I’m away at the moment. This summer, I’ll be away from June 5-22 without internet at camp, and then from June 23-July 13, I’ll be at Interlochen for Creative Writing. I’m really excited for the opportunities that I’ve gotten this summer and y’all will definitely be hearing about them!

After July 13, I will have internet but it’ll be limited. I have a few posts scheduled to go up and I’m hoping they go off without a hitch! And of course, I’ll still be reading and writing during this period! I won’t be able to respond to emails, review requests, etc,. until July 13 so please be patient with me.

I hope y’all have an incredible summer. There are a ton of fantastic book blogs out there, so if you find yourself missing it, check out a few of them! You can pretty much check out any bloggers I follow on Twitter as well.

Looking for some other blogs to follow while I’m away?

Reut Reads
The Perpetual Page Turner
Sash and Em
Good Books and Good Wine
Almost Grown Up
I Swim for Oceans

Have a wonderful few weeks! I’ll check back in on June 22.

Grace

Today, I’m here to do In My Mailbox. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. This week should be a fantastic IMM for other bloggers and it’ll be interesting seeing what everybody’s gotten from BookExpo!

I was pretty bummed about missing BEA this week but I got more than enough to make up for it. So without further ado, here’s my haul for the week.

For Review:
Shadows by Robin McKinley
The Theory of Everything by Kari Luna
Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
All the Truth That’s In Me by Julie Berry
Firecracker by David Iserson
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The Twistrose Keys by Tone Almhjell
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff

Other:

I was given this really cool blanket with quotes from classic books all over it and I’m absolutely in love with it. Apparently, you can find it at Barnes & Noble and it’ll be perfect on my bunk at Interlochen! I’ve been having fun identifying the book quotes – I actually haven’t read as many classics as I would like, so my parents have been teasing me about misidentifying them!

This will actually be one of my last “live” posts for the next few weeks. I’ll be at camp and then at Interlochen for creative writing, and then Canada! I hope y’all enjoy my scheduled posts and, of course, I’ll still be reading, writing, and editing during that time!

Love y’all!

Grace

BEA last year with my dad!

Hey y’all!

If you’ve seen any of my tweets recently, you’ll see that I’m currently mourning about not being able to attend BookExpo America this year. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that BEA was the best week of my life. It was absolute bliss being surrounded by the industry and the people and the passion that makes all of the blogging worth it. There’s an energy to New York City and specifically BEA that absolutely captivated me.

If you’re attending BEA this year, you’re ecstatic. If you’re anything like I was last year, you’re terrified. As a newbie, BEA can be completely overwhelming. It’s nervewracking to keep track of signings, parties, the author events, people to meet, etc,. But it’s also worth everything in the world. Last year, the thoughts going through my head were, will people like me? What if I don’t get the books I want? Do I just go up and talk to people?

BEA was everything to me. I’ve known that I’ve wanted to go into the industry for a very long time and I’ve been submersed in the blogging world for a while. But until BEA, I’d never really encountered it. Before BEA, I’d only met an author once during a school visit and that was when I was eight. BEA really enforced the idea that this is what I want to do with my life. This is my purpose. After BEA was when I wrote my post on having a passion. It meant the world to me to be around people with that passion.

Obviously, I’m extremely bummed that I’m not going. I would kill to have that feeling again – of completely belonging to an industry and a future. It’s one of the only times I’ve been completely a hundred percent certain about something. I miss that, but I’m living vicariously through all the tweets and recaps. For the record, I’m extremely jealous of everybody who’s going this year. Have fun for me, okay? I’m not the supreme authority on BookExpo by any means, but I might be able to help a few of you with my tidbits of knowledge.

1. Introduce yourself.

I know you’re shy. We’re all shy. Isn’t that why we got into reading? It’s terrifying going to something like BEA and being surrounded by people. Even worse, people who intimidate you. First of all, we’ve found our niche. We’re a part of the blogging community and everything’s going well. It’s scary thinking that you’ll actually be meeting the people you’ve been chatting up on Twitter for months. In person. Who wouldn’t be scared?

Don’t be. It’s scary, but you’ll regret it if you don’t introduce yourself. You see a badge you know? A blogger you admire? Introduce yourself. Chances are, they’re just as nervous about meeting people and will be BEYOND flattered that you know their blog. There are all these passionate, amazing people in one place, for one purpose, and you’re crazy if you don’t take advantage of it.

You just have to suspend your fear. I have a little bit of social anxiety, so it’s difficult for me, but even though I was frozen while meeting people, I just forced myself to introduce myself. When you’re back home, you won’t regret introducing yourself. Some of my blogging connections that I made at BEA have been my most valuable. It’s refreshing talking to somebody in person instead of over a computer screen.

There were a few people that I didn’t have the guts to say hi to (and some of them still give me grief for it now that I’m friendly with them). Brent. Jeremy and Jeffrey. Andye. But there are others who made me feel like the happiest person in the world when I finally met them. Jamie. Kristi. Yes, it’s awkward. Yes, it may be uncomfortable. But if your experience is ANYTHING like mine was last year, you’ll find yourself chatting books in no time and exchanging business cards and smiles. This is how friendships develops. We all love books and we’re all nervous. Introduce yourself.

2. Be flexible.

I’m sorry, but if you expect to stick to your rigid schedule, I can’t help but laugh. Last year, I printed out all these different schedules and itineraries, color-coded by preference and organized by time. I rewrote my schedule a dozen times, stacking book signings on top of each other and squishing everything in to make it work. You’ve agonized for HOURS over your BEA schedule, nervous that you’re missing something. The hardest part about making a schedule is…letting it go.

Let it go. You want to have guidelines and rules for yourself. Want to go to that Andrea Cremer signing at 2:30? Great. Set an alarm for yourself or something. (Another note about signings – lines get huge so if you REALLY REALLY want something, scout out the line an hour in advance and get there at least thirty minutes before it actually begins.) But expect it to change.

