Very important questions I have about American high schools in YA fiction as a non-American // I demand answers

Most YA contemporary fiction is set in unrealistic U.S. high schools that supposedly have horrible food and mean kids everywhere.

Like, 98% of schools are in the US, to be honest, and a lot of them are carbon copies of each other, except named after a different president or something.

Which kind of sucks because THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES OKAY. (Like Canada… *cough* Or think about European countries! Or Asian countries! Australia!)

And because we’re reading about teens and all, there’s the whole issue of high school and that little thing called systemically engineered torture education!!

I know living in Canada means our high schools are not that different from US high schools, or not so different compared to other countries, but there are still several aspects that I’m not familiar with which reoccur in YA books enough to just make me wonder… does this actually happen in real life?? Maybe it’s just because I don’t live in the States?

And I know a lot of you are from the States, and a lot of you aren’t! So I thought it would be interesting to talk about perspectives on what high schools are like in fiction vs. reality!!

1. Is Phys Ed mandatory for all years of high school?

I’M SO CONFUSED ABOUT THIS. Because I keep seeing these main characters getting all worried or annoyed or frustrated about gym class and I… just don’t relate??? Not past grade 9, anyway.

I know several of my friends who did take physical education in Grade 10/11/12, but you only need ONE (1) health/phys ed credit to graduate, and I think it’s mandatory to take it in Grade 9?

Aside from that, you don’t ever have to suffer through the dreaded class again unless you choose to!!

(For the Ontario diploma, anyway.)

So why, are all these characters choosing to suffer through phys ed if they hate it so much?? Hmm??? (Okay yes, plot, but REALISM. HELLO. Where is it.) Is it mandatory in the US?

I’m just honestly so tired of seeing 17/18 year olds who, complain or face drama because of gym class when realistically, based off my experience, THEY DON’T NEED TO TAKE IT. I know it’s important to plot and such but it’s irritating! Of course, if it IS mandatory, then… whelp, I send you my condolences.

Unless you enjoy phys ed, in which case yayy for you!! But not for the fictional characters lmao.

ALSO. Is gym class usually co-ed?? Because mine wasn’t? (Usually.) Girls and guys had separate teachers, did activities and sports separately. I suppose that would strip a novel of its usual gym class drama, but just being real here.

2. Are there mean girls at every high school?

(Okay, another joke question because no, obviously.) But how common are they, hm??? Not as common as they are in books, I bet. I swear, books paint American high schools as some kind of hang out spot for girls who hate on other girls–like can you please not???

Sure, I didn’t love everyone at my school, but no one was outright mean to someone else? I’m not saying they don’t exist, but I feel like they’re overdramatized A TON in fiction. If you didn’t like someone, you just stayed away from them, plain and simple. Not blackmail them for a guy and/or try to undermine them and make sure their life is miserable… just no. Chill.

3. Do you ever have courses aside from English/Math/Science/History??

Okay, slightly sarcastic question because obviously yes. BUT I MEAN. Going by YA novels… no, you don’t.

What a sad life. (I mean, that’s school already but.)

Also why are the English teachers always the most chill ones? They’re not always? I’ve previously had and my friends have had some pretty crappy English teachers before, who are NOT super philosophical and easy going. Nope.

I am kind of curious about what courses are like in US high schools though, like obviously not that different, but what’s the day rotation like? How many do you take? Are you guys also semestered?

Why are courses just never talked about at all??

DO YOU KNOW HOW STRESSFUL CHOOSING THEM CAN BE. And you know, they can be kiiiiind of important. For college and university. Just a thought.

Maybe that’s just me and my indecisive self oops

4. How many people usually take AP classes anyway?

I think it’s slightly unrealistic great that YA contains so many smart characters who apparently don’t need to study to pass their classes, and I’m not trying to discredit anyone who takes/has taken AP (Advanced Placement) classes, but WHY is it everywhere. Just a thought. You don’t need to take AP to be smart, you know.

I low-key feel like authors just shove it in everywhere without a thought to kind of show, yeah, this character is super smart and serious about school… but then they don’t show that through anything else which makes it kind of futile?

AP is not big at all where I live, but I don’t know, there are so many books I’ve read where the main character is taking like all AP classes or whatnot. That’s great, but it makes it seem a lot more common than it might be? Perhaps? I don’t know, I’m just guessing from my own experience.

And speaking of advances classes and the like, is the IB program (International Baccalaureate) not popular at all in the States? Like, I don’t think I’ve EVER seen it in a book… but it exists in the States I’m sure, so…….

OR MAYBE… just a typical, standard high school diploma works too. You know.

5. Do people really have different hours for lunch time?

Okay, a serious question! Because I noticed sometimes characters would mention who they don’t have the same lunch period as their friend, or something similar, which kind of confused me because what is the point of that? Everyone had the same lunch time at my school??

How does that even work, and why? Does the school become too crowded? Not everyone eats in the cafeteria anyway, can’t you eat in hallways and such? I mean, I did. The cafeteria was wayyy too loud and hot and annoying lol. But we all had the same lunch period?

This sad eating alone thing also, did not generally happen, but idk, maybe I was just oblivious.

6. Is cafeteria food really that bad?

I suppose this depends from school to school no matter the country, but in 97% of the books I’ve read, the cafeteria food is supposedly disgusting, or just not appetizing and…???

OUR CAF FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, OKAY. I probably gained 10 pounds from purchasing a delicious chocolate chip cookie or muffin in the morning my first years of high school, but let’s be real, I have no regrets.

I mean, those were some GOOD COOKIES. Omg. Best $1.25 I’ve ever spent. They were super big, too!! Like a good 5-6 inches in diameter.

the return of this beautiful cookie gif omg I’ve been waiting for an excuse to use this

And we had tons of great options for lunch too! I didn’t buy my lunch that often because a) ouf that would become expensive,  b) I’m so not waiting in line for that long I’m a very impatient soul and c) *whispers* my mom packed me a lunch for a large portion of my high school years and her cooking is amazing okay.

But still, we had good food! There were large pizza slices, different pastas, sandwiches, and… POUTINE. Granted it wasn’t a very large quantity (unfortunately) BUT IT WAS SO GOOD.

Would almost go back to high school for all the food, tbh. The cookies, at the very least.

(ALSO. How daunting and scary are cafeterias, really? Books [and movies, actually] make them seem like such a feat, but… they’re really just places where noisy and slightly sweaty teens eat lunch and socialize. I totally understand how for some people that IS a feat [esp. if you have anxiety] but as a generalization, they’re not that bad; and you don’t have to eat there if you don’t want to.)

7. How do groups of friends just happen to have so many classes together?

Grade 9, sure, yeah, I had a decent amount of friends in pretty much all my classes because we had so little options in terms of courses that obviously we’d be grouped together somewhat. And we’re still meeting new people and making new friends anyway!

Grade 10, a bit less so but still not bad. Grade 11 and 12 are so much more random though? You have a lot less requirements all of a sudden and people are taking different electives and the like, which means you’re not often likely to have your group of friends all in the same class(es)?

Unfortunately most of us don’t/didn’t attend Hogwarts….

I don’t know, it depends from person to person/school to school I guess? Depending on how many classes there are for a particular subject, how many students there are, etc.

But I see in books especially large groups of bullies, for example, all in the same Math/English/typical class with the main character and aside from the fact that the bullies seem to constantly pick on the MC (which doesn’t happen? usually?) how are they all together???

