2019 Reading Goals

Since we're almost 2 weeks into 2019, I figured I should probably post my reading goals for the year before it's too late for them to be New Year's Resolutions. Luckily, I ended 2018 on a really good note in my reading life, having had a month of regular reading and plenty of four and five star reads. My awesome end to 2018 (in terms of reading at least) made me pretty optimistic about how my bookish life will look in 2019, and we'll see if my expectations live up to reality.

Looking Back on 2018

Happy New Year from me and Fabio

Not gonna lie, I had a harding time getting back into reading around the start of 2018. I had to read a lot of books for an award committee that I was on, which meant reading quite a few books I wouldn't normally read, and it's really draining to have to read something as opposed to choosing to read it. I had a flashback to being in college and being forced to read Frankenstein and hating it; had I chose to read it, maybe I would have been less critical. But every now and then, I would read a book that would make me want to keep reading, and by November I was getting back into it. I started a new job and was able to have more time in the mornings before work to read, and have just been in a better head space in general which made me want to take care of myself during my downtime with my favorite thing- reading.

Booknerd highlight: taking a photo with Fabio on New Year's Eve. I fangirled just a little bit.

Favorite Reads of 2018

  

  

  

Challenges

Goal: Read 25 contemporary romance books

Goal: Read 25 historical fiction books

Goal: Ready for 24 of 48 hours 1/26/19 - 1/27/19

Goal: Read 52 books that fit categories designated for 52 weeks

Reading Resolutions

• Read what feels good and don't feel bad about quitting a book
• Read more books that I own
• Borrow ebooks from the library instead of buying them, as I usually don't re-read them
• Try authors I've never read before
• Keep reading diverse books
• Prioritize reading and reviewing ARCs I am approved for on NetGalley

How about you? Do you set reading goals for the year or just play it by ear? Signed up for any challenges? Leave them below! I'm always looking for more challenges, as if I don't have enough books to read.

Review: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Title: The Night Tiger
Author: Yangsze Choo
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: February 2019
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Last year, I discovered my favorite under-the-radar read, The Ghost Bride, which came out in 2013 and told a spellbinding story of a beautiful girl in Malacca, Malaya who is betrothed to a dead man, and the trials she must endure to avoid becoming a ghost bride and creating the life she truly wants. I finished the book in something like two days and I immediately searched for other works by the author, but was extremely disappointed to find out it was her debut and, only, book. 

Fast forward to seeing The Night Tiger on NetGalley a few months ago. I immediately cheered, added it on Goodreads and requested it, crossing my fingers that I would get approved. Now, here I am having finished, again in about two days, and I'm awestruck by this author once more. Similarly to The Ghost Bride, Choo's latest work intertwines folklore, myth, and magic with the everyday trials of grief, feeling like one's fate is out of one's hands, and examining the gender inequality so present in society. Taking place in a different Malaya location, mostly in Ipoh and Batu Gajah, during the early 1930's, the setting is a beautifully bittersweet rendering of a country that sees the blend of so many rich cultures side by side with the careful grip of colonialism. 

In this setting, we meet Ji Lin, a smart, clever girl whose name corresponds with the virtue of wisdom, even if at times she feels she is always doing the wrong thing. Ji Lin loved academics and longed to study medicine, but her family forbid it due to her gender, and instead she is relegated to apprenticing at a dress shop and earning extra money as a "dance instructor" at a dance hall, the May Flower. In 1930's Malaya, working in a dance hall is seen as being very unbecoming and lowers her status, but Ji Lin enjoys the female friendship and it's the only way she can make enough money to help cover for her mother's secret gambling debts. Ji Lin grew up along side Shin, (or xin, the the virtue of faithfulness) her stepbrother, and they were always close, even sharing a birthday, until they finished school and Shin left home to pursue the career in medicine that Ji Lin so desperately wanted.

