Saturday, September 28, 2024

BONUS Day 6 of Five Fall Favorites: 2024 Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary

 

Well, Friends, we have reached the final day of Five Fall Favorites 2024 hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary. It has been a fun, quick challenge and I'm glad I got to participate. I will have to do more in the future.

For the final day, the prompt is "2024." I am sharing my five favorites reads from 2024, thus far. This year I have read a wide variety of books, and this list contains only a sampling of that. A few of these books were published recently, within the last 12 months. Other books were published a few years ago.  Several different genres are represented as well. Here are my favorite five books of 2024.


1. Loveboat Forever by Abigail Hing Wen

The third book in the Loveboat, Taipei series, Loveboat Forever follows Ever's little sister. Now at seventeen years old, she's an accomplished piano player and gearing up to attend a prestigious summer music camp; however, when a controversial social media post goes viral, the music program cancels her spot, and she decides to attend Chien Tan. Nicknamed Loveboat, Chien Tan is the same summer immersion program her sister attended years before. Although she does not want to follow in her sister's footsteps completely, she quickly finds herself caught up in her own dramatic love triangle and going to great lengths to avoid trouble. Throughout this story, she discovers her roots, and a new friend encourages her to track down her great grandmother's concert instrument, a beautiful pipa with a unique flower design. Loveboat Forever is a sweet romance to exploring family heritage. For readers who have read the previous two books, it is exciting to see where their favorite characters are now.

2. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

Imagine waking up in snowy Paris with no memory of how you got there. While your head clears an impossibly hot man calls you Alex and tells you to run. What's Her Name is not sure her name is even Alex and has no idea why people are trying to kill her, but when she sees her face on the news, taking out thugs, she is willing to try being that person. Connecting with Mr. Hot Guy, Sawyer, they travel across Europe pretending to be a couple. As she learns more about the situation and herself, she's not sure who to trust, even her heart betrays her as she finds herself falling for her fake husband. Spies, amnesia and fake romance, what is not to love about this story. What's Her Name is likable and smart as well as wild and clever. The story contains some spicy scenes with light description and is an adult book, but it is a hilarious and cute story.

3. Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale, Illustrations by Qin Leng

From a Broadway performer known for her role as Eliza in Hamiliton, this is an adorable picture book with gorgeous, soft illustrations about a little girl who loves to sing. Piper Chen sings everywhere she goes without a care in the world, but when she gets the chance to sing a solo at an upcoming recital, she develops butterflies in stomach. She will have to find the strength to stand on stage and share her love of singing. For children this book is a great social-emotional book about how to overcome fear. To adults, it is a beautiful story about childhood dreams and the courage it takes to make them a reality.

4. Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban

In this modern take on Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, Jade is excited for a fresh start, traveling for a school year with Campus on Board. For her this is chance to get away from problems at home and see the world, however, her problems follow her, when she spies her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend are also spending the semester at sea. Even though she is making new friends, including an attractive, yet mysterious, boy with a don't care attitude, she cannot shake feelings of hatred for her Exes. Stumbling into her ex-friend's cabin, she finds blood all over the room, her ex-bestie missing and becomes the prime suspect. Jade uncovers larger conspiracies, and a plethora of confusing clues as she tries to clear her name. This book will leave readers guessing until the explosive ending.

5. Assistant to the Villian by Hannah Nicole Maeher

Evie Sage is an out-of-work personal assistant traipsing through the forest when she stumbles upon a handsome bleeding man, with a magical toad, being chased by villagers. In accordance with her caring nature, she helps the man escape and learns he's Rennedawn's most notorious criminal known only as The Villian. Needing a job to provide for her ailing father and kid-sister, when The Villain offers her a position as his personal assistant, she takes it. Being the personal assistant to The Villain is a vile job and it gets even worse when someone begins stealing company secrets and planting bombs in the boss's office. Additionally, Evie cannot deny her growing affections for her boss and the awkward tension as they face danger together. This is a lighthearted comedy romance that takes place in a magical land. Although the general tone of the book is jovial, there are descriptions of violence which are not suited to all-audiences.

