Books to Read When You Are Super Busy

Being busy is great until you realize that you have no time to read. And even when you do have time to read, you don't want to start a new book, only to have to put it back down. For me, throughout the school year is usually when I reread books because that way I am easily able to put it down. I also have some books that I just always read when I am busy because they calm me down. I hope that my recommendations help all of you busy people out and for those of you who aren't busy (I hate you) then these are just great books in general!

1. Basically My Only Reason To Live

Ah The Selection. What can I say, I really freaking love this book. Just glancing at the cover will calm me down. The other day, I was talking with one my friends in English class who loves this book and the feeling of just needing to reread The Selection crashed over me. I have this little ritual where I read books before bed and I usually rotate between easy, comforting rereads. So for about two weeks I read The Selection before bed every night and it was amazing. The Selection fits on so many of my book recommendation lists and I feel like I am cheating you guys out of new recommendations. Oh well, no one has complained yet, so I am just going to keep on including it. Back on topic, The Selection is great for when you are busy because while you will get sucked in, it is also very easy to put down and pick back up again. Also, it isn't scary or action pack, so you can easily fit in small portions of reading it before bed and in between work or classes. I would however recommend getting a hard cover copy because my soft cover is totally destroyed from reading it so many times! 

Fun Fact:
This is one of the first pictures I ever
took of books!

The Selection by Kiera Cass
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Other Posts Related To This Book: They Say the Sequel is Never as Good as the First 
Similar Books: Shatter Me (a girl with crazy powers fights against a crazy government and somehow finds the time to fall in love) Matched (Girl matched with her true love fights against yet another crazy government. Click here for spoiler free review!  )
Spoiler Free Review:
Kiera Cass brings a whole new story full of romance and fierce competition set in a dystopian world that readers won't be able to get enough of in The Selection. America is happy with her meager life as a five. She has her family, her music, and her secret boyfriend Aspen, who it seems might pop the question soon. So when an application for the selection shows up on her doorstep, there is no way she is going to jeopardize her happiness for the tiny chance of becoming the uptight Prince Maxon's plaything and the Princess of her country. When a course of events causes her to sign up, America is astonished to find she has been selected. Upon arriving at the castle, America has her heart set on going home, but the palace and the people in it, are not what she expects and she soon finds comfort in the arms of the last person she would have ever thought to look to. The Selection is one of my all time favorite books. I love the world that Kiera Cass has built and the characters she has brought to life. America Singer may be one of my least favorite characters in all the books I have read, but I love her for it! The romance in this book is so agonizing, as what is very obvious to the readers takes its time to appear to America. The plot in this book is very well done and works really well throughout the whole series. The character development is just so fantastic as we get growth from both major and minor characters that feels realistic and relatable. While the world is a little confusing at first, it is well explained and all questions are answered. An added bonus to Kiera Cass's writing is the witty humor she weaves throughout her stories! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and science fiction!

2. I Really Shouldn't Have to Remind you About This Book

Um yeah. Harry Potter rocks. Enough said. Just kidding, I could never be that brief about books! Harry Potter is great for when you are busy because most of us already know the story, so we can pick it up or put it down as needed. Also, there is a crap ton of Harry Potter fanfiction, so once you finish reading it, just hit up the fanfiction and continue the story. The only issue with Harry Potter is if I read it before bed it gives me really weird dreams, but that might just be me!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
My rating:❤❤❤❤❤
Other Posts Related to this Book: Middle Grade Must Reads
Similar Books: Umm the rest of the series?
Spoiler Free Review:
If you haven't heard about Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling yet then you must be living under a rock! Harry Potter is miserable living at his Aunt and Uncle's house, where they treat him like a second class citizen. All he wishes is for his parents to have never died in the car crash that left him an orphan with a horrible lightning shaped scar. When unexplained things start to happen around Harry and a bunch of very resilient owls carrying letters arrive, Harry learns that he, and his family, are not quite as normal they seem. Harry is not only a wizard, but an extremely famous one at that, and before he knows it, he is being shipped off to Hogwarts, the magical boarding school for wizards. But when trouble starts to brew at Hogwarts, Harry must rely on his newly made friends to help him save the whole magical world. I love this book, which places me in the majority of readers! Harry Potter was a large part in starting the YA movement and genre, which is something I am extremely grateful for! The best part of these books is of course, the interesting plotline and the fantastic world that has been built. The writing itself is not difficult to read and the idea of good versus evil is nothing new, but the way the books are written is so entertaining that it makes you want to place it in the genius category. Perfect for readers of all ages, but I would recommend starting it when you are younger so you can be the same age as Harry. I never got that experience, but people who did said it made the books even better!

