Mid-year Book Freakout tag

I wasn’t tagged by anyone but decided to jump in since I keep seeing this everywhere. If oyu know who started it - let me know so I can add a link tot heir blog.

This is actually really hard for me because I forget what I’ve read approximately 3 minutes after I’m finished lol

Anyway – let’s see what I can come up with!

*Click on covers to see on Goodreads

Best Book You've Read So Far This Year

I bow to the contemporary YA queen – Jenn Bennett. I love everything this author writes but Starry Eyes is my new favorite.

*Honorable mention: Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen: M/M military romance that gutted me but pieced me back together. Really well done story about military service, Gold Star families, grief and healing.

Best Sequel You've Read So Far

I’ve been reading almost entirely stand alones this year so…nothing

New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To

I have Save the Date and meant to read it before I left for ALA but ran out of time. I’m hoping to get to it this month.

I loved book #1 in the Murderbot Diaries and picked up Artificial Condition – book #2 at ALA.

Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year

I was lucky enough to pick up all of these ARC’s at ALA!

Biggest Disappointment

I didn’t dislike Emergency Contact – it’s just that I was expecting something totally different than what it was and ended up disappointed.

Biggest Surprise

Heels Over Head was so much more than a romance. M/M sports romance with a lot of depth. I recommend it to fans of Autoboyography.

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World is mid-grade/LGBQT and totally blew me away. I highly recommend this one to families going through any big life changes (moving, natural disasters, new baby) and to any child questioning their sexual identity or as a starting point for that discussion.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was so much fun and where the hell is the sequel??

Favorite New Author

I’m really loving Talia Hibbert’s voice in the romance genre, Caleb Roehrig writes realistic teen dynamics really well. As I mentioned up top with Point of Contact – I loved Melanie Hansen’s writing so I want to check out more by her and Martha Wells (the Murderbot Diaries for sci-fi. Silivia Moreno-Garcia’s writing in  Certain Dark Things was dark, morally ambiguous and refreshingly original.

Book That Made You Cry

I almost never cry when I read but Point of Contact had me tearing up multiple times. I’m not sure that will be the case for everyone but she got so many things about the grieving process right – as it relates to my own experiences anyway and it was a very emotional read for me. 

Book That Made You Happy

Favorite New Character

That’s a tough one for me. Like I said, my brain tends to purge information almost immediately when I finish a book lol

I really liked Jude from The Cruel Prince – even though she’s REALLY flawed. Ivy from Ivy Aberdeen – so earnest and sweet, Genie Lo from The Epic Crush of Genie Lo – a girls thrown into a alternate reality of demons and Chinese Folklore and handles it with humor and a realistic teen voice.

Favorite Book To Film Adaptation

Most Beautiful Book You Bought This Year

I still need to read The Crooked Kingdom but this boxed set is beautiful!

TBB asks: july–vacation edition

The Blended Blog hosts TBB Asks the first Monday of every month. Feel free to join in and link up on their blog!

1. Will you go on vacation this year?

We just came back from NOLA. That was for ALA but we did do some sightseeing. And I’m pretty sure we’ll take another trip to either Asheville, NC or maybe home to RI in the fall.

2. Do nothing but relax or pack it all in vacation?

A happy medium. We usually do a little hiking during the day – nothing too crazy - and then I’m in bed by 7 or 8 pm lol

3. What month do you like to vacation?

ALA was June but it was a conference. I would never CHOOSE to travel – especially to NOLA – in June. We like to travel in spring or fall when it’s cooler. Mostly because we bring the dogs and it’s easier when we don’t have to worry about them as much.

4. Cruise: YES or NO?

I kind of like the idea of a cruise. everything is in one spot. There might be a few stops for the day but the crowds and diseases (norovirus) kind of freak me out.

And I’m claustrophobic so I have no idea how I’ll feel in the cabin or if I want to get off the ship and can’t. So no, I guess...but maybe.

5. Favorite vacation tradition?

I don’t think we have a tradition. Maybe always pack sandwiches, chips and snacks for that first day of driving.

