#it was a ton of fun to reread and hoping that ill get a better hang of things again as i keep writing

[catastrophic-dreamer]

whereby the men of one piece join a dating reality tv show, and the women learn to decipher their love signals

if you're looking for: - the OP men living under one roof and flirting/dating one another - the OP women watching their interactions and judging them for it - tons of fun shenanigans and friendship and potential romance then i have something for you! and i swear, even though none of the final pairings are confirmed (i don't know them myself because i use randomisers throughout the fic), it is a ton of fun and if you just like dating reality shows and watching things play out and being kept on your toes, this is it!

[cultivating-wildflowers]

Books of 2022 - May

Upended all my reading plans again because I agreed to judge books from another round of this contest I signed up for. It’s fine.

Technically for this round I was signed up for ebooks instead of audio but.... They gave me five books and about four weeks and I had to do something to get it done in time*. So when I found a few of the books on Hoopla audio I snatched them up. It’s all good. (And it’s not like I was asked to judge presentation/quality of print/any of that stuff because they’re ebooks after all. We’re fine.)

It kind of went downhill from there.... Started a ton of books, reread some favorites, glumly cycled through a bevvy of subpar books I quickly DNF’d.... Fun times. I’m closing out the month with several books half-finished.

I also started Dracula alongside what appears to be fully half of Tumblr, so I’ll be reading that in bits and pieces through November, eyyyy.

*Yes yes I asked. I volunteered. That changes nothing.

Total books: 6 |  New reads: 4   |   2022 TBR completed: 2 (2 DNF) / 11/22 total   |   2022 Reading Goal: 40/60

April | June

#1 - Secret Contest Book #4 (Sci-Fi) - 3/5 stars (audio)

We’re gonna call this one “lackluster”. It had a lot of intriguing elements, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Unremarkable characters, uncompelling story, decent world-building. This is not the first book I’ve read by this author, but it does cement the fact that her writing is not for me. (And it felt like fantasy, not sci-fi.)

ONE thing it does have in its favor: the main character is handed a gun for safety purposes and is IMMEDIATELY and concisely instructed on basic gun safety. Props to the author for that!

#2 - Operation Grendel  by Daniel Schwabauer - 5/5 stars (audio)

This is the book I mentioned near the beginning of the month where I was vague on the plot but didn’t care because it was so engrossing.

And it held up through to the end! A solid, immersive military-leaning sci-fi adventure with a splendid balance of action, drama, and humor. No frills, no overblown world-building, just adventure and explosions and the fate of worlds hanging in the balance. I recommended it to a friend before I’d reached the quarter mark.

And THEN I got to the twist near the end and recommended it to about five other people. A delightful read.

#3 - Secret Contest Book #7 (Sci-Fi) - 5/5 stars (audio)

AHHHHHHHHH. I LOVED THIS ONE.

Space. A 20-something main character. CATS. Giant bugs. The ever classic “what makes us human?” theme coupled with “what makes me worthy of love?”. Good, good, excellent characters. Subtle, natural world-building. Even a touch of a murder mystery! So much to love.

I did not have high hopes for this one and it blew me away. I laughed, I cried.... It moved me, Bob.

#4 - The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - 5/5 stars (reread)

This is one of those books I read, knew I liked but couldn’t say why, and left to simmer in the back of my brain. It is also evidence for either 1) the benefit of rereading, 2) the fact that some books are better enjoyed in print rather than audio form, 3) or both; because while I know I enjoyed it before, it felt like a different and (somehow) better book this time around, after the love and exuberance on my Tumblr dash drove me to a reread.

I grabbed a physical copy from my library and...promptly read like half a dozen other books first. As one does. But once I finally got to it, I worked through it pretty quickly.

It’s such a soft book, all things considered. It’s a rich book with surprising depth. It has soul, y’know?

And I still can’t articulate exactly why I like it. I need to get a copy of my own.

#5 - Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal - 4/5 stars (audio)

One of y’all on here liveblogged your read of this book and it looked fun, so I picked up the audio to get me through some yard work during the holiday. It was a fun, quirky read; a nice change from the denser books I’ve been slogging through all month. It kept a good pace and there was an excellent balance between comedy and...not quite horror? But darker stuff. If I’m gonna read paranormal, this is more my speed than the usual fare.

The audiobook worked and I’m familiar with the narrator, but there’s something about translating online chats and text messages to audio that is tricky and jarring.

#6 - The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - 5/5 stars (reread)

“This book will be the bulk of my May reading” I wrote under a picture of my complete Lord of the Rings volume, way back at the end of April.

Like an idiot.

Now here I am at the end of May and guess how much I’ve read. Just this one, and just barely.

I don’t really have coherent thoughts, and it’s not like I need them; LOTR is part of the culture psyche. I love it; that is all.

