Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To

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Starting next week, January 16th, Top Ten Tuesday will be moved to Jana's blog, That Artsy Reader Girl. Jana has the schedule of future topics up through May! 

This week we're talking about the books we'd planned on reading in 2017 but never got to for one reason or another. But it's a new year and we've still got all the days to read them! 

Jana's Picks:

1. The rest of the Harry Potter series. I've only read book #1, but am on Chamber of Secrets right now!

2. Charing Cross Road 84 by Helene Hanff - It sounds so sweet, and my book club read this this year but I got really sick and didn't get a chance to read it in time for the meeting. Has anyone read this one?

3. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda - I've heard great things, and I love mysteries like this one!

Lori's Picks:

4. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - I know it's a 2016 release, but I meant to get to it in 2017 too and just didn't. I started it, but then for whatever dumb reason--probably got busy with school--I put it down. It's definitely on tap for this year. Promise!

5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - I got this for my Book of the Month pick and just didn't get to it. Everyone I've seen who's read it has loved it. Definitely need to pick up this year.

6. Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong - This was another BOTM pick that I've heard so many great things about and that I just didn't get to. It's not a terribly long read and the character should be somewhat relatable since we're around the same age...

Daisy's Picks:

7. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas - though I'm a bit less excited about this installment, it's still [art of one of my favourite series and I really need to read this.

8. The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May - I'm DYING to know how it ends, really want to re-read the first two books though.

Julia's Picks:

9. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman - I totally meant to not only read this, but reread the entire His Dark Materials series 

10. Literally all the books... by all the authors - I think 2017 was the least that I have read in years. Like maybe even under 20 books. I am too afraid to count...

Which books are you making a priority for 2018? 

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors We Read In 2017

Just a reminder: Starting on January 16th Top Ten Tuesday will be moved to Jana's blog, That Artsy Reader Girl, as The Broke and the Bookish will be closing our doors (for now). 

Happy New Year! I (Jana) am so ready for 2018. This is going to be my year. I can feel it. :) Today's topic is new-to-me authors we discovered in 2017. Which authors did you discover last year? 

Jana's Picks

1. Katie Ruggle -- Her romantic suspense novels are amazing!

2. Jenn Bennett -- I read Alex, Approximately this year and it was so much fun! I can't wait to read more of her books.

3. Meagan Spooner -- Hunted was my first of her solo novels (I've read These Broken Stars that she wrote with Amie Kaufman), and I loved it a lot.

Jamie's Picks

4. Heidi Heilig -- I finally got around to reading Heidi's debut from 2016 and I super loved it and can't wait to read the sequel and what she's working on now! I also really love following her on twitter so just overall she's a fave of 2017!

5. Adam Silvera -- I read 2 of Adam's books this year (History Is All You Left Me & They Both Die At The End) and I am obsessed with his books! I've owned his debut since it came out and realllyyyy need to finally get to it!

Lauren's Picks

6. Gillian Flynn - I actually listened 3 of her novels in 2017... Dark Places, Gone Girl, and Sharp Objects. I think I listened to Sharp Objects first and instantly knew I had to get my hands on the others. Now I just wish there were more!

7. Mike Mullane - Granted, this guy is actually a retired astronaut, not a writer, but I really liked his book about his space life. He has a great sense of humor and showed who he really is in his book, flaws and all. If you’re in remotely interested in space flight, you’ll love his book Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. 

8. Katherine Arden - I read her novel The Bear and the Nightingale months ago and I’m still thinking about it. It was just an amazing folklore tale that enthralled me! I can’t wait for the sequel!

Julia's Pick

9. Naomi Novik - I finally got around to reading Uprooted and it was so good! I only read a few books this year and this one would have been high on the list even if I read my wanted 50. I can't wait to explore more from Novik in the future! 

Daisy's Pick

10. Becky Albertalli: I finally got around to reading Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and it was EVERYTHING!

Which new authors did you fall in love with in 2017?

Top Ten Books We're Looking Forward to In 2018

We here at The Broke and the Bookish hope you had a very lovely Christmas yesterday (if you celebrate), and that you made memories with your loved ones! 

Just a reminder: Starting on January 16th Top Ten Tuesday will be moved to Jana's blog, That Artsy Reader Girl, as The Broke and the Bookish will be closing our doors (for now). 

