Dun dun dun! Book day. Lets all improve our minds.
Tee hee.
Winter - Marissa Meyer - A THOUSAND STARS
This was the most anticipated book of the year for me. I read the first 3 last year and absolutely LOVED them so much I have recommended them a bunch of times. I even re-read them last month so they were super fresh in my mind before this book came out.
Anyway. All I can really say about this book is that I LOVED IT AND I LOVE THIS SERIES AND IT WAS A GREAT END TO THE SERIES BUT NOW I'M SAD BECAUSE IT'S OVER BUT IT WAS AMAZING.
Dumplin - Julie Murphy - 4 Stars
Jana recommended this one so highly that I just had to read it. I really, really enjoyed it. I don't think there was anything I disliked. I very rarely read books about teenagers in school and the like (I prefer my teenagers to be saving the world or something, makes them seem less like teenagers and doesn't remind me that I am.. well, not a teenager) but I really enjoyed this book. I liked all the characters, the story.. it wasn't perfect, and I dig that. Definitely recommend.
Cinder & Ella - Kelly Oram - 3 Stars
I bought this book because I wanted something to listen to and it was like $3 and the reviews weren't too bad on goodreads.
The good: it was fun, different, light, fluffy, cheesy but in a good way, some things were unexpected but also in a good way, the ending was cute, I enjoyed it overall.
The bad: the narrator was not good. One of the main characters could be a downright ass sometimes, regardless of motives, an ass is an ass. Some parts of the book needed more research rather than just writing whatever worked to make the story work.
Overall - it's light, fluffy, easy. Not bad. I'm not mad I read it.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow - Jessica Day George - 4 Stars
I mentioned this before, but as soon as I saw polar bear prince I snatched this book up. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. 5 stars for enjoyment. But this is not a 5 star book, which is why ratings are silly sometimes. To me it was. I wouldn't recommend it unless you love fairytales as much as me, or are super ridiculously into the polar bear king movie. Honestly, I loved this book for those reasons. However, I wish it was a bit more detailed or went a little further, but overall I loved it. There wasn't anything I disliked about the book, but it wasn't ohmygod how do I read faster and get out of doing anything else until I finish this book. Recommend only if you're into polar bear princes or fairytales.
Practice Makes Perfect - Julie James - 4 Stars
This is supposed to be a Pride & Prejudice variation. It isn't really. I mean, it has the alliteration going, the Darcy-esque guy, it mentions a couple of Austen's books, but that's about it. That being said, it totally held its own. It was light, fun, easy and a little bit sexy. It's not amazing literature and it won't blow your mind, but it was a fun read.
In a bit of a reading rut this month, I don't know if it's because one of my favourite series ever ended and then I followed up by re-reading one of my other favourite series (Harry Potter) so I got double series ended hangovers or I'm just in one of those moods.
Linking up with Steph and Jana for the show us your books link up.
TL;DR - Winter was obviously the best book I read this month, but I don't recommend that unless you've read the entire series, obviously. Dumplin' was really good, Practice Makes Perfect was a cute, light, beach-even-though-it's-December read.
Read anything good lately?
Definitely going to be adding the ones you loved to my TBR list! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteSo many good books I need to check out! I think Im going to add Dumplin' to my next up list! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
ReplyDeleteSun Moon Ice and Snow sounds like something I'd like. I need to reread HP, he's the man.
ReplyDeleteMy new years resolution is to be more like you next year. I want to read all the books! Just a question though, do you have amazon kindle unlimited? The only thing holding me back of reading 50 books per year is the mah-ney. It is just so hard in Slovenia to find books I can read, meaning in English or Spanish.
ReplyDeleteAdding practice makes perfect to my reading list...needing something fluffy right now! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeletei say this all the time, but i am in awe of your ability to read so many books! how do you have the time? totally in awe!!
ReplyDeleteSo maybe I should try that series. I read the synopsis, etc, and maybe I'll try it as an audiobook. Sometimes I have trouble getting into those types of books.
ReplyDeleteGirl you are impressive with the amount of books you can read! I love finding a good series to get lost in I will have to check Marissa Meyer's series out!
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm going to be so depressed when I finally get around to reading Winter! It just can't be over!!!! You're the second person I've heard that loved it, so I'm so excited to finally read it! I'm going to look into Dumplin' too, it looks like a good read!
