top ten tuesday: freebie!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, and this week's theme is "January 26: Freebie Week! Pick a topic near and dear to your heart! Something you wished was on our official list!"

I'm doing: "Ten Books on my TBR that have been on my TBR that I want to finally read this year!" These are all books that I have on my shelves that I just haven't gotten around to yet!

1. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. By the time the last diary shuts, there have been great changes in the Mortmain household, not the least of which is that Cassandra is deeply, hopelessly, in love.

2. Confess by Colleen Hoover

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.
For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.
The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

3. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

4. Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

5. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air.

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves.

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.

As the circus travels around the world, the feats of magic gain fantastical new heights with every stop. The game is well under way and the lvies of all those involved--the eccentric circus owner, the elusive contortionist, the mystical fortune-teller, and a pair of red-headed twins born backstage among them--are swept up in a wake of spells and charms.

But when Celia discovers that Marco is her adversary, they begin to think of the game not as a competition but as a wonderful collaboration. With no knowledge of how the game must end, they innocently tumble headfirst into love. A deep, passionate, and magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

Their masters still pull the strings, however, and this unforeseen occurrence forces them to intervene with dangerous consequences, leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

Both playful and seductive, The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern's spell-casting debut, is a mesmerizing love story for the ages.

7. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiences in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

8. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

9. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.

10. Winterspell by Claire Legrand

The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince…but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums.

New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor’s ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother’s murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.

Her home is destroyed, her father abducted—by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they’re to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets—and a need she can’t define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won’t leave Cane unscathed—if she leaves at all.

Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear.

hope y'all are having a good week! 

xx
sunny

june wrap-up

It's so hard to believe that June is over, it absolutely flew by for me. I've been in London for all of June, which has been an amazing experience for me, and in being here I have spent a lot of time in various cafes and bookstores, mostly reading. As such, I have managed to read 15 books this month (a couple of them were for class, but I enjoyed them all the same) and also, I posted five reviews on here. So, all in all, it was an amazingly productive month for me, both in reading and on here! So, without further ado, here is my June Wrap-Up.

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before – Jenny Han (reread) ☆☆☆☆☆

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.
~~~
I re-read this one in anticipation for its sequel, which was released at the end of May. I am happy to say that the second time through, this book was just as adorable and enjoyable as I remembered it being. I love Lara Jean's world, I wish that I could be friends with her and have her bake me things all the time. Honestly one of my favorite contemporaries, I just adore the way that Jenny Han describes everything, and the romance is completely adorable as well. I have a full review of this and its sequel up here.

2. P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han ☆☆☆☆☆

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.
~~~
This was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year, considering how much I loved the first book in this duology. Though this was a bit shorter than I would've wanted (as is the usual case with contemporaries and me), I still had a blast reading this one. It took the adorable factor to the next level, but it also put in some tougher subjects, like the double standard for boys and girls and making tough decisions. All in all, I think that this leaves our characters in a good place. Again, the review for this one is here.
  

3. The Winner's Curse – Marie Rutkoski – ☆☆☆☆

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.
Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.
~~~
This was a surprise for me. It was a lot different from anything that I was expecting, in the best way. The world is really rich and well-developed, and I liked the way it completely kept me on my toes throughout. The romance is kind of a slow burn that builds into an unthinkable passion, which is always a pleasure to read. I have so much respect for Kestrel, the main protag, because she is a complete badass in her own way. As in, she doesn't fight with swords and arrows, but with words and misdirection. This is definitely a new favorite series for me.

4. The Winner's Crime – Marie Rutkoski– ☆☆☆☆☆

(spoilers for the Winner's Curse!)  Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.
The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.
As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.
~~~
SUCH a stunning follow up to the first novel in this trilogy! I ended up liking this one more than the first one, which is saying something because I really enjoyed the first installment! It was so intense, I was so nervous for the fate of the characters all during this, and was so frustrated when their decisions led them down the path of most resistance. I cannot WAIT for the third book in this one, it is sure to be a wild ride. I have a full review of this one up here! 
 