I went to a pretty large school, so maybe that’s what’s influencing me but it just makes me laugh to see that happen. Because those chances are just… so slim, where I went lmao. Not to mention bullies picking on someone at all during class was just unlikely lol. Canadian genes? (Jokes, jokes… mostly. Or maybe I just hung out with good people?)

8. How long is your lunch?? 

Why does no one complain about how short lunch is?? These characters seem to fit everything in at lunch and never seem to have an issue with how fast it goes by, despite doing 10 000 things at a time.

For me it was like 45 minutes? And it went by SO FAST. Omg. It was the worst. Walking from your class to your locker/meeting up with friends; 10 minutes! Eat lunch and (GASP) occasionally socialize; 25 minutes! Even worse if you stand in line to buy lunch, have a club meeting or need to finish homework.

SIGH.

Yet here all these characters are just hiding out in the library–speaking of which!! The school library doesn’t always allow food??? What do you do then? — and/or socializing, or going outside nearby to get lunch somewhere else, without a care in the world that, oh, look, lunch is almost over crap, we gotta hurry!!

I see you, authors trying to fit in all the drama at lunch time, but it ain’t working because these students should be getting to class. 😂

9. How comfortable are your seats?

This of course depends from school to school or even class to class, but OH MY LORD SOME OF OUR SEATS WERE AWFUL. The seats were attached to the desk looking something like this:

Which meant to sit you had to make sure to be on the side without the metal bar thing attaching the desk and the chair otherwise you have to do this awkward thing where you lift your leg over the bar (which is made worse if there are people behind you, or a desk right beside you because trust me, it’s not a very flattering position).

And!! The back part of the seat usually had screws, which meant my hair would ALWAYS catch on them and djadiaehfuihfwiuhiuwef I swear it was torture. TORTURE. I lost so much hair from those chairs, I swear. (And I didn’t usually tie my hair up either because who has the time to do that also I didn’t really like to do so)

Of course there are some normal chairs out there which don’t aim to kill me, but then those desks are usually made for multiple people and then you face awkwardness if you’re assigned to a seat with people you don’t know very well or some other awkward situation….

WHY IS THIS NEVER AN ISSUE. I demand characters to suffer as I do.

10. Report cards… exams… studying… death… is that not required to succeed high school??

Sure, some people might just not study or care about exams, but then I don’t think those people also ace their exams without studying? Like, as a general rule? (If you do, that’s great! I admire your skills!)

But there are so many characters I’ve read about who just never seem to care about handing in assignments, or their marks each term and report cards, their average, or their courses, ESPECIALLY during Grade 11/12, yet are on a straight path to some Ivy League school or are in AP classes…………………

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

High school was kind of stressful okay. I have parents wanting me to have at least a 90+ average and a procrastinator-perfectionist mindset (which is an AWFUL pairing) which meant I worked really hard for my marks because they don’t always come easy!! It’s hard not to spite these fictional characters getting accepted to all their choices seemingly without have done much? How easy is high school for you Americans, hm? I demand your secrets or the lies to be revealed.

Calling all Americans to answer these high school questions!! What is/was your experience in high school? Does it match up to what you read about in books, somewhat? And if you didn’t attend/don’t attend high school in the States, what’s your experience like? Which country’s high school system would you like to read more about in books? Did anyone else have death traps painful seating arrangements or other particular high school experiences?

And I’m sincerely asking about phys ed in the US, because IT IS EVERYWHERE and my brain cannot compute (or search it up on the Internet because this way is obviously more fun).

At this point, I’d just like any schools apart from ones in the US haha no offense!! I find it’s such a shame so many books are set in the US, for so many reasons, but also particularly because of high school. It just gets so repetitive! At least make different types of high schools. Idk. Something. Because right now, there are many similar holes I see and I’m calling out these “schools”. 😂

I just realized 3 of these have to do with lunch time and I’ll just leave it up to you to determine what that says about me…

Big and popular books I’m avoiding // Because hype + long books are scary?

In case you missed it, Big Books + Hype = EXTREME FEAR.

This is fact, okay. FACT. Decided by me, the Very Honest, Never Ever EVER Hyperbolic Queen.

So, “big” can kind of vary (because I am an unpredictable potato), but generally I’ll label anything from around 400 or mid-400 onwards as being a big book??

And okay, sure, I totally understand that fantasy books often have to be long because of how much content and world it needs to explore, but from simply a reader’s perspective, big books can be kind of a hassle. 😂

• They take more time –> time is precious –> also more of a need for the book to be amazing because you spend so much time on it??
• I like completing goals!! And overall succeeding!! But then in the time it takes for me to read one big book, I could’ve maybe finished 2 smaller books and that’s better for my GR challenge 😂😅
• What if it disappoints??? Double the disappointment because it’s double the size of a normal book!!
• I’m a lazy person
• My logic is flawless
• Often times the book doesn’t really even NEED to be that long (*cough* The Unexpected Everything *cough*) and so then it’s just filler which is annoying
• THEY’RE SO HEAVY AND INTIMIDATING
• What if they fall from my shelf and break my head
• This is a true fear

Older hyped books

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (848 pages)

Okay, barring the fact that there’s incest and all the characters die over and over or something tragic like that, THESE BOOKS ARE SO FREAKING BIG. Like omg I can’t even.

WHYYY are these books so big.

Not for world building or anything obviously

Am I ever going to read these? Uhhhhh.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (620 pages)

Will I ever read this?? Hahahahah nope, probably not.

It’s just not my cup of tea??

Also it’s just wayyyyy too long PLEASE SPARE ME.

The Diviners by Libba Bray (578 pages)

I heard so much about The Diviners!! But I’m very skeptical because GOSH THAT’S LONG and I’m 99.9% sure it doesn’t need to be that long.

What a large commitment I cry

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (500 pages)

I heard of dragons!! I might read this someday! (BUT 500 pages geez)

New Books

(So I tried organizing by release date AND page count and it did not work oops. But that’s okay!!)

Lord of the Shadows by Cassandra Clare (700 pages)

I ADORE SHADOWHUNTERS.
I ADORE LADY MIDNIGHT.

I STILL HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK.

I know, I’m insane.

But guyssss everyone says this book is amazing and there’s a cliffhanger and I’m scared okay!!! I need my children to be okay!!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (600 pages)

Also if I read it I also have to read Gemina, which is 660 pages (!!!!) and the upcoming Obsidio which is reportedly 624 pages….

I give y’all permission to screech at me to read the series!!

And I will!

Someday!!

Maybe!!

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (536 pages)

It’s staring me down from my shelf but gosh darnit it’s long. And it’s Laini Taylor!! Which means the writing will be beautiful but also very descriptive and hard to get into at first hahahah hence me still not having read it oops.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (525 pages)

OKAY. I KNOW I’m going to love this book!! The hype is NOT going to be wrong with this one, I just know it.

Buuuuut I still haven’t read it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And I Darken by Kiersten White (475 pages)

I was planning on listening to this on audiobook from Overdrive but I can’t focus as well in audiobook?? So I’m going to read the physical book and I’m so excited for Lada (is that her name) and Radu?? and all that murder and stuff…

except I’m apparently not ready enough to read it!! Surprise!!

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (450 pages)

Okay so this is on the smaller side of the big scale, but the HYPE. Omg. So huge. And 450 pages is still a rather large commitment?? Also there’s some certain content issues I heard of that makes me avoid it a bit more but I might end up reading it?

slightly spoilery/content warning

I’m a bit more hesitant because of the “bury your gays” trope I heard about in this, but also W/POC rep is so important and I think this book is still worth reading? I’m just so saddened by the bury your gays trope because I thought we would’ve been past that? But I do want to read this and basically I’m a contradictory mess hahahah oops

What popular and/or large books have you been avoiding? Do you avoid large books? Are any of these books still on your TBR as well? What is your preferred length for a book? Which of these books must I *ABSOLUTELY* read? 

