2018 Reading Goals Check-In

So I completely forgot to post a check-in for my 2018 reading goals that I planned for June so here it is now.

1. Complete the PopSugar Reading Challange. Both main prompts and advanced prompts.

I’m still working on this one. I’ve done about half of the main prompts and one of the advanced prompts. I am also reading a few more this month.

2. Participate in Book-Tube-A-Thon and complete all reading challenges.

The Book-Tube-A-Thon is July 30-August 5 and I am so excited to participate for the second year.

3. Participate in Spookathon and complete all reading challenges.

This is in October and I can’t wait for this one.

4. Participate in a third Readathon sometime in 2018.

I did do this in March. I participated in the 24 hour Readathonbyzoe and had so much fun!

5. Read 5 classics that I haven’t read yet.

I haven’t read any yet but I have some on my TBR for the PopSugar reading challenge so I will be getting to them soon.

6. Read 3 books on my shelf that have been there for longer than 2 years.

I read The Time Traveler’s Wife and I have two more on my TBR to get through.

7. Work on my TBR, limit book buying and library books.

I have done pretty good with this. I’ve been reading books from my shelves and have tried to limit the books I buy. I also have not been to the library which has been hard.

8. Limit subscription boxes, only get Book Of The Month if I plan on reading the books within a couple of months.

The only book box I get is SpearCraft Book Box and only when I like the theme and the fandoms that the box includes. I have also only been getting books from Book Of The Month that I really want to read and have read everyone from this year including my July pick.

9. Book buying ban. Go on a no buy sometime in 2018.

I bought some books in June and I have decided that my ban will be from July until November. Black Friday sales will be the end of my ban! The only books I will be getting are my preorders and box boxes.

10. Finish the Shopaholic series.

I haven’t read any this year except Shopaholic On Honeymoon which is a 30 page e-book special that takes place after number three, Shopaholic Ties The Knot and before number four, Shopaholic And Sister. Hopefully soon.

11. Book unhaul and GIVEAWAY.

I am planning this for the end of the year. I have already unhauled some books and plan on doing the Unhaul challenge from BookTube.

So that’s my progress so far this year. Hopefully I will be able to complete them all by the end of 2018.

Do you have any reading goals?

Keep reading…Lola

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June SpearCraft Book Box: Starcrossed

The June SpearCraft Book Box theme was Starcrossed an it was amazing. Here is the unboxing.

Labyrinth inspired art print by @dakotahblackart. Also a Lord Of The Rings inspired quote print by @catarinabookdesigns. You can find both artists on Instgram.

Romeo And Juliet inspired bookmark created by SpearCraft Book Box and and Illumiae inspired bookmark that I think was also created by SpearCraft Book Box but it isn’t listed on the spoiler card.

This it the back of the Romeo And Juliet bookmark…

This the the back of the Illuminae bookmark…

First Knight movie inspired magnetic bookmark with a quote designed by @wethedreamingdesigns. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy.

Here’s the quote…

Square Labyrinth inspired quote sticker from SpearCraft Book Box. I think the little one is a sticker or gift tag but it isn’t listed on the spoiler card.

Shakespeare inspired hand soap from @philosophersguild. The soap smells so good and the packaging is amazing and funny. I will never open this but just display it in my library.

Here are the sides and the back…

The Princess Bride inspired set of button pins from SpearCraft Book Box .

There were also two fliers. The first is for the Books For Puerto Rico campaign. I also have a blog post up about this if you want to check that out and any questions you have, you can follow SpearCraft Book Box on Instagram and Laura is very good at getting back to you.

Here’s the information on the back…

The other flyer is for the new quarterly box. The first box ships September 1st for the fall and 10% of the cost of the box will go to the Malala Fund. The theme is Austen Remix.

Also this month everyone who subscribed got an extra item from a past box. I got the hand-folded origami heart magnet set from Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. These were designed by Kelsie Van Rys and you can visit her etsy shop at http://www.CreeveysCupboard etsy.com.

The book for June is Sweet Black Waves by Krsitina Perez. This is inspired by Tristan and Iseult and tells the story of the legend’s true heroine, Branwen. I thought this is what the book was going to be and I am so excited to read it. This came with a signed book plate.

We also got a letter from the author. I love when boxes include these. They are such a personal touch and something to keep forever. You can follow the author on Instagram @kkperezbooks.

Also, the first 200 subscribers got a double sided poster.

This is the back. I love this map. There is also one on the inside of the book which I love.

And last but not least, this months spoiler card was designed by @dakotahblackart and is inspired by Aragorn and Arwen from The Lord Of The Rings.

I loved the June box and can’t wait for the July box which is Wicked Seas and has items inspired by Mermaids, Wicked The Musical and Disneys The Little Mermaid. I definitely suggest you check this box out, it is amazing.

