Bookworm Quirks: Favorite Bookish Memories

Many bookworms have memories and sentiment tied to their love of books. Just like it’s difficult to pick one favorite book, it’s hard to pick one favorite memory. Here are a few of my top bookish moments.

Dressing up with Sis for Halloween

I never really got to celebrate Halloween as a kid, so dressing up as book characters for the bookstore was so much fun. Sis and I discussed our costumes, I made her antlers and muffin, and I got to remember how much I love the name Liesel. I hope we get to this again soon!

NTTBF

One of the (many) reasons we love books so much is that they remind us that we are not alone. Three years ago, Irving Public Library hosted the first North Texas Teen Book Festival. There was no one else I could go with other than the woman who inspired my love of reading: my sister, Mandy. We got to see some of our favorite YA authors speak in panels, get books signed, and bask in a shared love of reading. We also befriended the world’s best publisher rep, Mary from Simon and Schuster. It was just a day for bookworms to enjoy being bookworms, and I loved the whole day.

Wizard’s Ball

My first year at Tarleton, I joined the Quidditch team, purely as a nonathletic member. One of our biggest projects was to start an annual ball for Potterheads, and to give them a reason to dress up and have fun. We had the first one in the spring, so we called it the Wizard’s Ball rather than Yule, but it was still so fun. Because it was near the passing of Alan Rickman, we had donated a portion of the proceeds to pancreatic cancer research. Pictured here (L to R) is my best friend Katie, who came into town for the night, me, and the Tarleton Quidditch president, Bertie. We had fun in the photo booth, shooting nerf guns at Umbridge targets, and dancing to wizard rock. It was such a great night that let us celebrate our love of this life-changing series.

WWoHP

On the greatest spring break trip ever, my sister and I  visited my dad and we all made our way to Florida to see Universal Studios and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This was before the expansion, but it was so phenomenal and perfect. We had butterbeer, rode the rides (FORBIDDEN JOURNEY IS THE ABSOLUTE COOLEST), picked wands, and sent mail from the Hogsmeade Post. There’s something life-altering about walking into a place that you have imagined since you were a child, and I wouldn’t give up these memories for anything. While there was a lot that we didn’t get to, I had so much fun and I’m hoping for a second visit soon.

Collecting words and quotes

(A tutorial for this box is available here.)

A couple of years ago I started a quote box inspired by one of my favorite bookstagrammers, Ursula Uriarte. I bought a plain box and fun journaling card and got to work. I try to add a favorite quote or two from every book I read, but I am very behind. I’ve collected words since the 4th grade, and this is one way that keeps them feeling a bit more personal than a Pinterest board. Now they’re in a book-shaped box rather than the one pictured, but I can’t wait to see how full it gets as I continue my bookish journey.

Being published

Last year I was published in Anthology, a collection of work from Tarleton students. It wasn’t the first time I was published, though. That happened my sophomore year of high school when a six-word memoir of mine was picked for one of their books. This felt much more official, though. There was a reception at the school and my parents both came and took me to lunch to mark the occasion. It felt really great to be acknowledged for my writing, and I decided to take a creative writing course the following semester. I also just found out I’ll be published in the anthology again this year!

Running the bookstore

As you probably know, I ran my sister’s bookstore for about a year before she sold it. It was so much fun and will always be one of my favorite jobs to date. There was a bakery next door, so I could pop over for treats whenever it was slow, and I was paid to read books and be around them all day! It’s almost every bookworm’s dream job, and I hope to get back into the book industry at some point.

Reading the Hunger Games series

One of the sadder parts of Harry Potter being part of my childhood was the fact that I was a child. Even if I had friends that enjoyed the books as much as I did, we couldn’t exactly go off on adventures and outings without adults. But Hunger Games was another story. I read the first book because my friend Holly lent me her copy, and I had a vacation coming up that gave me the time (this is the same spring break during which I went to WWoHP). My sister was also reastarting the series, but she had all three. So we read together, and I still remember frantically reading the last book on the drive back to her house because she wasn’t going to let me leave with it. I ended up sitting on her couple for a couple of hours until I was a crying mess, and then I was allowed to leave. Haha. From there, I had to attend every movie premiere possible. Above is the midnight premiere for Catching Fire, and we all dressed up for the occasion. Katie makes another appearance, dressed as fire (red shoes, orange shirt, yellow scarf, and grey cardigan for smoke). What you can’t see is the flame barrette I made for her, and the bread one in my hair. You might be wondering why my mouth is full, and that’s because I took my role as Peeta very seriously, sneaking in a loaf of french bread and jar of nutella to tide me over until the movie started. Also pictured is Blair and Taylor, our two favorite fellow nerds! They are a huge part of my college nerd memories, and I miss hanging out with them so much! #WolfPackReunion

