Tuesday 30 March 2021

Top 10 Books of 2014

So if you've been reading my blog for a while you may know that I started my blog in 2015 but didn't start posting until 2016. So I started my Goodreads in 2014 so I thought it would be fun to go back through the books I read that year and choose my 10 favourites from that year. While looking through those books I became so nostalgic for 2014. I had no responsibilities. I read so many books. It was great I had such a fun time. I'll also probably do one of these for 2015, so look out for that! I had so many books I wanted on this list so I'm going to start off the list with some Honorable Mentions.

Honourable Mentions:

Rival


“You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”

I read Bully the same year, but I found that I loved Rival just a little bit more. Penelope Douglas is definitely one of those authors that have just gotten better and better with time. 


Opposition


“It’s not like I’m going to run up and hug him.”
His expression turned bland. “I’d sure hope not. I might get jealous.”
“You’d get jealous if she hugged a tree,” Archer tossed out.
“Maybe.” Daemon coasted to a stop in a parking space behind the car. “I’m needy like that.”

This was the final book in the Lux series. While it wasn't my favourite from the series, it definitely holds a sentimental place in my heart. I do however hate that this cover doesn't match the rest of the series.


Halfblood


“So? What are you going to do about it? Throw your mashed potatoes at me? I'm consumed by terror.”

Another Jennifer L. Armentrout book. This was such a good first book. It had me wanting to binge the rest of the series and I did.


The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf


“How many family conversations are going to be interrupted by me telling you, no, you can't kill someone and make it look like an accident?”

This was such a fun paranormal romance novel. If you like strong female leads, werewolves, and cute human men who look like Vikings and act like smart idiots, this is a good book for you.

Now onto the actual list!

10. Brutal Precious

“Hiding is for babies. And ninjas.”

This was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. If you haven't read the Lovely Vicious series yet, you definitely should. I believe the names were changed so don't be surprised if you can't find Brutal Precious anywhere. It's just because they changed the name. Just a perfect enemies-to-lovers trilogy. Sara Wolf is so funny. She writes the best main characters.

9. Under Different Stars

“It’s when the crickets stop singing that you know the enemy is near and the battle is about to begin.”

This isn't my favourite of the series, but it was still a very good book. Kricket is just the coolest main character. I loved the world-building and just understanding who and what she was. If you are interested in a sci-fi novel that isn't too heavily sciency this one is perfect.

8. City of Heavenly Fire

“You're pining," said Jace.
Alec shrugged. "Look who's talking. 'oh I love her. Oh, she's my sister. Oh why, why, why—”

This book was so perfect. It was the perfect ending to one of my favourite book series'. I haven't mentioned this story in a while, but when this book first came out I remember going to the bookstore right after school hoping that they would have it in and low and behold, they did. I didn't realize at the time how embarrassing this was, but when I walked in and saw the book front and centre, I kind of squealed really loudly and ran and grabbed one. There were two ladies in front of me who thought it was hilarious. I'm old enough now with enough self-awareness to remember that and be embarrassed as shit. It's okay I was fourteen, it probably wasn't the most embarrassing thing I've done.

7. Doctor Sleep

“The good thing about being old, is you don’t have to worry about dying young.”

After reading the Shining I didn't think I'd really be interested in a sequel. I decided to pick it up and when I started reading it I couldn't stop. This was so much better than the original book. If you've read the Shining and haven't read Doctor Sleep I would highly recommend giving it a read. 

6. Jane Eyre

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

I started reading this one on a whim. I've had a past issue of having a hard time reading classics. I didn't expect to read this one and not be able to stop. I read this while I was at Niagra Falls with my family. My aunt was salty with me for reading instead of seeing the sights. I have no regrets. 

5. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

“In my rush, I hadn’t tied my shoelaces. Noah was now tying them for me.
He looked up at me through his dark fringe of lashes and smiled. The expression on his face melted me completely. I knew I had the goofiest grin plastered on my lips, and didn’t care.
“There,” he said as he finished tying the laces on my left shoe. “Now you won’t fall.”
Too late.”

I mentioned this in a recent post, but this was such an amazing book. It took me a single afternoon to read this one while I was waiting for my sister to finish her Rugby game after school. I just remember immediately after the game when I had finished my book I had convinced my mom to stop at Chapters so I could quickly buy the next book. No regrets. That one also only took me maybe one day to read. I would do it again. Just an amazing book and if you haven't already read it I would highly recommend it.

4. Practical Magic

“There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.”

I've talked about this one a lot already so I won't drone on too long about it. This book was a perfect mixture of magic and romance. 

3. Sinner

“I tried to think of what an actual human would say in this situation. I asked, “Are you okay?” Sofia began to cry, which was exactly why I generally tried to avoid being a human.”

