June Wrap-Up

Hey guys! June went by so fast, didn't it? I can't believe we're already a third of the way through summer... On the bright side though, a lot of bookish things happened this month!

HAUL

Books I Bought

1. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

2. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

4. Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
5. Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Books I Won

B-Fest

1. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (ARC)

2. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold (ARC)

Giveaways

1. The Telling by Alexandra Sirowy (ARC) - thank you so much, Alexandra Sirowy!
2. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (eBook) - thank you again, Tamara!

BOOKS I READ

1. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

2. For the Record by Charlotte Huang

3. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

4. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold (ARC)
5. The Siren by Kiera Cass
6. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

THE BLOG

Books I Reviewed

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (3.5 stars)

For the Record by Charlotte Huang (2.5 stars)

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (4.5 stars)

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin (4 stars)

The Neverland Wars (DNF)
The Siren (2.5 stars)

Discussions I Posted

Wherein I Attempt to Explain the Significance of Secondary Characters

The Complexity of Rating Contemporaries

Guests Who Posted

Shelly shared some book recommendations in her YA LGBT+ Books Start Guide

Other Blogging/Bookish Events

 I thanked some friends and shared some lessons and favorites from the year in celebration of my one-year blogoversary! Thank you to all who have supported me so far <3

I started a bookish instagram (aka a bookstagram)! It's still a work in progress, but I'm enjoying the different outlet for expressing my love of books and exploring a different type of photography.



I was resorted into a Hogwarts house on Pottermore because I forgot my previous account's info, and now I'm having an identity crisis again. So this might get ramble-y, but before I took the Sorting Hat quiz on Pottermore a few months ago, I always considered myself a Ravenclaw. That's what every other quiz I'd ever taken said, that's what I classified myself as to begin with, and I'm pretty sure I randomly stumbled across the Pottermore one online somewhere too and that said I was a Ravenclaw...? Anyway, I took the new official quiz a few months ago after they revamped the site, and it said I was a Slytherin. I was kind of shocked, but I grew to accept and love that I was a Slytherin. Flash forward to Tuesday when I created a new account, and I got sorted into Gryffindor. And then I took the Ilvermorny (North American equivalent of Hogwarts) Sorting quiz and I got Pukwudgie...  WHO EVEN AM I?!?!? 

Waiting on Wednesday (50)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Series: Strange the Dreamer #1
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Page Length: 528 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

About Strange the Dreamer (via Goodreads):

A breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer is the story of:

the aftermath of a war between gods and men.
a mysterious city stripped of its name.
a mythic hero with blood on his hands.
a young librarian with a singular dream.
a girl every bit as dangerous as she is in danger.
alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and godspawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage.

Welcome to Weep.

The Siren (Review) ~ Not Enthralled by This Siren's Song

The Siren by Kiera Cass
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Page Length: 327 pages
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen

About The Siren (via Goodreads):

Love is a risk worth taking.

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again. 

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to.

Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

The Siren was a fun summer read. The premise was interesting, and the execution was decent. However, the storyline was predictable, and the characters were not very fleshed out. I saw next to no character development, and the love was way too instantaneous. A major case of instalove, if you will. And I hate instalove.

Kahlen wasn't a bad main character, but she was far from my favorite. Her relationships were decent with everyone, but it irked me that she spent decades with the Ocean and her "sisters", and chose to mope over a boy she'd only known for a minuscule fraction of that time.

To return to the topic of instalove, their interactions were too brief. There were so few scenes actually had Kahlen and Akinli together, so it was hard for me to root for them when there was so little to root for. I couldn't get a clear sense of their relationship, so I had no motivation to cheer them on when so many other people were hurt in their wake.

The secondary characters were tried-and-true friends to Kahlen and to each other, but I would have liked it if they had a bigger role. The scenes they were in seemed to go by too quickly, and they seemed to play such a tiny role in the story despite their long-standing relationship with Kahlen and the sisterhood.

In addition, I would have loved to learn more about the Ocean. She was a very unique "character" and although she irritated me quite frequently, she was so intriguing and kind of fragile, in a sense. I wish I knew more of the mythology/backstory behind her and the sirens.

All in all, The Siren was a decent and quick read, but there was a lot left to be desired.

My rating: 2 stars

June SST: Interview with The Way to Game the Walk of Shame Author Jenn P. Nguyen

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

Release Date: June 7, 2016

About The Way to Game the Walk of Shame (via Goodreads):

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

Add to Goodreads

INTERVIEW

Alexandra: Do you prefer to outline your characters/plots/etc. first, or do you just start writing once you get an idea?