ReplyDeleteGreat round up! I want to check out almost your whole list, now I just need to make time. Dumplin and Cinder & Ella look like great reads for me <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
I obviously agree with you 100% about Winter and I am so grateful to you and some other bloggers who first introduced me to The Lunar Chronicles!! I requested Dumplin' from the library so I'll probably get it in the new year sometime!! I have that Julie James series on my Kobo so I'll probably give it a try sometime! I'm currently reading All The Light we Cannot See and I bet you would really like it if you haven't already read it! It reminds me a bit (so far) of The Book Thief and Guernsey - the whole WWII thing and children in the war, but it is pretty captivating & VERY well written (I am nowhere near finished but it has amazing reviews aside from mine ;))
ReplyDeleteoops just realized the Julie James books I mentioned are different, but the one you read seems like a good place to start :)
Deletei'm the worst reader on the planet. but now i want to pick up that series. when i ACTUALLY get into one, i can't stop. but it's just the starting. and finding time. and not falling asleep 20 min after starting haha. real talk. great list girly!
ReplyDeletexoxo cheshire kat
I just picked up the first 2 books in the Lunar Chronicle series - cant wait to start it.
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeing Dumplin' for awhile - I need to just get it.
I think The Lunar Chronicles is going to be my next series. I've been in memoir mode for a long time, so haven't read a ton of fiction in recent years. Too many options out there!
ReplyDeleteYour book posts always end up on my "to read" list! Love love LOVE the way you elaborate!
ReplyDeleteHow have I never heard of the Lunar Chronicle series!? What!! Time to go pick them up!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read the Lunar Chronicles books this year. They are part of a reading challenge I'll be doing in 2016 :) I'll be adding a few of these books to my to-read list!
ReplyDeleteIf you liked the Lunar Chronicles, you have to read Amanda Hocking's books!!! Just finished the Trylle series, which I think may have been better than the Lunar Chronicles! And my bff told me to read the Kanin Chronicles & the Watersong Series too (She's who recommended the Lunar Chronicles & Trylle, so - I trust her haha). She said the Kanin is better than Watersong (but that Watersong is still really good), so I'm reading Watersong now. That way Kanin is waiting in the wings!
ReplyDeleteI got excited by the polar bear prince book, but after looking at it on Goodreads, it sounds exactly like East. I'm all for variations, but I don't know, maybe it would be too similar? I might give it a read, anyway.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture at the beginning, haha! Dumplin sounds interesting, and so does the Marissa Meyers series! Checking them out now!
ReplyDeleteDumplin' is on my 2016 reading challenge with Erin list as is Cinder, I'm exited to see what all the fuss is about!!
ReplyDeleteI have seen Winter EVERYWHERE.
ReplyDeleteDumplin' is on my list!
I bought Winter on sale when it first came out but had to read Library of Souls and Catacomb first so now I'm saving Winter for when I go home to Jersey for Christmas. I love/hate that you gave it all the stars because now it's making waiting even more unbearable !!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked Dumplin'!! It's probably in my top 20, if not top 10 of the year!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your reading rut. But series hangovers are a real thing. You'll get through it!
I really want to read Dumplin now! I've surprised myself by the number of teenage books I've read lately.. my teen years were so long ago now!
ReplyDeleteI just had to let you know that I picked The Storied Life of AJ Finkry for my January book club book thanks to your suggestion!
ReplyDeleteDumplin is on my TBR list so I am glad you liked it. I am totally in a rut too with how busy December is but trying to push through.
ReplyDeleteOkay, well I guess I need to add this Winter series to my reading list - you have me pretty intrigued now!
ReplyDeleteYour posts about books always make me miss reading and I want to read the Marissa Meyer (wait...is she related to Stephenie Meyer??) series like now. Maybe I'll give it a shot over winter book. I have one book halfway finished right now (Janet Evanovich and I can't even remember the title) but obviously I am not that into it or I would make time to finish it!
ReplyDeleteOkay talk to me about this Winter book. Would I like it? Knowing me and my taste in books, should I pick it up?
ReplyDeleteI want to reread HP SO BAD but I feel guilty considering there are books on my TBR I also can't wait to read. Sigh, so torn.
I am always so sad when a series ends and it tends to put me in a rut as well, so I feel you. I will say that now I can add the Lunar series to start bwahaha! Also, Dumplin is on my list, but I haven't gotten to it because I have it as a hard back AND I own it. Always so many good books coming out I want to read!!
