the copious amounts of sass in the dialogue of the characters. Like YASSS. I approve with quite a lot of enthusiasm. (!!!) Seriously, the witty dialogue is probably one of the things I love most. That, and all the other amazing things about this book. READ IT. (Especially A Gathering of Shadows, because it was perfection.)

“I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.”
“I apologize for shooting you in the leg. I was myself entirely.”

6. All I’ve Never Wanted by Ana Huang

This was a book I read quite some time ago (last year, psh, yes, that counts as a long time ago) but I really enjoyed it! It was filled with so much humor, and it was so much fun to read!! Also the romance(s) in the book were super adorable. So. ❤

7. It’s a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt

This, is actually a book I recently (?) finished–or at least, finished sometime this week; I forget when exactly because I’ve been doing other things too, but anyway! I loved reading this book so much. Near the end I think I might’ve even teared a bit? But it’s not a sad book, I assure you, despite what it may seem like. It was actually a lot of fun to read, and even if you’re not going to fall laughing each page, it still has a great undertone of witty humor which I adored.

8. Penryn & the End of Days by Susan Ee

I read this series last year, and really enjoyed it! Susan Ee is definitely an author I will be looking out for now. One of the most notable things that stood out to be about the series, though, is the humor. Despite the dark, and gritty mood and the post-apocalyptic world and everything, it had kind of a playful tone to it at times?? And it was so entertaining to read, and drew me a lot more to the characters.

“My friends call me Wrath,” says Raffe. “My enemies call me Please Have Mercy. What’s your name, soldier boy?”

9. Rick Riordan

As much as I would’ve liked to keep up with a semblance that I don’t cheat on these Top Ten Tuesday lists, I can’t. And won’t. I’m too far gone into the habit to stop now! Plus you all know I couldn’t. Every single one of Rick Riordan’s books that I have read, has managed to make me chuckle or just full out laugh at least once. I’m especially a huge fan of his Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series; both are AMAZING for humor. Seriously.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Aphrodite said. “War is coming. Bloodshed is inevitable. So there’s really only one thing to do.”
“Uh… and that is?” Annabeth ventured.
“Why, have tea and chat, obviously.”

Ahhhh, memories. I read The Mark of Athena such a long time ago but it only feels like yesterday!

10. Cassandra Clare

Similar to my situation with Rick Riordan, Cassandra Clare has written so many books, and the books I’ve read from her (aka, anything set in the Shadowhunter world) always have some part that makes me laugh. Most notably in The Infernal Devices and Lady Midnight. I loved the characters so much in both, and the dialogue was just amazing! Not to say that TMI wasn’t, but I guess I just don’t remember it as much since it’s been a while since I read them.

“I bet you didn’t like Magnus much, either,” said Julian, still with the same odd, stiff look on his face.
“Maybe not,” said Jace, “but I never would have said so.”
“Because it would have hurt Alec’s feelings?” Emma asked.
“No,” said Jace, “because Magnus would have turned me into a hat rack.”

Alright, so I think that’s it for this week’s list! I have to say, I’m actually kind of surprised I managed to get to ten? I feel like despite the many books with witty characters and humor and everything, there’s still not enough.. Maybe I just forgot a lot of them. Oh well. These ones, for sure, are ones you MUST absolutely read if you haven’t already! Especially if you’re looking to have a fun read and a good laugh a few times too. 😉 Which of these have you read? Which quotes are your favorites? Do you have any recommendations for me, in terms of YA novels with humor? It doesn’t matter which genre–you can see that I have a mismatch of a bunch myself. Oh, and what do YOU think of humor in books?? What type do you like best? Witty, sarcastic, etc. Let me know any of your thoughts below! And feel free to link your own TTT post as well. 😉

The dreaded reading slump has been defeated! | WWW Wednesday #46 (April 13th)

April 13, 2016April 13, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks28 Comments

It’s been a while since I did a WWW Wednesday post (3-4 weeks, I think?) but to be fair, I hadn’t really read much in those weeks… or at all? Like, maybe one book. So. I was in a major blogging and reading slump–thankfully those dark days are over! *dances around with chocolate* But I’m back this week to catch up a bit on what I’ve been reading, what I plan to read, etc. Yes, yes, I know, you missed me and these posts. ~~Probably not but hushhh.~~

Currently Reading

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
The Winner’s Curse by Marie Kutkoski

Some of you may recall, how I started Illuminae.. maybe three weeks ago? Even longer? Yeah. Well, I haven’t made any progress with it! Which makes me really sad, actually. It’s just I haven’t been in the mood to read this AT ALL. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up and read it, even after my reading slump was over. Which is why I’m thinking right now just to leave it? Not leave it forever, but, like, pause reading it? I don’t want to force myself to read it and end up enjoying it a lot less than I could have otherwise. So. I’m confused.

