Weekly Recap #85: Week of 12/30 – 1/5
/38 Comments/by Suzanne
It’s time for another weekly recap post of all things happening on and off the blog. This week I’ll be linking to the Sunday Post, which is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and to Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2019 is off to a great start for all of you! I had twelve days off from work and was like a whiny child when it was time to go back, but overall I had a wonderful and relaxing holiday and feel very refreshed and ready to tackle the new year so I won’t complain too much. I also finally decided on a new car and we picked that up while I was off from work. It’s my first new car in twelve years so everyday since I’ve gotten the new one has been quite the adventure as I get used to all of the new technology that my old car didn’t have. For those who remember me mentioning the car hunt before, we ended up going with the Subaru Ascent and so far I love it!
I spent this weekend taking down all of the Christmas decorations and putting the house back together. My husband and I then did a huge purge/reorganization of our kitchen to make it easier to prepare what we hope will be healthier meals in 2019, as focusing on our health and fitness is one of the few goals we’ve decided on for the new year. Aside from eating better (i.e. eating more veggies, less carbs and meat), we’re also planning to try to get to the gym three times a week for some cardio and weightlifting. We failed miserably at this in 2018 so wish us luck, lol!
As far as blogging, I’m still thinking about my blogging goals for this year, so stay tuned for a post about those sometime soon. I’ve started the new year focused almost solely on getting all of my January and early February ARCs read and reviewed on time. I didn’t exercise nearly enough self control when I was requesting and then got approved for more than I was expecting to, so it will be a few weeks before I really get started on tackling what I think will be my main goal for the year – reading and reviewing books that I already own.
I think that’s about it for now. Have a great week, everyone!
WHAT I POSTED LAST WEEK
- [30 Dec] Weekly Recap #84: Week of 12/23 – 12/29
- [31 Dec] Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor ★★★★★
- [31 Dec] Vengeful by V.E. Schwab ★★★★
- [1 Jan] Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2018
- [2 Jan] Can’t Wait Wednesday – DEATH PREFERS BLONDES by Caleb Roehrig
- [3 Jan] An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen ★★★★
- [5 Jan] The Girl King by Mimi Yu ★★★½
- [6 Jan] Weekly Recap #85: Week of 12/30 – 1/5
- [7 Jan] Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks ★★★★
- [8 Jan] Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Book Releases for the First Half of 2019
- [9 Jan] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ALL WE COULD HAVE BEEN by T.E. Carter
- [10 Jan] White Stag (Permafrost, #1) by Kara Barbieri ★★★½
- [11 Jan] Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★
- [11 Jan] The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee ★★★★
- [13 Jan] Weekly Recap #86: Week of 1/6 – 1/12
- [14 Jan] The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman ★★★★
- [15 Jan] Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 New-to-Me Authors in 2018
- [16 Jan] Can’t Wait Wednesday – RAYNE & DELILAH’S MIDNITE MATINEE by Jeff Zentner
- [17 Jan] Discussion: Setting Blogging Goals and Managing Expectations in 2019
- [20 Jan] Weekly Recap #87: Week of 1/13 – 1/19
- [21 Jan] The Suspect by Fiona Barton ★★★½
- [22 Jan] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books I Meant to Read In 2018 but Didn’t Get To
- [23 Jan] Can’t Wait Wednesday – WILDER GIRLS by Rory Power
- [24 Jan] The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff ★★★★★
- [27 Jan] Weekly Recap #88: Week of 1/20 – 1/26
- [28 Jan] Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson, Ellen Hagan ★★★★
