#FridayReads | We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Originally published 1962 (this edition October 2006 by Penguin)
160 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp."

-Good Reads

#FridayReads | The Perfect Hope

The Perfect Hope (Inn BoonsBoro #3) by Nora Roberts
November 2012 by Berkley Trade
308 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"A new novel of starting over and star-crossed love.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces you to the Montgomery brothers—Beckett, Ryder, and Owen—as they bring an intimate bed-and-breakfast to life in their hometown.

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out—with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate the joys of small-town living. She’s where she wants to be—except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year’s Eve kiss.

While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome—and embarrassing—appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…"

-Good Reads

#FRIDAYREADS | Winter

Winter by Marissa Meyer
November 2015 by Feiwel and Friends
892 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?"

-Good Reads

#FridayReads | Eligible

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
April 2016 by Random House
492 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.

Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.

Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . .

And yet, first impressions can be deceiving."

-Good Reads

#FridayReads | The Truth About Mr. Darcy

The Truth About Mr. Darcy by Susan Adriani
June 2011 by Sourcebooks 
448 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"In this hot tale, Mr. Darcy confesses the truth about George Wickham right from the start, warning Elizabeth and the rest of Meryton about Wickham's despicable character. Will his honesty change the way Elizabeth feels about him and his previous poor behavior? Will he still have to transform himself to win her love? And what will happen when scandal erupts?"

-Good Reads

As I have dubbed this summer "The Summer of Review Books," I've decided that it is also absolutely necessary that I read something off of my personal TBR to keep my focus. There's nothing like feeling obligated to completely ruin a hobby for you, am I right? Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that the titles I've received for review are awful (in fact, the majority are great). I just need time to read something that I won't be compiling a review on and for me, that's none other than The Truth About Mr. Darcy. 

If you've been with me for a while, you know my affinity for P&P and my recent-ish fixation on what are essentially published and bound fan fictions. So far? This one is okay. The action is moving very fast which makes me question what the author is going to do for the remaining 300 pages. Darcy and Elizabeth are already super hot and heavy physically which also kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (I swore I heard Jane Austen screaming in anguish from beyond the grave.) But as a general rule if it's smutty, I'll like it. So cheers to this book for keeping my sanity afloat in the vast sea of review books that I have for this summer. 

Also - the cover. It's fantastic.

I'd love to hear what you're reading over the weekend! 

-Alyssa

#FridayReads | Beautiful Disaster

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
May 2011 by Jamie McGuire
319 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match."

-Good Reads

This isn't the first time that I've talked about Beautiful Disaster and it probably won't be the last. Truth be told? I just love this book. BD borders very closely on the line of guilty pleasure but has that stopped me from reading it five times in the course of about a year and a half? Nope, not at all. The relationship isn't the healthiest portrayal of a twenty-something couple and both Abby and Travis' behavior is down right alarming at time. But, I digress - I love this book. It was the New Adult Book Club's choice for June and I'm just at the half way mark. Despite having read it a short four-ish months ago, I'm not sick of it. 

I'd love to hear what you guys are picking up for your weekend reads and I'll talk to you next time!

-Alyssa

#FridayReads | The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan
January 2011 by Disney Hyperion Books
381 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.            
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy‘s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate."

-Good Reads

Alright, guys - this is it. It's taken me several years to finish the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series but I'm finally here. Thanks in large part to the #AYearAThon, I'm about 25% of the way through the book and I'm actually really enjoying it. The first three PJ books weren't great for me but after reading Battle of the Labyrinth, I fell in love with the story and the characters. I'm a bit nervous for the ending of this book because I have been spoiled about the fate of some of the characters but I'm excited for it none the less.

How are you doing in your #AYearAThon reading?!

