Bout of Books 10.0: Goals

BOUT OF BOOKS 10.0 TIME!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

TIME DEVOTED TO READING

Oh, I don't know. Two hours? Maybe? I stunk at Bout of Books 9.0. We'll see how 10.0 goes.

MY GOALS

Same as above. My reading is so unpredictable these days. I would like to work through some of these books because BEA is coming up, but I can't promise even myself anything. I'm working a bunch this week and I have a lot of stuff going on... So. The list below is a best case scenario.

• Read at least 3 books from the list below.
• Participate in at least 1 Twitter chat.
• Meet some new bloggers and make awesome new friends.
• Participate in at least 1 challenge.

Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: What I Thought Was True
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Release Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 416
Source: eARC from Publisher
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. No favors were exchanged, my opinions are my own.)
First Reaction: I felt kind of confused and let down by this book... which makes me really sad because it was one of my big buzz books for 2014.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and house cleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Title: The One (The Selection #3)
Author: Kiera Cass
Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 323
Source: Purchased (and promptly gifted to a friend *hi Marine!*)
First Reaction: I knew better than to read this book. But I read it and I only have myself to blame.

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art (51)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Sometimes I walk up to my coworkers at the bookstore with a book in hand and say "WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS COVER IT'S SO PRETTY." And then I pet the cover and strip off the jacket and check out the binding details. Everyone thinks I'm out of my mind. But I just want to buy second copies of all of these books so I can take the book jackets and put them on my wall.

Here's a list of 10 book jackets I often think of framing. In image form. Because who needs words when I can just show you pretty pictures?

Return of BEA Part of It: Parks and Rec

BEA IS COMING! BEA IS COMING!

Oh. It's supposed to be "The British are coming!"? Oops. Well, I do have some British friends coming for BEA, so let's call that a wash.

Anyway, for this year's BEA, the lovely Estelle has asked me to take part in her BEA PART OF IT blog post series. When Estelle asked me I was utterly flattered but, at the same time, completely lost as to what topic to cover. Yes, I'm a native New Yorker (Fun Fact: I have only ever had one permanent address - Upper West Side born and raised) but I basically do the same things and eat at all of the same places. All the time. Since I was in Middle School and allowed to roam around the City on my own.

But then I was like: Well, I'll just cover the Parks. And since I'm a big Parks and Rec fan, I couldn't help the reference.

So which parks are the tops?

Harlequin Teen Spring Preview Event Recap + Giveaway(s)!

On Tuesday I clocked out of work, threw on some makeup, and hustled out into the rain so I could attend Harlequin Teen Preview Event. 

Despite the fact that the rain was unbearable and the subway was more crowded than I've seen it in a while, I was really excited. The last time I went to a Harlequin party (last October, I think?) I had the very best time and got to chat with some of my favorite people. This time was no different. 

But actually, there were some differences between last event and this one. Most notably, the featured author. This time around, Harlequin had Adi Alsaid come speak about his upcoming release, LET'S GET LOST. It's a road trip book about how people come into your life and shake things up and, whether they stay forever or leave soon after they show up, it doesn't matter because the meaning is still there. 

(Just to be clear, I haven't read this one yet, but those are just some of the awesome words Adi Alsaid used to describe his book that night and oh do they push LET'S GET LOST tot the top of my TBR pile.)

Of course, with every Harlequin Teen Preview Events, there are books to be had - and given away. 

Pick of the Week: The One With the Mermaids

Pick of the Week is... well, it's exactly what it sounds like. Once a week I pick a book. I may pick said book because I'm super excited about it. Or maybe I was super excited about it, forgot how excited I was, and am now using this to refresh my memory. It's also possible said book was blurring in with all the other books in my brain and I want to get re-excited about it. Another possible option is that I just want to flail about a book I'm about to read/am currently reading. Basically, I'm writing a love-note to a book I haven't started/finished yet to build hype for both myself and my reader. Which doesn't sound like a smart plan, but, oh well, too late.

And in case you want more of an origin story, you can check out my first Pick of the Week post.

This week's pick has a reaaaaaally pretty cover. Really pretty. It's also got this huge marketing budget. The ARCs were sent out in this fancy package that definitely wowed me when I saw it. Also, this book is written by an author a lot of people I know rave about.

Do you know what book I'm talking about?

Yes?

No?

Okay, I tell you.