DNF:

Secret Contest Book #5 - Cliche cliche cliche YA dystopia. It has been a while since I’ve read a dystopian book (I think the last true dystopian I read may have been Scythe) and I don’t think it’s for me any more.

Secret Contest Book #6 - Boring. And theologically suspect.

Secret Contest Book #8 - Bland bland bland. Clumsy writing style, clumsier dialogue, uncompelling story and world. Just dull. Hate that it forced me to rate either of the others higher than it. That was just rude.

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine (’22 TBR) - Half of the issue was I built up my expectations too much; the other half was that it simply was not my style at all. I gave up within the first chapter.

A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes (’22 TBR) - I’ve read one other of Brandes’s books and it was good enough that I added this one to my list. However, that other book (Fawkes) was a historical fantasy and this is a YA dystopian. I had bad luck with YA dystopians this month. It’s just so not my style and, while I LOVE the premise, I couldn’t force myself to suffer through. I absolutely skipped to the end to see the answer to the Question raised at the start.

[jtargaryen18]

You are such a freaking amazing writer, I literally adore all your work (reread it like a shit ton of times, no lie!) I was wondering, you write for so many CE characters, would you ever consider writing some fics for some more Seb characters? (Lance, Chris from either The Martian or Destroyer, Frank, Steve, Dayton, TJ, Jefferson?) Do any of Seb's other roles interest your creative writing artistry?

Thank you so much. 🙏 It’s everything to know you enjoy my work. That you’ve re-read any of them? Just thank you. I’m humbled. 💕

Okay, your question about Seb’s characters. When I actually started writing fanfic in 2018 (?) I wasn’t a dark fic writer and I was all about Bucky Barnes. The first thing I wrote was a story called Pyramania. It’s actually one of the things I’m most proud of. I followed it up with Sign of Fire which I still need to write the last chapter for and it’s Steve’s story. But I didn’t feel like I understood Steve as well at the time so I’m not as confident in that story.

By early 2019, a friend of mine had outlined a dark Steve story for herself but she was dealing with an illness and wasn’t up for it. She asked me if I’d write it for her. She’s my editor at a small press publisher we write for so she knew she’d still get to have some say in the story. I freaked out. I didn’t feel like I got Steve to begin with (not as I felt with Bucky) and you want me to make him dark? That was All Heaven in a Rage. 

Fun fact. Originally AHIAR was going to end when the reader decided she cared about Steve. The Snap being reversed wasn’t part of the original plot. That was my twist because I almost always have to have the “happy ending” and because of making Steve do it over the right way - it was then I felt like I started to understand him.

Long story short, that’s what started me on the path I’m on with Steve and a slew of Chris’s characters. Add to that I’ve been trying to get back into Waves That Beat on Heaven’s Shore (fingers crossed on the new chapter today I hope).

I would really like to explore more of Seb’s characters. I did a short for Charles Blackwood and I’m really fascinated by him so that will move forward as a dark fic. I also have a follow up to Someone You Loved called Play With Fire (that’s for @iheartsebastianstan). Outside of that, I’ve seen Destroyer (I loved Chris), Logan Lucky (Dayton was adorable), The Bronze (Lance OMG), and Endings, Beginnings (Frank) and I had mixed feelings about that one. I also saw The Last Full Measure but I’d need to see it again to get a better grasp of Scott. The rest I haven’t seen yet.

Once I clear out some of the series I’ve got going on, which of Seb’s characters - aside from Charles Blackwood because that’s going to happen - do you think I should try?

Thank you so much for this. 💕🙏💕     

[kelsiestelting]

21 YA Books to Read in 2021: READING CHALLENGE

Since trying the Goodreads Reading Challenge for the last three years, I have loved challenging myself to read not only more books, but different books! I know I’m preaching to the choir, but reading is one of the best things you can do for a quick escape, gaining empathy, or learning new skills. This year, I’m creating a YA reading challenge to help you make the most of your reading in 2021!

There are 21 categories, along with a bonus “reader pick” category, where I’ll share recommendations with my readers! I’m including some of my favorites, but you can choose any book that fits the bill. You can also get a FREE printable of the challenge and checklist!

Here we go!

1. A book that changed your life

Whether you’re on team #reread or not, it’s always great to revisit those books that changed your outlook on life and made you a better person! Starting the year with this book will help you head into 2021 as your best self!

2. A memoir by someone who isn’t on TV

I love reading about the people I see on TV, but there are so many incredible people like you and me who have stories worth hearing. They may range from sad, insightful, to funny. Whichever way you go, I’m sure you’ll enjoy non-fiction that reads like a novel!

3. A book with an athletic hero

Whether the sport is in-season or not, whether you’re athletic or not, a sports romance is a great way to get your head in the game!

