Top Ten Books I Want To Read This Summer

I finished my junior year of college a couple weeks ago, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to relax and have some quality reading time. There are so many books I want to devour this delightful summer season, but here are a mere ten I definitely plan to get to!

The Magicians by Lev Grossman - I am OBSESSED with this TV show, so I have to be a true fan and read the source material. Also, one of my good friends wants me to read the books so we can talk about them, and I have to perform my friend duties, ya dig?

It by Stephen King - I never watched the original film, but the new one looks like it's going to be frickly frackin fantastic, so I gotta prepare!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - Yes, yes, yes. The book came out in paperback so I finally caved in and bought it.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han - I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL LIL BABY IN MY POSSESSION

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen - ODOGONGVO[IDFGHO[IFJH IRUHNOFJAPOIS YOU BETER BELIEVE THE DAY THIS COMES OUT I WILL SHUT OUT THE WORLD BECAUSE I AM SO RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate - I have been very excited about this book since the second I heard about this and I cannot wait to settle into it.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard - I don't know what is taking me so long to read this because I really enjoyed Red Queen. Now that King's Cage is out and I OWN IT, I should probably get caught up.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston - I loved what I read from Ashley Poston in the past, so I was already really siked for this book. But now I've heard so many wonderful things about it and it just sounds like a great summer read!

Emma by Jane Austen - I have this STUNNING Penguin Threads edition and I love Jane Austen and I need to read more classics on my own.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Fun story: I am like 99.9% certain I bought this book in the past few months but I HAVE NO IDEA where it is. The day I find it I will be so excited because it's so pretty and also I have been DYING to read it.

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU WANT TO READ THIS SUMMER?

Top Ten Book Boyfriends of 2016

I love me some swoon-worthy fictional boys. Here are my favorites that I met in 2016. 

Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - He is probably my #1 book boyfriend of the year. He is so sweet and nerdy and I'M IN COLLEGE AND HAVEN'T MET ANYONE LIKE HIM THIS IS UNFAIR.

Eros from Beyond the Red by Ava Jae - He is loyalty and bravery and stubborness and flaws and I can't wait for the sequel when I get to see more of himmmmmm.

Jack from Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven - He is misguided, but overall caring and sweet. It was adorable to read his thoughts about Libby and the dates he took her on. Jealous, honestly.

G from My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows - OH LORD I LOVE G. He is so freaking funny and clever and when he gets really worried about Jane it is the most precious thing my heart has ever felt.

Frank from Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson - He's such a sweet lil cinnamon roll. He cares about the environment and being a good guy and I never thought I'd find anyone named Frank appealing, that's for sure.

Will Traynor from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I CAN'T TALK ABOUT HIM. Except I adore him. As problematic as his story may be, I found Will himself to be utterly charming and, even in his sassiest moment, an absolute delight.

Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - I liked him more than the beloved Mr. Darcy, I think. So do with that information what you will.

Clark from The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson - He's a WRITER!!!! And a precious little bean who never had friends growing up and it's impossible, if you ask me, not to fall in love with him over the course of the novel.

Captain from Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell - Naughty? Nice? Who knows. All I can say is that he is a HANDSOME PIRATE WHO HAS STOLEN MY HEART.

Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - Okay, okay, I know this is cheating because this is, like, my trillionth time reading this book, BUT in the 10th anniversary edition we got new stories with him in them, so I'd say it counts. I can't leave out my all-time bae, okay?

Christmasing Book Titles

Christmas is tomorrow!!!!! Holy crap!!!!!! In an effort to get you as utterly excited as I am (and if you're already excited, at least fuel the fire a little bit), I've taken the liberty of Christmasifying some book titles (and adjusting the covers accordingly)!

Some of these are better than others, I know.

ME BEFORE YULETIDE BY JOJO MOYES

in which a twenty-something woman transforms from unemployed and overly cautious to unemployed and a little adventurous thanks to Christmas magic. 

AMY AND ROGER'S EGGNOG DETOUR BY MORGAN MATSON

in which two teens on their way to Grandma's house go out of their way to find a grocery store and get some eggnog. 

BEYOND THE RED NOSE REINDEER BY AVA JAE

in which Rudolph struggles to be more than what the media portrays

NORTHANGEL ABBEY BY JANE AUSTEN

in which an English girl is convinced there is an angel lurking the halls of her friend's mansion

A COURT OF TINSEL AND RIBBONS BY SARAH J. MAAS

in which a malicious Christmas elf is very protective of his pretty decorations

LITTLE BLACK DRESSES, LITTLE WHITE LIGHTS BY LAURA STAMPLER

in which a trendy teenager struggles for hours to untangle a strand of Christmas lights

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PRETTY CAROLS BY RANSOM RIGGS

in which only the best singers are privy to this strange home as they use their angelic voices to defeat grinches everywhere

A MISTLETOE CALLS BY PATRICK NESS

in which a young boy fights the urge to kiss meet his first crush under the mistletoe for his first kiss

ALL THE BRIGHT POINSETTIAS BY JENNIFER NIVEN

in which readers will learn everything there is to know about poinsettias. 