The Winner’s Curse is actually a re-read for me, since I read it a year ago or something? And since the third book has been released, I decided to start rereading the first two books! I kind of was unwilling to reread because there are SO MANY other books I want to read, but it’s been so long since I read this. So. So far I’m really enjoying it! Arin and Kestrel… ❤

Recently Finished

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

I actually don’t even know what spurred me to read The Impostor Queen–but what I do know, is that it managed to jarr me out of my slump! I started it and I think I finished it, in like, less than two days. It started off kind of ‘meh’, decent, but nothing too great, but then it really became something amazing. I really loved the fantasy world it created, with magic based around fire and ice and everything. Loved it!

My friend actually had a copy of The Glittering Court (I was kind of surprised, tbh) and since I was kind of wary of whether I’d like it or not, I just borrowed it from her. I wouldn’t say it was a bad read, but… it wasn’t amazing either. I mean, I liked the concept well enough, but I wasn’t always the biggest fan of the characters, which really put down the enjoyment factor. I wished I liked it more, though I did still like it.

The book that followed The Glittering Court, however, made up for more than my partial disappointment over TGC. The Sky is Everywhere blew away all and any of the expectations I had! If you haven’t read this book already, guys, I’m telling you, you must. (At least if you’re into contemporaries.) A book with themes of sisterhood, coping with grief and of course, love, The Sky is Everywhere is such an emotional and fabulous read–READ IT.

Calling all contemporary cravers: You most definitely should read these books..! | Top Ten Tuesday #31

April 12, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks39 Comments

Can you believe it’s been over a month since I last participated in this meme? :O I honestly had not expected that would happen. TTT is such a fun meme, and I’m sorry to have missed out on so many of them. But let us not dwell in the past! I’m here now, today, to participate in this week’s theme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish: “Ten Books Every X Should Read (up to you! Examples: every history nerd, memoir lover, ballet lover, feminist, college student, etc etc.)” As you can tell from the title, I’m going to be listing ten books that all contemporary cravers should eat! Along with fantasy (<3), the contemporary genre has been the one I’ve been reading most often in the past year or so, and I love it so much! I figured I might as well choose it for this week’s theme. 😉 Alright, be prepared for lots of squealing because these books are all SO AMAZING. Oh, and just saying: this is not in any order--because NOPE that’s way too hard. Like choosing between my (nonexistant) babies, so.

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Okay, so I haven’t read the rest of the following books (Lola, Isla, you know.) but this book was just so cute! It felt so fluffy and although it’s not perfect, I’d bet the majority of contemporary lovers are a fan of this book (or the following ones), so if you haven’t hopped on this train yet–you should! 😛 I also have a review on it, if you want to check it out. (You should. Ahem. #selfpromotion XD)

2. Fangirl, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Yes, I’m kind of cheating. But hey, what’s a good TTT post without it? 😛 I doubt I’ve gotten through any TTT posts without adding something or another but whatever. #rebel Anyway. Fangirl and Eleanor & Park are both amazing novels by Rainbow Rowell, who I absolutely love as an author! Her books are just so good. They offer such a sweet romance yet also include so many other important messages–which I love.

3. The Sky is Everywhere, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

AHHHH Jandy Nelson has officially reached being one of my favourite contemporary authors! And I know that it mind seem crazy, deeming her a favourite when I only read two of her books, but seriously, guys. I finally know what everyone’s been talking about. Her debut novel (which I finished last night) was so amazingly amazing–it blew so many of my expectations away! And I absolutely devoured I’ll Give You the Sun when I read it a couple months back. Her books always have such an emotional theme to them while being so sweet at the same time! I need more Jandy Nelson books!!

4. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Ah, Simon. This book, was, of course, amazing. Everyone has been squealing about this book for so long, and I totally get it now! Also, can I just say that SIMON IS AWESOME. Omg. I just wish he’d, like, come to life so we could be best friends? Cause that’s exactly what we’d be. XD So many things in this book blew me away, and I loved it so much. So if you haven’t read it, GO. NOWWWW. Ahem.

5. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

So, this is another one of my 2016 reads, and oh. my. god. This book literally broke my heart into two pieces, then went right ahead and stomped on it. Aghhhh the emotional trauma here is real! This LGBT novel has been the talk of the book community back when it was first released, and I hadn’t read enough reviews to know what it was exactly like. Oh, boy. It tore my heart into pieces, but naturally, that’s exactly why you MUST read this! #bookwormlogic

6. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I’m not exactly sure if this falls into the category of contemporary? I mean… having a tree become a vicious story-telling monster-thing doesn’t exactly happen in real life, so… But to me, it still felt like a contemporary, so whether it is or isn’t.. that’s too bad! This book.. left me speechless. Honestly. Prior to reading this, of course I already knew what an amazing author Patrick Ness is, however this book is definitely one of his best. It was so heartbreaking yet so real and just so heartbreaking. AGH. I love it.

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Ahh what an amazing book. I will never stop praising it! So artfully written, with such realistic characters and great themes. What’s there not to like? I loved so much the themes of friendship, and coping with life, and being a wallflower, and just… everything. ❤ Read it!!

