Hello, friend! I just discovered your blog, was scrolling through when I saw that you got to see Panic! At the Disco for your birthday. That’s really awesome, I love Panic! and I hope you had a lovely time! I didn’t scroll through enough to get a good feel for what you read, but I was wondering if you could recommend me a (or a few) good fantasy/adventure book or series? Bonus points if it’s YA! Have a lovely week!

Hi! Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by to say hello!

I've always been quite partial to "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs.

As for an adventure book, I've always really enjoyed the "Truly Devious" series by Maureen Johnson, which is more of a mystery but if that's not your style then "Tess of the Road" by Rachel Hartman might be more up your alley.

They're all YA, so how many points did I get? :)

We Come Apart

‘We Come Apart’ By: Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

Description:

“To her friends and teachers, Jess is a tough girl, rebellious and troublemaking.  But at home, her stepfather forces Hess to witness -- and often film -- his violence against her mother, and any attempts to stop him only results in more abuse.  Always hiding from the truth, all Jess wants is to get out.

Nicu is a Romanian immigrant, here to allow his parents to make enough money for him to find a suitable wife in Romania -- a future that terrifies him.  Despite the bullies who torment him because of his heritage, Nicu loves the opportunities available in his new country.  All Nicu wants is to stay.

Jess and Nicu meet during required community service after they’re each arrested for shoplifting, and form an unexpected bond.  As they grow closer and closer, their secrets begin to surface.  Soon, the only safe place they have is with each other.  But they can’t be together, forever, and stay safe -- can they?”

My Thoughts:

So, this book was quite the wild ride.  It is definitely a read you could finish in one sitting, as it’s written sort of weird.  At most, the most paragraphs per chapter are around twelve to fifteen.  They aren’t really chapters, just switching between two perspectives.  This is a very quick read, and a very interesting and fresh concept.

flawed by cecelia ahern (2 book series) okay so this is the first book/series im recommending yikes i recently read this book for an english class project and i read it and the second book in like 3 days?? it was so so so good (part/book 1 of 5)

Hi! I received all of your asks and probably won't post them all, but don't worry they all came in as anons if you're still worried about that. I will definitely be checking all those books out, thank you so much for taking the time to send me some asks! Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy your day! 💖💗💕💓❤️💝💞❣️

Okay so. I feel weird suggesting a book I haven't even read but a friend suggested it and I'm ready for chapter five and it's just. It's great and I know I'm going to love it and well it's called Six of Crows?? I'm not sure if you've ever read it but I love it so far and Kaz is just. Great. Apparently the series is part of a bigger series and is a sequel of sorts, but I haven't read the other series so I'm not sure. It's by Leigh Bardugo and the other series is Grisha or something? Anyway bye

Sorry I'm responding to this so late, but I would love to check this out, thank you so much for your suggestion!

do u take book suggestions?

Yes! I most certainly do! Thank you for asking!

Holding Up The Universe

‘Holding Up The Universe’ By: Jennifer Niven

Description:

“You are wanted.  You are necessary.  You are loved.

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, but no one’s ever looked past her weight to see who she really is.  Since her mum’s death, Libby’s been hiding, but now she’s ready for high school.

I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too - sexy, aloof and too cool for school.  But Jack’s swaggering confidence is hiding a secret he must keep at all costs.

Be charming.  Be hilarious.  Don’t get too close to anyone.

Then Jack meets Libby.  And their worlds change.

Because sometimes when you meet someone, the whole universe just comes into focus.”

My Thoughts:

Despite what you may think, this isn’t just another boy-meets-girl, they fall in love book.  But this book discusses: Body Image, Neurological Disorders, Eating Disorders and more.  This book had a really interesting concept that I found that I really enjoyed and would like to share with others.

Prince Of Wolves Series

‘Prince Of Wolves’ By: Quinn Loftis

Description:

“Jacque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas.  When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don’t realize the last two weeks of their summer are going to get a lot more interesting.  From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame.  Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis Lupis, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul.  The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring.  Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps to try and claim Jacque as his mate.  Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha.  Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy?  Will Jacque accept that she is Fane’s mate and complete the bond between them?”