Some of the best things about BEA last year were the little things. Bloggers talk. A lot. They’ll be talking next to you in the signing line and you’ll hear that Little, Brown is laying out a few ARCs at a certain time. You’ll hear about hush hush things and little surprises and last minute planned things. Don’t overbook yourself. Check out the little things if you want to and feel free to wander around. I wrote so many signings on my calendar but often times I could just walk around and stumble upon a little thing that made BEA a thousand times better.

Don’t expect to stick to anything. Prioritize – would you rather go to Marie Lu or David Levithan? It’s decisions like those that will get you through the day. Everything will work out. You’ll figure out a solution. I promise, BEA isn’t as stressful schedule-wise as you’re making it out to be. And at the end of the day, you’ll have hours of conversation with your favorite bloggers, a massive stack of books and totes, and a huge smile. And sore feet, but that comes later. BEA is an experience, so let yourself have fun and don’t let your agenda rule you.

3. Be connected.

If you’ve been following Twitter recently, you’ll notice a lot of little BEA tips. There’s so much insider information that people give out regularly. Publishing houses do this now, but during the conference, it’ll get more frequent and more helpful: they tweet about signings, ARC drops, and other special opportunities. A blogger may tweet a picture of himself or herself. “If you see me, say hi!” Little tips can make your life a ton easier.

Conserve your battery. Blogging takes place online, and even during a conference like this, bloggers are online. When I was too shy to talk to anybody the first day of BEA last year, I would gently tweet to a blogger “I’m at the corner table and I’d love to meet you!” or something along those lines. It made it a lot less intimidating.

Being connected to social media and everything makes it easier to ask questions, figure things out, and be aware. Awareness is one of the keys to BEA. Be aware of what’s going on and you find yourself accomplishing everything that you want to do.

I may tweet more throughout the next few days, so follow me for some helpful tips! I’m so jealous of all of you that are going! BEA was the best week of my life and I’m praying that I can go next year. Wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, don’t overload on ARCs, and interact! In the end, BEA wasn’t so much about the books – it was about the people and the life of the industry and everything else!

(Also, I just looked through pictures of BEA while trying to find a picture for this post and it made me even more nostalgic – the Hush Hush boys? Siobhan Vivian? Get lots of pictures for me!)
Have fun for me! And I expect epic recaps.

Grace

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books

Format: Hardcover

Source: Bought

Goodreads

my review of Pandemonium

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Let me preface this review by saying that I would have been a thousand times more emotional and would have had even more of a complete mental breakdown if not for the lovely person who allowed me to text them, “but…Julian…but Alex…”

What makes this series so different is the writing. The writing, the writing, the writing. There are other dystopian books as tightly plotted, with biting plot twists and explosive scenes. Requiem is all that and more but it’s the writing that makes the plot twists more gripping, the romance more agonizing.

Lauren Oliver has just gotten better and better with this series. Her gorgeous, thoughtful writing adds this electric quality to an already exciting plot. Her characters are surprising and her themes woven in with an irrefutable grace. Lauren Oliver has this way of making the little details very intricate, and realistic. Some of the details break my heart actually. It’s a dystopian, and so there’s a fine line between hopeful and sobering. This book plays hopscotch with that line. Lena had to make some very difficult decisions and leave some people behind, and not everything works out in the end.

My emotions were all over the place. To be honest, I didn’t really like Delirium. I hated the open ending and I thought the premise was too vague to sustain the elaborate world building that I enjoy in books like this. Then I read Pandemonium. The sequel seemed to be everything that the first book wasn’t. I was glued to its pages and finished it in one sitting. Her soft, brutal writing enhanced everything perfectly.

The world Lauren’s created over the past three books has just gotten better and better. It’s crueler and more beautiful. Lauren Oliver raises questions about love and emotion that truly made me think. “Love” in Requiem made people go crazy for the sake of the people they loved. The Invalids took risks and screwed up and put other people’s lives on the line because of their emotions. It does make you sit back and think, are we like that? What do people risk and act like because of their emotions? It was an interesting perspective of the dystopia, the idea that it’s a disease instead of something put on a pedestal by so many people.

Requiem was told split between two points of view. On one hand, we have Lena. She’s fully plunged into the revolution, having already tasted her share of love and heartbreak and struggling between what to fight for in the end. On the other, we have Hana.

My heart ached for Hana throughout the book. She was cured, and there was a bit of a grey area there. She wasn’t sure how much she was supposed to feel or what  she was supposed to be questioning. She wasn’t sure about how she felt about Lena and how she felt about Invalids/Valids. It was interesting to have the contrast between her and Lena because they were both confused but on different ends of the spectrum. On one hand, uncured and unsure of what that was supposed to mean. On the other, cured and unsure of whether that was a good thing. Hana’s chapters really enforced a lot of the cons to the dystopia, but Lena’s chapters really drove the questions of whether love was a good thing and the confusion behind it all. It was really beautiful in the end and Requiem deftly explored so many concepts related to love.

In the first book, Lena was learning what love was. She was innocent and knew less. In the second book, she became more hardened. In the third book, she loves people but she also seems to understand the risks and heartbreak that come with that. Not everything was perfect and sometimes she doubted what she was fighting for. She noticed how crazy people were acting in the camps and how messy their world was because of it. Maybe they would be better off without love.

Lena’s questions about these types of things made me truly realize how much she’s changed throughout the series. It’s so hard for heroines to stand out nowadays in YA – they all seem to be strong and thoughtful and blend into each other much more easily – but Lena’s personality and Lauren’s writing made her stand out in the end.

There were so many little things I loved about this book: I loved some of the new characters. Pippa, Fred, Coral. Even when I hated them, I loved that they made the story that much more complex and that much more confusing. I loved this one scene from Hana’s perspective so much – her perspective on the cured society could be truly haunting at times. The reintroduction of Lena’s past. Betrayals. Death-defying plans. So many characters have grown so much over the course of the series and it’s really amazing to see how they’ve changed since the first book.

