The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Title: The Accident Season 

Author: Moira Fowley-Doyle

Pages: 288 pages 

Published: August 18th, 2015

Genre: YA Thriller, Mystery

Source: Barnes & Noble Hardcopy 

Rating:

It's the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom. 

The accident season has been part of seventeen-year-old Cara's life for as long as she can remember. Towards the end of October, foreshadowed by the deaths of many relatives before them, Cara's family becomes inexplicably accident-prome. They banish knives to locked drawers, cover sharp table edges with padding, switch off electrical items- but injuries follow whenever they go, and the accident season becomes an ever-growing obsession and fear. 

But why are they so cursed? And how can they break free? 

Get it now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

If you read that synopsis and aren't already intrigued by this book, you aren't a human being. Readers, let's face it. We're always lured into the hands of publishers and booksellers when we hear a book such an amazing premise as this one. I've got to say that this book makes me more excited than presents on Christmas! I was so ready to dive in and prepare myself for the best.

Plot

The plot follows 17 Cara as she navigates through her life. Towards the end of every October, her family becomes accident-prone. Doesn't make sense? Well, think of it as a time of bad juju or bad luck. At this point in October, they just get some really bad bad bad luck and when I say bad bad bad luck, I mean so bad! They get bruises, scars, and sometimes someone is even killed during the accident season. Being apart of Cara's life for so long, she's learned to live her life with her mom, brother and sister normally, to say the least, but always aware that she has to be even more careful than she normally is. The entire book follows Cara and her family as they discover why this is happening and how can they stop it. 

An important thing I wanted to talk about with this book was the writing style. This is a debut author so I had no idea idea what to expect from her writing, except I was thinking about sort of a Maggie Stiefvater style, since she likes to write about both magical realism and mysteries as well. The tone of her writing is immensely beautiful and it's so very eerie. The entire storyline follows a mysterious and magical realism theme but doesn't fail in bringing the best of both words because, yeah, you could be magical and creepy at the same time. 

The story is so well put together and composed, it's like reading a post off of The Huffington Post. It's cryptic and yet up to self-interpretation. The concept was not hard to follow and it wasn't confusing me, but it might sound confusing to you guys when you're first reading it in the synopsis. 

Characters

The characters are weird and eccentric, all things I find admirable in mystery novels and every character in this book had their own personality. The three four main characters in the book- Cara, Sam, Bea, and Alice- resembled teenagers in the olden days where life was just about drinking, popularity, and going to parties instead of studying. They were carefree and all so lovable that even their faults didn't cause a rift in the story. 

What I loved most about these characters was that they weren't all perfect. Their flaws are made clear from the beginning and is carried out through the rest of the story. If it's one thing I don't like it's perfecting and cockiness, which this book took no part in showing. Cara, with her insecurity and inability to stand up for the things she wants most. Bea, with her freakishly weird talent of reading tarot cards and talking to ghost (I think). Sam, mostly with his shyness and same problem as Cara. Finally, Alice, with her scared mouse personality who wasn't able to stand up for herself when things got out of control. 

Romance 

Warning, there is a hell of a lot kissing. I didn't expect this book, especially because it's so wrapped up in it's plot and storyline, to have such a huge romance aspect. It hits you unexpectedly and the people that you think are going to end up together in the beginning, don't go out exactly as planned in the end. 

These romances are a bit weirder than usual, but I assure you they all come down to one thing: true love. I couldn't have matched the pairs in this book better than Moira did. 

The Accident Season is for those who don't want a straight-forward story and are looking to dip deeper with the characters as the book moves along. If you're looking for a good chill. Or maybe even just some strange characters. It tells of an incredible story of a family that doesn't just get bruised on the outside, but also on the inside. And it's for those who are looking for a real narrator to follow, someone who won't change the story or hide her feelings. Someone who will show you her scars, no matter how deep they go. 

Have you read The Accident Season? What did you think? 

Dating Non-Booklovers

They say opposites attract, but do they really? 

The blogosphere has blown up with posts about dating non-readers and they're just everywhere! Even Barnes & Noble and BookRiot have their own posts about the subject. I couldn't escape the spread and decided instead of ignoring it, just to grab on and write my own post. I don't know about you, but I love these types of posts where I'm able to share personal experiences and opinions. So as a disclaimer, everything said in this post is my opinion and you don't have to agree with it. 