Conclusion

Those are five of my favorite reads of 2024. The wide variety of subjects and genres is well representative of my reading habits. After a three-year hiatus, I have started updating this blog again to add reviews and booklists to my fiction short stories. I have some other fiction pieces in the works which will be posted in the future as well. The best way to keep up to date on my blog is to follow me on Instagram. I post there several times a week and share both book reviews and To Be Read books. On Instagram I pair books with the friendship bracelets that I make. In October I will share a mystery or thriller every day.

Finally, I would like to thank Once Upon an Ordinary, Kate! She organized this is blogging challenge providing the prompts and the super cute graphics. She is an independent author and prolific book blogger. Please show her some support and check out her blog and books. I should also thank all the other writers, especially Katja, who is putting together a PDF to share books from all of the bloggers. And thank you to everyone who read my book ramblings this week. I hope you enjoyed and found some new favorite books!

I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
Read Monday's blog here: Inspirational Skai: Day 1 of Five Fall Favorites: LOVE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary
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Friday, September 27, 2024

Day 5 of Five Fall Favorites: KINDNESS Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary

 

Full disclosure, my weekend starts on Friday, so after a full week of waking up extra early before work to start writing these blogs, I fell back asleep after I turned my alarm went off and slept in late. I had some errands to run when I finally woke up, so it was now after 4PM when I started to write this. That's okay, it's day 5 of Five Fall Favorites 2024 hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary! I guess, I'm not quite ready for it to be over.

Today's prompt is Kindness! I thought I could be kind to some of my favorite books and authors, so today I am sharing five of my favorite books featuring kind characters. These are characters who are generous with time, money and abilities helping others everywhere they go.


1. Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew is one those enduring characters that parents pass along to their children. She was introduced in the 1930s with her first mystery. While the modern books are usually considered elementary chapter books or might be referred to as "middle grade novels," in the 1930s Nancy Drew Mysteries were young adult novels and participated in shaping the genre into what it is today. In Nancy's debut book, she stumbles upon a mystery concerning the will of a diseased wealthy man who promised to leave money to a struggling family. Slim clues send the young detective on the hunt for The Secret of the Old Clock. Nancy Drew is a character who throughout her many adventures, she helps people, never expecting to get anything back. Displaying bravery, kindness, and generosity, she has been a role model for generations of young girls.

2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Netflix made a limited series adaptation of this adorable book. It is Christmas season and Lily's parents are away, taking a long-delayed honeymoon. Although she is lonely, she refuses to let that keep her from spreading Christmas joy and making friends everywhere she goes. She leaves a red notebook containing a scavenger hunt on the shelf at her friend's bookstore. While Dash is a cynic who is only looking for a book to keep him company during the holidays. Stumbling across the red notebook, he is amused by the scavenger hunt challenge and quickly becomes enamored with the author. He leaves notes in the notebook challenging her to try new things too. Both of their perspectives shift, and they do not feel so alone as they explore new sides of New York. Lily's kindness and cheer spreads to everyone around including Dash, and when she need encouragement, he is there for her.

3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This dark phycological thriller follows one of the nicest characters in young adult fiction. Clay Jensen is a high schooler going through the motions when he receives a box full of cassette tapes on his front porch. Also in the box is map of his hometown with stars marking, not landmarks, but ordinary places, and a brief note instructing him to play the tapes. When he starts the first tape and hears the voice of a dead classmate, he's shocked and intrigued. Compulsively, he follows the tapes to the spots on the map and discovers the darkness hiding under the service in his quiet town. Throughout the story it is revealed that he was one of the few people to show his classmate kindness. This book deals with heavy themes and topics including mental health, physical abuse, and substance abuse. While it is a well written book, it is not suited to younger or sensitive audiences.

4. The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

Lady Hollis Brite is so filled with happiness and kindness that she lights up a room with merely her presence. When the Crown King Jameson notices her at Keresken Castle, he takes a liking to her and to her parent's delight begins to court her. When royals from the nearby kingdom, Isolte come to visit, King Jameson requests Hollis entertain the visiting queen and sets her up in his royal quarters. Even as she tastes the royal life, she meets a young refugee, a tradesman who notices her kindness and intellect. She begins to question what she wants in life and if she would be brave enough to leave the life she knows. In this book Hollis is ray of sunshine, but more importantly she is an overcomer, not letting people's perceptions of her keep her from being the best she can.

