2015 Wrap-up

If I have to describe 2015 in one word, it’s BUSY. From job interviews to certification exams to that big project I was - am - working on.. it was tiring. There were a lot of sleepless nights. I had even gone without sleep for 32 hours straight once last month.

But it wasn't all bad. I had a lot to be grateful for this past year. I got to hangout with my classmates from elementary, high school and college! I met up with some of my elementary friends last November and I realized that it's been almost 10 years! I literally haven't seen them since I went away for high school. My high school batch also got together quite a few times this year - we always try to meet up with everyone whenever there is a chance. Also went out with my college buddies whom I haven't seen since graduation earlier this year!

Top 10 of 2015: Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2016

Day 5: Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2016

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone! Today is the last "Top 10" day and it is the list of books I am most looking forward to this 2016. I have a lot. My list is already super long but to cut my list short it will mostly consist of, what else, SEQUELS!

Top 10 of 2015: Best Book Boyfriends of 2015

Day 4: Best Book Boyfriends of 2015

The list must consist of book boyfriends from books we have read this 2015. That means I can't include Archer Cross but let me just tell you, he's still my number one ;)

Top 10 of 2015: Best Couples of 2015

Day 3: Best ____ of 2015

The topic for day three is reader's choice and I chose to make a list of my favorite couples from the books I read this 2015.

Top 10 of 2015: Best Book Covers of 2015

Day 2: Best Book Covers of 2015

The list must be made of books that were released this 2015.

Without further ado, here are the covers that really caught my eye this year (there are A LOT of them but I did my best to narrow it down to 18).

*Covers link to Goodreads

Top 10 of 2015: Best Books I’ve Read in 2015

It's that time of the year. My fervent wish for December to go extra slow remains unheard, it seems. Oh well, nothing we can do about it now. Here is one thing to get excited for though: the time for our top favorites to be on display! Favorite books, covers, characters, upcoming releases... we all know how awesome lists are and a week-long of it? Mmm-hmm.

Now let's get to the first Top 10 list - the BEST BOOKS I've read this 2015!

Book Cover Battle: The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

A new set of covers for Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Trilogy were recently released so let's talk about them.

OLD COVERS:
  

Review: Not Okay Cupid by Heidi R. Kling

Not Okay Cupid
by Heidi R. Kling
Expected Publication: January 11, 2016



Her wicked revenge, or his wicked heart...

Hazel McCallister loves her life. Perfect grades. Perfect best friend. Perfect boyfriend. Until her perfect boyfriend cheats on her with her perfect best friend. Now Hazel’s in free fall—until her best friend’s brother, Felix, gives her the perfect idea. Reclaim her power by taking revenge on her cheating ex.

Felix James loves his life. Casual relationships. Loads of surfing. He’s as drama-free as they come. But he can’t stand by when his sister steals her best friend’s boyfriend, and the dude insists it was Hazel’s fault. So Felix vows to help turn Hazel into a girl her ex can’t resist—so then she can break his heart.

With an alliance in place, Hazel’s revenge is all but assured. But with each piece of payback, she feels a stronger attraction to Felix, even though revenge will turn her into a girl Felix could never be with. And soon Hazel has to make an impossible choice: revenge...or Felix, the boy who’s stolen her heart.

WARNING! This book contains betrayal, revenge, and that most tempting vice of all, the bad boy you know you can't have.

December 2015 New Releases

New Book Releases this December 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom Published: December 1, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon _____________ The Rules: Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public. Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me. Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter. Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart. When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

Review: The Girlfriend Request by Jodie Andrefski

The Girlfriend Request
by Jodie Andrefski
Expected publication: January 11, 2016



Updating best friend to girlfriend is more than a change of status…

Emma has been best friends with Eli since she moved to his neighborhood ten years ago. Tired of being cast in the role of the girl next door, Emma creates a fake Facebook profile in the hopes of starting an online friendship with Eli, which would hopefully lead to more. Like...way more. From friend request to In a Relationship--it all seemed so completely logical when she'd planned it.

Eli can't figure out what Emma is up to. He’s pretty sure she's the one behind the Facebook profile, but then again, why would she do something so drastic instead of just admitting she wants to be more than friends? And who the heck is this new guy he saw her with? Eli starts to think that just maybe...he missed his chance with the girl next door.

Two best friends, one outlandish ruse. Their status is about to become way more than It’s Complicated…

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one fake Facebook profile, two best friends who secretly crave each other, and a dreaded sex talk with parents…boy crush in the room included. Pushing a relationship beyond the friend zone has never been so crazy…

SERIES REVIEW: The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

 

The Book of Ivy Duology

by Amy Engel

Published: November 4, 2014

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

Clean Slate Read-A-Thon

Welcome to the Clean Slate Read-A-Thon hosted by Novel Ink, Lost in Lit & Latte Nights Reviews. For more details and sign-ups, go HERE.

So what exactly is the Clean Slate Read-A-Thon?

This Read-A-Thon is only for books that we didn’t get to in 2015. Any 2015 release we never got to read. We want to start this year off with a clean slate so let’s get those 2015 releases off our TBR and make run for all of those 2016 releases!

November 2015 Reads + Monthly Recap

I usually post my wrap-up on the first day of the month but life is a bit hectic right now and we can't really do anything about that but just do what needs to be done. Anyway, it's December. Only one month left! Is anyone else freaking out? Because I am. I am so not ready for 2016 mostly because the end of 2015 is also a deadline for me and it is nerve-racking just thinking about it.

These are the books I read this November:

    

2016 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up.

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance. This is your chance!