Series I Won't Be Finishing

First, I need to put out a disclaimer. I am not saying that I will definitely not finish these series nor am I saying these are bad books.  However they are not high on the priority list for me to finish, and if you have a large TBR like most readers do, you know that if it's not high on the list it most likely will never be read.

Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

It's super funny and really cute, but I feel like I missed my window of opportunity to read this.  It just felt too young for me, and I had a hard time relating to the character.  It was a good book, and it has a great story, but there were just so many books in this series that I didn't want to invest the time into it when I would like the series, but I would never love it.  This is a series I wish I had been younger when I started reading this series because I think as a young teenager I would have really gotten into it.

Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

I don't know if that is necessarily the right series name, but that's what goodreads told me.  I read Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children.  I understand why so many people love this book however I just found the pictures to be overly creepy at some points.  I am a big old scaredy cat when it comes to anything even slightly creepy.  So this just scared the bajesus out of me.  The book was great, and it's one I may consider continuing on in, but it's definitely not a priority.

Mara Dyer

 This series is similar to Miss Peregrine's in the aspect that the story just creeped me out.  I enjoyed the story line, but at the same time I was so anxious and scared that I'm not sure I want to continue on with the series, but this is definitely a maybe.  I'm leaning towards more of a yes because of Noah Shaw and that cliffhanger!

Reboot

There is only reason I don't ant to read Rebel, which is the second book in this duology. I thought that Reboot's ending was satisfying and that I don't really feel any urge to read the next book, but I did really enjoy the first book and I may continue on with the series, but this is one that I highly doubt I will finish just because I liked the point it ended on and I don't see the point of continuing.

Shatter Me

This is a series I will almost definitely continue on with eventually, but it is definitely not a high priority.  However if I didn't feel so much pressure to read it, I definitely wouldn't read it because I really did not enjoy Shatter Me.  So it is hard to want to read the next book in the series, and while I hear it gets better, I'm still having a hard time trying to force myself to read the second book.

Contours of the Heart

I know there is a second book in this series, and I don't know how many more books there are going to be after that.  However this book had no redeeming qualities for me.  I didn't like most of the characters or the plot.  So unless it's a series like Anna and the French Kiss where it is a companion series, I will definitely not be continuing on.  Easy was my least favorite book of the year so far so I couldn't imagine myself continuing on with the series.

Tell me if there are any series that you don't want to finish or any of these series that you think I should definitely finish.

 

The Geek's Guide to Dating Review

 

Before we start with the review, I wanted to say I received this copy from Quirk Books, and I'm not entirely sure if it is for review because of the way I received it, but this is an honest review (and a very long run on sentence).

The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith

Genres: Non Fiction, Comedy, Self-help

Pages: 204

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

You keep your action figures in their original packaging. Your bedsheets are officially licensed Star Wars merchandise. You’re hooked on Elder Scrolls and Metal Gear but now you’ve discovered an even bigger obsession: the new girl who just moved in down the hall. What’s a geek to do? Take some tips from Eric Smith in The Geek’s Guide to Dating. This hilarious primer leads geeks of all ages through the perils and pitfalls of meeting women, going on dates, getting serious, breaking up, and establishing a successful lifelong relationship (hint: it’s time to invest in new bedsheets). Full of whimsical 8-bit illustrations, The Geek’s Guide to Dating will teach fanboys everywhere to love long and prosper.

My Rating

My Thoughts

First thing is first, I had no idea what genre this book is.  It is definitely non-fiction, but other than that I'm not sure.  However, what I can tell you is that I found this book absolutely hilarious.  While it is addressed to guys, I as a girl, really enjoyed it.  I read a few of the reviews, and a lot of people were complaining how it was that it was advice mostly for guys, but at the beginning of the book there is a page telling you why it is that way.  Also if you read through the whole book, most of the time, the author addresses the reader as Player one and the significant other as player two, which I thought was a really smart idea.  Because while some of the advice was gender specific, but a lot of the advice was good advice for any gender.  Not only that, but I thought the drawing and art was brilliant.  I am a fan of 8-bit drawings, and I thought they were absolutely adorable.  I thought a lot of the references were great especially the ones to Ready Player One, which was my favorite book so far this year.  Overall I just found this book to be a really enjoyable read, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it.

