June TBR

Hey, Night Owls! It’s almost summer and that means more time for reading. So, this summer I decided that I will be posting my TBR for the months of June, July, and August.

The first book I plan to get to in the month of June is Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil. This is the common reading for my college, Hofstra University. It’s about how big data is leading to an increase in inequality and how it threatens democracy. Even though nonfiction is not my cup of tea, I’m interested in getting to the book.

The next few books are the last four books in The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. Currently, I’m listening to Black Dawn which is the twelfth book. I started listening to this series via audiobook last summer, but I got sidetracked. So one of my goals this year was to finish series I start, so I decided to restart this series. Hopefully, I finish the series this month! The only thing that might stop me is the narrator change. I’m planning to write a full series review when I finish because writing fifteen individual reviews is quite a lot of work.

Another book I’m planning to read in the month of June is Squared Away by Alicia Dill. The kind people at Mindbuck Media sent me an ARC for review. This book is about a former soldier trying to find out what happened to her old army buddy. It comes out on July 2nd so you should be expecting to see a review before then!

That’s all I plan to read in the month of June. It’s short, but I’ve been in quite the reading slump so hopefully these books will get me out of my slump. If you would also like me to do monthly wrap ups, let me know in the comments below!

Happy Reading! 🙂

 

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Spring Playlist!! + Reason for Hiatus

Hi Night Owls! I know that’s it’s been since I’ve posted something. I haven’t forgotten about you guys, I’ve just really been focusing on finishing senior year strong and finding the college that’s best for me.

I thought a nice way to ease into blogging again would be to post a playlist because you know you love them. Even if you don’t, maybe you’ll find some great songs to add to your playlists.

• Playing God by Paramore
• Running Up That Hill by Meg Meyers
• Bad Vibes by K.Flay
• Better to Lie (feat. Jesse and Swae Lee) by benny blanco
• California Waves by Postcards
• Imported (feat. JRM) by Jessie Reyez
• This Bird Has Flown by The Ghost Club
• My Favorite Mistake by Sheryl Crow
• Movement by Hozier
• Worlds Apart by Wallows
• If It Makes You Happy by Michael Cera Palin
• Three’s Company by Hangover
• All That I Know by Collective Soul
• Prom Queen by Beach Bunny
• Again by Lenny Kravitz
• Sweetest Goodbye by Maroon 5
• My Only Friend by Ill Spector
• The Underdog by Spoon
• Love By Mistake by Bad Suns
• bad guy by Billie Eilish
• Psycho by Lauren Aquilina
• UFO (feat. Allday) by Mallrat

 

How To Experience Death For Beginners by Jessica Branton

Happy Valentine’s Day, Night Owls! Today’s review will be on How to Experience Death for Beginners by Jessica Branton. This is her debut, which she wrote when she was fourteen and is just now getting it published. In this book, we follow a girl who can enter people’s minds the moment they die. I gave this book 2/5 stars. I was kindly sent an ARC from the publisher for an honest review so, a big thanks to them for sending me a copy.

Casey Darling is quiet teenager who just started her senior year of high school in a small town in Georgia. Casey isn’t your average teenager, she can see the very moment someone dies. Everything seems to be going well until this new kid, Cameron, has moved to town from sunny California. Cameron’s arrival has brought a serial killer to town. Now, Casey has to deal  with Cameron’s interest in her, catch the serial killer with the help of the FBI, and graduate from high school.

The concept of this book was really interesting to read, but it did have its faults. I didn’t really understand how Casey inherited her powers and whether or not Christina had powers too. Normally, I enjoy reading first person narration, but “I” was overused throughout the book. There were strong number of well-developed character arcs, but some of character arcs, like Christina and Danny, needed more development. For instance, I did not realize until halfway through the book that Casey and Christina were twins. What I did really enjoy was when the identity of the killer was revealed because that was unexpected.

While this wasn’t the best thing I’ve read, if you want a quick read than this is for you. I definitely think Jessica Branton has great potential as a writer. This story just wasn’t for me.

 

Happy Reading Night Owls!  

More Than Bones by Craig David Singer

Hey, Night Owls! It’s Kat here with my first review of 2019. A few months ago, I was sent an ARC of More Than Bones by Craig David Singer from the publishers at MindBuck Media. I want to give a big thanks to them for sending me the ARC. In this book, we follow a doctor whose life gets turned upside down by a mysterious amulet. I gave this book 5/5 stars because of how relatable the main character, Emily, was and how easy it was to follow Singer’s writing style. I was quite surprised to find out that this was his debut novel.