My Thoughts:

So…  This was 100% a book I read in middle school and loved a LOT!  I still do, honestly.  And this book is part of a larger series -- Which I have not finished because most of the later books are audio book versions and I’d rather read them, but I’m catching up -- there are eleven books in the series from what I can find online.

This is definitely another chick flick book, and just as I told you all before, I need to talk about these every once in a while to keep my sanity.

Side Note:

I’m sorry about my extended absence.  The first week was an accident that I missed it, and I had fully intended to make it up during the week.  But I got side tracked by packing for a trip I was taking over Spring Break -- I went to New Orleans with my choir -- and that trip ran over the weekend so I couldn’t write anything then either.  I apologize again, I hope you all have a good week!

The Sun Is Also A Star

‘The Sun Is Also A Star’ By: Nicola Yoon

Description:

“Natasha:  I’m a girl who believes in science and facts.  Not fate.  Not destiny.  Or dreams that will never come true.  I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him.  Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica.  Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel:  I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations.  Never the poet.  Or the dreamer.  But when I see her, I forget about all that.  Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store -- for both of us.

The Universe:  Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment.  A million futures lie before us.  Which one will come true?”

My Thoughts:

I read this in one day, that’s how compelling this book was.  It was written by the same author as “Everything, Everything”, and I’ve never read it, but it did make me interested in putting it on my next list.

The chapters alternate between Natasha and Daniel, and they’re very short.  This is a very easy book to read, despite being 300 pages.  It’s easy to pick up and get through quickly if you’re looking for a quick read.

Side Note:

I am so sorry for the lack of update last week!  I got food poisoning and was really not feeling it at all.  I apologize again and hope you all have a great week!

The Upside of Unrequited

‘The Upside Of Unrequited’ By: Becky Albertalli

Description:

“Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love -- she’s lived through it twenty-six times.  She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret.  Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection.  So she’s careful.  Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess.  Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness -- except for the part where she is.

Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick.  Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material.  Maybe more than crush material.  And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem:  Molly’s coworder Reid.  He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?”

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this book, and if liked reading ‘Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda’, then you will probably like this one as well as it is written by the same author, Becky Albertalli.  This is a really cute love story that is definitely one of my favorites.

400 Friends!

I can’t believe there are 400 of you all!  I love you all so much and I hope you all have a good week!

Just a quick heads up, today's post will be a bit on the shorter side because I haven’t been feeling well -- since last Monday -- and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

-Claire

Shattering Glass

‘Shattering Glass’ By: Gail Giles

Description:

“Simon Glass was easy to HATE.  I never know exactly why, there was too much to pick from.  I guess, really, we each hated him for a different reason, but we didn’t realize it until the day we killed him.

Fat, clumsy Simon Glass is a nerd, a loser who occupies the lowest rung on the high school ladder.  Everyone picks on him -- until Rob Haynes shows up.  Rob, the charismatic and undisputed leader of the senior class, enlists the help of his crew and decides to turn the sniveling class nerd into Prince Charming.

But as Simon rises to the top of the social ranks, he shows a new confidence and a devious side that power-hungry Rob did not anticipate.  And when Simon uncovers a dangerous secret, events darken.  The result is disquieting, bone-chilling… and brutal.”

My Thoughts:

So…  This is a bit of a darker book, I will admit.  To which even I was not expecting.  My Communications teacher suggested this to me and I was shocked at the ending.  ‘Shattering Glass’ is also a shorter read, with two hundred and fifteen (215) pages.  It happens fast, and happens unexpectedly.  Even though it’s right in the description of the book, I wasn’t expecting it to be so…  Brutal, I guess is the term they used.

I did enjoy this book, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting.  But sometime that’s a good thing with books.  And as much as I don’t enjoy romance segments -- that’s a total lie I live for them -- I loved the parts with the main character and his girlfriend.  I thought they were really cute.

I thought it was a bold choice for the author to not talk about the main character in the description, because I was completely expecting this to be in Rob Hayne’s point of view, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The Problem With Forever

‘The Problem With Forever’ By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Description:

“Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing.  And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.  Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone -- spending her senior year at a public high school.  But she never imagined she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded.  Yet soon it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past.  And she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out -- for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.”