5. Perfect World, Vol. 1 by Rie Aruga

Translated from Japanese, this manga is a sweet romance that explores at the challenges of disabilities and relationships. Tsugumi is a twenty-six-year-old interior designer who through work reconnects with her high school crush who is now an architect, Itsuki. When she knew Itsuki in high school he was a popular basketball player, and she was a shy artist. In the years since she knew him, he has changed drastically. The biggest change being that he now uses wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury. Tsugami has to find the courage to overcome prejudices if she wants to have a relationship with Itsuki. One of the most carrying and thoughtful characters in manga, Tsugami puts Itsuki before herself over and over again because she wants him to know she cares. 

Conclusion

I enjoy reading books about characters who are kind and show us something to stive for. They aren't perfect, but they are making the effort, I would like to see that from people in real life. Writing this blog made me want to re-read each of these books so I can see even more kindness. Many of these characters face loss, grief, abuse and more, they don't become what they lost. They look for ways to be better for others.

Tomorrow's post will be a mid-year reflection on my favorite reads of 2024. I've worked hard this week to use different authors and series for every day, tomorrow's post will have some repeat authors. If you have followed me on Instagram this year, I can guarantee you will recognize these books.

I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me on Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
Read Monday's blog here: Inspirational Skai: Day 1 of Five Fall Favorites: LOVE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary
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Thursday, September 26, 2024

Day 4 of Five Fall Favorites: PATIENCE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary


It's been a while since I've done this much writing over the course of one week, however, I'm very impressed with myself for keeping up this hard work, because it's day 4 of Five Fall Favorites 2024 hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary! Today's prompt is PATIENCE, yesterday's post on peace was heavy. I shared books that have brought me peace, I decided to interpret this as books that take patience to get to the best parts. These titles are all sequels that I think are better than the original book in the series. WARNING: may contain spoilers for the previous books. Here are five of my favorite books in longer running series. 

1. The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies, Book 2) by Pittacus Lore

In I Am Number Four, book one of this series, readers meet a teenager who goes by John Smith and his guardian and protector Henri. They move to a new town and "John" makes new friends, falls in love and develops extraterrestrial abilities. He manages to not get killed by another evil alien race who has been hunting him since he escaped from his home planet and reunites with another super powered teenager from Lorien. Book two picks up after the events of book one and readers meet Marina, another Lorien number with the ability to heal living things, like plants and people. Her guardian hid with her in a European convent when she was a child and has since forgotten their original mission to protect Earth and restore Lorien. When she begins having dreams of Number Four, John and a raven-haired girl with unbelievable powers. Marina's biggest problem is how does she join the fight when she is so far away and stuck in hiding. This series gets insane. Throughout the books, there is action, drama, humor and heartbreak. Book two is when events start moving in a rapid pace.

2. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

In case anyone missed this blockbuster sensation, The Hunger Games is a postapocalyptic dystopian future, where North America has been ravaged by famine, plague and war. A new totalitarian government has risen to power and demands an annual tribute of two children from each district to compete in a barbaric game to the death. Katniss and Peeta were the 74th annual Hunger Games winners after their star-cross lovers story won the hearts of Panem. Now as the winners of the Games, they are required to tour all 12 districts. Touring through the Districts they meet all sorts of people and hear rumors of a rebellion rising. Katniss is forced to have a relationship with Peeta but cannot deny her growing feelings for her best friend Gale. When an announcement about the coming 75th annual Hunger Games shakes their world, Katniss, Peeta and their mentor Haymitch have to be ready for the worst. This is the most thoroughly plotted story with the best message in the ever-growing Hunger Games series. 

3. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 3) by Marissa Meyer

In this sci-fi fairytale retelling series readers have already met Cinderella, and cyborg named Cinder, and Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlett the farm girl looking for her missing grandmother. The Lunar invasion has begun, and Cinder's Prince Charming, recently crowned Emperor Kai has agreed to marry the Evil Lunar Queen, Levanna to halt the invasion. Cinder is aboard a stolen spaceship, trying to corral her ragtag bunch into a formidable team to stop a wedding and prevent the Evil Queen from taking over Earth. Frist, they will have to rescue Cress, a Lunar girl who has been trapped in a watchtower satellite for years, spying on Earth. Although this is a 552-page book, it is a quick read, because chapter ends on a cliffhanger making readers want more.

