Hi Friends,
In my Bookmas day 4 post, I’m going to be talking about some underrated holiday books. I always seem to see book lovers recommending the same old holiday reads, so these are some books that I think deserve more recognition.
What Light by Jay Asher
Honestly, I can’t remember a lot about this story, but I do know that it had a Christmas Tree farm setting. The plot follows a young girl that spends the holiday season helping run her Christmas tree lot in California. Although this is a sweet holiday romance, it’s really a story of forgiveness and redemption. I remember this being a slower read, but it is a great wintertime book.
My New Crush Gave To Me by Shani Petroff
Nobody ever talks about this book, which is crazy to me. This is an enemies-to-lovers Christmas story that is a jolly good time. The book follows Charlotte. who rigs the Secret Santa drawing, so that she draws her crush, Teo’s, name. However, she needs to enlist the help of her crush’s cousin J.D., who she can’t stand, in order to get Teo the perfect gift. This is a fun holiday romance with a fun Secret Santa plot.
Snow In Love by Various Authors
This is a collection of four holiday short stories by different different YA authors. The stories focus on the holiday season, and of course there is romance involved in every story. My personal favorite story was written by Kasie West, but she’s one of my favorite author. So, there’s no surprise I’d enjoy her story most. However, the book as a whole is a pretty decent holiday read. Related Post:Snow In Love // Book Review
Whiteout by Various Authors
This is another holiday short story collection, which was released in November of 2022. I, myself, have yet to read this book but it sounds amazing. The story takes place in Atlanta, before the Christmas season, and is all about black teen love. I find that this book has flown completely under the radar, yet I can’t wait to give it a read. Related Post:December 2022 // To Be Read
The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody
Although this isn’t exactly a Christmas book, it is still a holidays read in my opinion. The book follows a teenage girl trapped at an airport on New Years Eve, which happens to be the day before the anniversary of her best friend’s death. Sure, there is a romance plot, but the main focus is about letting go and the loss that goes along with it. It is a beautifully written and well done story. Also, every reader could use a good sad holiday read right?
There you have some of the holiday books that I think deserve more hype. And yes, they are all YA book recommendations, but that’s my go-to genre. Before you leave, give my little book blog some love by becoming a follower.
Hi Friends,
Summer is approaching, and that means it beach read season! I have a few books already picked out to read this summer, and I can’t wait to dive into them. So, I thought I would give you all some books to add to your summer TBR.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘ by Jenny Han
Yep, I am jumping on the bandwagon, and recommending this trilogy to you all. Although I don’t find it nearly as good as Jenny Han’s ‘To All The Boys’ trilogy, it is still a decent summer read. The book follows a girl named Belly (short for Isobel) who spend every summer at a beach house with her mom and brother, along with her mom’s best friend and her two sons, Jerome and Conrad. This summer, Belly isn’t the little girl she once was, and finds herself in a love triangle with Jerome and Conrad. It is a classic YA contemporary about growing up and first love. But I just could never get behind the nickname Belly. It is being turned into an Amazon Prime series, set to be released on June 17th, so now would be the perfect time to read the books.
‘Sunkissed‘ by Kasie West
If you know anything about me, than you know that I am an avid Kasie West reader. In my opinion, she writes some of the best young adult contemporaries. However, this book wasn’t my favorite. I do still think it is a good summer read, though. The book follows Avery, who is forced to spend the summer with her parents and sister at a family fun camp. Throughout the summer, Avery starts to connect with the camp staff, notably Brooks. As she and Brooks grow closer through their shared love of music, Avery beings a journey of self discovery. The story was cute, but I did have some issues with it. Still I do think a lot of people will enjoy this book. I mean with a title like ‘Sunkissed’ you instantly think beach read.
‘Butterfly Sisters‘ by Jenny Hale
This is an adult romance and sisterhood book. If you’re fans of second chance romances, small towns, and family relationships, then this is the book for you. The story follows Leigh as she must return to her family cabin, at her mother’s request. Being back at the cabin floods Leigh with the memories of her late grandmother. To make matters worse, she runs into the boy who she let got away, Colton. As if that wasn’t enough, on top of everything else, she is dealing with a strained relationship with her younger sister Meredith. Everything, from the lake side setting to the romance, gives you all those summer romance feels. Although, the romantic side to the story was sweet, the book focus more on family. It is a story about a family bond, and rebuilding some of those relationships.
