summer days and summer nights: stardust reviews

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

edited by Stephanie Perkins

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goodreads/b&n/amazon

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

mini reviews for each short story under the cut!

spotlight on: an old favorite: Anna and the French Kiss

welcome to another episode of "spotlight on," a monthly feature here at stardust and words, where I pick something bookish at random and prattle on about it for quite a while. You can find the rest of the spotlight on posts here. This month, instead of doing a themed list or anything of that sort, I decided that I would go back and read a book that I loved pre-blogging, and tell you about it. I've chosen Anna and the French Kiss, which I've read many times but never done a proper review for, so I do hope you enjoy this!

(this is the old school cover that everyone kind of hated but that holds a special, nostalgic place in my heart.)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

☆☆☆☆☆

pub date: December 2010
original read date: june 2011
rereads: either 7 or 8 times... I've lost track

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

top ten tuesday: valentine's day freebie!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, and this week's theme is: "February 9: Valentine's Day is next week...let's do a Valentine's Day themed freebie! Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Valentine's Day Reads (or anti-Valentine's day reads), Top Ten OTPs, Top 10 fictional crushes, top ten great love declarations in fiction, swoony quotes from books etc. Get creative!"

I actually really like reflecting on love around Valentine's Day: whether it be romantic love or platonic love, I feel really happy that there is a special day to celebrate the people that are important in our lives. Though I don't feel like it should be limited to Valentine's, I do think it is a good day to tell the people around you that you love them.

That being said, I'm going to make my list this week a little different:

"Top Ten Female Characters I Would Invite to a Galentine's Day Party!"

(basically my fave fun, contemporary gals that would make a party amazing)

 

<– 1. Paige & Co. from The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord 

 

2. Lara Jean Song Covey from To All the Boys I've –> Loved Before by Jenny Han 

 

<– 3. Anna Oliphant from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

4. Reagan and Lilah from Open Road Summer by –> Emery Lord 

 

<– 5. Cather Avery from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 

6. Lea and Maribel from A Little Something –>

Different by Sandy Hall 

 

<–  7. Emily and Sloane from Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

8. Caroline and Hannah from Steering the Stars by  –> Erica Cope and Autumn Doughton (coincidentally the names of me and my bestie/roommate so thats cool)

<– 9. Harper Price from Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

10.  Rose and Lissa from Vampire Academy by –> Richelle Mead (TECHNICALLY, not strictly contemporary, but that's okay, it's my list)

what did you creative people come up with for your valentine's lists this week? 

xx

Sunny

spotlight on: books about the holidays

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Hello! Welcome to the December spotlight post here at These Stardust Words. I have been completely swamped with finals for the past two weeks: essays and exams and whatnot, so there has been a lamentable lack of posts here during that time. However, now that school is over, I am back with a vengeance and ready for CHRISTMAS!!! So hopefully we will be doing a bunch of festive-themed posts in the next couple of weeks. Spotlight on is a monthly series here where I talk about whatever I want to talk about for a while. You can find all the previous installments in this series here. This month, I am talking about books that include Christmas/holiday scenes in them. 

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top ten tuesday: halloween!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish! I have missed the last couple of weeks of TTT, which made me really sad, but I am excited to be back on top of things this week. This week's theme is: "October 27: Halloween themed freebie -- your choice (ie. 10 best ghost stories, 10 things that scare you in books, 10 literary Halloween costumes, 10 vampire novels, 10 books that WILL scare you, 10 non-scary books for Halloween, 10 scariest covers, etc.)" Since I've recently done a Halloween post that features books that remind me of my Halloween aesthetic (i.e. creepy, mysterious, on the dark side) (also I'll just link that here), today, I thought I would go another route, though still sticking to something Halloween themed.

What is the best part of Halloween? THE CANDY!!! So here are ten super sweet books that you can curl up with while stuffing fun sized butterfingers down your throat (like I am wont to do this time of year!)