 4. A book with a nerdy hero

Everyone’s about the alpha hero, but if I’m being honest, I have a HUGE sweet spot for the nerdy guys. You know, the kind ones with an incredible sense of humor and a mind that could totally rule the world someday. This is the kind of book you read curled up on a couch with a cozy blanket!

5. A book with a bad boy hero

We all know a bad boy romance is hard to beat! Take a little adventure with the bad boy this year in your reading challenge!

6. A book with a diverse couple

Last year, I realized what a slip I made by not stretching outside of my usual reading zone. This year, I’m challenging all of us to read about a couple that’s not typical to us! That can be an M/M or F/F relationship, a couple from another country, or a multi-racial couple! The sky is the limit!

7. A book set in another country

Speaking of diverse books! Let’s get out of our COUNTRY and try reading something in what feels like an entirely different world! Depending on where you are, it could be a book set in any of the continents!

8. A book set in a rural area

The vast majority of people in the U.S. live in urban areas, with less than 2% of people working in production agriculture! Be sure to spend a little time this year with your nose in a book that takes you to the small-town way of life. I’m sure you won’t regret it!

 9. A book with star-crossed lovers

When I hear star-crossed lovers, I think Romeo and Juliet, and if I’m being honest, I HATE that story. (Sorry, Shakespeare.) However, there are TONS of great stories with star-crossed lovers where you can see couples overcome extreme odds to be together!

10. A book with a wedding

 Nothing says romance like a wedding! Even though this is a YA challenge, there is still plenty of magic to be had for young adults when love is in the air at weddings!

11. A book with a curvy heroine

 Let’s face it. Curvy girls just don’t get enough rep in YA books today. That’s why I wrote The Curvy Girl Club series and why I have an entire blog full of curvy girl book recommendations! Pick one you love and go to town!

12. A book by an author of color

It’s come to light more and more how diverse voices have been cast aside by traditional publishing and online algorithms. Be sure you’re giving everyone a seat at the (reading) table this year with books by incredible authors of color! Yesenia Vargas and Seven Steps are two of my favorites!

 13. A book with a character who has a disability

Oftentimes characters with disabilities go far underrepresented in literature. I want to change that, and I know a few other authors who have written beautiful stories with main characters who have disabilities. Pick one up today. You won’t regret it.

14. A book set in the past

When I think of historical romance, I think people in ballgowns with large hair, but let’s be honest, there is SO MUCH more out there. Whether you’re reading a book set in the ‘90s (how was that almost 30 years ago?) or a WWII love story, there is so much we can learn from the past.

15. A book with a magical element

I’m mostly a contemporary reader myself, but I can’t deny the fact that I love some magic! Whether you choose to read a full-on, Harry-Potter-level magic book or try something a little on the “realer” side, adding a little magic to your life is always a good choice!

16. A really popular book you haven’t read yet

So this book came out and everyone is going CRAZY about it! It seems like everyone has read it. Which, of course, makes you want to read it even less. It’s time to put down that torch and figure out what all the fuss is about! Odds are, you might discover the magic everyone else has.

17. A pen pal romance

I have to admit, pen pal romances are some of my FAVORITE books of all time. Maybe it’s because I’m an author and my love language is words of affirmation, but man, they get me every time. I hope you’ll join me in reading this special kind of romance novel!

18. A novel with a character who has a mental illness

For the fortunate among us with healthy brains, mental illness can be a foreign concept. For those of us who struggle, it’s an every day reality. Reading books about those who have mental illness can help destigmatize the struggle and make you feel less alone. I HIGHLY recommend reading one of these books this year! Of course, be cognizant of your own triggers and read the reviews to make sure the book is right for you!

 19. An enemies to lovers story

One of my favorite storylines in romance is enemies to lovers. There’s something so fun and enticing about two characters who at first hate each other coming to understand their similarities and respecting their differences!

20. A fairytale retelling

There’s something special about taking an old storyline and making it new. Some of my favorites are Cinderella retellings (find some awesome ones below!) but plenty of people have adapted other favorites as well!

21. A holiday romance

A holiday romance is the perfect book to end the challenge on with all the holidays at the end of the year. While my mind automatically goes to Christmas, there are some cute stories around other stories as well. The sky is the limit!

Bonus Challenge

Some amazing readers in Kelsie Stelting: Readers Club made some suggestions of their own!

[books-on-the-brain]

So I used to read a whole bunch, but then I took a small break so that I could have an actual social life. Now I'm trying to get back into it but I've tried to... I just can't get into it. Do you have any suggestions of what I could do to get back into wanting to read more?

bI relate to this SO. MUCH. It’s always hard to find a good reading/life balance, since reading can often be a very isolating activity. It’s also really difficult around this time of year for younger readers, too, since a lot of us are getting back into the swing of it with school and such and find that we have much less time to be reading what we want. So without further ado…

How I cure “reader’s block”/being in a book rut!!!