3. Everyone who hated this book now spend their time hating 50 Shades of Grey

It is amazing to me how many people hate Twilight without having ever read it. I really enjoyed Twilight just because it was very entertaining. Sometimes, we need a light read that is enjoyable, not complicated, and has a little bit of everything. For this reason Twilight, and the whole series, is great to read for when you are busy. You could easily pick it up, and put it back down, and just read it for 15 minutes a day. It is a great book for reading right before bed because the chapters tend to have nice ending points that work in around 15 to 20 minutes of reading. If you are a first time reader of Twilight, chances are you think you already know everything about the book due to spoilers, and I can tell you, it is a pleasant surprise to read it and find there are things the haters have left out. If you are a constant rereader, like myself, it is so easy to just pick this up and read it for a short while and then put it down and pick it up a month later. And if you find yourself hating it, then stop reading it and pick up one of the many other books on this list!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Similar Books: Vampire Academy (Hot vampires and badass women fight the evil vampires) Bloodlines (Hot alchemists and badass women fight the evil vampires and other assorted evil beings. Click here for my spoiler free review!) 
Spoiler Free Review:
Love, hate, blood, vampires, hot people, a tiny, rainy town in Washington, and a perpetual klutz, what more could you want in a romance novel? Bella Swan has elected to leave her sunny home in Arizona for the rain and cold of Forks, Washington, to live with her father. The transition is just as horrible as she had imagined, made even worse by the mean, frightening, and stunningly beautiful Edward Cullen. As much as she tries to avoid him, Bella is drawn to Edward and his secrets-secrets that might just kill her. Lets face it, this book is not profound and it is not going to teach you anything. People like to scream how worthless it is at the top of their lungs. Well guess what? Twilight is not supposed to be profound, it is supposed to be entertaining. And oh boy is it entertaining! I first read Twilight in 7th grade and I could not put it down. I am being literal, I was in a play at the time and I would say my lines and sit on stage reading, which drove my teacher nuts! The plot is engaging and while slightly predictable (especially if you don't live under rock and have heard what happens), it doesn't make it any less interesting. The writing itself is not bad actually and the descriptive imagery is great. If you like vampires and you want something fun, pick this up!

4. And You Thought I Wouldn't have a Cassandra Clare Book on this List?

Honestly you can substitute any book in the Mortal Instruments series on this list. While I usually try and read them all in one sitting, I have found it is pretty easy to read them in small increments whenever you need a pick me up. I also love to put on the audiobook version of City of Glass or any of the Infernal Devices books while I am cleaning, because all of the fighting and action makes me appreciate the fact that all I have to do is clean instead of fight demons!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Other Posts Related to this Book: Jace the Perpetual Damsel in distress , Spoiler Free Reviews for the Whole Mortal Instruments Series!
Similar Books: Other Cassandra Clare books! (and yes, you should read them all!)
Spoiler Free Review:
Readers will be whisked away into a new world of good vs evil in City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. 15 year old Clary Fray has had as typical of a life as you can ask for. Her overprotective mother makes her life difficult and her best friend Simon makes it easier. Then all in one fatefull night; she witnesses a murder she can't explain, her mother goes missing and she is thrown into the world of Shadowhunters, the mysterious guardians of humans from demons. With the help of an inscrutable and gorgeous shadowhunter named Jace and his gaggle of friends, Clary starts the adventure of a lifetime that will uncover all kinds of things about her past. Cassandra Clare takes old mythology to a new level in this book, creating a very interesting read. The characters in this book have great dimension and connections that keep readers intrigued and guessing for the whole novel. The plot of this novel and the foreshadowing into the past is so wonderfully confusing that it makes for such an amazing read. One of the best things about Cassandra Clare's writing is the easy going humor that so many fantasy and romance novels are lacking. I would say that Cassandra Clare is my favorite author of all time and the Mortal Instruments series is so fantastic! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! If you find that City of Bones is a little slow, stick with it! The books get much, much better as they progress. Happy reading.

August Reading Wrap Up

I always see people do wrap ups of their feelings on the books they read in the past month and I think that would be fun for me to do! This will lead to some books you have already read spoiler free reviews or full reviews for being featured because I sometimes write about a book immediately, but I hope you can overlook that for me! This summer was definitely not my best in terms of reading a lot of books. My issue was that this summer I not only took a bunch of vacation where I couldn't read, but I also worked, had summer homework, and studied for the SAT. So my reading load was really light. The good news is that of the books I did read they were really really good! I read six books this August, which is pretty light reading for me. My friends on the other hand were amazed because it turns out non-booknerds read around six books per year!

Overall rating for the month:❤❤❤

My favorite book:

• The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

This was my favorite book of the month. I loved reading this and it got me out of a reading slump. This totally changed my mindset about Becky Albertalli and was really helpful in my reading this month. This book was fantastic and I would highly recommend this to everyone.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Readers will love the adorably relatable tale of navigating love in high school that is The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. Molly has been crushing on boys her whole life. She has harbored unrequited love for 26 boys, which kind of makes her an expert in crushes. Sadly she is an expert in secret crushes and at 17 years old still has not had her first kiss. When two new boys enter Molly's life, her twin sister Cassie is doing everything she can to get them past the crush boundary, especially since one of the boys is friends with a new girl Cassie is interested in. But with all this focus on falling in love and dating, can Cassie and Molly keep their amazing relationship as sisters? Let me start off by saying that I was not expecting much from this book. I did not enjoy Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I was only going to read this because my sister was begging me too. I picked it up and read it all in one sitting. I even skipped dinner because I could not put it down and I love food. This book was fantastic and might be one of the most relatable books I have ever read. Molly and Cassie go through really typical high school problems and I felt myself really connecting with Molly. The writing is extremely cute and I loved the humor. I also was really able to relate to the characters about religion. There are not a lot of books where the main character is a teenage Jewish girl set in contemporary time. I have experienced so many of the same things as Molly and reading this book felt like putting on an old comfy sweat shirt. I loved Molly's love interests so much and I definitely understand the fear of rejection. This book was really well done and I highly recommend it to everyone. This is a great contemporary and perfect for all young adults, especially romance lovers!

My least favorite book:

• How To Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster.

