Tag

Mid Year Freakout Tag

August 10, 2021by bookswithcassie7 Comments

I might be a month late on this tag but I still wanted to do it. Better late than never, right? I went through and made sure that I only picked one book for each answer although some of them could have been used more than once. Since I got so behind on everything blogging this summer let me know if you already did this tag and I will make sure to go read it since I love to read/watch this tag.

Best book

I read this book back in March and it is still one of the best books that I have read this year (and ever). This book is a stunning and powerful portrayal of the realties of being an Asian American teenager and also the brutal reality of being a woman in this world. This is a book that I will have all my boys read when they are teenagers because Kelly Yang does an incredible job bringing to the life the complexities of not only a teenager but also how the bad choices boys/men make truly affect us.

Worst book

I only made it to page 74 of this book but I still can’t get over how juvenile the writing was. It is written like it is intended for an elementary school person but the subject matter is very much YA. Also, the terrible secret that the main character and her best friend are keeping from when they were 9 and attending the summer camp never felt high stakes to me because what could they have really done at that age. And I looked up spoilers for this book and I was right that it wasn’t that bad. It does have a pretty decent rating on Goodreads so there are a fair amount of people who found some enjoyment in this book.

New release you haven’t gotten to yet

This book only came out last month but I did go to the bookstore to buy it the day it was released so it doesn’t make any sense why I haven’t read it yet. And I’m definitely not getting to it this month but I am aiming for September or October at the latest.

Most anticipated release for the rest of the year

This comes out at the end of this month so this might also be a bit of a cheat but I have been eagerly waiting for a new Paula Hawkins book since her last release in 2017. I loved The Girl on the Train and her last release I had a couple small issues with but I am very excited to get this one. It sounds so good and I’m hoping that since she took such a long break between books that it will be amazing.

Biggest Disappointment

I just posted my review of this book so I won’t go into too much detail. But this book was perfection to me and then the ending was a total let down. I don’t think I have ever been so duped by a book before! I do plan on reading more Gilly Macmillian since I was loving it so much. This is my third Gilly Macmillian book so I know she can write great endings so I will continue to read her work.

Biggest surprise

This is one of my favorite horror books that I have ever read but man did it take some work to get there. The first 120ish pages took me months to work through and then I flew through the rest of this chunky book in about a week. I’m obsessed with how brilliant this book is. It is incredibly clever and if you can make it through the beginning it is so worth it. I need to read more Danielewski to see if he is a new favorite author because I’m not sure if he can replicate the genius of this book.

New favorite author

This book was everything that I love. It has a gothic classic feel with a puzzle to solve. I don’t know if I can say this since I have only read one Sarah Waters book but she might be one of my top three favorite authors of all time. I could gush more about her but all my favorite parts of this book would ruin this book for you if you haven’t read it. She is a masterful storyteller and has an incredible gift of writing. Every time I opened this book I felt like I was transported to post war England and more specifically, the creepy mansion this story is centered around.

Favorite new fictional crush

As soon as I read this question I knew what my answer for this would be. Maybe because I just read it this past weekend but it is Nolan from All the Rage. His character ARC was amazing and the way he was with Rage was fun to read.

Newest favorite character

Chloe Brown and I have different illness but a lot of what she goes through daily I could relate to. With being a white girl I have always been able to readily see myself reflected in what I read and I fully appreciate now how very important that is. Being able to see my daily struggles and reality in a book was emotional for me and for this reason Chloe Brown will forever be one of my most treasured characters. I’m glad we live in a time where the importance of seeing everyone reflected in what we read and watch is being given the seriousness it deserves.

Book that made you cry

I became extremely attached to the characters in this book which is why I think I shed some tears at the end. This is a great historical fiction that is similar to the style of Taylor Jenkins Reid but it has hardly any reviews on Goodreads. If you love historical fiction surrounding the 70’s music scene and a commune setting then I highly recommend this one.

Book that made you happy

I could have picked any number of books for this question since reading is a pleasurable hobby but I went with the most heartwarming book I read this year. This is another one that I have reviewed this month but I loved how each chapter was a new adventure for Kiki.

Most beautiful book you have bought or received

I started collecting these beautiful editions of classics this year whenever I happen to find one at a thrift store. I display them in my living room and I think they are so gorgeous. This book in particular is my favorite because my Grandma and I watched the PBS show based on this book together.

