Top Ten Books On My Spring 2014 TBR List

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The Topic: TOP TEN BOOKS ON MY SPRING TO BE READ LIST

VERONICA MARS: THE THOUSAND-DOLLAR TAN LINE by R. Thomas & Graham

I watched the show as it aired, Kickstarted the movie on day one, saw the movie on Thursday night before the Friday release, and have gotten many people to watch the show. So, yeah... I'm a fan. I'll watch or read anything with Veronica Mars and love it. Thank you, Rob Thomas.

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

E. Lockhart wrote my favorite YA, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, so she's forever a must-read for me, and I'm loving what I've heard about this book so far.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRUE by Huntley Fitzpatrick

I've been waiting for another book by Huntley Fitzpatrick since her debut in 2012 with My Life Next Door (that book had me smiling, crying, and late night texting with G).  

THE GEOGRAPHY OF YOU AND ME by Jennifer E. Smith

She's all about the meet-cute and I totally eat it up. Two teens meet in a NYC elevator during a citywide blackout? Sign me up. 

OPEN ROAD SUMMER by Emory Lord

As soon as I saw this cover, my contemporary loving heart knew it was for me. It's got a country superstar BFF on a summer tour and the cute guy opening for her. What's not to love?

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han

I was pretty sure I'd like this book and then G told me there's a solid depiction of a sister relationship, so I'm sold. (Being part of a sister group is a fantastic, interesting, complicated thing, and I love when it's well done.)

REBEL (REBOOT #2) by Amy Tintera

There is no way I'd read Reboot and not keep going. I've been waiting for Rebel for ages, since I read a Reboot ARC before it even came out and OHMYGOD! CAN I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS YET?!

WAITING ON YOU (BLUE HERON #3) by Kristan Higgins

I read everything Kristan Higgins. Her books and characters are charming, cute, and interesting.

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE (THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS #6) by Cassandra Clare
I read the first five books last year right before the movie came out, so obviously I'm going to read the 6th to see what happens.

BEFORE WE KISS (FOOL'S GOLD #14) by Susan Mallery

If there's a Fool's Gold book out there, I'm reading it. I love visiting the same place over and over to get a glimpse of the previous romances and quirky town while following along with a new love story.

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I'll read more than 10 books in the spring and could make this list go on & on forever, but this is a good start! 

Top Ten YA Authors On My Auto-Buy List

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN YA AUTHORS ON MY AUTO-BUY LIST

Sarah Dessen
Because she's the author who made me love contemporary YA before it was even an official category

John Green
Because of Q and Colin and Hazel and Augustus

A.S. King
Because you should never actually ignore Vera Dietz

Jessica Brody
Because her books are original & fun to read

E. Lockhart
Because she's responsible for the existence of Frankie Landau-Banks

Lauren Morrill
Because she's a friend & her book's dialogue reminds of of the Gilmore Girls

Lauren Oliver
Because she complimented my nail polish when we met (and also because she gave me dystopian YA I can love -- REQUIEM IS OUT SO SOON!)

Stephanie Perkins
Because she created Cricket Bell

Huntley Fitzpatrick
Because I loved her one book so much, I'll buy them all

Maureen Johnson
Because she keeps Twitter interesting

Who's on your list?

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Psst... I posted a wallpaper with a quote from John Green's The Fault in Our Stars yesterday. Go grab it, if that's your style. It's right here.

TOP TEN BOOKS SANTA SHOULD BRING ME

The topic: TOP TEN BOOKS SANTA SHOULD BRING ME

(Hosted by THE BROKE AND THE BOOKISH)

In the random order blogger put them in... Liar Society #2, Bad Taste in Boys, Forever, Gone Girl, The Queen of Kentucky, Ashes #2, Stealing Parker, The Night Circus, Vixen, Winter's Kiss

A lot of these are books I fully intended to read, but somehow missed along the way. I hope Santa helps me right some wrongs!

What books are on your wishlist?

TOP TEN Authors I'm Thankful For

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN AUTHORS I'M THANKFUL FOR

In no particular order, because ranking them would be IMPOSSIBLE!