Getting sucked back into books

One of the best things about working at the bookstore was that I had time and motivation to read more often. I was surrounded by one of my favorite things, and paid to engage in that interest! I brought my TBR with me and worked through it so much faster than the years before. I discussed plots and authors with customers. It was so refreshing! I’ll always miss that little bookish haven.

Getting my bookcases

One of the best things about having my own place was that I got to arrange the entire apartment around how I wanted to display my books. I found these perfect grey wood shelves at Walmart and waited for them to come back into stock for the longest time. When they arrived, I moved and arranged and played with the layout for weeks. I’m never going to be done messing with my shelves, and can’t wait to have a need for more.

Sound off in the comments: What are your favorite bookish memories? Who or what got you into reading? Do you dress up as characters for Halloween? Let me know!

Book Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Synopsis: In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept separate but equal.

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

Why I Chose This Book: With the tension going on in our country, it’s more important than ever to listen to perspectives other than our own and really examine our prejudices.

First Impressions: I love this cover so much. It’s sharp, clean, and shows almost literally what a target Sarah became in the school. In a sea of white faces, Sarah stands out, which could not be more relevant to the content.

What I Liked: Almost everything! The stories told in this book are different than mine both in race and sexual orientation, and it helped me see how terrifying it must have been to be alive in this time period when you vary from what is accepted.

You know how everyone says if they were in pivotal moments of history, they would have done the right thing, but there’s no way to really know. Today, similar things are happening. Not to the same degree, but it looks like we’re on that path. There was a moment, when Sarah describes how there are no white people helping them, standing up for them, or supporting them. And I saw that I would be on the right side of history. That felt like such a relief, and I’ll be grateful to this book for that.

One of the most surprising things about this book was the romantic story line. It doesn’t really mention it in the online synopsis, which is what I’d read before ordering the book. But the description on the back cover talks about it more explicitly, which I love. I really loved this perspective, and seeing a queer WOC as a lead character who is also incredibly smart, loving, kind, and strong was amazing. This book has great representation.

It was also incredibly well written. I made several notes in the margins and underlined quotes all over it.

What I Didn’t Like: The worst thing about this book was how easy it was to slip into Linda’s racist mindset while reading her perspective. When I went back to reality after reading for a while, I would randomly have racist thoughts. Thoughts I have never believed in the slightest! I had never understood how people who say, think, and do racist things can think they are correct, but this book showed me how effortless it is to subscribe to that way of thinking. I hated that realization, and I hate that now I can understand even a fraction of that mindset.

I also didn’t realize that Robin Talley is a white woman, and I’m not sure how I feel about a white woman writing the black perspective here. I’m an advocate of lifting up the voices of those who belong to the culture instead of telling them how it is, so I’m iffy on this. It’s something I need to discuss so I can figure out how I feel.

Ratings and Recommendations: Good for fans of historical fiction, current events, issue books, and diverse books.

Final Thoughts: This is a book that everyone should read right now. We need to see what our future will be if we don’t get off this path of hate and ignorance. I cannot stress enough how doomed we are to repeat history if we don’t learn our lesson.

Sound off in the comments: What did you think of this book? Have you read something similar? What is your stance on Talley being white and writing such a huge part of black history? Let me know!

 

Bookworm Quirks: Books I Want to Read, but Do Not Want to Write

There are several versions of quotes with the same message: If you can’t find the book you want to read, go write it.

And all around the world, there are resounding cries of “But I don’t wanna!” from readers that don’t like to write, aren’t good at it, or have no idea where to start.

Here are the books I would love to read but don’t want to write for a variety of reasons.

