CURRENT GIVEAWAYS:
None right now
Showing posts with label Renee Ahdieh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renee Ahdieh. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Top Ten Books I Loved But Will (Probably) Never Re-Read

(This meme is actually hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl now, but I am far too lazy to make a new graphic)

I'm quite fond of re-reading, even if I don't do it as often as I'd like. But there are some books that, no matter how wonderful they were, I can't see myself picking up again. Never say never, though!! Who knows what mood will strike me in the future?

Tbh, this topic was really tough because I was going through my Goodreads and kept saying, "Okay, well I wouldn't mind reading that one again!!" with every single book. I had to get cutthroat and make some decisions.

BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ANY OF THESE NOVELS FOR THE FIRST TIME YET, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!


1) Wither by Lauren DeStefano - This was a solid 4-star series for me. I binged it. I enjoyed it a lot. (Check out my review of Wither) I can't see myself re-reading it, though. It was an in-the-moment read for me. I don't find myself missing the characters or the world.

2) Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven - I rated this 4.5 stars. The romance was cute and geeky and there was a lot of body positivity represented in this novel. I just don't feel the urge to give it another go.

3) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Another 4-star read for me. I really loved the characters and the story and I definitely recognize how important this novel is, in terms of diversity. However, I think that I, personally, got what I wanted out of it the first time around. I can't wait to read the companion novel, though!!

4) Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler - Once again, I gave this 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed traipsing through New York in this novel (unfortunately, not in real life) and the engaging writing. This was just a quick, light read, and I will remember it fondly, but I don't think I'll be revisiting it. (My review!)

5) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - I will always regard this series as one of my all-time favorites. It's been years since I read it, and I really don't remember much that happens in it, but I was in looove with it as I was reading. There are 2 reasons I can't see myself re-reading it, though. Firstly, that's a commitment. This series has 4 books and they are all clunkers. Secondly, I'm very afraid I won't like it anymore and I refuse to let that happen.


6) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - Lauren Oliver is one of my ultimate favorite authors. Her prose is gorgeous, and this novel is no exception. It's absolutely beautiful and it made me SOB when I read it. But I'm afraid this is the kind of novel that loses its effect after the first read. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm not going to take that chance. This is one of those novels that I'm not committed to NOT re-reading, though.

7) The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh - I don't know that I'd even describe this novel as good. I remember having a lot of issues/questions while I was reading, but I could. not. stop. It was such an addicting read and I ate up every second of it. But, again, I think I got what I wanted out of it the first time I read it. I have not read the second installment yet, but I want to. Even still, this novel does not have a particularly complex story, so I don't think I'd feel the need to re-read it once I get my hands on the sequel.

8) Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - Just talking about this series makes me cackle a little bit because this is another one of those series I was SUPER INTO when my reading habits were just beginning to form. I think I might hate it and cringe to death if I went back and re-read it, but I will always hold it in my heart. I do still own the entire series, though, so maybe one day I'll give it a go for nostalgia's sake.

9) An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - This is one of my more recent reads and it was absolutely delectable. I couldn't tear myself away. I'm pretty sure I read it all in one sitting. But I just don't think it's the kind of book I'd want to re-read.

10) Just One Day by Gayle Forman - I remember really enjoying this one but also finding it a bit slow. I think Gayle Forman is a brilliant writer, and this is probably the book I'm most unsure of.

Monday, January 8, 2018

Books I Started But Didn't Finish In 2017

(Okay so this isn't really a best-of list, but I'm too lazy to make another graphic)

We've all been there before: You start a book but you get distracted by another read and never open it again. You're not in the mood for your current read. Maybe it's just not hooking you. Unfortunately, starting books but not finishing them happens, and in 2017 it happened quite frequently for me.

The following books, I do not necessarily consider DNF books because I do want to finish them one day, but that day was not in 2017.



Everybody loves this book. And it's a contemporary. And it has an interesting premise. And a disabled love interest. It sounds like this book would be a total love match for me, but I just wasn't connecting to it when I was reading it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it at the time???? I got 25% of the way through it. 