E. Lockhart
for writing teen girls I love, hope to be, or want to make my BFF.

John Green
for books with boy characters I care about and The Fault in Our Stars.

Sarah Dessen
for writing books that feel like a relaxing summer vacation & made me love YA way back when I was an actual teenager.

Judy Blume
for feeding my early love of contemporary YA.

Stephanie Perkins
for writing contemporary that I love, love, love, love, love.

Maureen Johnson
for being funny, weird, and awesome.

Lauren Oliver
for writing Delirium & proving I could love dystopian (and also for being nice to meet & chatting about nail polish with me like that's why she came to Texas).

A.S. King
for writing books that make me feel everything.

R.L. Stine
for keeping me reading through my childhood.

Jane Austen
for being a fantastic observer and creator of the RomCom.

Who's on your list?

TOP TEN: Kick-Ass Heroines!

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN FAVORITE KICK-ASS YA HEROINES

The phrase "kick-ass" initially brings to mind actual ass kicking (which I've included), but it means more than that to me, so this list has smart girls who may not have been in any tough physical situations, but are brilliant in their own kick-ass way.

In no particular order, because ranking them would be IMPOSSIBLE!

First up is Frankie Landau-Banks (#01) from one of my favorite books, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. (E. Lockhart knows how to write girls I love!) And a girl who I think would be great at scheming & ruling boarding school with Frankie, (#2) Cammie Morgan from the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter.

Have you read Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick? Remember (#3) Gobi, the exchange student? She was crazy-awesome at kicking ass! If she teamed up with (#4) Scarlett March from Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, I bet they could rid the world of monsters in no time.

And then there are two girls who understand a family legacy: (#5) Katarina Bishop (from Heist Society by Ally Carter) who comes from a family of talented thieves, and (#6) Lexington Larrabee in Jessica Brody's 52 Reasons to Hate My Father whose unmet expectation of a multimillion dollar check on her 18th birthday takes her through a year of low-wage jobs.

Then there's Ally Condie's Cassia (#7) in Matched, who has to decide if and how she can rebel against the Society that's made every decision for her and forger her own path, and (#8) Lena Holoway, the lead in Lauren Oliver's Delirium, who lives in a world where love is considered a disease.

And no list of kick-ass heroines in YA would be complete without Harry Potter's Hermione (#9) and (#10) Katniss of Hunger Games fame!

Who's on your list?

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Looking for a book to read for Halloween? See my recommendations here.

TOP TEN: Books TBR This Summer

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN BOOKS ON MY SUMMER TBR LIST

Or Top Ten YA Books, I should say. I read a ton for school, and lately I'm on an adult contemporary romance kick, plus I'm in the middle of researching the American frontier (specifically mail order brides, at the moment), so there will be way more books than those listed, but these are the YAs I'm most looking forward to in the coming months.

Here's my list of ten YA books I'm going to read this summer (in no particular order, because trying to rank them would take me all day!):

01. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - Zombies! Ever since I saw the cover, with the artful blood spatter, I've been dying to read this book. It's at my house now, so I'm going to very, very soon!

02. Something Like Normal by Trish Dollar - This book, about a soldier returning from Afghanistan, sounds different and interesting and I've only seen amazing reviews (example: GReads).

03. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian - My friend, Lauren (whose fantastic book, Meant To Be, comes out in September -- add it to your list!), is super awesome and sent this to me after she snagged a copy at BEA. She devoured it and says it's great. I'll know soon!

04. Fathomless by Jackson Pearce - I'm reading this RIGHT NOW. I'm a big fan of Jackson's other fairytale retellings (see my reviews of Sisters Red & Sweetly) when I'm looking to break out of my normal contemporary mold. I like how lyrical the writing is, as a nod to the fairytales, and how I'm never quite sure where the story is going, even though I constantly think I am.

05. Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham - As mentioned recently, I'm in love with the yellow cover with the map! Road trip, BFFs... perfect!

06. Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols - I keep hearing great things about this one & Echols is always a must.

07. The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt - As a big contemporary fan, this is another book that is an obvious must-read for me.