4. Scorpia (Alex Rider, Book 5) by Anthony Horowitz

In this book Alex Rider is a teenager who been on four spy missions for M16, Special Ops Division. He has nearly died more times than he would care to know, although he does not fully understand why, he is spending his holiday in Italy following up a lead given to him by a dying assassin. Yet again, his world is shaken, this time, by the news that the father he thought was a war hero, might have also been an assassin for the mercenary group, Scorpia. Before the young spy knows it, he is caught again in another plot, Project Invisible Sword. Scorpia has threatened British school children, and Alex might be the only one who can stop them. This book digs into Alex Rider's family history and has an epic plot where he is forced to make unthinkable choices and an end which leaves readers ready to immediately read book six.

5. Rise of the Elgen (Micheal Vey, Book 2) by Paul Richard Evans

In this book, Michael Vey with the help of his friends, the newly minted Electroclan, have taken down the Elgen's Pasadena complex and rescued several kids like Michael with electrical based powers. However, he did not succeed in his true mission, rescuing his mom from the evil leader of the Elgen, Dr. Hatch. New revelations lead Michael and friends to Peru, and they will have to face new threats as the Elgen develop new weapons. He and the Electroclan will have to outsmart the Elgen if they want to rescue his mom. There was a lot of set up in the first story, so it was not until the end of that book when the action starts. From the beginning of this story, it's never a dull moment as the Electroclan is on the run and in the fight of their lives.

Conclusion

I love these books! All five of these books are from some of my favorite series. I still remember that I first listened to Miachel Vey while I was interning for a media company as a teenager. I discovered the Alex Rider books following watching the early 2000's movie when I was twelve. I read Cress last year as an eBook. These books hold so many memories for me. Tomorrow's prompt is Kindness. I'm sharing some of favorite characters who show kindness to others throughout their books.  

I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me on Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
Read Monday's blog here: Inspirational Skai: Day 1 of Five Fall Favorites: LOVE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary
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Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Day 3 of Five Fall Favorites: PEACE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary

 

Wow! It's already day three of Five Fall Favorites 2024 hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary. This week has flown by fast. We are halfway through the blogging challenge, and it certainly has been a challenge, but I'm grateful that I took this challenge on. Today's word is peace! As I considered what peace books I would associate with peace, I decided that while fiction can be cathartic and a great way to process feelings, it's non-fiction books that have often brought me peace and healing. Here are Five Favorite Non-Fiction books!



1. Getting Good at Being You: Learning to Love Who God Made You to Be by Lauren Alaina, forward by Tasha Yearwood.

This 2021 book is the most recent non-fiction title that I've finished reading. From CMA awarding winning country singer and American Idol alum, this is book part self-help advice and part memoir. Alaina shares her story and connects it to practical steps and meditations to help readers assess their own lives. The personal anecdotes range from funny short stories to heartbreaking memories. She shares moments when she was triumphant, and moments when life was out of her control. This book has Christan themes and speaks about God. I picked this book up because I remembered her from American Idol and wanted to read her story.

2. It's All Love: Reflections for Your Heart and Soul by Jenna Ortega

Readers might recognize this young actress's name; she's recently found fame in television and movies such as the Netflix original Wednesday and Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. This book is made up of bite sized advice and personal anecdotes, it is perfect for daily, inspirational reading. Topics range from relationships, to following your dreams, to faith and spiritualty. It has religious and even Christian undertones but is not a Christan devotional. All the advice is encouraging and challenging. I have been reading these in the morning and often say a quick prayer for discernment on how to use the advice. Many of the tips have shifted my perspective and encouraged me.

3. Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love by Ruth Soukup

Soukup takes a look at different types of fear and how they impact our lives. Written in a conversational and encouraging tone, she shares her own life struggles and how she turned her dream of being a business to owner to a reality. She also shares the tales of others who have identified their fears and taken steps to overcome them to start chasing their dreams. This book is written and published by a Christian author and a Christian publishing company, but it does not require you to be a Christan to follow the practical advice and do the work to turn dreams into reality. 