‘Cool For The Summer‘ byDahlia Adler
This book is perfect for those looking for a sapphic teen romance. Lara’s return to school becomes complicated when her longtime crush starts to take an interest in her. Right when Jasmine, whom she had a summer romance with, becomes her new classmate. The book alternates between Lara’s summer with Jasmine, and the present day. We get to see the two girls grow closer, as well as the reason for their now strained relationship. It was a simple and sweet YA contemporary, with not too much spice. It’s also an easy read, that you could probably finish in one day. Also, ‘Cool For The Summer’ is the title of a Demi Lovato song, which some have said is her version of ‘I Kissed A Girl’ by Katy Perry.
These are my summer book recommendations, but I am sure there are plenty more great summer reads out there. In the comments, let me know what you will be reading in the coming months. If you want to help my blog grow, hit that follow button!
Hi Friends,
I posted a bookish holiday gift guide to help those that who were struggling to find a gift for a reader. However, in that post, you probably noticed that I didn’t mention many books. I thought it would be fun to do a different kind of gift guide this time around, so I’m going to recommend some books for certain people in your life, such as your parents, kids, etc.
Biography: My mom is a huge audiobook biography reader. Especially if the author reads it themselves. She has read a ton of them, such as ‘Talking as Fast as I Can’ by Lauren Graham and ‘Home’ by Julie Andrews. So, if your mom or grandmother is anything like mine, than a memoir is the perfect gift option. The current bio on my mom’s radar is ‘Will’ by Will Smith, which is a 2021 memoir release. Another great choice would be ‘Open Book’ by Jessica Simpson, which mom says is an interesting read.
‘The Honey-Don’t List’ by Christina Lauren: Now, I don’t know if my mom would like this book, but after seeing the the synopsis, I instantly thought it was a great read for a mom. This book is about master home renovators, couple Melissa and Rusty Tripp, who secretly despise each other. It is up to their assistant Carey and engineer James to keep their career ruining secret under lock and key for just a few more weeks. Don’t all moms and grandmothers watch HGTV? I have heard nothing but great things about Christina Lauren books, and this sounds like a cute romance read. Also, I get ‘America’s Sweethearts’ vibes from it, which is kind of weird.
‘Ready Player One’ by Ernest Cline: Guys love video games, at least the ones in my life do. This book follows Wade Watts, who plays a worldwide virtual reality game in hopes of discovering an Easter egg. Once found, he will inherit the game creator’s fortune. There is a movie adaption as well, which I believe was well received.
‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This might seem like an odd suggestion, but it is perfect for the music loving guy in your life. The book documents the history of one of the biggest bands in the seventies, ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’. I know that my husband would 100% enjoy this book, since he is a music addict. Also, I have heard that the audiobook version is the way to go with this book.
‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Thorne: This is another book being adapted to film, and it’s very popular among the adult romance crowd. I am not big into adult romances, but I know that one of my sisters loves to read them. I went for this one, because I have heard a lot of positive things about it. And, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. However, I have heard that it is a little problematic, so keep that in mind.
‘Fool Me Twice’ by Carrie Aarons: I think any young adult contemporary reader would thoroughly enjoy this book. The plot follows a college freshman who is out to finish off her late best friend’s bucket list. The final and most important task on the list is to get revenge on Lincoln Kolb. He is the jerk that dumped her best friend supposedly due to her cancer diagnosis. So, to honor the wish of her best friend, she is out to make this seemingly cold-hearted boy fall head-over-heels for her, than break his heart. Anyone else thinking of ‘John Tucker Must Die’ after hearing this plot, or is it just me?
‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ by Rick Riordan: This is a Greek mythology book series about a boy whose life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the son of a god. Any kid, boy or girl, is probably going to want to follow this adventure series. There are even a lot of adults that call this their favorite book series of all time.