I really was not happy with this book. There isn't much I haven't already said in my review. This book is part of why I didn't read as much this summer so you can see why I don't like it.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster
My rating: ❤❤❤

I was not happy having to read this book. My school summer reading assignment included reading this book and taking notes and I really did not enjoy it. For reading books it wasn't very helpful. For writing essays I'm sure if I had a different assignment and in the future it might be helpful, but it was so boring that I was not happy at all. The reason this is rated three stars instead of two is because it really helped with my writing. I am currently writing a novel and this really helped develop my characters, plot, setting, and reason for writing. Overall this does go in depth into how to unravel a novel. The issue is that the way it goes in depth is by discussing a bunch of books I have not read yet and basically spoiling what happens. The book community does not like people who spoil books. I was already planning on reading Beloved by Toni Morrison, but now I know exactly what happens and I have no desire to read it any more. I am not accurately able to understand how these ideas are being used if it is being discussed with books I have never read. So reading this book and having to take notes sucks. But the bright side was that it really helped with my writing. I just wish it had helped with my reading like it was supposed to.

Reread:

• These Broken Stars by Amie Kauffman

I listened to the audiobook version of this book for like the millionth time and it was amazing as always. I love this book and I always love to listen to it to get rid of stress.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
My rating: ❤❤❤❤

Readers will be dazzled by this beautiful love story and feel that they just like the characters, are fighting to survive in, These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen could not be more different. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe, Tarver is a war hero stationed on Lilac's fathers' ship, the Icarus. When the impossible happens and the Icarus crashes, Tarver and Lilac are the only survivors. Stranded on an uninhabited planet, they must explore their surroundings and uncover the mysteries in order to survive and have hope in being saved. This book is like a science fiction version of the Titanic, except with a fantasy plot twist at the ending. I can't pick a favorite thing about this book because the majority of it was just so well done! I have to say this is the most beautiful cover I have ever seen and the rest of the series also has just beautiful covers. There are two amazing things about this book, the character development and the world building. The character development is obvious from the synopsis, but the world is entirely different from what I had expected. For me, this book feels like a mixture of Alienated, Obsidian, Across the Universe, and Titanic. I loved this book except for the ending because it got very confusing which is why I gave it four stars. I would recommend this book to a certain kind of reader who loves romance, fantasy, science fiction, and plot twists!

Other books read that month:

• Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

I loved this book and it so far is my favorite book I have been sent for review. It really made my month to have a publishing company want me to review a book!

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
My rating: ❤❤❤❤

Melissa Bashardoust hit the ball out the park with the fantastic, feminist fairy tale that is Girls Made of Snow and Glass. All Lynet has ever wanted is to be like her stepmother Mina, but she is constantly compared to the late mother she resembles so greatly. Mina just wants to love and be loved, but the unbeating, glass heart in her chest won't allow her to. Lynet has no desire to rule, so when her father takes away Mina's control of the Southern lands and gives them to her, she wants nothing more than to refuse. When a turn of events cause Mina to hate Lynet, she must go on her own journey to save the only mother she has ever known. This book was so adorable! I am always a fan of feminist fiction, especially when it's fairy tale related. The story felt like a mixture of frozen and Snow White, but still very original. I love how the story was from both Mina and Lynet's point of view, giving the reader different perspectives. Because it was a mixture of both of their stories the characters didn't feel extremely well developed until the very end, but I still felt connected to the them and able to relate to their feelings. The plot felt kind of slow at the beginning and then kind of rushed at the end, but the well done story totally made up for it. As a romance lover, I of course wish there was more of a love story, but it was really well done and a heavy influence of romance might have ruined the message. One thing I felt there was a lack of was comedy. There are very few places that made me laugh and I think it would have been improved if there was just a little more humor. Overall this book was really really good and I would highly recommend this to fantasy and feminist fiction lovers! Disclaimer: I was sent this book for review from the publisher, but it did not effect my review at all. My thoughts are my own and my reviews are always 100% honest.
Read Full Review 

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut ❤❤❤❤❤

I loved this book. I read it for my summer reading assignment and I fell in love with Vonnegut's writing style. I am very happy I read this book and it was a great addition to my August reading. I just had to write an essay about it though so I'm not going to write a review.

• PS I Like You by Kasie West

I read this book while I was sick and it made my day. It was so cute and I would highly recommend it to everyone!
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

P.S. I like you by Kasie West will make you smile, while warming your heart. Lily lives a crazy life with her insane family and lovable best friend. One boring day in chemistry Lily jots down a song lyric and to her surprise the next day the song is continued, along with a note. Soon Lily and her pen pall are writing everyday; sharing stories, songs, and secrets. Between her pen pall; her crush Lucas finally taking notice of her, and her best friend's ex-boyfriend Cade seeming to be all over her life, Lily's life seems to be blowing up. As her feelings start to grow for her pen pall, Lily must decide what she wants. This book is so cute and adorable that you just want to pinch its cheeks. While the writing is not complicated and the characters are not especially deep, it is exactly what I wanted. The story is comforting and like wearing an old, loved sweater. Lily is a very relatable character to young adults and I loved how sweet she was. The story was kind of predictable, but with this kind of book, this is kind of expected. I loved this book and it was a perfect read for the mood I was in. If you are looking for an intellectual read, this isn't it, but if you want a cute comfort read or just have something for a lazy day, pick up this book!