The Ghost Bride, 2013

Running parallel to Ji Lin's struggles, we meet Ren, who is a possibly ten or eleven year old trying to pass for "almost thirteen", an orphan whose twin brother died years ago. Ren, an extremely competent houseboy, is on a mission to fulfill the dying wish of his former master, which was to be buried with his missing finger so that he could pass into the afterlife as a complete person. Ren, clever and determined and honestly the highlight of this book, goes to work for a new master, a doctor like his previous one, in the town where Shin happens to be working as an orderly. 

In the background of the private struggles of each character is a possible man-eating tiger who may not be a man or a tiger completely, but some fearsome combination of both. Add to this a magical blend of ghosts, premonitions, and dreams that feel "like stories unfolding", and you can almost picture the perfection that is The Night Tiger. Drawing from folklore and mythology combined with beautifully evocative writing, I'm glad that Choo took her time with this manuscript because the finished work has turned out to be one of my favorite books (once again!) that will stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend preordering this book, and even though I received an e-ARC of it, I'll probably end up purchasing it as well. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but I feel this is the type of story I will want to read and re-read and get more out of it with each reading. If you love historical fiction, settings that are often not written about historically, and a blend of magic and ghost story, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Confession: I am low-key obsessed with Holiday Romance

I think because I live in L.A. and there are palm trees everywhere and we all don our winter coats as soon as the temperature dips below 65 degrees, I love reading holiday romances during December. My favorites are ones set in small towns where there is actual snow, so I can really live vicariously through these characters who have seasons. I'm not even a Christian person (raised Catholic, grew up to be more "spiritual" than religious), but Christmas is fun and holiday romances give me warm, fuzzy feelings. Sometimes this means skipping ahead in a series I've never read so I can get to the holiday novella, or branching out to authors I don't normally reach for, and it usually means reading a lot more contemporaries than usual, but that is just how I get into the wintery mood. Keep reading for a few of the holiday romances on my Currently Reading and To Be Read lists! 

The Dance Before Christmas by Victoria Alexander (Lady Traveler's Series)

I stan so hard for this series, it's honestly one of my favorites. These are books that are so rich with setting, historical detail, and unique characters that Alexander's books are insta-buys for me. I pre-ordered A Dance Before Christmas and was super stoked to see it magically appear on my Kindle. In this novella, heroine Anabel Snelling needs a fiancé by Christmas or else she'll have to marry the man her father has selected for her, and marrying him is the last thing she wants. Like any reasonable romance heroine, she hires an American actor, Wesley Grant, to play the role of her future husband. This has everything I love: first of all, it's a Victoria Alexander novel. Second of all, fake relationship. Third of all, Christmas. And it's only 113 pages long so it's a perfect quick read to finish in one sitting.


The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan 

Set in Scotland? Check. Three sisters with secrets and complicated lives? Check. Christmas magic and a sparkly cover? Check. Once again, I pre-ordered this one (hi, I have issues), but this time on Audible. This seems like a good read for listening to while cooking or baking (I do these things occasionally). The Christmas Sisters features a coming home story for sisters Hannah, a workaholic who hasn't been home in years, Beth, a stay at home mom who wants a new life, and Posy, who takes care of her parents but is also looking for a change, possibly with her hot neighbor. This strikes me as more a clean, wholesome read with elements of romance but a greater focus on family dynamics and I can't wait to get into it.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber

Believe it or not, I've never read a book by Debbie Macomber! She always seemed a bit too wholesome for me, but I saw the cover of this book (hello, Aurora Borealis realness) and read the description and I knew I had to give this prolific author a try. First of all, the heroine, Josie, is a chef (hot job) and the hero, Palmer, is a freaking swordcraftsman (also a hot job), so that is the first element that drew me to this book. Plus, it's set in Alaska at a romantic snowy lodge, and I'm hyped up on Alaska still after reading The Simple Wild last month. So wish me luck on my first foray into Ms. Macomber's works! Also, look at those cute dogs on the cover.