Character Analysis: Dolores Umbridge

I have spent this weekend watch Harry Potter weekend on ABCFamily. In watching this, I decided I wanted to analyze the character Dolores Umbridge.  While many people have made this connection before, but Umbridge symbolizes everything that is wrong with the educational system, or at least the American educational system.  While I am not saying that the American educational system is necessarily bad, but everything has its flaws.  There is a line that she says in Order of the Phoenix that goes something like "The Theoretical knowledge is all you will need to pass your exams."  It just reminds me how lots of teachers now have to teach to a test.  That's not to mention how when she gets a tiny bit of power she over does it immediately.  It's like a school district and their budget, that little bit of power can overtake them.  I don't know if this was a problem where you are, but in my old school district we have had more lay offs in the last five years that my entire school-aged life.  It just shows what power can do to you instead of thinking of a logical way to fix the school, school districts, much like Umbridge, go and fire any teacher that doesn't conform to their methods.

These were just a few things I saw, and this was probably the most uninteresting blog post ever, but as an education major it was something I was thinking about.

Top 5 Books Booktube Made Me Read

So we have another Top 5 Wednesday video, and today's top 5 Wednesday topic is the top 5 books booktube made me read.

So at number 5, we have

This was a recent read for me, and it's been so popular on booktube lately that I felt like I had to read it.  Since everyone was so vague about it I felt like I had to read it so that I could have my own opinion on it.

At number 4, we have

This wasn't necessarily pressure from booktube, but more pressure from Jesse at Jessethereader.  He has such good taste in books that when he talked about The Archived so often I knew it was most likely going to be excellent so I had to pick it up.

At number 3, we have

So many people on booktube have talked about Fangirl and just Rainbow Rowell in general.  So I felt a little pressure to read this, and I am so glad I did.  I felt like this was a great book, and I was definitely glad there was so much pressure to read this.

At number 2, we have

 Do I need to say more than Anna and the French Kiss? I feel like everyone feels a little bit of pressure to read this book from booktube, and it's just a super cute light read. I'm so glad I read it because now Stephanie Perkins is one of my favorite authors.

At number one, we have *insert long drum roll here*

If you know me at all, you wouldn't be surprised.  So many people pressured me into reading this book, and I'm so glad they did.  It was talked about so much on booktube that I felt I had to read it,and so far it is my favorite book of the year.

So tell me about any books you feel like booktube has pressured you into or your thoughts on any of these five books :)

Why I don't believe there are "bad books"

I was reading Easy by Tammara Webber, and I really did not like it.  I did not like the plot. I did not like most of the characters. It's not like the writing was amazing either, but even though I did not like it at all, I still wouldn't say it's a bad book.  The only reason I would call a book bad is if they are demeaning of groups of people (i.e. sexism, racism, etc.). However if these aspects are used in the plot that is a different story.  If the book is set in a world with slavery still there is obviously most likely going to be racism in the book, but that is very different from a character making racist remarks just because.  If it's not used to drive the plot, those are things that make a bad book because they can encourage those negative stereotypes.
Sorry for that mini tangent. Back to the actual topic at hand.  I believe that when I don't like a book that doesn't make it a bad book. I just think that that book is not for me at this point in my life.  Books like Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey are called bad books rather regularly, and while I think neither of them are great pieces of literature.  If you take them at face value, it's just a story.  Now if you look deep they have some bad messages, as do most books, but there are always some selling points.
I just think that a lot of books that we label as bad just aren't books that are necessarily for us.  I am not going to enjoy a lengthy classic because that's not something that is for us.  While broadening our horizons is a good thing, I think some genres of books or authors aren't for us.  This made me realize that new adult isn't a genre for me right now, but maybe some day I'll find something I really enjoy.  However with that said I don't think Easy was a bad book it just wasn't for me because while you may dislike a book there is always someone else who loves it, and I don't think it's anyone's place to tell someone that a book they enjoy is a "bad book".
Those are just my thoughts and opinions.

June Wrap-Up and July TBR

So I normally don't do TBRs, but I have a few books that I am definitely reading this month, and I kind of have a plan so we're going to see how it goes.

So we're going to start with the books that I read in June.

June Wrap-Up

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

I read this whole trilogy in the month of June. I enjoyed the trilogy for the most part.  I felt that it was good, but it wasn't a literary master piece or anything like that.  I enjoyed the first book, The Summer I Turned Pretty, but my favorite was the second book, It's Not Summer Without You. I read it within a day, and that one was easily my favorite.  However We'll Always Have Summer Without You was my least favorite.  While I wanted more time with these characters, I felt that the plot was kind of forced and that's not the direction I would have taken the story.  All in all the series is a quick easy summer read and I would suggest it.