1. A Little Something Different – Sandy Hall

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.  But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

Candy Counterpart:  This book is the sweetest of the sweet. You know the Cookies and Creme Hershey bars that are just like white chocolate and oreo? That's this book.

2. To All The Boys I've Loved Before – Jenny Han

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.

Candy Counterpart: Something designer, with a little bit of a surprise. Like a Salted Caramel Ghirardelli Square.

3. Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Candy Counterpart: Its sweet, but you have to kind of work at it to get there! Once you do, however, its totally worth it. Butterfinger for sure!

4. Emmy & Oliver – Robin Benway

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.
She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.
He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Candy Counterpart: It tastes like nostalgia, something amazing from when you were little. Something like a Pixie Stix!

5. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour – Morgan Matson

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way. 

Candy Counterpart: A huge part of the appeal of this book, to me, is that it reads like a movie, one where you get totally sucked in and are rooting so hard for the characters. For this book, you totally need a box of theater candy, like Buncha Crunch or Cookie Dough Bites.

6. 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?

Candy Counterpart: You know what the smartest and dorkiest of all candiest is? Smarties, of course.

7. Steering the Stars – Autumn Doughton and Erica Cope

Be careful what you wish for…
Aspiring writer Hannah Vaughn worries that she is doomed to live out the rest of her existence in a sleepy Oklahoma town. For as long as she can remember, she’s dreamed of something more – adventure, excitement, intrigue. When her sister invites her to London and she’s accepted to a prestigious writing program at The Warriner School, she jumps at the chance. But will it be epic or an epic fail?

You’ll never know if you don’t try…
Nothing ever happens to straight-A student Caroline McKain and that’s exactly the way she likes it. With her best friend in London and junior year looming on the horizon, all she wants is to remain invisible. So when she is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, she must ask herself: Can an invisible girl really take center stage?

Follow Hannah and Caroline as they navigate the complexities of first love, family and growing up. As their bond is tested, the girls will learn that being apart can ultimately bring you together. Steering the Stars is a fresh, heartfelt young adult story about fate, discovery, and the magic of friendship.

Candy Counterpart:  Something British that you get from Waitrose for your best friend back home when you're in London on a trip, like Dairy Milk (or, my favorite, the Dairy Milk Oreo bar) 
  

8. Love Fortunes and Other Disasters – Kimberly Karalius

In the tradition of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, one girl chooses to change her fortune and her fate by falling in love.

Love is real in the town of Grimbaud, and Fallon Dupree has dreamed of attending high school there for years. After all, generations of Duprees have successfully followed the (100% accurate!) love fortunes from Zita’s famous Love Charms Shop to happily marry their high school sweethearts. It’s a tradition. So she is both stunned and devastated when her fortune states that she will NEVER find love.

Fortunately, Fallon isn’t the only student with a terrible love fortune, and a rebellion is brewing. Fallon is determined to take control of her own fate—even if it means working with a notorious heartbreaker like Sebastian.

Will Fallon and Sebastian be able to overthrow Zita’s tyranny and fall in love?

Candy Counterpart: A new twist on an old favorite, like a Midnight Milky Way.

9. 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.

Candy Counterpart: The really good candy that you have to hide from your siblings/parents. In other words, all of the Reeses. The mini ones. The pumpkin shaped ones. The white chocolate ones, etc.

10. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Bejamin Alire Sáenz

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Candy Counterpart: Its something that isn't necessarily the sweetest at first, but you grow to love it. Sour Patch Kids! 


That was actually really fun to do! Do y'all agree with the choices? What candies would you pick for your favorite books?

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope it's a great one :)    

xx
Sunny  

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: movies and tv show adaptations

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish where each week we discuss on a different theme. This week's theme is: "June 2: Top Ten Books I'd Love To See As Movies/Tv Shows," which is something that I think we all like to think about. We all want our favorite books to turn into movies or tv shows, so that there is more for us to love, but we also want them done right. (and they so rarely are) Here are my top ten picks for books I'd love to see on the big or small screen.