Holiday Temptation by Donna Hill, Farrah Rochon, and K.M. Jackson 

It's not a holiday romance round-up without a few short story collections! In Holiday Temptation, Donna Hill's story A Gift of Love features a drama professor (her) and a sexy barista (him); Farrah Rochon's Holiday Spice is all about holiday travel and features jetsetting photographer Miranda falling for Christmas-enthusiast Kyle; and, lastly, K.M. Jackson's From Here to Serenity, which is more of a New Year's tale that follows a successful CEO as he goes on a cruise to relax during the holidays, and where he meets a beautiful personal chef, Essie. I love the range of settings and characters in these contemporary romances, written by some of the best of the best of the genre. Plus, my library had a copy which is always a plus! Preparing to curl up with this one whenever I'm looking for a short, sweet story in between longer books.


How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe

Now on to the historical anthology! This one just came out this year and features short stories by some of the powerhouse authors of the genre. Admittedly, Sarah MacLean books haven't really worked for me, but I love Tessa Dare (mostly) and I've liked all the Sophie Jordan books I've read. Joanna Shupe is another author that's always on my TBR but haven't gotten to yet, so now is my chance! All of the stories in this collection feature Duke heroes (duh), but each author takes a different approach to this common trope. The story by Sophie Jordan appeals to me the most, as it features a hermit duke (love a broody dude), and she writes a bit steamier that most of the authors on this list so it will be a good change of pace for all of the wholesome holiday-ness. 



Dance All Night by Alexis Daria (Dance Off series)

Love the addition of New Year's holiday romances! In this novella, ballroom champion Jess and Broadway star Nik have a past history of New Year's kisses that went nowhere, despite their mutual attraction. Jess hates the holidays, but Nik can't stop thinking about the one that got a way, so when the holidays roll around again, he plans to finally make her his. Daria's series is full of humor and diverse characters who share a common love of dance and artistry. If you haven't checked out the series yet, definitely pick it up and then dive into this short holiday story.

A Wedding One Christmas by Theresa Beharrie

Once again, my favorite trope: a fake romance, and during the holidays no less! A comedy of errors leads Angie to be in a wedding in South Africa while she's on her way home to Capetown; a handsome stranger agrees to play her date, and he hates weddings as much as she does (same). But their feelings may go beyond fake, and this hero might be the one to help Angie heal after the death of her father as she deals with spending her first holiday without him. I love everything about this! And contemporaries set somewhere else than the typical fake small town in the U.S. are always a refreshing change of pace.


That's all for this year's holiday round-up! We'll see if I make it to all these books on my list before the holidays are officially over and I have to start planning for my 2019 reading goals. For now, I look forward to sipping cocoa, enjoying some holiday romances, and pretending it's not glaringly sunny outside.

Happy reading!

Review: Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale

Title: Small Town Hearts

Author: Lillie Vale

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Young Adult

Release Date: May 2019

Rating: 4/5 Stars













Sometimes, you just need a solid small-town romance to cleanse the palate after reading a pile of literary fiction titles and for me, Small Town Hearts was the perfect sweet treat. Small Town Hearts is a bittersweet, beautifully written book that perfectly captures the in between of growing up and childhood, of moving forward or staying in place. The story follows 19-year-old Babe, who works and lives in the small Maine town of Oar's Rest. Babe is happy to stay in town after graduation and pursue her love of baking and coffee, and plans on spending the summer with her best friends who also happen to be dating. Babe herself hasn't dated since her ex girlfriend left for college, and she certainly doesn't plan on pursuing the cute, mysterious "summer boy" Levi who is in town for a summer art program. But Babe's summer gets complicated real fast and nothing turns out quite as she plans.

