Prioritizing books on my to-be-read pile can be a hard task for this reader who a) purposely tries to find books that I know I’ll love and enjoy b) is currently back at college, searching for any time to grab a non-school related book and read and c) is a mood reader.
However, I did get better about creating and publishing monthly TBRs in 2018. I’ve entered 2019 with at least five books (in honor of today’s Top Five Wednesday) on my priority TBR.
With all the wrap-ups dedicated to the best and favorite books of 2018 in December, there also comes some not so cheery posts: the most disappointing reads of 2018. The five books below for today’s Top Five Wednesday are not necessarily the worst books I read last year, but rather, books that I went in with higher expectations and was left disappointed.
Keeping up with every amazing book release definitely isn’t easy. While I’d love to read ALL the books, I acutally like keeping some books on my TBR for a bit longer so I have books that I’m super excited to read.
Today I’ll discussing the top five 2018 releases on my TBR that I’d love to get to in 2019.
“Oh the weather outside is frightful” andddddd so is my TBR because I have so many books left. All Christmas-themed jokes aside, I am pretty happy with my 2018 TBR and reading progress (I hit 100 books!), but there are definitely a few books that I’d love to get to before the end of the year. For today’s Top Five Wednesday, I’ll be discussing the top five books I want to read before 2019.
Happy Halloween readers! Wouldn’t it be nice when you went trick-or-treating, you received books inside of candy??
In honor of Halloween, today’s Top Five Wednesday is all about characters I’d love to cosplay as or be for Halloween. While I admit that I’m not the biggest costume person, who wouldn’t want to be their favorite book character for a day?
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?
It’s every college student’s favorite time of year: textbook shopping time! Yes, it’s time to buy books that you’ll maybe or maybe not use over the next three and a half months. Maybe you’ll get money back for them in a few months or maybe they’ll become really nice, expensive doorstops. Luckily, as an English major, I don’t spend an extreme amount of money on textbooks. Bless you my STEM major friends for your insanely priced books.
Just in time for back-to-school, today’s Top Five Wednesday aks us to create a reading list based on a class of our chouce. I’d love to take a class on YA books one day -not just because I would so buy those books instead of rent them and add them to my personal collection. However,I took a class on graphic novels last semester, which influenced me to add a new minor and of course pick up some more graphic novels!
I’d especially love to take a class about books that were turned into film adaptations, featuring the 5 books below. I think it would be really fun to read the book, watch its adaptation, and compare and contrast. While there are SO many books and movies to choose from, I’m going to be focusing on some of my favorites from my own read pile. Syllabus to come next week.
It’s been a little while since I’ve properly done Top Five Wednesday. While I really enjoy participating in T5W and find it to be a great source for creative posts, I’ve been trying to focus more on original content and the reviews that I’m almost always behind on.
Anyways, today’s T5W is all about a topic that I often find myself thinking about: future classics. It’s interesting to think what makes a book be a classic, and as not the biggest classic fan, it’s sort’ve mind blowing to think about what contemporary books I’ve read will one day be considered classic themselves.
Looking for Alaska by John Green- If this ever becomes a definition, I think John Green will be known as a classic YA author. While all of his books are much-loved, I see Looking for Alaska as his defining classic because out all of his books (with maybe Turtles All the Way Down as the new exception), people seem to relate to this one the most.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell- Like I said above, I’m not the biggest classic fan, but one of the elements that I think makes a book a classic is it’s eye-opening writing style or story. While I’m definitely in need of a reread, Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park has both cute, romancey vibes and poignancy that will leave give you all the heart-warming and heartbroken feels.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas- A book that I think will be among many T5W posts this week, The Hate U Give has received many awards and honors, and I think being defined as a classic will come one day for its relation to today’s cultural and political climate in the US.