We've loved blogging together for the past 8.5 years, and we've loved getting to know our fellow bloggers through this feature. Thank you for your support and friendship. We'll all still be on social media and some of us have our own blogs, so you'll still see us shouting our love of books! We'll post a more official goodbye with links and social media handles so you know where to find us, but we thought we should get the word out as soon as possible so there is no confusion.

We've got just a few days left in 2017, and then we wipe the slate clean and start over again. Can you believe it!? What books are you looking forward to in 2018? We're sharing our choices today. :) 

Jamie's Picks

1. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert -- definitely one of my most anticipated debuts

2. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton -- I feel like I have been waiting for this book since it was announced!! NEEEEED!!

3. Save The Date by Morgan Matson -- Morgan Matson is one of my all time fave authors and I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Julia's Picks

I haven't been following the new releases like I have in previous years... so I really just want ONE of these books to come out next year... or have an official date:

4. Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss 

5. Winds of Winter by George RR Martin

Please?

Lauren's Picks

6. Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris: I loved the author’s other thrillers and I can’t wait to be on the edge of my seat reading this one!

7. Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone: This is the third book in a series about SPIDERS. Yeah. I’ve been bitten by a brown recluse spider a few times and once it was bad. As in my tissue started dying and had to be cut out. I don’t much care for spiders these days. So why am I reading about them? I have no clue. Except the plot has left me wanting more.

8. The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian: I love this author’s novels, so this is just an automatic TBR for me.

Jana's Picks

9. The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis-Graves: I love Tracey, and I can't wait for this next book of hers!

10. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson: It just sounds amazing, ok?

- 

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

Important News:

Hello everyone! Jamie here! Before we get to today's topic....I have some NEWS that is relevant to Top Ten Tuesday. We've been doing Top Ten Tuesday since we started this blog in June 2010 and it's such a special thing for me as my little baby of an idea that grew bigger than I could have ever imagined. We have decided that, as of January 9 after our last TTT topic, that The Broke and Bookish is going to be shutting down (at least for now). I was 24 when the ladies and I got together to start this blog and now I'm a 32 year old MARRIED LADY WITH A BABY and my own blog has even taken a different direction (though still heavy on the books). And it's not just me...we've all gotten busy and life has taken us in various directions as you have probably been able to tell with our sparse posts. It's sad but I'm so grateful for doing this with these ladies for all these years. We will have a more ~formal~ goodbye post with links to social media/blogs where you can find us if you want.

BUT DON'T PANIC. Top Ten Tuesday is not going away!! I'm going to hand over the reigns to our dear TBTB contributor, Jana, and she's going to host it on her blog, That Artsy Reader Girl! She has put up a schedule so you guys can still have the topics in advance past January 9th.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you thank you thank you to the people who decided to join in way back in 2010 which helped make this little idea of mine such a fun weekly blogging event and to everyone who jumped in after. I've had fun getting to know you and you've added like A MILLION books to my TBR. I love your passion and your enthusiasm and creativity and I can't wait to see where it goes when Jana takes over. It's so hard for me to let go something that has been a huge part of the past almost 8 years of my life but it's time...

We will try to make this move as smoothly as possible but could definitely use your help in spreading the word and being gentle with us as we make this change.  --- Jamie

---

Now, on to this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic! Christmas is less than a week away, so it's probably time to declare which books we hope Santa brings this year! 

Jamie's Picks

1. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: I've heard amazing things about this book and I need it nowwww.

2. What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum: I loved Tell Me Three Things and I NEED her latest book!

Jana's Picks

3. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella: I love Sophie, and I've heard awesome things about this new book of hers.

4. Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh: MULAN RETELLING that I want to read!!

5. The Valiant by Lesley Livingston: Gladiators!

6. Up to This Pointe by Jennifer Longo: People keep telling me to read this book about friends figuring their lives out.

7. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier: I read Heart's Blood earlier this year and really loved it, so I want to jump into this series that everyone loves!

Lori's Picks

8. Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child: I just found this one today, but it sounds so cool! Child gives some base recipes and techniques and variations. It sounds like a great book for those with some kitchen experience who are looking for no recipe recipes.

9. The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown: I love reading successful women wrote their stories. This one is supposed to be gossipy and personal. I love the magazine, so I want to read some behind the scenes stuff!