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book!  (And of course the cover was what drew me in but that’s beside the point…)  This obviously isn’t a perfect representation of what it’s like to be in the system, but it did give me a very good idea of what some kids have to endure.  With this in mind, I do feel like it’s a wake up call for some of us.

You can probably tell how this one ends, as a typical teen fiction, but this is definitely a must read in my opinion!

Not my usual kind of post but...

Hi!  Hello!  I know this isn’t my usual day to post anything, and I posted yesterday...  But I got these cool socks and I wanted to share them with you because they’re the best thing that I own now...

They’re the names of banned books, and on the other sock it’s the names crossed out.  I just wanted to share these with you because I thought they were neat.

Hope you have a great week!

Nice Try, Jane Sinner

‘Nice Try, Jane Sinner’ By: Lianne Oelke

Description:

“Recently expelled from high school, Jane Sinner grudgingly enrolls in community college, a situation made slightly more bearable when she joined a student-run reality show.  House of Orange is her chance to start over -- and maybe even win a car (used, but whatever) -- and no one there knows what she did in high school.  What more could she want?

Okay, maybe a family that gets why she'd rather turn to Freud then to Jesus.  But she'll settle for using HOO’s growing fanbase, and whatever Intro to Psych can teach her, to prove to the world -- or at least viewers of the substandard TV -- that she has what it takes to win.

Told in Jane Sinner’s fresh, funny, and surprisingly poignant voice, Lianne Oelke’s debut novel is both unpredictable and unforgettable.”

My Thoughts:

Right off the bat, I will admit that I was a little put off by the way this was written, but it's easy to get used to.  It’s nothing like I've ever read before, because it's written like a journal entry, but I think that's what makes it interesting and new.

There is deeper meaning behind the story, and I won't spoil it for you, but ‘Nice Try, Jane Sinner’ definitely does have a much heavier undertone than I expected.  I was not disappointed with this book, and I recommend it 100%.

You’re Welcome Universe

‘You’re Welcome Universe’ By: Whitney Gardner

Description:

“Friends are a liability.

Julia learns this the hard way when she covers up a slur about her best friend with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural, sprayed right across the gymnasium wall of the Kingston School for the Deaf.

Her (supposed) best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her moms set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student.

Out in the ‘burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own.  A tag on a sign, a piece on an overpass.  But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town.  Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off -- and showing Julia up in the process.  She expected her art might get painted over by cops.  But she never imagined getting dragged into a graffiti war.

Now Julia must risk arrest and expulsion to go toe to toe with her rival… or face losing the only piece of her identity that still makes sense.”

My Thoughts:

The first thing that drew me to this book was the artwork of Julia’s tags.  They are so beautiful, and they caught my eye immediately.  I learned some signs from this book -- Which is something I’ve always wanted to learn -- and learned a little about what it might be like to be deaf.  I really enjoyed this book, and fell in love with Julia’s world.

Hello! I first stumbled upon your blog when I was looking around for book suggestions, and then I saw that you read All the Bright Places and immediately followed. I'm wondering if you have any tips for actually focusing on reading (especially books you don't necessarily like), because I have four books to read by April, and I want to read them twice along with the other two, and I really can't seem to focus enough. Also! Have you ever read The Beginning of Everything? It's a great book

Hi!  I would suggest a quiet environment with soft music playing.  Like spa music, or I know Spotify has a great calming playlist with piano music that I enjoy listening to when I read.  Whenever I read I like to have some background noise, but not enough that would distract me.

You also may not have found your ‘spot’ to read.  A specific spot that’s designated just for reading or relaxing and is comfortable enough for you curl up and read could get you into that focused mindset.  This is YOU time.  So grab a tea or hot chocolate!

Powering through your reading is more distracting than you think, so if your body is relaxed, then so is your brain!

Also, I have not read ‘The Beginning of Everything’, but it is on my list!  Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me!  I hope your reading goes well! 

Omg I love you soooo much YOU'RE A LIFE SAVER I would love to hear your opinion on the mortal instruments series! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY/YEAR/LIFE seriously you are the coolest I wish you were in my school XD

Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I will have to look into that series, thank you for the suggestion! I hope you have a wonderful day/year/life as well!