Started but still reading:

• The Limpet Syndrome by Tony Moyle 
• Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold by Iain Reading
•  Aaru by David Meredith

Started but never planning to finish: None

Favorite book pics:

They Say the Sequel is Never as Good as the First

Since I just did the amazing series I need to finish post, I figured I might as well show some books where I either plan to never finish them or I wish I hadn't. The first (Or fist couple books) I highly recommend, but the rest of the series I do not. For this post I will be including a rating of the first book, an overall rating of the series (If I finished it), and a rating for the book where the series started to suck. I would never want you to waste your time reading bad books, so here is a way to prevent that! (Also I love to rant about books so this is a win win situation!)

1. Small Town Magical Romance

Beautiful Creatures was a good book with a bad ending. Instead of giving the readers what the whole story had been building up too, the author decided to have absolutely nothing happen and push everything off until the next book. Sadly the next book was so confusing that I decided not to continue. I think I got maybe 3/4th of the way through Beautiful Darkness before I realized the series was just going to keep spinning and leave the reader in the dark. Because the book does not end well, I would not recommend reading it unless you want to take on the whole series. I really liked the initial story that the author created and I wish she had stuck with it because then I would have stuck with the series. 

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
My rating: ❤❤❤❤
Series rating: I did not finish the series
Where the series went wrong: Beautiful Darkness ❤❤

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia is a whirlwind of plot twists, romance, and magic that is sure to keep readers entertained until the very last page. The small town of Gatlin holds very little for Ethan Wate. He can't wait to escape both the town and the dreams of a gorgeous girl he has never met. When Lena Duchannes moves into town an aura of secrets seem to surround her. Lena holds a power that has been passed down from her family for generations and must hide it from the town of Gatlin. Lena and Ethan find themselves drawn to each other and soon feelings start to grow, but can Lena give up her secret? First off, this book might be one of the most confusing books I have ever read. While I very much enjoyed reading it, I had to reread the ending several times to understand what was happening. The romance between Lena and Ethan is fantastic! I loved how the author made it a large part of the story, but still focused on the plot. The element of magic is very important in the book and it was very different from other books I have read. I also loved the setting and how being set in a small town in the south really enriches the story. Overall this book is really good, but the rest of the series not so much. I would recommend this book to fans of romance, magic, and fantasy.
View all my reviews

2. The Hunger Games Meets the Bachelor 

I love to rant about The Selection. America drives me crazy because if I was in her position, the whole series could be covered in the first book. The first three books in this series were fantastic and the plot arc they covered was really well developed and finished. Sadly, I think Kiera Cass got a little too drunk on her success, so she spent very little time on what came next. The Heir and The Crown should have never been written. They are not necessary to the series. The characters and practically non-existent plotline they contain are really poorly done. I really expected more from Kiera Cass and she let me down. Now the good news is, The Selection and its accompanying two books as well as the many novellas are really, really good. Basically, if you just forget The Heir and The Crown ever happened, you have found your next favorite series! I know I gave the series a four out of five rating, but that is just because of the last books. If you take those out the series gets a five out of five for sure! I really love these books and I definitely recommend them! I swear I am telling the truth, my copy of The Selection has been read so many times it is completely falling apart! (Actually I have reread the selection more than any other book I own, with Eclipse coming in close second with one less reread!)

The Selection by Kiera Cass
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Series rating:❤❤❤❤
Where the series went wrong: The Heir ❤❤

Kiera Cass brings a whole new story full of romance and fierce competition set in a dystopian world that readers won't be able to get enough of in The Selection. America is happy in her meager life as a five. She has her family, her music, and her secret boyfriend Aspen, who shows signs of proposing. So when an application for the selection shows up on her doorstep, there is no way she is going to jeopardize her happiness for the tiny chance of becoming the uptight Prince Maxon's plaything and the Princess of her country. When a course of events cause her to sign up, America is astonished to find she has been selected. Upon arriving at the castle America has her heart set on going home, but the palace and the people in it are not what she expects and America finds comfort in the arms of the last person she would have ever thought to look too. The Selection is one of my all time favorite books. I love the world that Kiera Cass has built and the characters she brought to life. America Singer may be one of my least favorite characters in all the books I have read, but I love her for it! The romance in this book is so agonizing as what is very obvious to the readers takes its time to appear to America. The plot in this book is very well done and works really well through the whole series. The character development is just so fantastic as we get growth from both major and minor characters that feels realistic and relatable. While the world is a little confusing at first, it is well explained and all questions are answered. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and science fiction!
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3. Fantasy that will be Loved by all Readers

Graceling is so good! Like really, really good! And the next book Fire is also like really, really good, some would even argue that it is better! Sadly the last book, Bitterblue, is really bad. It is a total let down compared to the amazingness of the first two books. The way the Graceling series works, is that you can read the first two books in either order, but the last book requires you to have read the previous books to understand it. Graceling and Fire have different characters and are really different books. The thing that links them is the world (kind of), the writing style, and the fantasticness of the story! I actually never finished Bitterblue because it was so disappointing, but from what I read it only deserved two out of five. I would also highly encourage listening to the audiobook version of Fire because it is really well done. (I have not listened to the one for Graceling so I am not sure about that one!)
    