What books do you need to read before the end of the year

I have a lot of books that I still need to read. I have been terrible about reading classics this year which is really disappointing since I always love them. I also need to actually read the books on my 12 to read in 2021 list because I still have ten on that list! And as always I really need to read my Netgalley books.

Total Books Read: 90

~Cassie

Tag

Clue Game Tag

March 1, 2021by bookswithcassie4 Comments

If you have been here for awhile then you know that mysteries are my favorite genre so it makes sense that my favorite move is Clue. I can quote every single line of the movie and I am obsessed with anything relating to Clue. So when I saw The Bookish Knitter post this tag the other day I was so excited that I knew I had to do this asap. If this tag looks fun or interesting to you then consider yourself tagged!

Mr. Green (A book that takes place in the U.K.)

I just read this book yesterday and I thought it was so cute and realistic. It left off on a bit of cliffhanger so I’m eager to get my hands on the second volume as soon as I can.

Colonel Mustard – A book featuring a character in the military

I don’t read too many books featuring someone in the military but I absolutely loved this sweet romance. It’s a little bit of a stretch though because the hero is transitioning out of the military but since the book has the word solider in the title I figured it counts. I loved this book so much that I’m already planning on rereading it when the holidays roll around.

Miss Peacock – A book that you feel is patriotic

This book is set in a world that I would love to live in. And I think that about sums up why I picked this book 🙂

Mrs White – A book where a main character is part of the household staff

Whenever I think of books with unreliable narrators this book always comes to mind first. It also has the bonus of the main character being the nanny which fits this prompt. I highly recommend this YA mystery but especially in the summertime because this book also embodies summer extremely well.

Library – A book about books

This is a horror novel about a group of writers who are all in the process of writing their next novels when they convene for a night of publicity at a haunted house. This book started off kind of slow with the horror and it definitely builds up to it. I was creeped out different scenes of this book and I want to read more by Scott Thomas.

Kitchen – A book that is a culinary mystery

This is hands down my favorite cozy mystery baking series. I have read about half or more than half of the books in this series but I really need to do a full reread of the series and catch up. These books also mean so much to me because I read them when I was doing night feedings with my little one and they really helped to keep my awake. I may or may not have stayed up after I put him back down because I got so into the stories. If you are interested the first book it is free on Kindle right now.

Conservatory – A book/cover featuring plants/flowers or trees

This is YA horror that I read last year and really enjoyed. I think this is for a very specific reader because not a lot is explained and the ending is open ended. I would say if you are in the mood for an atmospheric read then this would be a great one to pick up but just don’t expect to find out all the answers.

Hall – A book that takes place in a mansion

I mean how could I not pick this one?! It is the perfect book for this list and it does a great job of updating the story to be more contemporary. This is a YA book set at a boarding school and a storm leaves all the characters stranded in a mansion that also happens to be one of the schools dormitories. I really hope to read the second book in the series for March Mystery Madness (which I will have a TBR up for soon).

Candlestick – A book that takes place or was published prior to 1802

This is a classic that I read last year that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fun seeing the origins of some well known stories and how they vastly differ from what we know them as now. It is also amazing the longevity of these stories since this book was written around the year 800.

Gun – A book featuring a police officer

Joona Linna is one of my favorite protagonists and I am a huge fan of Lars Kepler. This book is a twisted and dark tale that really embodies everything that is Nordic Noir. The Hypnotist is the first book in the Joona Linna series and I do recommend starting with this one.

Wrench – A book with a skilled trade worker

Riley Sager is my favorite mystery/thriller author so no list would be complete without adding him. Our main character Maggie works in construction and flips houses so she fits this prompt really well. This book is a great spin on the familiar Amityville Horror house with an ending that I still think about.

Dagger – A book where a ritualistic murder takes place

This is probably the most well known, and arguably best, Harry Hole novel. This book deals with a serial killer who kills women on the first snowfall and it is a classic Nesbo book where you have no idea where the story is going to take you. The Snowman is the seventh book in the Harry Hole series but it can be read first if you want to jump into the series.