Babe is the best, she bakes and makes coffee

What I loved: the setting! Oar's Rest is an idyllic small town set on the coast of Maine. Babe lives in a freaking lighthouse and is a baker and barista at a super cute coffee shop called the Busy Bean. There's an annual fish fry and sandcastle competition, and neighbors around Oar's Rest look out for each other. Yet even in this sweet small town, there's drama. Babe doesn't know her father, and her mother basically takes off most of the year to work on a cruise line. At nineteen, Babe is basically on her own and supporting herself, so her friends play an extra important role in her life as sort of her found family. So when her perfect summer plans come to a halt when her best friend, Penny, decides to break up with her other best friend, Chad, and asks Babe to do it for her, Babe knows that no matter how much she hates change, this will be a summer full of it. Babe finds some relief in Levi, an artist in town for the summer as a part of the town's Art Center's artist in residence program, but she has no desire to fall for a boy who will only be in town for a few months, so she tries her best to keep him at arm's length. Meanwhile, she finds out her ex, Elodie, also an artist, is back in town for the summer and she dreads seeing the girl who broke her heart. As you can see there are lots of juicy moments throughout the story, but overall the authenticity of the characters really shines through, even with all of their faults.

How I pictured Babe's front yard

Plus, It was nice to read a story with a bisexual heroine whose coming out isn't the focus of the story, but instead her sexuality is just already a fact about who she is. The writing is really evocative and the setting makes you wish this town was real. Although there are quite a few dramatic moments between friends and exes, I thought that was very authentic given the age of the characters. Everyone is right on the edge of being done with high school and forced to start growing up, but also reluctant to be a full-fledged adult. Babe's story really rang true for me, and I would definitely recommend this to readers who love small town settings, realistic angst, and complicated friendships and relationships. Also, it will make you really hungry so make sure you have coffee and a baked good while you're reading!

Admittedly, it was kind of odd to read this book during the holidays since it takes place in the summer, but it actually perfectly captured that warm-and-fuzzy first love feeling that is fun to read about this time of year. It's expected publication date is next May, so it will come out right in time to be a perfect summer read. A really solid YA contemporary, and I look forward to hearing more from this author!

Review: No One But You by Brenda Novak

Title: No One But You
Author: Brenda Novak
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 2017
RITA Category: Contemporary Romance - Long
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Okay, so you see that sweet-looking cover with the rain boots and the lavender and the cute font and the blurb from Debbie Macomber? Doesn't that make you think this will be a feel-good, small-town romance? Well. You're in for a bit of a surprise. I know I definitely was, because this book centers around spousal abuse, stalking, and a murder. I typically do not read summaries of books before I read them, so needless to say I was a little shocked when I started this one and the first chapter is describing the heroine going to an apparent murder house for a job interview so that she can support herself and finally escape her loveless marriage to a man who emotionally abuses her. No One But You is kind of like the most bananas Lifetime movie in book form but to be honest I enjoyed it and all of the out-of-control drama.

In No One But You, Sadie is doing everything she can to make a new life for her and her young son, Jayden, in an attempt to finally move on from a marriage to a man she no longer loves and whom she is growing to fear. The man in question is Sly (yes his name is really Sly), who is a local cop who abuses his power in order to keep Sadie under his thumb and convince the townspeople of Silver Springs that he's a stand-up guy. He does everything he can to assert his dominance over Sadie and shows almost no love to his son Jayden; in short, he's the literal worst. Meanwhile, Sadie is so desperate for her own money that she decides to apply for a job posted by the town Boo Radley, Dawson Reed, who like a year before was acquitted for the murder of his adoptive parents, who owned a farm in Silver Springs. Although innocent, the entire town thinks he's guilty anyway (fyi I hate all these townspeople) and everyone thinks Sadie is better off with her abusive ex (who they don't believe is abusive because enablers) than working for Dawson.

Warning: once you start reading you won't be able to stop if only to see how this bananas book ends

Except...Dawson is super hot! And he just wants to take care of his mentally disabled adoptive sister! And he actually likes Jayden! Unsure of who to believe, Sadie decides to have an open mind and get to know Dawson while helping him get his farm in working order and plans to help care for his sister once she can be released from the facility that cares for her. Novak does an excellent job getting the reader invested in these characters; all I wanted throughout this book was for Dawson and Sadie to get together, be happy, and for everyone else to just leave them alone. However, that wouldn't make for a very long novel, so there is quite a bit of intense drama, especially with the ex-husband. It was a pretty fun ride, but I did find some sections a little repetitive and had to stretch my suspension of disbelief for some parts of the plot, which is what prevented this read from being a solid four stars.