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Series rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where the series went wrong: Bitterblue ❤❤

Katsa is a graceling, a person with two different colored eyes who possess magical abilities. While the the gifts might seem like a blessing, it curses the graceling to a life out of their control, serving their royalty. Katsa has been graced with the ability to kill and is forced to serve her Uncle, the king, by killing off his enemies. Katsa had ruled out all happiness in life until she met the fascinating Prince Po. Graced with combat, Katsa and Po form an unlikely friendship that threatens to out secrets that will change their lives as they know them. This book is phenomenal in every way. The characters are extremely well developed and entertaining. The plot is action packed and full of surprises, yet it is not confusing. The world is extremely creative and well explained and truly transports the reader. I read this book in middle school and it completely opened me up to the fantasy genre. One thing that the author handles perfectly in this book is romance. This book is in no way a romance novel. It has really well balanced romance in it, so that romance lovers and everyone else will enjoy it! I would highly recommend this book to anyone as it contains things that all readers will enjoy!
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4. Romance on a Spaceship 

Across the Universe feels like a standalone novel. When I read it, I assumed it was a standalone, because the ending actually wraps up really well. When I finally found out about the rest of the books, I realized that the story continued. I really enjoyed what the author did with the second book and I was really looking forward to the last book. Shades of Earth was nothing like the first two in the series. It got really weird and kind of felt like author was just grabbing at something to throw off the readers. So here is the thing. You can't read the second book and not read the third because it will not end right. You can read the first and stop there. I would recommend trying the first one, if you are satisfied with the ending then stop, because it isn't going to get better. If you really need to know more, read the whole series. Romance enthusiasts you are going to want to read the whole series as you just don't get enough from the first book. Everyone else? Just do what feels right. Who knows, maybe you will enjoy the last book more than I did. 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Series rating:❤❤❤❤
Where the series went wrong: Shades of Earth ❤❤❤

Beth Revis gives us a beautiful science fiction story of romance, technology, space, and the future in Across the Universe. Amy barely agreed to be frozen for 300 years on the spaceship Godspeed in order to travel to a new planet and she definitely did not agree to be woken up 50 years early. Suddenly, Amy is thrust into a new society where she is utterly alone, except for Elder, the young leader of the ship. Elder has never seen anyone like Amy before and he is mesmerized by her. Eager to please, Elder helps Amy learn about life on Godspeed. Together they realize there is more to Amy being woken up then meets the eye, and Amy and her parents lives are in danger. As the secrets start to unravel, Amy and Elder realize that Godspeed seems to run on lies and any sort of future together may be doomed. I picked up this book in middle school due to its gorgeous cover and it took me barely a chapter to realize that I loved it. The story is fantastic and the romance is beautiful. I spent many years believing this was a standalone novel as the ending is fantastic and it was not until a couple of years ago that I realized there were more books. Sadly, the rest of the series is not quite as good as the first book. One thing I loved about this book was the society on Godspeed. It was so well crafted and original and it really brought something more to the story. I would highly recommend this book to science fiction lovers!
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5. I Just Read The Uglies Now What?

I love Matched so much. It is truly a really good book. Unfortunately, it suffers from something that happens pretty commonly in Science Fiction books, which is when the last book stops reflecting what was happening in the first books. Matched handles it better than say, the Divergent series, but it is still apparent. Reached was not what I had hoped it would be. The characters changed too drastically with not enough time for build up. This caused the last book to feel unrealistic and out of place. The good news is that it is still a good book. Compared to the rest of the series, Reached gets a three out of five, but as a book in general it is probably a four. This series is worth reading the whole thing because you will not be satisfied with just the first book. Also, if you are looking for something to get you out of weird mindset caused by reading the Uglies series, then Matched will do it for you!

Matched by Ally Condie
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Series rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where the series went wrong: Reached ❤❤❤

Matched by Ally Condie will feed your addiction to dystopian romances with a fantastic story that will leave you begging for more. Cassia is ready to be matched. She knows the government will pick someone she will love because they always pick correctly. They chose everything in her life; where she will work, what she eats, when she will die. When Cassia finds out she has been matched with her best friend Xander, she knows they have picked perfectly. But the screen doesn't just show a picture of Xander, for a second it shows a picture of Ky. Now Cassia must make a choice of her own that will lead her to see how her society really works. Matched is one of those books that came out right as the young adult dystopian craze started up. I can completely understand why people could not stop reading Matched as it is fantastic! Matched is layered with a lot of commentary about society in it, that I feel a lot of younger readers are not able to pick up on. I recently reread it and was amazed by everything I had missed. In addition to this, Matched has a fast paced storyline, interesting characters, and a well built world. The one thing that the Matched series suffers from is setting up a story that then completely changes in the later books. I really loved this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a part of the dystopian fad.
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Books That Made Me Cry

Have you ever felt like you just need to get a good cry in, but you don't have anything to cry about? Well boy do I have a solution for you! Just pick up any of these books and you will be in for a marathon of crying. Besides the effect they have on your tear ducts, these books are extremely well written and are a guaranteed fantastic read. Just make sure you always have extra tissues on hand! In addition to my regular spoiler free review, I have also included a rating for how much this book will make you cry. This way, you can make sure you have enough ice cream to balance out the tears!  

1. What We Should be Reading During Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Part the First) 

This book earns three crying faces on the scale, as you should be prepared to use up a box of tissues. Stevie's emotional journey is a roller coaster that goes from the present; to a flashback (AKA time to cry), to an interaction with another patient at the treatment center, to a therapy session (AKA also time to cry). This book is so beautifully written that I have actually decided to use it for an interpretive reading in speech and debate. (Speech and debate nerds, don't you dare steal my idea! I will hunt you down and send you a strongly worded letter!) This book truly captures how an eating disorder can completely take over a person. I have a lot of friends who are currently struggling or have struggled with an eating disorder and reading this book actually helped me to understand what is going on just a little bit more. I very much encourage young girls to read this book and hopefully it will inspire you to extend your awareness about eating disorders, as well as show just how much each of our lives are worth.   