~Cassie

Tag

Baby It’s Cold Outside Book Tag

December 7, 2020by bookswithcassieLeave a Comment

I wanted to do a book tag today because I haven’t done one in awhile and this is the first one that I saw. I found this tag on J.K. I’m Exploring blog and so I’m copying all the rules from her 🙂 I am tagging anyone who wants to do this and if you have already done it let me know so I can check out your answers!

Rules

Thank the person who tagged you and link to their post.
Display the banner(copy and paste).
Link to the original creator: Erin @ Reading On A Star !
Answer the questions!
Tag however many people as you want!

Snow Day – What’s your “comfort” book?

I have read this book so many times during my life and it is always so heartwarming and inspiring. I love each of the March sisters for different reasons and every time I read it I find something else that I love about them.

Snow Angels – What’s a book that you love so much you would want to be buried with it(a little morbid, but…)?

Ahh this was a hard one because I have so many favorites but if I had to pick one to be buried with it would have to be either my first copy of Little Women or my first copy of Anne of Green Gables. Both of them were given me to my Grandma who passed away almost four years ago and I still miss her so much and it means a lot to me to have them on my shelves.

Warm Socks – What’s a book that makes you feel warm inside?(The fluffiest, cutest romance you’ve ever read?)

I have probably read a ton of fluffy feel good romances in my life but the most recent one is A Soldier Under Her Tree. I loved this book so much and it was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. I think I said this in my review but I would love to reread this one every year. It is a clean romance too so if you are in the market for that then I cannot recommend this enough.

Hot Cocoa – What winter-themed novels have you previously read?

I could recommend a lot of romances for this question but I wanted to go with something different. This isn’t really that different though since Jenna also gave this answer! But this book honestly just screams winter. No Exit is a suspense novel takes place during one night at a rest stop while a blizzard is going on. I also think One By One by Ruth Ware would fit this question but I wasn’t a fan of that ending so I can’t really recommend it. Although, I do think I will reread it at some point and then just stop reading when it gets to the part I think Ware should have stopped.

Sledding – What’s a book with the best plot twists? Who’s an author that always keeps you on your toes?

I’m currently reading my second Lars Kepler but I have been blown away this year by the many twists and turns that their stories take. I’m always on the edge of my seat and not really sure what is going to happen next. The Hypnotist is the first book in their (a husband and wife author duo) Joona Lima series and it is very graphic and dark but also captivating and exciting.

Ugly Sweaters – What’s a book with the ugliest cover?

This isn’t necessarily that ugly but I think it is plain and the cover with the blue flowers is so much prettier. I like when covers are really gorgeous or they give you an idea of what the book is about. This cover does neither of those things.

Movie Marathon – What’s the last book you binge read?

I read this book in the span of one day a couple of Sundays ago. The neighborhood our main characters live in is so insidious and I just need to know what was going to happen. This was a fun ride and I don’t think I would have liked this book nearly as much if I had read it spaced out.

Letter to Santa – What’s a book that’s on your wishlist this year?

I have a lot of books on my wishlist and I would love to own any of them but the first one that I thought of was the latest Stuart Turton. I was blown away by how intricate Turton’s debut novel was. That whole book would have fallen a part if he had messed anything up with the tangled timeline but he masterfully pulled it off and I am so intrigued to see what he has come up for his sophomore effort.

~Cassie

Tag

Mid Year Freakout Tag

July 14, 2020by bookswithcassie3 Comments

We are half way through this year and almost half way through this month so I thought today would be perfect to finally do the Mid Year Freakout tag. I searched this tag on WordPress so I could find the questions (although there is a little bit of variety it seems like) and the first one I came across is from Rose @ Novels and Teacups.

Best book you have read so far in 2020

I have read so many good books this year but these are the ones that immediately jumped into my head when I read this question.

Best sequel you have read so far in 2020

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Morrigan Crow is such a fun series and I love the adventure and journey that these books take the reader on. I think I liked this book more than the first and I’m eagerly anticipating the third book.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

Both of these books are on my most anticipated of the year list and I own both of them so there really isn’t much of a reason that I haven’t prioritized them yet.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I loved these author’s debut books and I have such high hopes for their sophomore effort.

Biggest Disappointment

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Locked room mysteries are hands down my favorite trope and I thought this was going to be an easy five star read for me. However, this book focuses more on drama from the characters backgrounds and the actual murder on the island is instead relegated to one of the smallest subplots of the story.

