Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Authors In X Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is: Top 10 Favorite Authors In X Genre

I'm going to break it up into two groups because this is a really hard one. I don't even think I've read more than 10 books that I've loved in one genre unless broaden it. So I'll do two Top Fives! These are my two favorite genres right now and it's pretty much all I'm reading. One is based off of worlds we hope never exist and the other is all too real. Dystopian and Contemporary YA. 

Dystopian YA. 

1. Suzanne Collins: I'm pretty sure The Hunger Games is what started this whole revival. It's the first series I read and it transformed me into a YA addicted book nerd. I loved the concept, the characters, and the heartbreak. I hope Collins comes out with a new series soon because I'd love to read more work from her.

2. Veronica Roth: After reading THG I needed more dystopian. So I picked up Divergent and fell head first int Roth's futuristic world. Vastly different from THG, Roth holds her on in this genre and I can't wait to read the final instalment!

3. Lauren DeStefano: Another greats series. Wither is scary and charming all at once. DeStefano paints a completely different world than the rest and it's refreshing. I can't wait to find out how Rhine's story ends.

4. Lauren Oliver: Delirium took my breath away. From the quotes at the beginning of every chapter to the love that doesn't exist in the world, I felt like I needed to be in that world just to prove that love is not a disease, that it is life. I've also read Oliver's Before I Fall and loved it! So I can't wait to read more from her.

5. Lissa Price: Starters is what I desperately hope the world does not turn into, but it seems the most likely. I loved the Cinderella story and I'm waiting with baited breath for the sequel.

Contemporary YA:

1. Courtney Summers: Hands down my favourite author. She writes such believable characters that you find yourself without even an inkling of how the story will end. She holds me from the first page and I'm still stuck in the book weeks after I've put it down.

2. John Green: Does anyone really need a reason why I love him? His books are epic and he captures adolescence perfectly. He is the king of this genre!

3. Hannah Harrington: Speechless blew me away. It didn't just focus on bullying, but it focused on how life goes on and that it isn't the end of the world. I can't wait to read her debut novel, Saving June, which is pretty high on my To Read list right now.

4. Candace Bushnell: When I read Sex And The City, I was a little disappointed because it wasn't enough like the series. But after reading The Carrie Diaries, I have a new appreciation for Bushnell. Carrie's back story is heartbreaking and fun at the same time and I love seeing where one of my favourite TV characters grew up. 

5. Ann Brashares: The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants made me smile, cry, and wish for a pair of magic pants. It shows friendship the way it really is. It's not always happy and as people grow up, things change. It's a good book to contemplate your relationships with your girlfriends to. It gives you hope for the future.

Both genres are different in their own ways but they both deal with the same issues: trying to figure out who you are in a crazy world.  No matter what the situation, teens (humans) feel the same emotions. I have a feeling I'll be reading these genres for a long time to come!

The Evolution Of Mara Dyer Teaser + Giveaway

If you haven't discovered the intense, mysterious and amazing novel, The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer, you're missing out. With the release of the sequel, The Evolution Of Mara Dyer, in 8 days, my excitement is amping up!

Here's the blurb for the madness that will indefinitely be The Evolution Of Mara Dyer:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?


Creepy? Suspenseful? Yes, and then some! The first book blew me away and I can't wait to dig deeper into Mara's story. I know there will be even more questions to answer and more mysteries to solve and I can't wait! Also, Noah Shaw is perfection and I can't wait for his snarky, British humour again!

And don't forget to enter the giveaway on Michelle's website to get some fun goodies! And if you haven't read Te Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer, I suggest you go do it now!

Review: Fall For Anything

Fall For Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 21, 2010
230 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

My hands are dying. These four words start the beginning of an emotional roller coaster of a story. It is the perfect sentence for capturing the feel of the book. Eddie Reeves is not suicidal, though most of those who love her think she might be. Maybe it's because she haunts the old warehouse where her father committed suicide. Her thoughts drift her there every night because she wants to know the truth about what happened that day. Not because she wasn't there, because she was, but because she can't come up with any reason why her father would do this. Why? This is the question that plagues her brain everyday and there is no escaping it. And maybe Eddie doesn't want to.

