June Wrap Up and July TBR

Read in June: Mystery/Thrillers

Well this was not my best month for reading. I did read a good amount of books but less than I usually do. And for many of the books, it took me longer to read them then I expected. But you know what, that's okay. It was also a very hit or miss kind of month. I had a six star review (which is a two star on Goodreads) but I also had a  couple 10 star review. One that I know will be among my favorites of the year. When it was all said and done, I read 12 new books this month and no rereads, but I am about 1/3 of the way into one.

As far as challenges go, I'm still doing well. I've read 86 books towards my Goodreads goal of reading 150 books this year. I'm way ahead of my goal which is still exciting. I'm still hoping I can do it without rereads but we'll see when it gets closer. I'm also ahead of my goal for the Debut Author Challenge of reading 25 debuts by reading 3 debuts again this month for a total of 19 for the year. I'm also ahead for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge having once again read 5 books for that challenge reaching a total of 26 towards my goal of 36 for the year, at this point I'm thinking I can hit my secondary goal of 50 although I tend to slow down on NG/EW in the fall because of BEA books. And I'm also on track for the Rock My TBR Challenge by reading 2 books for that this month getting a total of 15 towards my goal of 25 for the year. And finally, the Audiobook Challenge. I listened to 3 audiobooks this month, giving me a total of 20 for the year which is ahead of my goal of 30 or more. I am still killing these challenges, which is great because I am so competitive.

The Books

1.) Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]

2.) The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]

3.) The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 
Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson 
Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]

5.) With Malice by Eileen Cook Rating: 10 out of 10 [My Review]

6.) Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
7.) Cure for the Common Universe by Christian McKay Heidicker 
Rating: 6 out of 10 [My Review]
8.) And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Rating: 10 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) And I Darken by Kiersten White Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
10.) Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
11.) You by Caroline Kepnes Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
12.) American Girls by Allison Uminger 
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Review to Come]

Other Posts

Crossing Over - Mysteries with a shocking ending
Discussion Post: How I Avoid Book Hangovers
Waiting on Wednesday: Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter, Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

To Be Read in July: Contemprary? No Theme?

In the cycle of TBRs, this month I have decided not to put as many books. I didn't have a great month last month so I'm putting a conservative list here. Or maybe I'm just mellowing out even more and not really planning out my books this far in advance. I mean I don't even have a theme. I was going to do contemporary because I always do that at some point during the summer but it doesn't really work looking at the books I know I'm going to read. Oh well. Here are the books I may read.

New Releases

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab - Add to Goodreads
YES! I am so excited that this book is finally coming out next week. I am so excited for the Victoria Schwab dark YA fantasy about monsters.

Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar - Add to Goodreads
I still am really interested in reading this book despite not reading it last month. I may just cave and buy a copy. It just sounds so weird and interesting.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir - Add to Goodreads
I was kind of a black sheep when it came to this book. I know most people are super excited about it but I'm not really. But I may get the audio because Steve West and Fiona Hardingham.

Backlist Books 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan - Add to Goodreads
I bought the audiobook for this awhile ago during an audible sale because it has two of my favorite narrators. I need an audiobook for my drive to NY for 4th of July weekend so this will be the one when I finish Ink and Bone.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson - Add to Goodreads
I think now may also be the time to start my next Cosmere book. I don't really have many audiobooks planned for this month so it could be a good chance for this one.

Books for Review

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine - Add to Goodreads

I was hoping to read this last month but I didn't have the chance to get to it. Mostly because I wanted to reread Ink and Bone first. But this is my read for the weekend and I'm excited.

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy - Add to Goodreads

I think this is about the end of the world. Right? An astroid is coming. Plus it sounds like a cute contemporary with nerdy characters. Sounds Fun

Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn - Add to Goodreads
This sounds so interesting. I mean I love books about superheroes and this sounds like such an interesting perspective. I love the idea of seeing the hero through their assistant/best friend.