10. The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Brombauer: This is one of those seminal cookbooks that has a bit of everything and I need to add it to my collection! :)

Our Ten Favorite Books of 2017

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I seriously cannot believe that the year is almost over, can you? Today we're taking some time and reflecting on all the great books we read this year. Which have been your favorites?

Jana's Picks

1. Caraval by Stephanie Garber: It's pretty magical and unique and Stephanie's writing is amazing!

2. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco: I had NO CLUE I'd love this like I did, but suspense and swoons everywhere!

See the rest of my picks at my blog, That Artsy Reader Girl!

Jamie's Picks

3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: okay so technically I read it last year but I never formerly talked about my top reads of the year and this still is one of the best books I've read in a long time! Read it!!!

4. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord: this book was yet another example of why she is one of my faves!!

Kimberly's Picks

5. Geekerella by Ashley Poston:I just adored this book! The characters were lovable, the geeky references delighted me and the story kept me coming back for more, despite being in my weird pregnancy brain induced reading slump.

6. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett: This was such a fun romcom, and the references to classic movies made me want to rewatch all of my favorites all over again.

Lauren's Picks

7. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant: Science expeditions to the deep, open open to prove killer mermaids exist? YES. YES. This book exceeded my expectations and I absolutely loved it. I cannot WAIT for the sequel.

8. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: All my non bookish friends nag me when I don’t immediately jump onto a popular author bandwagon. So I purposely waiting to read a book by the author just because I’m stubborn. I shouldn’t have waited. This book was absolutely riveting, but oh so depressing. I didn’t figure out the mystery of the book until towards the end either, which is always a nice surprise!

9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: Finally the legend of Achilles told from a brand new perspective... that of his (maybe lover) best friend, Patroclus. It’s a toss up whether Patroclus was Achilles’ lover or his bro, but this novel chooses the former. It was such an emotional ride and I was left with a few tears as I read the last pages.

10. The Genius Plague by David Walton: Any gamers out there? This plague reminded me of the plague from the game The Last of Us (amazing game, by the way). A fungus from the Amazon starts infecting people and making the more intelligent. The NSA gets involved and shit goes down. I loved the plot of this book and was so glad it delivered.

Ten Bookish Settings We'd Love to Visit

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For today's topic we're gushing about all the amazing places books have transported us to, as well as bookish places in general that we'd love to visit. Which bookish settings would you like to visit?

Jana's Picks:

1. The Snow Crystal Ski Resort from Sarah Morgan's O'Neil Brothers trilogy is beautiful and cozy and isolated! There's luxury cabins and lots of snow. It just sounds so romantic and picturesque.

2. Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Well duh!

3. Narnia from The Chronicles of Narnia because duh!

4. Dracula's castle from Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco because it sounds creepy and beautiful.

5. Caraval from Caraval by Stephanie Garber because it sounds pretty magical.

6. The Frost from Kate Avery Ellison's Frost series because I love the cold and the snow, and it sounds beautiful

7. The glittering undersea world of Marin from Vanessa Garden's Submerged Sun trilogy because it's underwater!

8. The Night Court from Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury because of all the reasons.

Julia's Picks:

9. Trinity College Library in Dublin: This place looks gorgeous and has some of the oldest books on display. Not only is it literally bookish, the architecture makes it seem like it could be the settings to any good historical fiction novel.

10. Hyde Park in London: I read a lot of historical romances, and I love big parks. I have been here before, but it was only for a quick bike ride. I'd love to go back and have the time to explore the place correctly... along with some old houses so I can picture things properly as i read.

Top Ten Books On Our Winter TBRs

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Winter is coming (or if you live on the other side of the world, summer is coming!)! What's on your to-be-read list this season? We're showing you a few of the titles we're most excited about. Which ones should we get to first? Which ones should we not bother with at all?

Lori's Picks

1.  The Revolution of Marina M. by Janet Fitch: I bought this one for myself to celebrate finishing my last semester of law school. I cannot wait to dive in!

2.  Private Citizens by Tony Tulathimutte: I just stumbled across this one day while browsing on Amazon. It sounds pretty interesting.

Julia's Pick

3. La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) by Philip Pullman: I meant to reread all of His Dark Materials before reading this new foray into the land of daemons, but I just cant wait. I am so excited that the Book of Dust is actually coming out... and part one is already out! I must read this... and soon.