I’m a crazy outliner. Before I start writing, I always have to have a detailed chapter outline of the entire plot as well as character profiles. The character profiles usually starts with a picture and from there I just build on the history, personality, and relationships. Searching for pictures is usually my favorite part of the outlining and what I do first. It helps me work through the story better when I can visualize the characters like in a movie.

A: What is the hardest part about being an author? The easiest?

The easiest part of being an author is knowing that your novel will be on bookshelves. Something that used to just be ideas in your head. That all your hard work and dreams are actually coming true and people will be reading your book. On the other hand, that’s also the hardest part of being an author. There are expectations now. You can’t just write when you feel like it. And there will be people reading your book. Strangers, critics, bloggers (although bloggers are awesome :) ).

A: If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would you want with you and why?

Would it be wrong of me to want Evan to be with me? Lol He is a surfer after all and he’s just so easy on the eyes.

A: If you had to write a book in a different genre, what genre would you choose and why?

I would LOVE to write an epic fantasy someday just because I find that genre so daunting and scary. My weakness is definitely worldbuilding and anything is possible in a fantasy. The options are limitless! The air you breathe could be used for currency or poison. People can live on clouds. Flowers could someday build an army and conquer the world. Okay, well, maybe not. But I definitely write better with a bit of structure and rules.

A: Are you currently working on any writing projects?

I’m actually bouncing back and forth between two other YA contemporary romances that are in the same universe as THE WAY TO GAME THE WALK OF SHAME. They aren’t necessarily sequels, but characters from THE WAY TO GAME do pop up from time to time!

A: What are some of your favorite books?

All the Harry Potter books. They’re just so amazing and magical. I also love all the books by Stephanie Perkins. They’re just so romantic and fun. A perfect way to spend a couple of free hours that leave you with a content satisfied feeling.

About the Author:

Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of 'research'. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is her debut novel.

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COVER REVEAL: The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins

Hey guys! So I am extremely excited to be one of the people who gets to share the cover for The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins with you guys today! The Great Pursuit is the sequel to The Great Hunt, and is the final book in the Eurona duology. It will be published March 7, 2017 by HarperTeen.

Before I get to the big reveal, here's what The Great Pursuit is all about:

Lochlanach has traded the great beast for something far more terrible, a Lashed enemy veiled in beauty, deception, and a vengeance passed down through generations: Rozaria Rocato. And she’s offering the hunter Paxton Seabolt power and acceptance he could never receive in his homeland. Pax must decide how far he’s willing to go under her tutelage, knowing she is the opponent of Princess Aerity Lochson.

In a land where traditionalists dread change, the Lochlan throne must contend with mysterious foes and traitors, while attempting to keep revolt at bay. As dire circumstances strike the royal family, matters of the castle are left in Aerity’s hands. It's time to put aside her fears and grasp the reign, taking actions that have the potential to save or destroy her people.

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continue. In this sequel to The Great Hunt from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, political intrigue and romance intensify in another thrilling fantasy. Princess Aerity embraces a quest for identity and passion before making the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom.

You can add The Great Pursuit to Goodreads here, and if you haven't checked out The Great Hunt yet, you can pick up the eBook right now for only $3.99 (Kindle | Nook) and get yourself started on the duology!

AND NOW FOR THE REVEAL...

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Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
Series: The Star-Touched Queen #2 (companion novel)
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Mythology
Page Length: 352 pages
Publication Date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

About A Crown of Wishes (via Entertainment Weekly):

Fans of Roshani Chokshi’s spell-binding bestseller The Star-Touched Queen are in for a treat with EW’s exclusive cover reveal and excerpt from the upcoming sequel A Crown of Wishes. The new novel follows Gauri, the younger sister of the titular Star-Touched Queen, on her harrowing quest for freedom.

When Gauri, the princess of Bharata, is captured by her kingdom’s rivals, she can only find help in Vikram, the cunning prince of an enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with royal life, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. They set aside their differences and team up to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, wherein the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

If you know how much I adored The Star-Touched Queen (which is a lot, considering TSTQ is one of my absolute favorite books, if not my #1 favorite book of all time), you can only imagine my delight when I finished TSTQ many months ago and immediately found out a companion novel was in the works. AND YESTERDAY THEY RELEASED THE COVER AND A PROPER SYNOPSIS AND AN EXCERPT AND IT'S MORE THAN I EVER COULD HAVE DREAMED OF. The cover is perfect, the description is fantastic, and that excerpt. I just want to know what happens to Gauri and Vikram and everyone RIGHT NOW.