The Devourers by Indra Das  - Add to Goodreads
Something about this book just pulls at. For some unexplained reason it reminds me of Uprooted. Plus it's a fantasy set in India which sounds really interesting.

How to Hang A Witch by Adriana Mather- Add to Goodreads

I'm so excited about this debut. It sounds really fantastic and write up my alley with the combination of history, fantasy, and revenge. Very cool.

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter - Add to Goodreads
This is one of my most anticipated sequels and I am not waiting any longer to read my ARC. I need to find out what happened to Jenny. (Get ready Pilli!)

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton - Add to Goodreads
This was on my list last month and I never got to it. But I picked this up at BEA and it sounds like an interesting mystery/thriller.

Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia - Add to Goodreads
This sounds like a really interesting contemporary. I love the idea of a good girl doing the wrong thing. That's so realistic and a unique coming of age story.

Rereads

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - My Review
I need a refresher on this book before I read Paper and Fire plus I'm super curious about this audio. It seems like one that would work really well in that format.

Jackaby by William Ritter - My Review and Beastly Bones by William Ritter - My Review
I'm not sure I will reread these to prepare for Ghostly Echoes. I may wait a year and just marathon the first three before the final book comes out. Depends on what my audiobooks look like for the month.

There you have it. All the books I might read in July. Well not all. I had a bit slower month in June so I'm pulling back a bit on my planning so I may read more than this. Plus I skipped a bunch last month that I may go back to. We'll see. Plus there is no theme this month. I was thinking about doing Contemporary because summer but there are really only a few contemps I have planned so I don't know. What I'm saying here is that if you see books on my wrap up next month that aren't listed here, don't be too surprised. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: You by Caroline Kepnes

Title: You Series: You #1 Written by: Caroline Kepnes Published: June 28, 2016 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.  There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.  As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

I had heard great things about this book so I snagged the audio from the library. I'm glad I did because this book is dark. Dark and creepy and vulgar and one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time.

This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions and thrills. I usually prefer a book that slowly builds to an exciting conclusion and this was not like that. Sure, it had a fantastic ending that had me terrified and on the edge of my seat but it didn't slowly get there. It hit you with something and then brought you down, then back up again when you least expected it. But it wasn't badly paced. It was all part of the experience. This is the kind of book that benefited from that kind of uncertainty and unexpected twists and turns. It made for a very thrilling read.

But this is a psychological thriller and therefore had some absolutely insane characterizations. Being inside the head of Joe Goldberg is not a fun place to be. He is a creepy, narcissistic, sociopath. But that makes him such a compelling antihero. I spent so much of the book wanting to tell him not to do what he was doing, to stop being such a creep, and to just move on. But at the same time I sympathized with his jaded dislike of others. The best parts of him connected to the worst parts of me. It was such a strange feeling to empathize and understand where a character is coming from and at the same time be so terrified of them.

And Santino Fontana, the narrator of the audio, really brought Joe to life. A lot of why I think I liked him in those rare moments were because of Santino. He made this character feel so real and that was what made him so interesting and complex. You felt the highs and the lows of his personality. When he was annoyed, you were annoyed. When he was excited, you were excited. When he was angry, you were nervous. It made for such an emotional read. And frankly it may have ruined Santino for me. How can I watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend without thinking about this book now? Dammit, I love that show and I love him on it.

The other really unique thing about this read is the format. It's not totally in second person but it is sort of in that narrative style. Joe frequently refers to "you" and as a reader sometimes you forget that he means Beck and not you, the reader. And that makes things all the more terrifying and creepy. This is not a guy you want referring to and interacting with you. And the format just makes for such an interesting thriller. I have been reading a few books written in this style lately and I definitely enjoy it. It makes for an immersive experience and with a book that is full of thrills that is engaging.