1) First of all, there’s literally no shame in reading something because it’s short and you know you can get through it, or reading something you might consider a “beach read.” If it’s less daunting for you to pick up a 70-page romance novella than Tolstoy that is perfectly!!! okay!!! What matters is that you’re still reading and it’s making you happy, not that you have gained all the answers to the universe by reading a dry and endless classic.

2) Another good option is to reread something you know you really love/want to revisit. I find it’s typically easier to read something for the second or third time and if it’s been a while, then you’ll still be surprised by little things here and there and get the warm nostalgia fuzzies. For me, one of my old favorites to revisit is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I always read it at the beginning of the summer when I’m switching from all academic reading to personal reading (f i n a l l y) because I’m familiar enough with the story that it goes pretty quickly, but I still really love it.

3) In a similar vein, I find it really fun when I don’t want to sit down and read seriously to go back to some of my old favorites from childhood! For example, I loved the Deltora books by Emily Rodda when I was a kid and had some fun the other day going back through some of them and reminiscing. It has the potential to remind you of your love for stories and also in my case, it reminded my why I fell in love with fantasy at a young age and why I’m still so passionate about it! Reading children’s/middle grade/YA books is always acceptable and so much fun at any age.

4) This Barnes and Noble Reader article also suggests reading about books if you can’t actually read a book. As they explain it, find book blogs (like those on tumblr!) that speak to your interests and get you excited about picking up books. Other people’s enthusiasm goes a long way in encouraging you to also pick up a book to read!

5) If you can, find other avid readers and friends who you feel comfortable sitting in silence with! One of my favorite memories ever is sitting on my friend’s back porch and trading the books of the KARE First Love manga series back and forth. We played peaceful music in the background and so we were spending time as friends AND getting reading done. This lead us to discuss our favorite scenes and how we felt about certain translations (literally just because we like how to guy asked the main girl out in the online scantalation better than the printed book rip). But we ended up really getting into this series that in all honesty is kind of silly (despite the soft spot I have in my heart for it) and we joke about it all the time. Reading and socializing in one!

6) And speaking of manga…it’s always a great bridge for getting back into reading when it’s been a while, as are graphic novels! If you haven’t ever tried manga or graphic novels and don’t think it’s your rap at least give them a chance! I thought I hated them until I read Fullmetal Alchemist and fell in l o v e! You’re getting a story and doing some reading, but the pictures really help to ease you in so that you’re not necessarily devoting the same attention that you would be with a novel that’s just pages of text. As such, each volume is pretty quick depending on how long you linger on the drawings. If you already do love manga/graphic novels, then try picking up a new series you’ve been interesting in or rereading a series you already know you like!

Here are some graphic novel recommendations!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (a story that does a fun take on the idea of the “bad guy” - it actually gave me way more feels than expected, and I loved the art style)

The new Ms. Marvel series written by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona (so do not confuse this with the old Ms. Marvel, this one is better in my opinion because our hero is your average teenage Muslim girl living in Jersey City and it’s refreshing, amazing, adds diversity to the typically white/male dominated world of superheroes, and I am unabashedly in love with one of the main characters, Bruno)

Umbrella Academy written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Ba (this does another more twisted/dark take on the idea of the superhero story, if that’s something more up your alley. It’s the first book of a series I’ve really been loving lately, plus I trust Gerard Way’s taste in comics unequivocally and he wrote it so that’s a yes in my book!)

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (the intertwining stories of an American-Chinese boy trying to figure out his place in the world and the Monkey King of Chinese fable)

I did not include a special section for manga recommendations because most of what I read is probably not the sort of stuff to dive into after having reader’s block. Overall, the realm of shoujo might be a good place to look (things like Skip Beat!, Blue Spring Ride, Fruits Basket, and Kimi ni Todoke. Ouran High School Host Club and Dengeki Daisy were ones I really enjoyed too.)I also recently read Orange which is a fairly short series and easy to read - I loved it but major depression/suicide/mental illness tws there.In terms of shonen, Hunter x Hunter would be a good one because not only is it amazing, but it’s broken up into shorter yet very distinct story arcs which I feel would be easier if you’re trying to get back into reading. If someone has some more recs tho, please add!

7) Another variation of manga/graphic novels is online webtoons, which are basically digitized comics. I have recently discovered them and think they’re the best. things. ever. If you’re like me and you have a horrible habit of lying in bed scrolling absently through your phone before going to bed and after waking up, this might be good for you. I have slowly been replacing my mindless Facebook scrolling with scrolling through webtoons, which has been so amazing for my mental health! My favorite app is literally just called Webtoon or maybe Line Webtoon (the icon in the app store is a green speech bubble that says “Webtoon”).