Paperweight by Meg Haston
My rating: ❤❤❤❤
How much will this book make me cry?:😭😭😭

Readers will be shocked by this emotional masterpiece guaranteed to make you bawl your eyes out in Paperweight by Meg Haston. 17 year old Stevie has lived a hard life, and she is ready for it too end. Stuck in an eating disorder treatment center, she has lost all control of her life, and is being forced back into the state she views as fat. Worst of all, they won't even give her satisfaction of being anorexic. No, instead they call her bulimic, reiterating her knowledge of just how weak she is. But it's okay, it only has to last for 27 days, just until the anniversary of her brother's death. Then she can repent for her role in losing her brother, by giving in to the sweet, sweet, release of death. This book was so well put together. The combination of flashbacks to Stevie's life and her meetings with her therapist caused me to just cry my way through the whole book. The characters in this book were so complex, and some how, the author managed to give them the development most characters get over the course of three books, in just one. The writing in this book is very real and relatable: especially for young women dealing with body image issues. I would highly recommend this book to all young adults as it deals with so many issues that hit very close to home. This book makes you want to smile through the tears and I beg you all to read it!
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Amazing Series I Need To Finish

Sometimes life gets busy and other books arrive so even though I have read the first or second book in a series I just never get around to finishing it. I really need to because so many of these books are really really good! So, here are some books that are fantastic and I need to get around to finishing their series. I hope you enjoy and actually finish all the books unlike me! Happy Reading! -Becca

1. Dark Retelling with Great Humor

Around a year and a half ago I listened to this book as an audiobook and just fell in love with it. The story really pulls you in and even though the book isn't ginormous, it kind of feels like the book goes on for a really long time and I love that! I can't remember if I finished the second book or not, I don't think I did, but I actually own all the books so I really need to finish them! I have a feeling my problem was that I tried to read the second one instead of listening to the audiobook, and I really loved the audiobook version and actually reading it wasn't as good for me. This book is definitely for a certain kind of person as I tried to get my sister to read it and she immediately disliked it, as did some of my other friends. Just make sure you realize that even though the book is called Dorthy Must Die, this is not an extremely violent book. I hate gore and I'm afraid of blood so don't worry about it being to gross or anything because it isn't. I would recommend listening to the audiobook version, but I have to say I love the cover so much that I wish I had it on my bookshelf so its up to you!

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

The Wizard of Oz is not what it seems in this twisted, fantastic, and darkly romantic retelling that is Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige. Amy Gumm has no desire to save anyone, but when you get pulled into a tornado into the land of Oz, its kind of hard to say no. Oz is not what it seems as Glinda the Good Witch has to use an artificial smile, flying monkeys are being executed, the yellow brick road is practically gone, and Dorthy is drunk on her own power. Amy is recruited (Kind of against her will) to the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked where she is trained for a single purpose. Dorthy Must Die. I loved the dark humor of this book! Amy is such a great character and the minor characters have such well crafted personalities that really enrich her as a character even more. I think Dorthy might have been my favorite character because of her amazing transformation from the original book. I just love how horrible she is! The plot of this book is so jam packed with action even while being a pretty normal sized book. The best part is the characters as this twisted retelling is just so well done! There is a lot of sarcasm in this book and I think it worked really well to balance out the amount of action and character growth. I would recommend this book to lovers of retellings and sarcastic, slightly dark humor.
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Middle Grade Must Reads

While I primarily read young adult novels and classics, I still have some middle grade novels that I love and I want to share these with all of you! While their target audience might be for pre-teens these books can be enjoyed by all ages! Happy Reading!-Becca

1. Wacky Characters, Coming of Age Story 

I honest to god reread this book last month during finals week and I am 16! Its so great to just calm you down and take you away from your stress for awhile. This is the kind of book you read and then you just keep on rereading and it never gets old!

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Ready yourselves for a laugh out loud comedy for readers of all ages, because Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan might just become your new favorite book! Jake is a bad kid, who by 13, has gotten himself kicked out of every public school in Rhode Island. His grandfather has had enough of him and with his parents in jail, it looks like he is on the fast track to Juvie. That is until the Applewhites invite him to stay at their Creative Academy, the place where all of the artsy and completely crazy Applewhites are schooled. Jake is set on staying bad and getting himself kicked out, but when he forms a bond with the only non-crazy Applewhite E.D., and learns of a passion for acting, will he give in to his good side? I read this book in fourth grade and fell in love with it. This is the kind of coming of age story that you can relate to at any level and is always perfect for a good laugh. While the characters might be a little extreme, their core ideas are reflected all around us. As this is a middle grade novel, the plot is easy to follow and the book is short, but luckily the author is able to pack a great story in there and as I recently found out there are two other books in the series! I would highly recommend this book for kids from 4th grade for a challenge to 7th grade as an easy reading slump killer or before bed read!
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Audiobook Recommendations

I don't know about you, but I love audiobooks! Here is a list of not only great books to read, but also great books to listen to! Happy Reading and Listening!-Becca

1. Beautiful LGBT Coming of Age Story

The audiobook edition of this book read by Lin-Manuel Miranda is extremely well done. Whenever I listen to this book I always feel inspired to just sit and draw and be creative. I would recommend listening to this book when you are not doing anything strenuous. Just sit and enjoy, don't do any chores or anything. Also, if you can try and listen to this outside, especially if it is beautiful outside, trust me it will make everything even better.  