But I do feel like this book has to come with a bit of a warning. It is not for the faint of heart though. It is dark and vulgar and slightly gruesome. There is a lot of sex and violence.  As a typically YA reader I have to warn you that this book is far from clean. It's creepy and gross and will make you cringe quite often throughout the book. But that kind of added to the thrills. It felt so raw in that way. And even more like something I shouldn't be enjoying.

But I did enjoy it. I enjoyed it a lot. On the whole this was a complex and dark thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end and I absolutely loved it.

I give You by Caroline Kepnas 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy! This book is really fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who likes books about antiheroes and murderers. I would also totally recommend the audio. It's a great format for the book and a great narrator.

Have you read You? What did you think? How creeped out were you by reading it? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Audiobook Narrators

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

June is Audiobook Month. Did you know? I did. Mostly because I love audiobooks. Which you probably already know because if you follow this blog you have seen me talk about some audiobooks I have read and notice that typically I read one audiobook a month.

Last year for Audiobook Months I talked about my all-time favorite audiobooks. A list that of course has been amended since then with all the new audiobooks I have listened to in the past year. I thought about giving you some of my new favorites but then it hit me. I will instead talk about some of my favorite narrators and this is a freebie week for Top Ten Tuesday so here you go, my ten favorite audiobook narrators.

1.) Steve West
Books Read: The Scorpio Races, An Ember in the Ashes (both with Fiona Hardingham), The Crown's Game
I seriously cannot put into words how much I love Steve West's voice. It makes me feel things that are not appropriate for a blog post. But in general he's great with setting an atmospheric mood and with books that have subtle fantasy. And just having an amazing voice, he's good with that.

2.) MacLeod Andrews
Books Read: The Reckoners Trilogy
The humor in MacLeod Andrew's voice is unescapable. He brought some of my favorite characters to life in this series. David's bad metaphors, Megan's sullen sass, Cody's efforvescence, Prof's gruff standoffishness. They're all so different and he does them so well.

3.) Wil Wheaton
Books Read: Ready Player One, Lock In
I mean who in nerdom doesn't love Wil Wheaton? No one. I think. Sheldon Cooper but that's about it. Wil is an amazing narrator for sci-fi novels. It just works so well and his acting is perfect for these books with action and mystery.

4.) Rebecca Soler
Books Read: The Lunar Chronicles
Again it feels weird to mention a narrator even though I have only read one series they have narrated. But when I did my reread of The Lunar Chronicles and then started reading Winter, I had to stop and listen to the audio because she is so good. Her characterization is so on point. Like everyone is perfect.

5.) Nick Poedhl
Books Read: The Kingkiller Chronicles
I absolutely love the way that Nick Poedhl is able to create an atmosphere in this series. It's such an interesting world and it comes alive with his narration. Not to mention the subtle changes he gives to a diverse group of characters is fantastic.

6.) Michael Kramer
Books Read: Mistborn series
Speaking of accents for a diverse group of characters, Michael Kramer is another one who does that so well. I read and listened to the first few Mistborn books but by the second era stuff I was hooked on the audio. His voice for Wayne is perfection.

7.) Jim Dale
Books Read: Harry Potter series
I need to listen to more Jim Dale audiobooks. He's a master for sure. I plan to listen to The Night Circus for one. But I did love how he did the Harry Potter books back in the day when I was first getting into audiobooks.

8.) Kirby Heybourne
Books Read: Gone Girl, Don't You Cry
I just listened to Don't You Cry and I realized just how good Kirby Heybourne does with mysteries. He totally pulls you in and establishes and atmosphere of uncertainty while crafting complex characters. It's great. Side Note: Julia Whelan who narrates Gone Girl with Kirby is also really good even though she's not on this list.

9.) Will Patton
Books Read: The Raven Cycle
I recently marathoned this series on audio and it's another one where I had the narrator's voice in my head when I was reading. Plus I just love his accents. His Ronan was so perfect and his Adam, the subtlety of his Southern accent.