8. On the Fence, The Distance Between Us, The Fill In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Kasie West has officially became one of my favorite authors–especially when it comes to contemporary. Her novels are always just so cute and so much fun to read, that it always lifts my mood. Sometimes, after getting our hearts stomped on by various novels, what we need the most is just to let it heal by reading a contemporary that makes us smile, am I right?! ‘Course I am. And that’s exactly what these books do!

9. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

So many controversies about this book! Some hate it, some love it, some don’t care. I, for one, loved this book!! It was as good as devouring chocolate, except with more emotional pain and heartbreaking. A book dealing with mental illness, and themes like suicide, this book tore my heart to pieces. The characters felt so real, the writing was fantabulous… omg. I am craving for Jennifer Niven’s next novel!

10. Sarah Dessen

I’m not even going to bother putting the name of only one or two of her books, because, honestly, you should read them all. Or at least, most. Some. She is one of the QUEENS of contemporary, in my opinion, so if you haven’t read any of her books yet, GO NOW. Run. Before I come and chase you wielding chocolate stakes. Yes, that is possible. ~~I think.~~ Be scared! (I recommend you try out: The Truth About Forever, Just Listen or This Lullaby!)

Honourable mentions–also known as me trying to squish in a bunch of more AMAZING contemporaries (that deserve to be on the list too but isn’t because rules make life cruel):

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler (Such beautiful writing and so diverse!)
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy (Although it’s not perfect, I appreciate the message it was trying to promote.)
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (This was so enjoyable! I especially liked the art and graphics included.)
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (Ahh, so cute! Jenny Han’s books are adorable. :D)
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (The opposite of the above, really! This book totally broke my heart, but I love it.)
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia (This book has some flaws, but it didn’t make it any less enjoyable!)
You Were Here by Cori McCarthy (I was actually very pleasantly surprised by this one! It was great.)
What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi (This book put such a great twist on two popular tropes! YES.)

So. Which of these books have you read?! Which haven’t you read? Are you a contemporary craver? (My new favourite term, I think, other than chocolate–which, let’s be real, is always a favorite term) Do you prefer heart-stomping and emotional contemporaries, or cute and fluffy ones? Do you have any recommendations for THIS contemporary craver (me, btw)? TELL ME for I’d love to know. OH, and feel free to leave the link to your own TTT below! I’d love to come and stop by. ❤

Alright, so that’s it, I guess! As always, leave any of your thoughts below, I’m always up for a chat! Enjoy your Tuesday!

I read Lady Midnight… and it was AMAZING. | WWW Wednesday #45 (March 16th)

March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks26 Comments

Hey everyone! It’s Wednesday once again, which of course means, a WWW Wednesday post! The biggest news I have really is the fact that I read both Lady Midnight and A Gathering of Shadows, both of which I absolutely loved! Though agh, I’m still reading Illuminae. Oops.

Alright, let’s get to the actual books!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Okay, yes, I realize I have been reading this for almost over a week now, and yes, I realize that I have been giving priority to other books instead of this one BUT I swear, I’m actually going to focus on this now. (Well, I’ll try. And that counts for something, right?) I really do want to finish this book!

Recently Finished

Tales From Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare #3-10
–The Whitechapel Fiend by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson
–Nothing But Shadows by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan
–The Evil We Love by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman
–Pale Kings and Princes by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman
–Bitter of Tongue by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan
–The Fiery Trial by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson
–Born to Endless Night by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan
–Angels Twice Descending by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

I (shockingly) managed to find time to finish the rest of the Tales from Shadowhunter Academy ebooks! I couldn’t help it; I really wanted to move on to Lady Midnight, but I wanted to finish the tales first. And I’m glad I did–I really enjoyed them!

A Gathering of Shadows was so, so, SO good. But that cliffhanger! Aghhhhh it’s too painful. My emotions were all over for this book, my heart got stomped on, I had some near-screeching moments where characters made unintelligent moves, my heart got stomped on–you know, the usual. It was such a great sequel to the already fantastic ADSOM–It was amazing!

Okay, so my last read for this week was the hugely anticipated Lady Midnight! *Cue fangirling shrieks* Once I finished the Tales from Shadowhunter Academy, I decided I couldn’t wait and dived right into Lady Midnight. And oh. my. god. I cannot even express my feelings of love right now since they’re so intense. I literally devoured this whole book and it was so amazing, just simply fantastic. If you’re hesitating about reading this, I’m telling you, READ ITTTTT. NOWW.

Lady Midnight has been released and I still don’t have it! Cries | WWW Wednesday #44 (March 9th)

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks18 Comments

Okay, sooo firstly, let me just freak out over the fact that Lady Midnight came out yesterday!! *Dies* Ahhhh I’m heading over to buy it soon, definitely. I’d have pre-ordered it but eh. For some reason I’m not a big fan of pre-ordering? Call me crazy, but yeah. I can’t wait to buy it, omg. I still don’t have it though.. SOB.