The love triangle is so torturous. Everybody always complains about hating love triangles and I do too but this one was so good. Usually, I have a favorite but on this one, I was torn.

Alex is passionate and moody but isn’t a stereotype. I felt almost nostalgic reading about him. From the heartpounding end to the second book, we’re plunged into a new dilemma. It’s not just Lena and Alex fighting for their forbidden love anymore. They’re not fighting for the Wilds. They’re fighting for everybody else, for the world being plunged into ruin. Alex was a jerk sometimes but he was complex. You could clearly see why he acted the way he did and it only served to reinforce the idea that maybe love is a disease.  It made you question even more.

Julian is consistent and sweet but not overly – just a good guy who loves Lena. He’s given up so much to be with her and that makes you want to root for him. People don’t trust him because of his ties, but he tries so hard to adapt to the Wilds and works so hard to fight for the resistance. Like Alex, Julian is complex but he doesn’t have that captivating mystery that Alex embodies. Despite this, he seemed to have a more soothing presence on Lena and it provided a nice contrast. Alex and Julian weren’t opposites, just different, like it is in real life. I loved them both and couldn’t decide who I wanted Lena to end up with in the end. Lauren Oliver made this so so difficult.

Unlike many writers, Oliver doesn’t lean towards one guy. She makes them both equally appealing in different ways and SCREWED WITH MY EMOTIONS.

I can easily say that Requiem is one of the more aggravating books I’ve read recently. Not everything fits together. The mood is poignant, the writing reflective in a way that makes you want to throw the book against the wall and wish you had never picked it up because you’re too emotionally invested in the characters and the world. It’s messy and passionate and everything makes sense but you wish it didn’t. That ending for a book would have made me cry. That ending for a series? Full-on mental breakdown. This book screwed with me so much, and that’s exactly why I can say that I loved it.

If you want a clear ending that ignores reality and makes sure all the characters are happy in the end, this book isn’t for you. If you want a book that will make you feel something- truly feel something and question things that seem set in stone – this book is for you. I like books that make me question things and make me angry. I like books that make me cry my heart out. I like books where the characters feel so real to me that it hurts to let them go. It’s heartbreaking. It’s shattering. That last paragraph killed me. It’s everything that I hoped the finale would be.

Recommended for fans of: Maggie Stiefvater; Wither; Shatter Me; The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer; etc,.

It’s been a while, unfortunately, and I actually have to talk about that. It’s been killing me this year that I haven’t been able to blog up to my usual standard – in both quantity and quality – and I have loathed myself for it. Everybody’s used to talking about pressure. Pressure by their parents, pressure to get into college, peer pressure to drink and do other things. This

I face all of that- my identical twin is fantastic at volleyball and I’m a failure at lacrosse no matter how hard I work. My grades are great but they’re slipping and I study until my eyes glaze and somehow still get a B in geometry. I need to get into amazing colleges so I can do something amazing in publishing and be the best.

“Grace, it must be so nice knowing what you want to do with your life.” But I won’t get into the college I want or I won’t get the job at one of the Big Six or one of these days, something’s going to go wrong. I want this industry so badly that it eats me up, the idea that I could easily screw up this fragile future I’ve constructed. My future terrifies me.

I want to stay in on Friday nights and edit manuscripts because I convince myself that my future is more important than now. But I’m worried that one of these days, I’ll look back and realize that I didn’t experience everything I wanted to. Hannah’s on all these school boards and I belong to three clubs. She’s secretary and I do all these little blog things and I have all this pressure to do everything she does and still keep up my unique blogging image. And even the blogging side of me isn’t good enough when standing up to all the incredible people in this industry that I hear about every day.

Whether some of us want to face it or not, the face of publishing is changing. Paperbacks are fading into ebooks and New Adult is (sort of) a genre and social media is more important than ever. Today, I went into my local indie bookstore which recently switched owners. I came out sobbing because I missed how it used to be and wasn’t sure about the changes. I cried for an hour about how Inkwood was changing, how uncertain my future is, that I’m not going to BEA this year, everything that I’m not measuring up to.

I’m stressed about change in publishing although I shouldn’t be (I’m seven years away from a job in publishing, at least) and that means it’s more important than ever to be innovative in blogging. Dozens of blogs pop up every day and there’s always some new post being talked about.

It puts bloggers under a lot of pressure. If we don’t post every day or every week, we feel like failures. We’re letting down our readers and will lose a readership base. If our reviews aren’t long enough, if we were denied by a publisher. If another blog post got more retweets than ours did. We have to be the first, the best, the most publicized. It’s hard to keep from drowning in the sea of blogs and all we want is to be one of the “big blogs”.

I’ve gotten so bad about reading recently. I put review books first and end up having a mental breakdown when I get home because whatever review I write won’t be good enough to stand out. In this way, it’s become so easy to forget why we do this. FOR THE BOOKS. We get caught up in blogging drama, in the pursuit of retweets and page views, even for review books and coveted emails.

Blogging has led to so many opportunities– it’s how I’ve met so many people, gotten an internship, gotten into freelance editing. BookExpo America was the greatest week of my life and I’ve done a lot with my blog and everything but I feel like I haven’t been doing NEARLY enough. So many bloggers post every day with clever blog posts and get fifty comments at least on everything.

I don’t do nearly enough. I’ve been blogging for two years and have less blog posts than bloggers who have been blogging for three months. I don’t interact with publishers nearly as much as I would like. I find myself lapsing into personal tweets on my Twitter more than bookish ones. My passion burns just as bright but I’m so much more insecure about it and so much more pessimistic than I was a year ago because there’s so much pressure to be the best.