ReplyDeleteI have not read any of these!! I'm putting the Lunar Series on my to-read list. I think I'll wait for the final book release to die down so I can get them all from the library :) I hope you get out of your reading rut soon!!! I so rarely re-read books, but I really do want to go back and read the Harry Potter series all in one go.
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I purposely haven't finished re-reading the 7th HP book from this summer's series re-read because I don't want to have the "series ended hangover"? It happens every single time I read that series. But... it's why I always end up reading series because then the storyline lasts for more than just one book which makes the hangover worth it :)
ReplyDeleteAlways love reading your synopsis on books and adding them to my lists!
ReplyDeleteI will have to look into reading the Winter book series, since it's been SO long since I've read a book series. Harry Potter may have been the last one. Maybe I will give an audio book a chance!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing Dumplin come up on my GoodReads and Amazon feeds for a while now. I need to bite the bullet and just read it. It sounds like a book I would love!
ReplyDeleteAHHHHH!!! So I'm half way through Cress and of course that means I went to go reserve Winter at the library and they DON'T HAVE IT!! So heart broken. Therefore it is now on my Christmas list. Thank you for this recommendation, I have loved the series and they seem to get better with each book! Now I have my little sister hooked too!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Allison was kind enough to send me the Lunar Chronicles books so I cant wait to get started on the series!! I have a few netgalley reads I need to knock out before i dive in. Practice Makes Perfect sounds cute, I think I will add it to my list. I was considering maybe trying to listen Pride and Prejudice on Audible so I can try to love it like you do.
ReplyDeleteI have been considering reading Dumplin' for Megan's SCWBC (for the "book already used in this challenge" category). It made my short list so I think I'll go ahead and give it a whirl since you and a few other people recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI have thought about giving the Lunar Chronicles another shot; for some reason I didn't get super into the first book. I've been seeing them everywhere, though, and hearing they are good. It seems like it would be my thing, so when the mood strikes, maybe I will try again!
ReplyDeleteI'm in such a Winter withdrawal. But when I heard the Stars Above book is going to have new short stories, I got very excited. I also can't wait for her new series!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about this Polar Bear King... but I'm intrigued... and I do love a good fairytale... :) XO -Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
So glad to hear you liked the ending of Winter! I am always worried about series endings! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI still need a new book....I'm in quite a book funk (haha is that a thing?) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI need to check out Dumplin! I'm with you on the teenager thing :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is the second time I've heard of Practice Makes Perfect and now I think I'll be on the lookout for it, as stupid as it sounds, there is just something about the cover that leaves me feeling iffy! I don't know anything about Winter (or that series) but so glad it lived up to all of your dreams!!
ReplyDeleteI can already foresee Dumplin' as my bonus round book challenge "D" book. The fact that we plot our reading months in advance is so sad, but so true. Or maybe it's not sad at all. It's fun, isn't it??
ReplyDeleteI bought both Cress and Winter on Black Friday and I really want to devour them both right now, but first I need to finish a reading challenge!! Adding Dumplin' to my to-read list!
ReplyDeleteDumplin' is on my to-read list, so I'm glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteI recently read and loved Siege by Sarah Mussi. It's a school shooting story, but told from the perspective of somebody who is actually in the school while the shooting is going on.
I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately too. I think it's because only half of the books I've read recently were good ... The rest sucked. It's so hard to want to read when the book you're reading isn't very good, and sometimes it's even hard to read once you've moved past that awful book because you've gotten into the habit of doing basically ANYTHING else but read. (Well, that's true for me at least.)
ReplyDeleteDumplin' is on my "To Read" list. I added it after Jana's glowing review as well!
I'm glad you loved Winter so much since you were really looking forward to it! I need to look into this series. I'm not sure if I would like it, though. (I say that as someone who knows literally nothing about this series.) Is it fantasy? Or ... Something else? I'm trying to figure it out based on the book cover, and all I can think of is Twilight (because of the apple). I did NOT enjoy that series. What do you think? Would I like this?
I'm so mad, it was my turn for Dumplin at the library and I never grabbed it. Thanks for reminding me to get on the waiting list again!
ReplyDeleteI just picked up Cinder! I am so excited to start this series!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWinter sounds like a book that's right up my alley. Will have to check it out. I haven't been reading the last month. Seems like I don't have the time.
ReplyDeletewho has time this time of year?!
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