Jana's Picks

4. Winter of Ice and Iron by Rachel Neumeier: I love reading wintry books this time of year, and this fantasy sounds amazing!

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling: I'm having fun reading this series for the first time ever, and I can't wait to continue!

6. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: I've been so excited to read this book, and it's wintry too! It seems like the perfect book to snuggle up under a blanket with.

Lauren's Picks

7. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: I might’ve gotten a head start on this one. Don’t judge! 😇 I love Greek Mythology and am excited to read another version of this amazing story. When the

8. When the English Fall by David Williams: Y'all know I can’t contain myself around anything dystopian. And here pops up a dystopian novel involving An Amish community... hells yes I can’t wait!

9. The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden: I read the first book in this series and adored it. The storytelling was amazing and made me want to believe in real, actual magic. I can’t wait to get into this sequel!

10. Into the Drowing Deep by Mira Grant: I love everything by Mira Grant and I was lucky enough to get an ebook copy from NetGalley! *squeals*

What are you hoping to read this winter?

Top Ten Books We're Thankful For

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Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers in the USA! I (Jana) hope you all have a wonderful day with your families, eating lots of good food. This week's topic is books we're thankful for. Which books have touched your heart and left you feeling SO thankful that it was written?

Jana's Pick

1. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard: This book seriously changed my life. It's the kind of book that encourages you to take the bull by the horns and go with it. I just felt so refreshed by the end, like I had been the one to go on a whirlwind trip that changed my life. It prompted me to make amazing goals: to travel more, to practice my art more, to be spontaneous, to let my hair down and not worry what other people think, to look to the future, to develop other talents, to conquer fears, and to enjoy my life more. I ended up going on a whirlwind trip just like Bria did, and I cam home a completely changed person.

Kimberly's Pick

2. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: No matter how many books I read I always come back to this series. I'm so grateful for what it has taught me and the joy it brings me! It's the first thing I ever read to my daughter, I was still in the hospital after my c-section when I started.

Jamie's Picks

3. Just One Day by Gayle Forman: this book really resonated with me at where I was in my life and inspired me to make some big changes in my life. I will always be thankful to Gayle for writing this.

4. Twilight: Yep...I'm one of those people who fell in love with YA because of Twilight and I'm so thankful I took a chance on it even though I thought it sounded terrible.

5. The Wonder Weeks: lol I'm thankful for this book (and the app) as a new mom because it helps me be patient with Riley when she is going through a developmental leap which tend to be hard on babies. It helps make sense of things plus helps me know what she is working on!

Lori's Picks

6. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein: These poems first started my love of language. My dad would read them to me at night. It was always so much fun.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This is one of the first classics I ever read, which definitely got me thinking about the genre as a whole. It also first got me thinking about law school.

8. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion: Didion. OMG! I love her. I can't keep away from these essays and her other collection, The White Album. Her commentary on her times is so astute. And oddly widely applicable to today. Very inspirational to me in my writing.

9. Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough: This book got me thinking about becoming a history major. It's really interesting and an extremely accessible history of five criminal groups at large at the same time during the Depression.

10.  East of Eden by John Steinbeck: In terms of storytelling and retellings...this one is tops. I can't get over it. Steinbeck was truly a master.

Top Ten Books I Want Young People to Read

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Happy Tuesday! Today's topic is all about the books you love so much that you want the young people in your life to read and love and grow up with. These young people could be your children/ future children, nieces/nephews, godchildren, students, etc. We can't wait to see what you've picked this week!

 Jana's Pick: 

1. You Are Special by Max Lucado: This is the sweetest picture book that reminds children and grown-ups alike how wonderful you are.

2. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George: Such an exciting survival story!

3. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry: This is a beautiful Holocaust story about friendship.

Lauren's Picks:

4. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson: I absolutely loved this book when I first read it years ago. I only wish I could've discovered it when I was younger!

5. The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry: I think most children read The Giver by Lois Lowry these days, which out-shines this one. It's a short, but powerful read.

6. Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick: Another historical fiction novel that will one day be a classic. A must read for young adults!

Julia's Picks:

7. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: This book I adored at 13. It made me think while expanding what I was exposed to in the safe environment of books - a precursor to adult and high school teen issues. I read it again as an adult, but this one really has a power in reading it as a pre-teen.