10.) Elizabeth Evans
Books Read: Throne of Glass series
I know a few people don't love these audiobooks because the narrator makes all the characters sound really conceited and cocky but it kind of works for me. I don't know, I think she totally brings these characters and this world to life.

Honorable Mention to: when authors narrate it like Douglas Adams doing the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Libba Bray narrating Beauty Queens.

Do you like audioboooks? Who are some of your favorite narrators? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas

Title: Dangerous Boys Written by: Abigail Haas Published: August 14, 2014 by Simon and Schuster (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Three teens venture into the abandoned Monroe estate one night; hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding; the other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense? Or murder?  Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece together the story of how they got there-a story of jealousy, twisted passion, and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful of faces…

I read Dangerous Girls a few months ago and seriously loved it. So for my mystery month I knew I needed to read more Abigail Haas, because does she know how to write a crazy thriller that messes with your head. 

For one thing, this was an incredibly compelling book, one of the most engaging books I read in awhile. I flew threw this book. I was supposed to be buddy reading this with Michelle from Pink Polka Dot Book Blog but I'm terrible and I couldn't stop reading. It took me just over a day to read this and I seriously could not put it down. It is the very definition of a page turner. From beginning to end I was engaged in the story and what was happening. There are so many twists and turns along the was and it is a really well-paced, building to a thrilling conclusion. Not to mention that the last 100 pages had me so nervous and worried.

In particular I liked the format of this book. Like a lot of my favorites mysteries and thrillers, it alternates between what happened then and what is happening now. You are left piecing together the truth from a character who has reasons not to be very forthcoming. It made for such an interesting plot and Haas does it so well. And while this mystery isn't quite as shocking as Dangerous Girls it strikes all the right notes and left me totally reeling when it was over. But you can put this in the "mysteries I solved column" but it was a totally fantastic mystery.

Another great thing about this book that made it so engaging and interesting is the characters. There are some really terrible people in this book. Practically ever character is selfish and aggressive. I spent a lot of the book being disgusted by their actions and disappointed by their choices. This is a book full of antiheroes and is absolutely another thing that Haas does so well. But because they were all so unlikable it was hard to dislike more. It made for totally compelling characterization and made the book really interesting.

On the whole this is a really fantastic YA mystery and a incredibly thrilling read. It has absolutely solidified my love of Abigail Haas. She is so good at writing compelling and engaging mysteries that mess with your head and have terrible characters that you love reading about.

I give Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. This is a fantastic YA thriller. Abigail Haas is a master at writing a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat with characters who are truly terrible and yet you can't stop reading about. If you liked Dangerous Girls you need to read this as well. Or if you are looking for a book to mess with your head then read some Abigail Haas.

Have you read Dangerous Boys? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Title: And I Darken Series: Conquerors Saga #1 Written by: Kiersten White Published: June 28, 2016 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.  And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.  Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.  But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

I was so excited to read this book when I first heard about it. A story about a female Vlad the Impaler at the Ottoman court. That sounds right up my alley. And it was, it definitely was. I really enjoyed this dark historical fiction full of political intrigue and subtle coming of age vibes.

As far as the plot goes, it may seem a little disjointed. The first half is about the childhood of Lada (the female Vlad) and her brother Radu. First we see them in their native Wallachia with their father the prince, then we see them in the Ottoman Empire as a prisoner of the sultan. This part was a little slow for me. It was kind of a fish out of water story but I kept waiting for it to start picking up. But pick up it did. It took me about a week to read the first half of the book and two days to read the second half. Once the political intrigue and action started kicking in, I couldn't put it down. I really loved seeing Lada and even Radu plotting and planning how to outsmart those who were against Sultan Mehmed who they supported. There were even some surprises along the way in terms of friends and enemies. In the end it did build to a great conclusion but it had a slow start and the pacing was kind of problematic.