The Neverland Wars (DNF Review)

The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling
Page Length: 302 pages
Format: eARC provided by author
Publication Date: May 9, 2016
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

About The Neverland Wars (via Goodreads):

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That's what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.

However, Gwen doesn't know this. She's just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she'll discover she's in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.

She'll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won't be the only one. Peter Pan's constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she's going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she's going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

DNF'd @ 45%

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I just couldn't. I'd been dying to finally read a Peter Pan retelling, and I really thought this particular concept sounded like a unique twist to the original story, but I'm sad to say I just couldn't get into it.

My favorite part definitely had to be the interaction between Peter, Gwen, and the mermaids in the lagoon. I love it when mermaids are portrayed on the more sinister side (like sirens) rather than innocent and naive creatures (like the ones in The Little Mermaid, as much as I do enjoy that film/story), and Greathouse did just that. The mermaids were haunting, intriguing, and not exactly evil, but they definitely had their own agendas.

Other than the mermaids, though, I thought the characters were pretty bland. At first, I thought I would be able to connect to Gwen, but I just couldn't. She seemed to lack so much depth, and the only thing I could really connect with was her struggle with growing up. And that concept was pretty much defenestrated when she quite literally threw herself out the window and flew off to Neverland with Peter Pan.

I'll admit that the secondary characters had a ton of potential, but they play such a minor role that I didn't really get the chance to appreciate them as characters. I wanted to learn more about the lost children's stories, learn about where they came from and why they were there. And maybe I could have gotten that if I had continued reading, but based on what little knowledge I learned from the many chapters already in Neverland, I don't know if that actually was going to happen.

Also, I read almost half the book and I feel like there was no conflict or action whatsoever. I know there's the looming "war" threat from the adults in the real world, but honestly I didn't see much reaction or preparation for battle or anything like that. There wasn't much plot in my opinion, other than the kids stomping around, eating, and telling stories.

All in all, The Neverland Wars had an interesting concept, but fell short of my expectations.

The Complexity of Rating Contemporaries

If you've been here a while, you may or may not know I've done A LOT of discussion posts on ratings, rating systems, when to rate books, et cetera et cetera. But I just finished a book and I realized something I wanted to add to my previous discussion about the complexity of rating systems. And that "something" I want to discuss is genre.

I touched briefly on my lack of specific rating categories for different genres in the original post, but that's not exactly what this is about. Perhaps I'll discuss that at another time, when I've sorted all my opinions out. What I do want to talk about today is the harshness of my ratings when it comes to different genres.

Specifically, I have the tendency to be more critical of contemporary novels than any other genre. I don't know about you guys, but it makes sense in my mind why this would be the case.

Based on my experiences, there are less "categories" that I have to rate when it comes to contemporary. For one, there's no world-building to critique. Contemporary is about the present on this very planet, so there's not much world that needs building that we don't already know about. Also, although romance can be a part of contemporaries, it seems that there are more books without a romantic focus in the contemporary genre than any other.

In addition, since it's a story that takes place in our world, I want the story to have meaning. In my opinion, it needs substance; it needs an emotional plot and deeper character development than any other genre. While I know there are "cutesy" contemporaries that can be as equally as enjoyable to read, unless they're executed brilliantly, they rarely receive above 4 stars in my book.

Lastly, the characters play even more of a role in the story. Unlike science fiction or fantasy, the plot of a contemporary novel cannot be carried by the evil villains or magic and mayhem. In my opinion, the best characters in contemporaries have to be written better and must be more flawed, more raw, and often more emotionally hurt to make it a good story. They are the driving force of the plot, after all. And not only do they need to go through greater catharses than in other genres, but I also have to like them. Not that I want to read about horrid characters in other genres, but it makes even more of a difference in contemporaries.

So in summary, I guess what I meant to say is that my criteria for contemporaries is almost identical to my criteria for other genres, but said criteria matters even more for me in contemporaries.

What do you guys think? Do you rate specific genres more harshly than others?

Mini Reviews: The Serpent King and Symptoms of Being Human ~ Apparently Guys Named Jeff Really Know How to Break My Feels

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Format: eBook
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

About The Serpent King (via Goodreads):

Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy.

Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship. But not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living.

I honestly wasn't expecting to like The Serpent King, despite all the rave reviews, but it quickly grew to become one of the most wonderful and rawest books I've ever read. This book slithered into my heart (pun intended) and shattered my soul a million times. It hurt to read, and I was a sobbing mess for probably half the book (pretty sure I used up a whole tissue box sobbing over this book), but it was so so so worth it.

The characters were INCREDIBLE. All of them were so unique, but also so ordinary and relatable (even though that probably sounds really contradictory). As the plot thickened and things grew worse and worse for them, my heart constricted and twisted more than it ever had before. Because I connected to them on such a deep level without even realizing it.

The plot was like nothing I've ever read, and Zentner's storytelling was captivating, painful, and beautiful all at once. Although it took several chapters to get into the story, once I did I was hooked for good. I could not stop reading, and stayed up extremely late to finish it.

It's really hard to capture the brilliance of The Serpent King. It's also really hard to explain the plot without going into the spoiler zone, but the story was extremely well done and the characters really went through a beautiful metamorphosis that cannot be ignored. Even if you're uncertain about The Serpent King, I really suggest giving it a try. It blew me away in ways I couldn't have fathomed.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary/LGBTQIA+
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

About Symptoms of Being Human (via Goodreads):

The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?

Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.

On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.

Symptoms of Being Human was like nothing I'd ever read before, but I am so glad I picked it up. It was such an eye-opening and heart-shattering story; it really exposed me to things I knew next to nothing about before. I knew there can be a lot of unnecessary hate toward the LGBTQIA+ community, but I never truly realized the horrors that many of them have to face until I read this book. And it's devastating.

Riley's story was inspirational. Even though I can't truly fathom the scope of what Riley goes through, it was amazing seeing Riley grow and flourish as a character, as well as work up the nerve to finally come out (even if the circumstances weren't the best).

I also appreciated how even though there was so much hate, there was so so so so so much more love. Riley's identity may have shaken the worlds of those closest to Riley, but Riley also had so much support, not only online, but also in Riley's everyday life. There was still plenty of confusion and misunderstanding, but there was still an abundance of acceptance nonetheless. Baby steps in the right direction.

I myself still have a lot to learn about the LGBTQIA+ community, but reading in-depth about the horrors Riley (and others like Riley) had to face caused me to be a complete emotional wreck. It was absolutely terrifying and awful. Nobody, and I truly mean NOBODY, should have to deal with these horrifying, mind-numbingly awful things. Every person is still a human being, and each and every person deserves to be treated that way.

Symptoms of Being Human was an extremely important story that needed to be told. I knew I wanted to read it the minute I heard about it, and it did not disappoint. It was such an informative and heart-warming (as well as heart-wrenching) book, and I highly recommend people read it.

My rating: 4 stars

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Series: [Untitled] #1
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Page Length: 416 pages

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publication Date: January 10, 2017

About Caraval (via Goodreads):

Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

Then, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor’s help to whisk Scarlett away to this year’s show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever. 

For the Record (Review) ~ Not Quite a Fan of This Jam

For the Record by Charlotte Huang
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Page Length: 307 pages
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Delacorte Press

About For the Record (via Goodreads):

If Almost Famous were a YA novel . . . a raw, honest debut celebrating music, friendship, romance, and life on the road.

Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like . . . until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything

Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen hearthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.

Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule . . . Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t?

For the Record was an extremely addicting book that I couldn't put down. But at the same time, I had quite a few problems with it. Mostly in regard to the characters, especially in regard to Chelsea. So I might go on a bit of a Chelsea rant before I go into all the details of the book.

Okay, so I understand that Chelsea went through a lot before Melbourne, but at the same time she was also so rude and ungrateful to everyone who cared about her. For one, I know parents can be embarrassing sometimes, but her parents really supported her and her decision to join the band, and cared so much. And yet she only acted like they were a nuisance and in her way. Not only that, but she abandoned all her friends (even if they were often more like frenemies) to be with Lucas at every free moment of her day, rather than trying to close the gap between her and her bandmates. She always seemed to complain about how her bandmates didn't understand her or how they didn't like her in the band, yet she pretty much made no effort herself to be civil with them and get to know them better.