5. Bridge of Snow (The Winner's Trilogy Novella)  – Marie Rutkoski ☆☆☆


Ignore the stirrings of war. Let the carriage to a royal ball wait. There is a story to be told: of a starless night, a mother and her sick son, and a mortal who falls in love with the snow god, and will do anything to have her...
 ~~~
I don't know if this can really be considered one of the books that I read this month, seeing as how it is only sixteen pages, but it is so beautiful and sad that I had to put it on here. This is a prequel novella to The Winner's Curse, taking place when the male protag is only a small child. It is a truly gorgeous little story, and I really wish it was longer! 

 

6. Emma: A Modern Retelling – Alexander McCall Smith ☆☆☆

The summer after she graduates from university, Emma Woodhouse returns home to the village of Highbury, where she will live with her health-conscious father until she is ready to launch her interior-design business and strike out on her own. In the meantime, she will do what she does best: offer guidance to those less wise than she is in the ways of the world. Happily, this summer brings many new faces to Highbury and into the sphere of Emma's not always perfectly felicitous council: Harriet Smith, a naïve teacher's assistant at the ESL school run by the hippie-ish Mrs. Goddard; Frank Churchill, the attractive stepson of Emma's former governess; and, of course, the perfect Jane Fairfax. This modern-day Emma is wise, witty, and totally enchanting, and will appeal equally to Alexander McCall Smith's multitude of fans and to the enormous community of wildly enthusiastic Austen aficionados.
~~~
I bought this book for my mother, and she asked me to read it before she did "to make sure it had a suitable ending." A task which I took up happily. However, I found myself more than a little frustrated with this one. I felt that the exposition took up too much of the book, and the main action of the story was crammed into the last fifty pages. The language in this book is a little strange, sort of old-fashioned in a modern world.

7. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids– Sarah Ockler  ☆☆☆☆

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.
Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.
Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.
When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .
~~~
I love fairy tale retellings, and this was one that was so absolutely different from any other one that I've read. I've spoken extensively of how much I love this book, especially in my full review here, so if you want to know more about it, I encourage you to read it.

8. Beowulf – Seamus Heaney translation  ☆☆☆

The national bestseller and winner of the Whitbread Award. Composed toward the end of the first millennium, Beowulf is the classic Northern epic of a hero’s triumphs as a young warrior and his fated death as a defender of his people. The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on, physically and psychically exposed in the exhausted aftermath. It is not hard to draw parallels in this story to the historical curve of consciousness in the twentieth century, but the poem also transcends such considerations, telling us psychological and spiritual truths that are permanent and liberating.
~~
Beowulf is an easy classic to read, especially in this translation. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, so its a solid three stars. 

 9. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis ☆☆☆☆

They open a door and enter a world

NARNIA...the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins.

Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever.
~~~
It was so great to revisit this old favorite. I'm taking British Fantasy Literature over this summer and this is one of the required readings for it. I had forgotten how enchanting and, really, short, it is. I absolutely love it though, definitely a book that stands the test of time.

10. The Wrath and the Dawn – Renee Ahdieh ☆☆☆☆☆

A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.
She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
~~~
This is a book that was super hyped up, but I wasn't super interested in reading it until about ten of my friends texted me absolutely raving about it. I finally had to give into the peer pressure, and I'm so glad that I did. It was one of the most well-crafted stories that I've read this year, with an absolutely incredible world as a backdrop to an engaging story. I have a full review up here! 

11. The Fill-In Boyfriend – Kasie West ☆☆☆

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.
The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.
Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.
~~~
I had read Kasie West's On the Fence earlier this year and ended up actually really enjoying it, so I was looking forward to reading this one when it came out a couple months ago. However, this one fell a little flat for me, especially in comparison to On the Fence. That's not to say that it wasn't an enjoyable read, because it was really cute, but I didn't enjoy it as much as her other book.

12. The Start of Me and You – Emery Lord ☆☆☆☆☆

Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.
Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.
It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?
~~~
I finished this book and was in tears, both happy ones and sad ones, and then I went back to the beginning and read it again, which is something that I have never done before. I was so moved by the story of Paige, by her relationships and growing experiences, and so while this one is definitely a really cute summery romance story, it is also a lot deeper than that. This is definitely a new top five favorite contemporary for me, and I have a full rave-review up here!

13. The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak ☆☆☆☆

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is Stonewall Book Award-winning author Brian Katcher’s hilarious he said/she said romance about two teens recovering from heartbreak and discovering themselves on an out-of-this-world accidental first date.
It all begins when Ana Watson's little brother, Clayton, secretly ditches the quiz bowl semifinals to go to the Washingcon sci-fi convention on what should have been a normal, résumé-building school trip.
If slacker Zak Duquette hadn't talked up the geek fan fest so much, maybe Clayton wouldn't have broken nearly every school rule or jeopardized Ana’s last shot at freedom from her uptight parents.
Now, teaming up with Duquette is the only way for Ana to chase down Clayton in the sea of orcs, zombies, bikini-clad princesses, Trekkies, and Smurfs. After all, one does not simply walk into Washingcon.
But in spite of Zak's devil-may-care attitude, he has his own reasons for being as lost as Ana-and Ana may have more in common with him than she thinks. Ana and Zak certainly don’t expect the long crazy night, which begins as a nerdfighter manhunt, to transform into so much more… 
~~~
I had a really great time reading this novel, it was something different and completely its own. It was quirky and a bit ridiculous, but that was what made it so much fun. It tells the story of a slacker fanboy and a straight-a, uptight girl over the course of one insane night at a comicon sort of thing. It was insane and hilarious, and I read it super quickly, because I wanted to know what was going to happen.