BUT that’s not the point of this post, ah yes. Apart from Lady Midnight news, I started A Gathering of Shadows! I posted my review of the first book on Monday and I started the second book now, I’m so excited!! But let me share the rest of my bookish on-goings…

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

I started Illuminae several days ago.. but I haven’t made much progress with it? I know, I know, I really have to get going with it but in between I started Frozen Tides and I finished that and then so I unintentionally went on a pause from Illuminae, and then.. well, point is, I still have a lot to go on this, agh. But it’s not bad so far!

After writing up my review on A Darker Shade of Magic, I didn’t waste any time starting A Gathering of Shadows! In hindsight it might’ve been better to have finished Illuminae first, but… temptation bit hard. So far it’s really good–and I can’t wait to read more of it!

Recently Finished

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes
Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan
The Lost Herondale by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman

The Accident Season was SO GOOD! It was so entertaining to read, not to mention I loved the writing and the characters were very well-written. Ahhh. And there were so many little things that I loved! The whole magical realism thing going on was super cool too. Definitely recommend for those who don’t mind a little creepiness and are looking for a contemporary/magical realism crossover-type book!

I started Frozen Tides while in the midst of reading Illuminae, as it was the last book to read for the Falling Kingdoms read-along (the next books in the series haven’t been published yet) and it was amazing. I could not put it down and it was absolutely addicting! I found myself loving the characters and everything a lot more (although critically, it wasn’t as good as how much I enjoyed it.)

Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy and The Lost Herondale are both books part of the Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy series, and *gasp* I hadn’t read them yet, so with the release of Lady Midnight, I decided to read them! I absolutely can’t wait to read Lady Midnight, but I’m hoping to finish the 10 novellas in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy first. (Apparently there are characters in it that will appear in Lady Midnight too?)

Ahhh ADSOM was SO GOOD. | WWW Wednesday #43 (March 2nd, 2016)

March 2, 2016March 2, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks35 Comments

Hey everyone! I still can’t believe it’s the beginning of March, omg. But it is! And it also happens to be the time for another WWW Wednesday post—so since I know you guys are probably just interested in the books, let’s get to it!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

I had meant to finish The Accident Season last month, but I only started it yesterday. Oh well. So far it’s really good, though I’m not too far into it yet. I can’t wait to read more of it! ❤

Recently Finished

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Ahhhh the hype has most definitely not been wrong for Wolf by Wolf!! It was absolutely spectacular, guys, if you haven’t read it already, I’m telling you, you absolutely should! Even if you’re not a fan of historical fiction, I assure you this book is amazing.

A Darker Shade of Magic is SUCH A HYPED BOOK, especially with the release of its sequel! And so yes, I finally read it, and god, I’m asking myself now, what on earth took me so long to get to it??! Although there were a few things that I wasn’t a huge fan of, this book had me hooked from start to finish and I loved it.

Stars Above wasn’t exactly a planned read, but I recently got a copy of it from my library (agh I want to buy it so badly though *stomps angrily*) and I got started on it right away! I loved reading the novellas, though kind of feeling nostalgic now since it was the last of a book with the characters from LC, haha.

Too many books, too little time! | WWW Wednesday #42 (February 24th)

February 24, 2016February 29, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks3 Comments

Hello! How are you all today? Okay, so I think I should just name ALL my WWW Wednesday posts ‘too many books, too little time’?? That’s already what I say for my life, soooo… Oh well. I can never find enough time to read.. and there’s just so many books I want to read. (That is, allll of them. Which is proving to be more and more impossible.)

However, I did manage to get some reading done this past week! And I’m currently reading two books, that I hope to finish this week… that counts for something, right? Of course it does. So let’s just go onto the books!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Yes, I finally started both A Darker Shade of Magic AND Wolf by Wolf! I wasn’t going to pick up Wolf by Wolf after I started A Darker Shade of Magic, but then I decided I might as well seeing as I can read A Darker Shade of Magic as an ebook (but I also have a physical copy for some reason??) and Wolf by Wolf only as a hardcover. So yay!

I started ADSOM on Monday, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to read it much! It really sucks but I hope to make more progress on it this week. It’s okay so far, I guess, though unfortunately I haven’t gotten much time to read it.

As for Wolf by Wolf—I just started it yesterday night! I think I’m on the 4th or 5th chapter?? I’m actually really liking it so far. Let’s just say it definitely didn’t waste any time in getting the action started!

I might also decide to put either WbW or ADSOM on pause while I finish the other, but I don’t know yet… should I? I mean, they’re both in different formats, so it’s easy to pick up one if I don’t have the other, or something… I dunno. I’m terrible at making decisions sometimes. I guess it might just happen naturally though if I start to favor one over the other lol.

Recently Finished

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

I finished Glass Sword! If you saw my Spotlight Saturday post, you know how I felt about it. I’d repeat it, but basically the gist of is; although it became a roller-coaster of emotions near the end, I was left indifferent for a majority of the book, sooo. Yeah. Not the reaction I was going for, but it was still good. (The book, not the reaction.)

Omg Gathering Darkness has me wanting to read the fourth book asap! So much drama in this one, as well as betrayal, romance, and just, it was totally entertaining!! I’m tempted to just continue with the fourth book even though I’m supposed to wait for March 4th?? I’m also trying to decide if I should do separate reviews for each of the books or just do a series review… thoughts?