When it comes to books there are 50% of those who love to read and 50% who just don't. It's a simple known fact that not everyone loves to read as much as booklovers do. And you can't help if your heart falls for a non-booklover or a booklover. This post is for both non-booklovers and booklovers alike. I hope you guys like it and find it very debatable! 

What do I think?

For booklovers, I think it really depends on the person. If you're dating a non-reader and that person is not supportive of what you love to do, ehhhhhh. Will he/she accept that you'll be a few minutes late to dinner because you were too caught up in a book? Will he/she accept that you don't see their texts because the main character of your book just died and you're too in shock to speak? These are the kinds of things I mean when I say acceptance. 

I'm so blessed to be with someone who is not a booklover but understands what I do and tries to encourage it. He even recommends books to me and he's the first person that got me hooked on Brandon Sanderson. If it wasn't for him, I would have never read Steelheart and I would have never declared Sanderson as my favorite fantasy author ever! 

Nonreaders bring so many new things to a relationship. While you're reading, they're probably cleaning your room or getting you something to drink. They can also teach you about the things they love to do and help you with some things that you're not strong in (because your reading game is already too strong :3). 

Some perks I've picked up

• They think you're smart because you read (totally awesome!)
• They can't argue with you when you're talking about a book you really hate or really love
• Buying you more books, rather than buying books for himself/herself
• Force you to get out more (which is good because although you love reading, you still need a social life)
• They don't ask to borrow books because they don't like to read 
• You can fangirl about books to them with spoilers and all because they've never read the book but you need someone to let the steam and feels off
• They'll probably even become interested in learning more about literature

For non-booklovers, of course, you should totally date a reader! If you're reading this post and you're not a big reader, I'm going to try to convince you to date a booklover! First off all, we're like totally filled with knowledge because of all the books and info that have been stuffed in our brain. I think I've learned more things about knives and assassin's blades than I ever will on the internet just from reading books like Throne of Glass. Not that I'll ever need any knowledge of knives... well... maybe sometime in the future when I'm a ninja :) 

Why you should date a reader?

• We'll be able to teach you things :D 
• We're good listeners
• Easy to buy gifts for, don't forget that 
• We stay up late, ohh yes (not just for reading, but for you) 
• Don't be afraid to leave us alone. We're not going to be lonely with a book in hand 
• We made good conversation
• Wide range of vocal that we can teach you 
• We know a lot about romance since mostly ALL books these days have a smidgen of romance
• We commit, not only to book series but to relationships

And, of course, I couldn't leave out the last group.

Booklovers & Booklovers

Awww. It's a match made in heaven and you're probably going to have so much fun staying up late together reading or sitting against a tall tree and reading together underneath it. When you both have read a series, you'll take hours, maybe even days, talking about everything that went down and the characters that you love. You'll probably understand each other so well and let each other borrow their books. You're going to tag each other in cool bookish posts on Facebook and tweet book inspired pictures that make you two laugh. Aww it's so cute!

However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows on the other side. On the down side, you guys might be so immersed in books that when one of you hates a book that the other loves, be prepared for some gunships and cannons because THIS MEANS WAR! I mean... you'll disagree hehe. I don't like to get violent on you but it's the truth. Something as simple as a disagreement on your favorite book series can shatter a relationship. So keep an eye out fellow booklovers! 

What are your thoughts? Would you date a non-reader? What about a reader? 

The Lunar Chronicles Book Tag

I've only read the first book in this series but that was enough to throw me against my seat and get me thinking. Hey what if there was a book tag for this series? I don't know if this has already been created but I decided to take my own little spin on it. I'm not going to be tagging anyone only because I don't know who's tag-free and who isn't.

1. Queen Levana

Who is your favorite antagonist or villain?

This book is apart of a dystopian series where Calamity, a burst in the sky, has turned ordinary men and women into Epics, strong and dangerous power-weilding beings. Steelheart is the antagonist in this book and he has the power to turn things into steel and he can't get hurt. He's also immensely strong. I loved Steelheart as a villain because he was so sneaky and clever. He is, however, a harsh ruler and greatly resembles Queen Levana.

2. The Wolf

Choose a character that always likes to get into fights.