Keep reading…Lola

July Book Of The Month

I am so excited for the July book I picked from Book Of The Month. This is one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of the year.

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager.

Thirteen year old Emma goes to sleep one night in her summer camp cabin. She wakes in the night to see her new camp friends, Allison, Natalie and Vivian sneaking out. Vivian hushes Emma with a finger to her lips and that’s the last that anyone ever sees of the three girls. Fifteen years later, Emma is told that the camp is reopening and the owner wants her to return as an art instructor. At first hesitant, Emma finally agrees because she wants to try to figure out what happened to her friends all those years ago.

I loved Final Girls by Riley Sager and I can’t wait to jump into this one. It seems like the perfect summer read. Summer camp, a mysterious disappearance and a thrilling hunt to find out the truth.

Keep reading…Lola

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

I haven’t done a tag in a while so here is one that’s been going around Booktube for the past couple weeks and seems fun.

As of June 30, 2018 I have read 56 books.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2018?

Children Of Blood And Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I am not a fan of Fantasy and would never have picked this book up, but I got it in the March Spearcraft Book Box and gave it a try and loved it!

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2018?

Legendary by Stephanie Garber. This is told from Tella’s point of view and I think I loved it even more.

3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to?

The Death Of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware. I love Ruth Ware and need this in my life right now.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks, Archenemies by Marissa Meyer and Map Of Days by Ransom Riggs. I can’t choose which one!

5. Biggest disappointment?

The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr. I thought I was going to love this but I just didn’t.

6. Biggest surprise?

Children Of Blood And Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I don’t usually like fantasy but I loved this! I can’t wait until the next one.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?

Melissa Albert, author of The Hazel Wood. I loved this so much. My favorite part was the fairy tale stories within the book and I want a book with just the tales from The Hinterland.

8. Newest fictional crush?

I haven’t had many this year but I think Porter from Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett. I fell in love with him this year.

9. Newest favorite character?

Nova from Renegades by Marissa Meyer. I love a strong, kick-ass female character!

10. Book that made you cry?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusack. I cried so hard and I can not believe it took me so long to read this. One of my all time favorites and I need to see the movie ASAP.

11. Book that made you happy?

Matilda by Roald Dahl. So nostalgic. I read this for the Readathon By Zoey and it made me smile.

12. Favorite book to film adaptation that you’ve seen this year?

I’ve only seen one this year and it was Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. I liked it alot.

13. Favorite review you’ve written (or booktube review you filmed)?

I think I’m gonna go with Little And Lion by Brandy Colbert because there was just so much diversity in this one and it was fun to write about.

14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or recieved)?

Rapunzel And The Vanishing Village by Leila Howland. These books are just so beautiful. I love them so much.

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

The rest of the Shopaholic series. I read the first three and I just need to finish the series. I just can’t stand Becky so it’s hard to finish.

So this tag was fun. I tag everyone who wants to do it!

Keep reading…Lola

July TBR

These are the books that I want to read in July.

Mistress Of All Evil by Serena Valentino. This is the fourth book in the Disney Villains series and this one is Sleeping Beauty from Maleficent’s point of view and we get to see how she became the villian that we all love to hate.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I’m not sure what this is about and it’s not really something that was on my radar but I’m reading it for the PopSugar Reading Challenge and I’m going to listen to the audiobook for this.

Love, Life, And The List by Kasie West. I really like her books and I wanted to give this one a try because it sounds cute. It’s about a girl named Abby who gets rejected from an art show because her work has no heart. She makes a list of 10 things she wants to do and has a month to do them. She believes that if she can complete the list, she will be the artist she has always dreamed of being.

Something Borrowed & Something Blue by Emily Giffin. I watched the movie Something Borrowed when it came out and I loved it. I’ve been wanting to read the book, then found out there were two of them and I got this pretty bind up of both and they each count for a prompt in the reading challenge so I’m hoping to get them both read this month.

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager. This is one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of the year and it was an option for the July Book Of The Month picks which I am super excited about and of course I chose that one! This one follows a group of girls at a camp who liked to play two truths, one lie. One night the group sneaks out of their cabin leaving one girl half asleep but seeing them leave and they are never seen again.

I’m so excited for this month and hope that it’s just as good as last month.

Keep reading…Lola

June Wrap Up

I had such a good reading month in June. I feel so much better after a crappy May.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. This is about a mother whose fifteen year old daughter goes missing. Ten years later, she meets a man in a cafe and they begin seeing each other. When she meets his young daughter, she is surprised by the striking resemblance to her own child who she lost so many years before. This book was great. It was full of mystery and suspense. There were a few things that I guessed but they didn’t happen the way I thought they did. This was such an enjoyable read. 5 stars.