Biggest Surprise

I went into Sawkill Girls expecting a YA magical realism story like Summer of Salt. And while it does have a lot of the same themes as Summer of Salt it is also a horror novel which shocked me. I saw on Twitter that Claire LeGrand is having some serious health issues and my thoughts and prayers are going out to her and I hope she fully recovers from whatever she is going through.

I just raved about Beach Read yesterday but I went into this thinking it was going to be a cute romance and it is so much more than that. This book is so emotional and I connected to so much of it and it is now on my list of favorite books of all time.

I read the first book in the Hades Hangmen series on January 1 while I was at the hospital dealing with my own health issues and was looking for something to help pass the time. I proceeded to read all 9 (or 10?) novels and novellas in this series within the first couple weeks of the year. Hades Hangmen is a dark MC (motorcycle club) romance involving a cult and white supremacy group which just sounds not appealing at all. But the romances in this series are so intense, beautiful and emotional. Tillie Cole really understands people and she takes her characters to the darkest places but she also shows them a way out. I love this series so much but you definitely need to be careful going into them because there are a lot of trigger warnings.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Ok, I’m not going to rave about Emily Henry anymore since you all know that I’m obsessed with her writing but she deserves to be mentioned here.

I read Jayci Lee for the first time back in February with her debut with Harlequin Desire and her second book comes out today. Lee writes compelling characters that have a complex family dynamic and her romances have been so swoon worthy. She also has her second Harlequin Desire novel coming out in September. Oh and if I haven’t sold you on her yet Lee just announced that A Sweet Mess (the one that is out today) has been optioned and Daniel Day Kim is going to produce and star in it! Look out for me review of A Sweet Mess coming soon.

Newest Fictional Crush

Cover The Rebel

Asher is the first one that I thought of. I feel like since I read a lot of romance that I find a lot of the heroes to be swoon worthy but Asher stands out to me because he was a player for my favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers. Which is shallow but also none of these people are real so I’m going with it!

Newest Favorite Character

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Stevie is such a great character and I know that teenage me would have looked up to her. I have been dragging my feet on finishing this series but that it something that I would like to do this year.

Book that made you cry

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I have never had such a visceral reaction to a book before. Not only did I have tears running down my face by the end of this story but I also felt sick to my stomach. I was so filled with rage at certain moments and what makes it worse is that this book feels like it could be real.

Book that made you happy

The Bride Test is set in my hometown which gives it an obvious edge over other books. I haven’t been back there in six months so this book gives me all the warm feelings. I loved the characters, the romance, the setting and there were some humorous moments.

It is impossible to read the Tea Dragon series and not smile. The artwork alone is stunning and evokes feelings of happiness. Then you read the series and it is filled with so many great lessons about life and love.

Most beautiful book you have read this year (or received)

The classics that I have received from my Coffee and a Classic subscription boxes are absolutely beautiful. These pictures do them no justice. Not only do they look good but they all feel good too. Holding them is such a treat and I am so happy that I own them.

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

I’ve already done a couple of posts this month about books that I still need to read this year. But I also would really love to read the three of these as soon as possible.

2020 Five Star Predictions Update

#ClassicsCommunity Mid Year Update + Book Subscription

~Cassie

Tag

Birthday Book Tag

June 13, 2020by bookswithcassie1 Comment

Today is my birthday! We went to a nearby lake and had a picnic lunch although the weather wasn’t the best for it. I can’t even remember the last time it was a cold and rainy day on my birthday but it was nice getting out of the house for awhile. My husband also got me a tiramisu cake which I’m so excited to eat. I thought it would be fun to do a tag for my birthday since I rarely do them and the questions are always so fun.

Birthday Cake (a book with a plot that seems cliche but you adore it anyway)

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This is a pretty formulaic mystery series (especially the beginning of the series) but I love the main character so much and I enjoy watching her solve the crimes. I want to reread this series sometime soon because it has been on my mind a lot lately.

Party Guests (your most anticipated book release of this year)

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Riley Sager is hands down my favorite mystery/thriller writer and the synopsis for this book just sounds like it will be perfect for me. I recently got this in the mail and I will be picking it up in the next couple of days.