Dr. Emily Norton has just moved to Baltimore after graduating med school. She’s got it all because she has a fiance who is also a doctor, landing a surgical residency position at a hospital, moving to a nice neighborhood, and her cousin living in the area. Since Emily is a doctor, she does not believe in religion and the supernatural. That is until one day her next door neighbor gives her this amulet that supposedly harnesses some mystical power. She ignores his warning because she thinks it’s bullshit. Now, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. Emily gets in trouble with the administration staff at the hospital on her first day, her fiance ends things on her birthday, and she almost loses her job because of scandal involving a former patient’s suicide. All of this seems to have happened because she did not listen to warning about that stupid amulet.

My favorite part of the book had to be Emily’s character arc. When we first meet her, Emily is very closed minded and cold. She did not like working at a religious hospital because religion is a big issue with her father, a super religious Baptist preacher. This causes Emily to be very cold to some of the staff at the hospital. Throughout the book, Emily grows into a warmer and open minded person.

If you like books that dip into a little magic, this is the book for you! If you like the TV shows ER and Charmed, this is also the book for you! It was released yesterday, so go to your local bookstore to pick up a copy or order it online.

Most Anticipated 2019 Releases

Happy 2019 Night Owls! With a new year comes new books. So, I thought it would be fitting for my first post of the new year to be my most anticipated releases of 2019. This list is an assortment of YA and Adult because I’ve been reading both to expand my tastes. Hopefully, I get the chance to read all of them!

 

• If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (April 23rd)
• Again, But Better by Christine Riccio (May 7th)
• Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare (November 19th)
• Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen (May 28th)
• The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh (October 8th)
• The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason (February 19th)
• Lock Every Door by Riley Sager (July 2nd)
• The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu (April 9th)
• Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus (January 8th)
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (March 5th)
• Slayer by Kiersten White (January 8th)
• Better Than The Best Plan by Lauren Morrill (June 25th)

Favorite Books of 2018

Hey guys! 2018 is almost over and that means it’s time to share my favorite reads of the year. Since this has been my biggest reading year, narrowing this list down to a reasonable number was very challenging. So, I’ve narrowed the list to 10 books. There is not particular order to this list. If any of you share the same favorites please share your thoughts in the comments!

• Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
• The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
• Frat Girl by Kiley Roache 
• Roomies by Christina Lauren
• Sadie by Courtney Summers
• On The Fence by Kasie West
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
• Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
• The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
• The Firm by John Grisham

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Hey Night Owls, I finally finished The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater a few months ago! You guys are probably thinking it’s about damn time. I loved this book so much. If I could, I would give it 6/5 stars but Goodreads only let me rate it 5/5 stars. Plus, I’m super excited for the television adaptation! 

Blue Sargent has been told if she kisses he’ll die. That same year, on St. Mark’s Day, Blue is with her mother as they see the-soon-to-be-dead, people she hasn’t been able to see until this year. A boy directly talks to her. His name is Gansey.

Gansey is an Aglionby boy, which means he goes to the local private school in Henrietta, Virginia. Blue has a rule to to stay away from Aglionby boys, otherwise known Raven boys, because they bring trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey because even though he has it all, he’s looking for something else. Something more than money, good looks, and devoted friends.

Gansey’s friends are Adam Parrish, Ronan Lynch, and Noah. Adam is the Henrietta native who has a scholarship to Aglionby and hates the privileged students there. Ronan is the bad boy with the Celtic cross tattoo. Noah is quiet, but observant.

 I listened to the audiobook and let me say, Will Patton did not disappoint with his narration. He was excellent! This wasn’t my first time listening to an audiobook by Will Patton because I also listened to On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

The main reason I fell in love with this book was because it takes place in my home state of Virginia. I really related to Gansey because he was from the Northern Virginia area which is my homestretch.

Please pick up this book because it is magical and you will not regret it! It’s the perfect back-to-school read. Guys, promise me you’ll read this book. If you have read it leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Fall Playlist

Hey, Night Owls! It’s been awhile since I shared some of the music I’ve been listening to while I read. It’s November and Fall is almost over so it’s the perfect time to share my Fall playlist with you guys! These songs are very chill so they’re perfect for reading with a cup of coffee by the fireplace or during a long car ride.