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han – I think this would be the most beautiful movie, both visually and for the story. Jenny Han has done a wonderful job with setting up a specific look for all of her characters and the things they do, so I think it wouldn't be difficult to turn this into a film. Plus, it would be a great rom com for all ages. 

 

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – Again, I think this would make an amazing movie. With Paris as the setting and a cast of lovable characters, there is literally no reason that this shouldn't be a huge hit. Plus, with a slow burn romance culminating in a very romantic ending, it is just the sort of thing that would work in a Hollywood movie. 

3. A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray – I like that this movie could play up the sci/fi part of the book or the romance part of it and it would still be a great movie either way. The fact that it does have that sci/fi element would reach a wider audience and intrigue a lot of people. Plus, there are some beautiful settings in here just waiting to be visualized. 

 4. Vicious by V.E. Schwab – we are in a golden era of superhero themed everything. From the success of marvel on the big screen and dc's characters all over the small one in series like arrow, the flash and the upcoming supergirl, I think it would be just the interesting twist to throw Vicious into the mix. A story about heroes and anti-heroes that all look a whole lot like villains would be so amazing, something different in this already amazing market. 

 5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – I think this would make an incredible Game of Thrones style TV series. Since there are going to be six books and each of these books is of sizable length, there is tons of material that just couldn't be done justice in movies. It would be so fun to release a mini-series of the prequel novellas first, an episode for each one, and then plunge into the first book with a first season. I think this is a story that more people need to know about! 

6. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour – I'm all about the visual aesthetics in a movie. If the setting and the staging is beautiful I am more inclined to like the film. Which is why I think that Amy and Roger's, with the whole of rural America rolling by their car, would be a visually pleasing story. The adventures that they go on would play out so well on a big screen. 

7. Mosquitoland by David Arnold – This is the one on this list that I think would fit the bill for quirky indie film that hits it big. Because the story itself is not something that would typically be #1 at the box office, but it is so much of the human experience at its very core that I think it couldn't help but touch people in a way they wouldn't expect. 

8. Cinder by Marissa Meyer – Another longer series that would make a great TV show! There are four books and a prequel, which I think is more than enough to get a great start for a series. It might be a little like American Horror Story in that each season has a different setting and different characters introduced, but with the seasons connecting a lot more than AHS. It would be sci/fi romance mystery amazingness.

9. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – I picture this as a grungy sci/fi sleeper that, for the most part, doesn't have a whole lot of color, unless it is portraying the OASIS. I think this would be an immensely fun movie to watch, and that it lends itself easily to a film adaptation. 

 10. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins – I think that this could be marketed SO well if they played up the cutesy southern belle angle even while Harper is kicking ass and taking names. It would be something so unexpected, which I would love to see. 

What are some of your picks?

xx
Sunny

top ten tuesday: romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, where each week we highlight a different category of the bookish lifestyle. This week is a free week, and we can pick anything that we want to post about. I personally have been in a particularly swoony mood all week, so I chose to talk about my top ten favorite book romances. (keep in mind though that these are not necessarily my favorite book couples, I just enjoy their stories the most.) These are examples of events that made my put down the book and squeal from the adorableness, cry happy tears, or be sad because these are things that do not happen to normal people. Let's all appreciate the love here people.

1.Will and Tessa from The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. Clockwork Princess especially is just a riot of swoon-worthy moments, but really all three books are just golden for these two. To see Will grow from a distant and snarky boy to someone deeply in love is one of the most powerful changes in any book that I've read.  I'm also just partial to the fact that, no matter what, Will and Tessa need each other and, even when all seems hopeless, they can't help but have hope for each other. The epilogue of Clockwork Princess completely ruined me, it was so beautiful and indicative of the depth of love between the two.