4. You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You by Jess Connolly 

God has given you a purpose, and you can do it, but not in your own power. You can do it because of God's power. About trusting God and following Him in faith, this book is a devotional that searches God's Word and provides inspiration. Focused on encouraging people to step into their callings and understand that God will provide along the way. This is a Christian devotional and calls people to follow Jesus and understand when your dreams and goals are from Him. This book accompanies a Bible Study but can be read alone. The focus is on trusting God and letting Him carry you through the hard work.

5. When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Guide to Guy/Girl Relationships by Eric Ludy and Leslie Ludy

Written by married couple, they take turns writing the chapters and offering insight on both guys and girls. This book is a challenge to purity and to having a godly relationship that not only saves physical intimacy for marriage but also emotional and spiritual intimacy. Filled with humor and heart, it will make you laugh, cry, and laugh and cry, as you read about other couples and examine your own life. I have used this book to help me get over heartbreak of failed relationships, because it shifts the perspective from momentary relationships to the eternal impact of them. This book searches the Bible for how to have godly relationships with all members of the opposite gender and what characteristics are in a healthy relationship.

Conclusion

Honestly, today was a heavy topic and these books were not always easy reads. These were challenging, emotional and convicting. But they all left me with more peace than when I started reading them. Among these pages I have found healing and encouragement. If this was a little too serious for you, tomorrow's prompt is patience. I have decided to take a lighthearted approach of sharing my favorite books in five of my favorite longer series.

I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me on Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
Read Monday's blog here: Inspirational Skai: Day 1 of Five Fall Favorites: LOVE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary
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Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Day 2 of Five Fall Favorites: JOY Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary

 

It's Tuesday! Which means it is day two of the Five Fall Favorites 2024 challenge hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary. Today's prompt is Joy. The dictionary definition of joy is "a feeling of great pleasure or happiness." (From Mariam Webster dictionary) I decided I would share five of my favorite stories where the ending wasn't what I expected, but it made me happy and was an even better way to end the story. Here are five favorites with unexpected happy endings.


1. The Swap by Megan Shull

In this middle grade novel, Ellie and Jack are twelve years old and on the precipice of childhood entering into adolescence. Otherwise, they could not have less in common Jack is a popular, hockey player with four older brothers. Ellie is a shy, soccer player and the only family in her life is her mother. After a bad day, Ellie and Jack swap bodies. They have to live each other's lives, the good, the bad and the awkward, until they can figure out why they swapped bodies and how to switch back. Without saying anything about the ending, there are two epilogues. The first epilogue is a few months later and the second epilogue was a few years later and reader checks in with the characters and see the happy changes that have happened in their lives.

2. The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak

From the author of My Life with the Walter Boys (now a Netflix TV show), this is a story about love, growing up and standing up for yourself. Stella has always been defined by her siblings. First as one in a set of triples and now as the girl whose twin sister has cancer. Being one of three, photography is the only thing that is unique to her, and she carries her camera everywhere she goes. While looking for a great birthday present her sister, Cara, Stella stops into a coffeeshop for some caffeine and meets a cute boy who notices her camera, but she does not know that he's Oliver Perry, the lead singer of her sister's favorite band. This story was a beautiful blend of serious themes and hilarious shenanigans told from both Stella's and Oliver's perspectives. The ending is grounded in reality. 

3. Famous In a Small Town by Emma Mills

For Sophie it is the summer before senior year, she is busy planning for college, fund raising for her school's marching band and babysitting for a young couple in her neighborhood. When her neighbors take in a seventeen-year-old, they ask her if she can show him around and introduce him to the teens in their small town. Inside this story there are many sub-plots and hilarious moments which lead up to a gut-wrenching climax and surprising conclusion. The ending plot-twist changes how readers view every moment of story. 

4. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Drawing upon both Hans Christan Anderson's and Disney's The Little Mermaid stories for inspiration, this is a sweet, modern retelling. The youngest of six sisters, Elyse was a talented singer before a boating accident stole her voice, now she's alone, away from her home island of Tobago staying in Atargatis Cove, Oregon, a popular summer destination, with family friends. New friends Kirby and Vanessa warn her about the summer population playboys, and that Christian Kane is the worst. However, his kid brother Sabastain is fascinated with mermaids and when the boy meets Elyse, he is convinced she is one. Between that and an upcoming boat race, she'll have a hard time staying away from Christan. This is a beautiful story, not about romance, but about reclaiming your voice, and finding family again.

5. The Match by Sarah Adams

Evie works for a non-profit which trains service dogs and pairs them with people who need them. When she receives an email from a single father with a nine-year-old daughter who has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, she feels a kinship to the girl and wants to help her. Only when she shows up accompanied by her faithful service dog, Charlie, she learns that the girl set up this meeting without her father's knowledge. Her father, the handsome, brooding, Jacob does not want a service dog and is rudely vocal about Evie and her dog. This romance is about trust and loyalty dealing delicately and informatively about epilepsy and disabilities. While the ending might not surprise, the happiness of all of the characters is too joyful to not include in a list about joyful books.

Conclusion

This list is full of joyful memories of books which made me happy, and that I would love to get to read again like it was the first time reading them. Tomorrow's word is peace! I will be sharing five favorite non-fiction titles.

I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me on Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
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Monday, September 23, 2024

Day 1 of Five Fall Favorites: LOVE Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary

 


Today is the first day of Five Fall Favorites 2024 Hosted by Once Upon an Ordinary! The first prompt is five books about Love. I'm going to share five romance books that reading them made me believe in love and I hope you love them as much as I do!



1. Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg


Macallan and Levi meet in seventh grade when Levi moves to town. This story follows the ups and down of their lives as they grow up and the challenges of dating when your best friend is a member of the opposite sex. This story has such a sweet love story. It shows the significance of friendship, and that love grows as people grow. The spilt narrative is beautifully done and both characters have a unique voice.

2. As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter

As long as Natalie can remember, it has been Natalie vs. Reid. Their prank wars are legendary, and a new prank war begins when their school’s arts budget gets cut and Natalie’s drama club has to compete with Reid’s award-winning school band for funding. A prank gone wrong ruins expensive AV equipment, and they have to work the together to put on a musical. As Natalie has been competing with Reid for everything, Reid has been competing for Natalie’s attention. The love between the two enemies is palpable as they try to destroy each other. This book is well plotted as everything clearly leads up to the climax.

3. Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen


Ever wanted to spend her summer after graduation dancing, but her strict Taiwanese immigrant parents decide to send her to Chien Tan, an education program in Taipei. She makes new friends and decides she before the end of the summer she will break all of her parents' rules, rule number one: no boyfriends until after med-school. Quickly Ever's reckless choices land her in a messy love triangle and an even bigger mess with the school. Loveboat, Taipei is about young love, but even more importantly it's about loving oneself and living to fulfil one's potential.

4. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter


When they were little, Maddie's dad was the chief of the President's secret service and Logan was the President's son. They were best friends and got into all sorts of trouble together. After an attempted kidnapping of the First Lady, Maddie and her father move to Alaska. As a new President is about to be elected, Logan gets into trouble and is sent to live with Maddie and her father for the rest of the President's term. Soon after he lands in Alaska, Maddie and Logan are attacked. Logan is kidnapped and Maddie is thrown from a cliff. With a coming winter storm, they will have to save each other from the elements and the enemy. This is perhaps the sweetest story of survival and love between two best friends.

5. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord


How about a sandwich feud? Pepper's family owns an ever-growing chain of diner restaurants, and Jack's family owns a little bistro that's popular with the neighborhood. When Pepper's family's chain announces a new sandwich which matches the signature sandwich of Jack's family bistro, it's an all-out Twitter war. The split narrative reveals that these two are also secret friends messaging over the school messaging app, only neither of them knows it. Much of the plot is reminiscent of You've Got Mail. This novel illustrates with humor and honesty that differences can actually be what brings people together.

