Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where we make lists about different bookish topics.

This week's topic is: Top ten books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing me

Christmas is right around the corner (tomorrow!) and here are some of the books I'm hoping to find under the tree!

1. Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
2. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
3. Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

4. Champion by Marie Lu
5. The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
6. Resist by Sarah Crossan

7. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
8. The F It List by Julie Halpern

9. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
10. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Milley

As you can see, I need to catch up on a lot of series. And there are a few older books that I still need to read. How about you guys? What are you hoping for this year?

Also, Merry Christmas everyone!

Survey: Cast a Harry Potter Spell Part II

This survey is from Flip That Page, and I thought it'd be a lot of fun to do! Feel free to join in the fun!

Spells Cast On You!

 

Confundo

causes befuddlement or forgetfulness

A book that generally confused you: Mind Games (Kiersten White) I loved this book, but it was utterly confusing. I'm still not sure about some of it.

Episkey

heals relatively minor injuries 

A feel good book that you enjoyed: Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins) This book was just so feel good. Everything about it was perfect.

Expelliarmus

temporarily disarms an opponent

A book with a swoon-worthy character: This is Not a Test (Courtney Summers)   Rhys was perfection. I'd like one of him please.

Impedimenta

impedes target's progress 

A book that kept you up all night reading: Scarlet (Marissa Meyer) This book had me hooked! Didn't want to put it down.

Silencio

immediate silencing

A book that left you speechless after you read it: Allegiant (Veronica Roth) Need I say more?

 

Pekipiksi Pesternomi

useless spell

A boring book that had absolutely no effect on you: Juliet Immortal (Stacey Jay) Yet another disappointing Romeo and Juliet retelling

Rictusempra

tickling spell 

A book that made you laugh: Beauty Queens (Libba 

Bray) Fantastic, hilarious read!

Sectusempra

offensive spell that violently wounds the target

A book that may have scarred you for life: Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire) Unhealthy relationships made me not want to pick up any other New Adult books

                                               Tarantallegra

makes you dance uncontrollably

A series finale that made you feel giddy: With All my Soul (Rachel Vincent) Yes, a lot of bad stuff happened, but that ending, those characters! 

Bombarda Maxima

causes an explosion that breaks through obstacles 

A book that made you explode with the feels: Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins) As if my Katniss/Peeta feels weren't enough in the first book, everything about them in this sequel gave me chills.

Finite Incantatem

nullifies other spells

A book you thought you'd dislike, but ended up loving: Lord of the Flies (William Golding) Read this one in high school and still haven't stopped thinking about it.

Survey: Cast a Harry Potter Spell

This survey is from Flip That Page, and I thought it'd be a lot of fun to do! Feel free to join in the fun!

Cast A Spell!

Reparo

fixes damaged objects

A book that needs some serious fixing: Sever (Lauren DeStefano) Wither was amazing, it's too bad the sequels did not live up to it.

Lumos

casts a narrow light

A book that deserves more attention: My Soul to Take (Rachel Vincent) this series is one of my faves, but it's so underrated! Everyone needs to read this!

Nox
counters the effects of Lumos
An overhyped book: Twilight (Stephanie Meyer) Need I say more? There are many more books more worthy of your time, trust me (see above)

Accio
summons an object from a significant distance
A book you're anticipating: Isla and the Happily Ever After (Stephanie Perkins) I need more of these characters please!



Expecto Patronum
conjures an incarnation of positive feelings
A book that made you cry, or at least want to: The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) The feels people, the feels!

Morsmordre
conjures the Dark Mark
A book you wish to mark as one of your favourites: The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) Everything about this series is perfection and I could read it over and over again.


Petrificus Totalus
petrifies victim
A book you wish to keep forever: Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Caroll) The one book I could read over and over. Also, I own like 6 copies of it.

Protego
shield charm
An intimidating book you keep putting off: 1984 (George Orwell) Classics are hard for me to read, but I really need to read this one! It's been sitting on my shelf too long.


Riddikulus
used against a boggart
A book with a deceiving synopsis: Imaginary Girls (Nova Ren Suma) This book was way creepier and messed up than the synopsis lets on. It nowhere nears prepares you for what's inside.

Lacarnum Inflamarae
shoots fireballs
A book you wish to burn out of your mind completely: The Juliet Spell (Douglas Rees) I've read a lot of Romeo and Juliet retellings and have yet to find one worthy of my time. 


Wingardium Leviosa
levitates objects
A book you wish to reread: Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver) This book was incredible and I'll for sure be rereading it soon!

Avada Kedavra 
causes instant death
Worse book EVER: Undeadly (Michelle Vail) The only part of this book I actually liked was the Egyptian Gods aspect of it, other than that, it was a waste of time. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow! Any thoughts on these? Agree, disagree?