26 YA Books Releasing in March 2018 You Need on Your TBR (because I said so)!

So it’s well-known, that publishers love to smother us with new books!!

Which is great! But also, it is supremely difficult to keep up with all of them, or the ones we’re most interested in, so basically I’m taking the opportunity to make sure I don’t forget these books because my memory is horrible!! (And oh yes, I’m also sneakily plotting to make sure your TBRs grow taller but you didn’t hear that from me.)

Also featuring me crying joyfully over diversity, beautiful covers and my empty wallet!! Let’s go!

March 6th

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: THE HYPE. THE HYYYYYYYYPEEEE! A West-African inspired fantasy! Diverse!! Um, hi, it’s mine, thanks!!!

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi: Shatter Me!!!! More Juliette and Warner and Kenji and all the amazing things!!!! (I’M NOT SCREAMING, YOU ARE)

The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk: Grief and music and diversity!! *grabby hands*

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer: I ADORED Letters to the Lost, and this book is from the POV of Rex, who I was so intrigued with in LTTL. So sign me up!!

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo: This sounds SO GOOD omg. I believe there are sirens and more specifically, a disgraced siren who needs to kill the prince to be made a siren again??! I SENSE MURDER INTRIGUE!

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton: I loved Rebel of the Sands, but I’ve been uninterested in reading the second book and I’m kiiiind of indifferent to the third’s book release. BUT THE SERIES STARTED OFF GOOD.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw: Three sisters who were drowned for witchery steal the bodies of human girls every year to lure boys and drown them for revenge – HOLY CRAP. Sign me up! (I swear I’m normal)

In Search Of Us by Ava Dellaira: “A parallel story of a mother and daughter, each at age 17” The main character is biracial,

The Case For Jamie by Brittany Cavallero: I haven’t read any of the Charlotte Holmes books, but I’ve had them on my TBR for so long! Oops.

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough: To be honest I’m not a fan of historical fiction? Too much sexism and old-fashioned

The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara: Sooooo I don’t actually see ton of good reviews for this?? BUT PIRATESSSSSSS.

Pacifica by Kristen Simmons: MORE PIRATES. Did I miss something about March??? There are so many sea-themed/pirating books going on?? I MEAN I’M NOT COMPLAINING. But why now???

March 13th

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff: Oops, looks like I have to actually read Illuminae and Gemina now… *hides*

The Radical Element edited by Jessica Spotswood: I’m not actually a super huge fan of short stories, but there are so many amazing authors involved in this!! Anna-Marie McLemore, Marieke Nijkamp, Mackenzi Lee, Dhonielle Clayton…!!!

In Sight of Stars by Gae Polisner: This goes back and forth in terms of timelines and explores the story of Klee, who gets committed and the time before and after and during and such (I think??) and I’ve seen a lot of good reviews on this!!

Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau: Set during a school bombing and I…. </3 Heartbreak all over.

March 20th

        

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan: Ft. a biracial (half Asian, half white) protagonist tackling grief and her mother’s suicide </3 This book already sounds so beautiful and heartbreaking from its synopsis!!

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles: If this book isn’t on your TBR: WHAT ARE YOU DOING. I already can tell what an amazing this book will be, among the likes of The Hate U Give , and Dear Martin. Publishing, writers; YOU’RE DOING AMAZING, SWEETIE.

The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco: Aaah I’ve been meaning to read The Bone Witch for so long! But I… didn’t. Oops.

Miles Away From You by A.B. Rutledge: The synopsis made this book sound so good!! But I also just looked through some reviews aaaand it doesn’t seem as great as it sounds but some people loved it? So.

Tiger’s Dream by Colleen Houck: I’m actually not interested in this book or series anymore haha, but I had to include this for nostalgia’s sake! I had no idea there was a fifth book being published in this series?! I don’t think I’m reading this, but omg, this brings back memories. 😂

March 27th

       

 Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi: This isn’t YA, but I am so so happy to see a middle grade fantasy book being published with an Indian main character and exploring India’s mythology from an #ownvoices author!! I’M SO HAPPY.

Lost Crow Conspiracy by Rosalyn Eves: Oops another sequel where I haven’t read the first book!! (Am I the only one who hears “crow” and immediately wants to go back to the Dregs, MY LOVES)

And She Was by Jessica Verdi: Dara, the main character, discovers her mother is actually transgender and goes on a road trip with her best guy friend!

In Her Skin by Kim Savage: Oh my gosh, this reminds me so much of Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill! I loved that book so much, and this one follows the same sort of missing-person-impersonation plot and so I’m actually super excited for this one.

The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton: Okay, this sounds SO COOL. I’m raising a skeptic brow at the words “starblessed Ella” to describe one of the king’s daughters, because um hi special snowflake, but that’s okay!! It has “a family drenched in blood” and that’s all I need, tbh.

(Yes, this is the same person who loves cute romances. FIGHT ME.)

What books are you anticipating the most this upcoming month??! March 6th is ABSOLUTELY INSANE and I love-hate it because I want them so muchhhhh but um I would need a miracle to afford them all?? (Also am I the only one who hasn’t read Illuminae or Gemina yet?? *nervous laughter* *prepares to run*)

March is ACTUALLY AMAZING okay!! I’m so pumped! (Even though I’m probably not gonna have time to read half these books!!)

SHOUT BOOKS WITH ME.

Snacking on mini-reviews: Iron Gold & Batman!

Today is a very monumental day.

Why, you ask? Well, you see… I actually have reviews written!! And I’m posting them (near) the month the book was read!! I haven’t written reviews in foreverrrrr and I’ve been super excited for this post so I can screech about books to you guys again! Because I haven’t done that in a while. *hides* I also have a full-length review coming on Love, Hate & Other Filters sometime! omg I know WHO AM I

The first one to start with, is, of course: IRON GOLD because I loved it so much I want to cry okay bye.

I buddy-read the with my dear friend Kat @ Life and Other Disasters, and it was the best! We read at a pretty similar pace, and we exchanged thoughts pretty consistently despite the time difference which was great! ❤

My review will be completely SPOILER-FREE for this book and not very many spoilers for the previous books? (But I recommend skipping to the conclusion part if you haven’t read this series!)

Synopsis from Goodreads:

They call him father, liberator, warlord, Reaper. But he feels a boy as he falls toward the pale blue planet, his armor red, his army vast, his heart heavy. It is the tenth year of war and the thirty-second of his life.

A decade ago, Darrow was the hero of the revolution he believed would break the chains of the Society. But the Rising has shattered everything: Instead of peace and freedom, it has brought endless war. Now he must risk everything he has fought for on one last desperate mission. Darrow still believes he can save everyone, but can he save himself?

And throughout the worlds, other destinies entwine with Darrow’s to change his fate forever:

A young Red girl flees tragedy in her refugee camp and achieves for herself a new life she could never have imagined.

An ex-soldier broken by grief is forced to steal the most valuable thing in the galaxy—or pay with his life.

And Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile to the sovereign, wanders the stars with his mentor, Cassius, haunted by the loss of the world that Darrow transformed, and dreaming of what will rise from its ashes.

Red Rising was the story of the end of one universe, and Iron Goldis the story of the creation of a new one. Witness the beginning of a stunning new saga of tragedy and triumph from masterly New York Times bestselling author Pierce Brown.