08. Timepiece by Myra McEntire - I really need to know where the story goes after Hourglass!

09. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell - Baltimore in 1889? Yes, please! I'm iffy on the paranormal, but willing to give this one a try.

10. So Shelly by Ty Roth - I avoided this book forever based on cover alone. It's not a bad cover, but it didn't say contemporary YA to me AT ALL. And then someone said "if you liked John Green, try this book" and it's been on my TBR list ever since. I snagged it from the library, so it's happening soon. Finally!

What's on your list?

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Psst... take a peek into my house. I posted my living room bookcase today right here.

TOP TEN: Non-Book Websites I Love

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN NON-BOOK BLOGS I LOVE

I've always loved books, but I've ALSO always loved: politics & news and design/home decor. I was a little girl in love with politics & government & the thought of being a spy, which led to a major in Political Science (and a minor in Women's Studies). I rearranged my bedroom a zillion times as a kid. I'm currently pursuing a teaching degree so I can share my love of politics and civil rights. My dream right now is to either build a house I help design or buy an old, outdated one so I won't feel bad ripping everything out and making it look exactly the way I want (white! and new! but with some old charm). So that's what makes up most of my list... plus I really love TV and laughing, so there are two spots in there for that. (Also, I left out every single fashion blog because I couldn't decide -- I read a bunch of those, too!)

Here are ten websites (not related to books) that I make sure to visit each day: 

Blogs for design inspiration, ideas, and pretty interior pictures:

01. Making It Lovely - I've been following Nicole's work for years, and this blog, in particular, since before she bought her first house and had two kids. Her posts are full of pink, pretty things, and useful information. She also posts cute fashion finds pretty regularly these days.

02. Decor8 - Holly loves white walls as much as I do and right now she lives in Germany (which is similar design-wise to The Netherlands where I lived before), so I love taking a peek inside her apartment and the design finds she comes across over there. (And she has a book full of pretty home pictures!)

03. Design Sponge - Every day at Design Sponge is PACKED with great posts. I'm especially fond of the before and after furniture makeovers and the home tours. And the city guides! Oh, and the project instructions! And recipes! (See, it's FULL. I can't even decide. And there's a great book out now, too!)

04. Young House Love - The couple behind this blog are DIY champions. They finished re-doing their first house, then sold it and bought a new one just to keep on going. Their second house is way more my speed, and I'm loving watching it come together. Their new kitchen is awesome, especially when you see how it started, how much they did themselves and how little they spent. (They've got a book in the works!)

05. Apartment Therapy - This blog is less personal than the others listed previously, as it's more of collaboration and not really about the life of the writers, but it is full of everything home decor. This is my go to source when I'm wondering how comfortable a particular sofa is (when there isn't a store in my city to test it out myself), or which shade of white is perfect for that room that hardly gets any sun, and everything else related to home. I especially love their focus on small homes, as I'm not the McMansion type. I like style and design, but I don't like my voice to echo in my house. (I have two of their books & highly recommend them for inspiration & looks at whole homes.

Websites that every girl & every boy who cares about girls should read:

06. Jezebel - Their description: "Celebrity, Sex, Fashion For Women" is spot-on. They cover everything from the silly to serious that a girl could want -- all with a fun, refreshing edge.

07. Feministing - This one's like Jezebel, but without the pop culture focus... It's post after post of things happening to and because of women all over the world that you might never hear about otherwise. If you're the girl that has ever declared yourself "not a feminist," you should take a look and reconsider.

Good places for TV, funny things, smart things, or cute things:

08. Television Without Pity - The best at all things TV. I especially love following their Twitter for short (often funny) little glimpses into their thoughts on my favorite shows. And if you miss a show, their recaps will make you feel like you didn't.

09. The Oatmeal - Cute comics, often with a serious point... like, how Tesla invented electricity as we know it and the Edison story is big 'ole American lie. He's got a shop full of fun posters... I have two and can vouch for both their quality and hilarity.