- [28 Jan] Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard ★★★★½
- [29 Jan] Top Ten Tuesday – The Ten Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List
- [30 Jan] Can’t Wait Wednesday – FINDING DOROTHY by Elizabeth Letts
- [1 Feb] Discussion: Tackling the Series That Have Lingered on my TBR
- [3 Feb] Weekly Recap #89: Week of 1/27 – 2/2
- [4 Feb] Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway ★★★½
- [4 Feb] Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers ★★★½
- [5 Feb] Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Upcoming Releases I’m on the Fence About Reading
- [6 Feb] Can’t Wait Wednesday – CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT by Brigid Kemmerer
- [7 Feb] Little Darlings by Melanie Golding ★★★★
- [8 Feb] Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins ★★★★
- [10 Feb] Weekly Recap #90: Week of 2/3 – 2/9
- [11 Feb] Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok
- [11 Feb] The Sisterhood by A.J. Grainger
- [12 Feb] Top Ten Tuesday, the Valentine’s Edition: My Top 10 Favorite Couples in Books
- [13 Feb] Can’t Wait Wednesday – LIFE AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES by Kristan Higgins
- [17 Feb] Weekly Recap #91: Week of 2/10 – 2/16
- [18 Feb] Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser ★★★½
- [19 Feb] Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Fabulous Books That Deserve More Love
- [20 Feb] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman
- [22 Feb] Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto ★★★½
- [24 Feb] Weekly Recap #92: Week of 2/17 – 2/23
- [25 Feb] Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner ★★★★½
- [26 Feb] Top Ten Tuesday: Places Mentioned In Books That I’d Like to Visit
- [27 Feb] Can’t Wait Wednesday – LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager
- [1 Mar] You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook ★★★★
- [3 Mar] Weekly Recap #93: Week of 2/24 – 3/2
- [4 Mar] Desperate Paths by E.C. Diskin ★★★★
- [5 Mar] Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Fictional Characters I’d Like to Switch Places with for a Day
- [6 Mar] Can’t Wait Wednesday – LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali
- [8 Mar] You Asked for Perfect by Laura Silverman ★★★★½
- [10 Mar] Weekly Recap #94: Week of 3/3 – 3/9
- [11 Mar] Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★★★
- [12 Mar] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Standalone Books That Need a Sequel
- [13 Mar] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK by Adrienne Young
- [15 Mar] Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith ★★★½
- [17 Mar] Weekly Recap #95: Week of 3/10 – 3/16
- [18 Mar] Sky Without Stars (System Divine, #1) by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell ★★★★
- [19 Mar] Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Books on My Reading List for Spring
- [20 Mar] Can’t Wait Wednesday – AURORA RISING by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
- [24 Mar] Weekly Recap #96: Week of 3/17 – 3/23
- [24 Mar] The Bookish Libra Turns 3 Today & I’m Celebrating with a Giveaway!
- [25 Mar] Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett ★★★★½
- [26 Mar] Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Audiobooks to Try Even If You Think You Don’t Like Audiobooks
- [27 Mar] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by Hazel Prior
- [29 Mar] Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan ★★★★
- [31 Mar] Weekly Recap #97: Week of 3/24 – 3/30
- [1 Apr] One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan ★★★★½
- [2 Apr] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book
- [3 Apr] Can’t Wait Wednesday – WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker
- [6 Apr] Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly ★★★★★
- [7 Apr] Weekly Recap #98: Week of 3/31 – 4/6
- [8 Apr] In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton ★★★★