But what I did really like was the characterizations. Kiersten White did a great job of developing our main characters and surrounding them with interesting and complex characters. Lada is described as being a vicious princess. What I liked about her is that despite the fact that she wants to be like the men, she can't eschew feminine things and that being a woman could actual be a benefit. Radu has his own struggle being who he is and it was nice seeing these two come into their own throughout the book. The best part though is that neither of them are perfect. They make mistakes, they do the wrong thing, they lash out, and they keep secrets. They are realistic and hard to like sometimes but that's what makes them great characters.

I also really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect. Vlad the Impaler is such a fascinating figure in Medieval and Sultan Mehmed is as well. They are two people that you don't often read about and it was great learning more about them throughout this book. But it was also really great learning about the life and culture during the time period. You can tell that the author did her research and it helped immerse you into the world but it wasn't overwhelming. I've heard the Game of Thrones comparison and I think what it made me realize is that GoT is based on real history and maybe this place and period was one of those influences. But I do have to say that I was hoping for a little bit more brutality from Lada, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of Vlad the Impaler brutality so hopefully future books have a little more.

On the whole, I thought this was a great historical fiction read. It's a bit slow in the beginning but it introduces you to characters that have great development and sets the stage for great political intrigue.

I give And I Darken by Kiersten White 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. What I have seen from reviews is that this is a really hit or miss kind of book. If you are into historical fiction and books with a slower plot that builds to a thrilling conclusion then check this out. I've seen the Game of Thrones comparison and I definitely get it. There's lots of political intrigue and complex female characters.

Have you read And I Darken? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Discussion Posts: How I Avoid Book Hangovers

Hi Friends,
It's time for another edition of My Thoughts Figuratively, a discussion post on My Thoughts Literally where I present my opinions on something other than books. I mean obviously it has something to do with bookish things but it's not a review. You get the picture.

Anyway, today I wanted to talk about book hangovers. If you are not familiar with the concept, (seriously? how are you not familiar with this?) it is the idea that when you finish with a particularly fantastic book you are not able to move on from it and it prevents you from reading and enjoying something else. Basically you are so hung up on that other book that you can't get it out of your head.

And the reason I wanted to talk about book hangovers is because in talking to someone about the book they had just finished, I realized I don't really get book hangovers. I honestly can't remember the last time I was so in love with a book that I couldn't read anything else. And the last time I loved a book so much it ruined the next book I read was months ago when I read The Raven King. I've read books I've loved since then but they didn't give me a book hangover.

Maybe this is because I am emotionally dead inside (which I really doubt because I'm a big old crier) or maybe it is because of these five things I do as a reader that helps me avoid book hangovers. Now because I don't believe in keeping my mouth shut about practically anything, I thought I would share these tips with you.

1.) Book Polygamy

What it means: I'm sure if you have been around for awhile you have heard me talking about book polygamy. If you haven't here is my discussion post about that. But the general idea is that you read more than one book at a time. I am a big practitioner in book polygamy and have been since I was a kid.

Why it helps with book hangovers: I feel like the fact that I am reading more than one book is one of the main reasons I don't get book hangovers. When I devote all my time and energy to one book that is when I am much more likely to be able to let it go. Whereas if I am spreading my thoughts around to multiple books it is more likely that I am able to move on when I finish a book that I love. It's pretty easy to focus on the next book when you're already half into it because you've been reading it at the same time.

2.) Gush With Other Readers

What it means: It's pretty self-explanatory but the idea is that once you finish with a book, you talk about it as much as possible with someone who has also read it. Get all those thoughts out there in the universe. Gush, vent, theorize, talk about what you feel and all the amazing, spoilery things that you thought about the book with friends you know have read the book.

Why it helps with book hangovers: This sounds counter intuitive doesn't it? But trust me when I say it really does help. Part of what I think causes book hangovers is when you sit with your thoughts of a book for too long. If you don't actually get the book out of your head then you will not be able to get the book out of your head. Doesn't sound so crazy now, does it? So find those people who you know read the book and felt the same way about it and spill your guts. Being able to babble and fangirl about it will also help in getting you to the next step as well.