• The action! Was! Non-stop!
• Seriously, there was so much happening, even my short attention span had to pay attention okay
• SEVRO IS MY CHILD and I don’t care if he’s 30-something now. MY CHILD FOREVER.
• LYRIA IS MY NEWFOUND CHILD. AND LIAM. My family from Lagalos deserve the world ❤
• Seriously why is everyone treated so badly tho, I just want to shield my babies k?
• Real life issues tackled like prejudice against groups of people because of what other people from that group has done, discrimination against less privileged classes of people
• I FELT MANY THINGS. Heartbreak! Sadness! Terror! Disgust! Anger (so much anger) All the good things!!
• Victra is still my bae (but she low-key needs to chill 😂)
• Mustang has to make so many hard decisions and :(((
• Darrow, too! (Though major side-eye to his stupid decisions)
• Volga is so precious and pure ❤
• I LOVE Cassius okay 
• I want me a fox named Sophocles
• The technology talk probably flew over my head half the time, but it was still SO COOL
• THAT CLIFFHANGER

Wow this review is utterly unhelpful and just me fawning over the characters.

No one is surprised.

• I’m not going to say in term of plot or anything, but CHARACTERS because ahhhh LYSANDER.
• He killed me. One of the most fickle characters ever, a child in a man’s body who, truth be told, should’ve died 10 years ago. His POV was one of the most frustrating out of all of them, and, not gonna lie, it made me less interested in reading his chapters
• Like, his self-righteousness and superiority complex is honestly so frustrating? His tendency to also do the exact OPPOSITE of what he should do also drove me insane
• Especially after that ONE THING THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED BUT THAT STILL KILLS ME
• Also Ephraim, dude. Just ’cause bad things happened, it doesn’t give you the right to do bad things to other people or have other people become the casualty of your stupidity. Fix your mistakes, PUH LEASE.
• Even with this, though, like can I just 👏 Pierce Brown for creating such nuanced characters??
• UM THAT CLIFFHANGER KILLED ME OKAY

The first half of this series is AMAZING, and this book definitely lived up to the expectations set from the past books, even though there were certain characters *cough* Lysander *cough* I didn’t like as much! There’s also tons of action, political tension and characters doing stupid things… all the fun stuff!

If you want to read a more in-depth review, I recommend checking out Kat’s review which was super insightful! 🙂

But basically: go read this.

(But also you could wait for the other books to be released because if you’re a gold fish like me it’s going to be painful to remember events. Thankfully the fifth book is being released later this year though!!)

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city’s elites are being executed as their mansions’ security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he’s forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce’s only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

• SUCH A SHORT BOOK. Wow. Bless. I finished this in like, a day and didn’t have to sacrifice my soul for once! What magic.
• MARIE LU. ❤ (Her writing couldn’t save this book though. Unfortunately.)
• …
• Action-y parts were fun to read! because the rest of the book was boring
• ……
• Bruce’s friends! I forget their names though.

I’M SORRY, THAT’S ALL I HAVE..

• So short, BUT SO LONG. Like it’s a short book overall, but the majority of the book was Bruce drooling over intrigued by Madeleine and it just felt SO DARN LONG. And boring. Ughghghghgh.
• But also it was a bit ~too~ short???? Where is the development? Where is the anything? I don’t know, there wasn’t enough time, man.
• I’m so contradictory darnit.
• Speaking of which, BRUCE. My boy. As sweet you are with your naivety and all, WHY are you so dumb. Just why.
• Like:

Everyone: Madeleine is manipulative and will use you and lie to you. STAY AWAY.
Bruce: But what if she’s telling the truth tho?????
Me: -__-

• I wasn’t.. that surprised by the ending??? The end part was probably the most interesting part to read and I did like reading it, but the predictability, man. It might just be me, though. I think I’ve read too much of the same kind of twists. Not a bad thing!! Others could totally be shocked, it was still well-written and not a flaw of the book!! (Just my flaw??)
• Madeleine fell flat. She had the potential to be super awesome, and maybe under different circumstances I would have loved her, but through Bruce’s POV? NOPE. She’s under the guise of being ~super complex and special~ (NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE) and I was basically indifferent to her and the interactions between her and Bruce. Oops.
• I want to simultaneously slap Bruce TO WAKE HIM UP and also pat him on the head and give him a hug? Poor kid’s too naive but also too dedicated to being ~good~. He should go chill and eat ice cream. So should Madeleine.
• Character development?? Where art thou? I CAN’T SEE YOU. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• There was plot! But it got lost as swiftly as Bruce got lost in Madeleine’s swoony and calculating dark eyeballs.
• What the heck did this review become

I’m so salty omg forgive me.

I liked…. a few things? Mostly that it was short and the author is Marie Lu. But, you know. That counts.

But truthfully I don’t think you’re missing out on very much if you don’t read this? But that’s my very small, inconsequential opinion because you could still enjoy this very much! DON’T LET ME STOP YOU.

But personally I’m super disappointed I didn’t love it more, especially since Wonder Woman was one of my favourite reads. (GO READ IT GO READ IT.) I’d recommend reading Marie Lu’s other books, Warcross or The Young Elites or Legend, instead, those ones were more ones I enjoyed!

HI DID YOU READ THE RED RISING SERIES YET CAUSE YOU SHOULD.Will you shout about Sevro and Darrow and Victra and everything with me???

Have you read Batman? I’M SORRY FOR MY SALTINESS. 😂 Did you enjoy it, or did you find yourself disappointed like me? (Join me in my saltiness, I’m scared to be alone.)

Do you like these kinds of mini-reviews? It’s been so long since I’ve done a review, I low-key don’t know how to write one anymore???

LET’S CHAT BOOKS! What are you currently reading?? Also how was your January/ how is your February going? I had a ton of Valentine’s Day posts planned for this month and I’ve gotten to posting 0% of them oops, but I hope you guys have been doing well since I last spoke to you! ❤

Struggles every reader with a bad memory understands // ft. books I loved but remember nothing about oops

ICYMI, I suffer from this thing called BOOK AMNESIA.

It’s basically the syndrome where you a) read a book. b) either love, hate, don’t care about it, whatever your opinion is and c) forget about it! (C is the most important symptom.)

If you say this has NEVER happened to you, you’re lying, Pinocchio.

And, as usual, because I’m a SUPER HELPFUL* person with a tendency to expose everyone (mostly myself tbh), I decided to make a post in honor of us book amnesiacs!!

I’m also linking up with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday (now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) prompt: Books I Really Liked but Can’t Remember Anything/Much About!

LET’S GET TO THE EXPOSING.

*Don’t look at me like that, it’s true.

1. Forgetting what happened in a book.

This is one of the foremost!! Struggles!! Of having!! A bad memory!! Even if you generally have a good memory, I will never ever ever believe you if you say this has never happened to you okay AT LEAST ONCE (unless you’re some sort of superhuman).

And it’s epecially lethal in the case of series!! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve complained about forgetting the previous book in a series, but IT’S A LOT. It’s not my fault thouuuuughhhh.

There are many books we read throughout the year, and in case you forgot, a year is a horribly long time?! In the span of that time, am I honestly supposed to remember what happened in a 500 paged book? BECAUSE I WON’T. (Thank god for recaps like there are on this site and this site.) EVEN IF I LOVED IT.