I recently read City of Bones and recall that Jace loves to get himself into trouble. I remember Alec saying, "why do you always try to get yourself killed?". Jace wants to fight and get in trouble. He reminds me so much of the Wolf who's only ever known fighting. 

3. Prince Kai

A character that is as charming and handsome as Prince Kai.

David Stark is the most charming bookish character I've ever met. Rebel Belle was one of the first books I read getting into blogging and booktubing so David is a character that easily comes to mind. He's adorable and nerdy, but being nerdy doesn't necessarily make him unattractive. He's nerdy in a hot kind of way hehe xD

4. Cyborgs 

A book that discusses the topic of alienation or someone being alienated.

The DUFF is a classic when you're discussing high school bullying and alienation. The DUFF represents a nickname that some kids are called that makes them stand out from the group and/or weird. In the Lunar Chronicles, cyborgs are scorned and they're alienated from the Earthens.

5. The Plague

Find a book that's hype spread like a plague. 

When I first heard about Red Queen, I believe it was one year before the actual book came out. This is a fantastic book and thought it was totally worth the hype but this has to be the most hyped up book on the blogosphere, and I feel that's why some people still haven't read it yet. 

6. Winter Is Coming

Choose a book that you are currently highly anticipating. 

I think everyone is looking forward to this book. It's coming out in only a few days and even though I won't be home when my preorder comes in, I will be reading it as soon as I get my book! AHHHHHHHHH Queen of Shadows is the fourth book in a epic fantasy series so pick it up while you still have time to read the first three books and the novella! 

Want to see it in video form? 

What did you think of the tag?

The Fear of Starting New Books

Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up.
-- Four from the Divergent series

Of course I had to start a post about fear with a quote from one of the fearless, Four, or as most of you know him as Tobias Eaton. I came up with the idea of this post when I was trying to start a new book. We all know what happens the moment just before you want to start a new book; you are apprehensive and scared that you won't like the series. I'm here to tell you the reason why you're most likely being scared and how to not fear. Let's all be fearless like Four (and Tris of course)! 

• If you're someone that follows the hype, of course you're going to be nervous about starting a book that is surrounded by it. 

A hyped up book refers to it being widely talked and fangirled about before its release. There is so much hype around it that even your parents know about it (okay, maybe not that far but you get the point). When books are hyped up, you automatically get so excited for it and your expectations bar for that certain book greatly increases. Then once you read the book, it might not be as good as it was talked about and then you get disappointed. We all get really scared when we're starting a hyped up book because we're afraid we're not going to like it and that's not going to bode well with the people who did, which is EVERYONE! 

To solve this problem is a simple solution, my friends. GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE GUTTER AND OUT OF SOCIAL MEDIA. If it means isolating yourself in the basement with a book and a cup of joe, so be it. So be it!! Take yourself away from the hype and don't read the ARC reviews of the books when they come out. That way none of your judgement is clouded. 

• When you're starting a new book that was written by your favorite author, you fear that you're not going to like it and it's going to make you feel differently about the author. 

I'll give you guys a good example. Jennifer L Armentrout is my favorite author and I've loved all the books I've read by her.... yes, every single one. Every time I start a new one, however, I'm bothered by this irrational fear that this book will be the first one to drag the title away of 'favorite author'. 

I don't have a specific solution to this phobia but you should be confident that you're going to be reading a good book if it's by your favorite author. Honestly, I don't even know why you would doubt it. 

• The next book in a series you love has just been released! But, of course, this can't come without stipulations.. You fear that this next installation will not live up to where you want the story to go and worse... THERE MIGHT BE A LOVE TRIANGLE! AHHHHH!! 

Oh god, I wish this didn't happen to me on a daily basis but every time I start a new installation for a book series. If it's a series that you love, you can't help but think to yourself and kind of have a vision of where the series is going and you don't want it to go any other way. It's your way or the highway, as they all say!  

What I would suggest is seeing some early reviews of the sequel to get a view of what's inside the book. Some people don't prefer this because it might affect their views on the book but I personally don't think it does. 

• You're trying to get into a new a genre and you pick up a book from that genre. You fear that you're not going to like it because you've read so little of that genre. 

Classic me. I've been trying to get into some genres that I don't read. For example, contemporary and historical fiction (two genres I despise JKJK). When I pick up books from these genres, I get psyched and start freaking out because I'm scared I'm not going to like the book. 