14. Open Road Summer – Emery Lord ☆☆☆☆☆

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own.
Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.
This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.
~~~
After reading and adoring Emery Lord's other novel, I had to get my hands on this one immediately and read it as quickly as possible. And I am happy to say that I loved this one just as much as I loved the Start of Me and You. I was a little skeptical of this because I don't really like country music, but that didn't really take center stage. I loved the friendship in this one, and the concept that a person can help you grow as you fall in love with them. Emery Lord is definitely a new favorite author, I will now read anything else that she puts out.

15. The DUFF – Kody Keplinger (reread)  ☆☆☆

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
 ~~~
I watched this movie the other day, then felt that I had to reread the book out of pure loyalty to it. I really enjoy this one, the second time perhaps a bit more than the first. There are a couple parts that kind of annoy me, which is why it is 3 instead of 4 stars, but it is a really great read.

Hope you all are having a good summer!

xx
Sunny

spotlight on: summer contemporaries

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

the spotlight series is a monthly feature here at Stardust and Words, where we feature a different part of the bookish lifestyle each month! Last month's post, which was a guide to fantasy reads, can be found here. 

This month, being as it is the last month of school, is making me antsy for summer and everything that it brings. (especially the extra time that I can devote to reading lol) As I have said in a few other posts, in the spring and summer, I tend to be in the mood for cute contemporaries, and am always on the lookout for good ones. So this month, I thought it would be fun to spotlight some contemporaries for summer!

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These books are (with the exception of 1) exclusively set in summer or have to do with summer. This is not a comprehensive look at all my favorite contemporaries, just the ones for the hot months. Keep in mind that these are in no particular order, and that there can be multiple books included from a single author. (e.g. Morgan Matson writes amazing book, all her books happen to be set in summer, ergo, many a Morgan Matson on this list.)

1. Second Chance Summer – Morgan Matson

As the title suggests, this is a book that takes place over the course of one extraordinary summer. Taylor and her family take a summer-long vacation at the lakehouse where they used to spend all their summers, forcing Taylor to face some old friends and some old more-than-friends. Though the story definitely has elements of lightheartedness, young love, and friendship, it is by no means just a mindless, happy story. The characters face are hard truths, sickness, forgiveness and admitting wrongs. I love Morgan Matson's writing, and though this is not my number one favorite of hers, I still would give it a five star favorites rating.

2. Amy & Rogers Epic Detour – Morgan Matson

Like I said, I love Morgan Matson, and this is definitely my favorite novel of hers. I love Amy & Rogers with all of my heart. Like Second Chance Summer, there are elements of tragedy and hardship underneath the exterior of a fluffy summer romance. After Amy's Dad died in a car crash, her mother decides to pack up and move across the country, leaving Amy in charge of getting the car from California to Connecticut. But Amy hasn't driven since her father's accident. Enter Roger. Old family friend who needs to get to Pennsylvania and can drive. The two form a shaky bond, but as the miles pass, their relationship deepens and grows. I love road trip stories, and the details that Matson puts into this cross country collection of characters and experiences is amazing.

3. Since You've Been Gone – Morgan Matson

This is Morgan Matson's third and final novel, I promise. Since You've Been Gone is a story of best friends, and specifically, what happens when that best friend that you've come to depend on suddenly disappears, leaving only a list of bizarre instructions in her wake. When Emily's best friend Sloane does just that, Emily enlists the help of friends new and old to help her complete the list and find Sloane. This is the lightest of Matson's three novels, and probably the most fun and quickest. I loved the way the romance developed and the ways that Emily changed throughout the novel.

4. To All the Boys I've Loved Before – Jenny Han

Strictly speaking, the this book does not take place in summer. So, right here, on book four of this list, I've broken my rules for this post. But! This book is so cute and amazing and squee-worthy and I think of it in my head as a summer read, so I couldn't not include it on this list. This is the story of Lara Jean, who, over the course of her life, has never told her respective crushes that she likes them, only poured her heart out in love letters and stored them in her room. But when someone sends the letters, her world is turned upside down as one of her closest friends receives word or her secret crush and she enlists the help of a fake-boyfriend to throw her friend off. I love love love this story, it is so much fun and a definite must read for your summer.