A Very Large of Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi- Okay, I know this book hasn’t come out yet, but I was very fortunate enough to read an ARC of Tahereh Mafi’s first contemporary & semi autobiographical novel, A Very Large Expanse of Sea. Without being too spoilery, I think A Very Large Expanse of Sea stands out for featuring a Muslim teen trying to fight off stereotypes in her American high school post-9/11 and its beautiful, thought-provoking writing style.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng– I think both of Celeste Ng’s books, Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You, will be considered classics one day, but I’m going with Little Fires Everywhere BECAUSE IT’S MY FAVORITE. Little Fires Everywhere and Celeste Ng’s writing style just sucks you with its plot and complex characters.
Top 5 Wednesday is a collaborative group of book bloggers from various platforms who love sharing lists on Wednesdays. The T5W group can be found here on Goodreads.
What books do you think will be considered classics one day? Any of the above? Share in the comments!
My Top Five Wednesday Rewind post for today is intended to be about books that double as great event themes. I mean, who wouldn’t love a Warcross themed party—Mario Party and rainbow hair extensions for all!
The T5W group encourages us not to manipulate topics for the sake of potential future topics. However, as I was scrolling through archived topics for this month, Books as Events caught my attention and had me thinking in a different direction. If you guys have been following Fangirl Fury for a while, you’ll know that summer is my favorite season and I’m always on the hunt for summery contemporaries. Today, I’m going to be giving you book recommendations based on 5 summertime events.
Weddings- I’ve experienced plenty of weddings through YA, but I’m actually attending my first one this summer.
Save the Date by Morgan Matson- Yes, Save the Date has not come out yet (1 more week to go!), but I have no doubt that I’ll love Morgan Matson’s latest book about a girl and her family’s disastrous wedding weekend.
Once & For All by Sarah Dessen- Any Sarah Dessen book is the perfect read for summertime, but what better way to get ready for wedding season than reading a book about the daughter of a wedding planner??
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of my all-time favorites for a ton of reasons, but I just love the sweet and romancey vibes of this one. Not to mention that a wedding may or may not pop up in one of the latter installments.
I almost always end my book reviews saying that I’m looking forward to more books from that specific author. Well, today is the perfect opportunity for me to keep wishing and hoping!
Today’s Top Five Wednesday Rewind post from April 2017 is all about authors who I’m craving to add to my TBR. These authors have not necessarily announced that they are coming out with new books soon, but this reader can only hope they do!
Francesca Zappia- I think it’s say to safe that I need another Francesca Zappia book in my life *turns back to 80+ book TBR*. Eliza and Her Monsters was one of my favorite books of 2017- ANYONE WHO GIVES ME FANGIRL FEELS BECOMES A FAVORITE WRITER OF MINE- and I really enjoyed Made You Up last summer.
Sarah Dessen- Yes, Sarah Dessen has plenty of books out, but the contemporary reader that I am has obviously read all of the Queen of YA Contemporary’s books already. Since Sarah doesn’t have a new book coming out this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has something up her sleeve for 2019.
Ruta Sepetys- Okay, so I know Ruta Sepetys does have a book in-progress (I believe it has something to do with 1930s Spain) and has been working on the adaptation of Between Shades of Gray, Ashes in the Snow. She also does a ton of appearances, and she’s such an amazing speaker along with being an amazing writer. I would love a new book from my favorite historical fiction author soon.
Emery Lord- Again, I’m cheating but I went on a bit of an Emery Lord kick last summer and I am craving a new book from one of my favorite contemporary authors. Sidenote that if you’re craving a summery contemporary, The Names They Gave Us is the perfect way to go (just grab some tissues with your beach towel). The Map From Here to There, the sequel to The Start of Me and You, is slated to come out next year, and I am so excited to reunite with one of my fictional boyfriends, Max Watson. However, I do still have one more book of her’s to read, Open Road Summer.
Becky Albertalli- Yes, I know that Becky does have another book coming out this year, What If It’s Us with Adam Silvera. However, after reading Leah On the Offbeat, I would love another book in the Simonverse from her! You guys know that I love college YA, and now that most of our Simon characters are in college, I think it’d be fun to follow one of their adventures there. Or maybe a school break where the gang is all back together?? It’d also be really cool if she maybe wrote from the perspective of a character from The Upside of Unrequited (I need more Reid in my life).
Who are some authors that you would love to get a new book from? Share in the comments!
Fangirl Fury 