And it’s such a struggle since now I either a) have to reread the series (which isn’t always a bad thing but also look at those UNREAD BOOKS on your TBR, hm and also who has time) b) continue with the second book not knowing or remembering the characters or what happened, and therefore not enjoying it as much or c) cry and eat chocolate <– best option

2. Not knowing or remembering what you read because you haven’t updated Goodreads/written it somewhere.

GUYS. I straight up forgot several books I read last year because I forgot to put them on Goodreads and it’s not in my phone and now I’m having a C R I S I S because I actually really loved them (well, one of them) and now I haven’t mentioned them anywhere and NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.

I have the vaguest memory of books I feel like I’ve read but I have no idea when and if I did actually read it or I’m just imagining it?? Nowadays I’m neglecting updating Goodreads as well which becomes a struggle trying to remember when I read a book BECAUSE GR FAILED (to somehow read my mind and automatically add it for me, of course).

Here’s your daily reminder to write down somewhere what book you read and when you read it and also write down your thoughts on it immediately if you want to save your sanity!! 

MEEE figuring out when I read a book and if I liked it or not

3. Not being able to write a proper review because it’s been too long since we’ve read it.

And by too long I mean like, 2 days. THAT’S 48 HOURS OKAY. IT’S A LOT.

Nowadays I try to write at least a list of major points that come to my mind right after reading a book, in the notes of my phone because then I can say something other than “OMG I LOVED IT MY HEART DIED” or “UGH IT WAS A PLATE OF SOGGY POTATOES”*. You know?

Because it’s so incredibly hard to write a review when it’s been several days. You’re just sitting there knowing that you loved it but also having no clue why other than the pieces of your heart are on the ground (pain = good book) and that it made you FEEL THINGS. But what things? One may never know.

This is also why that ‘review to come’ will never come and you SHOULD JUST STOP LYING.

Why am I exposing myself here so much jeez

*I have not used this sentence yet in a review but I think I really should.

4. Being asked, “What was it about?” and stuttering like a dying fish.

Tbh, a fish might actually be able to summarize a book better than me BECAUSE I SUCK AT IT???

It’s honestly scary when someone asks me “what was it about” after hearing me squeal and scream about it because they expect me to be able to answer*??

What goes on in my brain when someone asks me what a book is about BECAUSE PANIC??!?!?!?!?!? (at the disco)

Literally I would make the best and worst publicist because my SCREAMING AND SHOUTING is so annoying you would obviously pick up a book because I said so** but then I would never be able to tell you what the book was about even if I loved it to death.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

*The worst is when it happens in person because I can’t just shove Goodreads at them and run away??? WHYYYY.
**Pff, obviously.. right?? Also if you actually have done this I hope you know I LOVE YOU AND YOU SHOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT IT unless you hated my favourite book in which case I’ll come after you with my scary non-weapons go hide in my guilt

5. Losing interest in a book after it’s been a year between the release of the first book and the sequel

A year is a looooooonnnnggggg time. That’s 365 days and there’s so much that happens? And so many books you read in between? There’s only so much space in our brainnnnn and I just… need to delete some information to make space for new stuff?

And so then I don’t care as much about what happens to the characters because it’s been so long and it lost that ~magic~ it originally had?

It makes me so sad though!! Because what if I originally wanted to continue with the series but then I’m less excited about the sequel coming out because I feel so emotionally distant now from the first book???

6. Not remembering what books are released when

If you’re even mildly implicated and involved in the book community, you know how many books are released every month!! The answer: A LOT.

See, the second I just look at a new book, there are like, 10 more books being released. Which is great, sure!!

But also all these amazing books are being released and I’m so excited but I also don’t know if they’re releasing tomorrow, in 6 months, or the next year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But I plan on reading them so that counts for something right???

Thankfully, as far as struggles go, this one isn’t as bad as the other ones?? Goodreads got our back, it’s all good. 😉

7. Putting your bookmark somewhere and never finding it again

See, let me tell you a story!

I once had an extreme bookmark fascination!! They could be so pretty and funny and were so functional, and I used them all the time….

UNTIL I LOST ONE.

Tears of sadness as one disappears! But it’s okay, I got another one!

And… there goes that one.

Oh, see, let’s just put them all together in this very organized and specific place so that I always know where they are! Great idea, right?

BUT THEN.

You pick one up, use it, then put it down and the next thing you know is you’re doing this.

But you never found it again.

THE END.

No, but seriously if you’re someone who can remember where your bookmark is, YOU ROCK. And have great skills!! Because my memory sucks and I can’t ever remember where they are!!

I’ll just sit over here, bitter over my lost friends, petting my twin, the goldfish, and my slips of random paper that are my bookmarks.

Ah, struggle #1, visualized! Loving books and having very little idea as to what happened is literally the story of my life and ahhHHH well let’s go, exposing myself once again. You can see from my “mini blurbs” how much I remember (no spoilers though obviously). I REMEMBER A LOT.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (read 2016): Julian and Emma are parabatai! Mark is a sweetheart! I love Cristina! Fae threats! Julian is such a cutie and I love his family!! Anaand that’s it. BUT LOVE THIS BOOK.

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye (read 2016): Magic! Russia! Kingdom! BAD MAGIC.

Ruined by Amy Tintera (read 2016): I can’t even remember anything. I mean, there are people with magic who are shunned? But I don’t even remember the main character. Something with an e? Emma? Evaline? But seriously this book was so good.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (read 2015): SUCH A LONG TIME AGO WHAT. Shazi is fabulous! Love her and Khalid! Hate-to-love romance! Food! Tariq was awful can someone smack him please! Magical and beautiful writing!

The Imposter Queen by Sarah Fine (read 2016 or 2017 I forget): SO GOOD. There were.. imposters? Oh oh and ice and fire magic was super cool!

Angelfall by Susan Ee: I looooove Raffe!! Also Penryn’s love for her sister is amazing and so pure. So gory and interesting and SO UNDERRATED.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: I ADORE ADAM SILVERA’S BOOKS. And this one was amazing but all I remember is sadness!! Broken heart!! But give me the gay!! Where did my heart go oh look it’s broken!!

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom: Blind MC!! Loved her even if she was super negative!! Felt so bad but also it was cute!! Ugh why can’t I remember things

Starflight by Melissa Landers (read 2016? I think?): Hate to love romance! So much banter! Sci-fi, which I don’t usually read but this was really good!! Action!! And the side characters were great!

Rick Riordan books (read… uhhh.) : I read pretty much all of Rick Riordan’s books, I think, except for the newest ones? But I remember Percy!! And Annabeth of course!! And humourrr his books are always so fun.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: I ADORE CASSANDRA CLARE but I also don’t remember her books very well oops. Clary’s the special snowflake, Jace has an identity crisis??? Aaaand love triangles everywhere, but THE SERIES IS GOOD I SWEAR.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes: Okay this series is totally cliche but apparently I enjoyed the books??? But I remember zilch. There’s magic! And incest at one point?? wait why did I like this I forget

Wow I just used way too many exclamation marks, oops. BUT GO READ THESE if you haven’t already I swear they’re better than my stupid mini blurbs!

Do you also struggle with a bad memory with books??? Do you remember the details of books you read in the past or no? Do you also lose interest in a sequel after it’s been too long? What books do YOU love but also don’t remember much about? EXPOSE YOURSELF.

Happy Tuesday!!

How reading books is like playing or watching SPORTS // I compare my most favourite thing ever to my least favourite

Fact: I love reading.

Second fact: I really don’t love sports.

So why not compare the two? Because OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE SUPER ALIKE.

Am I crazy? Yes. No.

(Okay, maybe slightly.)

LET ME EXPLAIN.

