the names they gave us: stardust arc reviews

The Names They Gave Us

Emery Lord

release date: May 16 by Bloomsbury

ALL OF THE STARS/5 (infinite stars. a whole multiverse full of stars for this one)

Lucy Hansson was ready for a perfect summer with her boyfriend, working at her childhood Bible camp on the lake. But when her mom’s cancer reappears, Lucy falters—in faith, in love, and in her ability to cope. When her boyfriend “pauses” their relationship and her summer job switches to a different camp—one for troubled kids—Lucy isn’t sure how much more she can handle. Attempting to accept a new normal, Lucy slowly regains footing among her vibrant, diverse coworkers, Sundays with her mom, and a crush on a fellow counselor. But when long-hidden family secrets emerge, can Lucy set aside her problems and discover what grace really means?

Full review under the cut. Definitely top two favorite books I've read all year. 

top ten authors I'd love to meet (and one I have)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This week's theme is "March 28: Top Ten Authors I'm Dying To Meet / Ten Authors I Can't Believe I've Met  (some other "meeting authors" type spin you want to do)." 

Living in rural South Carolina for the past few years, I haven't gotten much of a chance to meet my favorite authors, so this is definitely a wishlist of people that I would love to meet. This mostly comes down to the fact that I adore their books and also think that they are super hilarious/relevant/retweetable on twitter.

 


1. Emery Lord 

2. Victoria Aveyard

 


3. Jenny Han

4. Becky Albertalli 

 

 

5. Adam Silvera

6. Shannon Hale

 


7. Sabaa Tahir 

8. Victoria Schwab

 

 

9. Angie Thomas 

10. Morgan Matson

and then, there is one author that I have had the privilege to meet! 

11. John Green













xx
Caroline

i'll give you the sun: stardust reread reviews

I'll Give You The Sun

Jandy Nelson

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (yeah I gave this book 10 out of 5 stars. COME FOR ME)

goodreads/b&n/amazon

A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

full review of this book... since I've somehow never review it before... under the cut! 

princess academy: stardust reviews

Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1)
Shannon Hale

☆☆☆☆☆

goodreads/b&n/amazon

Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village.

The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires.



Full review of this wonderful story under the cut!

when we collided: stardust reviews

When We Collided
Emery Lord

☆☆☆☆☆

goodreads/b&n/amazon

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever. 

full review under the cut!

spotlight on: a new fave: Emery Lord

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Spotlight on is a monthly series here at Stardust Words where each month is a different theme, whether it be a starred review, a list of favorite books or an author, etc. You can see the previous entries in the spotlight series here! I skipped August, guys. I had a bad, bad blogging month in August, so I was not inspired to do a spotlight post last month. However! We are back with our regularly scheduled programming!

This month,  I've decided to write a post about an author that recently became a new favorite of mine. I read both of Emery Lord's books at the end of June/early in July, and I haven't stopped thinking about them since then. So let's talk about why these books, and this author, are so amazing!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

 

All of the Reasons Why You Should Read & Love Emery Lord

1. Open Road Summer: This is her first novel, and it is completely incredible. I actually read it after I had already read her newest release, so I kind of knew what to expect, but it exceeded everything I was hoping for from this book. This is my review from goodreads!

Things in This Book:

1. Friendship. The kind of friendship that doesn't make sense, that defies all odds, that, upon first glance, looks more like true love. The friendship in this novel made me really emotional, because the two best friends are complete opposites, but they get each other and have each other's backs in a way that just really got to me. This is the main appeal of this book, for me. 

2. Cute Boys!!! Of two varieties. First, the sweet, down home, high school sweetheart that we all want to have. Secondly, the charming, bantery musician who will make you feel *ALL OF THE THINGS* (i'm a matt finch gal, for sure) 

 3. Music, Chasing Your Dreams, Dealing With Fame. It was really interesting to read a book from the perspective of someone who's best friend is famous. I'd never read something from this POV before, and I really enjoyed it! It was like imagining that you're best friends with Taylor Swift (early  days, like Fearless-era), and who wouldn't want that? 