Well you won't know if you never try! Trying genres and not enjoying the books you read is half the fun of doing it. That sounded kind of contradictory but what I'm trying to say is that it's okay not to like a book from a certain genre you don't like! People have different preferences. 

How do you feel when you're starting a new book? Do any of these cases apply to you? 

Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler

Title: Absolutely True Lies 

Author: Rachel Stuhler 

Pages: 352 pages 

Published: May 26th, 2015

Genre: Contemporary YA 

Source: Paperback from Touchstone

Rating: 

Struggling writer Holly Gracin is on the verge of moving back home to upstate New York when she gets hired to write the memoirs of eighteen-year-old Daisy Mae Dixson, a former Nickelodeon child star who has moved seamlessly into both blockbuster movies and pop music. 

Holly quickly realizes that Daisy's wholesome public image is purely a work of fiction, as Holly finds herself trailing the star as she travels around the world on yachts, gets stalked by paparazzi, and sneaks out of five-star hotels in the dead of night. 

As Holly struggles to write a flattering portrait of a teenage millionaire who only eats "nightshades" and treats her employees like slaves, Daisy has a public meltdown- and suddenly, her book is the cornerstone of resurrecting her image. But working at all hours trailing a pop star has taken its toll, and Holly must decide if becoming the ultimate inside if worth losing a starring role in her own life. 

Fun, juicy, and inspired by Rachel Stuhler's own stranger-than-fiction experiences as a celebrity ghost writer, Absolutely True Lies is an entertaining look at how the lifestyles of the rich and famous aren't always what they seem. 

Get it now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

** I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not affected my opinion on the book whatsoever.** 

I really don't know where to start off with this book other than say that this is not your ordinary YA contemporary read. This book was amazingly special and unique that I've never heard about before until this book. It completely blew me away because I went into it solely not knowing anything and keeping in mind that this was not hyped about around Booktube or the blogosphere. Not often do we see a YA book about a main character whose already graduated from college and is now living off on her own to make a living for herself.

My Thoughts 

I can see this book following true events in the author's life. Oh wait hold up, these are are real-life experiences! The events of the story are based on her experience of being a celebrity ghost writer!! The story follows Holly as she struggles to sculpt this reputation as a writer first in the real world and then into the world of this glamorized Hollywood superstar life. Her life completely changes when she is called by the manager of famous actress Daisy Mae Dixon to have an opportunity to ghostwrite her autobiography. Because she has accepted this job, Holly enters this life of high, elite society with Daisy and her family to learn more about her in order to write the book. 

I found the writing style to be the most quirkiest thing ever. It's not sophisticated or incredibly beautiful but it's real and it sounds like any normal conversation you'd find on the street between two people. The lines were snarky and amusing. They also played a huge role in characterizing the characters and allowing the reader to connect to the characters. You would definitely find yourself snickering in between chapters when you'd least expect it. I also got those weird stares from my parents when they saw me laughing to myself and just didn't understand what was so funny. 

The comedy was unreal. This book takes YA comedic relief to the next level and there is only so much comedy you could put into contemporary before it goes over into the actual comedy genre. This book had the perfect balance of contemporary romance and comedy.

A fun and engrossing look at the underside of fame. Told from the viewpoint of an ordinary woman who gets sucked into the dizzying orbit of a superstar, this snappily written debut benefits greatly from Rachel Stuhler's real-life experience as a celebrity ghost-writer --Sarah Pekkanen 

Not only does this book give us a VIP pass into the life of a celebrity, but it shows us that fame and fortune is not as easy as it looks. There is a great contrast between out two characters Holly and Daisy. Holly is assigned to learn more about Daisy by following her around the day and as she does this, Holly realizes that she really would rather live her mediocre life than wish herself into the life of a famous Hollywood celeb. It's harder than you think, and I think this book made a huge statement towards that cause.

I honestly have no idea what age this group this is geared towards. I'm kind of stuck between YA and NA since this book follows an older protagonist but the YA is still there, I feel. This is a coming of age story that follows a protagonist that has matured but still hasn't just about learned everything in life. Holly finds herself pinned against herself wondering if she's doing the right thing and in the process of working inside the life of a celebrity, she learns a w hole lot about herself. A contemporary that sets itself apart from the others.