8. The Illustrated Harry Potter Books: How cool would it be to grow up with Harry Potter, but with it coming out every year and having super cool pictures in it?

9. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein: I always, always wanted to check this book out as a kindergartner, I just loved all of the short poems and how vividly they lit up my imagination.

10. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. Man, I loved library day in grade school. I'd love it when the librarian would read to us, and this book is one I just wanted to hear over and over again. It has been a repeat hit with my little cousins when I have gotten it for them around age 2.:) 

Ten Characters Who Would Make Great Leaders

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This week, in honor of election day in the USA, we're featuring characters that would make great leaders! Leaders of what? That's your decision. Who could lead a country, an army, a book club, a classroom, etc. Or maybe characters that would be trendsetters? We're taking a tiny break this week (sorry we have no picks for you!), but I've (Jana) put up the linky for you so we can come visit!

Ten Bookish Halloween Costumes We'd Love to Wear

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Happy Halloween! We at The Broke and the Bookish hope you have a safe night tonight, filled with tricks, treats, and good times! For our Halloween freebie we've chosen to pick some bookish Halloween costumes we'd love to wear. We're excited to see which topics you all chose to do!

Julia's Picks:

1. Harry Potter and friends - how could a list about bookish Halloween costumes not have these guys on it. So many choices in this universe! Enough even for a family costume.

2. Superman - yes, comic books are bookish. And Superman is my favorite superhero.

3. Game of Thrones ladies - I guess the men would also be cool, but those ladies! Dany or Brienne or Arya. Kickass ladies, Kickass costumes.

4. Katniss from Hunger Games - is it still cool to be Katniss? I'd still like to be her.

5. Lyra from His Dark Materials - and I would carry around a stuffed animal to be my daemon. Or maybe take my dog around


Kimberly's Pick:

6. Mary Poppins - I dressed up as Mary Poppins a couple years ago.


Jana's Picks:

7. Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles - I actually love everyone from this series, and think it would be super fun to dress up as any of them!

8. Feyre from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series - I think it would be so much fun to dress up as a beautiful fae! And Feyre has some really pretty dresses that I'd love to try on.

9. Nancy Drew - I'd love to don a blonde wig and dress up like our favorite classic, preppy mystery-solving teen. I'm thinking a cute plaid skirt and a cardigan over a white button-up with a Peter Pan collar.

10. Alina from The Grisha Trilogy - Grisha fashion is amaaaazing. I want to wear a pretty gold Sun Summoner kefta.

Which bookish costume would you love to wear tonight?

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Top Ten Unique Book Titles

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If you are an avid reader you probably have seen trends in book titles -- The blah blah's daughter or the blah blah's wife or if you are into YA lots of fantasy type titles that seem to blend in together...lots of fire and blood and ash and so many other things that aren't coming to me right now but I know that I find myself getting the titles all confused. 

So this week's topic is an ode to all the unique book titles out there! 



Jamie's Picks:

1.  Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore: I mean, pretty unique right? The book itself is very unique and unlike anything I've ever read in general so the title was definitely a good indicator of that!

2. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green: I have not yet cracked into this one but immediately I thought the title was catchy and intriguing and unique! 

3. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee: Another one I haven't had a chance to read yet since giving birth but it's high on my TBR.

4. They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera: If I didn't already know I loved his books the title alone would make me pick this one up! I'm currently reading it right now and I'm like DO THEY BOTH REALLY DIE AT THE END MUST FIND OUT.


Jana's Picks:

5. How to Fight Islamist Terror from the Missionary Position by Tabish Khair: I'm kind of dying of laughter over this one!!

6. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente: Super unique, right? All the words!

7. I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison: I had never heard of this one, but it sounds super intriguing.

8. Comfort Me With Apples by Peter De Vries: I must know what this is about.


Lauren's Picks:

9.  The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden 

10.  The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall 

11.  Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

 Have you read any of these? Which titles do you think are particularly unique? 

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Top Ten Yummy Foods Mentioned In Books

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This topic is right up my (Lori) alley! I love food. I love reading about food. I love making food. I love eating food. I'm surprised I'm not 84,000 lbs.