4. Dealing With Hard Pasts. Heartbreak. Broken Arms. Bad Habits. Not being able to let your guard down. Daddy issues! All of the above, but in a realistic and lovely way. You're rooting for the characters so intensely throughout the whole story, wanting them to get through their struggles, and when the climax comes, it could not be more beautiful.

5. A Really Hot Scene Involving Fireworks and A Lake (to which I will not say more) 

In short, you need this book in your life. 

2. The Start of Me and You: (AKA one of my most favorite books ever to exist EVER!) I wrote a really squealy something on Goodreads about this, then I wrote a full review on here about it too, but I don't even know if I can articulate all of the things I love about this book. But let me just say, when I finished this one, I immediately flipped back to the beginning and read it all over again, which is something I've literally never done, so let that speak for itself. 

Things In This Book: 

1.  Starting Over. There are so many elements of new beginnings in this novel, for almost all of the characters. Some of them are easier than others, but I really liked how that theme was woven throughout the book, not just for our main protag.

2. Girl Power!!!! As with Open Road Summer, the friendships in this book made me almost weep with joy. I loved how our main character, Paige, had not just one but three fully developed, fully important friends who play a huge role in this novel and in her life. I talk about this in my review, but I loved that I was able to find a little bit of myself and my friends in all of these characters. THEY ARE SO GOOD! SO GOOD! 

3. My Favorite Trope! Which is: friendship turned to something more. The romance in this book was definitely a slow burn, and it was so cute that, at the very end, I cried because it was so adorable. I love the two characters got to know each other as friends, and then, because they're so perfect for each other, realized that they were meant to be something more. (MAX *heart eyes emoji) 

4. All of the Nerdiness! From a running Pride and Prejudice joke to an abundance of Firefly references to an honest-to-god quiz bowl team, I absolutely loved all of the nerdy elements in this book!!

5. Characters Learning to Take Control of their Own Lives! ALSO: A really cool bookstore that I wish existed IRL! 

This one is at the tippy top of my list of favorite books ever! 

3. Emery Lord is writing the most amazing realistic contemporaries around! I'd be hard-pressed to point to books with better friendships, more realistic conflicts, or cuter romances right now. Honestly, if you've felt a hole in your life where a really amazing contemporary should be, you need these books in your life. They're honestly so touching and incredibly paced, and the writing is beautiful. I flew through both of her books in the space of three days, and I am eagerly awaiting her next release, which leads me to my next point....

4. Her next release looks just as incredible as the last two! Different, but still incredible! 

It is called When We Collided.

This is the cover:

This is the synopsis: Meet Vivi and Jonah: A girl and a boy whose love has the power save or destroy them.
Vivi and Jonah couldn't be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi's zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there's something important Vivi hasn't told him.

Incroyable! Cannot wait! 

5. Lastly, Emery Lord is the funniest. Following her on twitter was one of the best decisions I've ever made. She regularly cracks me up and makes me wish I was friends with her! 

https://twitter.com/emerylord?lang=en

  

Sometimes she tweets things like this: 

 

In short, Emery Lord is an amazing lady and you should support her! :) 

xx

Sunny

 

look at her go: reviewin' reviewin': Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Sarah J Maas

goodreads/amazon/b&n
☆☆☆☆☆ (BASICALLY ALL OF THE STARS)


(warning! major spoilers if you're not caught up with the series!)