I miss BEA. I want to go back and talk with my blogger friends and feel that burning certainty that THIS is what I was meant to do. I’m so passionate about this but there’s so much pressure on me that this won’t work out. What if I don’t get that job? What if these seven years mean nothing? I miss being immersed in the industry. The pressure kills me every day and makes me feel like a failure. I want to talk to publicists and not cry when I see the changes that my indie is making. Everything’s changing and it really really scares me. Every blogger wants to be the best and it’s just too much sometimes. I want to be a part of this industry so badly that it hurts and I’m so jealous of people who get to live out their dreams NOW because I’m worried that mine won’t work out and my blog isn’t good enough.

I just want to be more a part of the publishing industry now instead of later. My priorities aren’t the same as most of the people my age. I just will never be good enough for my own standards. Whatever I’m doing isn’t enough to keep me satisfied. My ambition demands too much.

There’s so much pressure on us. Bloggers, I’d love to hear from you. What are y’all struggling with? What is the hardest part of being in this industry? Tweet me or leave a comment below.

Seven years away,
Grace

(If the formatting looks funky, it’s because I’m actually at a chorus rehearsal right now, attempting to study for an exam, typing this up on the WordPress app. Like I said, I have to do everything.)

Wow. I have a LOT to write for this topic! Props to the creative gals over at The Broke and the Bookish. For those of you who don’t know what it is, Top Ten Tuesday is a really fun weekly meme where bloggers spout their top ten books that fit a particular topic. This week’s? Top Ten Books I Thought I Would Like More/Less Than I Did.

There are always those books that are so hyped up. Whether it be bloggers, friends, the media, or any other source, there are always books we thought we would love and ended up only being remotely pleased. There are always those books we go in with low expectations and end up loving. There are good surprises and bad surprises.

I especially like this topic because there are so many books I see people tweeting about ALL THE TIME that I just frankly didn’t like that much. Everybody’s scrabbling for a copy and I’m too timid to come out and say that I really disliked the character or something like that. Then there are other books that people trash and I COMPLETELY love.

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULD LOVE AND DIDN’T

1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver 

This one was sort of a disappointment. The first book? Really didn’t enjoy it. I thought it was very repetitive of many other dystopians out there and the romance didn’t really grip me. Not to mention that I didn’t realize it was a series, so the ending came off as very abrupt. Lauren’s beautiful, brutal writing style carried over from Before I Fall (which I fell in love with) but the story itself lacked the charisma I felt needed to keep me going.

Luckily, there was redemption. The sequel, Pandemonium, was so engaging to me. I found myself glued to every word and the second book definitely made up for the first.

2. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I am probably going to get so much grief for putting this on the list. I normally love fantasy and I normally love books like this. Rae Carson is wonderful. I just don’t know what happened. I had to force myself to finish it because I felt like it was very slow. I really enjoyed the world but everybody kept gushing about it. I felt like the allure of the world in Graceling or other fantasies still trumped this one. The main character was fierce and the book itself could have been amazing. I don’t know; I just wasn’t feeling it and ended up being disappointed by the end. It didn’t hook me all that well and I just felt disconnected.

3. Forget You by Jennifer Echols

I normally love Jennifer Echols. I worship her as an author. Endless Summer will forever be one of my most recommended reads to my friends and I reread it every summer at my lakehouse. I love her spunk and the poise that just infuses her writing. Pretty much every other book of hers is spot-on fantastic.

I wasn’t a fan of this one. I’d heard really great things and people loved it. I didn’t like the main character, I didn’t like the flat way things were described, I didn’t like the romance, and I pretty much didn’t like anything about it. I’m bummed that I disliked this one, but she still remains on my auto-buy list.

4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I understand that this book is supposed to be one of the pinnacles of YA. It’s heartbreaking, it’s refreshing. It’s a standard that other books should look up to. Laurie Halse Anderson does so so much for victims of sexual assault and is one of the most outspoken, well articulated authors out there.

Unfortunately, this book just didn’t really do much for me. I found myself bored. I understood Miranda’s situation and why she was depressed. It was character-driven, which I’m normally fine with. I just can’t do much with a book if it doesn’t feel like there’s conflict driving the depression and the grief. A lot of this book just felt like it dragged on too long. It was depressing and parts of it were beautiful and lovely but I still found myself slogging through pages at times, ready for it to get interesting again. I felt like books like Just Listen or Fault Line ( shoutout to my girl, Christa!) and such do a better job making it relatable.

5. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This was supposed to be interesting, charming, witty, quirky. Funky. Fresh. All of these adjectives have been used to describe Beauty Queens. I simply found it bizarre. Although it was supposed to be an absorbing satire, I was so disconnected and unamused the entire time. Feminist messages and bright descriptions were dotted through the entire narrative but I still thought it felt very unorganized and just…weird. Everything was taken a little too far. Some people can make that work in a very unconventional way but I just wasn’t really taken with this one. I couldn’t really suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy it.

6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I KNOW, I KNOW, I’M CRAZY. I thought Shadow and Bone was really really good. I just didn’t think it was excellent. I didn’t think it was mindblowing, or incredible, or amazing. It was just a solid fantasy with interesting characters that took up a few hours out of my day. I really enjoyed it. I would be honest and give it a great review. Leigh Bardugo is very skilled but I just wasn’t as obsessed as everybody else. Everybody gushes about the Darkling and the action and the world, but honestly, I’ve read a lot of better characters and worldbuilding.

I see everybody gushing about it on Twitter and aching for the sequel and I just sit there like, I don’t remember needing the sequel in my hands. I don’t remember that feeling of WOW THIS BOOK IS AMAZING I NEED EVERYTHING EVEN REMOTELY LIKE IT NOW NOW SEQUEL NOW. It was a good book and a good start to a series.

It was good for me, not FANTASTIC.

