my recent book haul <3

Our used bookstore had a Star Wars Day deal going last weekend, so I snagged a few books. 😉

I jokingly asked J to pose with my stack and he obliged, so that’s the picture you’re getting. XD

First up we have Uglies by Scott Westerfield, a book I’ve been looking to buy for forrrreeeeever. It looks like an interesting concept and I’ve heard there’s less body horror elements that I was expecting, so I’m excited to try it.

Next, we have Towards Zero and Three Blind Mice (a short story collection) both by Agatha Christie. They match the editions I’m collecting, and I’m always in the mood for a good mystery. 😉 Also, I haven’t read any Miss Marple yet, so that’s a compelling reason to give these a shot.

Then there’s Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant. I used to have a paperback copy I gave to a friend since I didn’t like the story that much, but since then it’s grown on me and I decided I needed the hardcover to match my copy of Reggie and Delilah. ❤

And last but not least is Cog by Greg Van Eekhout. It just looked really cute, so I decided it was coming home with me. 😉

I can’t wait until my bookshelves are all unpacked again to give these books their new home!

Have you bought/borrowed/received any cool books lately?

off the top of your head book tag

I stole this tag from JessetheReader’s YouTube channel (you can view his video here) because it looked like so much fun. 😉

The goal of this tag is to share the first answer that pops into your mind, so this will be rather rapid-fire. 😉

What was your favorite picture book as a child? Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one I’m not sure was my favorite but it’s the one I remember the best and still enjoy. 😉

What book series did you love as a child? The Viking Quest series by Lois Walfrid Johnson. *hides* *reemerges from behind the couch* I recognize now the issues with the romance, but these books legitimately helped me in my walk with God.

What is the worst book you’ve read or tried to read? For reasons, I won’t be answering this one, but I can only think of a couple. So that’s good. 😉

What is your favorite reading or book memory? My younger sisters bought me a huge leatherbound copy of all the Sherlock Holmes books, and I got to read through them in the best possible format. (They also got me a huge maroon mug that same Christmas.)

What is a book you loved as a movie? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one I actually saw as a movie first and fell in love with. I’ve written post upon post about this, but it’s just so beautiful and the casting was on point. ❤

What is a book you wish that they would make into a movie? A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass would just be so dramatic and gorgeous.

What is a place you want to visit because of a book you’ve read? The entire UK, please and thank you. Or were we supposed to say fictional places?

What is a nonfiction book you’d recommend? Quiet Power by Susan Cain rocked my world in the best way.

If you could hang out with an author for a day, who would it be and why? I’d love to hang out with some of my indie author friends. I often feel like a little island so it’d be encouraging and quite fun. (And I could get my books signed too!)

You’re welcome to grab this tag, just be sure to link back to JessetheReader. 😉

eight boxes

It took eight boxes to pack up our bookshelves for the upcoming trip across the complex to our new apartment.

That’s not counting the number in our storage closet or the books we’re currently reading that will have to be packed, eventually. Or the five I just brought home from a really good sale at a favorite bookstore. Or the two that came in the mail, oops.

Moving is exciting and wonderful and strange all at once.

Will I organize my books the same or use a different process? Will I find ways to fit more or go for aesthetics? Will our new apartment have room for at least one more bookcase?

Like I said, exciting. 😉

Image by Dirk (Beeki®) Schumacher from Pixabay

my favorite books for the first quarter

I’ve read 39 (!!) books so far this year, but only a handful have landed on my Goodreads “favorites” shelf. This honor is bestowed upon the best of the best, the cutest of the cute, the helpfulest of helpfulness. Or the ones that stick with me the most in their entertainment and encouragement. 😉

January

The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie was one of my most anticipated releases last year, and you bet I read it as soon as I could get it from the library. It’s just sooo good, and reminded me why I love this author and her deep themes. Check out my review.

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass has lived rent-free in my mind for months now. In fact, I think I need my own copy soon, since I borrowed it from my library. (How apropos.) It has ghosts and books and community and a fabulous cat, pretty much everything you’d want in a good book. Read my review.

And then there’s A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass, the one that had me metaphorically giggling and kicking my feet and rooting for my messed-up cuties to have their happily-ever-after. For more screeching, read my review.

February

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce was good, clean fun, and really cute. I loved the basis in real life too, and it was the perfect companion during the Superbowl. 😉 Read my review here.

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson reminded me of my childhood and has me eager to read the rest of the series. This is one I hope to share with children someday. ❤ Check out my review.

March

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, aka a book I’ve mentioned a few times now, I feel like. It was assigned to me in therapy and was both easy to read and life-changing. For more, read my review.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown was just the loveliest of reads. It’s so gentle yet thought-provoking, and I’m looking forward to the sequel and the movie. Read my (short) review.

These are just some of the books I’ve enjoyed this year, and I’m hoping for many more! 😉 What are your favorites?

a happy book haul ;)

With my book-buying ban over, I treated myself to some books. Then my husband took me to Barnes and Noble for my birthday and bought me a couple more and I snagged a couple while I was there, and basically, I had an epic book haul I thought I’d share with you all. 😉

First up was Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson. I’m often in the mood for a good sci-fi, and this book promised to be interesting and clever. I read this one almost immediately, and it garnered a four-star rating from me. 😉

Then there was The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown. This is one of the books J bought for me, and he was so delighted when he found it since I’d just read and loved the first book. I’m excited to read this one. ❤

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu was a complete impulse buy. It was on sale for only $5 and the superhero concept looked super cool. Thanks for buying it for me, J!

