Oh September, you’ve brought a lot of lovely things, but also a lot of stress to this fangirl. September was a great month for me as a blogger—I finally starting sharing reviews of SO many of the amazing books coming out this fall (sorry not sorry for the review overload) and I participated in a campaign for two of my all-time favorite books, Vicious and Vengeful. Regarding my personal life, September was busy and quite stressful. I began the fall semester of my junior year of college- is it me, or is junior year of anything (I’m looking at you high school) insanely stressful?- and I had someone very close to me have some health struggles. Thankfully, they’re doing much better now. I always appreciate this space and you, but I especially loved blogging this month as a way for me to de-stress and remind me of love for blogging and reading!
Month: September 2018
FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION: The War Outside Review
Summary: It’s 1944, and World War II used to feel so far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado. Until they were forced to go to Texas because of where their parents came from: Germany and Japan. Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a “family internment camp” for those accused of working with the enemy. The polar opposites form a secret friendship, where they can share most of their worries with each other. Haruko fears for her soldier brother’s life and just ca’nt figure out the secret her father is harboring from her. Margot is doing everything to keep her family together, as her mother’s health declines and her father’s distrust for America increases. As everything around them falls apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, how much can they really trust each other?
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Top Five Wednesday: 2018 Contemporary Covers
Today’s Top Five Wednesday is all about our favorite covers, but I decided to (pumpkin) spice it up a bit by talking about my favorite covers for 2018 contemporary releases.
Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky- While Mammoth has not come out yet, my bookshelf is already screaming for a finished copy because of it’s GORGEOUS COVER and GORGEOUS STORY. I really love how the blue and pink work together.
Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll- EXCUSE ME BUT IS THERE A THRIFT STORE LIKE UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE WHERE I CAN FIND THIS SQUIRREL? Unclaimed Baggage is a great example where the cover game compleltely influenced me to pick up the book. Plus how could you not love a book about three teens working in an unclaimed baggage store?
TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Check, Please!: #Hockey Review
Summary: (From the publisher): Eric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It is nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking (anything that hinders the player with posession of the puck, ranging from a stick check all the way to a physical sweep). And then, there is Jack—his very attractive but moody captain.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 
CUTEST YA COVER: Unclaimed Baggage Review
Summary: Doris, a liberal teen in a conservative town, hasn’t made too many friends since the waterslide incident. Nell hasn’t been so successful in the friend department either, since she’s just moved to small town Alabama from the Chicago surburbs. But what do the two have in common with each other, let alone fallen-from-grace star quarterback Grant? All three have summer jobs at Unclaimed Baggage, a store where lost luggage goes to find a home. Working together for the summer, Grant, Doris, and Nell learn that while everyone has some extra baggage weighing them down, true friendship and love will help you find your home.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Cover Lust: Unclaimed Baggage is one of the cutest YA contemporary covers! Can I find that squirrel in Unclaimed Baggage?
Review: Bonjour Girl by Isabelle Laflèche
Summary: Clementine Liu is ready to take on New York City and most importantly, the Parsons School of Design. Everything seems to fall into place: meeting her fashionista soulmate and fellow student, Jake, and dreamy fashion photographer, Jonathan. Between schoolwork and exploring the city, Clementine launches her blog, Bonjour Girl, and her originality and flair quickly gives her a big following. With her success, however, comes online abuse and bullying and a classmate who is not what she seems to be. Clementine has to find a way to save her and her friends’ reputations before they go out of style.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
WHY YOU NEED TO READ VICIOUS & GIVEAWAY
If there are two things that I love in this fangirl world, it’s giveaways and V.E. Schwab’s Vicious. Vicious is one of the very first books that I screamed about across the Internet, so I’m excited that Tor Books is partnering with me for a particularly villainous giveaway!
We all know that V.E. Schwab is the QUEEN of fantasy. Vicious of course is no exception. One of my all-time favorite books, this adult fantasy follows college roommates Victor and Eli- two brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who have a research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events. As expected, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of a prison and is determined to track down his old friend (now foe), with a young girl who has her own supernatural abilities by his side. In anticipation of the upcoming sequel, Vengeful, today I’m going to be sharing why you NEED to be reading Vicious right now.
BACK TO SCHOOL REVIEW: The List by Siobhan Vivian
Summary: It happens every year before homecoming- the list is posted all over Mount Washington High School. Two girls are picked from each grade. One girl is the prettiest. One girl is the ugliest. The girls who aren’t picked are forgotten, but the girls who are picked are the center of attention. Following each girl’s reaction, it’s clear that prettiest or ugliest, once you’re on the list, you’ll never been the same.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Meeting Modern Darcy: Pride Review
Summary: Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. So when the wealthy Darcy family renovates the building across the street and moves in, Zuri sees another sign that change is coming to her Bushwick neighborhood. She wants absolutely nothing to do with the Darcy’s sons, Darius and Ainsley- but not if her four sisters can help it. When Zuri’s sister Jane begins to fall for the charming Ainsley, Zuri is forced to befriend the arrogant and judgmental Darius. As the summer continues, Zuri and Darius’s initial distaste for one another is turning into something neither expected.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Monthly Recommendations: Binge-Worthy Series
Everyone loves a good series, but everyone (aka me) loves a good binge-worthy series. How else can you spend days in the pool or rainy weekends? The following series for September’s Monthly Recommendations are perfect for all of your binge-worthy reading needs.
The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur- I read The Ivy series during one summer in high school. While they aren’t the absolute best books in the world, they’re perfect for when you need some whirlwind romance and college-age drama.
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard- Needing to feel accomplished in your binge-reading skills? There’s nothing better than testing your skills with the 16 book Pretty Little Liars series. These books are just so easy to fall into, no matter the time in between picking each book up. I definitely enjoyed them more than the TV adaptation.
Fangirl Fury 