synopsis: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
~~~


okay hello everyone!! i have been in a blogging dark place for the past couple of weeks (and really months) because of various reasons, but since September 1 the reason that I have stayed away is because I was in avoid-spoiler mode. But I FINALLY finished this completely incredible 645 page addition to my favorite series, and I now I feel like I can both breathe again and also like I'm about to cry all the time. All this is to say that this is going to be a really rambly long review because I have so many thoughts and reactions

full review under the cut!! (basically where I have nothing bad to say about this book at all which is rare but I actually think it is literal perfection okay so if that bothers you sorry but here we go) 

top ten tuesday: auto buy authors

top ten tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at the Broke and the Bookish, where each week we have a different bookish theme! This week's theme is: "August 18: Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors (no matter the genre or what it's about...you'll buy it from these authors!)."

 1. Rainbow Rowell – As one of my top five favorite authors ever, I think it is safe to say I would read anything this woman ever decides to publish. I've followed her from YA to Adult and back, from throwback contemporary to magical realism to (soon) pure fantasy, and I haven't been disappointed yet. Frankly, I think Rainbow is one of the most talented writers around today, and I will fully support her, whatever she decides to write.

2. Sarah J Maas – I only just started reading Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass series at the end of 2014, but over the course of the last eight months, she has definitely become an auto-buy author for me. Throne of Glass is definitely one of my favorite series to EVER exist, and with the release of A Court of Thorns and Roses, which I loved almost just as much as the other series, Maas proved that she writes things that I like. I absolutely cannot wait to see what else she comes up with, because I will be there for it. 

3. Rick Riordan  – I began reading Riordan's books when I was in middle school, when only the first couple Percy Jackson books were out. Since then, I have bought and subsequently read every single one of his releases up until now. Rick Riordan has inspired my love of mythology, and I love the things that he does with the timeless stories, but certainly if Uncle Rick wanted to write about literally anything else, I would be first in line to buy that sucker. 

4. Stephanie Perkins – Some of my absolute favorite contemporaries are written by this woman. I have read Anna and the French Kiss over 10 times! I know these types of books are not for everyone, but I absolutely adore this woman and all of her novels, including her anthology of Christmas stories, which are the cutest. I believe her next release is going to be very different, a horror novel, and you better believe I'm going to read this one too, because I believe that Perkins has the midas touch– and anything she writes will be gold in my book. 

5. Morgan Matson – Like an idiot, I owned every single Morgan Matson book, but never read one until Since You've Been Gone had been released for about two months. Well. After that, which I ended up loving, it took me no time at all to fly through her other two novels, which I loved just as much and more than SYBG. Matson does touching, moving contemporary very very well, and I can't wait until her fourth novel. These are all personal favorites, so Matson's consistency has made me trust her.

6. Shannon Hale – Shannon Hale is another author that I have been reading since I was young, probably reading my first novel by her at 9 or 10 years old. The ones that I read when I was small are still some of my favorite books (The Goose Girl and Princess Academy) and I have since accumulated many of her other novels, from her ya sci/fi book to her adult contemporary to her middle grade fairy tale fantasies, I love Shannon Hale's writing, and I will continue to buy her novels.

7.  John Green – Many people have strong opinions about John Green and his novels, and I understand that he is not for everyone, but you'll forgive me if I love his novels and him as a person. I have been reading his books since 2009, and though some are better than others, I have never not enjoyed myself while reading a John Green book. They are short and fun and they have moments that I just stop and close the book and think about how John Green thinks of the things he does. IF HE EVER releases another book, it will be the best day ever.

8. Marissa Meyer – Though the conclusion isn't out yet, it is safe to say that the Lunar Chronicles have been a huge part of the last few years of my life, and will remain one of my favorite series, no matter what happens in Winter. I can't wait to see what Meyer does after she finishes this series, because I have no doubt in my mind that it will be amazing. The way she takes fairytales and makes them completely her own is something to behold, and I can't help but think she would be just as good at writing whatever else she chooses.