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff was paired with Last Day on Mars for the buy one, get one 50% deal. All I really knew about it was that there were magical baking powers?!! And that’s enough to get me interested. 😀

Hey, Jude Carpenter by Storm Shultz is my favorite ARC I’ve read this year, and I though I had my ARC and an ebook copy, I also needed it in paperback ASAP. XD It’s that good. You can find my review here.

Dear Mouse Princess by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz looked like a really cute concept (especially since I used to have an imaginary penpal) and I love the author’s work. I’m excited to read this one.

Not pictured is Road Trip Rescue by Becca Wierwille because I bought it on Kindle. It was really wholesome and cute, but ultimately not a favorite. You can read my review here.

things I learned from my book-buying ban

I went on a book-buying ban for the past month and a half, and believe me it was harder than I was expecting. 😉 The only exceptions were author copies of my latest release and a book I was assigned in therapy. Otherwise? Nada.

(Not even when I went to two library sales. *cries*)

(I did have KU for part of the time and my birthday, so I didn’t go completely new-book-less, but the goal was not to buy them. 😉 )

Here are just a few things I learned from this experience.

I buy books too often. Sad? Bored? Browse-y, browse-y time. And ooo there’s a sale!

It’s much easier to save money. This seems like a no-brainer, but those four-dollar Kindle books do add up!

I missed financially supporting my indie authors. There have been a few releases I’ve wanted to buy immediately just in this short period. *cries*

I love my library. They have so much! And, surprisingly, some of the newest stuff too!

My TBR shelf got some love. I actually read books from it! #shocker

I love shopping for other people. Helping my husband and my sisters find books for themselves was almost more rewarding than if I’d bought some.

I know now what books I *really* want. My mental wishlist is out of hand and I need to prioritize what I’m going to buy and read next, but I’m very sure these are books I actually want. 😉

I wasn’t chasing trends. I couldn’t buy and read any of the hyped books, so I got to relax and follow my own interests.

I have a new respect for fasting. I’ll for sure be doing this again. ❤

i’m actually reading a series for once

And I just finished book three last night! Now I neeeeeed to go to the library for book four.

The City Spies series by James Ponti is clever, heartfelt, and so much fun. 🤩 I’m enjoying how easy they are to read while not sacrificing depth.

Do you have a series you enjoy?

i’ve been writing shorter reviews lately

I’ve been writing much shorter reviews lately (sometimes just a couple sentences long like my recent review of Harry Potter #1), and I’m really not sure why.

Is it because I don’t feel like I have much to add to the conversation surrounding a popular book?

Because I’ve refined my tastes so well that I’m not often provoked to grumpy rant?

That I read the books after everyone else does or I find a review that sums up my thoughts better than I can?

Maybe I’m tired…

Or maybe all my author years have paid off and I’m able to be succinct now? *laughs*

Whatever it is, it’s been rather freeing and takes the work out of reading to get to just process a story and move on. Maybe there will be a time (or a book) when I write longer reviews again, but for now, I think I’ll spend my energy on blogging and drafting my next book.

it’s my favorite month

Besides December, this has to be my favorite month. Not only is it the start of spring, but it also holds my birthday, a new book release, an in-person event where I’m selling my books and cupcakes, and most of all… it’s Middle-Grade March!

I gathered up my middle-grade TBR stack (except one book I forgot), and it’s astounding and delightful how many I have to look forward to!

I picked up Shuri by Nic Stone because I love all things Black Panther, Eight Keys by Suzanne LeFleur because Beautiful Blue World is life, Train I Ride by Paul Mosier cause it looked cute, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown because there’s a movie coming out, The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene because I need to try Nancy Drew, The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder (my favorite) because the MC is Jewish, and Glitch by Laura Martin because an Instagram friend mentioned it.

(I also have two new favorite series I need to get from the library, but I should probably pace myself.) 😉

Which middle-grade book should I read next? Do you have any favorites to recommend?

the joys of Kindle Unlimited

I got a Kindle for Christmas, and it came with a free trial of Kindle Unlimited. I immediately got to reading, and I’ve discovered so many things to love about KU. 😉

1. I get to read newer indie books! Most indie books and some traditionally published books appear on KU the same day they are published and I can start reading for free immediately. I did this with Drew Taylor’s The Designated Valentine (not me refreshing the page over and over to see when the book was out, lol) and would have done it with Wish You Weren’t Here by Gracie Ruth Mitchell if I weren’t so busy at the moment.
2. It’s chock full of fantasy and romance, aka two genres I need to read more of and have been experimenting with lately.
3. I try out books I wouldn’t usually buy. Whether that’s because of my budget or content I’m unsure of, there are some books and series I wouldn’t otherwise try, but when they’re “free”… 😉 Like A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass or Just Her Luck by MJ. Padgett which are just two new favorites.
4. I know the author still gets paid for the pages I read, even if I DNF! I feel waayyyy less guilty about not finishing a book this way, so it also frees me up to branch out a little more. 😉

If you’re curious about how Kindle Unlimited works, here’s an article explaining how to borrow and return books.

I also made a Goodreads shelf of books I’ve read in KU (so far!) if you’re looking for recommendations. ;)(Just check to make sure the book is still in KU before you borrow it.)

Kindle Unlimited has truly been so much fun! The only downside? Now I have more favorite books to buy in paperback. *sighs happily*