Our Kind Of Cruelty by Araminta Hall. This is told from Mike’s perspective. He is in love with V, but she is marrying another man. She doesn’t love this other man and it’s just a game, one that she used to play with him when they were together, before things went south. Mike knows that V wants him to save her and then they can live happily ever after. This was such a good book. It really makes you think and you never know what is real and what isn’t. The ending was shocking and still leaves you wondering who is telling the truth. The last line sent chills down my spine. 4 stars

Legendary by Stephanie Garber. This is the follow up to Caraval so I’m not going to say much about it except that it takes place shortly after Caraval ends and it is told from Tella’s point of view. I loved this book just as much as the first one and can not wait for the final book next year. Look for a review coming soon. 5 stars

*This book counts for the PopSugar Reading Challenge and the prompt The next book in a series you started.

Traveler by L.E. DeLano. I thought that this was a Peter Pan retelling but it’s not. It follows Jessa, who learns that she is a traveler and exists in all kinds of realities. One day she meets a boy named Finn who tells her that they know each other in other places and that she keeps being killed in their other realities. The two must work together with their Dreamers to find out who is behind this and why they want Jessa dead. 5 stars

Dreamer by L.E. DeLano. This is the conclusion to Traveler and because of spoilers I can’t say much. This picks up a few weeks after Traveler. Jessa knows who wants her dead but with no way of knowing where they are, she still has to watch her back. When someone from her past comes back, things get even more complicated and confusing. Can Jessa save herself and all other realities before it’s too late? 5 stars

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Charlie is a freshman in high school and one day during a football game he sits with a couple of seniors and they become fast friends. During their friendship, Charlie is introduced to many new things and learns alot about life, love, friendship and a lot about himself. At first I didn’t really enjoy this book. It was slow starting out and I had a hard time getting into it, but at about page 50 it started to pick up and I found myself really enjoying it. 4 stars

*This book counts for the PopSugar Reading Challenge and the prompt A book set in the decade you were born.

I also read an ARC and listened to TWO audiobooks.

After Nightfall by A.J. Banner. Marissa and Lauren were childhood friends, but in college Marissa was betrayed and she and Lauren stopped speaking. About sixteen years later, Marissa is engaged and she and Lauren are starting to try to rebuild their friendship. One night Marissa and her Fiance are having a dinner party to celebrate their engagement, which Lauren attends. Early the next morning Marissa finds Lauren at the bottom of a cliff, dead. Who killed Lauren and why? I loved this book so much and I will have a review up when it gets closer to the release date. This ARC was provided by Netgalley and is being released on August 7. 5 stars

Echoes In Death by J.D. Robb. This is part of a series called “In Death” but can be read as a stand alone. Eve is a homicide lieutenant and is driving home from a party one night with her husband when a woman emerges from the woods naked and bloody. Her husband is found dead in their bedroom and the only thing she can say about their attacker is that “he is the devil”. Now Eve has to piece together the events leading up to the violent attack and when more information emerges, she knows that it is important to find this guy fast, before he strikes again. I listened to the audiobook for this and really enjoyed it. It was full of suspense but it was a but disappointing because I figured out who the killer was before the book was half over. I still enjoyed getting to know what the reasons were and why this person did what they did. I always find the minds of killers fascinating for some reason. I also really enjoyed the narrator, Susan Ericksen. She did a really good job and kept my attention throughout the audiobook. 4 stars

*This book counts for the PopSugar Reading Challenge and the prompt A book with a female author who uses a Male pseudonym. This is Nora Roberts and she used her two sons first initials and Robb is a play on her last name. J.D. could be a female but since she was inspired by her sons I am counting it as male.

Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos. When Melanie was two, her father killed her mother and with everyone believing she was dead as well, she spent the next fifteen years in witness protection with her aunt and uncle. When she finds out she is pregnant, she decides to go and look for him so that she doesn’t have to live in hiding anymore and so that her baby doesn’t have to live like she did growing up. I listened to this in audiobook as well. Some parts were predictable but I still enjoyed it very much. I also think the narrator, Julia Whelan did an amazing job. All the different voices and accents she used really added to the listening experience.

That’s what I read in June. I can’t believe that it is almost July already. I hope everyone has a fun Summer full of pools, sunshine and books!!!!

Keep reading…Lola

*images of After Nightfall, Echoes In Death and Before He Finds Her are from Google.

Books For Puerto Rico

Today’s post is a special post.

A few months ago I tried Spearcraft Book Box for the first time. It was a small book subscription service that I had been wanting to try and decided to do it before I went on a ban. I have since bought 3 monthly boxes, the special edition Hocus Pocus box and the new quarterly box! I absolutely love the service and will continue to support it. I have the March and April unboxings posted on my blog if you want to see what types of things you get. The June unboxing will be up next week.