Besides, there was SO MUCH INSTALOVE. So maybe her relationship wasn't perfect with Lucas, but she basically threw herself at him and relied on him way too much. I know it's fine to want to be in a relationship and be romantic and touchy and all that (like whatever, I won't judge you, that's your decision to make), but neither of them really got to know each other that well and she pushed everyone else away in the process of being Lucas' girlfriend (or whatever she even was).

I honestly hated Lucas and Chelsea's relationship. It's not that Lucas was that bad a guy, but he caused so many rifts in Chelsea's life. I obviously also blame Chelsea for those rifts, but Lucas was also overprotective and kind of stalker-ish? Like, I know since Melbourne's on tour, she's easily traceable, but he doesn't have to show up out of nowhere every time and steal her away and go gallivanting when Chelsea was supposed to be with the band.

Also, Chelsea had the nerve to be jealous when her bandmates (especially Beckett) had love lives, even though she was basically pushing them all to the curb to be with Lucas. Honestly, who does that? He's not your plaything, he doesn't belong to you. And besides, Beckett is much better a guy than Lucas anyway. I may not be your biggest fan, Chelsea, but Beckett tried to be yours.

Finally, her best friend made a huge mistake, but Chelsea refused to forgive her. I can understand why she'd be mad, but this is a friend who stuck with her despite her massive mistake that changed both their social lives forever.

Anyway, enough ranting. Despite all these problems, the story was still pretty fun and interesting to read. I naturally wanted to scream at Chelsea throughout half the book, but the other two quarters were quite good (I say quarters because the first quarter was good, the middle "half" was the irritating Chelsea time, and the last quarter was pretty good).

It was really fun going on tour with Melbourne and going to all the crazy parties, shows, and events with Chelsea and the band. I loved how unique each of the bandmates were, but loved how they also had a lot of chemistry and worked well together, despite many mishaps. Although certain conflicts were resolved too easily and some were resolved irritatingly slowly, overall the plot was a fantastic speed and I flew through the book.

Although I had massive problems with the main character, For the Record was still an enjoyable read. If Chelsea was a less irritating character that I could sympathize with, this book would have gotten a higher rating, but alas, my rating will have to be 2 stars.

YA LGBT+ Books Start Guide

Hi guys! I'm really excited to have Shelly from Read. Sleep. Repeat on my blog today to give some LGBT+ book recommendations for Pride Month!
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Have you wanted to expand your reading list and make it more inclusive but aren’t sure where to start? Pride Month is the perfect time, but it can be stressful. There are so many books but so little time (the typical book lover problem). Here are some LGBT+ books that appeal to every reader:

Love beautiful writing? Try I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. IGYTS explores the relationship between Jude and her twin brother, Noah. It’s beautifully written, will make you cry, and will make you clamor for another Jandy Nelson book.

For fans of suspenseful thrillers, I recommend Far From You by Tess Sharpe. A heartbreaking and mysterious story, I loved reading Sophie’s journey.

One of my favourite writers is David Levithan, and he has so many wonderful LGBT+ books. Because of his numerous titles, it’s hard to figure out where to begin. I personal recommend Every Day, as it wonderfully explores gender and love.

A title I see recommended almost all the time is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz and I have to agree. While it does have a small romance, it is first and foremost about friendship and growing up. The writing is so beautiful and if you’re a Hamilton fan, Lin-Manuel Miranda narrates the audiobook!

A perfect summer read, Everything Leads to You is one Nina LaCour’s latest novels. Emi is a Hollywood set designer, and while her sets may be perfect, her love life isn’t. If you’re looking for a fun light-hearted read, I highly recommend this one!

If you love Harry Potter, get ready to read the latest from Rainbow Rowell. Carry On surrounds the story of Baz and Simon, two students at a wizarding school. It’s been described as a similar ship to Draco/Harry and I can totally see that comparison. If you’ve read Fangirl, you’ll recognize the characters! I will caution that Carry On does have some issues with bisexuality erasure.

Basically, you can't go wrong with any of these books.

Literary Legionnaire Turns One!!

IT'S MY BLOGOVERSARY TODAY!!!

In case you missed it, I wrote a thank you post yesterday to share my appreciate for some of my biggest cheerleaders throughout the process. Without you all, I wouldn't know where I'd be right now. So thank you again. So much.