6. Most memorable vacation?

We used to travel to a pet friendly B&B in Boone, NC years ago. One year we went at Christmas time and had the whole place to ourselves with our 3 shelties. It was decorated for the holidays and had a huge fireplace and balconies overlooking the mountains. That was really nice.

And our recent trip to Asheville, NC with Fonzi because the place is SO pet friendly we could go anywhere without worrying about taking him. And the food is amazing there!

We always have an amazing time in NYC for BEA.

7. Pack light or pack it all?

I’m a pack light kind of girl. Kevin is a pack everything just in case kind of guy. lol

If we go to a place more than once, then we have a feel for the area and where we can pick up things if needed and tend to pack lighter.

When we take the dogs – that’s a whole other thing. I try to pack for any potential emergency and the dogs end up with more luggage than I have.

8. Hotel, condo or house?

I’ve always stayed at hotels except for that B&B.

9. Favorite things to eat on vacation?

You follow my blog regularly right? So you know my answer will be EVERYTHING lol

Eating is one of my main focuses when I vacation.

I check out Eater first when I go to big cities. – they are an incredible resource for good eats. And find out what locals eat then follow the places on Instagram – which usually leads to more local recommendations.

10. Warm or cold destination?

I like cooler but not cold weather. I can get out more but not have to pack heavy winter gear. If Kevin had his way we would go somewhere frigid in the dead of winter. He misses snow.

the friday five

This has been a loooong week people!

I posted on Monday about being overwhelmed by books after ALA and I already knew it wasn’t about the books specifically – meaning not knowing what to read next – but that I never want to read at all post conferences. Then Tanya from Girl Plus Books left a comment talking about being burned out from *peopling* at the conferences and THAT”S IT!!!

I’m such an introvert but at conferences I’m with my people lol and chat away and socialize in ways that I NEVER do otherwise. When I get home I’m drained. So keeping that in mind – I napped and gardened and played computer games and stopped thinking about it and now I’m refreshed and reading again. So thank you Tanya!

And let’s kick off The Friday Five!

1.

OMGHEISSOCUTE!

If you follow me on Twitter and IG then you already know that my husband rescued a dog standing in the middle of an intersection on the way to work at 5am the other day. He is the sweetest little guy! Older – maybe 8-10 years old?? but in good shape, super mellow, loves car rides.

We’re still looking for an owner (he was microchipped but only had an email for contact info) but he’s staying with friends of ours who just lost their Yorkie to cancer a few weeks ago. They already love him and will keep him if his owners aren’t found.

He’ll be staying at beach side condo this weekend. So basically he’ll be living his best life.
*also…Figment and Fonzi were in agreement for once. NO NEW DOGS lol

2.

And that's all I'll say about that. GOOD DAY! 

Although I do use an e-reader – I loved Brooke Reports TMST post about things we like about e-readers. She’s…not a fan lol

3.

Catching up on TV/movies…

I don’t think Diet Land is my thing. I dnf’d the book as well. I love some moments but the show tends to wander at times until it finally reaches the point it's trying to make. 

Pose has some amazing storytelling and acting. The Incredibles 2 was super cute and didn’t miss a beat after being away for so long. Justice League. Well, that’s two hours I’ll never get back. I did love The Flash though.

4.

My happy place (& Fonzi’s)

I am so in love with my butterfly garden this year! It’s the first time in years that I had time to get in there and clean it up and the plants – the weather – everything cooperated and it’s perfect!

It’s also hotter than hell – so I’m just looking at it from inside my enclosed lanai these days though lol

5.

My favorite happy place blog

My Pixie blog

My Pixie Blog has become one of my favorite blog stops. It’s a lifestyle blog, and I don’t really follow those, but Charlotte is different. She discuses everything from fostering dogs, food, trying new products, goat yoga!, her struggles with buying a new home – and she always does it with such honesty. It feels real. Her blog just makes me happy!

And every Friday she has a What’s Up Weekend post to share the things she is grateful for that week.  I really look forward to ending my week with those posts.