5. My Life Next Door – Huntley Fitzpatrick

Definitely a quintessential summer read for me. Samantha and Jase are next door neighbors who, over the course of one summer, simultaneously get to know each other and fall in love. Though it isn't instalove, exactly, they do develop a relationship pretty early in the book, which is something that makes this different from a lot of other YA books that I've read. The story is about their relationship, how they overcome obstacles to stay together, rather than about the buildup to an eventual revelation of feelings that we see so often. It is cute and fluffy, to be sure, but it also felt relatable and real, especially because both families played a huge role in the entire story.

6. What I Thought Was True – Huntley Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick's other novel is a classic story, girl-from-wrong-side-of-tracks-meets-boy-from-right-side type affair. But it is also a lot darker than her other novel, dealing with more serious issues than My Life Next Door did. The romance also takes a lot longer to develop, but that doesn't make it any less sweet. Gwen and Cassidy are naturally at odds. Gwen cleans houses and Cassidy is a trust fund baby. But they also have a history, something that makes Gwen hate Cassidy for something even more than just the obvious disparity between their lifestyles. However, when Cassidy becomes the lawn boy for some of the houses Gwen cleans, the two, perhaps, have a chance to reconcile and maybe even fall in love.

7. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – Ann Brashares

Pretty much every girl from the ages 10-35 found out about this book in 2005, when the movie based upon it came out. But just in case you missed it: four best friends, who have always spent their summers together, separate for the first time, going across the globe on respective trips. They find a pair of pants that, against all rules of science and humanity, fits all of them, and decide to send them back and forth over the summer. Amazing story, and the book is decidedly darker than the movie, with the girls having to grow up and deal with hard truths over the course of their summers. I love the emphasis on the fact that differences can make friendships stronger, as well as can distance, but in the end, it is you who makes your own decisions, and you who has to deal with their consequences.

8. Falling in Love with English Boys – Melissa Jensen

When Catherine's mom drags her across the pond so she can do research in London for the summer, she is less than thrilled. She has nothing to do except read the journal of Katherine Percival, written in 1815 and remarkably relatable to her own life. When Catherine meets William, who just so happens to be the descendant of the other Katherine, and also super cute, things start to get very interesting. This is told in alternating POVS, which is a definite change. One is Catherine's and one is Katherine's journal, and I definitely liked Catherine's portion of the story better, but by no means are the diary chapters bad or boring. This would be a quick and fun summer read for most.

9. This is What Happy Looks Like – Jennifer E. Smith

This is the book that we all wish would happen to us in real life. Graham is an uber-famous movie star, and he accidentally sends an email to Ellie, a small town girl living in Maine. This happy accident starts an email chain between the two of them, and it continues happily until Graham actually comes to Ellie's hometown to shoot a movie. Which, of course, is when everything gets complicated. I absolutely flew through this book, as it isn't very long and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. There are some "secrets" being hidden by characters, but I thought they were pretty transparent and wasn't surprised by any of the reveals. Still, this is cute, which is exactly what a summer book should be.

10. We Were Liars – E. Lockhart

Honestly, the less you know about We Were Liars going in, the better. I started this book knowing next to nothing about the premise, and that made it such a richer reading experience, because this book is kind of short, and being surprised by everything that was happening made it feel longer. This book definitely has a huge twist at the end, and it is much darker than any of the other contemporaries on this list. It does take place in summer though, it is just a different kind of summer than the rest of these. It is so good and so worth the surprise and mystery though.

11. The Truth About Forever – Sarah Dessen

There are a couple Sarah Dessen books that I could've put on this list, but to be honest, after I read five or six of them they all started to run together. The Truth about Forever is the one that I do really remember liking, and the only one that I have ever felt like rereading. This is the story of Macy, who has a dead father and a controlling boyfriend and a life that is falling apart. She takes solace, for the summer, in the chaotic world of Wish catering, surrounded by a colorful cast of characters and Wes, who is artistic and honest and strong. In the ensuing days of summer, Macy finds herself growing and changing, and doing things she never thought she would ever do. This is definitely my preferred Sarah Dessen novel, and it is quite perfect for reading whilst laying on a beach or by a lake somewhere.

12. 13 Little Blue Envelopes – Maureen Johnson

Honestly, it has been quite a while since I read this book, so all I remember about it is that a girl has an aunt who sends her envelopes with instructions in them, and said girl runs around, meeting different people, going to different places, following these instructions. And that it takes place over the summer. I've included it here because I do, in fact, remember enjoying the book as I read it, even if I don't remember many of the plot details, and also because it is very popular with many others on goodreads and in the blogging sphere.