More Diverse Books

As a straight white blonde, it’s pretty easy for me to relate to 90% of YA protagonists, especially in the contemporary romance genre. But even I’m getting sick a bajillion ‘me’s! Give me more skin tones, shapes, sizes, orientations, lifestyles, interests, hobbies, dreams, strengths, weaknesses, plot lines! We aren’t all the same, so why do so many books tell the story of the same five girls? I don’t feel like it’s my place to write these stories, to use these voices for myself, so PLEASE tell me about your favorite diverse authors so I can support them and their voices!

Pirates Please!

Will I ever get sick of pirate stories? No. Never. But that is so much research and any research-heavy material scares me (I really hate feeling dumb and wrong, y’all.) so I shy away. I might get the courage to write a pirate book one day, but who knows? Certainly not me.

Mermaids!!

Same goes for mermaids! While there’s less reSEArch (get it?! Sea! Mermaids!) and more world-building, the same fears apply. Send me fun mermaid recs!

Books with Fun Hobbies

My favorites in the category are The Language of Flowers and A Vintage Affair. Any book that makes me want to learn more about an interest of the character’s is probably going to be a favorite. Give me the party planners, the florists, the photographers, the fashion designers, the actors, everything! Every creative endeavor. Just hook a girl up.

Sound off in the comments: What books do you want to read but not write? Do we have any in common? Do you have any recommendations to fill these voids on my shelf? Let me know!

Book Review: Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

Synopsis: A wedding florist finds love and trouble in this delightful new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Ladies’ Night.

A Savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn’t believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.

Why I Chose This Book: I received this book in a Bookish Secret Santa gift in 2014, but hadn’t gotten around to it. When I’m not sure what to read, I grab the first book on my shelf that I haven’t read, and it was this one’s turn.

First Impressions: While I really like the aesthetics of this cover, it doesn’t really fit the book. For a story about a florist, there’s not a single flower. And this whole book revolves around the flower business, so this was really a nice cover that could have been slapped on any old romance novel.

What I Liked: I really liked seeing the business side of the flower shop, and seeing someone else struggling with money really reassured my heart. I found myself wishing there were pictures of these gorgeous bouquets being described! And if anyone can show me the infamous Martha Stewart bouquet they talk about, PLEASE help a girl out! I googled for half an hour before I gave up and went back to reading.

I also feel so much better when I see adults struggling with the same things I’m fighting with, and that was very much the case here. It reminds me that I don’t have to have everything figured out right now. I’m 23, for crying out loud. I’m supposed to be a mess at this point. But to go from feeling so confident and secure to drowning in the blink of an eye, and read about someone with a decade on me feeling the same way reminded me that it’s a universal feeling, and I’m not a total failure.

What I Didn’t Like: Not too far into the book, I realized that this was one of those books that could definitely be in the romance section but had too nice of a cover to be sorted with them, instead falling into what I call the ‘Target Cover’ section. Now, these tend to be my favorite covers, and I don’t mean it negatively at all. But they’re the very pretty, typically floral covers that most ‘Chick Lit’ books about adult women have. 90% of the time, these are the books I buy, because the plot and cover usually have all my favorite things (The Language of Flowers, I’m looking at you). But this one totally should have been in the romance section, not the Target Covers section.

I know most of that seems like it should have gone in First Impressions, but it’s more about the way the story was written. It was fairly predictable in a way that romance novels are known for, and I wouldn’t have read it if not for the cover. This is one of those books that I always hear about and get rec’d, but it’s not one that I’ll read twice.

Rating and Recommendations: If you like you want an easy, adult lit book about a grown up having the same struggles poor new adults are having, this is the kind of book for you!

Final Thoughts: This was a good book, but not one I’ll be returning to in the foreseeable future.

Sound off in the comments: Have you read this book? What did you think? Who would you recommend it for? Let me know!

Book Review: A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Synopsis: Every dress has a history. And so does every woman.

Phoebe Swift’s friends are stunned when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London—but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread—you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life.

Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat—an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the poignant tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell—one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again.

Why I Chose This Book: I love any book that combines England, something lovely, a young woman taking a risk, and a hobby I would love to know more about. In this case, it was vintage fashion. This book has ‘Rachel’ written ALL over it.

First Impressions: I love the illustrated style of this cover. The other versions of the cover are way more generic and dreadful, but this one is warm, inviting, and relaxing. I would like it if the dresses drawn were the ones that played an important role in the book, like the cupcake dresses! But I’m being picky at this point, so I’ll move on.