I've mentioned how excited I was for this book to come out. I didn't think she was ever going to write this book and then she did and I was over the moon. I wanted to go get it the day it came out, we had actually gone to the beach that day and stopped by the book store the day it released. Unfortunately, I'm Canadian and sometimes new releases aren't in bookstores on release day so I had to wait. I did get it the next day and I remember lying in bed on my stomach reading it because my back was completely sunburnt. Good times.

2. The Sea of Tranquility

“I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.”

This book really wrecked my soul. This is a romance novel, but it isn't just that. It's about life and death and grief. It leaves off kind of on a cliffhanger in that you don't really know if they end up together. It seems like they might, but we don't really know. If I could choose one book to have a sequel it would be this one. 

1. The Outsiders

“I've been thinking about it, and that poem, that guy that wrote it, he meant you're gold when you're a kid, like green. When you're a kid everything's new, dawn. It's just when you get used to everything that it's day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That's gold. Keep that way, it's a good way to be.”

This is one of my favourite books of all time. I remember I had to read this for school, I had read the first two chapters in school and I liked it enough. Then that night when I went home I decided to get ahead on readings, so I started reading it and then I didn't stop until I had finished it. This is just such an amazing book. If you haven't read this one yet, I think it's a pretty essential read.

Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Thursday 25 March 2021

Books For Slytherins


This was probably the hardest list for me to make. I swapped in an out so many books on this list because they all just felt wrong. I think the books I have on this list are good ones. I hope you guys agree.


Throne of Glass Series


“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”


While this may seem questionable at first let me explain myself. The first book isn't really something entirely Slytherin esque. Books three and on I would say are pretty Slytherin novels. The way Celaena plays everyone around her like chess pieces made me immediately think of Slytherin. The way she played the political game and managed to outmaneuver others really cemented this series' place on this list.


Richard III


Since I cannot prove a lover…
I am determined to prove a villain.


This is not Shakespeare's most known play, but it's one of his most political ones. It's also one of his longest play. This play follows the titular Richard III as he attempts to take the throne. Richard is a very Slytherin character and the entire play is a really ambitious and cunning character. It really showcases what you should and should not do when attempting to take over a kingdom. If you find this one interesting a bonus read would be Machiavelli's The Prince. 


Cruel Prince


“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”

I was sitting here swapping books in and out of this list, nothing felt right. Then I realized this book/series is perfect for this list. All of the characters in this book are so ambitious. This book follows Jude as she attempts to become a knight. She has to deal with a lot of fairy politics and it is so incredibly Slytherin that I feel stupid for not thinking of it to begin with. The first book is okay, but the second and third book are amazing. 


The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer


“You could start a fire with the heat between you two."
"You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”


Mara Dyer is a Slytherin. She isn't ambitious in the most obvious sense. She is ambitious when it comes to revenge though. You see a little peek of it in this first book but as the series progresses it is all laid out bare for you. She is also incredibly cunning and knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. To be clear I love her as a character and think she's so interesting. Just an overall amazing book, I read it in one afternoon. 


What books would you guys put on this list?


Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Books for Hufflepuffs



The common theme here are books that made me feel things. When I think of Hufflepuffs I just think of warmth and happiness and emotional strength. These books that I chose were just that.

I’ll Give You the Sun


“Or maybe a person is just made up of a lot of people,” I say. “Maybe we’re accumulating these new selves all the time.” Hauling them in as we make choices, good and bad, as we screw up, step up, lose our minds, find our minds, fall apart, fall in love, as we grieve, grow, retreat from the world, dive into the world, as we make things, as we break things.”

This is one of my favourite books of all time. This is a very character-driven book and it never fails to make me smile. This is like a Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul type of book. It follows two twins and their rocky relationship with each other and other people around them. I don't want to say too much, but this book was perfect and it was the first book I thought of when thinking of Hufflepuff books.


The Princess Saves Herself in this One


“Once upon a time, the princess rose from the ashes her dragon lovers made of her & crowned herself the mother-fucking queen of herself.   - how’s that for a happily ever after?”

This book is all about self-empowerment and loving yourself. Sometimes you need to think about you and what is best for you and what you can do for yourself. You don't need others to come and save you because you can take care and love yourself. 


The Book Thief


“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

You might be wondering why I chose to put this on this list instead of the Ravenclaw list. I'll tell you why. This book was so full of heart. It's about living your life and doing what you love. The main characters love of books was at the heart of the story. She wasn't going to let the Nazi's keep her from reading and learning. This book is just so full of soul and that's what I attribute to Hufflepuffs.


A Monster Calls


Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?

This is another book that just made me feel a lot of things. This book is all about emotions and grief. Coming to terms with grief and dealing with that through a beautiful story with great imagery and a perfect metaphor. I don't want to tell you too much because this is such a good book going into with no information. 

