⬂↘⬊ It’s Time for ⬋↙⬃ Spooky Books        I’m so excited to be back with a brand new review! Thank you so much to Ava Morgyn for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. While this book wasn’t for me (nor what I expected), I do think it is a great one for fans of darker fiction stories, especially during the spookiest time of the year. (Although be aware, there are a few trigger warnings for my more sensitive readers.)

⬂↘⬊ Not What I Expected ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Thoughts on Characters ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ I Need More ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Resurrection Girls ⬋↙⬃
by Ava Morgyn

Olivia Foster hasn’t felt alive since her little brother drowned in the backyard pool three years ago. Then Kara Hallas moves in across the street with her mother and grandmother, and Olivia is immediately drawn to these three generations of women. Kara is particularly intoxicating, so much so that Olivia not only comes to accept Kara's morbid habit of writing to men on death row, she helps her do it. They sign their letters as the Resurrection Girls.        But as Kara’s friendship pulls Olivia out of the dark fog she’s been living in, Olivia realizes that a different kind of darkness taints the otherwise lively Hallas women—an impulse that is strange, magical, and possibly deadly.

⬂↘⬊ Spooky Season ⬋↙⬃        It’s spooky season, everyone! I’m so excited for this month’s releases. Almost all the YAs are fantasy and sci-fi, which I think perfectly fits this time of year. Autumn is just around the corner in the south, so I’m hoping these books will help me get into the fall mindset. Let me know what books you are excited about reading this month in the comments!

⬂↘⬊ Rebel ⬋↙⬃
​by Marie Lu

October 1st        When I heard Marie Lu was diving back into the world of Legend, I couldn’t have been more excited! Legend was in that first group of YA books I read in middle school and has a special place in my heart. I remember participating in a reading challenge at school, and I got the first book for free from my librarian. At that point, I hadn’t heard of it, but he told me it was blowing up in the YA community. I’m so glad I took his recommendation because I binged the rest of the series. After I get Rebel, I might be due for a Legend reread. I can’t wait!

⬂↘⬊ The End and Other Beginnings ⬋↙⬃
by Veronica Roth

​October 1st        Other OG in the house this month. Although to be fair, Veronica Roth was the OG that got me into reading and ultimately blogging about books. Divergent was a book from the reading gods in middle school, and I can’t thank her enough for fostering my love of reading. It’s difficult to pick up one of her books because it’s been so long since I’ve read one; I’m a little afraid of being disappointed. I am hoping to get a copy of this new collection of short stories, as well as the Carve the Mark series, so I can be up to date on my VRoth reading.

⬂↘⬊ The Beautiful ⬋↙⬃
by Renée Ahdieh

​October 8th        The owner of the bookstore where I work recently returned from a conference with a crate full of ARCs, and The Beautiful just happened to be one of them! I picked this one out knowing it would be perfect for Halloween, because of the historical New Orleans background and the abundance of vampires. When I read the synopsis, it reminded me so much of parts of The Infernal Devices where vampires are involved. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in New Orleans, so this one should be fun to dive into towards the end of the month.

⬂↘⬊ Ninth House ⬋↙⬃
by Leigh Bardugo

October 8th        I am SOOO excited about this book. It has been hyped up to no end, but I’m ready for it. If you have read my blog at all, you know I love reading books that reflect where I am in my life. Seeing Alex going into Yale as a freshman is perfect for me since I’m a freshman at the Unversity of Alabama this year. Also, this book takes being a college freshman and turns it on its head. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m getting some serious Three Dark Crowns vibes, and I’m here for it. (It could just be the black cover with the snake but whatever.)

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ College Reading ⬋↙⬃ ​        It feels like forever since I’ve sat down to write a blog post. In a little over a month, my life has completely turned upside down. When people say starting college is a transition, they do mean it! Between schoolwork, clubs, exercise, and my job, it’s been hard to find time for reading. There is always a looming deadline for work or school to tackle even if I don’t have homework due the next day. I never want to feel behind, so I am always putting in the time to

⬂↘⬊ Reading with a Busy Schedule ⬋↙⬃
​

⬂↘⬊ 1. Don’t wait to start reading. Do it first! ⬋↙⬃
​

⬂↘⬊ 2. Schedule it in. ⬋↙⬃
​

⬂↘⬊ 3. Try Audiobooks. ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ ⬋↙⬃
​just Remember...