I got a free audiobook from the author for review. I would listen to it as I walked or laid out by the pool but one day I just never went back to it. Granted, it wasn't the best book or narrator, at least so far. However, my fitire holds a lot of bus & train rides so maybe I will give it another shot on one of those rides. 



I hate having this one on the list because this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. I read only the beginning, and I reallllllly liked it, but it was the summer and I was lounging by the pool and I just wanted to read quick contemporaries. And then I never resumed this one. BUT 2018 WILL BE THE YEAR I READ IT. 



Speaking of quick contemporaries, this, apparently, was not the one I was after. It's not that it was bad...it just wasn't speaking to my heart, so I just forgot to pick it up ever again. I would like to read the entire thing one day, though, just for the sake of completion. 



Oh lordy I was PUMPED for this novel. I got about halfway through it before I just...stopped reading it. It's not that it was bad, but I think I was expecting a more fast-paced, addicting, romantic read like Ahdieh's other work. It just wasn't giving me what I wanted at the time, but it is still probably a worthwhile read and I think going into it with adjusted expectations will help. 



When I first discovered the Brooding YA Hero twitter account, I thought it was satirical gold, but by the book came out, I think I was just over it. It stopped being clever and became redundant, and reading the book was just a bit much. Also, I received an e-galley that had some really awful formatting, so that made the experience even more unpleasant. This is one I really truly don't know if I'll ever read in its entirety, but I'm sure it's quick and requires very little brain power, so who knows.



This one is the most recent, having started it in the later half of January. I wanna love it so bad because everyone loves it and it's about JACK THE RIPPER, who I find fascinating. I just was not connecting. I am 100% going to try again, and probably soon. 
There you have the books I started but never finished in 2017! There might be more, but I took them off my Goodreads shelf, so I don't remember?

WHAT BOOKS DID YOU START BUT NEVER FINISH? DO YOU THINK I NEED TO GIVE ANY OF THESE ANOTHER SHOT IMMEDIATELY?

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Sunday Post #34


  • I know I haven't been around for the past few weeks, but that's only because I didn't have internet access. But I am back and I am trying to get posts scheduled so that I still have stuff going up when school starts (we all know how terrible I am at blogging during the school year). 
  • I'm back in Arkansas, which means I'm not in Florida anymore which is devastating, but I had a wonderful time! I got to spend so much quality time with my brother and sister and it broke my heart to leave, but it's time to get back to the real world. I move into my new apartment TOMORROW with my best friend. It's crazy. This will be the first time I'm living in an off-campus place and paying bills. 
  • It's shaping up to be a tough semester, with getting everything in order for grad school (which includes taking the GRE) and preparing for my semester abroad, along with all the other responsibilities I'll have (I got a job in my school's English department and I write for the school newspaper (hoping they'll start paying me) and I'm the philanthropy chair for my sorority). So. Yeah. It's gonna get crazy very quickly. 
  • THAT SAID: I AM ON THE LOOK OUT FOR A CO-BLOGGER, SO IF YOU''RE INTERESTED FEEL FREE TO COMMENT DOWN BELOW OR EMAIL ME AT LEFTYREADS21@GMAIL.COM OR HIT ME UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. 
Books read this week: 


Reviews: 
~ Caraval by Stephanie Garber (★★★★★)
~ Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally (★★★★☆)

Features/misc:
~ The Eclectic Corner #7: Song Lyrics
~ ARC August TBR
Currently reading: 


Reviews:
~ When I Am Through With You by Stephanie Kuehn (& giveaway because blog tour)
~ What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy
~ The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Features/ misc:
~ Book Aesthetics: 2017 Releases
~ Love Interests Book Tag (Original)

Memes: 
~ Sunday post #35 

Here are my favorite photos from this week! Make sure to follow me (@leftyreads) to see everything I post! 