- [9 Apr] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Ways I Squeeze a Little Extra Reading Time into My Day
- [10 Apr] Can’t Wait Wednesday – SCREEN QUEENS by Lori Goldstein
- [14 Apr] Weekly Recap #99: Week of 4/7 – 4/13
- [15 Apr] Descendant of the Crane by Joan He ★★★★
- [16 Apr] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Perfect Rainy Day Reads
- [17 Apr] Can’t Wait Wednesday – HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES by Julie Buxbaum
- [18 Apr] Book Blitz & Giveaway: THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES by C.G. Drews
- [19 Apr] The Bride Test by Helen Hoang ★★★★★
- [21 Apr] Weekly Recap #100: Week of 4/14 – 4/20
- [22 Apr] The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth ★★★★
- [23 Apr] Top Ten Tuesday – First 10 Books I Ever Reviewed
- [24 Apr] Can’t Wait Wednesday – SLAY by Brittney Morris
- [26 Apr] Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali ★★★★★
- [28 Apr] Weekly Recap #101: Week of 4/21 – 4/27
- [29 Apr] Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev ★★★★
- [30 Apr] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Book Quotes That Resonate
- [1 May] Can’t Wait Wednesday – NINTH HOUSE by Leigh Bardugo
- [2 May] Discussion: Authors I Plan to Read in 2019 That Wouldn’t Even Be on my Radar If Not for Book Bloggers
- [4 May] Middlegame by Seanan McGuire ★★★
- [5 May] Weekly Recap #102: Week of 4/28 – 5/4
- [6 May] The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren ★★★★½
- [7 May] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Characters That Remind Me of Myself
- [8 May] Can’t Wait Wednesday – TWICE IN A BLUE MOON by Christina Lauren
- [12 May] Weekly Recap #103: Week of 5/5 – 5/11
- [13 May] Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ★★★★½
- [13 May] There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon ★★★★½
- [14 May] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Page-to-Screen Adaptations I Want to Watch
- [15 May] Can’t Wait Wednesday – INTO THE CROOKED PLACE by Alexandra Christo
- [17 May] The Night Before by Wendy Walker ★★★★
- [19 May] Weekly Recap #104: Week of 5/12 – 5/18
- [21 May] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books I’d Love to Share with Everyone
- [22 May] Can’t Wait Wednesday – LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES by Mackenzi Lee
- [23 May] No Place Like Here by Christina June ★★★★
- [24 May] Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small ★★★★
- [26 May] Weekly Recap #105: Week of 5/19 – 5/25
- [28 May] Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Favorite Books Released in the Last 10 Years
- [29 May] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION by Kiersten White
- [31 May] Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash ★★★½
- [31 May] Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas ★★★★
- [2 Jun] Weekly Recap #106: Week of 5/26 – 6/1
- [2 Jun] Iron Throne Readalong Sign Up Post
- [4 Jun] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Retellings I Absolutely Love
- [5 Jun] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE LADY ROGUE by Jenn Bennett
- [6 Jun] The Friends We Keep by Jane Green ★★★★
- [7 Jun] Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner ★★★★½
- [9 Jun] Weekly Recap #107: Week of 6/2 – 6/8
- [10 Jun] All Eyes on Us by Kit Frick ★★★★
- [11 Jun] Top Ten Tuesday: Unpopular Bookish Opinions
- [12 Jun] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB by Lyssa Kay Adams
- [14 Jun] Recursion by Blake Crouch ★★★★½
- [15 Jun] Midyear Audiobook Challenge Check-In
- [16 Jun] Weekly Recap #108: Week of 6/9 – 6/15
- [17 Jun] The Girl in Red by Christina Henry ★★★★
- [18 Jun] Top Ten Tuesday – My 10 Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2019
- [19 Jun] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE by Ruta Sepetys
- [20 Jun] Discussion: Writing Reviews – What My Star Ratings Mean to Me