A story packed with quite a punch. YA and NA come together to form a story that reels you in slowly as it progresses. 

Have you read this book yet? 

I DNFed Yet Another Witch Book

Title: Hexed 

Author: Michelle Krys

Pages: 384 pages 

Published: June 10th, 2014 

Source: Barnes & Noble Hardback

Genre: Witch, YA

Rating: 

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won't stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn't want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it's when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie's world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn't get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that's seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she's a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witched and sorcerers, Indie's about to uncover the many dark truths about her life- and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid. 

Buy it now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Every month or so, my mood for witches and demons comes flooding back and it's an unquenchable hunger. I was probing through my bookshelf and found Hexed that has been sitting there since its release date last year. Like I said to my friends who have asked what I've been reading recently, I'm in a witchy kind of mood and I feel like I need some black magic to make me happy.

DNF means 'Did Not Finish'  for those who didn't know. 

My Thoughts

This is the second book about witches that I've DNFed this year, the other being Half Bad by Sally Green. I didn't do a full review of Half Bad but there was nothing I could talk about with that one. This book has so much more potential than Half Bad because of the completely different storyline and the way the author started the book. I loved the idea of this witch in hiding and she didn't even know she was a witch, but she's this extremely popular cheerleader in her school and so she has never even suspected that she's not normal. 

When I read a witch book, I expect them to take the classic witch myth with brooms and black cats and be completely unparalleled. Instead these same themes can be found and they're spun in such a cliche way that it made the enjoyable scale of this book drop. I was annoyed with the cheesiness and silliness in which witch culture was represented. It's just like writing a book about vampires and explaining how they shimmer and gleam in the sun like unicorns. Way too frivolous for my taste.

I didn't hate the main character, but I wasn't connecting with her either. She was just uninteresting. 

As for the romance, it fell flat for me. I felt that this romance was based more on physical attraction rather than actual connection to the other's personalities. I mean, in the beginning she thought that Bishop was a jerk and hated how snobby he was. So all of a sudden that changed? I liked Bishop. He was a bad-boy and rebellious kind of guy and just the thing that this book needed for some more finesse. 

This book was not the paranormal retreat I was looking for, but nevertheless I hope that you all give it a try since the reading experience is different for everyone. Also if you have any other witch book recommendations, I'm open to all and just leave them in the comments down below or recommend them to me via Goodreads. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you guys on my next post! 

Have you read read this book yet? Have any other witch book recommendations?  

Midyear Top 10 Debut Books of 2015

Yes ladies, that is Stiles Stilinski from Teen Wolf. It's August which means we are halfway through the year of 2015. 2015 has so far been a great year that couldn't be complete without mentioned of these top debut books. I still feel like these books have made such an impression on my reading life in general, and I'm ecstatic to share these with you so you can go pick them up. 

Yes, these books are in order of rank. 

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

This book takes first place as my top novel so far this year published by debut author Renee Ahdieh. This book is based on the story of 1001 Nights I believe and takes place in this Arabian-esque world. There is the land that is ruled by this boy-king and every night he takes on a new bride only to have her killed in the next morning. Intrigued, are you yet? The main character's best friend has been taken victim by this King and killed and now she's out for blood, this King's blood. She volunteers to be his bride with plans of taking him down but as she spends more time with him, she realizes that this king is not all he seems to be. With elegant writing, an awe-inspiring plot, and down to earth characters, Renee Ahdieh will make you wish you had the sequel in your hands, yearning for more! PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR AND READ THIS BOOK, like now. 

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton

I had a rough time choosing between this one and The Wrath and the Dawn because both were amazing. This book takes on a new type of story that is unheard of and is told from the point of view of three top students at this elite Manhattan Ballet school. You would think that ballerinas are supposed to be graceful and elegant, but no, Sona and Dhonielle discover the dark sides of the most elegant creatures and lures you into the dark side. These girls are competing for the lead roles in these dances and they will do ANYTHING to get to the top. This book was a mix of Pretty Little Liars and Black Swan. It was dark and that made it lovely because it was a contemporary. I got some pretty dark and twisted thoughts whilst reading this and I love that a book can make you feel that way. Like I said, one of the best books this year! 

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Mina is seventeen. A virgin. And pregnant. 