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULDN’T LOVE AND DID

7. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

C’mon. Title. I’m sorry, but I get really embarrassed if I’m reading a book with a kissing cover or a cheesy title at school. I feel like people are judging me based on the cover. Yes, I know the expressions and the ideas and the whole “I’m not going to be embarrassed by what I read” philosophy but I do. Kids in a high school judge, and sometimes titles with “vampire” and “werewolf” in them make me feel like some people are going to assume the extent of my reading diversity goes to Twilight.

Before I read this, I thought, I’ve read a lot of paranormal books. I thought it was just going to end up being exactly the same. Never would I have thought that it would have the distinct feel that I just sometimes crave reading, the strong characters, the cinematic action that every author should strive to write. This series is seriously addictive. It’s one of those books that is just a complete experience.

8. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

I was expecting this one to be good. Solidly good. Not amazing. This one came out of nowhere. It’s so witty, taut, and perfectly ties together everything in this perfectly satisfying narrative that completely fulfills everything I want out of a book. There are nail-biting cliffhangers and killer twists, but it’s one of those books that just has all the answers and just is so refreshing. It’s funny and action-packed. It’s not monotonous whatsoever and is a complete knockout from a lot of what’s in YA right now.

I love love love the character, the time periods, the banter echoing throughout each chapter. I love every single little thing about this book and it’s so good, I just want to force everybody I know to read it all the time. I reread this one a lot and completely devour it each time.

9. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Beauty Queens and Cinder kind of flip-flopped for me. I thought Beauty Queens was going to be incredible and Cinder was going to be bizarre, but it turned out being the complete opposite. I’m ashamed by how long it took me to pick this one up, even after bloggers with very similar book tastes kept trying to shove this one on me. I should have listened. (Sorry, guys.)

This book is just absolutely stunning. The dexterity and complexity of the world Marissa Meyer creates is just completely mind-boggling. The virus and the technology is difficult enough, but with social classes and an Asian feel that incorporates fairy tales with fresh twists? Wow. It’s one of those ideas that just makes you stop and wonder how the heck anybody came up with it, and so ridiculously grateful that they did. Marissa Meyer, hats off to you. You have created a marvel.

Hope y’all enjoyed my post and hope y’all all have a fantastic week!
Grace

Dark Days signing at BEA

Today completely snuck up on me.

So I was writing this killer Top Ten Tuesday post about shocking and amazing endings, when I saw something about a blogoversary (yes, WordPress, this is indeed a word). I immediately panicked, thinking, oh my gosh, I missed my blogoversary. So I scrolled through my posts looking for my first one. When was my blogoversary?

Today.

The past two years have been absolutely incredible. I don’t even know how to thank enough people or even come close to articulating how thankful I am that this is a part of my life. Without blogging and reading and writing, I would be nobody. I would just be a girl with a passion, unsure of what to do with it or how to make a difference in the world.

From BookExpo America to joining Teen Eyes Editorial to becoming friends with my favorite authors, I’ve done so much that I’m just so lucky to have experienced. Books spill over onto my rug and I cram them in the back of my dresser because I can’t stand to get rid of them, because they’re my sustenance, my friends. And I can actually DO something with that – I have a career, a life ambition, a way for God to use me. How many fifteen year olds can really say that with certainty? “This is what I’m meant to do with my life.”

I’m so blessed. Sometimes I get really weighed down with it. I feel like I’m stuck going through the motions of high school because I could be in NYC and I stress so much about my future life. What are apartment prices going to be like in 2021? What if I can’t get a job with one of the Big Six like I want to? I feel like nobody around me gets it, having a passion that just means the world to them. Everybody else is caught up in the little things and unaware of how their actions affect their career choice.

But I’m lucky to be able to shape my resume so early. I’m incredibly lucky to start chasing after opportunities and getting contacts and immersing myself in this industry. Sure, it’s a little weird to tell people that a lot of my close friends are adults. Or that I have to stay in tonight to finish editing a manuscript. But I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

My first year of blogging was a lot more frequent. I posted a lot more, had a lot more enthusiasm about legitimate blogging. I read voraciously and reviewed every single book. The second year was a little less. I didn’t blog as much. I feel horribly guilty and lucky if I manage to post once a week. I reread a lot more and neglect some books that I’ve received for review. I focus more on other things than blogging and life has really gotten in the way. But this year has also been amazing for me in other ways – I got into Interlochen, I’ve recommended a lot more books to the people around me. I’ve gotten to be more social. Yes, my blog has recently been on the backburner and I feel awful. I feel like I’m learning how to be professional on social media and maintain a personal/professional balance. My blog posts may not be as frequent, but I feel much more confident in the quality.

So it’s been a balancing act. When I first started blogging, I convinced myself that I was going to be a hit. I’d get a million page views, be sought after for all the review books. A lot more people have gotten into blogging since then and while I used to be jealous of book hauls and other bloggers, I’ve only gotten to be more grateful for those who’ve helped me out and my readership.

I’ve had some amazing things happen to me directly because of this blog, and because other opportunities found me because of this blog. It’s been absolutely incredible. I’m passionate and that can take over my life sometimes – I need to read more than anything, I need to focus on New York City and Penguin and HarperCollins because if I don’t, nothing’s going to happen when I graduate – but I’ve learned to let life come first sometimes. I wouldn’t give up this blog for the world.

This blog stems from what I want my life to be like. I need to be in New York in seven years, working as a publicist or editor or agent and shaping the future of publishing/reading. It’s been such a powerful need, and I’m so close, but not in the aching way that I used to be. It used to depress me and I’d be filled with this insurmountable feeling that right now wasn’t enough. I was so focused on the future that I let the present slip through my fingers, so focused on getting involved in the industry that I wanted to forget about making the most of my teenage years.

This year has been a fantastic balance. I just can’t even describe how crazy this is for me – two years. Two years. It’s pounding in my head. This has been such a huge part of my life for two years? It’s unbelievable. Just…outstanding how much this blog has done for me. How much you readers have done for me.