2. Anna and Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. One of my favorite tropes in books is a friendship that grows into something more, and the way that Anna and Etienne do this is magical. They are two people who just seem to get one another, from the very beginning, and even though they're both unavailable for romance at the beginning, their relationship deepens to something more meaningful than either of them realize. Another favorite trope of mine is the idea of home being a person, and for Anna and Etienne, this is adorably wrought.

3. Macallan and Levi from Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg. This is the classic When Harry Met Sally syndrome of two friends who can't quite get the timing right to grow into something more. This book stretches through years, and the constant thing throughout those years is Macallan and Levi's unbreakable friendship. Though they both date other people in the story, it is clear to the reader that the only way they will ever work is if they're together. The rest of the time you're just waiting for they themselves to figure that out.

4. Lara Jean and Peter from To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. Lara Jean starts off the book by hiring Peter to be her fake boyfriend to prove that she is over someone in her past. However, as most fake-boyfriend situations do, Lara Jean and Peter grow from business partners to something more, something that is scary for the both of them to admit, even to themselves. They're a bit awkward, and that makes their story that much more adorable.

5. Tamlin and Feyre from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. This is a recent release, which means that this story has to be REALLY good to make it into this top ten. However, I have always loved the story of beauty and the beast, of looking past stereotypes and first impressions to the person that lies underneath them, and Maas does this in an incredibly fresh, engaging and sexy way. Tamlin is a perfect match for Feyre (though we all love to hate Rhys) and though it takes them awhile to get there, their romance is sweeping and grand.

6. Emma and Mr. Knightley from Emma by Jane Austen. I have always loved Emma's romance, almost more than other Austen heroines'. The idea that Emma didn't have to marry, that she never planned to need anyone other than herself, but somehow found herself drawn to her older brother figure with a passion that surprises even her? Beautiful, in my opinion. Emma may be silly and a little bit vain, but Mr. Knightley knows this and everything else about her, and loves her anyway. There is a level of transparency between these two that only comes from years of friendship, and it is beautiful.

7. Paul and Marguerite from A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray. Two people jumping through the multiverse makes for a complicated love story, especially when one of them is suspected of murdering the other's father, but that is what makes Paul and Marguerite so different and also amazing. Even though this story takes place in four different parallel universes, somehow Paul and Marguerite end up near each other in every single one. Their closeness is not only on a physical level, but also seemingly soul-deep. I love the idea that, even in different worlds, if two people are meant to be together, they will be.

8. Amy and Roger from Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Amy and Roger have the slow burn type of romance that takes a while to get off the ground, but that makes the moment that it does so much better. They both have walls and secrets and things that they'd rather hide, but something about being in the car, driving cross-country alone tends to bring out the secrets in these two, and it is wonderful to watch them begin to trust and care for each other as the state lines pass under their wheels.

9. Isadora and Ry from The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White. Isadora and Orion (or Ry) are the definition of star-crossed lovers. Mixed up in ancient mythology, epic poetry and culture, these two start off as uneasy friends. It is clear from the beginning that Ry has feelings for Isadora, but for her it takes longer to let him in, past her hard exterior that is a product of her unusual childhood. The twist at the ending for these two is something that I want to read again and again.

10. Harper and David from Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins. The idea of two people, sworn enemies, snarking and sassing each other until somehow, their feelings of hatred grow into something else is something that I will never tire of. For Harper, David is the last person that she would ever want to fall for, but when it actually starts happening (while in the background she fights a supernatural force, of course), it isn't so terrible? I adore this pair.

what are some of your favorite romances?

xx
Sunny

top ten tuesday: authorpalooza

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature over at The Broke and The Bookish where we highlight a different theme every week. This week's theme is "April 21: Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors (yeah, I'm mean like that! You could narrow it down to a genre if you it REALLY kills you...or just make your list a top 20 :P )" And, as many bibliophiles will know, this is a daunting subject. I narrowed my list down to twelve, but there were nearly thirty amazing authors in the mix at one point or another. There are just so many amazing writers out there, it is hard to pick and choose favorites.