1.  Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan--This book is basically what it seems on its face: a comedian rhapsodizing on food. Yes, I think the American diet is horrible, but you can't deny that most Americans love their food. :)

2.  Life Is Meals: A Food Lover's Book of Days by James Salter and Kay Salter--The book is divided into 365 short entries, one for each day of the calendar year. Each entry has a note about entertaining or recipes or a variety of food related topics that helped make me a better cook and hostess.

3.  An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler--Filled with essays on food, this book forever changed the way I make scrambled eggs and boil pasta.

4.  Heartburn by Nora Ephron--Ths novel describes the end of Ephron's marriage to Carl Bernstein. It also contains a few recipes by Ephron, a known foodie.

5.  Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen: How One Girl Risked Her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living by Julie Powell--I loved this book! I love how Powell used cooking to change her life and pull herself out of a major rut. It's one I think of whenever I get a little blah about my life.

6.  Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook--This cookbook has so much yes. Full of amazing southern style recipes, it added a fantastic tweak to my already near-perfect fried chicken recipe and gave me my chili recipe (which has needed very few tweaks over the years). Highly recommend.

7.  100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken and 99 Other Fabulous Dishes to Get You Everything You Want in Life--This is my go-to cookbook whenever I know someone getting their first apartment. It has everything. Yes, the recipe titles might be a little strange or creepy (Let's Make a Baby Pasta? Seriously? But it is damn good pasta, with a nice kick of spice!). It's very budget-friendly and has so many recipes that I always recommend it.

8.  Made in Italy by Giorgio Locatelli--I first heard of this cookbook in one of those celebrity reading lists. It's a huge book, with a pretty good-sized price tag, which kept me from purchasing it for quite a while. I finally found a good used copy. :) It is full of food porn and for that I love it.

9.  Audrey at Home: A Kitchen Table Biography by Luca Dotti--What a wonderful idea for a biography! Hepburn's son compiled photographs, details, and recipes that say so much about the beloved actress and humanitarian. I love the idea of using someone's favorite foods to tell their story! If anyone ever writes a biography about me, this is how I want it to be done!

10.  To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Phillip Greene--A book of alcoholic recipes related to the novels and stories of one of my favorite authors? Yes, please!

Honorable Mentions:

Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste by Bianca Bosker--I haven't read it yet, but it sounds fun.
Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford--I love Italian food. Probably more than I should. This sounded like a good read.
Unprocessed: My City-Dwelling Year of Reclaiming Real Food by Megan Kimble--I've started and stopped this one a few times. Sometimes it delves a bit more into the science than I am really interested in knowing, but I love the idea of using my dollars to make a statement.

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Ten Books With Fall Themes and Covers

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It's officially fall weather here where I (Jana) live, and this is when I love to whip out my fall reads and get cozy. The following books just scream fall to us. If you have recommendations for others, please tell us in the comments!

Lori says:

Swann's Way by Marcel Proust--This cover always reminds me of fall. It's a super vibrant and yummy red.

The Raven (Tales and Poems) by Edgar Allan Poe--Probably more Halloween-y and because of the subject matter, but this cover just screams fall.

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe--Maybe not specifically fall-ish, but I frequently find myself turning to this book in the fall. Probably just a me thing. :)

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy--This cover looks like fall. And isn't it deer season when the novel starts? I don't know. Whatever.

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey--Full confession: I haven't read this yet. But I can't talk about the fall without drawing in the spooky, haunted stuff, so here we are.


Jana says:

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco - This book takes place in December, but the cover is beautifully fall and creepy for this time of year! And I loved it, so there's that too!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - A beautiful fall cover for a beautiful fall book! This story takes place in October and November, when the wind is chilly and the sea relentless. It's super fall and unique and atmospheric. It's the perfect read for this time of year.

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni - This gothic mystery/historical fiction novel is very fall and very creepy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - I always get the urger to read this series in the fall.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Such a creepy cover!

Top Ten Book Boyfriends

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Today we're proclaiming our love for those book boys we love so dearly! Do you agree with any of our picks? Who will we have to fight you for?

Julia's Picks

1. Remus Lupin from Harry Potter - I have no idea now why he was the one that I loved the most out of them. It must have had something to do with FanFics and being 15. I thought he was a stand up guy. Plus I loved recreating the Love Shack lyrics and making them the Shrieking Shack. Oh to be 15 again...