• Halfway Home by Lori McKenna
• Daylily by Movements
• Canceled by Born Without Bones
• So, What Does This All Mean by Goody Grace
• every day (stripped.) by Jeremy Zucker
• Better Than That by Cyberbully Mom Club
• Treehouse by Sam Lachow
• Flannel by The Cardboard Swords
• Dying in a Hot Tub by Palaye Royale
• Northern Downpour by Panic! At The Disco
• Drunk on Halloween by Wallows
• Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana
• One Day by Scenic Route to Alaska
• Miscommunication by Arms Akimbo
• Glycerine by Bush
• Plowed by Sponge
• My World by Avril Lavigne
• Doo Wop (That Thing) by Lauryn Hill
• Touch, Peel, and Stand by Days of the New
• Flare Guns by Quinn XCII

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Hey Night Owls, I’m back and ready to get back into reviewing! I actually mean it this time. Getting back into my school routine was harder than I thought, but I’m ready to start blogging again. I finished Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen earlier this month! Reading it got me out of a huge reading slump. 5/5 stars for both the story and audiobook narration!

 Sydney and her family have been going through some rough stuff lately. Sydney’s older brother, Peyton, has just gone to jail on a drunk driving conviction because he paralyzed a teenager. Their parents put all of their attention on Peyton because of the trial, leaving Sydney cast away in the shadows. Sydney also seems like the only person in her family who cares about the teenage boy that Peyton paralyzed. 

Ames, Peyton’s friend, has also gained attention from Sydney and Peyton’s parents. Especially, their mother because she treats him like another son. His presence startles Sydney because he seems to want to get too close to her.

Sydney’s parents put her into public school because of the fallout from the Peyton scandal. At her new school, Sydney takes awhile to make friends, but quickly makes some after stopping to get a slice of pizza on her way home from school one afternoon. Sydney meets, brother and sister, Mac and Layla at their family-owned pizza restaurant. Not long after their meeting, Sydney joins their friend group. Sydney, finally, feels like she can be herself around Mac and Layla because their family and group accept her without any questions.

I absolutely loved this book! Sydney’s character was very relatable because like her, I also lost touch with some of my friends when I changed schools. The only event that made me uncomfortable while I was reading was Ames’s character because from his first scene I knew he was creepy. It really annoyed me when Sydney’s mother kept encouraging Ames to come around, but by the end of the book I was happy to read about her change of heart.

If you’re looking for a nice book to ease you back into the school year, I highly suggest you pick up this book. If you enjoy audiobooks, the narration for Saint Anything was fantastic! This book got me out of a huge reading slump, so if you’ve been in a reading slump, please this book up!

Happy Reading!!!!!

The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart

I hope your day has been going well Night Owls because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve written a review. Today’s review is The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart. I’m participating in a blog tour that’s promoting the release of U.S. edition. The lovely people at Penguin Teen, gave me a copy for a review, so a big thank you to them. I gave this book 4.5/5 stars because of a few minor details.

   It all started the summer of 1982, when Sep, Hadley, Arkle, Lamb, and Mack made their sacrifices at the Sacrifice Box. They vowed never to visit the box alone, never open the box after sundown, and never take back their sacrifices. The group later went their separate ways. Everything changed in 1986.

   All of the sudden strange things are happening- mirrors are breaking, the electricity keeps flickering, and people are getting really sick. Yet, the group hasn’t spoken to each other since that summer. Someone must’ve broken the rules. It turns out the group sacrificed more than their objects. They also surrendered their secrets and fears, and those are coming back when corpses begin to pile up, as murderous toys from the past, and as undead pets.

   Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was quick-paced and action-packed. It did take me awhile to realize the book took place in Wales; at least that’s where I think it took place, please correct me if I’m wrong. The writing style intrigued me, and the characterization was phenomenal. Sep and Hadley’s arcs developed the most, but Arkle’s arc also grew, too. However, I wish there was more development on both Lamb and Mack’s character arcs.

   The U.S. edition was just released on August 28th, so go get yourselves a copy! Besides, it’s not only is it a horror story, but also a coming-of-age story. We need more coming-of-age stories set in the 1980s!