What I Liked: SO MUCH. From the beginning, it was clear that there was more to her story, and I couldn’t wait to see what she wasn’t telling. Typically, I hate books that rely on deliberately hidden information for suspense, but this was so organic. Phoebe was grieving, and wasn’t in a place to address aspects of what happened until other things happened first. It was such an interesting look into the world of vintage fashion, and within the first few chapters I had mentally added it to my list of dream careers. Also, the love interest was unclear, and I love that.

What I Didn’t Like: This is less of a ‘didn’t like’ and more of a ‘would have been cool’. The dresses are described in such lovely ways, that I would have LOVED to see pictures of the pieces mentioned, even in a gallery in the back. I hated Roxy so so much, and Miles because of his terrible parenting. I wish we’d seen more of Emma, and I would so read a book about her and her hats!

Rating and Recommendations: For fans of The Language of Flowers, fashion, and tastes of WWII accounts.

Final Thoughts: It reminded me so much of Language of Flowers in that I instantly wanted to know more about this world and history. I’m looking forward to adding more of Wolff’s work to my shelves!

Book Review: Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Synopsis: Colie expects the worst when she’s sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast — first for being fat and then for being “easy” — Colie has no friends at home and doesn’t expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina.

But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along.

Why I Chose This Book: This follows my tradition of reading clearance Sarah Dessen books while waiting for Half-Price to tally up my book offer. It also follows the tradition of getting me so caught up that I use some of the money they offer me to buy it.

First Impressions: At first, I didn’t love the cover. It’s generic, fits any early 2000’s summer romance book. But the sunglasses, svelte body, and flower all tie into the story, so I’m not mad about it. Just wish it could have been done in a more deliberate way?

What I Liked: This book is so relatable. Most girls struggle with loving their bodies/fitness/weight/self-image. It’s so empowering, it has amazing friendships, different kinds of love, there’s tons of art and music involved. I just love so much about it! Kiki wasn’t the stereotypical absent mom, and truly cared for her daughter. Also, there are some gorgeous quotes that pull on a subtle recurring theme of universes, and how everyone has a different view of the world. Mira and Norman had me heart-eyeing at them the whole time. And there’s a bad-for-you love subplot that I totally understood and hated that it was so relatable! But it was accurate and true.

There’s also a character that says mean, snide things and is just such a mean girl. And this book had a lesson that was all too true: (MINOR SPOILER ALERT)

 

 

 

 

 

We don’t always get to tell off our Bea’s. And that’s something we have to find peace with.

 

 

 

 

SPOILER OVER

What I Didn’t Like: How short it was! I always want more from Dessen. Also, I hated Mark and Bea!!!

Ratings and Recommendations: Fans of summer romance, YA, coming-of-age stories, feminist messages that don’t hit you over the head with it

Final Thoughts: Loved it! It made me cry a couple of times. I can’t wait for my next Dessen book!!

Sound off in the comments: What did you think of this book? What’s your favorite Sarah Dessen book? Did you relate to Keeping the Moon? Let me know!

Book Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Synopsis: Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair…

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn’t believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she’s ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland’s inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she’s always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it’s the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who’s everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

First Impressions: I think this is a gorgeous cover. But Tiger Lily is not the girl in the beautiful dress. She is never that person, and not being that person is a huge part of who she actually is. And I think the cover designer really did a disservice to the book and character by not making a more honest cover.

Why I Chose This Book: My sister got me this book, knowing my love of retellings and Peter Pan. I will always be grateful to her for this. (Thanks, Sis!!)

What I Liked: SO MUCH. From the get go, this book is dedicated “For the girls with messy hair and thirsty hearts.” (Book hasn’t even started and the cover is already wrong, but whatever I’m not bitter.) This book is so gorgeously written, and it really keeps with the dark tone of the original work. Peter Pan has become so watered down in mainstream media, so I love seeing his portrayal in things like Tiger Lily and Once Upon a Time. He is so scary! And Anderson did a great job of staying true to that. Also, I’m not much of a Tink fan. Never have been. But this book is told from her perspective as she follows the characters around. And I love her!! She provides a more impartial view while still staying involved. I’ll include a few of the quotes I wrote down, but here’s one of the first things Tink says about Tiger Lily. “She was the most interesting girl I had ever seen, and I couldn’t resist staying near her to see what happened next.”