9. V.E. Schwab – pictured here are just a few of the books that V.E. (or Victoria) Schwab has written, and all of them are absolutely brilliant. From adult fantasy to adult super/anti heroes to all over the ya spectrum, Schwab has never failed to impress me. I absolutely love how original all of her ideas are, and from following her on twitter, I am unbelievably excited for whatever it is she comes up with next.

10. Jandy Nelson – Safe to say that I'll Give You The Sun is one of my favorite novels ever, and The Sky is Everywhere is no slouch either. These are both heartwrenching stories of love and loss, and it is truly like Nelson finds the bullet holes in your heart and aims the words right for them. I literally cried my eyes out while reading both of these books, more than once. Her next release isn't slated for release until 2017, but I would wait TWICE that to read a sentence that this woman writes.

What are your picks for this week?

xx

Sunny

top ten tuesday: authors with the most

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at the Broke and the Bookish, and this week's theme is: "August 11: Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From." I always love a chance to talk about some of my favorite authors, so I am totally in love with this week! I can't wait to see what you all put as well :)

1. Rick Riordan = 15 books

After following Percy Jackson and all of the Heroes of Olympus books through their publications, I read the Kane Chronicles and the two additional novels in the Percy Jackson world that Riordan wrote. Aside from the tiny series with millions of books that I read when I was really little, Riordan is the author that I have read the most books from, by far, and will remain forever one of my favorites.

2. Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler = 14 books

With 13 books in the Series of Unfortunate Events, it was easy for Lemony Snicket to secure a spot on this list. I love this author, for his strangeness as much as for his writing. I also read Why We Broke Up last year and loved it, proving that Daniel Handler can impress just as much as his alter ego, Snicket, can. 

3. Sarah Dessen = 10 books

I went through a stage where all I wanted to read was Sarah Dessen books, and I literally read every single thing she had written within the span of a couple weeks. Since then, I've kept up with her new releases, and though they aren't some of my absolute favorite books, I do find myself going back to them from time to time and always end up enjoying myself when I'm reading one of hers. 

4. Cassandra Clare = 10 books

Clare's Shadowhunter world is one of my favorite literary places to visit, and I know that this number will grow in the years to come. Between the six Mortal Instruments, three Infernal Devices and the Bane Chronicles, I have almost an entire shelf dedicated to Clare's novels. I can't wait for the release of Lady Midnight in 2016. 

 5. Ally Carter = 9 books

For me, as a thirteen year old girl in a boring southeastern town, the idea of girls being extraordinary was something really enticing, and Carter's Gallagher Girls series fed my need for excitement. I also enjoyed the three Heist Society novels, and though I haven't gotten to it yet, I feel sure I will like All Fall Down just as much as her other novels.  

6. J.K. Rowling = 11 books 

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. 7 Harry Potters, Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beetle the Bard, and a desperate read of the Casual Vacancy. I will love this woman forever.

7. Jennifer L. Armentrout = 7 books  

This woman has written an incredible amount of books, and I really would like to get more into her New Adult series, as I have heard great things about them! For now, I have read the Covenant series and the first book in the Lux series, and I loved every single second of these novels. I know the number by this woman's name will grow, because she is super talented.

8. John Green = 6 books

(I had to be shameless and use my own picture with this incredible person lol) I've read everything that John Green has written and I will continue to do so until he chooses to write no more words. He is one an inspiration to me, from his novels to his youtube to his social media platform and what he does with it. 

9. Richelle Mead = 7 books 

I read the Vampire Academy series last year, then read Bloodlines in 2015. I haven't continued on with that series yet, but I plan to, once I acquire the rest of the books! I also can't wait for her new release later this year, entitled Soundless. 



 

10. Sarah J Maas = 5 Books

Sarah J Maas is my queen, I bow to her, I will read her grocery lists if she would ever allow me to. Throne of Glass is, in my opinion one of the best series to grace the YA shelves, and I also adored her Beauty and the Beast retelling that came out this year. 




What are your picks for this list??

xx
Sunny

look at her go: reviewin' reviewin': to all the boys i've loved before duo

To All the Boys I've Loved Before & P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

find them on goodreads

☆☆☆☆☆

synopsis (book 1): To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. 

(full reviews that may contain spoilers of both books under the cut!)