- [23 Jun] Weekly Recap #109: Week of 6/16 – 6/22
- [24 Jun] Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith ★★★★
- [25 Jun] Top Ten Tuesday – Books on My Summer 2019 TBR
- [26 Jun] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE STARLESS SEA by Erin Morganstern
- [28 Jun] Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer ★★★★½
- [30 Jun] Weekly Recap #110: Week of 6/23 – 6/29
- [1 Jul] The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel by Jeanne Mackin ★★★★
- [2 Jul] Top Ten Tuesday – A Trip Down Memory Lane to Revisit Favorite Books from My Childhood
- [3 Jul] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS by Charlotte Nicole Davis
- [5 Jul] Lock Every Door by Riley Sager ★★★★★
- [7 Jul] Weekly Recap #111: Week of 6/30 – 7/6
- [8 Jul] The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman ★★★★½
- [9 Jul] Top Ten Tuesday – My Top 10 Favorite Socially Awkward Book Characters
- [10 Jul] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ALL THE BAD APPLES by Moira Fowley-Doyle
- [12 Jul] Wilder Girls by Rory Power ★★★½
- [14 Jul] Weekly Recap #112: Week of 7/7 – 7/13
- [15 Jul] Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong ★★★½
- [16 Jul] Top Ten Tuesday – Authors Who Have Become Auto-Buys for Me
- [17 Jul] Can’t Wait Wednesday – LIFE AND LIMB by Jennifer Roberson
- [19 Jul] The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu ★★★★
- [19 Jul] Audio Blitz & Giveaway for THE HASHTAG HUNT by Kristina Seek
- [21 Jul] Weekly Recap #113: Week of 7/14 – 7/20
- [22 Jul] Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane ★★★★½
- [23 Jul] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Book Settings I Need More of in My Reading Life
- [24 Jul] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE QUEEN OF NOTHING by Holly Black
- [28 Jul] Weekly Recap #114: Week of 7/21 – 7/27
- [29 Jul] The Book Charmer (Dove Pond, #1) by Karen Hawkins ★★★★
- [30 Jul] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books I’d Love to See Adapted for the Big or Small Screen
- [31 Jul] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ALL THESE MONSTERS by Amy Tintera
- [1 Aug] Giveaway: Help ShootingStarsMag Celebrate her 12th Blogoversary & Enter for your Chance to Win a Free Book!
- [2 Aug] The Escape Room by Megan Goldin ★★★½
- [4 Aug] Weekly Recap #115: Week of 7/28 – 8/3
- [5 Aug] Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker ★★★★
- [6 Aug] Top Ten Tuesday – My Top Ten Favorite Cover Makeovers
- [7 Aug] Can’t Wait Wednesday – BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by Diane Chamberlain
- [8 Aug] Discussion: LIKABLE MAIN CHARACTERS, YES OR NO?
- [9 Aug] The Perfect Wife by J.P. Delaney ★★★½
- [11 Aug] Weekly Recap #116: Week of 8/4 – 8/10
- [12 Aug] Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center ★★★★★
- [13 Aug] Top Ten Tuesday – Book Characters I’d Love to Have in My Circle of Friends
- [14 Aug] Can’t Wait Wednesday – MEG & JO by Virginia Kantra
- [16 Aug] All The Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio ★★★★
- [18 Aug] Weekly Recap #117: Week of 8/11 – 8/17
- [19 Aug] Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell ★★★★
- [20 Aug] Top Ten Tuesday: 10 of My Favorite Bookish Tropes
- [21 Aug] Can’t Wait Wednesday – SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT by Sara B. Larson
- [23 Aug] On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci ★★★½
- [25 Aug] Weekly Recap #118: Week of 8/18 – 8/24
- [26 Aug] The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett ★★★★
- [27 Aug] Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’ve Read That I’d Like to Have in My Personal Library
- [28 Aug] Can’t Wait Wednesday – HARLEY IN THE SKY by Akemi Dawn Bowman
- [30 Aug] Well Met by Jen DeLuca ★★★★½
- [1 Sep] Weekly Recap #119: Week of 8/25 – 8/31
- [2 Sep] Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore ★★★★
- [3 Sep] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Nonfiction Books I Enjoyed Even Though I Don’t Usually Like to Read Nonfiction