My Rating

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

 I got this book while I was in New York for BookCon.  I got an ebook copy, and it was one of the first books I read when I got back from New York, and I absolutely adored this.  Not only is Morgan Matson one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet, but she is also a fantastic writer.  I thought this was a very unique book, and I really liked most of the characters.  I thought the romance was thoughtfully done, and didn't feel very forced.  I really enjoyed this book.  It was a fantastic summer read, and I would pretty much suggest any Morgan Matson book if you're looking for a light fun summer read
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My Rating

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

This book was the biggest surprise of the month.  I went into this expecting to think it was going to be good.  I thought the premise was really cool.  Teens in the 90's can see Facebook twenty years in the future.  The surprising part was how much I loved it.  I expected it to be good, but it was great.  I really enjoyed it.  I flew through it.  The characters were annoying at times, but they were somewhat realistic teenagers with realistic teen angst.  It's not necessarily a time travel novel, but it does show you how little decisions can affect you in a big way, and I thought it was very interesting.  It made me think quite a bit which I enjoyed

My Rating

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

This was also a book I received while I was in New York for BookCon, and this was a complete surprise.  I didn't know it was going to be there, and neither did anyone I was hanging out with.  I absolutely adore the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and have watched them at least two times all of the way through.  So if you are a fan of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries I would definitely suggest it.  Also if you like Pride and Prejudice retellings.  However if you have not watched the Lizzie Bennet Diaries all of the way through, I would suggest watching them first and then reading the book.  Yes that is contrary to what one would normally suggest, but the book is like an unfiltered version of the web series, and I think it is more beneficial to read the book afterwards.  While this follows the exact story of the web series, there are still details that are added that make the story a worth while read.

My Rating

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This was also a book I wasn't expecting to like.  I generally don't like books that are very suspenseful.  I ended up liking this quite a lot.  I did not like the characters very much.  I thought that many of them were selfish and in all honesty I just wanted to punch them half of the time, but the fact that this family is so dysfunctional is what makes the plot function.  So it was tolerable, but still annoying.  When reading this, I did not see the ending coming, and when I got there I was in complete shock and awe.  I felt that it was a very good book.  E. Lockhart's writing is beautiful, and there are many times where your left wondering if it actually happened or if it was a metaphor.  All in all it was a pretty good book, and it is rather short so it is quite a quick read.

My Rating

The Selection by Kiera Cass

I won't go into much detail on my thoughts on this book because their is a full review on this blog.  However I did really enjoy it. I really liked most of the characters, and I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

My Rating

            

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Much like with We Were Liars, I was not sure that I would like this book very much because I am not a fan of thriller books.  I thought this was really interesting, but I found it slightly more creepy because very often you don't know if Mara is sane or not.  It just made me feel very uneasy. My favorite part was Noah Shaw.  He may be one of my favorite male characters that I have read in a while.  I found their relationship to be really interesting to read about.  I appreciated all of the twists and turns that this book turn.  This is a series I will continue eventually, but it is not a high priority for me to read. I would still recommend it, it just wasn't my favorite genre to read.

My Rating

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

As with every Rick Riordan book, it was fantastic.  It was a great story, and I really enjoyed Leo, Piper, and Jason's points of view.  I felt that this story had enough twists and turns to keep me excited for the entire 500 pages, which is rare because I am not a fan of books over 500 pages.  This is the first book in the series that is the spin-off of the Percy Jackson series, and in my opinion it was a great start, and I am excite to see how the rest of the series goes.

My Rating

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

I have recently done a full review on this so once again I won't go into much detail.  However I really enjoyed this book.  For a "cancer book", it was not sad at all so if you are looking for a contemporary that isn't focused on the romance (but still has a romance), then I would really suggest this one.

My Rating

Now onto my July TBR, these are all books I am hoping to read in the next month, but very few of these are books that I am definitely going to read.

Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

This was actually the first book I finished in July so this is definitely a part of my July TBR. :)

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The Elite by Kiera Cass

I am really hoping to get to read The Elite. I have been the next person on the wait list for over a week now.  So I am hoping to get it soon! If I do, it will definitely the book I pick up next.

The Unbound by Victoria Schwab

I am trying to take part in the Summer Unbound read along since most of my friends on booktube are hosting it.  However while I am really excited to read it, I haven't been in the mood for it lately so I am hoping to pick it up soon

Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

I have recently finished Son of Neptune, so I would like to finish all of the books that I own.  I will hopefully get House of Hades soon. If not I will almost definitely get it in August.

Those are not all of the books I plan on reading in July, but these are just a few of them.