‘The Isle of the Lost’ by Melissa de la Cruz: This fairy-tale reimagining book series might seem more for girls, but I think boys would enjoy it as well. In the first book, we learn the backstory of villains, meet villain kids, and search for the Dragon’s Eye. The book follows Mal, daughter of Maleficent, Jay, son of Jafar, Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen, and Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil. Fun fact, the Disney Channel ‘Descendants’ films where based on these books.
There you go, some fun holiday gift book recommendations for specific people in your life. Let me know in the comments what books you’ll be gifting this holiday season. Also, you can give me a gift by following my bookish blog.
Hi Friends,
Do you love coffee? And the holidays? Then you’re in luck! Starbucks holiday drinks were released on November 4th! I’m not sure if they launched worldwide, but let me know in the comments if they did. Seeing as I am a holiday, coffee, and book lover, I thought I would recommend books based on some Starbucks holiday drinks.
Peppermint Mocha
For this drink, I wanted to recommend a classic story, since peppermint is a timeless holiday flavor. The Nutcracker is a classic children’s holiday story that tells the tale of a little girl who journeys to the Land of Sweets on Christmas Eve. This story, like this drink, can be enjoyed by everyone. Peppermint is a flavor that never gets old, and neither does The Nutcracker.
Caramel Brulée Latte
This drink is sweet, without being to sugary. It made me think of a collection of holiday short stories; ‘My True Love Gave To Me’, edited by Stephanie Perkins. When we think of holiday movies and books, we instantly think of cheesy, lovey-dovey stories. However, this book contains a mix of both love and other unique stories. Just like this drink, these stories aren’t all sugar.
Toasted White Mocha
This drink reminds me of Christmas! It has a subtle sweetness, with all the flavors of the holidays. For this reason, I paired (in my opinion) the best holiday book with it. I chose ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. I believe I’ve mentioned before that this is my favorite book ever. You probably already know the plot, so I won’t even bother explaining it. But it is also the quintessential holiday story. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend it to everyone, even non-classic readers.
This post was so much fun to put together, and a bit challenging. If you have any book recommendations based on holiday drinks, or cocktails leave them in the comments. Please like, share and follow the blog for all things bookish.
Hi Friends,
I wanted to do an ‘If You Like This…’ post, since I’m a fan of them myself. In this post, I recommend three spooky movies for you to watch if you’re a fan of three different (also spooky) books. I hope that made some sort of sense.
‘The Final Girls Support Group’ and ‘Final Destination’
This comparison might seem a bit odd, but it works, in a weird way. In ‘The Final Girls Support Group’ by Grady Hendrix, the last girls standing from mass murders start getting targeted once again. It seems like death has come back to get them.
Final Destination has that same aspect of death coming back around. A bunch of high school students avoid a plane crash, but soon enough they each start dying in the order they were sitting on the plane. They might not be a perfect match, but there is a similar theme between them.
‘These Witches Don’t Burn’ and ‘The Wicker Man’
I have to admit, I got some help from my husband with this one. However, I can see the comparison between the two. In ‘These Witches Don’t Burn’ by Isabel Sterling, two exes (who happen to belong to the same witch coven) come face to face with someone that is out to destroy them and their lives.
‘The Wicker Man’ follows Edward, who is drawn by his ex-fiancee to an all-female society of Neo-pagans. Unknown to Edward, he is in danger of being burned alive. These two don’t follow the same story-line, but both share a mystery element and other plot points.
‘Living Dead Girl’ and ‘The Quiet’
I think the main reason I put these two together was that they are both hard to take in. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott follows a 15-year-old girl who was kidnapped by a sexual predator at the age of ten. She refers to herself as the living dead girl, and anxiously waits for the day when her abuser finally kills her.
In ‘The Quiet’, teenage Dot is sent to live with her godparents, Paul and Olivia, after her father dies. She learns that Paul has been having a sexual relationship with his teenage daughter, Nina. Dot learns that Nina hates that her father takes advantage of her and plans to kill him. The book and movie are both psychological thrillers that have a sexual abuse theme. Also, they both chill my bones to this day.