Another book with a very unique plot that has totally been unheard of in YA literature. This over is a total reflection of what the story is like on the inside-- beautiful and mysterious. Mina is seventeen, A virgin. And pregnant. *mind blows up* How could that not intrigue you! I was so curious to how she got pregnant and the fact that she's a virgin just makes the mind-blowing factor increase. I feel like the author took a huge risk writing about something very serious and religious (yes, there are religious aspects in this book). Katelyn did so well on this book and she understood that there was a fine line between seriousness and light sarcastic moments in the book that made me laugh. Family, love, religion are some dominant topics in this book, and yet I loved ever moment of it. 

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

The plot of this book is hard to explain because, in a sense, it's a bit complicated. Basically the main character Toni understands guys and she knows how they work. When she sets one of her friends on a date with a really cute guy, word spreads around that Toni has some great boy connections. Thinking about how this could be totally beneficial to them, Toni and her friend start a Rent-A-Gent service where you can buy your date. Things fall horribly wrong when Toni falls in love with one of her friends who also happens to be the most sought-after date in this renting service. Everyone wants a piece of him and she has to decide if she wants to keep her service and this new-found wealth or be with the guy she's in love with. The cutesy romances are really my type but this one was fantastic. Maybe it's because the characters were so relatable and in there positions, I would do the same exact thing. Also the story is so real and it makes you scrunch your fists in the moments of angst but it might just break your heart in moments of heartache. 

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie 

This was mentioned as one of my favorite horror novels of 2015. If you're not a horror buff or not a fan of a little scare, I recommend skipping this one because you're probably not going to end up liking it. I was surprised by the chills I got from this book considering I'm a huge horror buff and I don't get easily scared. THIS BOOK GAVE ME THE CHILLS and I recommend to anyone that you should read this during the daytime or with all the lights on in the house. It's everything a great horror novel should be- frightening, apprehensive, and angst-y. 

An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I was debating where on the ranks to place this book since it wasn't "amazing" but it did leave a huge impression and still deserved its 5 stars. An Ember in the Ashes has the perfect amount of magic and romance that nothing is overbearing or irritating but sometimes perfect doesn't fulfill people's needs. I felt like this book could've had more romance because I know a lot of readers who were satisfied with the plot and all but felt that there couldn't been more of a spark between the two characters. I have to give it to Sabaa Tahir for her extremely interesting world building. She builds this entirely new world from scratch and there are new words and terms to define everything. It's kind of hard to keep track of in the beginning but you get used to it sooner or later. I would recommend this book to those lovers of contemporary that are anxious about reading a fantasy. This is where you should start with fantasy. 

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

I had such a hard time ranking this book. I think the only reason this book is even on this list is because of the kickass action scenes and plot twists. Other than that, I felt that the plot was unoriginal and the characters were instalove. Oh, instalove the true terror! But the action scenes truly make up for it because, wow, they were amazing. Okay, okay sorry in advance for my horrible description but I felt like the author had defeated these ninjas in the past and was writing about her experience in this book because I could follow it along with my mind and imagine the scene being played out. There is also a major plot twist so for you plot-twist-lovers, this book is a go!

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Another book with a cover that literally is a reflection of the story. This story is unique and exotic, just as the cover tells. Everything Everything is about a girl with a disease that prevents her from going outside and breathing in harmful bacteria that is basically found in the air. So she's been living in her house for seventeen years and hasn't taken a step outside into the real world. Until... the new neighbors move in and a cute guy ends up loving next door. Everything changes as he demands to know more about her and she wants to get closer to him. Would she be willing to risk everything for love? This doesn't come out until September but definitely keep an eye on the shelves for this heartfelt and groundbreaking debut. 

The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

Wait.. I just got word that this is not a debut. How slightly embarrassing but it's still going as one of my top books of 2015!

Another great fantasical and magical realism book that doesn't focus solely on magic but the lore and mystery behind the world. This world is especially unique because it takes place in a time where women are scarce and are hunted to be bought and sold in a market for breeding rights. The main character Aya has fled from her inevitable fate of being sold off and bred for almost as long as she can remember until she's finally captured and surviving is the only thing that matters. But how do you survive in a world where you're the main prey? It's fast-paced and very easy to read. I read it in one sitting, by the way and couldn't have asked for a better novel to fill my head with thoughts on how I react if our world was like this. 

And coming in 10th place for this year's top debuts, ladies and gentlemen, I give you...