13. On the Fence – Kasie West

Charlie has grown up around all men, and so she excels at sports, but not so much at communication. With her single dad, three brothers, and quasi-brother of a next door neighbor, she is happiest when playing some sort of sport. But when she gets a job at a boutique and starts to spend time around girls for really the first time in her adolescent life, she finds that there might be more to her than just one side. I loved that this book didn't put down girly girls for the sake of the tomboyish ones, or vice versa. I thought the romance was cute and the book as a whole was good, but Charlie accepting herself and realizing that she can be more than just one thing was the real victory of this story.

14. Prada and Prejudice – Mandy Hubbard

I adore Regency England, and I loved this take on Jane Austen's classic story. When Callie is on a school trip and takes a bad fall, she somehow wakes up in Jane Austen's England, and spends the majority of the rest of the book clumsily trying to survive that world. However, there are cute boys and good friends wherever you go, and that works in Callie's favor as she alternately crushes on and hates the arrogant Alex, a duke. This book! This book is so so cute! But it is also about accepting yourself and loving what you can bring to the table, instead of trying to change yourself to fit into other people's standards. Adorable with a good message- a beautiful thing.

15. Better off Friends  – Elizabeth Eulberg

Macallan and Levi have been best friends since they were kids. Everyone knows that they are a package deal, and they've always been there for each other. However, the fact that they're so close makes it hard for others, especially those with romantic interests in one of the two, to get close without feeling threatened. And then there's the problem of Macallan and Levi's own feelings for each other, which are confusing at best. This is the classic "can boys and girls be just friends" question, and I loved the whole ride. Macallan and Levi are so likable, and even when they can't seem to get it right between them, you still root for it to smooth itself out for the whole book, which takes place over many years and many summers, so I'm counting it in this list.




I hope you can read/swoon over some of these suggestions! What are some of your favorite summer-related books?

xx
Sunny

january wrap-up

I think wrap-ups are a good way to keep track of what you read and when you read it over the course of a year. I also like to look back and see how the last month of my life has been, reading-wise. Therefore, I present to you my January wrap-up.

I read a total of nine books in the month of January, which was a little less than I wanted, but it was still a pretty stellar month in terms of reading!

1. Until Midnight – Melissa Landers ☆☆☆☆
(spoilers!) Cara and Aelyx only have one day to spend together before he returns to earth and she travels to Aelyx's home planet, L'eihr. Homesick and worried about the upcoming year apart, Cara is desperate to make these final hours count. Worst of all, Cara is missing Christmas, stuck on board an alien spaceship. When Aelyx learns that Cara is forgoing her favorite holiday, he tries to recreate Christmas in space by researching traditional earth customs…but a few things get lost in translation.
 

 2. Heir of Fire – Sara J Maas  ☆☆☆☆☆
(MAJOR spoilers!!)  
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

3. On the Fence – Kasie West ☆☆☆☆
For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

4.  Humans of New York – Brandon Stanton ☆☆☆☆☆
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton set out on an ambitious project: to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City.  Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories.  The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.
Humans of New York is the book inspired by the Internet sensation. With four hundred color photos, including exclusive portraits and all-new stories, Humans of New York is a stunning collection of images that showcases the outsized personalities of New York.
Surprising and moving, Humans of New York is a celebration of individuality and a tribute to the spirit of the city.

5. Defy – Sara B Larson ☆☆☆☆
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

6. Ignite – Sara B Larson  ☆☆☆☆
(spoilers!!) 

Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

7. The Chaos of Stars (re-read) – Kiersten White ☆☆☆☆☆
 
Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy, is back with The Chaos of Stars—an enchanting novel set in Egypt and San Diego that captures the magic of first love and the eternally complicated truth about family.
 
Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

8.  The Year I Turned Sixteen – Diane Schwemm ☆☆☆

 Turning sixteen is an unforgettable milestone, and each of these four sisters has her own story to tell. Rose, the oldest, feels like she has the most responsibility when her father dies, and yearns to be true to herself. Daisy wants to break free from her family, but trouble arises when she falls for a bad boy. Laurel struggles with the loss of a close relative and finds herself drawn to a boy who may actually understand. And Lily, the youngest sister, feels like nothing could be more difficult than actually being herself. These four books in one special bind-up make for a great value—and an even better read.

9. These Broken Stars – Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner ☆☆☆☆


Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive -- alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth.






So what did you guys read in the month of January?

xx
Sunny