It's so crazy to think that a year ago today, I started blogging here at Literary Legionnaire. I didn't know what I was expecting when I started this blog, but here I am, one year later, and it's been incredible. If I'm being honest, I'm a bad human who often gives up when things get hard. And blogging thus far has definitely had it's ups and downs, but I made it! I didn't give up, and even though this wonderful little space I call my own has grown so much, I'm definitely most proud of myself for lasting this long. That's definitely something to celebrate.

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A LESSON LEARNED

One of the most important things I learned so far is this: I can't let other people's opinions bother me. Everyone is (naturally) entitled to his or her own opinion, and just because people won't always agree with me, it doesn't mean that 1) they hate me, or 2) that I need to change my opinions for them. It's not necessarily that I would willingly change my opinion, but there was this one point early on in my blogging career when a close friend of mine, who I trusted with my little blogging secret (which still pretty much remains a secret to this day), commented rather harshly on one of the posts I wrote. I was shattered. I was so upset that I nearly deleted the post. Yes, I know that sounds immature now, but at the time, I was pretty inexperienced and easily hurt by what others said. Or even what they didn't say.

I'm ready to be a turtle like this, instead of one

that will hide in her shell when things get rough.

I'm sure there will be even more obstacles in my path as my blogging journey continues, but I've gotten this far, and I 'm not planning on giving up now. I'm still working on developing a thicker skin, and I think that will be something I will have to learn over a long period of time. But now I'm willing to put in the effort to do so, instead of hiding in my little turtle shell of a world. And I've made some of the most incredible friends along the way, who I know will stick by me even when things get rough.

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FAVORITES FROM THE PAST YEAR

(June 10, 2015 - June 10, 2016)

favorite books read

Daughter of Smoke & Bone | The Star-Touched Queen

The Wrath & the Dawn | The Rose & the Dagger

The Serpent King | Never Stop Falling

Illuminae | Blackhearts

The Rose Society

favorite posts written

 discussions

Why It's Okay to Give High Ratings | Is There a Perfect Time to Rate a Book?

Why I Love the Idea of Duologies | On Final Installments of Trilogies

"Are Epilogues Necessary?" and the "Cookie-Cutter Epilogue"

On Reading in Order (Whether It is a Series or Not)

reviews (although not necessarily my favorite books)

The Rose & the Dagger | The Star-Touched Queen

The Crown's Game | The Rose Society

A Darker Shade of Magic

Red Queen

1 DAY BEFORE 1: Thank You

Hey guys! So tomorrow is my blogoversary *throws confetti* Literary Legionnaire is currently 365 days old (but not quite a year because of leap day). Anyway, before I start getting super sentimental/express my thoughts about my blogging journey thus far, I thought I would start with this: THANK YOU. Without all of you, this wouldn't have happened. I started this not having any idea what I was getting myself into, but it's been an amazing experience and I have you all to thank.

SOME BLOGGER SHOUT-OUTS:

Nikki (Fiction Freak) - unfortunately I haven't had the chance to really talk to you, but I discovered your blog wayyyyyyy back and you really inspired me over the years to fully embrace my love of reading, and you also exposed me to some absolutely amazing books. So thank you. For being there (even if you didn't realize it) when I was alone without anyone to talk to about books and for exposing me to the wonderful bookish community for the first time, even if it took me years to work up the courage to actually be a part of it all.

Tia (Read It Write Now) - thank you for being one of the first people to welcome me into the Goodreads community, and then proceeding to be so supportive throughout my blogging career thus far. I couldn't have done it without you!!!! Also thank you for being such an awesome friend and co-author for Renegade Blade. We have a longgggg way to go but it's been so much fun and hopefully we'll be able to work on it this summer!

Julia (Peach Print) - you were one of the first bloggers I met online. Thanks for being so welcoming and friendly! I absolutely love your blog and hopefully we can catch up soon!

Mariam (Flying Through Fiction) - thank you for being such a supportive friend and for picking me up when times were rough. I can't imagine where I'd be without you today. It was lovely meeting you at the PassTruth event, and hopefully we'll get to see each other at more book events in the near future!

Nori (ReadWriteLove28) - thank you for being an absolutely incredible human being and for being one of my biggest role models. You are amazing and thanks for being so patient with me while I failed around helplessly when I got mixed up with SST things and literally every other blog-related thing ever.