10. Hello Giggles - This one was co-founded my Zooey Deschanel and promises that all posts are lady-friendly (meaning the posts are aimed at smart, independent, creative women). You'll find everything from a bunny cam to nail polishing tips to world news. They've proven to be solid at covering some pretty serious topics dealing with women's issues (like why it's not okay that the Chris Brown performed at the latest Grammys and no one really seemed to care about that time he bashed Rhianna's face, which led to the cancellation of his and her performances that year, because she was too beat up and he was too... um... post-just beat my girlfriend up and their are pictures and other douchebaggy things).

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Should I mention that I also keep Gmail and Twitter open constantly, and read a zillion news websites throughout the day? Because I do. But I doubt anyone needs me to provide a link to CNN... 

What about you? If you posted your own list, leave me a link! And if you didn't, recommend a blog in the comments, anyway.

TOP TEN: BOOKS INTO MOVIES

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY time! Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

The topic: TOP TEN BOOKS I'D LIKE TO SEE MADE INTO A MOVIE

I love stories (obviously), so it should come as no surprise that, in addition to reading a whole lot of books, I watch a (some would say) ridiculous amount of television & movies. I can't help it! (And I don't want to.)

Here's my list of ten books I'd love to see on the big screen (in no particular order, because trying to rank them would take me all day!):

1. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - Frankie is an absolute favorite of mine. I'd love to see the "possible criminal mastermind" and her school's secret society in action. If you've seen (and loved) the Life and Death Brigade episodes of Gilmore Girls, you know what I mean.

2. Anything by John Green - Seriously. Anything. I'm particular to The Fault in Our Stars because it's the one I read most recently, but I'm up for any and all of them. The life/tragedy at boarding school in Looking for Alaska, Colin's Katherines theorem in An Abundance of Katherines, following Margo's clues in Paper Towns... so many options!

3. My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody - Her books read like films to me, somehow. This story would be so cute and fun to follow as a movie (and she even made a fantastic, movie-quality trailer to prove it).

4. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott - Teen, and reluctant-thief, teams up with mom to rip off residents in a town called Heaven? Cute, sweet cop interested in her for non-legal reasons? Yes, please!

5. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - A love story set over a 24-hour period that includes a hot guy with an accent is just begging to be made into the next swoony movie I insert into my regular rotation.

6. You Wish by Mandy Hubbard - This one would probably have to be on the Disney channel or something, because, um, Raggedy Ann comes to life. And so does Ken. And I think there's a pink pony in there somewhere. It would be silly and cute and so fun.

7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Lauren Oliver can WRITE. This book is so beautiful and so sad and so full of hope all at the same time. The world in Delirium is just recognizable enough that the story hooks you (almost scares you), but different enough that you aren't sure what exactly is going on or who to trust or what everyone should do. 

8. Au, Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber - Unassuming foreign exchange student transforms into badass assassin with her tuxedo-clad, dorky host-brother on prom night? And goes around NYC kicking ass & spraying bullets? Awesome!

9. The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter - Spy School for Girls. Enough said.

10. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - I can't help it if I want to spend two hours looking at Lola's crazy ensembles and waiting on the edge of my seat for the next Cricket Bell appearance.

Hollywood: MORE YA BOOKS INTO MOVIES, STAT!

TOP TEN: BOOKS READ IN ONE SITTING

It's TOP 10 TUESDAY (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish). 

The topic: TOP TEN BOOKS READ IN ONE SITTING

I'm a fast reader, so when I have a big block of time free to read, I GO FOR IT. I can't read every book straight through (some because of time constraints, and others because they haven't quite hooked me yet), but here are 10 that instantly popped into my head (in no particular order).

1. PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver -- I had to know what happened!
2. WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard -- I wanted to be on the trip.
3. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins -- Cricket Bell. Swoon.
4. LOVE AND LEFTOVERS by Sarah Tregay -- My first novel in verse
5. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS by E. Lockhart -- One of my all-time favorite protagonists.
6. THE BOYFRIEND LIST by E. Lockhart -- Cute & listy.
7. SWEETLY by Jackson Pearce -- Curiosity made me do it! (Review here.)
8. YOU WISH by Mandy Hubbard -- Super cute, and made me laugh so many times. (Review here.)
9. AUDREY, WAIT! by Robin Benway -- Loved Audrey!
10. TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer -- I read the book the day after I watched the movie & developed an insta-crush on Robert Pattinson. Haha. He made ECulls less creepy/stalkery in my head.