In books, in movies, everywhere, we’ve always been shown the two “opposite” groups: the bookworms and the nerds, vs. the jocks, the athletes. And I find it SO annoying how the nerds are always portrayed as being so different, or feeling less than, the more athletic/sporty group of people????

Personally, sure, yes, I’m a bookworm with little interest in sports. But that doesn’t mean I consider myself less than people who play sports, or that I’m not happy being a bookworm? (How can you not be happy being a bookworm tho.) I’m happy being a bookworm! But there are others who like books, and who also like sports! And that’s fine too! It’s not mutually exclusive!!

Wow, I just went on a mini-rant there, but you get the point! Tons and tons of tropes and stereotypes make nerds and sports so incompatible, such a foreign thought and it just frustrates me. IMMENSELY.

So in order to demolish the idea that sports people and books people are so different*, I’ve decided to compose a list of ways reading is like watching/playing/training for sports! (Because watching/playing/training are all the same. Obviously.**)

*Okay, maybe they are a teensy bit different. A teensy bit. BUT SHH LET ME PROVE A POINT.
** ;))

Why do we procrastinate on reading highly anticipated books? ft. 10 books I meant to read in 2017 but didn’t

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am a natural procrastinator.

And I don’t particularly need a reason to procrastinate. IT JUST HAPPENS. With studying, blogging, emerging out of my hobbit hole aka my bedroom… (never eating though. Just fyi.) Studying, okay, I think we’ve all procrastinated on that one, because WHO LIKES THAT.

But reading! Our companion! Our one true love! Our ENTIRE BEING.

Why would one procrastinate such a beautiful thing?

Well. Let me tell you.

If we were to delve deeper into the land of psychology (or just common sense) there are definitely some eyebrow-raising* reasons bookworms procrastinate reading books on their TBR which I am going to expertly** discuss!

I’m linking up with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt “Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn’t Get To (and totallyyyy plan to get to in 2018!!)”, (the last one) hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

*Not really. They’re pretty basic. But whatever.
**Hahahaha

Fangirling with Book Aesthetics! // I do a tag for the first time in forever ft. PRETTY PICTURES

I AM ADDICTED TO MAKING AESTHETICS.

Seriously, it’s the best thing ever! Pff no it won’t take away all of your time hahahah what are you talking about.

I was inspired by Michelle’s BEAUTIFUL book aesthetics and her super helpful tutorial and decided to finally try to make some myself!! Hence accidentally taking part in the book aesthetics tag also created by Michelle* because WHY NOT. I was already making too many aesthetics anyway. xD

*I wasn’t tagged in this but hahaha why not do a tag I wasn’t tagged in over the millions** I was tagged in?? 

**Hahahah people don’t love me that much. Also that would be SCARY like I would be drowning in tags?? I mean, it still feels like I am, but still. MILLIONS. Okay I’m going to stop now let’s look at the aesthetics.

Favourite book of the year

A Conjuring of Light, or basically the whole Shades of Magic series??! I reread the first two books to prepare for the fabulousness that is ACOL. THE BOOKS ARE AMAZING. If you haven’t read them yet, seriously, you must!!

V.E. Schwab’s writing is incredible, her world-building is amazing, and you WILL fall for her characters and have your heart stomped on. But it’s worth it.

ALSO. ICYMI, She’s writing more books set in the world???! *muffled shrieking and excited dancing* (But I don’t/can’t dance. So. You see what a monumental occasion this is.) The series is called Threads of Power and GUYS. I’m dying of excitement!!

Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab

I tried to incorporate as many elements I could?? I dedicated the first three rows to Kell, Rhy and Lila, respectively and kind of just improv’d the last 2 haha. But I think it turned out okay???

Again: READ THIS. Now. (You get sweets if you do/did!!)

OH and I also need to mention The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, because that was 100% one of my top reads this year as well! I just struggled to make an aesthetic for it that followed a good color scheme? BUT I LOVED IT TOO.

Character you relate to a lot & a character you look up to

So, these are actually two different categories, but I had to merge these two because I just COULDN’T choose between my two characters for the individual categories. Because they’re both!!

Starting off with: my older sister Hermioneeeeeee!! She is just such a wonderful role model and I’ve totally looked up to her ever since I discovered the Harry Potter books. She’s so brave, and holds her intelligence like a sword and just #yasss

Also SHE’S A BOOKWORM. Who sometimes prefers books over people. IS SHE NOT ME???!

Behold the aesthetic:

Can I just say Hermione’s aesthetic makes me feel SO WARM AND COZY and ahhhh I’m kind of in love with it?? Does it not just make you want to curl up with a book and a blanket???

And because aesthetics are life and also I’m an indecisive melon: NINA ZENIK!

Because she’s FABULOUS in a way I can’t even begin to explain??!

I simultaneously relate to her so, so much (waffles, anyone?) and also look up to her SO MUCH. She’s selfless, she’s brave, she’s confident, she’s caring and witty and literally everything. (!!!) You can’t NOT love Nina. You just can’t. (I will fight you on this.)

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS AESTHETIC. Mostly because of the waffles. BECAUSE WAFFLES. But also I think/hope this really represents Nina?? I HOPE. Because I looove her.

Have you read the Six of Crows (by Leigh Bardugo) books??? OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE. *gives you side-eye*

Seriously, these books, no matter what genre you’re into, are 100% worth it. (Unless you’re against fantasy or heist plots??? Actually, never mind, even then because it is amazinggg.)

I ADORE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH. PLEASE READ THEM.

*tries to compose self*

I may be a tad excited over these books because as I’m writing this post I had finished rereading Crooked Kingdom (for the second time this year what is wrong with me) and I am just OVERWHELMED WITH FEELINGS (!!!!)

MOVING ON before everyone runs away from me….

An underrated gem 

This one was actually kind of hard to think of because so many books I enjoy are pretty popular? That being said, Tiny Pretty Things was pretty hyped up once upon a time buuuut I feel like there aren’t as many people aware of this novel.

Mini list about this book:

• Lots of diversity!! Two WOC leads, a gay character (albeit a minor character)
• Includes a MC suffering from an eating disorder (tw!!)
• MUCH VICIOUSNESS
• Lots of ballet!!
• MUCH VICIOUSNESS
• And girl hate
• SO MUCH girl hate
• And people being vicious
• And petty and mean and cruel
• But it was super interesting??! 
• And the characters were so fleshed out ahhh.
• Even though 2/3 of the leads were kind of awful, I felt SO BAD. GAH.

Literally this book is going against all the things I want in a book (like girl hate??) barring the diversity part and ballet BUT I still really liked it??? It was super addicting.

AND THE AESTHETIC! I hate how blurred out some of the images look but I do like the look of the aesthetic overall!

Hahaha I made this book look all about ballet and this hardly shows all the viciousness?? #oops IT WAS VICIOUS GUYS. New level of savagery. But I couldn’t remember details of the viciousness so :)) Ballet it is!

A character that deserves more love

Because my brain is BLANK and I’m going with the first name that I thought of: Lara Jean Song from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han!!

WHY DO PEOPLE DISLIKE HER SO MUCH, is my question.

I mean, fine, yes, people complain of her being immature or childish, but I really don’t think Lara Jean is all that bad??? She can make questionable decisions and naive at times, but that’s being human! I honestly think people are wayyy too hard on Lara Jean!

(Also… I MEAN SHE’S A BAKER. You gotta love her. *mouth waters thinking of all the sweets*)

I want those macaroons and thingies-on-the-stick-I-forget-what-they’re-called (cake pops??) SO MUCH right now. Gah.