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Be prepared to feel every emotion on the spectrum, because Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sánez is the most beautiful coming of age novel I have ever read. Ari is miserable. Being a teenager is the worst and summer seems to go on forever, that is until he meets Dante at the pool and makes the friend of a lifetime. Join Ari and Dante as they grow up together and learn about life, friendship, love, and all the secrets in the universe. I can not pick a favorite thing about this book because every page is amazing! The emotional journey that Ari and Dante embark on in this book is fantastic. I find that in a lot of coming of age novels the plot will fall flat, but that is the opposite in this book. While there isn't much character development for minor characters, the character development of Ari and Dante is amazing. I also love how even though this takes place in the eighties, the characters are the real stars of the book, not the historical aspect. I would highly, highly recommend this book to everyone!
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Audiobooks

Today, my friends, I am here to talk to you about the wonderful invention of audiobooks. One of my largest pet peeves is being in the middle of a fantastic book and then bang, you need to go do a chore. Luckily there is a simple fix to this problem, audiobooks! Now I know that a lot of people are very opinionated about audiobooks and if they like them or not. I happen to love them as long as they are recorded well. I remember the first time I realized I loved listening to books was during a road trip with my family a long while back. We were listening to Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot. It was hilarious because the actor who was reading the book did such great voices. From that point on in every road trip we listened to books on tape that we got from the library. Well fast forward a few years and you  get current me. I listen to audiobooks all the time thanks to the overdrive app that my library is affiliated with. If your library is a part of overdrive I highly, highly recommend you get the app. My library collection has tons of audiobooks that I listen to and I have discovered many fantastic series through it! Now every time people tell me they don't have time to read I tell them to listen to audiobooks because you can still do things! One of my favorite things is to do the dishes while listening to a good audiobook because it makes chores fun! Also I love to run (or more frequently due to my complete nonathletic abilities, walk) on the treadmill while listening to an audiobook! Now do't you haters go saying that you can't find any good audiobooks because there are plenty!(Check back soon for a book recommendation list of some of my favorite audiobooks!) Here is a freebie before the list comes out, try A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Grey. The audiobook version is fantastic! Well that is all folks, so happy reading! -Becca ❤❤❤💕💕📚📚📚📙  

The Infernal Devices

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Readers will not be able to put down the enthralling tale of magic, daemons, love, and humanity, that is Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Tessa Grey has never traveled outside of New York until in 1878 her brother Nathan summons her to London. But when Tessa is kidnapped and subjected to magic she didn't know was inside her, all she can think of is her brother and how to save him. So when she is saved by Shadowhunters who are willing to help her find her brother, she is thrown into the shadowworld and the lives of the mysterious and attractive Will Herondale and James Carastairs. Their search will take them all over London and into the Pandemonium Club full of dangerous Vampires. Will they be able to save Nathan before its too late? I love this book! I mean like its my second favorite book written by Cassandra Clare, the first being the last book in this series. The story line is so fascinating and the characters are amazing in every way. The character development is fantastic and the humor is out of this world. The action starts right from the start and there is no pesky,, boring world building and instead they just throw you in which worked very well. I would say that I love this series more than the Mortal Instruments series though I highly recommend them both. If you answer yes to liking fast paced fantasy, historical fiction, romance, or humor than Clockwork Angle and the whole Infernal Devices series is right for you!

Other Thoughts

Direct quote from Becca Barer to friend Lily "OMG, I read this new book and like OMG, OMG, WILL HERONDALE!!!!!!!!!!" Direct quote from friend Lily "Becca slow down, who the hell is Will Herondale? Wait Becca are you going to force me to read another romance novel?". That happened around three years ago and my reaction still everytime I read the Infernal Devices or hear Will Herondale or just Will, is OMG Will Herondale is like the love of my life! Basically Cassandra Clare is the reason I can't date because I expect every guy to be like Will Herondale. So about this book, why are all shadowhunters so freaking awesome? I don't know, honestly I think its because it makes us want to be as amazing as they are, but still allows us to be lazy people that just st around eating ice cream and fangirling over Will Herondale.  

Fantastic Fantasy Novels

1. Traditional Fantasy in a New YA World

If you are like me, sometimes you really want to read a novel with the traditional mythology for fairies, and werewolves, and vampires, but with that great young adult feel to it. Luckily for us Cassandra Clare has mastered this with the Shadowhunter Chronicles. Lord of Shadows truly encompasses this feeling especially with fairies delving the reader into the politics of the Unseelie and Seelie courts. Added bonus for series lovers, the Shadowhunter chronicles has eleven books out so far not counting short story collections and the numerous other books still being written! So buckle up fantasy lovers and prepare for the most fantastical ride of your life!
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Cassandra Clare has outdone herself yet again! Full of daemons, magic, fairies, shadowhunters, and of course romance, readers are sent on an emotional roller coaster by Clare's fantastic writing. Taking place directly after the events of Lady Midnight, Julian and Emma must face their future as life at the LA institute changes dramatically. With a new addition to the household, a new relationship, and a group of centurions inviting themselves over, the Blackthorn family has a lot to deal with, and will take readers on an adventure that will keep them guessing until the last page. Clare's ability to juggle so many characters while still giving them each their own emotional journeys makes this book and all her writing a must read. Lovers of Clare's other books will be pleased to see the appearances of beloved characters from her other novels and will be intrigued by how they play into the foreshadowing for this book and the rest of the series. Lord of Shadows is perfect for all YA fans especially fantasy and romance fanatics! I highly recommend this book and all other books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles.
(Haven't read the other books in this series yet? No problem! Just check out my spoiler free reviews tab to find my review of Lady Midnight)
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Non-Fiction for the Non-Fiction Hater