Top Ten Tuesday: New to Me Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we talk about a bookish topic in the form of lists!

This week's topic is: Top Ten new authors to us of 2013

I love discovering new authors, and this year was full of them!

1. Rainbow Rowell: Fangirl, Eleanor & Park
2. Richelle Mead: Vampire Academy
3. Chelsea Pitcher: The S Word

4. Stephanie Perkins: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door
5. Daisy Whitney: The Mockingbirds
6. Rachel Alpine: Canary

7. Jenny Han: The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, We'll Always Have Summer
8. Tiffany Schmidt: Send Me A Sign
9. Kasie West: Pivot Point
10. Holly Black: White Cat, Red Glove, Black Heart

I hope to discover more amazing authors in the new year (though I have no doubt I will!) Who have been some of your faves this year?

Review: This Song Will Save Your Life

This Song Will Save Your Life
Author: Leila Sales
Published: September 17, 2013
Hardcover, 288 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Elise Dembowski has an unfortunate life. At a young age, all her friends decided she wasn't worthy of their attention and ever since then she's been on her own. Divorced parents and a life filled with the ins and outs of high school, Elise is simply waiting for something better, she just doesn't know what that is. A random walk one night brings her to a warehouse club and a couple of girls allow her into their inner circle so easily, she can't believe it. Inside, she's with the cool kids and they're friends with the DJ, Char, a guy who quickly lets Elise in and allows her to man the DJ booth for him. She falls in love with the idea of DJing and convinces her dad to buy her equipment, ready to start a new life with this new passion.

I loved Elise right away. Not because I could relate to her troubles, as everyone I've ever met has had at least one friend but poor Elise had absolutely none, but because she was a refreshing character. She spoke like a real teenager and obsessed over projects like real people would. I love that if she put her mind to something, she'd see it through, even if it didn't get her what she wanted in the end. She tries to become who she thinks her peers want her to be, but when that doesn't work, she realizes she can only be herself. When she discovers the club, at first she feels like an outsider, but as soon as she gets behind the DJ booth, she's home. Vicky is a great secondary character. She's full of life and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She easily becomes friends with Elise, treating her like a normal person, something that Elise has never experienced. Pippa isn't as friendly, but she has her own issues she's dealing with. And Char, who is mysterious and helpful, letting Elisa learn how to DJ with him, seems like the perfect guy. Elise falls for him quickly, but DJing is more important to her. 

This book had everything you want from a YA novel. Teen angst, a feeling of not belonging, finding something you love to do and being able to do it. Elise feels like herself when she's got her headphones on and is in charge of the music. She feels the dance floor, sensing what they want to hear next. Her family and school life exist only when they have to, but it's Thursday nights at the club that make her feel alive. Love, heartbreak and figuring out who you really are all play a big part in this book and it plays out perefctly. Sales captures the feelings of a teenage girl lost in the world who finds herself in music like most of us do. This was a quick, fun read and the soundtrack was exceptional and played just as much a part as any of the characters. If you're a fan of music, new and old and everything in between, and what can happen if you hear the right song at the right time and the feelings that come with that, than this is the book for you. 

“You think it's so easy to change yourself. You think it's so easy, but it's not. True, things don't stay the same forever: couches are replaced, boys leave, you discover a song, your body becomes forever scarred. And with each of these moments you change and change again, your true self spinning, shifting positions-- but always at last it returns to you, like a dancer on the floor. Because throughout it all, you are still, always, you: beautiful and bruised, known and unknowable. And isn't that - just you - enough.”

Waiting on Wednesday: Life By Committee

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Life By Committee

By Corey Ann Haydu
Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

From Goodreads:

Some secrets are too good to keep. 

Tabitha might be the only girl in the history of the world who actually gets less popular when she gets hot. But her so-called friends say she’s changed, and they’ve dropped her flat. 

Now Tab has no one to tell about the best and worst thing that has ever happened to her: Joe, who spills his most intimate secrets to her in their nightly online chats. Joe, whose touch is so electric, it makes Tab wonder if she could survive an actual kiss. Joe, who has Tabitha brimming with the restless energy of falling in love. Joe, who is someone else’s boyfriend.

Just when Tab is afraid she’ll burst from keeping the secret of Joe inside, she finds Life by Committee. The rules of LBC are simple: tell a secret, receive an assignment. Complete the assignment to keep your secret safe. 

Tab likes it that the assignments push her to her limits, empowering her to live boldly and go further than she’d ever go on her own.

But in the name of truth and bravery, how far is too far to go?

There's something that intrigues me about this blurb. It looks like Tabitha isn't going to be our normal heroine and looks like a lot of bad things might happen to her. Looks like a good read!

What's your WoW?