I’ve written great posts and crappy posts. I’ve read lifechanging books and horrible books. I’ve done much more than I ever thought I would do. Just, if my life can change this much in two years because of my blog, I wonder what it’ll be like two years from now.

I have so so much I could say about this blog. I have so many posts I could link to and quote and so many things that I just want to pour out. This time last year, I was getting ready for BookExpo America and I was utterly terrified. How would people perceive me? Would I be one of the youngest? What if it didn’t live up to my expectations?

It was mindblowing. It was slightly chaotic and I got to talk to people who I’d only ever considered ‘friends’ on the Internet. I got to finally meet some of the bloggers that I’d been reading for over a year. I got to meet publishers and ask about internships and be so absolutely inspired. And of course, the books.

It all started with the love of books. We all want that book that will just mess with our heads, absorb us into other worlds. We want the books where you can practically feel every sensation, feel the stirring in our thoughts that we can’t ever find again. Those distinct, ephemeral feelings that only come with the smell of ink and paper when you walk into a bookstore. Each one of us feels that. When we’re sad and all we can do is read a book that’ll make us laugh until we cry again, or just forget for a little while. We devour books like it’s oxygen and books are what keep us going. Literally, it’s IMPOSSIBLE for us to describe the addiction to words. The hunger for more, for feelings that don’t quite exist in our own worlds but do in fictional ones. I still have a few final books in series on my shelf that I haven’t read because it’s like saying goodbye to my best friends.

I have a ton of things I want to do in the next year: start blogging more, have more interactions with publishers, expand my horizons a little bit…I’m sure y’all will hear about my goals later.

I just don’t even know what to say. Wow. I’m so blessed to be a part of this community, surrounded by these people, given the opportunity to make people feel and to work on the very books that made me feel something too. Books make me alive. Without them, I would be nothing. Hyperbole? It’s really not. I’m just so passionate about this part of my life and it’s surreal to think that it’s only been two years. And I’m looking forward to a lot more years with it.

Specifically, I have a lot of people to thank.

with Kimberly at BEA

Reut is one of my best best best blogger friends. From long emails and Skype sessions about personal things, exchanges of quotes from books and recommendations, and just talking books and publishing, she is one of the few people I can say really understands how badly I need to be in this industry when I’m older. She’s the same way. I haven’t actually met her in person (yet!) but she is one of my closest friends. I ADORE Reut so much. If she lived in Tampa, we would be inseparable. She’s like a sister. Thanks so much for always being there. Love ya.

Brent made my year with so many things. I’d been a fan of Brent’s blog and basically stalked his Twitter all the time, so when I got an email from him after a personal post I had written, I nearly cried. He has the best way of articulating the frustration of being a teenager in the industry and knew exactly what to say to keep me going when I was struggling beneath blogging and a passion I couldn’t do much with. From finding opportunities for us to his entertaining tweets to his encouraging messages, Brent is absolutely fantastic.

Kelsey is also one of those people that I NEVER thought I would be lucky enough to talk to. I saw her at BEA and introduced myself for a second. And even though I was just this nervous, awkward fourteen year old, she was nothing but kind, and she didn’t even know me yet. It was after BEA that I actually got up the courage to talk to her and learn from her. Her faith and determination to make the best of the world constantly inspire me. Her love for editing and writing, and hilarious anecdotes never fail to brighten my day. She’s given me advice about high school, about books and publishing, and is just the type of person that I’d like to be like when I’m older.

Gabrielle is my writing buddy. We talk books; we talk writing. She gives the best advice about everything and is like an older sister to me. She has one of the kindest, purest hearts out there and is always willing to lend a helping hand, whether it be 3 P.M. or 3 A.M. I adore you.

Beth is such a wonderful person. After meeting her at BEA, it was amazing to continue to talk to her. It was so refreshing to get to see her in person earlier this year! She came down to Tampa and we talked about books, publishing, high school, everything. It was honestly one of the highlights of my year and every time I see a tweet from her or a mention of her, I’m incredibly grateful that I got to meet her and that she has been such an influence.

Kimberly is so sweet. Her words always make my day better. She’s smart and warm and one of those people you can’t even think a negative word about. She’s FABULOUS. Her books are FABULOUS. She’s funny, adorable, and has done all the invaluable little things that make me just so so grateful.

Craig – how do I even begin to describe Craig? He’s always checking in, wanting to know how my day was. He’s always asking how my day is. He’s so kind and he’s so willing to share anything that might help me out, whether it be personal or writing advice. He’s always there and ready to contribute to help somebody out, and I appreciate it so much.

Cat is just so quirky and wonderful. No matter what, she’s always willing to talk to and make the day of a little awkward freshman. She’s funky, she has excellent ideas and book taste, and she’s straight-up hilarious. She’s always the one I stalk after a bad day! Thanks Cat!

Y’all all made my year absolutely amazing:

Amanda, Bailey, Willa, Jen, Emily, Vy, Kristi, Jamie, Lucy, Steph, Doni, Christa, Siobhan, Leah, Jeremy and Jeffrey, Sasha and Em, Melissa, Kaye.

Each one of you deserves all the happiness in the world and I adore you for everything. Each one of you has done something to contribute to how amazing this year has been for me. I’m probably forgetting a ton of people. And to think, these are only the people directly related to the industry – I’d be going all day if I thanked all the people who have also contributed. I seriously can’t thank y’all enough for being so generous and helpful and just purely astounding people.

I just can’t believe it. Thank you all for reading. Two years? Here’s to two more.

Grace

Hey y’all!

Recently, I’ve been noticing a trend. Obviously, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a very popular book, and evidence from my school shows that. So many people are reading The Fault in Our Stars and really getting into reading again, or for the first time. I love how my grade is starting to read. I love being able to give books to people that changed me and that I hope will change them just a little bit too. It’s always amazing to look up from reading a certain book in a public place and look at the world, milling around like nothing’s happened. You see everybody going about their day-to-day lives and wonder, haven’t they just realized that your entire world is different? Those words changed you.