Do people ever assume that just because you like to read and you read often then you must like all different kinds of books? This seems to happen to me a lot especially with non-fiction. I have never liked non-fiction which has caused me plenty of trouble with teachers who expect me to be just as eager to read a brief guide to American History as I am to read Ender's Game. While I do avoid non-fiction like the plague there have been times when I am forced to waltz into my school library's shabby, outdated non-fiction section and try not to grimace too much as I muscle my way though a book that takes me four times as long to read as a fiction novel. In these torturous moments I have stumbled upon some truly fantastic writing that even I am able to love. So if you are trying to survive the dreaded non-fiction unit in your English class here are my favorite non-fiction novels that will hopefully get the wheels in your brain moving.

1. Hilarious Memoir that Feels like YA

I am a YA addict. I know the first step to overcoming it is admitting it so hopefully that will help me make some progress. But what do we do when we only want to read YA but we have to read some non-fiction? We pick up Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, because the book takes place when the author is in 8th grade so the book feels like a YA coming of age novel. Jammed packed with comedy and wonderful little tidbits of advice this book is perfect for when you want to look impressive but you really just want to pick up a humorous YA coming of age story. 

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Readers will find themselves laughing so hard they need to run to the bathroom in the witty and honest memoir by Maya Van Wagenen that is Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. Maya is an eighth grade outcast at her extremely poor middle school in southern Texas. With only one friend her family moving at the end of the year would go seemingly unnoticed until Maya finds Betty Cornell's guide to popularity from the 1950's. Written in diary format as Maya shares her attempt at popularity and her commentary as she tries everything from dieting to girdles readers are pulled through a whirlwind year of using age old tricks to break down modern stereotypes. As a self proclaimed nerd, this book really resonated with me in a lot of ways. The breaking down of social stereotypes in this book was wonderful and something I can relate too as someone who is very nerdy yet still has the confidence to walk up to a complete stranger and introduce myself to them. The humor in this book was fantastic and very honest and one of the main reasons I loved it so much. The fact that this novel took place when the author was in 8th grade made this book feel less like a memoir and more like a young adult novel and I think this really contributed to my ability to enjoy this book. Overall I would highly recommend this book for middle school and high school age readers because the struggles the author faces will resonate with them.
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Contemporary Romantic Comedies

Some times we all just need to sit back, relax, and grab a good romantic comedy. The problem is finding the right one to fit your mood. So whether you need to dig yourself out of a reading slump or you just need to laugh out loud, don't worry I got you covered.

1. Reading Slump Killer

Anna and the French Kiss can get you out of any reading rut. Its adorable story line is easy to get into and a great way to get over another book. If you aren't in a reading slump this book is also great if you love foreign romances and Stephanie Perkins completely understands how to create the balance between romance and comedy. Whether you are in a reading slump or just love romantic comedies this book is the perfect match for you!
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Anyone looking for the perfect romantic comedy will love the adorable and hilarious romance that is Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Anna is not happy about being shipped off to a boarding school in Paris. Not only does she not know any French she also doesn't know anyone at her new school and arriving senior year is not common. But it looks like her new school might also hold the perfect guy for her, perfect except for the fact that he already has a girlfriend. Will Anna be able to get the love of her life before the school year ends? Anna and the French Kiss is the kind of book you can always come back to and enjoy it as much as the first time you read it. I love Stephanie Perkins writing style because it is so lighthearted and it just adds to the romantic feel of the book. The characters in this story are the perfect balance between easy breezy romance novel and drama filled coming of age story. They each have little quirky traits that make them feel real and I especially loved Anna's love of films. Anna and the French Kiss is something I highly recommend for young adults looking for a good romantic comedy.
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Top Five Recent Romance Reads

Hello my lovely readers! In my personal experience as a romance novel addict, it can be hard to find a romance that fits the mood you are in. Contrary to popular belief, all romance novels are not the same. To help you all find the romance novel of your dreams I have complied a list of five of my recent romance reads for different moods and mindsets. Each book has my rating, spoiler free review and what kind of romance novel desire it will satisfy. Happy reading!












1. Supernatural, Hot and Heavy, Good Girl Meets Bad Boy
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins is perfect to quench your needs for a supernatural love story with a hot bad boy book boyfriend. The benefit of this book is the hot and heavy feeling to it while still remaining less mature than one might think. If you also have very strong religious views then this book is perfect for you.
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Readers will be held spellbound while reading the captivating novel about the devious and heroic offspring of angels that is Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins. Good southern girl Anna Whitt is thrown face first into the world of sinful angels, nephilim, and Kaidan Rowe the extremely attractive bad boy with a startling heritage while still trying to hold on to her personal morals. Higgins’s colorful and mysterious characters keep readers intrigued and screaming at their books to know more. Higgins provides a fast paced plot and a continuous flow of conflict while also providing insight as to what really determines a person’s destiny. Anna’s constant struggle between light and dark though amplified will resonate with young adults. Readers should recognize that there is some profanity in this novel. Most fantasy enjoying teens will love both the action and passionate romance that this dark coming of age story offers. This is highly recommended for both public and high school libraries.

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