-Alyssa

#FridayReads | The Sting of Summer

The Sting of Summer by Katherine Over
May 2014 - Indie Author
246 pages
Amazon + Good Reads


"Summer has arrived. For seventeen-year-old Becca, it marks the start of the wedding season. Her family operates an event venue in the form of a renovated barn, and nearly every weekend a wedding takes place in their backyard. Becca lends a helping hand for the accelerated schedule, but work is not the only task on her mind. Seth, her longtime crush, has nabbed a photography internship that requires wedding coverage, putting the two of them in close proximity. Becca intends to make Seth something more than a far-reaching fantasy, but it's hard to build a dream when a growing tension in her family life cannot be avoided.
Or will summer collide with her plans and leave nothing but a sting in her heart?"

Will Becca succeed in her quest for love?

-Good Reads

I am officially kicking off my summer reading with this indie book which sounds like the perfect summer read. I was pleasantly surprised by the synopsis of The Sting of Summer when the author contacted me about possibly reviewing her book and I jumped at the chance. I'm so excited to dive in The Sting of Summer and to get back into reading indie books because, let's be honest - they don't get enough love.

Welcome to the... #NewAdultBC! {and #FridayReads!}

Hey, guys! 

Today I wanted to write a quick post inviting you to a new group that I've created over on Good Reads - The New Adult Book Club! If you've been following me on this blog, my Twitter, or my YouTube account... it should come as no surprise that I adore the New Adult genre. And, as I've been heavily involved in the #AYearAThon, I've been getting very into hosting read alongs and book clubs. It seemed natural that I would create a book club that centered around my new favorite genre... and so I'm taking the time to invite you to join me! 

We're not going to start reading until either late June or early July, as May is almost over. I invite you to join the Good Reads group (CLICK HERE TO JOIN) and vote on the poll as to which NA title you'd like to read first! I also encourage you to talk about it on Twitter and/or Instagram using the hashtag #NewAdultBC - that way we can keep all of the discussion together! 

Thanks for your time and I hope that you'll consider joining me! 

Now for my #FridayReads...

Take a Chance (Rosemary Beach #6, Chances #1) by Abbi Glines 
February 2014 by Atria Books
Kindle - 256 pages
Amazon + Good Reads 

"When Harlow Manning's rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan's room in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He'd known about Nan's reputation, but still he couldn't resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow's eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?"

-Good Reads

#FridayReads | Never Too Far

Never Too Far by Abbi Glines (Rosemary Beach #2) 
February 2013 by Smashwords
Kindle - 193 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"He had held a secret that destroyed her world. 

Everything she had known was no longer true. 

Blaire couldn’t stop loving him but she knew she could never forgive him.
Now, she was back home and learning to live again. Moving on with life… until something happened to send her world spinning once again. 
What do you do when the one person you can never trust again is the one that you need to trust so desperately? 

You lie, hide, avoid, and pray that your sins never find you out."

-Good Reads

Hello, and welcome to my first ever #FridayReads! If you're not familiar with #FridayReads, here's a simple explanation: #FridayReads started out as a weekly hashtag on Twitter where people basically just talked about their reading plans for the weekend. As most of my book "blogging" career has taken place on YouTube, I heard about it from my friend, Bunny, who decided to bring it on over to YouTube. Unfortunately, #FridayReads has mostly fallen to the wayside on BookTube (the book community on YouTube) but I decided that it would be a nice weekly post over here.

This weekend, I'm hoping to finish Never Too Far by Abbi Glines. I finished Rush Too Far (Rosemary Beach #1.1) a few days hours ago and I was hooked (look for my review in the next coming week!). I was fortunate enough to receive an audio version of Rush Too Far from Simon & Schuster for review, and I finished it in record time - I'm not lying when I tell you that I sat through five hours of the audio book with no break. Needless to say, I'm addicted to Rush and Blaire's deliciously dramatic relationship. I couldn't help but dive into Never Too Far, which picks up immediately where Rush Too Far leaves off.

I'd love to hear what you guys are reading over the weekend - be sure to let me know! And, let me know - have you read Abbi Glines before and if so, what did you think? Should I read Fallen Too Far (Rush Too Far is Rush's POV) or is it unnecessary? 

 

Happy reading, everyone!

-Alyssa