The preferred approach to reading this book.

Still, I really like Novak's writing and I like that the theme of this series seems to be recovering from past traumas and still being able to find a happy ending. So despite my jaw dropping for the majority of this book and the totally misleading cover, I will definitely be reading every single other book in the Silver Springs series ASAP. Recommended if you like complicated romances featuring imperfect leads and, let's face it, a bit of juicy melodrama.

Review: Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai

Title: Hate to Want You
Author: Alisha Rai
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 2017
Rating: 5/5 Glowing Stars

Why oh why did it take me so long to finally pick up this book?!?! I added it to my TBR when it came out, then I picked up a copy at The Ripped Bodice bookshop when Alisha Rai happened to be there and was kind enough to sign it for me and then I put it on my shelf reverently and haven't cracked it open since. But, I decided it was time and I'm so glad I did. After reading a few lack luster and overly tropey romances lately (reviews to come), Hate to Want You was like a breath of fresh air. 

So the premise is a juicy second chance situation between Olivia, or Livvy, Kane, who had a youthful romance with Nicholas Chandler that ended abruptly and resulted in meeting each other once a year, for the past nine years, for a one-night tryst on her birthday. Except this year, the tenth year, Nicholas, who lives for Livvy's annual text messages, doesn't hear from her. He also doesn't hear from her when she shows up back in the town where they both grew up and where he still lives, helping his family run their massively successful business-- a business which Livvy's family also used to run, until Nicholas' father cut her mother out of the partnership following a tragedy that killed Livvy's father and Nicholas' mother. There has been bad blood between the two families since, but Nicholas can't stop himself from showing back up in Livvy's life and the two become entangled once again.

The plot alone was enough to keep me reading, but beyond that, I love the characters that Rai has created. Every character has a past that impacts their present behavior, and everyone is recovering from something, some more successfully than others. Livvy and Nicholas both have histories that make communication almost impossible, and Rai touches upon both mental illness and the emotional work that women are expected to put into relationships in sensitive and intelligent ways. Both Livvy and Nicholas have a lot of growing up to do, including working on themselves before they are ready to bring each other into it. I found this incredibly realistic of actual relationships, so while Hate to Want You may feature a dramatic-sounding plot, the characters are so well-drawn that it was easy for me to become invested in their growth and their story.

Oh, and the love scenes are rated wided eyed blushing emoji for steaminess.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes complex characters in their contemporaries, plus teenage romances given a second chance. I already have book two in the series and book two was just released last month, so I know what I'll be reading for the next few weekends. I can't recommend this series enough!

Review: Tell Me by Abigail Strom

Title: Tell Me
Author: Abigail Strom
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 2017
RITA Category: Contemporary Romance - Mid Length
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Heroine: Jane, a nerdy bookstore owner who hasn't dated in awhile and spends most of her time working, reading, and working on her secret novel. Hero: Caleb, a tough, outdoorsy type who is also her sister's best friend and business partner, and crazy handsome. Um, yes to this all of this! I went into this book not knowing much about the set-up, but was instantly drawn into the story. Jane is shy yet sarcastic and doesn't have a ton of dating experience, and thinks she meets the perfect man until she finds out she's not his idea of a perfect woman. Meanwhile, Caleb hates staying in one place and has a hard time finding a reason to commit to one woman (or city, or country) for an extended period of time. Still, the fact that Caleb works with Jane's beautiful, adventurous sister means they get thrown together and, though their interests clash, they find (to their surprise) that they have great chemistry together. All of this taking place largely in a bookstore only added to how much this book spoke to me.

However, I went into Tell Me without knowing much about the plot, so I was not prepared for the sudden shift in tone about halfway through the story. This was in the description, so not a spoiler, but I hardly ever read the descriptions before I start a book, because I like to be surprised. Suddenly the plot totally changed, and it was a little jarring to go from cutesy romance to tragedy and grief. However, I really enjoyed Strom's writing style and I was already super invested in Jane and Caleb, so I powered through the sad bits and I'm glad I did. The shift in plot definitely contributed to the growth of the main characters, and I really liked that the length of time it took for them to (finally!) get together was realistically long and that they didn't fall in love over night. Even the side characters had inner lives and personal growth, which I appreciated.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like quirky heroines, opposites-attract romances, and who don't mind a bit of tragedy combined with their romance. 