Kit Cat (Let the Pages Reign) - thank you for being the loveliest human ever. You always know how to brighten up my day. It was absolutely incredible meeting you in February! Hopefully we'll get to see each other again soon! Also, I've probably said this a million times but it will never be enough: I LOVE YOUR BLOG. SO SO SO MUCH. It's one of my favorites (no lie) and I wish I could be as thoughtful and candid as you are (both in blogging and in general since I struggle with both). Keep being you, dear <3

Aila (One Way or An Author) - thank you for everything. Whenever we talk, it always brings a smile to my face. Also, I honestly don't know how you balance all the crazy things in your life, but you do. You're so talented and you're such an inspiration to me (in blogging and in general because you're just goals, okay?) You're such a lovely lovely friend and I hope we can meet one day.

Cyra (Rattle the Pages) - thank you for reaching out to me and being one of my first blog friends I met through Twitter. Thank you for your support and friendship over these many months, and for always being so friendly during Twitter chats (and in general!) Also, we're basically blog twins (since your blogoversary was last week), so YAY to that! :)

Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles) - thank you for being such a wonderful friend and mentor over these past few months. I'm a pretty spastic person, so all your help with blogging and book events is so so appreciated. It's always amazing catching up with you and getting bookish recommendations from you and your amazing BBTCs!

Claudia (Pen Markings) - thank you for being a great friend and an amazing blog designer. I really appreciate all you've done for me and Literary Legionnaire over the past year. I know we haven't talked much lately, but hopefully all is well and hopefully we'll be able to catch up soon! Miss you, girly!

Rachel (A Perfection Called Books) - even though we don't talk as much as we used to, I'm happy to call you my friend and am so grateful for all that you've done for me. You really made me feel welcome when I first started out, and I really appreciate it <3

I want to thank so many other book blogger/Twitter people as well, but I don't want this post to last for a trillion years, so here are some quick shout-outs to a few more people who I adore: Maha, Mishma, Sophie, Jamie, Alex, Alexandra, Gabi, Faith, Val, Ava, Gee, Liran, Alexandria (Alex), Nikki, Lillie, Jess, Jillian, Nisha, Kaitlin, Cait, Claire, Em, Duane, Aneeqah, Emily, Deanna, CW, Melanie, MC, Sarah, Tamara, Kaina, Annalisse, and so many more.

AND SOME AUTHORS:

Susan Dennard - thank you for being such a wonderful and inspiring lady. It was amazing meeting you in New York back in January (although I still cringe and want to apologize for not properly introducing myself). Thank you for writing the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy (it holds a special place in my heart) and for always giving such glorious writing advice.

Roshani Chokshi - thank you for opening my eyes to new and wondrous worlds. Thank you also for putting up with my spastic fangirling for the past few months about my absolute favorite book (aka The Star-Touched Queen) and for overall just being one of the sweetest people ever. It was the loveliest meeting you and I hope we have the chance to meet again soon. I hope I can be as amazing a person and writer as you someday.

Jennifer Niven - thank you for being the first author I truly got to meet and interact with, and for being so kind to me and for cherishing all your fans. All The Bright Places remains dear to me, and it really changed my life in ways I can't express.

Sush - thank you for your constant support. Thank you for introducing me into the world of self-publishing and for opening my eyes to the wonders many of us fail to recognize. Thanks for creating the Razia world and Lyssa because I really connected with her story, even though I'm not finished yet. I'll get there, I promise.

AND SOME OTHER BOOKISH PEOPLE BECAUSE BOOKISH PEOPLE ARE MY FAVORITE:

People from the BookCon app (spring - autumn '15) - I haven't been on the app since last year, but you all were so supportive and helpful when I was trying to navigate the craziness of BookCon and the greater bookish community. Thanks for exposing me to some amazing bloggers and BookTubers, and helping me to gain some of the confidence I needed to start blogging and sharing my bookish opinions.

The original Goodreads gang - I think it's only logical to bring it back here. To the beginning. I may not have been a part of that group (you know the one) from the start, but you all were so welcoming to me when I joined Goodreads and I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you. To ze wonderful Azarath, Madigan, Ti, Taco, Elsia, Alyss, Cassiopeia, Ten Ten, Belladonna, Talya, Beth, Mei, Mai, Asha, Naura, Julia, Rickshaw, Sir, Laylaby, and many more. Thank you so much for letting me into the GR family and for letting me give some of you the most ridiculously glorious (if I do say so myself) nicknames out there. Some of you are no longer on GR, but I send you my best wishes and hope you are all doing well. To those who still are, I'm sorry for not being as active as I used to be. But please know I still cherish our friendships and that I care about you all very, very much.