1. Rainbow Rowell – When someone asks me who my favorite author is, I often think of Rainbow Rowell first thing. I absolutely adore every single thing that she has written, and I would highly recommend her to a wide variety of readers. Her stories are real and funny, and I honestly just can't get enough.

2. John Green – Another one of my knee-jerk reactions to the question of favorite authors. I have dutifully read every single novel that John Green has ever written or contributed to, and though I have liked some more than others, there is nothing that John Green has written that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. 

3. Jane Austen– My first Austen novel was Sense and Sensibility, and I read it when I was eleven years old. Ever since then, I have been, maybe predictably, in love with Austen and her entire world. When I visited Bath, in the UK, where Austen spent a lot of time, I nearly lost my mind. Though my favorite novel of hers is Mansfield Park, I truly do adore each one of her novels. 

4. Sarah J Maas– I just read my first novel by Sarah J Maas last fall, and she immediately became one of my favorites. Her Throne of Glass series is one of the most epic, completely compelling and readable series that I have ever read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Court of Thorns and Roses soon. Maas is newer to me but definitely up here in the list of my favorites. 

5. Morgan Matson– I must admit, I was interested in Matson for a while, but never got around to reading any of her novels. Then, when I finally read Since You've Been Gone, I fell in love and read her other two novels in quick succession, loving every single second of the experience. It has been a while since I was so completely swept up by a contemporary author, and I can't wait to see what else Matson has to offer. 

6. Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket – One of my primary childhood influences (is this a scary statement? probably) I tore through A Series of Unfortunate Events several times in my formative years. He is so funny and clever, though, I soon expanded my reading experience to those books beyond just the series, and I have yet to be disappointed. 

7. Stephanie Perkins– It has been a good amount of years since I first read Anna and the French Kiss, and after about eight rereads (and several reads and rereads of her subsequent two novels) I can firmly say that I will never get tired of Stephanie Perkins' writing. She has such a talent for characters, and I cannot help but fall in love with her writing, every single time. 

8. Rick Riordan – My love for Rick Riordan's stories goes back to when I first read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief when I was 11 years old. I had never read anything like it, and I kept up with his new releases every single year until the Heroes of Olympus series finished last fall. I can't wait for his new series to begin this October, though I am sad to be leaving some of my absolute favorite characters behind.

9. J.R.R Tolkien– Tolkien is another one of those authors that captured my imagination when I was in middle school, and the first time I read the Fellowship of the Ring was such a magical experience for me, I cannot imagine a favorite authors list without Tolkien on it. 

10. Shannon Hale– It seems that I have loved so many of these authors since I was a child, because Shannon Hale is another author who shaped my young adolescence. I read The Goose Girl and Princess Academy over and over, and I still have yet to read a book of Hale's that I haven't loved. 

11. J.K Rowling– Guys. Come on guys. J.K. Rowling has to be on your list! Where would we all be without Harry Potter? 

12. Gail Carson Levine – Ella Enchanted was just one of the many amazing novels that Gail Carson Levine wrote that I loved. There are many other fairy tales, short stories, and fantastical worlds to visit, and I love every single one of them. 

There are so many other amazing authors! It was so hard to pick just these. What are some of your choices for this list? 

xx

Sunny

a week of recommendations: day three

And here we have come to day three of five of A Week of Recommendations. Today's theme is Contemporaries, yay! Throughout my reading life, I have always been drawn to contemporaries. Some of my favorite stories and worlds may be fantasy, but there is never a time where I fall into a slump in the middle of a contemporary. I just love them, especially when they're sweet and fun, but with some emotional depth. 

Ever since I was in middle school, I've been reading lighthearted contemporary novels. I remember falling in love with Jen Calonita's Secrets of my Hollywood Life, Liz Tigelaar's Playing With the Boys, anything by Meg Cabot, etc. etc. They're really what got me into reading religiously, and I've carried that love of contemporaries with me into this portion of my life. I had to really pare down the choices I had for this list, so the ones that made it on here are the best of the best. (I also went over the five book standard, but that's ok because I seriously couldn't decide.