This book also covers some really intriguing commentary on current issues, such as the gender binary, murder, self-love, traditional gender roles. For example, Tiger Lily is cared for by Tik Tok, who “was born to be two genders…that’s the way he was made.” Smee kills those he admires most, and the more he admires, the more creative he gets. Tiger Lily struggles with loving herself so much, y’all. And it kills me. The whole tribe is pretty much against her because she doesn’t fit quite in. Here are a few quotes I wrote down just about that.

“…opinions by the dozen landed in each hollow track left by her feet.”

“Still, the longer I was around her, the more could see the colors of her mind and the recesses of her heart. There was a beast in there. But there was also a girl who was afraid of being a beast, and who wondered if other people had beasts in their hearts too. There was strength, and there was also just the determination to look strong. She guarded herself like a secret.”

“I’m not myself.” “You can never say that. You’re just a piece of yourself right now that you don’t like.” (Which I think is a crucial lesson for people to learn. You must address the aspects of your being to improve and be self-aware!)

“Everyone will think I’m ugly.” “That’s true. But we are a small village. We have narrow tastes. There’s no telling who else in the world would think you are beautiful.”

“Tiger Lily wanted to say it back. But she held on to the words greedily, too caught in the habit of keeping herself a secret. And Peter – half sadly, half expectantly – let her go.”

“I could never leave. Because I think people must be the same everywhere. Only these people are my bones.”

“She wasn’t sure what love was, but maybe she was supposed to bend.”

ISN’T IT SO BEAUTIFULLY WORDED, Y’ALL? I can’t handle it. I have so many pages of quotes from this book. Okay, fine, one more. But this one is about Peter.

“He never seemed to think over a decision, but merely plowed ahead, and somehow the earth always caught him in her soft hands. No one thought of doubting him.”

Also, the way Anderson included pieces of the original work brought so much happiness to my heart. Like the neverbird nest? I’m still swooning over how it was included. And if you know me, you know friendship love is my favorite kind. And we get a great BrOTP in Tiger Lily and Pine Sap!!

What I Didn’t Like: Not much, really. Oddly enough, I hated Wendy in this. And I am SUCH a Wendy, guys. Giant, the man TL is to marry, IS THE WORST. Ughhhhhh. But yeah, that’s all I don’t like. And they’re really just characters I didn’t like, not the actual book.

Ratings and Recommendations: For fans of Peter Pan, Once Upon a Time. For girls that don’t quite fit into what society expects them to be.

Final Thoughts: This book is a love letter to girls that don’t fit in and refuse to change just to do so. I can’t wait to give this book to my kids.

Sound off in the comments: Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Did you love it as much as I did? What’s your favorite retelling/alternate perspective book? Let me know!

 

Bookworm Quirks: Books are Confusing, or, Why I Need a Book Club All the Time

For one semester in college, I was in a book club. It was new, and I was transferring. It was one of the best book experiences in my life. We only read two or three books, but I realized I knew so much more about books than I had thought. When people were there to discuss aspects of a novel, there were theories and concepts in my mind just waiting to come out. And I understood the books I read so clearly.

Recently, I’ve been reading or rereading a lot of books that I really want to discuss with a group. From the super diverse If You Could Be Mine to the slow moving but intense The Miniaturist, I’ve been trying to figure out how I feel about books by just reading and writing reviews. But it’s hard, y’all! There’s less back and forth, more waiting. And it was so nice to see ‘Book Club!’ in my planner.

On the other hand, I’m a speed reader. And waiting on others to finish a book just makes me feel sluggish. Or I’m in a reading slump and haven’t touched a book in over a month. So it’s struggle either way, I suppose. But who wouldn’t prefer to struggle with a group of like-minded bookworms rather than alone?

What do you think about book clubs? What books have you read recently that you needed to discuss? Sound off in the comments!

Bookworm Quirks: Crying Over Spilled Ink, or, How Books Emotionally Manipulate Me

Many bookworms know the struggle of ‘the feels’, when a book makes you feel a lot of emotions, typically unhappy ones. Being a Highly Sensitive Person, I’m very subjective to emotional manipulation. So being a reader is a tough gig.