Review: Between the Devil and the Duke by Kelly Bowen

Title: Between the Devil and the Duke

Author: Kelly Bowen

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: January 2017

RITA Category: Historical Romance - Long
Rating: 4/5 stars

This was my first Kelly Bowen historical, and I was pleasantly surprised! I try not to read too much about a book's plot before picking it up, and I was immediately drawn into the story of Angelique Archer, a noble lady whose family has fallen on extremely hard times, forcing her to use her quick mind to win card games and support the family with her gambling winnings. Angelique loves math and focuses on ensuring her family's home isn't lost and that her younger brother's can continue their education. I immediately liked her, and that she was smart, capable, and understood how she struggled with asking for help, as it meant that she had to admit that she was in trouble. I also liked the hero, Alexander Lavoie, the owner of the club where Angelique plays, who is impressed by her skills with cards and wants to hire her as the first dealer for his club. His offer could solve her problems, as she would have a steady income. However, as a lady she is hesitant to accept a job, and her instant attraction to Lavoie only complicates matters. 

I loved the chemistry between Alexander and Angelique, and romances where at least one character is a commoner is kind of my catnip, so I loved that this book didn't have the typical duke hero, despite the title. I became pretty invested in the characters, both good and bad; I literally screamed whenever Angelique's loser brother would squander their money or do something stupid, and the twist at the end of the book had me gasping. It was a fun, engrossing read that featured a few elements of intrigue that I thought made it a bit more exciting that a typical historical romance. There is definitely a mystery element to the story, thanks to cameos from some of the characters from the previous books in this series, which I now have to go back and read because I have to find out how those characters ended up together.

Between the Devil and the Duke is a good read if you want something different than the more traditional historical romance. The writing is snappy, the characters are well developed, and the romance itself is pretty steamy. Alexander is the type of hero that appeals to me; he's kind of a bad boy, but not really, and he's looking for a woman to be his equal rather than a damsel in distress. If you're looking for a quick-paced historical romance that has a nice mystery woven into the romance, I would definitely recommend this book!

Reading Diversely in Romance

In my last post, I talked about attempting to read all of the 2018 RITA nominees, and to be honest it did stick out to me that this was probably the biggest swathe of white authors I've ever attempted to read in my life. While there are a few authors of color on the list, the absence of black authors was definitely striking. RWA addressed this in a blog post about needing to do better, which has sparked an inspiring (and, at times, enraging) discussion on Twitter amongst romance readers, writers, and booksellers; discussion is 100% necessary for change, and I thought I would be remiss to not mention all of this going on while also posting reviews of the RITA nominees as I read them.

As someone who is not 100% white (I'm half white, half Filipina), I already try to read diversely because I don't like reading about straight white people all of the time. I get incredibly excited when a heroine is Asian or if an author is Filipina, and I love supporting other authors of color besides those who write about characters who reflect my culture and heritage. That's because I just want to read good books, and often good books are written by authors of color and perspectives that are underrepresented in traditional publishing. So for every RITA nominee written by a white author, I'll be reading another romance book by an author of color. I have a ton on my TBR, so this will give me the excuse to work my way through them, and I'll be reviewing them alongside the RITA nominees. My hope is that next year the list of nominees will be more representative of the diversity of romance authors that are writing and being widely read and loved by romance readers. Until then, I think it's essential to keep discussing, keep dialog going, and to keep reading good books, books that happen to be written by black women.