Agh More Happy Than Not was amazing… it completely broke my heart?! But I honestly loved it. There were so many amazing themes and relationships between characters…and oh my god, the ending?! I hit the end and ahhhhhh my heart!! I couldn’t stop reading but my heart just got stomped on… but I loved it? I can totally see what the hype was about now!

I kind of reached my 1-year blogiversary?!! | Spotlight Saturday #4 (February 20th)

February 20, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks57 Comments

Helloooooo! It’s the weekend once again (THANK GOD) and it’s also a Saturday, so I’ve decided to participate once again in Spotlight Saturday! I hadn’t been anticipating the fact that I would leave such a long time in between my last Spotlight Saturday (back in January, I think) but I guess it happened anyway. Better late than never, am I right?!

Spotlight Saturday is a meme hosted by Josie @ Josie’s Book Corner. Here’s the official blurb from it on her blog:

Spotlight Saturday is a weekly feature, created by Josie at Josie’s Book Corner [aka, moi], dedicated to spotlighting and pinpointing some of the things over the week that have caught my attention more than usual, things I’ve particularly loved, etc.

Okay, so as you can probably understand from the title of this post, I REACHED MY 1-YEAR BLOGIVERSARY!! Well, kind of. I mean, yes I did indeed reach it, according to WordPress—I honestly can’t believe it’s already been a year!!—but I’ve decided it’s more of a kind-of blogiversary because it’s the date I created this blog—I didn’t actually start posting anything until near the end of March. Hence it’s my kind-of blogiversary. BUT STILL. 1 YEAR. I’m kind of in a state of shock?!! That I actually managed to keep this blog up for so long?? Especially since it did NOT feel like a year has passed, honestly.

I will actually be doing a giveaway sometime in March though, in celebration of my blogiversary as well as my own birthday! Two in one, I guess, haha. So keep an eye out for that! Technically my blog did start in March, so it’s totally justified—and my birthday, well, it happens to be around the same time (March 24th). My first post was, like, in March 11th? And then I think I took a 9-day hiatus or something and posted again on March 20th. XD So. Kind of confusing, but point is; look forward to a birthday and blogiversary giveaway coming sometime this March! ❤ My gift to you. 😉

But thank you so much for supporting me this past year! Even if you’re new here. I’m going to keep repeating the same thing, to be honest. I can’t believe a year has passed already! My blog and I have grown so much within that time… It seems like so much less, and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for all of you, so THANK YOU. *Brings out confetti and chocolate and cake and party hats*

As in last week’s Spotlight Saturday, I’m going to be spotlighting a few bloggers I’ve known for a while, as well as a few that I recently started talking to or would like to know better—because #BLOGGERLOVE!! 😀 Let’s do this.

Oldies, but lovelies (LOLLL sounds weird but you know what I mean)

Michelle @ The Writing Hufflepuff

Michelle’s blog is one I’ve been following for a LONG time—and her posts never get old. This girl’s blog is just amazing! (Read: Go check out her blog NOW.) I love reading her posts! 🙂

Poulami @ Daydreaming Books

Another wonderful blog, Poulami posts insightful reviews of a variety of books, and they’re great to read! She also has many other entertaining posts. Go show her some love! ❤

Raven @ Dreamy Addictions

I’ve been following Raven’s blog for a while now! I’m always envious at how much she keeps up with her reviews, haha. XD That’s something I’m still working on, oops! Her blog is filled with all sorts of great posts. 😀

Kat @ Life and Other Disasters

Kat’s blog is filled with a variety of posts, and I love it! ❤ From TV, to books to tags to everything else, her blog is always lots of fun to surf around.

Blogs I’ve Discovered Recently or Want to Get to Know More…

Isabella @ Gryffindor Books

Isabella is a more recent blogger friend I’ve discovered on the blogosphere and she is absolutely lovely! (She loves Harry Potter. And Percy Jackson. Enough said. :P)

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

I’m not sure when I found Anna and her blog—but I’m so glad I did! Anna is such a friendly person and her blog is wonderful. Plus, we seem to have a similar taste in books so yay!

Trang & Lashaan @ Bookidote

I’ve been following this blog for a long time??? But I’ve only recently gotten the chance to actually comment, because TOO MANY BLOGS AND TOO LITTLE TIME. Gah. But I’d love to get to know both Trang and Lashaan more!