For most webtoons, chapters are generally pretty short so it doesn’t take a lot of focus but once again, you’re still reading, and you’re still getting a good story, all while laying fetal position like you might while scrolling through Facebook or texting people before bed. Not to mention you’re supporting amazingly talented artists/individuals who are oftentimes not published and doing this for fun or with the hopes of eventually being published, so you can say you followed them from the start! Also since they update only a few times a week, it gives you something to look forward to on random days.

Here are my favorite story-oriented webtoons currently:

Assassin Roommate by Monica Gallagher. Super cute and quirky romance with a great female lead, also really great in terms of body diversity, and LITERALLY THE ONLY REASON I LOOK FORWARD TO TUESDAYS, THE DREADFUL DAY AFTER MONDAY

My Dear Cold-Blooded King by limelight. Just started this but it seems pretty cool??? The author has paired up with a musician so all the chapters have music which is lit af if I do say so myself

Silk and Briar by paragoing-paragon. I think this is on hiatus but it’s shaping up to be a brilliantly-constructed fantasy story with some crazy twists and turns

instantmiso’s stuff is also really popular (Where Tangents Meet and Siren’s Lament). It’s not as much up my alley as it is pretty fluffy romance and I’m not crazy about the writing, but she is an incredibly talented artist and has great music with her chapters. Her stuff is super good for an easy read without a ton of brain power/commitment, but I say that with immense respect for her talent and abilities! 

Cheese in the Trap by soonkki. This was also made into a K-Drama so I read the series and threw a little watch-party with some of my friends from my Korean class! Super good series and another great way to enjoy reading AND be social!

Here are the webtoons that are more “Sunday newspaper funnies”               style, where each chapter is a mini story:

Bluechair by Shen (this is WILDLY popular and I totally see why!!! These are hilarious and have cheered me up on many a rough night!!!)

Sapphie: The One-Eyed Cat by joho (feel-good, cute comic about cats that’s also pretty funny. I shamelessly read like a hundred chapters in one sitting.)

If none of this is appealing to you, there is always the audio option! If the actual act of your eyes scanning the page is difficult because you can’t focus on anything, there are a lot of options in this realm!

8) Local libraries usually have an audiobook section that is deeply neglected, but holds some secret treasures! Whenever I go on roadtrips, I always pick up two or three before I head out. They’re also perfect for when you do mindless tasks like sorting/folding laundry, walking a dog if you have one, waiting in long lines, or on your commute to and from school or work or any other similar activities. 

What’s cool is you can search for audiobooks based both on books you actually want to read, and whoever is narrating it. I know Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz had a super popular audiobook because Lin Manuel Miranda narrated it. If you want to pay, Audible is one of the most popular paid platforms for audiobooks. I haven’t personally used it, but it seems to be quite successful. One way or another, audiobooks are a good way to get back into reading without having to budget extra time to sit down with a book.

9) Podcasts can also help if you haven’t already explored those and are open to! Not all podcasts are TED talks, or political debates, or generally academic, or whatever they are stereotyped as. There are a ton that feel just like audiobooks, or at the very least like a play without any visuals. There’s a script and there’s a story and I know it’s helped me ease back into a mindset that preps me for reading because much like audiobooks you can listen to them all the time (I do so while cooking dinner and walking to classes) and it helps your mind switch from reality to the world of a story with relative ease if that makes sense. I’m pretty new to podcasts myself so don’t have a ton to recommend, but here’s what I’ve been enjoying….

Podcasts to look into:

Anything written by Mac Rogers. That includes The Message, Afterlife, and Steal the Stars. Personally, I like Steal the Stars and The Message more that Afterlife. They’re all sci-fi stories that are generally told from one perspective but you get to know amazing characters and I was not expecting the twists and turns. And Steal the Stars is still coming out so jump on the bandwagon now lol

The Adventure Zone from Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy at My Brother, My Brother and Me (another podcast which I have not listened to). The Adventure Zone is actually them playing Dungeons and Dragons, but they’re funny as all get out (the last place I lived had a communal kitchen for dozens of people and I was always laughing like and idiot while listening to this and making dinner and I’m pretty sure everyone thought I was nuts). Eventually the Dungeon Master gets super into the story telling and they script some of it with cool music. It’s really amazing and has a nice balance between story/characters but also the element of “real people” as they’re a bunch of brothers and they’re dad all just having fun. It’s a good bridge to getting back into reading.

Welcome to Nightvale is always a classic. It’s a bit trippy for me but tons of people enjoy it. The same team also produced a podcast called Alice Isn’t Dead. I honestly know nothing about it but one of my friends always raves about it, so it has his vote!