- [4 Sep] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ONE OF US IS NEXT by Karen McManus
- [6 Sep] The Long Call by Ann Cleeves ★★★★
- [8 Sep] Weekly Recap #120: Week of 9/1 – 9/7
- [9 Sep] Akin by Emma Donoghue ★★★★½
- [10 Sep] Top Ten Tuesday – Books on My TBR I’ve Been Avoiding
- [11 Sep] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS by Laura Taylor Namey
- [13 Sep] 29 Seconds by T.M. Logan ★★★★
- [15 Sep] Weekly Recap #121: Week of 9/8 – 9/14
- [16 Sep] Discussion: My Recipe for Writing Book Reviews
- [17 Sep] Top Ten Tuesday – Snacks for the Reader Who is Also Dieting
- [18 Sep] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US by Tricia Levenseller
- [22 Sep] Weekly Recap #122: Week of 9/15 – 9/21
- [23 Sep] The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman ★★★★★
- [24 Sep] Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’m Planning to Read this Fall
- [25 Sep] Can’t Wait Wednesday – Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
- [27 Sep] Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date, #4) by Jasmine Guillory ★★★½
- [29 Sep] Weekly Recap #123: Week of 9/22 – 9/28
- [30 Sep] The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen ★★★½
- [1 Oct] Top Ten Tuesday – “Sum” of my Favorite Books with Numbers in their Titles
- [2 Oct] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GLASS MAGICIAN by Caroline Stevermer
- [4 Oct] Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris ★★★★½
- [6 Oct] Weekly Recap #124: Week of 9/29 – 10/5
- [7 Oct] The Grace Year by Kim Liggett ★★★★
- [8 Oct] Top Ten Tuesday – Personality Traits I Love to See in Book Characters
- [9 Oct] Can’t Wait Wednesday – INFINITY SON by Adam Silvera
- [11 Oct] The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate ★★★★
- [13 Oct] Weekly Recap #125: Week of 10/6 – 10/12
- [14 Oct] Fireborne by Rosaria Munda ★★★★
- [15 Oct] Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’ve Read That Originally Caught My Attention Because of Their Unusual Titles
- [16 Oct] Can’t Wait Wednesday – ALL THE STARS AND TEETH by Adalyn Grace
- [18 Oct] Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren ★★★½
- [20 Oct] Weekly Recap #126: Week of 10/13 – 10/19
- [21 Oct] The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams ★★★★½
- [22 Oct] Top Ten Tuesday – The ‘Happy Birthday to Me’ Edition
- [23 Oct] Can’t Wait Wednesday – GOOD GIRLS LIE by J.T. Ellison
- [27 Oct] Weekly Recap #127: Week of 10/20 – 10/26
- [28 Oct] The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell ★★★★
- [29 Oct] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Witchy Reads for You to Check Out This Halloween
- [30 Oct] Can’t Wait Wednesday – TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS by Samantha Mabry
- [3 Nov] Weekly Recap #128: Week of 10/27 – 11/2
- [4 Nov] Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson ★★★½
- [5 Nov] Top Ten Tuesday – Book Covers That Give Me Autumn Vibes
- [6 Nov] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GRAVITY OF US by Phil Stamper
- [8 Nov] The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis ★★★★½
- [10 Nov] Weekly Recap #129: Week of 11/3 – 11/9
- [11 Nov] The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White ★★★
- [12 Nov] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Bookmarks I’d Love to Add to My Collection
- [13 Nov] Can’t Wait Wednesday – INCENDIARY by Zoraida Córdova
- [17 Nov] Weekly Recap #130: Week of 11/10 – 11/16
- [18 Nov] The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware ★★★★
- [19 Nov] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Changes in My Reading Life
- [20 Nov] Can’t Wait Wednesday – A HEART SO FIERCE AND BROKEN by Brigid Kemmerer
- [24 Nov] Weekly Recap #131: Week of 11/17 – 11/23
- [25 Nov] Mini Reviews for King of Scars, Evvie Drake Starts Over, and More
- [25 Nov] Hands Up by