Becca @ Shih Tzu Boo Reviews

I’ve actually been following Becca for a while (I think???) but only recently have I really talked to her. Her blog is absolutely lovely and I love it! She is also a very nice person, and I’d really love to talk to her more often. 😉

Trisha Ann @ The Bookgasm just reached her one-year blogiversary and is celebrating with a giveaway! Congrats Trisha Ann!! ❤
Josie @ Josie’s Book Corner talks about reactions us readers have when we miss the hype train. *SO TRUE*
Becca @ Becca and Books makes a post about bookish characters for president (and makes fun of Donald Trump). So unique and lots of fun to read!
Ashley @ Socially Awkward Bookworm shares her thoughts of Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover (she loved it). I have been meaning to read more of CoHo’s books, so I’m glad she liked it!
Joey @ Thoughts and Afterthoughts posts 2016 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon Mix and Match. A very cool post!
Amy @ Book Enthral talks about how rebel-crews are amazing and are the equivalent of #squadgoals. I totally agreeeeeee, btw.
Cait @ Paper Fury talks about procrastinating reading books we’re almost sure we’re going to love. Ahah I can so totally relate to this!
Astra @ A Stranger’s Guide to Novels discusses the lack of families in YA. It’s totally amazing! And I’m not just saying that because my post was one of her inspirations. 😛

Soooo, I finished Glass Sword?? And it was quite the roller-coaster of emotions by the end of it—but I’m kind of disappointed to say that I was left indifferent for a large part of the story.. Not exactly sure what caused it? But, up till the 40-50% mark, I was just kind of reading about it all, not as emotionally connected or absorbed as I would’ve liked to be. Indifferent at the beginning, intense at the end… overall a good read I suppose.

Ehhhh sorry, nothing for this one this week! Heheh I’m dreadfully uncreative when it comes to spotlighting apps…

I’ve been listening a lot of Lindsey Stirling lately (seriously, her music is amazing), so basically her whole Shatter Me album?! Her skill with the violin is astounding! You should definitely check out her channel here.

More Happy Than Not is one of my reads this week (though it’s on pause as I started Gathering Darkness, heheheh..) so I thought it would be a good fit to have a quote from it this week! And I haven’t reached this quote yet, but this is such a lovely one. ❤

So that’s it for this week’s Spotlight Saturday! Once again, thank you so much for being with me on my blogging journey as it hits one year (I honestly still can’t believe it), make sure to look forward to a giveaway sometime this March! 😀 Unfortunately it won’t be of chocolate, but books are better, soooo you’re welcome. In advance. If you win. Ah, whatever. Point is, thank you!! Also, chocolate is delicious. That all made no sense whatsoever. Moving on, I hope you all check out the blogs and posts I mentioned above! ‘Cause they really are amazing. ❤ Have any of you read Glass Sword?? What did you think of it?

I hope you guys are all having an amazing Saturday!

I’m reading Glass Sword! So far it’s okay. | WWW Wednesday #41 (February 17th)

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks20 Comments

It’s Wednesday again! And so here I am with, of course, a WWW Wednesday post! It was another, busy, tiring week, but thankfully I had some extra time to catch up on some reading—yay!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

I started Glass Sword a few days ago, I think? I haven’t gotten the chance to read it that often though, so I haven’t made as much progress as I would’ve liked, haha. So far it’s okay?? I mean, nothing note-worthy to say other than the fact that I think I’m suddenly a lot more indifferent to the characters.. that’s probably not a good thing. But still, off to a good start!

I also started More Happy Than Not, though I haven’t made much progress with it. I’m literally, only like, 10% through?? But I can’t wait to read more of it! I’m thinking though I might have to put it either this or Glass Sword on pause while I finish one or the other..

Recently Finished

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstorm

Yes, I finally hopped aboard the Stephanie Perkins train! Well, I’m making my way, at least. I managed to finish Anna and the French Kiss quite quickly, and I really enjoyed it! I recently wrote my review on it too, which you can check out for a more detailed version of my thoughts here.

Not If I See You First actually went waaay past my expectations! I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, other than the fact that I hoped it would turn out to be good since it sounded interesting. XD But it was such an entertaining read! I hadn’t read many (if at all) books from the perspective of a blind person, and Not if I See You First was written so wonderfully in that aspect. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to write up my review soon!

I read Passenger! And a couple of other books. | WWW Wednesday #40 (February 10th)

February 10, 2016February 28, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks30 Comments

Hola, mi amigos! Sorry, that just came out. But yes, hello, hola, no matter which language, you get the point! I hope you guys are all enjoying your Wednesday morning—right now mine is composed of me being more than half asleep and having some vague notions of things I should be doing… But details, details. It’s time for WWW Wednesday, so let’s get to it!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstorm

I literally just started Not If I See You First this morning, (soooo near the time of which this post is being written) but so far it’s off to an okay start! I’m withholding major judgement until I read more of it, of course.

Recently Finished

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken ?

I recently finished Rebel Spring as part of a read-along, anndddd… I still don’t know what exactly I think of it. I know, I know! I finished this, what, 6 days ago? But.. my feelings are kind of conflicted. I think I liked it?? But it had its downsides. Right now I think my rating would be in the 3-3.5 star range… I have to admit I was expecting more! But still, decent.

Tonight the Streets Are Ours is such a fun book! It was such an unconventional love story in that it will most likely take you by surprise..! I know it did for me, but who knows. I loved the characters and the role they all played, not to mention the theme in general. Overall this was a lovely book!