I was thinking more of a baby pink aesthetic for Lara Jean?? But I had all of these beaaaaauuuutiful pastel blue images saved on Pinterest and they just WORK. But I’m very tempted to make a pink one??? Somebody stop me.

*scrambles off to Pinterest for another hour*

Darnit.

An underrated OTP

Everyone talks about Cress and Thorne, or Kai and Cinder, and even Scarlet and Wolf (love them all, of course) but I hardly see anyone talk about Winter and Jacin from the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer??! I love them SO MUCH. ❤

If you haven’t already read the books, you must go do that!! Winter and Jacin are so sweet and cute and I love them together ahhhh.

AREN’T AESTHETICS GREAT.

Ahem. I won’t be tagging anyone buuuut if you want to do this tag, go for it! Just don’t forget to check out Michelle’s post for all the rules and credit her for the tag. 🙂 If you do the tag, link back here as well so I can FAWN OVER AESTHETICS. 😍

SO. Have you read these books?? What’s your favourite aesthetic out of these? Do you like waffles??? (Yes, yes you do.) Are the stick-thingies in the aesthetic for Lara Jean called cake pops?? What’s an amazing or underrated book or OTP you need to shriek about? (Or shriek about anything, tbh, I’m all ears.)

2017 September Book Releases // LOOK AT ALL THE BOOKS *dies*

It’s almost September!! (HOW?)

I’m not sure how I feel about this fact?

I’m SO EXCITED because there are so many anticipated books this month (*cough They Both Die at the End* *cough Warcross*) and also WONDER WOMAN has finally released (!!!!!!) but also DISGRUNTLED because summer is over and I shall be robbed of any semblance of a life. *cries*

But before that, I’ll be robbed of my money, of course! Shh I’m not handing it over willingly, what are you talking about? I am SO excited for this month’s releases!

Oh, and yes, you can prepare for your TBRs to grow larger! *cackles* Let’s gooooo destroy your conquering-TBR goal and admire the pretty covers!

September 5th

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera: AHHHHH pff no biggie, it’s only one of my most anticipated books of the year???!?!? Adam Silvera has shot to being one of my most favourite authors and his books are just so hEaRtBrEaKiNg and I love them!!! ❤

I AM READY. (Narrator: She was not ready.)

If There’s No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Main character has everything planned out for senior year and is super pumped until -GASP- something horrible happens!! Now nothing’s the same!! It never is.

(Do I become more salty at the end of the month or what?) As cliche as I made it sound, I really am looking forward to this one!!

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (Nevernight #2): Have I read Nevernight? NOPE. #oops *goes to Goodreads* *reads word “assassin”* *rushes off to find Nevernight from the depths of my physical TBR*

I swear I’ve been meaning to read this one!! There’s so much hype surrounding the first book! I hope the sequel proves to be just as good?

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust: This one’s a retelling pitched as Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber! Talk about an interesting pairing?? (I mean, I suppose Elsa can be super intense and all… but wait what about Olaf??? THE BLOODY CHAMBER. Yikes. But also *grabby hands* Sorry, Olaf.)

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #6): Okay, so I haven’t read the 5th book, Empire of Storms?? Apparently this is Chaol’s book, and it sounds good!! (I’m lowkey grumbling though because this series is taking so long to be completed and my brain can’t remember what I ate for dinner last night, let alone the content of the past books I read a year ago??? #halp)

A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland: I’ve only read a few reviews on this one, but from what I’ve read this book is AMAZING and I absolutely can’t wait to read it!! This girl has a bunch of fears because her family is ‘cursed’ (at least I think that’s it???) and then she tries to overcome those and yeah.

…Okay I swear the book is probably more interesting that I make it sound!!

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart: I haven’t read any of E. Lockhart’s books (such as the uber-hyped We Were Liars) yet but I’ve heard some good things about this one!! What’s with all the blond hair tho???

The Thing with Feathers by McCall Hoyle: The thing with feathers is that they’re FLUFFY and soft and can be found on birds or at Dollarama I was going to write off this book as simply being a book with pretty font and feathers, but I’ve never read a book with a main character with epilepsy, like this one and I’m hoping it’s good??!

Right Where You Left Me by Calla Devlin: Family drama! Missing journalist father?? FBI and earthquakes? I think?? (I’M TRYING HERE, OKAY.)

Light Years by Emily Ziff Griffin: This girl has this super rare condition and also has this SUPER PLAN to ‘start her life’ and be ‘free from her mother’!!

BUT.

Then there’s a deadly virus and her father is quarantined! *GASP* But when the girl (Luisa) gets a CRYPTIC message from a stranger who can stop the virus, she knows she has to something to save her family (and the world, obvi). Go Lu!! Wouldn’t it be the job of the stranger to do that tho??

Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett: I feel like so many of the blurbs these days are all SO SIMILAR. Especially with how they end?? But they sound GOOD, so I guess that’s why? xD I’m getting some bonding sister vibes, but also sister competition! And climbing a mountain or something? All the good stuff.

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel: I’m going to be real here, I desperately needed another book to complete this gallery and so I found this one but this doesn’t seem like one I’m going to pick up? It seems quite cliche with the whole falling in love with a “inhuman, tall, brooding ‘harbringer of death'” thing going on.

September 7th 

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan: Okay, the blurb I saw on GR was totally not a blurb and I have ZERO CLUE what this is about but I liked her other book, One, so I’m giving this the On-the-tbr-but-idk-when-I-will-read-it-possibly-never treatment!!

A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars by Yaba Badoe: 4 words: MAGICAL. REALISM. + Pretty cover!!

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James: Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met, never even spoken to – someone who is light years away? UM NO. But okay, book, go ahead and delude yourself!!

I swear I’m not this cynical in real life.

I think.

September 12th

Warcross by Marie Lu: ANOTHER MOST ANTICIPATED AHHHHH!!! From what I understand with my tiny brain, this is like a virtual reality world?? Or at least there are video game vibes? And everyone seems to be loving it AND IT’S MARIE LU I mean come on.

September 12th whyyyyyyyy :'(((( *cries* *grabby hands*

Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows (Fallen Isles Trilogy #1): Mira originally came accross as a special snowflake (so over those) BUT THEN. She has anxiety?? And there seems to be dragons??? GIVE ME NOW.

Fireblood by Elly Blake (Frostblood Saga #2): I haven’t read the first book but apparently these books are super good!! Plus there’s blood and blood is good hahahaha I’m okay guys I swear. (*everyone runs away from me*)

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins: I don’t know how I could do that, BUT THANKS PAL. I’m glad you think so.

No, but in all seriousness (ew, serious) this book is #ownvoices with an Indian-American MC!! Explores “sisterhood, first loves, friendship, and inheritance of culture” YOU GUYS. I need this in my lifeeeee!

September 19th

A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess (Kingdom on Fire #2): POISON YAY. That always makes things interesting. (I swear I’m a very harmless person!!) Haven’t read the first book (as seems to be a trend in this post) but this series sounds so good!! And I kind of love the covers. So.

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns #2): Guess what I’m about to say… Yup, I haven’t read the first book of this series either!! BUT I’M ALL FOR DARKNESS. And bloodthirsty royals. 

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu: Am I the only one who thinks of Moxie’s Grill & Bar?? I’ve never even had food there but oh well. I JUST LIKE FOOD and this reminds me of food?? But okay, this book actually sounds SO GOOD! MC (Moxie’s Grill) starts a feminist revolution at her high school??! Sign me upppp.

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore: Kristin Cashore!! Am I the only one who read and really liked her Graceling books?? This one’s a totally different vibe, more a coming-of-age contemporary story than fantasy, but I can’t wait!!