I hope that you have somewhat understood why I paired these books and movies together. Let me know if you would like me to do more of these kinds of posts. Give this post a like and share, and please follow to show your support!
Hi Friends,
Below is a list of books that I would love to pick up this fall. These books strike me as autumn reads, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share them with you guys. Hopefully this will help anyone looking for some cozy season book recommendations. Side note, I don’t care whether a book is popular, but it is fun to see what all the hype is about.
1) These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
From the title, you can tell this is a YA book about witches. It is set in Salem and has LGBT representation. I haven’t read many witchy stories, but this one sounds like so much fun. I think it is the first book in a duology, so I’m interested to see if I’m going to want to continue with the series.
2) Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
This is a mystery novel set at a boarding school. I don’t know about you, but I love a good private school or boarding school book. The book follows a teenage girl, Stevie, who is really into true crime. She starts attending, Ellingham Academy, where the founder of the school’s spouse and daughter went missing years ago. She decides to put her detective skills to work and solve a century old cold case. There are four other books in the series, and I have heard nothing but good things about them.
3) A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Surprise, surprise another series. To be honest I don’t know much about this book. Except that its a YA thriller. I hear that it’s perfect for thriller/horror newbies like myself. I have been recommended this books countless times, and it gives me Halloween vibes. All I know about the plot is that it is set in a small town with lots of secrets.
4) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
This is another book that I don’t know much about. In my opinion, it isn’t really talked about in the book community. It is YA thriller about three cousins that go to visit their grandmother over the summer. I believe she has disinherited each of their parents, so they are trying to get back into her good graces. Obviously it is going to be filled with twist and turns. I know some people aren’t a fan of Karen M. McManus, but I enjoy her writing style.
5) The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
For once I have an adult novel on a tbr. This is an adult horror book that has caught my attention. If you seen any horror movie you know that there is always one heroine left standing. Think Sidney Prescott in Scream. This book follows the girls, who survived. I could be wrong, but I believe somebody has comeback to try and kill these ‘Final Girls.’ It sounds so intense and interesting. I cannot wait to read this during the spooky season.
6) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
From what I’ve been told, this is a horror ’12 Dancing Princess’ retelling. I don’t know anything about the original story, so I am going into this with an open mind. It follows a young girl that starts becoming suspicious when her sisters start getting murdered. I hear that it isn’t too scary, but such a good read.
I cannot wait to read all of these books in the near future. Please let me know if you have read any of these books, or if you plan on picking them up.
Hi Friends,
This is a fun little book post idea that I don’t think I have seen anyone do before. I was raised on Disney! I watched old Disney Channel shows, like ‘So Weird’, ‘The Jersey’,and ‘The Famous Jett Jackson’. We had mountains of Disney movies on VHS. I was always a Disney Princess kind of girl. I thought it would be cool to give some book recommendations based off Disney Princesses. Think of it as Belle or Ariel recommending these books to you instead of me. Most of these books I have read, but some I thought fit the princess’ personality.
Princess:Jasmine Movie:Aladdin Book Recommendation:‘When Dimple Met Rishi’ by Sandhya Menon
In the book, Dimple is against marriage. Specically, arranged ones. She has dreams for her future and, at least right now, being a wife isn’t one of them. However, Rishi is a kind-hearted guy that believes in love and following his parents rules. The book doesn’t mimic Aladdin’s story so much, but I can see Jasmine resonating with Dimple in many ways. They both come from cultures that expect certain things from them, and their parents don’t always understand their dreams. Rishi wasn’t anything like Aladdin, but after reading this book Jasmine probably found him to be charming.
Princess:Tiana Movie:Princess and the Frog Book Recommendation:‘With the Fire on High’ by Elizabeth Acevedo
I haven’t read this book, but I hear that it is amazing. Also, I have never watched “Princess and the Frog” so I guess I’m taking a shot in the dark on this one. I have heard that Tiana is a strong, intelligent woman who loved to cook. This book is about a teenage mother that is juggling school, motherhood, and helping support her family. The only thing that helps her cope is her passion for cooking. The kitchen is where she shines, and everything she cooks is magical. I could be wrong, but I think Tiana would find so many similarities to her life within this book.