Her mother doesn't leave the house and she wraps herself in her husband's housecoat daily. Eddie feels like she's alone in the world even though she has a best friend who may love her as more than that. Milo is always there for her, but he has secrets he doesn't want to share with her. Eddie keeps her questions locked inside, even from Milo, but she still wants him to tell her exactly what he remembers from that day even though she was there too. Every sentence about that night demands to be felt. Small pieces try to form a big picture as Eddie gets closer and closer to the truth about why her father ended his life. Enter Culler Evans, a student of her father's, who also wants to learn the truth. Eddie attaches herself to him because he actually understands what she's going through. And when the possibility of real answers appears, she will stop at nothing to answer her burning question of Why? 

Eddie's grief is palpable. The moments where she just stops moving. The moments she tries to remember what her father looked like before he jumped off that roof. The times she tries to use her hands and they fail her. Tears clouded my vision as I read her thoughts, knowing that if I lost my dad that way, I'd want to find answers too. Her actions are too realistic and she moves off the pages and into my life. She is spontaneous and mysterious but it is all for her father. She does things that she probably wouldn't do in regular situations and it feels so real. Grief takes a hold of us and refuses to let go. It crawls into our souls and waits, ready to creep up at the on set of any emotion. Summers captures grief as its own character, controlling Eddie's actions and guiding her through life. There was no holding back the tears that poured from my eyes on the last page.

Summers has taken a hold of me and I never want her to let go. Each book finds a completely unique character but each of them relates to each other with their pain. They are so real that they make real mistakes and all you want is for them to get their happy endings. But Summers is too real for happy endings. Instead she gives us what we get, what real life is really all about, just endings and maybe, just maybe, new beginnings that come after a journey of pain. You will not regret reading any of her novels.

“Sometimes I feel hunted by my grief. It circles me, stalks me. It's always in my periphery. Sometimes I can fake it out. Sometimes I make myself go so still, it can't sense that I'm there anymore and it goes away. I do that right now.” 

Top Ten Tuesday: Rewind

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly featured hosted by The Book and the Bookish where each week there is a different Top Ten list for all of us to get giddy over. This week is rewind week, where we pick one of the past topics that we missed or wanted to try again. 

Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished 

1. Matched series by Ally Condie: I read Matched quite awhile ago and I really liked it, but I've owned Crossed since it came out and I have yet to read it. I plan to finish this series eventually because I do want to know what happens next!

2. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore: The Power Of Nine came out two months but I've been holding off on buying it. Not sure why because I love this series. 

3. Firelight by Sophie Jordan: I just bought the final book, Hidden, and it's right at the top of my to-read pile. I can't wait to see how Jacinda's journey will end!

4. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: I've read the first two in this series and have City Of Glass on my book shelf. I'm not fully committed to this series. I like it enough that I'll watch the movie and I'll finsih the series, but it hasn't reached me like many other books have. But who knows, there's still a lot to read by Clare.

5. The Body Finder by Kimberley Derting: I read the first one and thought the idea behind the series was interesting and unique. I had planned on picking up the other two but something stopped me. I'm not sure I'll finish this series because I have a feeling the other two books will be exactly the same. I could most definitely be wrong though.

6. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter: After reading the back of The Goddess Interrupted, I didn't like where the story was planning on going so I didn't buy the book and probably never will. I didn't like The Goddess Test enough to finish the series.

7. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake: This is another series where I want to read the next book but just haven't picked it up yet. I think it's because there are so many other books I want to read before it and I'm waiting until it's close to the top of my pile before I spend the money on it. But I plan on picking up Anna Girl Of Nightmares.

8. Bewitching by Alex Flinn: I'm only including this because technically I think it's the sequel to Beastly? At least according to Goodreads it is. Beastly is one of my favourites and Alex Flinn is a great writer. I've read all her other fairy tale retellings so this is on my list of to reads.

9. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice: I read Interview With A Vampire in college and I absolutely loved it! I've been meaning to read the rest of this series because it will forever be the best vampire series (I know this after only reading one!) Rice proves she's the Queen of Vampires and I'd love to dive back into that world.

10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: I'm sure why I stopped reading after The Order Of The Phoenix but I own all seven books and eventually I will finish Harry's story. 

The List Gets Longer

So I picked up some new books this weekend. I've been looking forward to two of them for awhile now, and have only just discovered the others. All four are getting priority over the ones I already own (I know, my list is never going to go down if I just keep buying new books) Anyway, here are my next To-Reads:

Hidden (Firelight #3)
Sophie Jordan

Firelight is one of my favourite series and I've been waiting for the final instalment for a year. I finally picked it up (couldn't find it in any store) so this is getting read asap!