I also basically read each Harry Potter book in one sitting. I think I fell asleep after reading all night during book 6, but I picked right back up when I woke up! Crazy.

Top Ten Books I Got at ALA!

I've been meaning to participate in Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) for a while now, so when I saw the topic was open to WHATEVER I WANT this week (and THEN, I saw Magan's post over at Rather Be Reading about books from ALA), I decided to jump in.

I spent Friday-Sunday in Dallas with a group of friends/book bloggers attending ALA Midwinter and it was super awesome. I'll have a recap post (or two) coming within the week, but until then, I'll kick things off with...

THE TOP TEN BOOKS I AM SUPER EXCITED I GOT AT ALA!

(Yes, the books are on a chair. I didn't feel like clearing off the table-near-nice-natural-light, so... chair!)

They're in alphabetical order because I couldn't possibly rank them. (Of course, because I am super awful at choosing ONLY a certain number of favorites of anything ever there is a pile of another eight on the floor next to the chair feeling super left out right now. Poor, sad books.)

52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER by Jessica Brody (July 2012) - I love Jessica Brody's books and probably Jessica Brody. She makes awesome book trailers, writes cute characters, and always has a central plot idea that feels new to me. (Psst... click here to see my review her previous release, My Life Undecided.)
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AMELIA ANNE IS DEAD AND GONE by Kat Rosenfield (July 2012) - I actually hadn't heard of this one before ALA, but as soon as I read the back cover, I knew I had to have it. It sounds mysterious, and I love (love, love, love) a book set in a small town.
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BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf (April 2012) - I was BEYOND excited when I saw this book was up for grabs. (I posted about how much I wanted to read it way back in August.) Can't wait!
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FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson (June 2012) - Four girls summering in Italy? Yes, please! Something tells me this one is going to be perfect when I want a book that will put a smile on my face.
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THE LIST by Siobhan Vivian (April 2012) - Every year an anonymous list goes up announcing the "prettiest" and "ugliest" girls in each grade. I don't even want to imagine how awful it would be to be on the bottom of that list for every eye in school to see, but I bet I will when I read this book. I was lucky enough to run into Siobhan twice over the weekend and my impression of her makes me want to read this even more.
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THUMPED by Megan McCafferty (April 2012) - The follow up to Bumped. Curious to see where it goes...
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PILGRIMS DON'T WEAR PINK by Stephanie Kate Strohm (May 2012) - A "historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around-history nerd" spends the summer interning at Maine's Oldest Living History Museum. So, basically: me without the internship. Love!
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VARIOUS POSITIONS by Martha Schabas (February 2012) - I took ballet throughout my childhood and can't help but love it still. I'm interested to read along as a young professional ballerina makes her way through the dance world and deals with all the pressure that entails. I've read some really opinionated ("not what I expected") reviews on this one, so I'm interested to see where it goes.
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WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard (March 2012) - This one's got an 18-year-old main character traveling through Central America, which is enough to hook me alone. (Bonus: It's by the same author who wrote Like Mandarin.)
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WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE by Shelley Coriell (May 2012) - School radio station! Possibly a cute radio boy! Sign me up.
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OHMYGOD! I left out my (probable) #1! It was in my school bag, because I'm already reading it, so it completely slipped my mind when I was choosing...

PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver (February 2012) - You don't even want to KNOW what was happening when Ginger ever so kindly handed me a copy of this book. (Hint: Actual pandemonium, except eerily almost-silent.) I waited to read Delirium until earlier this month, because I was pretty sure I would love it and hate waiting for this book to continue the story. I was right, so I'm glad I got a copy to shorten the wait by more than a month. Reading it and holding my breath... Alex.
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So, that's my top ten +1. I'd love to hear what you top ten-ed this week or your thoughts on any of these books or how awesome of a time you had at ALA or how you didn't go but now realize you should next time.