Princess:Belle Movie:Beauty and the Beast Book Recommendation:‘Moxie’ by Jennifer Mathieu
This is another book on my forever growing TBR. When you think of a book recommendation by Belle, you might picture a story about a book lover, or a romance. But, I went a different route. Although, I love that Belle was an avid reader, and her love story was my favorite, she was adventurous and didn’t want to be a damsel-in-distress. Moxie tells the story of a girl that is fed up with her small-town and the double-standard in her high school. As sung by Belle herself: Every morning just the same, since the morning that we came, to this poor provincial town. She start an anonymous feminist ‘zine that makes its way throughout her school. Soon, she will set into motion a girls’ revolution.
I had a lot of fun coming up with this post. I may do more posts like this, featuring different Disney Princesses. Don’t forget to like and share this post.
Hi Friends,
For the past week I have been battling a summer cold. Unfortunately, I tend to get sick fairly often, which is never fun. I wanted to talk about my sick day routine in this post, but make it bookish. I will be recommending some books and movies that are great for when you are having a sick day.
Sleep: When I’m sick, I try to sleep as much as possible. Sleep helps you conserve your energy and nothing is better than sleeping off a cold. Sometimes, it’s hard to sleep when you are under the weather, but I try to take night time cold pills. If that doesn’t work, I take melatonin to help me wind down.
Shower: I don’t know about you, but I take hot showers on the regular when I’m sick. They are comforting, and help to open up my lungs. The steam is especially great for dealing with congestion. Showers are great for body aches and chills as well.
Warm Drinks: I try to stay hydrated as much as possible. I like to have warm beverages, since they soothe my throat. I wouldn’t go for something too sweet, particularly if you have a sore throat. I prefer hot coffee myself, but hot tea is a good option as well.
Roald Dahl: This British author has written many classic children’s books, like ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and ‘The Witches’. I have only read Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, but I think his work is very easy to read and perfect for a sick day.
‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman: You might be familiar with this spooky middle-grade. I think that the story is fairly fast-paced and a tame yet creepy read. It is a good book for when you are laying in bed all day and want to be entertained.
‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman: I haven’t read this manga series, but I hear that it is cute and sweet. Honestly, a lighthearted, contemporary graphic novel series is a great sick day read. Mangas are pretty easy to get through and follow, so you won’t have a hard time picking up where you left off if you happen to doze off. Hey, it can happen when you’re sick.
Disney: When you are sick, nothing is better than watching classic Disney movies. You can watch you favorite Disney princess movies, or some Pixar films. Personally, I think Disney Channel Original movies are the best to watch when you’re not feeling great. Lounging in bed with some childhood nostalgia makes a sick day a little more bearable.
‘The Princess Bride’: This movie is full of adventure, laughter and love. It keeps you engaged, and isn’t too long of a film. Also, the movie is totally quotable. I mean who can forget lines a like “As You Wish” and “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”.
‘House, MD’: When you’re sick nothing is more fun to watch than sick people. Honestly, House is interesting, funny, and completely different than most medical shows on the air today. I am telling you – getting cozy in bed on a sick day and watching a House marathon is great medicine.
I hope that you are all feeling well, and liked this post. I know everyone’s sick days look different, so it was fun sharing my routine with you all. Don’t forget to follow the blog to get notified about more post.
Hi Friends,
Nobody ever talks about this book, which is crazy to me. This is an enemies-to-lovers Christmas story that is a jolly good time. The book follows Charlotte. who rigs the Secret Santa drawing, so that she draws her crush, Teo’s, name. However, she needs to enlist the help of her crush’s cousin J.D., who she can’t stand, in order to get Teo the perfect gift. This is a fun holiday romance with a fun Secret Santa plot.
Peppermint Mocha
Caramel Brulée Latte
Toasted White Mocha
‘The Final Girls Support Group’ and ‘Final Destination’
‘These Witches Don’t Burn’ and ‘The Wicker Man’
‘Living Dead Girl’ and ‘The Quiet’
Princess: Jasmine
Princess: Tiana
Princess: Belle