⬂↘⬊ September ⬋↙⬃        Hello, bookish people! It’s been a hot second since I’ve made an appearance on my blog. August was a crazy month full of endings and beginnings; my transition into college made it difficult to post regularly. But never fear, my schedule is set, and the first couple of weeks are officially under my belt. Now I can start to carve out time for blogging at school! And with that, I am so excited to share September’s book releases with you.

​⬂↘⬊ Five ​Dark Fates ⬋↙⬃
by Kendare Blake

OMG Three Dark Crowns is coming to an end, and I am DYING to know how it ends. I picked up the first book of this series on a whim a few summers ago. I didn’t think I would like such a dark fantasy, but I fell in love with the world (the queens in particular). Now that I can look back on my TDC reading experience, I think it might be one of the only series I’ve read as the books have been released. (I’m slow and impatient, so I do a lot of bingeing…) I can’t wait to see how Kendare wraps everything up, and I think this will be a great book to pick up in October. #spookyseason

⬂↘⬊ Loki: Where Mischief Lies ⬋↙⬃
by Mackenzi Lee

My only experience with Mackenzi Lee was this past spring when I listened to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and LOVED it. Mackenzie’s writing style is one of my favorites. She could make me laugh out loud with fantastic dialogue and then have me on the edge of my seat a paragraph later. Not only is she a marvelous author, but she is also writing about my (arguably) favorite villain of all time! Loki is such a complicated comic book character, and I’ve wanted a story focused on him for such a long time. I can’t wait to see what spin she puts on a classic character!

⬂↘⬊ The Lady Rogue ⬋↙⬃
by Jenn Bennett

Two summers ago, I fell head over heels for Jenn Bennett after receiving a copy of Starry Eyes in my Uppercase Box. I’d never heard of any of her books before diving into that one, and I am so glad I hadn’t. I think some of my favorite books stem from having little to no prior knowledge about the book or the author. Up until now, I only considered Jenn a contemporary author. This new release is way outside of what I would have expected from her, but I’m excited to see how it is received. Adventure novels like this one open up a world of possibilities, and I cannot wait to read her take on it.

⬂↘⬊ Wayward Son ⬋↙⬃
by Rainbow Rowell

I have to be completely honest, after seeing so many bookstagram posts of Wayward Son, I assumed that it had been released a while ago. It has been such a long time since I’ve read Carry On, but I’m so excited to get my hands on its sequel. Simon Snow is such a beloved character in the young adult universe, and I can’t believe we’re getting to read more about him after Carry On ended. I hope that it lives up to all the hype, and maybe it’ll give me an excuse to reread Carry On soon.

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ August ⬋↙⬃        August is here, which means it’s time to soak up the last days of summer, get your school supplies ready, and find out about the latest YA releases coming to a bookstore near you. This month, there are a handful of books coming out from authors I love, and I can’t wait to read them. As it so happens, this month is also going to be my first month of college! I’m not entirely sure how my blogging and bookstagramming is going to change in the next few weeks, but I hope you all will stick with me as I figure out my schedule and photos throughout the month!

⬂↘⬊ Hello Girls ⬋↙⬃
by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry

I haven’t heard much about this book, but when I read the synopsis, I was instantly intrigued. The premise follows two friends as they go on a journey to try and find new lives for themselves. After reading Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, I have been craving another story featuring a best friend dynamic. I also see  the author got inspiration for this story from Thelma and Louise, which is a movie I’d love to see. If you base a book off of a ’90s movie, it’s going to be good. That’s just a fact of life.

⬂↘⬊ Say You Still Love Me ⬋↙⬃
by K.A. Tucker

It has been quite a while since I’ve read a New Adult/Adult book, and I’m excited to start venturing into the genre. This story sounds like it will be a quick romance read with equal parts love and female empowerment. Piper seems like she will be able to hold her own throughout the book, and I can’t wait to see where her story takes her. Hopefully, a book like this will be a good stepping stone for me into the world of adult novels.

⬂↘⬊ Vow of Thieves ⬋↙⬃
by Mary E. Pearson

I picked up Dance of Thieves on a whim earlier this summer without prior expectations or knowledge of the story. I think some of my favorite books were ones I didn’t expect to like, and this series is no exception. The world is so rich and unique, and I love all the different characters involved, too. Kazi and Jase’s characters are dynamic throughout the first book, and I can’t wait to see how their story evolves.

⬂↘⬊ Pumpkinheads ⬋↙⬃
by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Umm...why has no one told me Rainbow Rowell is coming out with a graphic novel??? I haven’t read one of Rainbow’s books in forever, so I am very excited to read a brand new story from her. I’ve also wanted to start incorporating graphic novels into my regular reading, but I never take the time to do research into what ones I should read. I think this book will give me the push I need to start reading them more often. It looks like it’s going to be the perfect fall story to cozy up with as spooky season approaches.