- [25 Nov] King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1) by
- [25 Nov] Evvie Drake Starts Over by
- [25 Nov] The Start of Me and You (The Start of Me and You, #1) by
- [26 Nov] Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Reads to Dive into over the Thanksgiving Holiday
- [27 Nov] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE DARK CORNERS OF THE NIGHT by Meg Gardiner
- [1 Dec] Weekly Recap #132: Week of 11/24 – 11/30
- [3 Dec] Top Ten Tuesday – My Ten Favorite Movies to Watch During the Holiday Season
- [4 Dec] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE NOBLEMAN’S GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND SHIPWRECKS by Mackenzi Lee
- [6 Dec] Mini Reviews for Reputation, Meg & Jo, and The Dead Girls Club
- [6 Dec] Reputation by
- [6 Dec] Meg and Jo by
- [6 Dec] The Dead Girls Club by
- [8 Dec] Weekly Recap #133: Week of 12/1 – 12/7
- [10 Dec] Top Ten Tuesday – Reading Fails: 10 Books I Totally Planned to Read This Year But Probably Won’t
- [11 Dec] Can’t Wait Wednesday – UNDERCOVER BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams
- [13 Dec] It’s New to Me – Favorite Authors I Read for the First Time in 2019
- [15 Dec] Weekly Recap #134: Week of 12/8 – 12/14
- [17 Dec] Top Ten Tuesday – Books from My Winter TBR I’m Most Excited For
- [18 Dec] Can’t Wait Wednesday – WE ARE NOT FREE by Traci Chee
- [20 Dec] The Map from Here to There by Emery Lord ★★★★
- [20 Dec] Chosen (Slayer, #2) by Kiersten White ★★★★
- [22 Dec] Weekly Recap #135: Week of 12/15 – 12/21
- [23 Dec] Husband Material by Emily Belden ★★★★
- [24 Dec] Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Hope to Find Under My Christmas Tree
- [27 Dec] Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison ★★★★
- [29 Dec] Weekly Recap #136: Week of 12/22 – 12/28
- [30 Dec] Mini Reviews for Scavenge the Stars, You Were There Too, & Echoes Between Us
- [30 Dec] Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1) by
- [30 Dec] Echoes Between Us by
- [30 Dec] You Were There Too by
- [31 Dec] Top Ten Tuesday – Best Books I Read in 2019
- [31 Dec] Beat the Backlist 2020 Sign Up & Tentative TBR
WHAT I’M READING THIS WEEK
UPCOMING REVIEWS
STACKING THE SHELVES
Believe it or not? No new books this week!
TOTALLY RANDOM
Early Review: THE GIRL KING
/28 Comments/by SuzanneSeries: The Girl King #1
Published by Bloomsbury YA on January 8, 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 432
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
MY REVIEW:
Mimi Yu’s debut novel The Girl King is an Asian-inspired fantasy that is filled to the brim with political intrigue, sibling rivalry, betrayal, rebellion, and of course, magic. It follows Lu and Min, two sisters who are as different as night and day, and who are princesses of the Empire. Lu, the more outspoken and rebellious of the two, believes that their father (against their mother’s wishes) is about to name her as his successor, which would make her the Empire’s first female ruler. Min, the more docile and reserved sister, also believes that Lu is destined to be Empress and that her own role is simply to continue being the meek and dutiful daughter that makes their mother happy.
It’s also not only the sisters who expect Lu to be named the next ruler. Most of the citizens of the Empire expect it as well. So, when the unthinkable happens and their father names their cousin Set as the new Emperor instead and proclaims that Lu’s destiny will be to marry Set, chaos ensues on all sides. Lu feels betrayed and Min is utterly bewildered. Determined to reclaim her birthright at all costs, Lu sets out to find allies who will help her take back the throne. In doing so, however, she leaves her sister Min behind. Min’s future has also been up-ended, both by their father’s proclamation and by Lu’s desertion. What role will Min play now that everything has been turned upside down?
The three main characters of The Girl King were the story’s biggest draw for me.