And of course, as declared in my title, I finally picked up Passenger! Remember how I was wary of reading it due to potential disappointment? Well, for one thing, I have to say I’m kind of glad I went into this with kind of lowered expectations, because I’m sure if I had went in with higher ones, I would’ve been a lot more disappointed. As such, Passenger wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t 100% perfection, which is a shame because I so greatly enjoyed The Darkest Minds. Oh well.

Books You’ll Want to Cozy Up With This Valentine’s Day! (Or any time you crave a romance, really.)

February 9, 2016February 9, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks32 Comments

Another Valentine’s Day-themed post?? You’re asking. Why yes, I’m glad you’re so observant. (Hehe.) I apologize if you’re getting overwhelmed by the ooey-gooey and cheesy romance-related posts going on this week, I promise I won’t go too overboard with this one. With Valentine’s Day just a matter of days away, I’ve decided to give you all a list of books you’ll want to read for this Valentine’s Day! Or basically any time you crave an entertaining romance. *I am also linking this up with Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is a Valentine’s Day themed freebie… and it’s obvious what I chose. ;)* Let’s do this!

Sarah Dessen

Omgomgomg Sarah Dessen is so amazing. I’m not even exaggerating here! (Okay, maybe I am a little, but you get my point, right??) She has written so many wonderful contemporary books I can’t help but be in love. Here are some you should definitely try out:

The Truth About Forever: Omg I love this book so much.. I can’t even. This was definitely more on the sappier side, but it was so adorable and so full of things I loved. I know, could I be any more vague? (Probably.) Sorry, looks like you’ll just have to go read it, hehe.
Just Listen: I know I’m not alone when I say I love this book! (At least, I hope not.) Some people didn’t like this book, but I definitely still recommend you give this a try if you’re up for a contemporary. Most likely it’ll be worth it!
This Lullaby: Ahhhh such a lovely story! I loved this book and just… agh. I’m running out of words but seriously. This book was so much fun to read! I loved it. (Duh)

It was so hard to choose just 3! I mean, I could’ve chosen more, but then it would be even more difficult.. if that makes any sense. Bottom line is, just go read these pronto if you’re looking for sweet romances!

Kasie West

The Fill-In Boyfriend: SO ADORABLE omg. I know not everyone loved this book, but seriously, this book is so cute. I can’t really offer more other than aiolksfdhadfgnkldnfglaeg, but if you’re interested you can check out my review on it! Just go read this book. Now. Ahem.
The Distance Between Us: Ahah so much fun to read! ALSO MORE ADORABLENESS. The cover just screams it! Also it’s quite entertaining and soooo sweet. This is definitely a book I wouldn’t mind re-reading! Unfortunately I don’t have a review on it, you’ll just have to take my word for it.
On the Fence: You guys are probably getting tired of my vague, and common comments for these, but… THIS IS SO CUTE. Can you see how much I kind of love Kasie West?? They may not be for everybody, and they may not be the best works out there, but they’re entertaining, I’ll give you that much. Or maybe that’s just me?

Hehheh now that I look at this it’s clear that I basically have the same comment for each one, whoops probably should’ve left it with just one general comment…

Emery Lord

The Start of Me and You: This is Emery Lord’s… sophmore novel? I think? I haven’t read her debut yet, but I definitely plan to seeing how this one was so adorable! Definitely also looking forward to her other upcoming novel, When We Collided.

Jenny Han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before duology: This duology is so adorable! I remember loving it when I first read it. Even if it’s not absolutely perfect, it’s still a super entertaining read!
Summer trilogy: This one, I’ll admit, I enjoyed a bit less than the above duology, but I find that it was still tolerable. And who knows, for some this may become a new contemporary favourite!

Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl: Omg if you haven’t read this book I highly suggest you go pick it up right away! It’s such an amazing book.
Eleanor & Park: Same goes for this one! However, I don’t recommend you read either this or the above if you’re not a fan of slower plots. But if you think you can endure it, definitely try it out!
Attachments: It’s a really sweet novel if any of you are interested! It’s not YA though, I believe it’s Adult??
Carry On: SIMON AND BAZ..! Of course there are other good parts to this but the romance in this is amazing! If you have time and commitment to spare, this is definitely a good choice.

Some other books you might want to check out…

The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak
Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider
All I’ve Never Wanted by Ana Huang
Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

All very wonderful books, I assure you!

Books on my TBR that are said to be perfect romance material

Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins

I’ve been hearing so many praises of this series! Apparently it’s an amazing contemporary series… I promise I’ll read it one day!

Books by Morgan Matson

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, Since You’ve Been Gone and Second Chance Summer have all been so hyped up! I can’t wait to read them (though I’m kind of scared, hehe). I do hope they don’t disappoint!

Books by Cammie McGovern

Say What You Will and A Step Toward Falling seem like such cute reads! I definitely hope to read them both sometime.

Books by Jessi Kirby

Golden and Things We Know by Heart are both I have on my TBR, for they seem like they could be really interesting! I’ve seen both positive and negative reviews for each—I’m hoping once I read the books myself, it will be towards the positive for me!