Sunday, July 9, 2017

Sunday Post #33


  • I'm done with work!!!! Thursday was my last day and it feels WONDERFUL to be done. The waitressing life is not the life for me. Of course, I wanted to make some money while I still could so Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week I worked 12-hour shifts and it really truly exhausted me (hence why the blog wasn't particularly poppin' this week). 
  • I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe 4th of July (if you celebrate it). My dad came to visit (which meant I had to clean my entire apartment) and he made breakfast and dinner and we mostly just relaxed. It was a good day! To be honest, I don't care that much about 4th of July so it was nice to just have good food and good laziness. 
  • I LEAVE FOR FLORIDA TOMORROW! I am so so so excited. I'll be staying with my sister for 3 weeks, hanging out by the pool, and living my absolute best life. 
Books read this week:

Reviews: 
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
(★★★★½)

Discussions: 
- Doing It All In The Book Community
Currently reading:

Reviews: 
- What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber
- Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally

Features/Misc.:
- Discussion: The Feeling After Reading a Hyped Book
- The Eclectic Corner #4: Song Lyrics 

Here are my favorite photos from this week! Make sure to follow me (@leftyreads) to see everything I post! 





Friday, June 30, 2017

June Recap


I spent pretty much this entire month working and saving money, so I don't have a whole lot to report, tbh. I'm quite proud of myself for the money that I've been able to save up in just a month! But I have no idea if that money will still be in my possession by the end of summer. I have a lot that I want/need to pay for. Plus, I'm going on vacation for a few weeks, and who knows how much I'll end up spending in Florida. Plus...MY BEST FRIEND AND I GOT OUR OWN APARTMENT. We put down the deposit and I'm moving in at the beginning of August. We're gonna have to buy furniture and pay to get water and electric and all that jazz turned on. I feel like an adult. I'm gonna have REAL BILLS...but I'm not excited about that part.

I'm back, my dudes! It's taking me a little while to get back into the swing of blogging, but it feels good to be at it again. Now, ideas and plans for the blog are a-brewing, so you better be ready!

As far as reading goes, I think I had a pretty great month! I mean, it definitely could have been better, but I also work 40+ hours a week and I'm usually exhausted, so I think I done good.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPictiny_Follow_Me_BackImage and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic
(I promise in July I will review something that isn't contemporary)

TOP TEN TUESDAYS:
Top Ten Contemporary Books I've Recently Added To My TBR
Top Ten Books I've Read In 2017 So Far

FEATURES:
YA Look Book #2: Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
Just Write #3
New To My Wishlist #4

RANDOM POSTS:
Spring Favorites
Quiz: Which Sarah Dessen Book Do You Belong In?
Life's A Beach Book Tag (Original)
8 Ways To Spread Positivity In The Book Community
2017 Reader Resolutions Updates
Literature/Writing Classes I Wish I Could Take

FOLLOWERS:
Bloglovin - 93
GFC - 27 
Twitter - 450
Instagram - 83
YouTube - 86
Total pageviews - 21,163

BOOKS READ:

2 hardcovers | 1 paperback | 2 ebooks | 3 eARCs

Book with the most pages: Caraval by Stephanie Garber (407 pages)
Books with the least pages: Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin (265 pages)
Total Pages read: 2,861

Books reviewed: 6
1 star reviews: 0
2 star reviews: 0
3 star reviews: 1
3.5 star reviews: 1
3.75 star reviews: 1
4 star reviews: 0
4.25 star reviews: 1
4.5 star reviews: 1
5 star reviews: 1
Average rating: 4 stars

MOST POPULAR REVIEW
by pageviews- 

by comments-



BOOKTUBE: 
Here is my most popular video this month! Make sure to subscribe to me if you want to stay updated on when and what I post! If you have a YouTube channel, send me your link because I wanna see whatchya got!

BOOKSTAGRAM:
Here are my favorite photos from this month (I just got back into bookstagram this week). Make sure to follow me so you can see all the purrrdy books I post!