#BTAT2018 is here, and I am so excited to be able to participate again this year! If you haven’t heard of the BookTube-A-Thon before (umm, where have you been? You’ve been missing out on so much bookish fun!), it’s a week-long read-a-thon* hosted by the fabulous Ariel Bissett on YouTube. It initially started out on BookTube but has made its way out into the bookish Twitter and Instagram communities. Challenges are created, sprints take place, prizes are given, and fun is had! If you want to learn more about all the ways you can join, watch the video and go check out @BookTubeAThon on all your social media!

*read-a-thon (n.): an event online where a large group of book lovers get together and try to read as many books as possible in a predetermined amount of time

       What do you think of when you think of a bookworm? Glasses? Tea drinker? Intelligent? Introverted? Whether we know it or not, people outside the book community are making these assumptions about our personality just because we read. Crazy, right? We also know that most of us fit into a few of these molds. I thought it would be fun to share 10 of these stereotypes, and whether or not I believe that I apply to each one. A thank you is owed to Cait over at Paper Fury, who was the one from which I got the inspiration for this post. Go check her blog out when you’re done here for her answers.

       I could sit here for hours and I still would not be able to mention all of the blogs out there that deserve it. There are so many unbelievable writers with amazing pages, and I know they have worked incredibly hard to earn their followings. If it weren't for those blogs and the inspiration they provide me, I would not be doing what I love today. 

       Personally, I have only had one major interaction with an author, but there have been many little run-ins with them online, and every single author has been kind. Some will comment on posts when their books have been featured, and others have even reposted my pictures. Every time this happens, I am always sure to remind myself that they don't have to do these things. I know I'm not a big platform for them to be supporting, so the fact that they pay any attention to my little baby blog is such an honor. I hope that I am able to go out and meet some of my favorite authors in person in the future.

       If you would've told me a year and a half ago when I started this blog I would be doing all of these weird things for a book page on the internet, I probably would've laughed at you. But, here we are and yes, I do actually do all of these crazy things. Don't worry, though, it's all worth it for great photos, blog posts, and even just to have some fun. 

       This past week has been a little crazy for me. Next week school starts, so everything has resumed at once, which hasn't allowed me to post anything blog related this past week. (No need to fear though. Once school starts, I will have a solid scheduling base around which to plan my posts.) The point is that I've had a bit of time to reflect on my blog and realized something strange. I haven't read a single book below three stars since March of 2016. That was before my blogging days. And since that two star book, I hadn't read one below three since April of 2015. (I'm looking at you, The Kill Order.)
       As you can imagine, upon this realization, I started to panic. Do my readers think I don't ever read a bad book? Am I too nice with the books I read and review? Why do all the book I read end up being my favorite? And with these questions came some very surprising answers...

I was tagged by Ink and Pages! You can check her out with the buttons below!

Gerbera: a book that everyone should read // We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
       We Were Liars is an amazing summer mystery that I recommend to anyone looking to spice up their reading. The less you know about this one, the better. Just pick it up and enjoy.

Rose: favorite timeless classic // Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
       Of course, I'm going to say Harry Potter. If you haven't read it yet, where have you been for the last 20 years? Put down whatever you're reading and pick this book up!

Carnation: your prettiest book // These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
       This was one of the first young adult books I fell in love with and fell hard. I read it back in middle school and still recommend it every chance I get!

Baby's Breath: a childhood favorite //  The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
       I highly recommend this book. I don't ever see people mention it, which is really sad because this book was the best book that I read in elementary school by far. I am really hoping to get a reread in here soon, so I can properly recommend it.

Peony: favorite romance book // Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
       If you need a warm and fuzzy, feel-good read, pick up this book. It is a wonderful romance story filled with lots of happy moments, cute jokes, and adorable romantic scenes. This book is for sure going to satisfy your romance needs and bust through any reading slump you might have.

Daisy: a summertime read // Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
       I just finished this book, and nothing has made feel more summer-y than this book. I immediately wanted to pick up and start traveling. This book is perfect for anyone who didn't get a chance to travel this summer, or if you've always wanted to go on a road trip.

Tulip: a cozy winter read // My True Love Gave to Me, edited by Stephanie Perkins
       This book is an anthology of 12 short romance stories all set around the holidays. It's a such a fun, quirky book, and is great if you don't have enough time to sit down with a full book during the holidays.

       THE BOOKTUBEATHON IS FINALLY HERE!!!!! Nothing is more exciting in the summer than read-a-thon season! The BookTubeAThon is a yearly read-a-thon hosted by the lovely Ariel Bissett over on YouTube. It is an event that brings together book lovers and reviewers on all platform across the interwebs, including BookTubers, Bookstagrammers, and the fabulous bloggers on Twitter (who up until now I haven't realized are nameless nomads. Don't worry, Twitter peoples, you are loved nonetheless!). It is a time where everyone can join in on united reading through Twitter sprints and YouTube and Instagram challenges for all to participate in. If you want to participate and are looking for where to start, click play on the video below for all the details!

       I absolutely LOVE the book community on Instagram. There are great books, great people, and most of all, great photos! If you are looking to start a bookstagram, or just wanting to post a picture of the book you're #currentlyreading, here are some tips on how to edit your pictures.

       Now, before we start going to town, we need to prep for our bookstagram photo shoot. Make sure if you are taking your photos inside, you take them where there is a lot of natural light. I am fortunate enough to have a sun porch in my house that provides the perfect place to take my pictures, but you can take your pictures any place with lots of light. Windows, doors, and the hole in your roof are all perfect for natural light.
       You also want to make sure the background of your photo is in order. If you're taking your picture in your bedroom or in front of a bookshelf, make sure that everything behind the focus of the picture is pleasing as well. Nobody and I mean nobody wants to see your dirty laundry on the floor behind your current read.
​       Tips for taking great photos:

• Having a (semi-) consistent theme, where all of your pictures look nice together makes your page look very professional and cohesive.
• Make sure your background doesn't distract from the focus of the photo. A busy background can take away from your whole picture.
• Get creative! Use random knick-knacks from around the house, clothing items, your body, your friend's body, and create something new. If you start building things out of books, good things will happen.