10) And okay so here’s my last suggestion. It might feel like a bit of a cop-out because I guess it kind of is, but it often works for me. So here it is. Sometimes it just helps to sit down and remember why you like to read in the first place. The fact that you’re actively trying to get back into it isn’t meaningless. It’s a very willful decision. So what is driving you? Maybe it’s because…

reading is an escape or a way for you to cope with difficult things in your life. This can be anything from mental illness, to school/work stress, to relationship dissatisfaction, difficult family or economic situations. Maybe you just are bored of our planet earth. Sometimes you might just need to be transported into another world for whatever reason and that is totally okay.

or reading inspires you to live your best life. Maybe there’s some character in a book you love that you look up to and aspire to be. Remember that passion you had when you were first getting to know that character, and that sense of being understood or finding a role model. Maybe you want to go on an adventure as wild as that character went on and that’s your idea of living your best life. Whatever the reason is, this sort of inspiration is a powerful emotion that books make us feel and sometimes that’s also a good reason to reread a book that’s inspired you.

and I don’t know, maybe you’re a writer yourself and you draw inspiration from reading in that sense. The more you read, the more you learn about what sort of writing you like and don’t like, and you grow stronger in your craft. Good readers help make good writers (but also don’t take that to mean that if you happen to be a writer and you’ve been in a book rut for a long time that you own skills are waning. we all get in book ruts and that’s okay. maybe it’s time to seek out a new source of inspiration in a different genre or new writer)

or perhaps you simply love stories. Maybe you breathe stories like other people breathe air and you can’t imagine that side of you not existing. If you’re one of these people, that makes reader’s block twice as hard. But that doesn’t mean that if you’re not turning pages that you’re not absorbing stories. Take it slowly and ease back into it with things I already mentioned like podcasts and webtoons.

One way or another, you’ll find your way back. Maybe this post will spark something. Maybe it won’t, and it will take another few months for you to really feel gungho about reading again. That’s all okay. Take your time. Enjoy being with friends and other activities. Do what’s healthiest and what works best for you. And eventually you’ll get back to reading a ton. However it happens, I wish you the best of luck!

[devilselbow]

Wing Recaps The Reading Buddy by Bryce Gibson

Note: The author reached out to us to recap his book to celebrate its release. Brave, brave author. Since this is a new book, there is a short spoiler-free review below. The linked recap will, as usual, have spoilers.

Title: The Reading Buddy by Bryce Gibson

Summary: A SET OF keys jangled in my hand. The keys were my lifeline. One of them would be what saved the day. I held onto them as tightly as I could.

I was being followed. The man running behind me was my stepdad, Morris Heyward. He was holding an axe.

AFTER THE DEATHS of his best friend and stepdad, seventeen-year-old Blake Thomas can’t escape the memories of that night…the screams…the blood…the axe.

Now, Blake suffers from social anxiety and making friends at his new home seems impossible. With his therapist’s suggestion, Blake joins a social media site called The Reading Buddy. It is supposed to be a way for him to slowly step back into social relationships, and it doesn’t take long for him to become online friends with someone known as Charley17.

Recovery seems to be within reach, but once the school year starts, three local teens quickly pull Blake into their own circle, and soon it appears that Charley17 doesn’t want to share his new friend with anybody else.

The Reading Buddy is a Southern-set throwback to the teen horror and thriller novels from the 1990s and will keep you guessing until the very end!

[Wing: Oh dear. We’re kicking this off with yet another summary that is not so much with the accuracy, and is trying too hard to be Point Horror-esque for a book that really isn’t.]

Tagline: None

Initial Thoughts

Disclosure: A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. Or a lovingly snarky recap that may not be quite so loving, depending on how the story goes. Congratulations on book release day, Gibson!

This is the first time an author has reached out to us to have their book recapped, and I am both charmed and delighted by the opportunity and a little surprised. The author and publisher call it a book that will appeal to readers of retro teen horror from the 90s, which, you know, is pretty much our jam around here. I love a good southern horror, and I have high hopes for this one. I do worry that the marketing push to compare it to Point Horror and similar books is going to be a detriment; I’m going in with some solid expectations because I obviously know very well what teen horror and thrillers were like in the 90s. It’s kind of a specialty of mine. The summary and the marketing plan have driven home that this book will be that, and if it’s not, well … we’ll see.

Spoiler-Free Review

Because this is a new book, and you may want to read it without the spoilers of the recap, I’m going to start with a brief, spoiler-free review.

In short, I loved the first ¾ of the book, but found the ending badly paced, with whiplash characterisation. The book itself is very slowly paced, which is something I actually love, particularly in horror stories where the writing establishes the characters very well. That doesn’t not really happen here, but I still enjoyed the slow pace for a long time, until it finally because too slow, with too little happening. Spent a great deal of time adoring the main character and at least one of the side characters. Mostly handles mental health very well, until it veers sharply off track.

I think it’s a fun, entertaining read, but it makes a lot of style choices that I think you’ll either love or loathe, with very little in between. Like I said, it is slow, and at times almost seems to be leaning heavily into southern Gothic, but it never quite makes it. In the end, I think that’s my biggest problem with the book (except for the moment where Wing Goes Boom finally over mental illness); it starts to be a lot of things, and starts to have a lot of things, like strong characters and great relationships, but it never quite gets there. There’s a lot of build up for very little payoff (and I don’t mean in the plot, necessarily, but more in the writing style itself); it feels very surface level at times, when it was leading into a deep, profound setting and character-driven story.