3.) Catharsis

What it means: This goes hand in hand with the above point but it's more individual. Catharsis is the feeling of emotional release when you get something out that you have been feeling. Bookish catharsis is similar. You know what I mean, don't you? When a book makes you so sad that you just want to lay in the dark sobbing. Or it makes you so happy that you want to dance around hugging it. Or that cliffhanger makes you so angry you want to rip the book into pieces. Do all of those things. Get all of that out. (Except the ripping of books one).

Why it helps with book hangovers: Again seems counter intuitive, although maybe not as much. But it goes with what I said above. If you are not able to get a book out of your head it's because you haven't physically been able to get it out of your head. The emotions and feels are still in there and you need to get them out with a cathartic release before you can start something else. The above is more about plot stuff and spoilers where this is more about emotions. Bottling them up and not thinking about them will lead to repressed emotions that lead to a book hangover. So get it all out and then you will feel better emotionally about the book and are less likely to get a book hangover.

4.) Compartmentalize

What it means: Well this is kind of the opposite of the two previous ones. Compartmentalizing means not thinking about something that is bothering you. You put it in a box/compartment and then don't think about it ever again. Bookish compartmentalizing means not thinking about that book that you loved which will inevitably lead to you getting a book hangover. This is something that I have always been really good at doing. I think partially it's the book polygamy and I think it's also partially the next thing. Now a little disclaimer on this, I'm not saying never think about this book again. You can and should positively look back on books that you loved but don't fixate on every detail and how no other book can stack up. Compartmentalizing should just leave you with general feeling and not specific ideas that you can't let go of.

Why it helps with book hangovers: Remember everything I said about bottling up your emotions? I lied. Bottle that shit up. Don't think about it again after you finish the book. I know, it's easier said then done. But I think if you did gush about the book with friends and you had a cathartic release then you should be able to move on from there. I think being able to compartmentalize and move on from a book is what really prevents book hangovers. It's like drinking water and taking two aspirin of reading.

5.) Start Something Else Immediately

Except you're getting a new book. And maybe also cheese fries.

What it means: It means start something immediately. Yes, I mean immediately. Finish the book, close the cover, and then start something else. It might be hard sometimes because you're still kind of hung up on the book but honestly if you are able to do the four previous steps you will be able to start something else. You'll have gotten all your thoughts and feelings out so you can move on to a different book. Otherwise just force yourself to do it. And for bloggers, write your review right away. This also helps you move on from the books and get everything out there. Typically I will write my Goodreads review as soon as I finish a book and I'll use that as a guide for my blog review. It helps move on if you don't have to revisit the book a day, week, or month later to write a review.

Why it helps with book hangovers: This seems pretty obvious, but if you are able to move on right away it almost always prevents a book hangover. I've mentioned before that I don't finish books before I go to sleep because I need to start something immediately. This helps me get over a book hangover because I am physically able to move on to something else. It does sometimes seem unfair to the next book and in the past I have had incidents where a book I was excited to read didn't live up to my hopes because I had started it immediately after a book I loved but in general it does help me get over those pesky book hangovers.

So those are my tips. These are the ways I think I am able to avoid book hangovers. Do you get book hangovers? How do you avoid them? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Empire of Storms Series:  Throne of Glass #5 Author: Sarah J. Maas Published: September 6, 2016 by Bloomsbury Children's (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

Why I'm Waiting 

There are no sufficient words to mention how much I love this series. I am one of the few people who think that it is getting better as the books go on (aside from the ships and romance but that's nothing new for me). I know some fans didn't love Queen of Shadows but I totally did. For me this series leveled up with that book in terms of my fangirling. I started developing these crazy ideas and dissected every detail at levels that I haven't done since Harry Potter. I have become obsessed with this series.