Birthday Presents (a book that surprised you by how much you loved it)

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I know this book is really hyped but I read The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo before this and I gave it three stars so I thought this book would be the same. I was so wrong though because this book was my favorite book of 2019. I loved everything about it and I will be rereading it at some point this year because I want to experience this book on audio.

Happy Birthday Song (a book that certainly deserved all the hype it got)

When I read this question I immediately thought of these two books. I am so annoyed that I wanted so long to read both of them but they are definitely as amazing as everyone says they are.

Happy Music (a book with some very beautiful and truly memorable quotes)

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This book is stunningly beautiful. This book brought me to tears more than once and there are so many amazing quotes about life in here.

GETTING OLDER (a book that you read a long time ago, but you think that you would appreciate it more if you read it as a more mature reader)

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I read this in high school but I feel like I would “get” it more now. I remember liking it but I’m sure there were a lot of themes and dialogue that went over my head when I was younger.

SWEET BIRTHDAY MEMORIES (a book that kept you incredibly happy during a sad or demanding period of your life)

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I know this is a weird answer for this question but when I spent a few days in the hospital at the start of the year I started this series and I finished all seven book and three novellas in like three weeks. It was obviously an intense time in my life and these books will always mean so much to me for helping me through it. Unfortunately, I’m still waiting for a diagnosis but at least the majority of the symptoms I was having have disappeared. My neurologist has referred me for a second opinion so hopefully when I see him again in October we will be closer to a diagnosis.

~Cassie

Tag

Mystery Blogger Award

April 13, 2020April 11, 2020by bookswithcassie4 Comments

I was tagged by the wonderful HappyMessHappiness for the Mystery Blogger Award. I love her blog and I’m so grateful that she would think of me! This award was created by Okoto Enigma to recognize “amazing blogs that haven’t been discovered” yet. The creator’s goal is to “create a friendly community and build a link between bloggers in the blogosphere; as everyone gets nominated and they too can spread the fun by nominating more people for the award.” (I got this info from Just Me’s blog post where she tagged me.)

Let’s start with the rules and then we can move on to the fun stuff!

Rules

Put the award logo/image on your blog.
List the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
Share a link to your best post(s).

Questions

If you can ask the president of your country just one question, what would you ask?

This is a hard one but I guess as a parent I think taking care of a country wouldn’t leave a lot of time for your family. So I guess my question would be how has becoming president impacted how much time you get to spend with your kids.

What’s the oldest thing you own?

The first thing that came to mind would probably be a box of notes that I have in my closet from my middle school years haha. They are all folded up in different ways and are probably super embarrassing about all the guys my friends and I were crushing on. If you are near my age (33) do you remember all the different ways we used to fold up notes before passing them to each other. It’s probably something that doesn’t happen anymore with all the technology kids have now.

What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

Selfishness. I think this world would be such a better place if people started thinking less about themselves.

What language would you like to learn and why?

I regret not taking Spanish in school. I took two years of French and while I really liked it I don’t think it was very useful. I live in California and Spanish would for sure be something that I would use way more often.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I was more artistic. I would love to be able to draw or do some kind of art but I’m really terrible at it.

3 Things About Me

I am a boy mom times three. They are 10, 8, and 3.
I love to knit. I enjoy making things for people but mostly I just find it very relaxing. Also, I feel weird when I’m sitting down not doing anything so knitting is a good way for me to keep my hands busy. I think this may be a Mom thing since I never used to have this problem pre kids haha
I cry easily. I can cry from just a commercial or a song. It’s so annoying!

I Nominate

Beth’s Bookish Backpacking

Treestand Book Reviews

Prose & Pancakes

Lois Reads Books

Elizabeth Reads Books

Questions for my nominees

What is your favorite thing about where you live (city, state or even country)?
What do you think about the color yellow? *This is my weird question
What’s something positive that you hope comes out of this pandemic?
How do you fit blogging into your routine?
Who is someone you would love to meet, dead or alive?

My best post

I don’t know if I have a best post but I think one of my favorites is Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson because I love that book so much.