Conclusion

All week I will be sharing Five Favorites based upon the category prompt. Tomorrow will be Joy, I will be sharing books where the ending wasn't what I expected, but somehow, better. Read all the other fabulous fall blogs here: Once Upon An Ordinary – where ordinary life is a big adventure (wordpress.com)
I love meeting new booklovers! Best way to do that is to follow me on Instagram: @Skai_BooksAndBracelets
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Saturday, September 7, 2024

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins


Read from: June 29, 2020 Till: July 19, 2020

Genre: YA Dystopian, Sci-fi and Fantasy 

Sub-Genre: Dystopian, Sci-fi and Fantasy


Summary:

The prequel to the Hunger Games Trilogy, this book follows the future President of Panem, Coriolanus Snow, as he’s about to graduate from school. He mentors a contender in the tenth annual Hunger Games. Although, he’s stuck with the girl from District 12, she turns out to be a singer with a flair for theatrics. As they survive the road to the Games, they have to weigh the choices and options. Following Coriolanus, this book sees him from the mentor assignment, through the tenth annual Hunger Games, and a summer serving with the Peacekeepers.

Review:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a solid prequel to the original trilogy. It followed the villain from the original story and shared his story in a way which explains how a scared kid from the Capital became a powerful dictator. It was interesting to see how he fell in love with the girl from District 12, even ready to run away with her. I loved how it used lyrics to tell the story and about the characters. Cleverly it foreshadowed the end of their story and made me want a better ending for them. This book is very much a romantic tragedy.

Notes: (Spoilers ahead)

Snow’s lover wrote The Hanging Tree which is a song that really made him mad in the original trilogy. The Mockingjay’s were used as a for shadowing of his undoing. Readers learn where his love of roses came from (his mother) and how he started using poison on his victims.


View The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on Good Reads.


Review written in 2020. Edited in 2024.


Author's Note: Welcome back to another review! These first two reviews (Click to read the Not If I Save You First book review) are from a book journal that I've kept since 2020. Stay tuned for more! Side note: Since these were written in a book journal, they do contain spoilers. I've attempted to blue out the spoilers, click and drag your mouse curser over the text to reveal the spoilers, or simply read around it to skip the spoilers.
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Saturday, August 31, 2024

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Book Review: Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter




Read from: June 23, 2020 Till: June 26, 2020

Genre: Drama/Romance/YA

Sub-Genre: Survival

Original review was written in 2020.

Edited in 2024.

Summary:

Logan and Maddie were best friends. He was the president’s son, and she was the daughter of the chief secret service agent. After the first lady was kidnapped and Maddie’s father was shot saving the first lady, she and her father move to Alaska. There Maddie's only form of communication is letter writing. Six years and no reply letters later, Logan finally gets into enough trouble that he is sent to live with Maddie. Right before the biggest snowstorm of the season, an assassin arrives, kidnaps him and pushes her off a cliff. She’ll have to save him from the kidnapper and the Alaskan wilderness, but he has to save her from herself.

Review:

Such a good story. Dynamic characters, plot-driven action and non-stop danger. It’s a well written tear-jerking, beautiful story about two enemies who are also best friends. I really enjoyed reading it and getting wrapped up in the story. The only thing was with the ending, but I liked the humor of her in his environment at school, but it needed something in between, a chapter of them being rescued.

Notes:

I read about this story in her writing book. The book made it sound so good. I just had to read it. It was just as good as it sounded. I loved the characters, the drama, the action. I was disappointed there was no bear attack, but Logan carrying Maddie after she was shot certainly made up for that.


Not If I Save You First on Good Reads


Author's note: Hi all! I'm back. I will be posting on this blog again. I will be focusing on sharing book reviews and other book related blog posts. There may be more fiction in the future, but at the moment I don't have any upcoming fiction works announced. This will also be a place where I have my different book focused social media accounts converge. Currently, I have an Instagram, @Skai_BooksAndBracelets I have been working on a video to launch a YouTube Channel, but I also don't have a timetable on that. Stay tuned here for more book reviews, stories, and more!

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Friday, February 2, 2024

Six YA Enemies To Lovers Novels


In this booklist these characters say, “I hate you!” but actually mean “I love you!”