Some books are about tragic things, such as The Fault in Our Stars. Others hit me in ways they shouldn’t, like Off the Page and Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer. Others have intense scenes that have gorgeous wording or imagery, as seen in Just Listen and Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen.

In TFiOS, characters meet because of their poor health. From page one, we know this can only end in tears. In my case, when I read it in one sitting in the back of a car on a road trip, I had nine separate sobbing sessions. It hurt. You know in Shakespeare in Love, how Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet to prove love could be portrayed on the stage? It felt like John Green wrote TFiOS to prove it would be accurately written. While Green is known for writing pretentious teenagers, these felt real. Like I could have known them from school or seen them at the movies. And that makes the ending hit so much harder. Anyone can get sick. Even people you know.

Have you ever seen that tumblr post that begs someone to write a novel where the main character falls in love with the reader? It’s already happened. Jodi Picoult teamed up with her daughter, Samantha Van Leer to create a duology about a prince stuck in a fairy tale and the reader who wants to help him escape. The second book deals with the falling out of their efforts. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it hit me so hard. I’m in a long distance relationship in which we only get to see each other once or twice a year. I was reading these books near the end of a visit to see him, and many of the feelings I was struggling with were reflected in the novel. I was crying and sobbing while he held me close, begging me to stop reading if I was so upset. But if I read it when he wasn’t there, who would comfort me? I still haven’t been able to reread the books since, even though they are among my all time favorites.

Sarah Dessen is the QUEEN of YA romance. She creates characters that feel real but don’t seem ordinary. And in Keeping the Moon, she tore at issues I’ve long fought with. Colie was a bigger girl that was laughed at, made fun of, and bullied terribly. She lost weight when her mom became a fitness guru, but still felt like that girl everyone was judging. I felt like Sarah Dessen was writing about me, but the sad reality is that many girls feel this way. In Just Listen, the main character has to get past her assumptions and judgements to find where her life is taking her after a huge life change. She feels like her world is ending, but in the grand scheme of things, they aren’t. I am so bad at that! Every tiny setback sends me spiraling, and I also have to learn the importance of this quote: “Don’t think, don’t judge. Just listen.”

All of these books broke and fixed and broke my heart. Among SO MANY MORE. So tell me: what books did you cry over? Why? Did you have similar reactions to these books? Sound off in the comments!

Book Review: Conversion by Katherine Howe

Synopsis: It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: Through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t.

First it’s the school’s queen bee, Clara Rutherford, who suddenly falls into uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. Her mystery illness quickly spreads to her closest clique of friends, then more students and symptoms follow: seizures, hair loss, violent coughing fits. St. Joan’s buzzes with rumor; rumor blossoms into full-blown panic.

Soon the media descends on Danvers, Massachusetts, as everyone scrambles to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? Only Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago . . .

Inspired by true events—from seventeenth-century colonial life to the halls of a modern-day high school—Conversion casts a spell. With her signature wit and passion, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe delivers an exciting and suspenseful novel, a chilling mystery that raises the question, what’s really happening to the girls at St. Joan’s?

Why I Chose This Book: 

First Impression: Intriguing cover. What does the yellow bird mean? The thorny branch  gave off a feeling of danger and mystery without being too cliche. I really liked this cover.

What I Liked: I’d never heard of the confession that came years after the Salem Witch Trials and revealed everything to be a prank. It was very interesting to read. I also didn’t know about the Mystery Illness of 2012, so this book showed brand new history to me, both older and recent. I liked that we didn’t get a straight answer at the end. It felt very real.

What I Didn’t Like: The two narratives didn’t mesh well to me. I think the stories would have been better as two separate novels or maybe if it had been written by someone more YA-oriented? It could have been 100 pages shorter and had a much stronger impact instead of dragging on. There’s a taboo relationship that almost felt condoned by the author/plot. Colleen felt like someone trying too hard to be a teenager.

Ratings and Recommendations: I honestly don’t know? I’m still trying to figure out how I feel.

Final Thoughts:  I really needed to read this with a book club so I had a group of people to help me figure out what I thought of it. I went back and forth on so many aspects, that I don’t know how many stars to give or who should read it or anything. I’m very conflicted with this book.

Sound off in the comments: Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know!