Maybe it’s just delightfully entertaining. Maybe those words are sobering. Maybe they’re just fluff. Either way, I get so many requests for recommendations from people who have recently read The Fault in Our Stars, or The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or any of the other books currently out there. It makes me so so happy.

So many of my friends have read (and loved!) The Fault in Our Stars. They love it because it’s devastating and romantic and thoughtful and also with a bit of wittiness. Some look at the undertones of hope and fall in love with Hazel’s character, with the nature of Gus and Hazel’s relationship. Others fall in love with it because it describes the dark underbelly of the world, of cancer, in a brutally honest and refreshing way that doesn’t completely depress them. It’s beautiful, and one of those few books that can encompass the world in a way. So naturally, after finishing it (and sobbing), they came to me for recommendations and prescribed books with the qualities that they described.

I’ve decided to start a little mini-series on the blog. Have y’all noticed the little “recommended for” blurbs at the end of my reviews? I always recommend a few books for people who like the book that I reviewed. I started doing this on my Twitter as well, where I’d name a book title and name a few books to read if you enjoyed that title. I’m going to start doing that on the blog. If I do that for those whom I know personally, why wouldn’t I do it for my lovely readers?

I’m happy to present to y’all the following list:

if you liked the wittiness and romance, with a sad undertone

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky*

Why read this? Like The Fault in Our Stars, it’s beautifully written. It focuses on a view of the world that’s very unique and that not many people think of. This book has life in it, I swear to you. It’s about high school and drugs and sex and love and growing up on one level, but on another, it’s about a number of emotions and experiences that all knot together to make a book that you will put down and cry over. Not necessarily in a sad way, just in a way that will remind you that there’s so much more out there than the small lives we sometimes choose to live. Like Charlie describes in the classic line, “I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be”, this book will both make you happy and sad.

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Why read this? It’s so poignant, so reflective. While some other books take a look at the world through a grittier viewpoint, this type of sadness was softer. What makes this one different from some of the other books on this list was that it focuses on the happy things. It’s very beachy and is the perfect beach read. Not so much the sun-and-sand but more the sound of the waves in the darkness. It’s funny and sweet and sad. If you want that calm, quiet, sad-and-happy feeling, definitely pick up Moonglass. 

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson*

Why read this? This book is so beautiful. It captures the feeling of grief so well – raw and powerful, but with a gorgeous feel that doesn’t make it harsh. It’s infused with notes and poems written by Lennie about the loss of her sister, Bailey. From the two completely different romances to the memories of her sister and her family falling apart, all the elements work together perfectly. Lennie pours her emotions into her art and it’s heartbreaking in the best possible way. If you’re a fan of well-written, witty books that will make you cry and laugh simultaneously, this is the one.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington*

Why read this? This is a lot grittier. It portrays more of the helplessness and anger that comes with grief. It’s hilarious and fantastic and horrible in some ways. It deals with everything in this blunt way that perfectly encompasses a wide spectrum of emotions. Harper is sharp and her humor is really dry, which saturates the entire book with a sarcastic undertone that balances out everything perfectly. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of this type of plot. I love this book. When Harper’s sister June commits suicide, Harper, her best friend, and a boy with a mysterious connection to June and a passion for music embark on a road trip to take June’s ashes to California. The music scattered through it make it a must for any aficionado. If you like darker, wickedly funny books, and a fiery romance, this is a definite for you.

if you want a book that will make you ugly cry*

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Why read this? This is one of those books that will make you cringe while reading it. It will slightly horrify you and it’s uncomfortable and really really well written. The main character, Valerie, is sad and guilty and hurt by all the events of the previous year. When a school shooting pioneered by her own boyfriend rocks the community, Valerie finds herself drowning. When the shooting appears to have been inspired by a list created by Valerie and Nick about everything they hate, the school begins to turn on Valerie. From getting her classmates to trust her again to dealing with her personal demons and missing Nick, Valerie begins to piece her life back together.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Why read this? So many friends of mine have read and loved Thirteen Reasons Why. It’s not incredibly complex or devastating, but it’s solid and sad. When Clay finds a box of tapes on his doorstep, he’s puzzled. When he discovers the voice of Hannah Baker on the tapes, a classmate who committed suicide two weeks earlier, he’s even more confused. But that discovery sparks many more, and soon Clay finds himself on a hunt all over town for the people and things that contributed to Hannah’s death.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Why read this? Oh, John Green. John Green is a GOD. This was actually the first John Green book that I actually read. I listened to it on audiobook and it will just kill you. It’s one of those books that is just so distinct and funny and SHATTERING. When Pudge starts at a boarding school in Alabama, he expects anything but what he finds. The magnetic and screwed-up Alaska Young enters his life and everything changes. From smoking with them to pulling pranks with the Colonel to debating the Great Perhaps, Pudge’s existence at Culver Creek is finally coming together. Until one night, and one event, changes everything. THIS BOOK IS CRAZY AMAZING AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO READ IT.

if you want a book about cancer*

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Why read this? I’ve honestly heard mixed things about this book, but it’s one of my favorites, and I’ve read it multiple times. Cam is wry and slightly morbid and also tries so hard to appreciate the beautiful things in life even when she’s been dealt sucky cards. The cancer isn’t focused that much on, as opposed to her dying. Instead of focusing on technical treatment and all that, she focuses on making the most of the time she has left and trying not to give up on finding a miracle. If you like a skewed viewpoint of the world, little gorgeous details that embellish a story, and a bucket list, this is the book for you. This one will make you cry, but more in the way that makes you think about the world and how beautiful and messed up it is sometimes. Definitely will always be one of my favorites!