How do you discover authors you love who may not be as widely promoted as most mainstream white authors whose covers feature white models? Are you more likely to use your purchasing power on books written by authors whose work is often pushed to the side in award nominations? I know that I often do; if an author that I know is excellent isn't being recognized by mainstream organizations, I make an effort to buy their books, pre-order their books, and promote them online. I'm also more likely to purchase them for my library; although I don't select our adult romances, I do get to purchase young adult, and contemporary romance is hugely popular amongst the teens at my library, so I'm always making an effort to purchase YA romance written by black authors and authors of color or LGBTQ authors because...dun dun DUN! Teens love reading them! Anyway, I don't know how this will all pan out in regards to the RITAs and the nomination process moving forward, but if there is a positive it's that the bubbles of many are bursting and hopefully that will lead to progress.

We shall see.

RITA 2018 Read-Along

Well this is probably a terrible idea.

Even so, I've decided to challenge myself to read all of the RITA 2018 nominees before the award winners are announced in July. With categories ranging from contemporary to historical to erotica and more, this will definitely push me outside my reading comfort zone; which is why I wanted to try to read all of the nominees in the first place. I'm relatively new to reading romance, having started as a 30-something instead of in my teens, but I've so far fallen in love with the genre. I've always loved character-driven fiction, and no one does well-rounded characters like a really good romance. I especially love historical, being a history major, and have discovered a few of my favorite authors (overall, not just genre) by reading romance. However, I pretty much stay in my lane when it comes to the titles I read; I don't really read erotica, and I definitely do not do Christian romance. But I ask myself: why? Why limit myself when there could be some awesome reads out there? So here I am. Challenging myself to read some 81 books in the next four months. Sure, there may be some duds in there, or books that are just not for me (I'm afraid to read the one about the millionaire's baby), but I figure I should try something new and maybe it will help me grow as a reader.

Reading Plan

To check out the nominees for each category, visit the RITA website. The list is long and I'm not going to reproduce it here. I did, however, create a RITA 2018 Goodreads shelf to help me keep track of the long list of nominees, as well as my opinions on them. In order to make a dent in reading all of the nominees, I'm planning to do a combination of reading and listening to books. I'm eternally thankful to the Libby app to help me get eBook editions from my local library for as many of the books as possible, otherwise this would be an incredibly expensive reading challenge. A few of the books I already own and haven't read yet, or are available through Kindle Unlimited. I'm a nerd and I made a spreadsheet to keep track of all the different formats and where I'm borrowing or buying them from.

Currently Reading

     

What I'm Reading Next

     

For my fellow romance readers, does an award nomination make you more inclined to pick up a book? Or do the RITA awards not make much difference to your TBR? Also, if for some reason you are also reading along with the RITA nominee list, let me know and link your reviews here on my blog! I'll be posting regular updates as I make my way through the list. We'll see how this goes....

Happy reading!

Unboxing: February Uppercase Box

I was recently gifted a subscription to Uppercase Box, which is a YA-focused monthly subscription box featuring one signed new release and a few little bookish goodies. So far, I've been loving my boxes! My first one came last month and I was super impressed with the book choice and the quality of items, and when this month's box came I literally gasped.

February Book of the Month

This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2018! I almost bought this book the other day because I had ordered it for my library and for some reason it hadn't come in yet and I was dying to read it, so when I opened my Uppercase Box and found The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross inside, I died! And the edition included is beautiful; cover is gorgeous and the pages are all deckled edges and super thick, plus it's signed by the author. This is the kind of book that is worth subscribing over!

Other Goodies

This box also included an exclusive sticker to go along with the book (last month had a magnet; if I'm being honest, I prefer a magnet), plus a cute little notepad and, my favorite goodie included, a library-themed whole-bean coffee. I think that Uppercase Box definitely knows its' audience.

Overall Thoughts

So far, and I've checked out quite a few other subscription boxes, Uppercase Box has easily become my favorite. The book selections are consistently books that I want to read and would love to own, the extra goodies are always fun and useful, and the special features like author videos and book playlists that are available through their website make the reading experience a bit more exciting. I would 100% recommend subscribing if you like YA new releases but aren't sure which ones to buy, or if you are looking to gift a book lover. Shout out to my mom for getting this subscription for me during the holidays.

Did you subscribe this month? How do you feel about the selection?