Books by Huntley Fitzpatrick

On Goodreads: My Life Next Door, What I Thought Was True, and The Boy Most Likely To

Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books seem so adorable! The perfect romance read, I think. Definitely want to read them one day!

And that’s all for this post! I hope you all enjoyed my Top Ten Tuesday-inspired post about books to read this Valentine’s Day. ;D (Of course you guys did, right?) Now it’s your turn; what books on here have you not read? Which did you like? What books on my TBR should I read first? What other romance books do you think is perfect for Valentine’s Day? (I like and want recommendations. Please and thank you.) Tell me whatever thoughts you may have down below! And feel free to let me know what topic you chose for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday!

WWW Wednesday #39 (February 3rd)

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 Analee @ Book Snacks27 Comments

So.. I have reading progress (Yay!) and since it’s a Wednesday, you all know what it means! Time for WWW Wednesday a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words), where we answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Alrighty, let’s get on with it!

Currently Reading

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

The Falling Kingdoms read-along is continuing onwards with the reading of the second book, Rebel Spring, which I started late last night! Not too far into it (unfortunately there’s something my body needs called sleep and it attacked me while I read this book..) but I hope to read more of it soon!

Recently Finished

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
For the Record by Charlotte Huang
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

I’ll Give You the Sun was such an amazing book! The book was SO BEAUTIFUL to read and I’m so glad I picked it up. The story completely pulled me in by the end of the novel—and don’t get me started on the writing! ❤

For the Record was a super fun book, for the record. (Sorry, had to do that.) I know it wasn’t the most amazing book for several readers, but I found it to be pretty entertaining (although it’s not without flaws) and I read it within a day.. so victory!

And finally, I also managed to knock Truthwitch off my read next that I planned last week, so… another victory dance!! Let us ALL do the dances. XD (Though on second thought, let’s not ’cause I’d probably humiliate myself dancing…but dance like nobody’s watching, right? Fine fine, I’ll stop. I don’t even know half the things I’m saying here.)

ANYWAY. Back to Truthwitch. Loved it! It was quality entertainment, and at the final pages, I just couldn’t put it down. Like, seriously. I was up way past my bedtime reading this. But psshhh, who cares about sleep anyway, right? So glad I picked this up!

1. This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (July 5th 2016)

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (August 9th 2016)

3. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (August 30th 2016)

4. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (September 26th 2016)

5. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (September 27th 2016)

6. Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge (September 27th 2016)

7. The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan (October 4th 2016)

8. A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray (November 1st 2016)

9. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8th 2016)

10. Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes (December 13th 2016)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (July 31st 2016)

1. It lets us escape into a different world.

2. It takes us on an adventure.

3. We get to use our imaginations.

4. Childhood memories

5. There is a strong emotional message/theme.

6. It puts things into perspective.

7. Options are endless.

8. Gives us something to root for.

9. (Usually) crushes our emotions and kills us.

10. It’s fun!

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

So there we have it for this week! What books on here have you read? What book do you think I should pick next? How has your reading been this week? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! I hope you’re all enjoying your Wednesday. ❤

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

3. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

4. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

5. A Darker Shade of Magic (& A Gathering of Shadows) by V.E. Schwab

6. All I’ve Never Wanted by Ana Huang

7. It’s a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt

8. Penryn & the End of Days by Susan Ee

9. Rick Riordan

10. Cassandra Clare

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2. Fangirl, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

3. The Sky is Everywhere, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

4. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

5. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

6. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

8. On the Fence, The Distance Between Us, The Fill In Boyfriend by Kasie West

9. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

10. Sarah Dessen

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

I hope you guys are enjoying your Wednesdays! ❤ Let me know your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to chat. Have any of you read Wolf by Wolf or A Darker Shade of Magic? Did you enjoy them as much as I did? What books on here have you read? Which books should I read next? Happy reading!

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

So that’s it for this week’s reading progress! How has your reading been going? Feel free to link your WWW down below if you have one. What books should I focus on next? Have any of you read any of the above books? Let me know in the comments! ❤

Happy Wednesday!

Spotlight Saturday is a weekly feature, created by Josie at Josie’s Book Corner [aka, moi], dedicated to spotlighting and pinpointing some of the things over the week that have caught my attention more than usual, things I’ve particularly loved, etc.

Oldies, but lovelies (LOLLL sounds weird but you know what I mean)

Blogs I’ve Discovered Recently or Want to Get to Know More…

I hope you guys are all having an amazing Saturday!

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

So, any thoughts, fangirling, opinions? Which book should I read after I finish the ones I’m currently reading? Have you read Glass Sword? Feel free to leave your thoughts down below, I always love a good chat. Seriously, I do. I probably talk more than I should all the time sometimes. Like now.

Happy Wednesday! ❤

Currently Reading

Recently Finished

Read Next

Alright, I’m craving some chocolate right now and my subconscious tells me I must go and get ready for school, so, happy reading!! Again, feel free to leave your thoughts below, I’m always eager for a chat! ❤

Some other books you might want to check out…

Books on my TBR that are said to be perfect romance material

Books by Morgan Matson

Books by Cammie McGovern