September 26th

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo: LEIGH BARDUGOOOOOO!! I’m still fawning over the fact that Wonder Woman has finally released AND THEN BAM.

Another book, and it’s set in the Grishaverse!! #blessed (Hi here’s your daily reminder to read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom even if this book isn’t related to those books directly)

Invictus by Ryan Graudin: Time-traveling!!! I feel like a lot of time-traveling books follow the same formula (ppl go back in time + screw things up = ultimate death unless they find a miracle to fix things)

BUT this is RYAN GRAUDIN!! I love, love, LOVED, her previous books (Wolf by Wolf duology – reimagining of Hitler-era with shape-shifting, and The Walled City which was inspired off true events) and I knowwwww* I will love this!!

*Okay, fine, strongly hope? I’m a cynical melon, remember?

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman: Another character with a “mother-that-makes-her-feel-unremarkabke”!! (So much hate against mothers, jeez.) Who is certain that once she escapes into her dream school Everything Will Be Better. BUT GASP. She doesn’t make it into said art school!! And then some other things happen. :)))

Seriously, I swear these books are a TON better than how I make them sound!! EDIT: Also there’s Asian rep in this one!! #yesplease

Someone needs to stop me from making these posts.

Is September packed with incredible reads or what??? (I’m telling you, don’t listen to my cheesy generic descriptions of the books. xD) All of the good books are ruining my “I dislike September because of school” aesthetic though #help What books are you most excited for?? (WARCROSS, TBDATE, Language of Thorns, mm yes good choices.) Have I grown your TBR? (Mwa hahaha)  Will you give me your money so I can buy all these books? 

GIVE ME YOUR COMMENTS TO SNACK* ON. :))) Sending lots of love and I hope you’re having a beautiful time wherever your are!! ❤

*See what I did there? Snack… Book Snacks?? *waggles eyebrows* Okay I’ll stop

Life according to YA literature!! // Slightly salty list on the unrealistic aspect of fiction

Hi guys!! ❤ I’ve missed youuuu!

I’m so sorry for my unexplained absence this week, my wifi has been going in and out all the time which made it super difficult for me to put together a post or reply to comments consistently, buuuuut I’m here today with a super fun and slightly salty post!! ❤ I had SO much fun writing this, mostly because I get to rant about how unfair fictional life is comparative to reality…! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What I wanted to talk about is the fact that despite our craving to relate to books and fictional characters, there are some things that show how unrealistic fiction can be, when we compare it to reality!

So without any further ado, here are a few unrealistic tropes/things that I’ve noticed a lot of YA books use all too often when telling the story of the lives of fictional characters!

Bookish life goals almost EVERY bookworm has or had!

Say it with me: Goals are fun! Goals are motivating!

Goals are also very NOT achievable if you’re a bookworm.

Hello everyone!! I just had a long moment of confusion over whether I use has or have for this title (and here I thought I passed English grammar issues) buuuut I’m over it now and here to present you with a mind-reading list! Or a list based off my mind-reading? Either one.

Basically, I was thinking about something to do related to BOOKS and BOOK LOVERS, as we all are (happy belated book lovers day, btw!!) and I conjured a list of some of my our book-related goals!

They’re not necessarily all realistic but pff, who needs achievable and realistic goals anyway?

2017 August Book Releases // ft. my return to life, squealing and the disappearance of my money

I have come back from the land of the dead!

(Also known as perhaps the land of reality. Ew.)

Hello everyone! I know it’s been a while since I last posted, or interacted with most of you, and for that I… shall hide can say nothing other than it’s good to be back? I’m SO sorry for my lack of interaction, agh, July was just such a crazy month for me (so much for summer vacation SIGH).

I’m slowly (and I mean, S L  O W  L Y) making my way through my feed and comments–I swear I haven’t forgotten about you guys! ❤ Let’s talk more pleaaaaase I missed you.

So, I have a new blog spread for my bullet journal, I have my thinking cap on (yeah, idk either), aaaaand it’s the start of August! (HOW.) Which obviously means new books to add to my, and your TBR!! Woo! You’re very welcome. *nods deviously*

Reasons why book bloggers would write the best books ever!

Fact: book bloggers are pretty amazing. They’re so smart, they’re so BOOKISH, they’re so friendly (ily people <3), they’re so aware and fabulous. Like, seriously. All of you book bloggers, YOU ROCK. I admire all of you so much, you have no idea!

Writers, you see, are also some people who I admire! They provide us with the AMAZING books that I would honestly be lost without. That I adore to read. That are fabulously written. SO. Just imagine the potential, then, if you mash the two together and have a writer who’s also a book blogger?! I KNOW. GENIUS.

This is partly inspired by the fact that there are so many book bloggers I’ve met and talk to (and many who I haven’t) who are aspiring writers and such? (So my genius idea and dream to have writers who are book bloggers publish books might not be too far off??! I AM PSYCHIC.)

And in case you had any doubts of the amazingness of book bloggers and their talents, well, here are reasons why book bloggers would write the best books ever!! (Talk to me after you’ve read the post, muggle who doubts the awesomeness of book blogging writers. Also seriously, they have some of the best ideas and I would 10/10 read books by book bloggers. #publisherstakenoteplz)

Oh and disclaimer I’m not trying to undermine authors at all!! In case you read any comment in that way, I’m proving why book bloggers would write amazing books, not that they are better than the authors we have or that the authors we have aren’t good! 🙂

Types of characters I LOVE and HATE!

Hi guys!! Hope you’re doing well and happy fourth of July to those celebrating! 🙂 I hope you’re having an amazing time + eating lots of cake and chocolate!

Anyway, to state the obvious: I am a total bookworm! And as a reader I have come across various different types of books and characters and have kind of shaped my preferences through all the books I’ve read. Especially through book blogging, since I’ve discovered so many different books because of it. I have no doubt everyone holds some preference towards certain types of characters than others as well?? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO. So let’s see which ones we may have in common, shall we?

*Pst: I also have news about my giveaway!! It ended yesterday and I chose the winner, who will be announced at the end of the post!! ❤

Reasons why there should be more YA books set in Canada (Where are thou Canadian authors??)

HAPPY CANADA DAY TO ALL MY CANADIAN FOLK OUT THERE! ❤ ❤ I have been SO EXCITED for this day to come, from a blogging perspective because I’ve wanted to talk about the lack of books set in Canada for a while now and had written this post in advance (I HOPE YOU LIKE IT) and from a literal perspective because it’s Canada’s 150th celebration this year and there is going to be so much fun today and AHHHHHH. *squeals* *starts singing O Canada in the bilingual English & French version because I’m Canadian like that*

Fun fact: I’d learned the bilingual version since preschool because I live in Ottawa and was in french immersion the majority of my school life, and I’m still not 100% confident singing the anthem in English. o.O OOPS. 

So, in honour of Canada Day I decided to have a more Canada themed post for today!! Because it feels like Canada is always sooooo overlooked in real life, sure, but also IN YA BOOKS. I mean, name more than one or two young adult books that are set in Canada?? Exactly. And not just set by name, but actually shows that it’s in Canada, not just says that so and so lives in _____, Canada. You know? There are soooooo many books set in the States, and I don’t mind, I just want more books in Canada because, hey! We exist and we’re kind of fabulous too (if I do say so myself) and having books set in Canada would be the BEST. Agh.

(Oh and!! Last reminder to enter my giveaway to win one released 2017 diverse book! It ends July 3rd, on Monday, and I’ll be contacting the winner on the 4th. 🙂 )