- Lu. I really liked Lu’s fierceness and determination, and that she’s a bit of a rebel. Most of all though, I liked her self-confidence. She truly feels that she is more than capable of taking her father’s place as ruler of the Empire. The fact that she would be the first female ruler doesn’t faze her in the least. Some may find her arrogant, but I just found it refreshing that she knows what she wants and feels ready for the responsibility. My heart broke for her when her father announced that Set, a cousin that Lu despises, would be named the next ruler instead of Lu.
- Min. Min was a little harder to get to know, mainly because she’s so quiet and retreating compared to Lu. She functions as little more than a secondary character while Lu is around. Even relegated to the background, however, Min still got to me. I still found myself really caring about her and feeling protective of her. It seemed like no good could come from her being left behind at the palace without Lu there as a buffer between her and anyone else who might try to take advantage of her meek nature. I don’t want to give away anything too spoilery but I will say that the transformation Min undergoes throughout the course of The Girl King wins her the Most Shocking Character award. It’s amazing what can happen when someone is just pushed way too far!
- Nokhai (or Nok). Nok was actually probably my favorite character. As much as I enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Lu and Min, I just found Nokhai’s story equally, if not more, compelling than theirs. Nok is a wolf shapeshifter, and thanks to Min and Lu’s father wiping out his people, Nok is the last surviving one of his kind. Unable to master this shapeshifting power that he has, Nok has been in hiding and would prefer to stay that way, However, when he and Lu meet up out in the forest, he finds himself drawn into an awkward alliance with her and vows to help her reclaim the throne. I love how the author infuses this character with so much complexity and inner turmoil. On the one hand, he hates the Empire and everything it stands for, but on the other, there’s something about Lu that makes him believe he can trust her to be a just ruler. Add to that Nok’s immense frustration that he cannot master his power and that there is no one left to teach him how to do so and we have ourselves an emotional mess of a character. Nok just needed a hug so badly.
Aside from the characters, I also thought the worldbuilding was wonderful too. Everything is just so detailed and vivid. There’s a complex and very cool magic system of course, but there’s also spirits, shapeshifters, prophecies, and even a hidden city and temples. I do wish I was more familiar with Asian folklore and history so that I could have appreciated it even more, but I was still quite captivated by the world the author has constructed.
The author also strikes a nice balance between action and emotion. While much of the story feels quite character driven as Lu, Min, and Nok are each battling their own inner demons, there is also a very strong plot that is filled with political intrigue, betrayal, and epic fight scenes.
Overall, I found The Girl King to be a very entertaining read. My only real complaint was that I wish the story had felt a little more original. I guess I’ve just read too many stories where the rightful ruler goes into exile and has to come back and fight for their throne. It was a nice twist to have that rightful ruler be a female this time though.
There were also a couple of plot twists regarding Nok that I found somewhat predictable. Predicting how things would turn out didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story, although I always prefer to be kept guessing for as long as possible to build suspense.
If you like fierce heroines, sibling rivalries, vivid worldbuilding, and political intrigue, I think you would find The Girl King to your liking. I found it to be a very solid debut for Mimi Yu and look forward to seeing where the second book in the series takes me.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice and betrayal for readers of Sabaa Tahir and Alwyn Hamilton.
All hail the Girl King.
Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty’s first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.
Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…
Alone in the volatile court, Min’s hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set’s reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters’ greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.
About Mimi Yu
Mimi Yu was born and raised in rural upstate New York. Her hometown is the site of both the Women’s Rights Convention (1848) and the largest active landfill in New York State (ongoing).
She currently resides in the SF Bay Area of California, and soon she will live near Chicago. She has never been a midwesterner before, but she does enjoy a good casserole.
Besides books, Mimi likes quilting, gardening, drawing, picking up heavy weights, and pop music. She has four planets in Aquarius. She knows a little bit about a lot of animals, and far too much about cats.
