Ten of Jamie's Most Anticipated Reads For The Rest Of 2017

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

 I have so, so many books I'm excited about that are upcoming for the rest of 2017 so this list was PRETTY hard.


1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Taylor Jenkins Reid is an auto-buy author for me as I just adore her books and this one sounds amazing! An unknown reporter, Monique, gets contacted for the job of a lifetime — an Old Hollywood legend wants her to write her biography and share all the secrets and scandals of her life as she made her way up the ranks in Hollywood.

2. Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab: I really enjoyed This Savage Song so I can't wait for this conclusion!

3. The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby: Jessi Kirby is one of my favorite contemporary YA writers and I feel like all her books are sooo underrated but anytime she has a new one out it is ALWAYS at the top of my most anticipated list!

4. The Girl With The Red Balloon by Katherine Locke: Historical fiction + time travel! I've been so excited for this book for YEARS because I follow the author on Twitter and I've loved every time she's talked about it or shared quotes from it so YEAH very high on my most anticipated list.

5. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins: I am obsessed with all of Stephanie Perkins contemporary YA and I'm so so intrigued by her upcoming novel which is a HORROR NOVEL. I'm so game. I trust her.

6. Words In Deep Blue by Cath Crowley: Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon is one of my all time favorite books and I have been DYING for this one.

7. Renegades by Marissa Meyer: Excited for a fantasy series from Marissa Meyer! I've really enjoyed the books I've read in her Lunar Chronicles series (which I still need to finish before I ever get to this one).

8. Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert: I really enjoyed Brandy Colbert's Pointe and I've been eagerly awaiting this one.

9.  Devils & Thieves by Jennifer Rush: “A thrilling new urban fantasy filled with magic and motorcycle gangs” — sounds amazing and unique right??

10. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao: “The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl’s quest to become Empress.” NEEEEED.

BONUS: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

 PS. If you want to know some of the other books I'm itching to read that comes out in this second half of 2017 you can check out this post and this post.



Tell me your most anticipated releases for the rest of 2017!

Top Ten Beach Reads If You Don't Enjoy Contemporary

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic: Summer Reads Freebie. We've got Daisy on the blog presenting beach reads that aren't the typical contemporary genres!

--

For me, basically anything can be a beach read, just put me on a beach and I will start reading. And I love a good mix of fantasy and other genres mixed in with my contemporaries.

1. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas: bet you didn't see that one coming ;) I love this series and even if you don't like contemporary, I still believe books with a strong/sexy romance are the way to go.

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: I'm a big fan of reading chunky books on the beach, because usually you have a pretty decent amount of time to read when you're there, this one definitely falls in that category. Also: added bonus of being able to watch the series when you get home.

3. Anything by Sarah MacLean: if contemporary romance isn't you jam, maybe historical romance is with all the balls and ruination and bodice ripping (there's actually almost never any bodice ripping), and Sarah MacLean writes AMAZING historical romances!

4. Anything by Julia Quinn: see previous explanation.

5. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: it's sure to keep your intention, and another chunky book.

6. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: I actually made the Mr read this on the beach and he loved it. And he basically only reads when we're on the beach.

7. The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon: these books are SO good! And the third one just came out in March, so you can get a decent way into the series if you start now!

8. The Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins: if you're in the mood for somewhat light paranormal YA.

9. The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima: if you like your beach with a side of epic YA fantasy.

10. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson: because it's a whole lot of fun and a graphic novel, if you're not in the mood for chunky books.

What beach reads would you recommend to people who don't love contemporary?

Jamie Talks 10 Of The Best & Worst Moms/Motherly Figures She's Encountered In Books Recently

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic: Mother's Day related Freebie: favorite moms in literature, books about motherhood, best mother/daughter or son relationships, books to buy your mom, worst moms in literature, etc. etc.

THE BEST THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED RECENTLY

1.  Agnes in Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy: Agnes is the grandmother of our main character, Ramona's, childhood friend Freddie. Agnes is not only a wonderful motherly type figure to Ramona when she's little and then when she returns into her life but she is Freddie's primary caretaker and is seriously THE BEST. I loved Agnes so much!