What I Read: January Wrap-Up

Young Adult

  

 

 

I accidentally read so much YA in January! And, for the most part, I enjoyed pretty much all of them. A Line in the Dark made for the perfect page-turner airplane read when I was flying back from a vacation in Florida on the January first. I love Lo's writing, the unreliable narrator, and the mystery of the story. I read a couple ARCs that aren't out yet, and both I would highly recommend! The Way You Make Me Feel is an awesome contemporary romance that also focuses on female friendship, father-daughter bonds, and finding identity. Meanwhile, Emergency Contact, by Mary H.K. Choi, is a slow-burning character study and sort-of romance about a college freshman named Penny and a young man she meets named Sam. It totally brought me back to my college days with how intense relationships could feel at the time, and the whole awkward transition from a high school teen to somewhat older but much more independent teen in college. If I were you, I would definitely pre-order it! Olivia Twist is another upcoming release that is a gender-swap of the classic tale of Oliver Twist, except Olivia is a young lady trying her best to leave her past life on the streets behind her, until she reconnects with the Artful Dodger. I don't know about you, and maybe this is a booknerd thing, but I always theorized that the Artful Dodger was super hot and this book only supports that theory. It's a fun historical that's plot-driven and a fast read.

Lastly, I finally got around to The Last Namsara, which I had checked out from the library and kept renewing because I didn't have time to get to it yet. The book initially appealed to me because there are dragons, and I did enjoy it, but it wasn't my favorite YA fantasy that I've read recently. The writing was pretty good and the world was intriguing, however I felt that both the world and the characters could have been fleshed out more. Overall, though, a solid debut. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo left me feeling similarly; I loved the mythology behind it (based on Chinese myths, in particular the Monkey King) and I thought the concept would have made for an awesome urban fantasy TV show. However, I just didn't connect with the writing style. It was a little too tongue in cheek for my taste, but I think readers who enjoy snarky urban fantasy would really like it.

Graphic Novels

 

I was in the mood for graphic novels in January, and I picked these up because my favorite kind of graphic novels is the sort that is sad, slice of life, and introspective. These pretty much fit the bill! Spinning follows the author's journey from a child figure skater to professional artist, and each chapter was broken down into a different skating move. I liked the simple art and was really drawn into the story. I'm Not Here is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've seen in a long time. I loved every panel, and gg's style really resonated with me. It's sad, and short, and a good re-read.

Non-Fiction

 

Alison Weir's Queens of the Conquest was an excellent narrative history of the queens of England following the Norman conquest. It brought me back to my undergrad days (I majored in history with a focus on medieval England), and I was pleasantly surprised how much I remembered about the many queens named Maud. It was a good read, and I think she has more books in this vein coming out soon. Braving the Wilderness, meanwhile, was not my favorite. In fact, I kind of hated it and the saving grace was that it was short. I know everyone loves Brown, and I think she sounds like a really nice person who does put forth some ideas that can be helpful to people, but I just could not connect with it and I found myself ranting out loud quite a bit while reading this one.

Historical Fiction

This book was sooooo good! It was kind of a slow start, but basically it traces a fictionalized version of the life of Aemilia Bassano, who is often credited as the first woman in England to publish poetry for profit. The story follows her childhood, which was marked with tragedy but also encouraged in her a passion for the arts and for learning, up through her days as a courtesan, then wife, mistress, and eventual widow. I loved Mary Sharratt's writing, and there were some awesome moments of Elizabethan female empowerment going on that made me cheer. Sharratt has another historical fiction coming out soon called Ecstasy that I am 100% going to check out.

What I'm Reading Next....

Currently, I'm reading Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri as part of my Around the Year in 52 Books challenge. I also started and am slowly reading Mary Oliver's essay collection, Upstream: selected essays. I have a few ARCs downloaded from NetGalley that I want to start soon, and I also have a few other reading challenges that I'm working on. Overall, we'll see what I'm in the mood for in February. I'm thinking lots of romance.

What are you looking forward to reading in February? 

Happy Reading!