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

As a huge fantasy reader, I take my fantasy books very very seriously. Some people didn't like this, but I'm not some people and I loved loved the concept of this book. I did have my qualms, however, but nothing that was so major that stopped me from enjoying every piece of this book. If you're wondering, the only reason this book is 10th place is not because it's bad but because of the meer fact that I enjoyed all the books that are ranked higher much much more. Another fantasy book that focuses on the world building and the concepts. Victoria made sure that there was an explanation behind everything that happened and yes, yes, that's what I love to see in fast-paced fantasy books! The only thing is that the characters fell flat for me, but I'm sure this is only because it's the first book in a series so there should be more to come in the future.

What are some of your top debuts of this year? 

Landry Park Series by Bethany Hagen + Book Inspired Fashion Spread

I teamed up with Penguin for their "Behind the Dress" campaign for Bethany Hagen's sequel murder mystery, Jubilee Manor. First I will be doing a review on the series as a whole and then we're going to get into the fun part of this tour. My sister will be joining me for a fashion spread photo shoot as that will represent the true meaning of this book and show you what's behind the covers (dress).

First book in this series...

Title: Jubilee Manor

Author: Bethany Hagen 

Pages: 387 pages

Published: August 11th, 2015 

Genre: YA, Love, Betrayal, Murder

Rating: 

The thrilling conclusion to Landry Park is full of love, betrayal, and murder-- perfect for fans of Divergent, The Selection, and Pride and Prejudice.

In Landry Park, Madeline turned her back on her elite family, friends, and estate to help the Rootless. Now, in Jubilee Manor, she struggles to bring the Gentry and the Rootless together. But when the Gentry heirs-- Madeline's old friends-- are murdered, even she begins to think a Rootless is behind it, putting her at odds with the boy she loves and the very people she is trying to lead. If she can't figure out who is killing her friends and bring them to justice, a violent war will erupt and even more will die-- and Madeline's name, her estate, and all the bonds she's forged won't make any difference. 

This conclusion to Landy Park, which VOYA dubbed "Gone with the Wind meets The Hunger Games," is a richly satisfying, addictive read. 

Buy now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Landry Park duology seems more like a historical fiction mystery that takes place in a world where the gentry rule over the Rootless. This world does not seem so far off from the future. The Landry family have stopped global warming with the nuclear charge and have become the most successful and affluent family of the gentry. Young Madeline is heir to the house and as heir, she is expected to skip University to get married and have an heir instead. Madeline thinks otherwise as she fights for a life of the scholars and a better outlook for the Rootless, the poor bunch of the population that have been oppressed by the gentry. Political intrigue, mystery, romance, and violence ensues in the heart-aching adventure of Madeline finding her role in this world. 

My Thoughts

I read the first book in this series a while ago, even before I started blogging and that's why I never posted my review on here. I was super excited when Penguin asked if I was interested in joining their blog tour for the conclusion of this duology. I'm also going to be doing a fashion spread photo shoot based on this book at the end so don't forget to stay till the end.

So what did I think about this book? 

The angst. The feels. All of it. This book is predominantly set in a time period where two groups of society hate each other. Now this isn't some age old war we're talking about. This is about the higher class called the gentry that oppress the group known as the Rootless. I loved the tension between these two groups even though it's not ladylike to admit that I love violence but this book leaves you with just the right amount of violence and mystery to the point where you don't know who or what caused it.

Keep in mind that there are only two books in this series, and I was surprised Hagen could compose all those thoughts in that first book. Nothing is kept away from the readers in the first book as there is a satisfying ending and the characters go through a tremendous amount of character development with Madeline becoming more headstrong. In the second book I'm seeing a lot of characters that I didn't expect to change, to go through some of the most amazing developments in my reading history. It's those moments that make you want to stop reading and think about how the author thought to do that. 

Yearning for a bite of romance? This series has it all from the violence and the thrill to the romance and swooniness of the guys. I like how young, rebellious socialite guys are portrayed in this book. It isn't the normal cliche type of guy that's main purpose in life is to get with a girl and impregnate her. These guys are affectionate towards these girls and ughhh so darn hunky and adorable. It makes me wonder why there aren't guys like this in real life, xD. 