~Cassie

Tag

Prediction Book Tag

April 3, 2020by bookswithcassie5 Comments

Last month I was tagged by the lovely Kathy at Books & Munches to do the Prediction Book Tag. The original creator of this tag is Book Princess Reviews and the rules are as follows:

Tag the person who tagged you
Tag the creator
Find an answer to match each prompt
Have Fun!

Prediction for my next read

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This is an easy one since I just shared that I would reading this on my WWW post this past Wednesday. I hope to start it this weekend!

Prediction for my next 5 star read

At the end of last year I posted about my 20 five star predictions for 2020 and this book is on there. I’m reading this as part of my OWLS and I really hope that I love it as much as I think I will.

Prediction for my next 1 star read

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This is a hard one because I rarely rate a book one star. If I’m not liking something then I just DNF it but since the rule is to come up with an answer for every question this is the one I went with. It has been a long time since I read a Sookie Stackhouse book and I remember them being over the top and sort of ridiculous. I hope that I like this but out of all the books on my TBR this is the one I think I am most likely not to enjoy.

Prediction for my next love interest/cool character

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This was my Kindle Unlimited pick for last month and I still really want to read it because the main character sounds right up my alley. I’m going to put the synopsis of the book here because Jack just sounds so swoon worthy.

A full-length STANDALONE romantic comedy from USA TODAY bestselling author R.S. Grey.

Everyone in Cedar Creek, Texas, knows Jack McNight is an arrogant devil. Physically, I get it: he’s tan and fit, with coal-black hair that’s clearly been scorched by hellfire. Oh, and his personality? It burns just as hot.

When I show up on the doorstep of Blue Stone Ranch, I’m run-down and rockin’ my last pair of underwear. I’m hoping for a savior, but instead, I find him.

My opinion of Jack is marred by a dismal first impression, but his opinion of me is tainted even before I arrive. He’s heard I’m a spoiled princess there to take advantage of his goodwill. To him, I’m more trouble than I’m worth.

Our button-pushing banter should get under my skin. His arrogance should be a major turn-off. Problem is, devils are known to offer their own form of temptation.

Every one of his steely glares sends a shiver down my spine.

Every steamy encounter leaves me reeling.

Sure, it could be the Texas heat messing with my head, but there’s no way I’ll survive the summer without silencing him with a kiss and wrestling him out of those Wranglers.

Who knows…going to bed with the devil might just be the salvation I’ve been looking for all along.

Prediction for my next book buy

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I meant to order this last month but I got sidetracked with everything that has been going on. If you are in the position to buy books then I really want to encourage everyone to use bookshop.org instead of Amazon. Barnes and Noble online is another great resource so we can hopefully keep our favorite bookstores afloat during this difficult time.

Prediction for my next book to give me a hangover

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Which is exactly why I have been avoiding reading this book. All Your Perfects put me into a month long hangover and I just need to be in the right emotional headspace to take this book on.

Now for the fun part where I get to tag some people!

HappymessHappiness

Tirilu

Lili’s Blissful Pages

~Cassie

Tag

Fall Book Tag

September 24, 2019September 23, 2019by bookswithcassieLeave a Comment

Fall is here! Summer is my favorite time of the year but I also enjoy this time of year. Pumpkin patches with my kids are always one of the highlights of the year. I thought what could be a better way to bring fall to my blog than a book tag. I googled book blogger fall book tag and this is the first one that came up. I got the questions and graphics from The Awkward Book Blogger but the original creator of this tag is Bionic Book Worm. I also decided that I will only use books that I have read this year to answer the questions to make it a little more challenging.

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This was just so cute and diverse and perfect. There should definitely be more diverse heartwarming books like this in the world.

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This book really takes the readers on a journey and I really liked the ending. Everything came full circle and was so well done.

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The romance between Alex and Henry still has me swooning and I read this months ago. I absolutely love the world this book is set in and it definitely gives me the warm and fuzzies.

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I recently read this and I loved it so much. It is the perfect October read (it comes out October 15). I will have a full review of this posted on its book birthday 🙂

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This one starts off with something brutal happening and then continues to build on that. This is one of the darkest books I have ever read and it keeps building up all the way to the end.

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This comes out October 8 and I already have it on hold at my library. I haven’t heard the best reviews but I still really can’t wait to read this. The synopsis reminds me of the movie The Skulls which I always put on when I manage to catch it on tv.