Early Review: AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
/20 Comments/by SuzanneAlso by this author: The Wife Between Us, You Are Not Alone
Published by St. Martin's Press on January 8, 2019
Genres: Thriller, Mystery
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
MY REVIEW:
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen was one of my favorite thrillers from last year, so when I heard this duo had collaborated on another book, I couldn’t request it from Netgalley fast enough. And as much as I enjoyed The Wife Between Us, I think their latest effort, An Anonymous Girl, is an even more riveting read. It was a nail biter from start to finish and it seemed to actually just get creepier and creepier with each turn of the page!
An Anonymous Girl follows Jess Farris, a 28-year old make-up artist who is struggling to make ends meet. When the opportunity to take part in a psychology experiment that pays its participants $500 falls into her lap, Jess jumps at the chance to make some easy cash. Jess thinks she’s going to waltz in, answer a few anonymous questions about morality and ethics for Dr. Lydia Shields, grab her $500, and go. What she doesn’t anticipate is getting sucked into a manipulative game of cat and mouse orchestrated by Dr. Shields that threatens to turn Jess’ whole world upside down.
This is one of those books where it’s best to go in knowing as little as possible so I’m going to be pretty vague in my explanation of what I liked about it. Here were some of the highlights for me:
I loved the way the story is presented from the perspectives of both Jess and Dr. Shields. The way Dr. Shields would manipulate Jess and then sit back and watch her like she was a lab rat in a cage lent the story such a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere. Coupling those chapters with chapters from Jess where you can see what’s going on in her head as Dr. Shields keeps drawing her deeper and deeper into her twisted game had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. Dr. Shields gets so far inside Jess’ head that she can barely perform the simplest task without wondering how Dr. Shields would judge her for her choices.
Also adding to the creepy factor is the fact that in the chapters from Dr. Shields’ perspective, she thinks of herself in the third person. It’s as if she is observing herself as part of an experiment as well. It gives her a cold and clinical vibe, which is in sharp contrast to Jess, who comes across as resourceful but naïve.
Some other highlights for me are that the pacing is near perfect. I never once lost interest in the plot and easily breezed through this novel in a sitting or two. Also, as with The Wife Between Us, Hendricks and Pekkanen are truly in sync with one another and the writing just flows so smoothly and effortlessly.
I know I keep using the word creepy, but the dark nature of An Anonymous Girl is what really stuck with me after I finished the last page. Even though it starts out focusing on morality and ethics, it takes a very dark and dangerous turn into the realm of obsession and manipulation. I love those books that have you practically screaming at the main characters to turn around and run away, and this is a prime example of a book like that.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic and compelling read. There were a couple of plot twists that I thought came together a little too conveniently, but that didn’t at all take away from my enjoyment of the story.
If you’re looking for a mind blowing psychological thriller to get your 2019 reading off to a stellar start, I highly recommend An Anonymous Girl.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
About Greer Hendricks
GREER HENDRICKS spent over two decades as an editor at Simon & Schuster. Prior to her tenure in publishing, she worked at Allure Magazine and obtained her Master’s in Journalism from Columbia University. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children, The Wife Between Us is her first novel.
Follow Greer Hendricks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
About Sarah Pekkanen
Internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen’s newest book is THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS. She is also the co-author of the upcoming THE WIFE BETWEEN US (out in January 2018).
Her prior novels are: THINGS YOU WON’T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS.
Sarah’s linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled “All is Bright,” and “Love, Accidentally.”
Sarah is the mother of three young boys, which explains why she writes part of her novels at Chuck E. Cheese. Sarah penned her first book, Miscellaneous Tales and Poems, at the age of 10. When publishers failed to jump upon this literary masterpiece (hey, all the poems rhymed!) Sarah followed up by sending them a sternly-worded letter on Raggedy Ann stationery. Sarah still has that letter, and carries it to New York every time she has meetings with her publisher, as a reminder that dreams do come true.
Her website is www.sarahpekkanen.com and please find her on Facebook Instagram and Twitter @sarahpekkanen!