Ladies, this book will appeal to your girlishness and make you wish you were a princess. There is talk of lace dresses, pearl and silver necklaces, makeup, hair! It's something I've never thought of alone but in the context where Madeline is being pampered by her maids, I can't help but be a little envious. Fashion is imperative in this society and what you wear depends on your status. I decided to do a little fashion spread based on that so let's get into it... 

Behind the Dress

This book is notorious for its talk on fashion and dress and making sure their royalty is fit to perfection. My sister and  I recreated the set of this book and did a fashion spread photo shoot that represents this book. My photos are a series that represent how there is always more than it seems. This girl represented is my sister playing the main character Madeline. It represents that behind the dresses, shoes, and affluent lifestyle of the gentry, there is murder, mystery, romance, and intrigue. Hope you enjoy! I had a lot of fun doing this! I would like to thank my sister for being my model.

Why I Love NA + Some Recommendations

The genre and category of New Adult literature is somewhat neglected around the blogosphere and booktube. I feel like it's all about YA books and authors right now because those are where the most intriguing and futuristic stories lie. But have we really been avoiding NA, or is it just something else? That's what I've gathered here to discover. 

**Disclaimer: Everything said is my opinion and you might not agree with it. Please don't shame my opinion but rather, you can comment and tell me yours :D**

You may all know me as the girl who loves YA literature, and you're not wrong. I prefer YA over anything. But hold up, I do read NA. The problem I just don't like to talk about it or blog about so you guys are accustomed to hearing about some of the NA authors I've recently been getting into! Today's post is going to be about why I absolutely love the genre of NA. With this in mind, I set out to encourage all you YA readers who love YA and haven't tried NA, to give this genre a chance. 

1. NA is more mature than YA

NA is called New Adult for a reason. There is a line of maturity that falls between these two genres. YA is a little bit underneath this line, while NA is above. We all know that NA is geared towards older audiences, and they are not wrong. Even the subject matter of NA is much more mature and there is less action than in an YA novel. 

2. Less love triangles

Because there is more maturity to most NA romances, there isn't any room for silly love triangles. Most of these books are composed of serious romances where the guy spends the entire book pining over one woman. Love triangles tend to mess things up (i.e. make it more complicated for the author to tell a simple love story or romance between two characters). Therefore by eliminating love triangles, the author can focus on that element of the book and build it up to be its best. 

3. A lot more romance 

NA revolves around romance! I don't think I've ever read a NA book without a romance. That's not possible. Anyways the NA genre of romance is far more intimate than just any YA contemporary YA romance. That's the best part, I believe. If you've been yearning for a more complicated romance with a little bit more intimacy, some NA wouldn't hurt at all! Especially if you're reading Jennifer L. Armentrout's NA novels. 

4. Older characters

NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ELDERLY PEOPLE. The main difference between NA and YA is the characters. Instead of having teenagers who are experiencing their first kisses or making their way through high school, you'll most likely read about characters ages 18-22, and it would be about more serious relationships that have developed way after the first kiss. I've always like the aspect of characters in college or some with jobs already. 

5. Reading from authors with a lot of experience

When you read a NA book, the story might possible be inspired by the author's personal experience or someone else's experience that they are awfully familiar with. I consider this a pro rather than a con because then the story just becomes 100x more real and relatable. It comes from true and pure experiences that have made their way from beginning to end. 

Personal NA Recommendations

   

Jennifer L Armentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout, one of absolute favorite authors, sometimes goes by the pen name J. Lynn to indicate that her book is geared towards NA audiences. Her books never disappoint and I loved this series! Definitely check her out if you've been wanting to start some of the NA genre. 

    

Colleen Hoover 

I read my first ever Colleen Hoover book this year and was so impressed by her writing that I plan on purchasing all her books and reading them in one sitting. OMG she is amazing and her writing is similar to Jennifer L Armentrout's. My review of Confess is in the review directory. 

 

Jamie McGuire

I haven't read anything by her but my friend loves her and swears by it that she's one of the greatest authors ever by bringing her best book boyfriend to life. I really want to read some of her work since I met her at ApollyCon and she was such a sweetheart. She's also really pretty :P 

Honorable Mentions...

Abbi Glines

Tammara Webber

K.A. Tucker

Jay Crownover 

Cora Carmack 

Tarryn Fisher 

Have you ventured through the NA genre yet? Tell me your thoughts!