~Cassie

Tag

Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

June 18, 2019by bookswithcassieLeave a Comment

So far this year I have read 60 books (dnf’d 3) so I thought this would be a fun tag to talk about some of the books I have already read and what I still hope to read.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2019

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This was hard to narrow down but I am giving the award for this category to Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. This book is contemporary perfection. Amazing romance and an America that I hope to see one day.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2019

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I have read three sequels so far this year and In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire was by far the winner. I gave this one five stars and it made me excited for the next Wayward Children book.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

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With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo just came out on May 7 and I added it to my June Book of the Month box. I recently read her debut novel The Poet X and absolutely fell in love with her writing and storytelling.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

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Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is my most anticipated read of the year. I’m so excited that this book comes out so soon (July 2) and I am so happy that I received an ARC of this to review. This will be one of the first books I pick up after the buzzwordathon and I just know that I’m going to love it. Sager’s past two books have been five star thrillers for me and I am confident that this will be another one.

Biggest disappointment

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I have definitely rated books lower than this one but I had such high hopes for this one that even though I gave it three stars I’m still disappointed. The Inspection by Josh Malerman has such an interesting premise but this book just came up short.

Biggest surprise

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This was my first audiobook that I ever completed and wow is this story amazing. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is such a powerful story that is so beautifully told. I plan on buying my own copy of this book and highlighting all the amazing quotes that this book is made up of. I picked this has my most surprising because I have had a harder time connecting with YA books than I did when I was younger. But I instantly connected with this story and it just reinforced to me that it is still important for me to keep trying with YA.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

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Since I have already used Elizabeth Acevedo twice I thought I would pick a new favorite author for this category. I read my first Christina Lauren books this year and I am hooked and want to read everything that they have ever written. Roomies was my favorite of the two that I have read so far. I do plan on reading at least a couple more this year because I love how well they tell a story and I want more from them.

Newest fictional crush

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This is a pretty random book for this category but I really love Lou from NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. He is such a good man and he is so supportive and loving and anyone would be lucky to have him. I don’t want to go into spoilers but I was constantly impressed by his level of devotion and love for his family.

Newest favorite character

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I’m giving this one to Ursula Todd from Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. This whole 500 page book is about Ursula and I don’t think I have ever known a character as much as I know her. This book is basically comprised of different versions of her life and when she would have a bad life I would hate it and when she would have a good one I was so happy for her. I went through all of her emotions with her and I would gladly have read more of her.

Book that make you cry

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Wow is this book heart wrenching. I will be talking more about it in my buzzwordathon wrap up but omg this book took me on an emotionally rollercoaster. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover has put me into a little bit of a reading slump because this was such a hard book emotionally for me to get through.

Book that made you happy

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When I was a kid I would always buy those paper Archie comics they sold at grocery stores and this really brought all the nostalgia back to me. This new Archie is the same but also very different if you know what I mean. So much has changed but the overall feel of Archie is still there. And I love Betty just as much as I always have!

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

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This cover of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is absolutely stunning and I had to buy it as soon as I saw it. I love Anne so much and if I don’t get around to it this year I definitely want to re read this series next year.

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

These are the books that immediately came to mind when this category came up. I would also love to read at least a couple of classics since I haven’t read any yet this year.

~Cassie

Tag

Try a chapter tag

May 28, 2019by bookswithcassieLeave a Comment

I was recently looking at my bookshelves and realized that there are a few books that I either don’t know anything about or I have had so long that I’m not sure if I still want to read them. I thought this would be the perfect tag to do to see if I can eliminate any of them from my shelves. So, I’m going to read the first chapter of these five books and then tell you my thoughts on them.

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Isabel Dalhousie is back, in the latest installment of this enchanting, already beloved, best-selling series.

In addition to being the nosiest and most sympathetic philosopher you are likely to meet, Isabel is now a mother. Charlies, her newborn son, presents her with a myriad wonders of a new life, and doting father Jamie presents her with an intriguing proposal: marriage. In the midst of all this, she receives a disturbing letter announcing that she has been ousted as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics by the ambitious Professor Dove.