THE FRUITCAKE IN OUR STOCKING BY JOHN GREEN

in which two teenagers receive fruitcake so horrible they both fall ill

WE OWN THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BY ASHLEY POSTON

in which all through the house, not a creature was stirring...except a group of mischievous teens desperate to find out what presents await for them under the tree. 

Just a note: this post was not meant to be making fun of these books in any way whatsoever. These are all books I really enjoyed reading and I had a lot of fun thinking about what their Christmased version would be. 

I want to hear your Christmased book titles. 
Bonus points if you tell me what the book would be about! 

Top Ten Books I'd Keep In My Classroom

It's always so hard for me to choose a topic during these freebie weeks. This week was "School Freebie" since, ya know, school is once again in session. I chose a topic that The Broke and the Bookish actually gave for a suggestion and that's Top Ten Books I'd Keep In My Classroom If I Were A Teacher. I tried to choose a bit of a variety, and I tried to choose books I think would inspire high school kids to read more. For the sake of wider variety, I didn't pick more than one book from the same author.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - This is such a gorgeous novel, and it reads rather quickly. I adored this book in high school as much as I do now.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - I actually read this one my freshman year of college, and, of course, enjoyed it a lot! I'd never even heard of it before that. This is a classic YA novel and I'd want my students to at least have the option to read it and know what it is.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - This is the best college-set book I've ever read. I think it does a good job of capturing the uncertainty and discovering-yourself part of college. It would be good for the high school students who are planning to attend college. Also, it's just a really fantastic book.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - Of course I'd keep my favorite book of all-time in my library! Hopefully students would be able to escape into this world & these characters the same way I did when I was in high school.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - While I actually prefer The Infernal Devices over this series, I think City of Bones would have wider appeal to people who haven't read any Cassandra Clare before. City of Bones is the type of book that gets teens excited about books. And I think of all the books I've selected, this one would attract the biggest male audience.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I'm fairly certain that this is the first classic novel I truly enjoyed, and so I think it's a good place for teens to start reading classics.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - This is a quick and impactful read, and I believe everyone on the planet would gain something from reading this novel.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - I don't have a logical explanation for this selection. I just love it and I think other teens will too.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson - This is an incredible novel that many teens will most likely be able to relate to, about friendship and romance and social anxiety. Also, it's a lot of fun!!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - The writing style in this book is so different than pretty much every other YA book on the shelves. Also, it's fun and exciting and addicting, and I think high school students would really love discovering this book.

Top Ten Books That Take Place Outside The U.S.

Compiling this list made me realize 2 things: 1) I need to read more books that are set outside the U.S. and 2) I've actually read more than I thought.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - This is a Robin Hood retelling and it takes place in Nottingham, England. It's a really fantastic book that I highly recommend--if you want some reasons you should read it, check out my Flashback Friday post!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman - A big portion of this book takes place in Paris. While I found the sequel to be a lil bit draggy, this one definitely inspired my wanderlust, with all its adventure and foreign romance.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead - This is the 4th book in the Vampire Academy series (AKA MY FAVORITE SERIES EVER), and it is the only book that takes place primarily in Russia. So, yeah, read this series, basically.

Anna and the French Kiss - I don't even need to say anything about this one.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell - This book starts out in London and takes us to a dark version of Neverland, which, yes, I know that's a fictional land, but it's not in the U.S. so it counts. This book deserves way more attention than it gets, imo. If you want more of my opinions, you can check out my review!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Jane Austen is everything to me. Her books are fantastic, even if you're not big on reading classics. Her social satire is brilliant.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman - If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you've probably seen me talk about this book a ton already. It's a Blackbeard pre-pirate origin story set in Bristol, England, that will just crush your heart. More of my thoughts can be found in this here review of mine!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - It's no secret I've been obsessed with this book from the second I watched the movie (yes, I watched the movie before reading the book). This is in the top 3 of my favorite books I've read this year. I'm not sure where exactly it takes place, but it takes place in the UK. You can read about how much I love it in my review!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - I personally like this series better than her TMI series. The Infernal Devices take place in Victorian London, and if you don't already know about these books who even are you??