What books would you guys put on this list?


Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Saturday 13 March 2021

Books for Ravenclaws



If I wasn't a Gryffindor I would for sure be a Ravenclaw. I love learning and I love books. I hope I did a good job on this list and I hope you Ravenclaws out there enjoy these recommendations!


The Martian


“I can't wait till I have grandchildren. When I was younger, I had to walk to the rim of a crater. Uphill! In an EVA suit! On Mars, ya little shit! Ya hear me? Mars!”

This is probably the most obvious book on this list. This is a book about the fictional first trip to Mars. This book is so clever, so funny, and just full of interesting information about the logistics of traveling to Mars and surviving on Mars. It was just such a good book even for those that aren't very into science.


And Then There Were None


“Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions.”


Agatha Christie is the queen of the whodunit mystery novel. This book takes you down several different possibilities and as it goes on you are left wondering more and more who is committing the murders. It's just a really great book. Really makes you think. If you want to try and solve the mystery this is a great one.


Stalking Jack the Ripper


“I was determined to be both pretty and fierce, as Mother had said I could be. Just because I was interested in a man’s job didn’t mean I had to give up being girly. Who defined those roles anyhow?”


Another mystery novel. I just can't help myself. This was just one of my favourite books. You have a great mystery to solve, but along with that you also have a main character who is learning about mortuary science. It's a very enriching book. 


My Heart and Other Black Holes


“Sometimes I wonder if my heart is like a black hole--it's so dense that there's no room for light, but that doesn't mean it can't still suck me in.”

This is a contemporary novel about a suicidal teenage girl who loves Physics. That's where the title comes in. This book is smart in more ways than one. Sure we have the physics aspect, but also the emotional aspect. This is an incredibly clever novel and one I really need to reread.

What books would you guys put on this list?


Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Wednesday 10 March 2021

Anti Haul Weekly

Dorothy Must Die

By Danielle Paige



Synopsis:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.


But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?


Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road—but even that's crumbling.


What happened? Dorothy.


They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.


My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.


I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.


I've been trained to fight.


And I have a mission.


My Thoughts:

When this first came out I was so excited. I wanted to read this book so bad. Unlike most of the others that I've done Anti Haul Weeklys on I don't really have strong feelings on this one. I just feel like I'm past the point in my life where I would want to read this. I used to really love the Wizard of Oz, I thought it was so fun and I've watched it several times. I just don't love it as much as I did back then. I feel no desire to buy this book or even read this book. I also just think that this is a very 2014 book. Just from reading the synopsis, I think it really coasted on the fact that dystopians were really big at the time. I know this book is not dystopian, but it really gives me the sort of vibes that early 2010s dystopians had right before they died out. It just sounds like something I wouldn't enjoy reading anymore.


Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Thursday 4 March 2021

Books for Gryffindors


I know several people have done this before and I just wanted to add in my own two cents. I have to say, I think my choices are pretty good. I am a Gryffindor so I chose to start with this one, but I do plan on doing a post for all of the houses. So stay tuned for the others.


A Promise of Fire



This series was so fun to read. It was exciting from the very first chapter. It's packed full of action, humour, and romance. It's a trifecta. It's just *chefs kiss*. Go in not knowing too much, I can almost guarantee you will love it.


The Shining



Since we are Gryffindors, we do things that scare us for the thrills. Such as reading the Shining in the middle of the night with a flashlight. I say this from experience. That is the best way to read this book. 


Beowulf



This is the epitome of bravery. If bravery were a text it would be Beowulf. This is an exciting adventure from start to finish. If you want some classic action, definitely give this one a read. I would recommend the R. M. Liuzza translated edition. It's a really easy translation to understand when I've had to look at two different translations for school and this one was much easier to understand.


The Outsiders



This book was all about overcoming prejudice and being brave. There's a lot of action, and while I almost put this in Hufflepuff because this book was full of heart, I just felt like it had its place in Gryffindor.

What books would you guys put on this list?


Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow

Monday 1 March 2021

Anti Haul Weekly


Fire

By Kristin Cashore


Synopsis:

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.


This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.


Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.


If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Graceling series. I just never see myself reading this book. I read Graceling so long ago and I thought it was okay. I kinda held out hope I would read it for a few years because my friends loved it so much. I just didn't like the first book enough to read this second one. Plus, this is about a completely different set of characters. I don't even remember enough about the world to just jump in like that. This is one I will continue to feel guilty about not reading, but I don't think I'm going to change my mind. If I ever do I'll be sure to let you guys know.

Feel free to add me on social media! And you can follow my blog in the sidebar to be notified when I post!
Jessie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) Instagram Follow