2. Colin Bridgerton from Julia Quinn's Bridgerton novels - I've always loved these novels, and I have always had an affinity for Colin. He's the funny one in the first three novels, and then when he gets his own, he turns into a dashing hero but while still keeping his character. All the hearts.

3. Legolas Greenleaf from The Lord of the Rings - Yeah, I am stretching here because my love for him didn't come solely out of the books... I mean it may have had something to do with Orlando and being 17.... maybe.

4. Tarver Merendsen from These Broken Stars - I really, really loved this book. And I remember really liking Tarver. Probably more than I like Lilac. So he wins a spot in my five.

5. The guy from the book I read as a pre-teen called, Both Sides of Time - This was one that I read again in college and even though it was middle grade, I still really liked it. This was probably my intro into the time traveling romance genre. I just loved it. 

Lori's Picks

6.  Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind - I know. Me and just about everyone else who's ever read this novel. But! I love how he always called Scarlett on her BS. He didn't fit the mold of the perfect gentleman, yet he respected a true lady.

7.  Florentino Ariza from Love in the Time of Cholera - I love how he waited for his love, Fermina Daza. Yes, he went on his adventures and slept with scores of women, but he always held back a part of himself for her. Love.

8.  Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird - This is one that has come under fire in recent years with the publication of Go Set a Watchman. I get that. But this Atticus was the pillar of virtue. Yet he wasn't a total goody-goody. He was kind of Rhett Butler-ish, but a lawyer set in the 1930s...

Kimberly's Picks

9.  Valek from Poison Study - Ooooh. So swoon-worthy. He's clever, kind, and funny. My favorite combination. He also doesn't take crap from anyone--it's an attractive trait.

10. Elend Venture from Mistborn - I started off thinking he'd be the rich snob. Instead, he's smart and kind. He knows he loves *her (I'll keep the name out for spoilers). She's not an easy person to love. Some men would be resentful, instead he keeps working at his relationship. He's a fitting match for his love interest. He also later becomes an even more powerful character, instead of changing who he is, it just enhances who he already was!

Top Ten Books with __________ Characters

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This week's post is a character freebie, and we didn't quite get our acts together this week so we will not be posting our character list. So sorry! However... good news!!

I, Jana, just updated the future Top Ten Tuesday topics for the rest of 2017, so you can start getting those ready before the end of the year/holiday craziness starts up! 

Top Ten Books On Our Fall TBR List

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Are you are excited for fall? I (Jana) am! I'm looking forward to cool weather, sweaters, changing leaves, and cozy blankets! I'm also excited about the books coming out this fall. Here are some of the ones we're looking forward to.

Jamie's Picks 

1. Forest of A Thousand Lanterns by Julie Dao: This YA fantasy sounds AWESOME! Definitely on my list for the fall!

2.  There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins: I'm sooo excited for Steph's newest! I mean, it's horror and it's quite a departure from her adorable contemporary series but I TRUST HER. She's a huge horror geek and knows her stuff plus I just tend to trust my favorite authors.  Jana seconds this pick!

3. Dear Martin by Nic Stone: I've been pining for this one since I heard about it (like when the deal was announced) and I follow the author on Twitter and she is wonderful so this one is very high on my priority list for Fall! 

Jana's Picks 

4. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco: I really enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper, and am excited for another creepy read for Halloween time!

5. Renegades by Marissa Meyer: Another Marissa Meyer book! I'm not even totally remember what it's about right now, but I'm super excited!

6. This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis: I love thrillers, and this one sounds awesome!


Lauren's Picks 

7. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware: I loved Ruth's first novel, In A Dark, Dark Wood, and I liked her second, The Woman in Cabin 10, as well. So of course I've got to read what ever is next!

8. Borne by Jeff VanderMeer: I enjoyed the first book & maybe half of the second book from Jeff's Southern Reach Trilogy, but I felt like the longer it went on, the less interested I became. This novel (so far) appears to be a standalone, so I figured I'd give him another chance. :)

9. Machine Learning by Hugh Howey: I think everyone knows by now how much I love everything by Hugh Howey, so yeah... I'm excited for this.

10. Artemis by Andy Weir: I absolutely loved The Martian, and this novel is set on the moon! Let's go, guys!

What are you hoping to read this fall?

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