And I Darken by Kiersten White - Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows how much I love this book because I couldn't stop tweeting about it after I read it. This novel takes place primarily at the Ottoman courts (and if you're like me and know nothing about history/geography--that's in Turkey (don't judge me, I had to google it)). It's a re-imagining of what things would be like if Vlad the Impaler were female, and you don't have to be into history to enjoy this book, I assure you. If you're interested in this novel, I encourage you to check out my review!

What are some bomb.com books you've read that take place somewhere that isn't the U.S.?

Would You Rather #1: Book Boyfriends

Hiya! Would You Rather is a pretty self-explanatory new feature here at The Left-Handed Book Lover, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Each WYR post will have a different theme.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner and yours truly date-less for the evening, I figured I'd turn to the guy--well, more like guys--who truly has my heart: my book boyfriends! This round of WYR is going to be especially tough because I rounded up a list of some of my favorite YA hotties and paired them at random, and now I'm stuck to choose between all my loves!

This was super tough, but I eventually made my decision for all 11 of the pairs. My choice is circled.

What do you think? Are there any choices you'd make differently? Any guys you would add/take away from this list? Tell me your thoughts! 

January Recap

Here's what my month looked like!

It's been a great month! The new semester started, and it is definitely kicking my butt. SOOOO much homework. But I get to take a screenwriting class and learn how to write a movie, and my British lit class this semester seems like it is going to be much better than last semester. 

I got a new tattoo and I died my hair red! I'm a-changin' (whether my dad approves or not). 

I started bullet journaling, so I feel like my life is just a bit more in order. Because of the bullet journal, I've gotten super into hand-lettering recently. I love to turn my favorite song lyrics into visual art! 

A couple months ago I applied for an alternative spring break program in which a handful of students gets selected to spend spring break in Atlanta and do community service to help the homeless. I was put on a wait list, and I got an email a few days ago offering me a spot on the team! I'm really excited about the whole thing. It kind of makes me sad that I won't get to spend my spring break in pajamas, but I definitely think it is worth it. 

Reviews: 

Top Ten Tuesdays: 

Top Ten Backlist Books I Resolve to Read in 2016

Top Ten Books I've Recently Added to My TBR

Top Ten Series I Will Always Fangirl Over

Features: 

Flashback Friday #3: The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace

The Eclectic Corner #2: 90210

Blog Tours:

Cover Reveal: In the After by Elisa Dane

YA Author Rendezvous Blitz

Misc: 

Social Media

Followers: 

Bloglovin - 20 (gained 9)

GFC - 7 (gained 5) 

Twitter - 56 (gained 17)

Instagram  - 10 (gained 10)

Facebook - 1 like (gained 0)

Total pageviews - 2348

Books read: 3.5 

Book with the most pages: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (449 pages) 

Books with the least pages: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (251 pages)

1 star reviews: 0

2 star reviews: 0

3 star reviews: 1 (actually 3.5) 

4 star reviews: 0

5 star reviews: 3

Most popular review:

Pageviews and comments -  

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

This one is so tough because I enjoyed everything I read this month, but I have to go with...

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Music: 

So, this singing duo came and performed at my school, and they were absolutely fantastic. Not only was their music (covers and originals) extraordinary, but so were their personalities. They are so quirky and kind! And they are the cutest couple to ever exist. 

Check out Shane and Emily and fall in love with them! 

TV Shows: 

Soooo we all know Shadowhunters premiered this month. I gotta say, I'm not really a fan. I can't bring myself to elaborate on that or it will turn into a rant. 

However, accompanying Shadowhunters was the premiere of the new season of Pretty Little Liars. I'd never watched the show before, but my roommate was a big fan. She has been watching the new season, and I got interested. So....the other day I went to Netflix and watched the first episode, which then turned into the entire first season--IN ONE DAY. It's so addicting. So so so addicting. 

THAT'S WHAT MY MONTH LOOKED LIKE. WHAT ABOUT YOURS? 

Sunday Post #8

• It's been a pretty good week (not in blogging or reading--still sucking it up there). A couple days ago, I got offered an opportunity to spend my spring break in Atlanta doing service work for the homeless community. It's a really great chance, and I'm really excited about it. 
• Oh, and I died my hair. It's a really pretty deep red color and I love it. 

Reviews: 
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen


Memes:
Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Will Always Fangirl Over

Emily at Forever Literary posted about four bloggers who inspire her. I love this because it's promoting positivity in our community, plus it gave me a few more awesome blogs to check out! 

Lillie at Little Lillie Reads started a feature called Tuning the Tale in which she provides a playlist of her making for a book, then lists some of the song lyrics to explain  why she picked the songs she did. I just adore features like this! Not only do I suck at matching songs to books, but I love finding new music to check out! 

What has your week in books and blogging looked like?