⬂↘⬊ Change is Coming ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃
What August books are you looking forward to?
Are you starting school this month, or are you not in school anymore?

⬂↘⬊ Initial Thoughts ⬋↙⬃        I am so excited to review my FIRST EVER physical ARC that was sent to me by Charles Kowalski in exchange for an honest review! Simon Grey is a brand new series about a boy who can see ghosts in the early 1600s. This first book is perfect for younger teens because it reels in readers from the start and has them on the edge of their seats throughout the book. I loved being able to experience Simon’s adventures as he traveled to Japan, and I can’t wait to see what his future holds!

⬂↘⬊ Let’s Go On An Adventure ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ New Mythology in YA ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ A Story For Everyone ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

Alone and lost in haunted Japan...        Japan, 1620: A mysterious shipwreck has left cabin boy Simon Grey stranded in an unfamiliar, dangerous land.        He hoped that a long sea voyage would provide some relief from his "gift" of seeing ghosts everywhere on land. Instead, he finds that his ability draws him into the shadowy world of yokai, the spirits and monsters that roam Japan by night. Together with the mysterious Oyuki, daughter of an English sailor-turned-samurai, Simon must earn the yokai's trust and help, while staying one step ahead of the Shogun's guards and an evil sorcerer determined to discover the "secret" of Simon's powers.        As they struggle to stay alive and find a way home, Simon and Oyuki deal with friends and foes from both sides of the grave.

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃
What is your favorite mythology to learn about?
​Leave any similar YA recommendations in the comments!

If you’ve been following my social media this past week, you might’ve noticed I’ve been reading and posting like crazy! That’s because I’ve been participating in The Reading Rush, a week-long read-a-thon across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter! I’ve been participating in it since 2014, long before I started this blog. Every year I look forward to connecting with book lovers all across the world as we try to read as many books as we can in one week. I thought it would be fun to sum up my week of reading for people who participated this year and those who are thinking about joining in on the fun next year! ​Badges Earned:

My Initial TBR

Animal Farm               by George Orwell        Fahrenheit 451               by Ray Bradbury        Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee               by Jeff Zentner        ​Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts               by Charles Kowalski        Rules of the Game               by James Frey        Wicked Saints               by Emily A. Duncan        The Gilded Wolves           ​    by Roshani Chokshi

What I Actually Read

​Book #1: Rules of the Game, by James Frey

My first goal of The Reading Rush was to finish off the Endgame trilogy. I spent the day glued to this book and stayed up a little later in bed to finish it off. I didn’t love the ending, but I knew there was no way it would end the way I wanted it to end. If you haven’t read this trilogy, I highly recommend you give it a shot! My Rating: ★★★☆☆ Badges Earned:

Book #2: Animal Farm by George Orwell

​       Ariel Bissett, one of the BookTubers who runs The Reading Rush, loves George Orwell, so I knew this book would be an excellent pick for the Non-Human Main Character badge. I didn’t know a whole lot about it when I started to read it, but I ended up really enjoying it. I’ve never felt sure about my knowledge of socialism, and this book was a great insight into how politics works as well as the dangers of it. If you haven’t read it in school, you should definitely give it a read! My Rating: ★★★★☆ Badges Earned:

Book #3: Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

​       I haven’t read a light contemporary for a while, so I was anxious to pick this one up. It ended up being one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. I loved the focus on Delia and Josie’s friendship throughout the book, which is unique among contemporary young adult stories. Most books like this are centered around a romantic relationship, and I like that Jeff Zentner decided to mix it up. This book also struck a chord with me because I just finished my senior year of high school, just like Delia and Josie.  My Rating: ★★★★★ Badges Earned:

Book #4: Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts
​by Charles Kowalski

​       This book was one I was very excited to pick up because it is the first physical ARC I’ve ever received to review! By this point in the read-a-thon, I was definitely in need of quick read. Unfortunately, I was reading this book at work and kept getting distracted. (Don’t worry, I read at work responsibly.) When I got to the end, the characters and mythology in this book were all muddy in my brain. I finished it out but decided if I wanted to write an honest review, I needed to give it another shot. My Rating: TBD Badges Earned:

Book #5: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Another short classic I’ve been meaning to read for a while, and it was a good one, too. This book was supposed to be the one I watched the movie adaptation for, but I ended up picking up extra hours at work and couldn’t squeeze a movie into my schedule. I can’t wait to watch it sometime soon, though! Fahrenheit 451 is a staple for all book lovers, and I think people of all ages can get something out of this story. My Rating: ★★★★☆ Badges Earned:

Book #6: Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts
​by Charles Kowalski

The reread was a success! A little more focus and a little less distraction made all the difference in the world. I won’t go into detail about this book in this summary since I am posting a full review for it on Thursday when it is released. However, if you enjoy the Percy Jackson series and are on the hunt for another type of mythology to dive into, this is a book you need to check out! My Rating: ★★★★★ Badges Earned:

Book #7: You Are Here by Dawn Lanuza

My reading came down to the wire (as per usual), and I was pretty worn out at this point, so I picked up this poetry collection I bought on a whim. It had a unique feel to it, and I liked how short and effective the poems were throughout the book. If you enjoy love poems as much as I do, you should check this collection out. It deserves more hype! My Rating: ★★★★★ Badges Earned:

Instagram Challenge Entries

Other Social Media

Final Stats

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃
Have you ever participated in a read-a-thon?
What read-a-thon should I be on the lookout for next?

⬂↘⬊ Initial Thoughts ⬋↙⬃        Another week brings another review, and I’m so excited to be sharing the second Endgame book with you! (If you want to read my review for The Calling, click here.) I read The Calling over a year ago, and it took me forever to get copies of books two and three to read next. Once I did order the next books, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to jump back into the world because it had been so long since I’d read the first book... So, me being my glorious self, I put off reading the next book even longer. #Genius. However, after

⬂↘⬊ Action Action Action ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Different Players ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ My Girl Sarah ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

The sequel to the New York Times bestseller and international multimedia phenomenon, Endgame: The Calling.        Endgame is here. Earth Key has been found. Two keys—and nine Players—remain. The keys must be found, and only one Player can win.        Queens, New York. Aisling Kopp believes the unthinkable: that Endgame can be stopped. But before she can get home to regroup, she is approached by the CIA. They know about Endgame. And they have their own ideas about how it should be Played. Ideas that could change everything.        Kingdom of Aksum, Ethiopia. Hilal ibn Isa al-Salt narrowly survived an attack that leaves him horribly disfigured. He now knows something the other Players

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Initial Thoughts ⬋↙⬃        The summer between high school and college has been both very relaxing and very daunting for me, especially since I’m an only child. I’m about to take on the most significant change in my life without a whole lot of insight into what is to come. Though my parents have offered up their best answers to my never-ending stream of questions, my college decision isn’t much like the paths they took. For the past couple of months, I’ve felt like I’ve been in the dark about what to expect during my freshman

⬂↘⬊ Real Advice from Real Students ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ That Stuff Nobody Thinks About ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ It’ll Be Fine ⬋↙⬃

In the four years since its initial publication, THE FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE has helped thousands of first year students make a successful transition to college life. However, much has changed on campuses. The explosion of technology, ubiquity of social media, and culture changes have all added new layers of complexity to the leap from high school to college. THE FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE's updated edition features new research and advice on issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and finding balance. It also features expanded sections on dating, money management, and an increased focus on how the over 1.5 million incoming freshman can prepare themselves for the biggest change they've encountered in their lives: heading off to college.

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Initial Thoughts ⬋↙⬃        First of all, thank you so much to the author for sending me an ebook version of this book. I love getting emails from authors, so if you've written a book and would like for me to review it, click here to check out my guidelines and contact information.        As much as I wanted to love this book, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Though it didn't take a long time to read, I felt like I had to trudge through to the end. The idea and basis for the story had potential, but I didn't

⬂↘⬊ Focus on Friendship ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Writing Style ⬋↙⬃

⬂↘⬊ Romance?⬋↙⬃ 

⬂↘⬊ Overall ⬋↙⬃

★★☆☆☆

A contemporary story about family and friendship for fans of Eleanor Porter and L.M. Montgomery.        Harper Southwood is a teenage girl who can sense when people will get sick—but so what? She can’t predict her best friend’s depression or her mother’s impending health crisis. Being helpful is all Harper ever wanted, but she feels helpless in the face of real adversity. Now, she’s got a chance to summon her courage and use her wits to fight for justice. Laugh and cry along with this irrepressible, high-spirited teen in her journey of self-discovery, as she learns that compassion and internal strength are her real gifts, her true superpower. Goodreads

⬂↘⬊ Discuss ⬋↙⬃