1. I'll Give You The Sun – Jandy Nelson

Of course, the number one spot has to be one of my all time favorite books and the best book of 2014, I'll Give You The Sun. This is the most beautiful story about twins, Noah and Jude, and the ups and downs of their relationship with each other and with life in general. It is told from two points of view, and two points in time, and there is mystery and romance and heartbreak throughout. This is the first book I recommend to anyone who wants to read anything at all. It is lyrical, magical, truly. Something happens when you read this book, and you'll want it to happen to you. 

2. Jellicoe Road – Melina Marchetta

This is another book that, after I read it, I felt truly changed. For the first fifty or so pages, you're so confused and have no idea what's going on, but then you get into the groove of the story and I, quite literally, could not put the book down for the rest of the story. It is amazing, the way that Marchetta weaves the past in with the present and the connections that are made. The characters are another triumph of this one, they're raw and imperfect and that is why you love them. If you've already read this one, another great contemporary by Marchetta is Saving Francesca, which I also highly recommend.

3. Anna and The French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins

If you know me at all, you will probably have heard/read me rave on and on over how much I love this book and also Stephanie Perkins in general. The things I love so much about this book are as follows. 1) the setting. As Anna explores the city, we get to do so also, which is amazing. 2) the romance. This novel has one of those romances where the two people literally cannot stay away from each other, as if there is a magnetic pull between them, and I love that. 3) It's funny and it's fun, and the quirks in it make you feel like it is real, like it is happening to you. It also deals with family problems and sickness and what to do when you fall out of love but are too scared to be alone. I could go on and on about how much I love this one, but it would be much easier if you just read it. 

4. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour – Morgan Matson

I am a huge fan of roadtrips and roadtrip stories, and this is one of the best ones that I've ever read. Actually, everything by Morgan Matson is amazing and totally worth a read, but Amy and Roger happen to be my personal favorites. I love how they both went through so much character development, with the whole of America as the backdrop for their relationship and the way they grew from strangers to something more. This one deals with some hard subjects, and shows how, when bad things happen to you, after grieving, it's ok to move on. I think that's important, and I love the way this book doesn't undermine the grieving process.

5. To All The Boys I've Loved Before – Jenny Han

This is one of the most adorable books that I've ever read. I love the protag, Lara Jean, because she isn't jaded or cynical, she's open and innocent and, really, a breath of fresh air when you're reading from her POV. I really enjoyed seeing her story unfold, from the embarrassment she feels in the beginning, to her becoming stronger and being able to stand on her own in the end. I love the detail that Jenny Han put into characterizing Lara Jean, her sisters, and everyone else in the novel. This is a great spring/summer read.

6. Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe – Benjamin Alire Saenz

A different sort of contemporary than the other ones on this list, this is more about friendship than romance, except at the very end. It is about how one person can change the way you look at everything, can make you come out of your shell and just be more you. And those are the friends that you should hold onto. Aristotle and Dante broke my heart and then put it back together again, for this book is bittersweet and melancholy, told in a subdued tone that brings the emotions into sharper focus. It made me think, and I adored every second of it. 

7. Love Letters to the Dead – Ava Dellaria

This book isn't just about tragedy, it hinges on it. Nothing in this book would've happened without one single, tragic moment, when a beloved sister dies. Who she leaves behind is her younger sister Laurel, who is starting high school without her sister, falling in love without her sister, and sharply feeling everything that's left over without her sister. It's only when Laurel starts writing letters to dead people that she can puzzle out her own feelings and perspectives, both on her sister and herself. Love Letters to the Dead is sad and poignant, but it also emphasizes the importance of newness, all the while underlining the fact that, to move on, we must forgive.

What are some of your favorite contemporaries? 

xx

Sunny