None of these things, however, in any way diminshes Isabel’s curiosity. And when she attends an art auction, she finds an irresistible puzzle: two paintings attributed to a now-deceased artist appear on the market at the same time, and both of them exhibit some unusual characteristics. Are these paintings forgeries? This proves to be sufficient fodder for Isabel’s inquisitiveness. So she begins an investigation… and soon finds herself diverging from her philosophical musings about fatherhood onto a path that leads her into the mysteries of the art world and the soul of an artist.

Goodreads

Oh boy. This book is definitely not for me and I’m so happy that I got to try it out and now I don’t feel bad about passing it on. This is also a fourth book in a series so that may have something to do with me not connecting with it right away. Either way I am happy to pass it on and give someone else the chance to read this.

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This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Goodreads

I’m pretty torn about this one. A part of me really wants to read it but another part of me knows that I’m not going to pick it up anytime soon so I should just let it go. But I’m so interested in the format of the story that I am leaning toward keeping it. I think this will end up being a situation where I decide based on a gut feeling when I go to donate the books.

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For centuries, treasure hunters have been eager to possess the stones, undeterred by their corrupting nature. The list is long — Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, to name a few. Now the Stones have found their way to Salem, Massachusetts, and so has Gerwulf Grimoire, adding himself to this rogues’ gallery of power seekers. He’s an uncommonly dangerous man, with a hunger for the forbidden, and a set of abilities that are way beyond ordinary. Abilities that he feels entitle him to possess anything he might desire.

That would include Elizabeth Tucker, the woman he needs to find the Stones. She’s freshly transplanted from New York City to Boston’s North Shore. With a new job as pastry chef at Dazzle’s bakery and an old house inherited from her Aunt Ophelia, her life is pretty much on track …until it’s suddenly derailed by a guy named Diesel, a rude monkey, and a ninja cat.

Lizzy can handle the monkey and the cat. She’s not sure about Diesel. He’s offering up his own set of unusual talents, promising to protect her from Grimoire. The kind of protection that Lizzy suspects might involve guarding her body day and night.

The Seven Deadly Sins are pride, greed, lust, envy wrath, sloth and gluttony. That pretty much covers everything that is wicked. Diesel thinks it also pretty much covers everything that’s fun. And Lizzy thinks Diesel and the Seven Deadly Sins cover everything her mother warned her about.

Goodreads

This is not a particularly great book. However, it is a cozy mystery with a baking element which is my absolute favorite sub genre. I could read this and probably rate it three stars but do I want to invest that time when I have so many other things that I want to read. I’m leaning toward no.

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Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother’s pushiness and her father’s lack of interest tell her they’re the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn’t know the passengers inside, but they’re the only people who won’t judge her when she asks them her most personal questions–like what it means that she’s falling in love with a girl.

As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can’t share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don’t even know she’s there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers’ lives–and her own–for the better.

In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society’s definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything–and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love.

Goodreads

This just seems like a pretty typical YA contemporary centered around the main character figuring out her sexuality. I have heard great things about this book and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. I haven’t been reading much YA the last few years so I think I am going to send this book to my sister. I feel like she will get more out of this than I will.

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It seemed to June that she had the perfect marriage until the day Ronald Pruett was arrested for the murder of Vernay Hanks. Through her job at an elementary school, June knew both the victim’s child and Pruett. Moreover, on the day of the murder, she had almost taken a ride from Pruett herself. This connection with the murder becomes an obsession – leading June into a deceitful and increasingly complicated relationship with the dead woman’s brother and her child. Pretending to have been a friend of the victim, June inserts herself into their lives – and through this deception, soon discovers some disturbing things about her marriage and herself.

Sharp and full of unsettling twists, Twenty Questions is a gripping story that speaks of violence and betrayal, feminism, and reinvention. Above all, it speaks of the human condition to resurrect itself, whatever the cost.

Goodreads

I really didn’t like the first chapter of this one. The premise sounds right up my alley but I couldn’t connect with the story at all. I think it may have been the writing style but I was pretty bored reading it which is odd because it starts out with the main character reading about the murder of Vernay and her reaction to it. Hopefully the next person to own this book likes it more than I did.

To sum up I am only (maybe) keeping one book out of the five. I feel pretty good about unhauling some books from my shelves and I will probably re do this tag next month. I have more books than I want on my unread shelf so this is a great way of weeding out the ones I no longer want to read.

~Cassie