I wanted more from it, and though I really did enjoy reading it, I’m also left unsatisfied and wanting more depth, more description, more characterization, more transitions — just more.

Per the marketing campaign from the publisher, it is being targeted to readers of retro teen horror — so, you know, us — and I can see why. It doesn’t quite feel the same as Point Horror or Fear Street or Nightmare Hall or Christopher Pike, etc. In some ways, it’s better. In some ways, though, it feels even more surface-level than they do. It certainly did invoke a ton of nostalgia in me, but not a lot related to the 80s and 90s teen horror. Mostly, small towns and high school football and marching band and werewolves. (You’ll see.)

I liked it. I’m glad I read it. I’ll reread it. But I am left not quite satisfied, and since the early part of the book was great enough it set my expectations high, that is even more frustrating than if it had been bad from the beginning.

Let’s do this.

READ THE RECAP

[stringbeanreads-blog]

stringbeanreads august wrap up!

Hello everyone! I can’t believe the end of August is actually here- it honestly feels like this month has gone on forever! That being said, since it felt so long I was able to do a TON of reading this month- 15 books in fact! WAY more than I was expecting to achieve! Since I’m starting my first year of university in the coming week, I’m not sure how much time I’ll have for reading next month, so I’m excited that I did as much as I did in August! So, without any further ado, let us get into my August 2017 wrap up!

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan - 4/5 stars

I listened to the audiobook for Brain on Fire in the first few days of August while I worked some early morning shifts at work, and enjoyed it! I haven’t read a piece of nonfiction in a while, and found Brain on Fire incredibly interesting. Following Susannah’s story as she and her family attempt to unravel the mystery that is her medical condition was intriguing, and heartbreaking. I’m usually not a fan of things that have medical themes in them, but this wasn’t the case for Brain on Fire! However, as I listened to the audiobook, I found myself extremely put off by the narrator, and very much disliked her. I didn’t find the use of badly imitated accents for every person who didn’t have an American accent necessary, and took me out of the story.

False Hearts by Laura Lam- 2/5 stars

(Taken from my Goodreads review) I really wish that I had liked this book more. I'd been hearing really great things across multiple platforms, and when it came available at my library I was super excited to pick it up. Unfortunately, I found that this book was incredibly slow and incredibly predictable. It honestly felt like nothing happened until the last 60 pages. While the plot was a neat idea, and the world was very interesting, overall it wasn't executed well. I didn't enjoy the writing style of Taema, but I did really like the chapters from Tila's perspective- in fact, that is the one reason I stuck it out until the end. While I can see why so many people loved this book, it just wasn't for me.

Wildman by J.C. Geiger - 4/5 stars

This book seriously surprised me- that is, I liked it way more than I expected to! I was completely enraptured by the writing style, and while I didn’t necessarily enjoy the main character, Lance, I found his story compelling and loved following him through his journey of discovery. I enjoyed the cast of characters SO much- they were all so interesting and flawed and real. However, I hated the whole “manic-pixie-dream-girl” thing we had goin on. I hate that trope, which is why I’m still shocked that I liked this book as much as I did. Nonetheless, Wildman is certainly on my list of 2017 favourites.

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher - 4/5 stars

This was a super quick and fun read! I absolutely adore Carrie Fisher, and miss her with every ounce of my being, so I really thought that Wishful Drinking was going to make me cry and fill me with nostalgia, but instead it filled me with joy and made me laugh! A very nice, light read with heavy subject matter that I would recommend to any Carrie Fisher fan.

The Princess DIarist by Carrie Fisher - 4/5 stars

Yes, I did read two of Carrie Fisher’s books back to back this month, except I listened to The Princess Diarist on audiobook while at work. Again, I really expected to cry while listening to Carrie speak about Star Wars, but instead it opened my eyes to a whole different side to the franchise. Listening to her daughter read Carrie’s diary entries was very interesting and left me wanting more.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan - 4/5 stars

What a fun start to a series! After rereading The Lightning Thief in July, I decided to pick up Magnus Chase after seeing that it is part of the Young Reader’s Choice Awards for 2018! It was a fun book that I read fairly quickly, and it left me wanting more after I finished it. Although some of the story felt a tad predictable (which I will forgive due to the series being middle grade, and because of how much I love Rick Riordan,) it was FUNNY. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book! I can’t wait to continue on with the rest of the series, and the rest of Rick Riordan’s books!