For my first booklist, I’m starting off with one of my favorite genres. Young Adult Romance! Within the genre, this is easily the most popular troupe. Enemies-to-lovers. Here is a list of six young adult enemies-to-lovers romance books.



Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

From the author of The Lunar Chronicles and Renegades, Instant Karma is Marissa Meyer’s first contemporary romance. Prudence Bennet, Pru is a straight A student, so when her lazy slacker partner Quint Erickson gets them a low grade on their final project and a B in the class, she’s looking for an opportunity to redo it. When Pru gains the ability to cast “Instant Karma” on people, she hopes to get Quint back for her bad grade, but only good things happen to him. So, instead she agrees to help at his mother’s marine animal rescue if he agrees to redo their class project. As they work together and get to know each other, they learn that they may have misjudged each other. Instant Karma is a modern Pride and Prejudice, enemies-to-lovers tale with marine animals.


Instant Karma on Amazon



Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Emma Lord’s debut novel, Tweet Cute is Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail, in an adorable enemies-to-lovers rom-com. Pepper’s an all-around perfectionist. Since she moved with her mom to New York in ninth grade, she’s has had no time for anything not in her five-year plan. Certainly not Wolf, the nice guy she met on her school’s anonymous messaging app. She also doesn’t have time for her mother’s restaurant’s twitter feud with a local deli. Jack is the class clown because his twin brother has the popular, golden boy role taken. He’s fine helping out at the family deli and building apps in secret.  He’s finally met someone who understands him, on his secret messaging app. When Pepper’s family’s chain restaurant steals his family’s deli’s signature sandwich, he is caught in a heated twitter war. This enemies-to-lovers story is told in first-person spilt narrative.

Tweet Cute on Amazon


Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

Recent high school grad, Ever Wong wanted to spend the summer before college dancing, but her over controlling immigrant Asian parents send her to Chien Tan, a strict study abroad program in Taipei. Once in Taipei, she makes new friends and meets Rick Woo, the most accomplished Asian American of her generation. At least that’s what her parents think. When she tells her new friends about her parents' strict rules, they encourage her to break them while she’s in Taipei. Rule number one, no boys until after med school. Good thing there are plenty of hot boys in Taipei, if only the perfect Rick Woo would leave her alone.


Loveboat, Taipei on Amazon



Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

Rosie Thorne is a book lover in Small Town, America. Vance Reigh is Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy, but when his actions attract too much bad publicity, he’s sent to live with his godfather until his eighteenth birthday. After a really bad day Rosie chases a running dog into what she thought was an abandoned house and meets Vance. Together they destroy a priceless first edition book. To avoid legal consequences, although they cannot stand each other, they have work together to fix up a library.


Bookish and the Beast on Amazon

As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter

Natalie vs. Reid! For High School junior Natalie, that’s how it’s always been. Competing for fun, for first chair clarinet or for her father’s attention. When the school’s arts budget gets cut, she has to compete with Reid (and the school band) for the ability to do theatre as an after-school activity, she and Reid end up in one of their legendary prank wars. When they accidentally destroy a sound system, the principal makes Natalie and Reid work together to put on a musical.

As If On Cue on Amazon


Chasing After Knight by Heather Buchta

Alexa Brooks met scrawny, ninety-pound Carson Knight during summer camp before ninth grade. They were instant best friends before “the incident,” then she moved from Los Angeles to Los Vegas. She’s spent the last three years making every effort to forget him, which is no small feat when he is now famous Hollywood bad boy, Cayden McKnight. A camp craft bracelet and English assignment bring up old memories and new friends encourage her to find Cayden McKnight and profess her love, but Alexa already has a boyfriend and Cayden wants nothing to do with her.


Chasing After Knight on Amazon


In Conclusion

Making this list, I realized that I read a lot of this trope. I love enemies to lovers because I believe in second chances and that forgiveness is more powerful than hate. These stories absolutely embody that people are far more than your first impression of them. From learning the annoying project partner has already given the best hours of his day help others to the perfect person is just as insecure, these characters learn lessons and teach us something about ourselves. I have also read several enemies-to-lovers holiday stories. That could be a possible future list.


Please stay tuned for more.



Post contains affiliate links. I occasionally receive free books to review, but opinions are all my own.

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