2. Blake's grandmother from Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner: Blake is one of the main character's friends who dies in the car accident (not a spoiler..it's in the summary). She has taken care of Blake since he was little because his real mom is the worst and then when Blake dies and she Carver embark on their Goodbye Day she does some good mothering towards him when he needs it most and refused to open up to his own parents (he does have a really good mom too!).

3. Molly's moms in The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: Seriously I love her moms!! They are supportive and wonderful and I really loved her relationship with them! Becky really made them feel real and vibrant and essential, with their own storylines, rather than have them kind of faded into the background as so many YA parents are.

4. Lucy's mom in The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord: Oh man, I loved Lucy's mom so much and it pained me so much that she was going through so much. She is such a loving mom to Lucy and I just thought she was great.

5. Frances's mom in Radio Silence by Alice Oseman: She isn't maybe as HUGE as a part in this book as the others I've listed but it was such a wonderful and healthy mother-daughter relationship that I really appreciated. It was really nice to see how close they were!

6. Starr's mom in The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Starr got the great end of parental units. I loved her mom (and dad) SO MUCH. She's really such a great mom. I would honestly read a book about Starr's parents to be completely honest.

THE NOT SO GREAT ONES I'VE ENCOUNTERED

7.  Ramona's mom in Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy: I listed Freddie's grandma as BEST motherly figure above but maaan Ramona's mom in this book was rough. She wasn't like the WORST WORST...you could see she did try sometimes...but she was a hot mess mostly from leaving them when they were younger and how she acted in some of the scenes.

8.  Dana's mom in Fireworks by Katie Cotugno: Dana's mom is awful and I really felt for Dana. I totally could have added her bff Olivia's mom to the great mom list above because she always showed up for Dana when her own mom didn't and treated her like another daughter. 

9.  Jeanette's mom in The Glass Castle: The saddest part is that, unlike the other moms listed, this one is real because this book is a memoir. Her dad was the worst but her mom was just as bad and was an enabler and just ughhh her manic personality was so hard to deal with. I could not even with the parents and their ways. SO TERRIBLE and sad...like really sad. I was amazed at how she could still find love for her mom (and dad) as an adult.

10. Joss Byrd's mom in Unscripted Joss Byrd: OH SO AWFUL. Joss is a child actor and her mom is seriously terrible and uses her and I just wanted to punch her. 

Tell me about the amazing and awful moms/motherly figures you've encountered recently!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Things On Our Reading Wishlist

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

 This week's topic:


Ten Things On Our Reading Wishlist (topic originally done January 2014) -- things you want to see more of in books -- tropes, a time period, a specific type of character, an issue tackled, a certain plot, etc. All those things that make you think I WANT MORE OF THIS IN BOOKS!

We are sitting this week out because we couldn't get ourselves together this weekend to do it! I (Jamie) had plans of doing it today but I'm still feeling wrecked from my baby shower this week --- extroverting is hard. Also pregnancy is tiring, so is putting away all said stuff from baby shower. I need a nap again just thinking about it.

ANYWAYS...while we rest our brains, we can't wait to read through your reading wishlists!!

10 Books With Food Or Drinks On the Cover

Sometimes I have these things that instantly catch my eye when I'm browsing book covers. One of those things is FOOD. Maybe it's because I am very passionate about food (especially dessert) but my eye is always drawn to covers with food on them.

So I'm going to share 10 books I've read or are on my TBR that have FOOD on the cover. I take no responsibility if your stomachs start grumbling. I'm pregnant so imagine how hard it is for me to put this together! SORRY NOT SORRY.

Also tell me down below what are those things on covers that instantly attract your eye! 

-- Jamie

Love & Gelato 

Tell Me Three Things

Small Town Sinners

 The Careful Undressing of Love

Sweethearts 

 The Particular Sadness of of Lemon Cake

 The Summer of First and Lasts

 The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

 Georgia Peaches & Other Forbidden Fruit

When Dimple Met Rishi

What food covers did I miss?? Leave em below!