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero - 4/5 stars

(Taken from my Goodreads review) I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would! It was a fun read, with an interesting writing style and format that kept me engaged. I adored watching Gabi find her passion for writing and poetry throughout her story and watching her fall in love with the people around her. My only issue came in the very beginning, where Gabi and another character use the R slur to describe two disabled people, and in a very derogatory manor. While this doesn't show up any other point in the book, I was very close to putting it down because of this one instance. I understand that Gabi is in high school, and some teenagers speak like that, but overall I felt like it was completely unnecessary. Other than that, I enjoyed this book!

Dreadnought by April Daniels - 4/5 stars

(Taken from my Goodreads review) What a wonderful story!! We need more books like this- an unapologetic trans lesbian?? Yes PLEASE!! The plot was really cool, the characters were interesting and had me continually guessing about who they would turn out to be, but sometimes the teen angst got to be a bit much. Obviously I can forgive the angst cuz like, Danny has an extremely difficult situation on her hands, so it's understandable. I found myself skimming the action scenes near the end, but I think that's just because action isn't my favourite genre. All in all, a fun and important read, and I am excited to read the next one!

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt - 5/5 stars

I cannot believe that I almost didn’t pick this book up. Truthfully? This is now tied for my favourite book of all time- that is how much I adored this novel. God, it was so hard hitting. This was another story that surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. I was expecting to like it, but certainly was not ready for the intensity with which I fell head over heels for it. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, and the characters were just so real and tangible. The complexity of the relationships in this novel blew me out of the water. Such an honest and beautiful novel that has left me in a bit of a slump since I finished it! (I haven’t cried this hard after finishing a book since I finished TFiOS 5 years ago…)

Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis - 3/5 stars

This just simply wasn’t the book for me. I listened to the audiobook, which may have hindered my reading experience due to multitasking while listening, but I just found myself uninterested and disengaged from the story. An interesting plot for sure, but just not the type of book I find myself drawn to.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan - 4/5 stars

Again, another fun, light, and fast paced Rick Riordan book that I enjoyed! I found this book more predictable than the first one, but liked it nonetheless. I am very excited to see where the 3rd book goes and can’t wait to see more development from this cast of characters, Alex specifically!

Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke - 3/5 stars

I listened to the audiobook for Wink Poppy Midnight and enjoyed the fact that it was a cast of narrators rather than just one. Poppy’s narrator bothered me just a tad but not enough for it to disrupt my reading experience. The writing in this novel is very interesting- at times I was astonished by the language and the flow, and sometimes I was sitting there thinking “really? Was that really the best way to construct that idea?” I was certainly intrigued from the beginning but found myself constantly annoyed with the characters. The relationships felt forced, and the ending seemed rushed and tied the story up oddly and left me unsatisfied. I was really hoping that the story would turn into a spooky, paranormal, thriller type but instead was tied up with a lazy “teens playing pranks” bow. Also not a fan of the lowkey queerbaiting between Wink and Poppy- could’ve done without the two girls kissing for “shock value.”

The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock - 4/5 stars

Check out my review that I posted earlier this week here to see my thoughts!

Kids of Appetite by David Arnold - 3/5 stars

I read Arnold’s other book, Mosquitoland, in 2016 and really enjoyed it, and was really hoping that I would feel the same way about Kids of Appetite, but unfortunately this one fell a bit short for me. It’s your classic YA contemporary- main character loses parent due to illness and is sent on a wild goose chase in order to find peace and to fulfill said parent’s wishes, meets a band of misfits along the way and befriends them, and falls in love with the manic-pixie-dream-girl who sees him for who he really is. In all honesty, I was bored while reading this, but it did make me laugh. I liked most of the characters, and that was the main reason I pushed through until the end. I, for one, am a complete sucker for the “found family” trope, and for that reason I loved the relationships between the KOA. Overall, a fine book, but I certainly enjoyed Mosquitoland better.

Summerlost by Ally Condie - 3/5 stars

I couldn’t place where I had heard Ally Condie’s name before, and then I remembered: Matched, a book I seriously disliked when I read it in junior high despite the praise of what felt like everyone around me. Luckily, I made that connection after I finished listening to Summerlost, because honestly that would’ve stopped me from picking it up if I had realized sooner. That being said, I enjoyed Summerlost, but found it way too simplistic for my liking- writing style, plot, everything. I thought this was going to be a YA novel, but it is very clearly middle grade. I wanted to see more from both our main character’s families- Cedar’s before the novel begins, and Leo’s while the novel progressed. I wanted to know more about Ben and his relationship to not only Cedar, but Miles and their parents as well. I felt like this book could’ve easily been a 4 or 4.5 star if certain aspects had been expanded on.

I’m also currently reading The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, and about 80% through the audiobook for Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert!

Well, that’s all for this month! I’m honestly exhausted thinking about how much I read this month. Thanks for reading! 

Q: What was your favourite book that you read this month? What’s on your TBR for September? Let me know!