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Why read this? This book is just…wow. The beginning is powerful. Tess deserves to feel sorry for herself and sometimes she does wallow in pity. Tess didn’t have a normal teenage life. She’s determined to experience all the first times that she never got to have. It’s brutally honest and a lot sadder than other books like this. It’s filled with passion and has this lyrical writing style. It’s somber and moody. Tess is selfish sometimes. There are some parts of this book that are uncomfortable and will make you sob uncontrollably and the writing just kills me. The last line…just kills.

*All starred books and categories will make you ugly cry, for different reasons.

To all you The Fault in Our Stars fans, I hope y’all find some new reads!

So this week has yielded a pretty fantastic book haul. I went to Barnes & Noble and my lovely indie Inkwood Books and got some amazing books. I also helped my uncle pick out picture books for my baby cousin and ended up getting really nostalgic.

For those of y’all unfamiliar with IMM, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s basically where bloggers gush about the great books they bought, borrowed, won, received for review, or somehow acquired.

I hope y’all enjoy!

Hey y’all! 

For those of you who haven’t seen this feature before, I started A Day in the Life just to give y’all updates on what I’m reading, thinking, and what’s going on in the bookish world! I hope y’all enjoy! Here goes:

The Books:

Thirteen Plus One by Lauren Myracle – I’ve read this book so many times and I’m currently rereading it again. The Winnie Years series was one of those that kept me going through my middle school years. Winnie went through so much with boys, friends, goofy adventures, and growing up. It was one of those novels that just helped me so much with understanding life and those things that nobody will ever really explain to you but you’re bound to experience. Winnie’s such a bubbly character and I love how vibrant the books are even when they’re discussing things that are slightly heavy. This one takes place at the beach and deals with pre-high school nerves which I could definitely relate to! I just love these books so much. They’ve helped with a lot, and I like to reread them when I’m stressing out about something.

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder – This is my second time rereading this one but it’s still among my favorites. Some people don’t like it because of the main character, Cam, and I can see why they don’t, but I love it. It just has so much of life in a book. It’s not morbidly sad or another “cancer book” but it’s very sad and happy at the same time. It’s just beautiful and so vivid. It’s filled with imagery and emotion and a sharp wit. I just finished this one and I actually had to tell the person I was talking to that I had to excuse myself for a bit and go cry. It was also amazing because of the place I read it and it just put me in such an amazing mood. It’s so good. This is why I read – for books and feelings like that.

The Life:

Hannah and I at the beach during Spring Break

One of the reasons why I’ve had such a bad time blogging recently is because I’ve been bogged down with schoolwork, dance, lacrosse, and friends! Plus, I’m still waiting to hear back from Interlochen, which I discussed in my writing post. I applied for the camp and a merit scholarship, so fingers crossed! I’m really nervous – if all works out, my summer will be so busy! It’d be so worth it though, to be surrounded by passionate and creative artists looking to make a mark on the world! Those are the type of people I want to expose myself to and I would love the chance to do so!

I’m starting lacrosse next month. I didn’t play during eighth grade but I got back into it this year and I’ve been working really hard at it. I’ve also been getting into running! School has been difficult, just because I’m not really not a math person! I’m a little burnt out already but I’m hoping to power through the rest of the year! This week was Spring Break, so I go back to school tomorrow. I also deleted my personal Twitter so now I’m learning how to balance my professional/blog side with my personal side. I’m glad I’m learning this now though, because I feel like it’s a good skill to understand.

My Posts:

Like I mentioned earlier, my blog posts have been slightly lacking as of recently. Not so much quantity, but I’ve been working on getting the quality up! I’d rather write one or two great posts a week than post a mediocre one every day. Recently, I cowrote Real Life Relationships vs. YA Relationships with Reut and Willa. That post is about the perceptions of boys and relationships that REAL teenage girls have in our (little) experience as opposed to the stereotypical YA romance.

I also wrote Top Ten Series I’d Like to Start but Haven’t Yet recently.

The News:

I’ve been working on a manuscript for a friend and am severely behind on email! I’m really excited to be getting into editing. For those of you who don’t know or follow me on Twitter, I’ve recently started editing for Teen Eyes Editorial. The incredible Brent (I’m literally obsessed with Brent – he’s the best!) asked me to be a part of it and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The entire premise of Teen Eyes is having your manuscript edited by those with publishing/writing experience AND the teen perspective, which most people can’t give you. It’s great to have a grammatically correct and complex manuscript, but if teens can’t relate, what’s the point in the YA market? If you’re interested, check out my editing page here!

I also got blog t-shirts! Hannah, my wonderful twin, gave them to me as a Christmas present! They’re light blue and really cute. I originally was going to get a few (for the family) but a ton of my friends wanted them. We ended up buying over a hundred! We charged a bit for each shirt and donated the profit to Sandy Hook! Now, I come to school and see at least two or three people wearing my shirt every day and it makes me so happy. I’ll post a picture when I manage to get one that WordPress doesn’t hate!

I think one of my blogging goals for the year might be coming true, but I can’t say anything concrete until I have more details! So, I’m in suspense for now.

Other Posts:

Jamie

I honestly have the biggest crush on Jamie’s blog, The Perpetual Page Turner. Not only is she a fabulous person (I basically fangirled in front of her at BEA when I met her and could barely form coherent sentences), but her blog is so amazing. It’s one of my favorites because she manages to articulate all these ideas about books and blogging that I feel but can’t describe. Her writing is very clear and descriptive. Her reviews are fantastic and her book taste practically mirrors my own. I basically want to grow up to be her. She wrote a post A Moment of Truth on the Blogging Front today that is absolutely wonderful. I highly encourage y’all to read it.

So I hope y’all enjoyed! That’s basically what I’ve been up to recently. Still working on getting back to consistently blogging, but thank y’all for being patient!

Happy reading!
Grace