But seriously, look at that synopsis. Can we talk about how epic this book is going to be based on that synopsis. Dark forces, war looming. This is going to be a thrill a minute, I can tell. And can we theory craft based on some points there. I mean enemies become allies, who doesn't love that? I love that. And raise your hand if you, like me, are hoping that the Thirteen join forces with Team Aelin. Because straight up that is an unstoppable force of badass women and I need it in my life. It has to happen. Sarah, are you listening?

I have of course preordered a copy and I will probably reread part of the series to prepare for this book. I know I am not prepared for what will happen, but I probably never will be. All I know is that I definitely need to head back to Erilea and for more Aelin, Dorian, Manon, Lysandra, and the rest of that crew. I cannot wait to read this one!

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Empire of Storms along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite 2016 Releases

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It's been a great year of great books for me. It's only half over and I had a really hard time narrowing down my list of favorites because I've read so many 5 star reads. Not a lot of 10 star reads but some that were really close. But also this list was hard because of few of my top books of the year so far are backlist books. But that being said, here is a list of ten of my favorite reads that were released in 2016 (in order of release date).

1.) Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - (Goodreads / My Review)
I was a fan of Susan's first series so when I heard she was doing a high fantasy with female best friends and elemental magic I was all in. This book did not disappoint. It had a great Avatar: The Last Airbender vibe and I loved it.

2.) The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson - (Goodreads / My Review)
No surprise here. There has never been a Sanderson book not in my favorites list. But this next book in the Mistborn series was particularly mindblowing though and may be my favorite of the year so far.

3.) Calamity by Brandon Sanderson - (Goodreads / My Review)
And again, no surprise here. I love The Reckoners trilogy so much that the final book in the series had to be on it. And while this book was far from perfect and not as tight as a lot of his other books, Sanderson is too got not to have his books in my favorites.

4.) The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock - (Goodreads / My Review)
This is the one debut on my list. I've liked a lot of debuts but I've only loved one. This one. It totally blew me away and was a great piece of historical fiction. It's my favorite debut so far and absolutely one of my favorite reads.

5.) A Gathering of Shadows by Victoria Schwab - (Goodreads / My Review)
This series man, this series is so good. The world is one of the most enthralling I've read in a long time and the characters are so amazing. I didn't like the plot as much as the first book but it was so fantastic and full of adventure and magic.

6.) Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston - (Goodreads / My Review)
I was surprised by just how much I liked this book. It's not your typical contemporary nor is it your typical retelling. It combines the two in a great way. Not to mention it's really empowering with it's message around sexual assault.

7.) The Skylighter by Becky Wallace - (Goodreads / My Review)
This YA fantasy duology is one of the most creative I have read in a long time. The final book was so full of action, adventure, surprises, and feels. The first book was one of my favorites of 2015 and this one will undoubtedly be on the list this year.

8.) The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkowski - (Goodreads / My Review)
I loved this series a lot and the final book was no exception. It definitely escalated things and felt like a full-on war story which hearkened back to the first book in the series. It had a really satisfying ending too which isn't always the case for trilogies.

9.) The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater - (Goodreads / My Review)
Speaking of satisfying endings, The Raven King you guys. I mean I am by no means ready to say goodbye to The Raven Cycle but this book left feeling so good about the way it ending. Even things that were huge surprises made sense and were amazing.

10.) Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica - (Goodreads / My Review)
Mary Kubica is becoming my favorite new voice in mysteries. I loved her debut and I loved this book. It had a great cast of characters, a mystery that kept me guessing, and tons of suspense. The audiobook was also really fantastic.

11.) With Malice by Eileen Cook - (Goodreads / My Review)
And I had to mention one of my most recent reads because it was seriously amazing. One of my favorite YA mysteries of all-time and one of my favorite reads of the year. Totally brilliant and a rare occasion where I was wrong about a mystery.

And those are my favorite releases of 2016. Have you read any of these? Did they make your list? What books are on your list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!