In Honor
Jessi Kirby

I read the Goodreads description for this book so long ago and I finally found it in a store. It looks like it will be heartbreaking and beautiful and I can't wait to find out. I'm a huge fan of road trip stories, so I have a feeling I'll like this a lot.

Saving June
Hannah Harrington

After reading Speechless, I knew I had to read Harrington's debut novel. The premise sounds haunting and once again it's a road trip story, so that adds to the beauty of the novel. Both this and In Honor deal with death, so I know I may not be able to read them right after one another, but we'll see. I hope they are both as powerful as I think they will be.

Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson

Now, I've read a lot of reviews for Speechless and most every one of them compares it to this book. So I think I need to read this one. It came first, it deals with bullying and mean girls, and I've enjoyed every other book I've read with this concept. One of my favourite authors, Courtney Summers, writes amazing books about bullying and mean girls, so I want to see what else is out there dealing with those issues.






There's no doubt this list will be longer before I even finish these four books, but I just wanted to give you a taste of what I'm reading now. Has anyone read any of these? Thoughts and opinions are always welcome!

Waiting On Wednesday: Prodigy

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Prodigy (Legend #2)

Author: Marie Lu

Release date: January 29, 2013

(summary from Goodreads)

June and Day make their way to Las Vegas where they join the rebel Patriot group and become involved in an assassination plot against the Elector in hopes of saving the Republic.

Well, not much of a description, but anyone who has read Legend will agree with me when I say that I can't wait to see more adventures of June and Day. June, a Republic prodigy has defied everything she knows and released a prisioner. Nothing is what it seems and she doesn't know who she can trust, but Day is good to her and she thinks he may be one of the good guys. The two narratives made for a great read, seeing both sides of the story and rooting for both characters. This has the makings for a great series and I can't wait to get my hand on the second part of it. 

What are some books that you're waiting on the edge of your seat  for?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme hosted by The Book and the Bookish. As a lover of books and lists, I knew I wanted to be a part of this awesome and creative feature! The weekly topics can be found on the Top Ten page.

 Top Ten "Older" Books You Don't Want People To Forget About

1. Goosebumps by R.L. Stine: I grew up reading Goosebumps. In fact, this series is one of the first to make me love reading. They are scary enough to make you want to sleep with the lights on and creative enough to keep you coming back for more.

2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: I know no one will ever forget this book, especially with the movie coming out, but I think it was incredible. It's a harsh, honest look at life and F. Scott does not sugar coat anything. One classic that every reader should read.

3. The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another classic. It's epic, timeless, and leaves your imagination feeling full of hope and life. Good v.s. Evil is a universal theme and Tolkien hits it right on the mark. I'll never forget Frodo and his adventures and I'll make sure my kids read this series, this includes The Hobbit because it's just as, if not more, important for everyone to read.

4. The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan: Okay, so I must admit I'm currently reading this now, but I'm almost done. These books have been out for a while now, but I hadn't really thought about reading them until I saw the movie (I know, blasphemy!) They are amazing and any fan of Greek mythology and epic adventures will love it. 

5. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: Another epic series full of magic and adventure. Harry is a character that everyone knows on a first name basis and I'd like it to stay that way. I'll admit I haven't finished this series, but I will one day because Harry will forever have a place in my heart. 

6. Confessions Of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: Okay, not as epic as the others on this list, but I love this series! Becky Bloomwood is the funniest character you'll meet. She is loveable and quirky and she'll remind you of yourself. Plus, we've all been in her shoes. Truly one of my favourite series.

7. The Baby Sitter's Club series: So I just have to mention another series from my childhood. Reading when I was younger was so important and I think it got me into m habits today. I could relate to everything these girls did even though I never really babysat. Also, I love series that go one forever, you get to know so much about the characters!

8. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: I hope they never stop making kids read this in high school because this was one of my favourite books to read. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is always so eye opening. We forget how much everything we say and do affects those around us. This book is so important to literature, I'm sure it will never be forgotten.

9. The Giver by Lois Lowry: The original dystopian novel. With all the hype on dystopian now, I hope all these teenagers take the time to read this wonderful novel. I read it a long time ago and have been meaning to re-read it, buy I still remember it so vividly that I've yet to revisit that world. 

10. Shakespeare. All of it all the time. I was changed the day my english teacher made us open Romeo and Juliet. It was the first I read and certainly not the last. Even now, I'm trying to read all of his plays because his words draw me in and promise to never let go. School makes us read these for a reason. (And made it easy for us to understand them!) 

Feel free to tell me if you agree with my list, or your top ten older books!