Spearcraft Book Box is collecting books to send to Puerto Rico to help those effected by the hurricanes. You can send books from now until the spring when they get sent out. You can also help with shipping costs by sending money as well but it is not required to donate the books. You also don’t need to be subscribed or buy a box in order to donate. I have posted pictures below with the information that was included in the June box. If you have any questions you can visit their Instagram page at Spearcraftbookbox and Laura is very good at responding to comments.

Below are the books that I will be donating. I have unhaled lots of books recently and decided to send some of them off. I am sending adult books and Young Adult books. Some are brand new from book services that I won’t read and others are books that I have either read and didn’t enjoy or that I have multiple copies of. I also have a few middle grade and children’s books that someone gave to me to send off as well.

I’m so excited to be able to contribute to this amazing cause and I hope that some of you will join me in donating books as well, even if it’s just one book that you read and didn’t enjoy.

Keep reading…Lola

June Book Of The Month

I’ve been slacking on my blog lately because I’ve been working like crazy but I am hoping to get a bunch prewritten this weekend.

Today’s post is a quick one. It’s my Book Of The Month pick for June.

When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri.

Katie is a lawyer and living in New York with her fiance Paul. When Paul ends their relationship she goes for a drink with Cassidy, a woman she meets at work and she begins to explore her sexuality.

When Katie Met Cassidy is a romantic comedy about women figuring out what they want and going out and getting it.

I haven’t read very many LGBTQ+ novels and I am so excited to read this one soon.

Keep reading…Lola

June TBR

These are the books that I am hoping to read in June.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. This is about a woman whose fifteen year old daughter goes missing and then ten years later she meets a man whose daughter looks very similar to her own missing child.

Our Kind Of Cruelty by Araminta Hall. This is a story of desire and obsession. Truth and perception. Mike fell in love with Verity but then their relationship ended. Now she is getting married but Mike knows that they are suppose to be together and he keeps watching her, waiting for her to give him a sign and he’ll come to her rescue.

Legendary by Sephanie Garber. This is the sequel to Carval and I’m just waiting for my signed copy to show up and then I am dropping everything to read it.

*Image from Google

After Nightfall by A.J. Banner. This comes out in August and I have an ARC from Netfalley so I really want to get to this one. This is about two friends who have a falling out after a betrayal and years later they attempt to reconcile at the engagement party of one of then, but the other ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff.

*Image from Google

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I don’t know much about this one but it fits into one of the prompts for the 2018 PopSugar reading challenge so I’m going to give it a try.

Traveler by L.E. DeLano. I think this is suppose to be a sort of Peter Pan retelling or maybe just loosely based on it. Either way I really want to give this one a try.

Those are the books I’m hoping to read this month.

Keep reading…Lola

May Wrap Up

May wasn’t a really good reading month for me. I only read 4 books. The books I read were on my TBR so I guess that was a success but still not my best month. Here is what I read.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. This is about a teenage girl who is allergic to everything and cannot go outside. One day she meets a boy who makes her want to risk it all just to see what is out in the world. I really enjoyed this book. I saw the movie first a while ago and finally got around to reading the book. I actually think they did a really good job on the movie as well. I think I liked it almost as much as the book. I gave this 4 stars

This also covers the prompt “read a book with alliteration in the title” for the 2018 PopSugar reading challenge.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. This follows a teen girl with OCD. I think it explores the topic very well and really opens your eyes to how this illness can affect your every day life. There is also a bit of mystery surrounding the disappearance of an old friends father. I liked this book more than Paper Towns but not as much as The Fault In Our Stars. This one was 4 stars.

This also covers the prompt “A book about mental health” for the 2018 PopSugar reading challenge.

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. This follows a group of new moms, whose babies were all born in the month of May. One night while out for a little grown up time, one of the babies ends up missing. I really liked this one but I feel like the ending kind of came out of nowhere. For the whole book I thought that it was clearly pointed in one direction but then at the end when the mystery is solved it turns out to be someone completely different and I just felt like it was a little rushed. I did still really enjoy it though and gave it 4 stars.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser. One Saturday night a group of neighbors visits and drinks around a fire. By Monday one of them is missing, along with her twin children. Everyone suspects the husband but with no proof he is a free man. Did he do something to his wife and children or is there something else going on? I had a good time with this book. It was fast paced and a real page turner. The one complaint I have is that I knew all along what had happened. The little bits of story in between some of the chapters gave it away so it wasn’t much of a surprise which was a little disappointing, but still a good read and worth 4 stars in my opinion.

So those are the books I read in May. I’m hoping to have a better reading month in June but we’ll see.

Keep reading…Lola