Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Book Review: Maybe Not

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I absolutely loved Maybe Someday so I was excited when I heard there was a novella because I needed more of these characters. Maybe Not is told in the point of view of Warren, Ridge’s roommate and best friend. In this novella we get the story from when Bridgette first moved into the apartment and her up and down relationship with Warren. If you read Maybe Someday you have an idea of what went down but with this novella we get to see so much more of Bridgette and Warren. Don’t get me wrong Bridgette is still pretty mean but we also see this other side of her that only Warren gets to see and it’s really nice.

Also, I totally fell in love with Warren. I liked him a lot in Maybe Someday but this novella made me fall head over heels. He’s definitely one of my favorite bookish boyfriends now. It was also really interesting to get some answers to things that didn’t really make sense to me in Maybe Someday but I didn’t question. Like why Warren is obsessed with porn. Or why Ridge’s little brother, Brennan, let Bridgette move in in the first place.

This novella was cute, short, and pretty steamy compared to Maybe Someday. If you loved Maybe Someday as much as I did I highly recommend this book.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! It’s pretty cheap since it’s just a novella so, honestly, why not?

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“The only difference between falling in love and being in love is that your heart already knows how you feel, but your mind is too stubborn to admit it.”

Other Reviews

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Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Posted on April 26, 2016April 25, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

I’ll be perfectly honest. When I heard Lin-Manuel Miranda, from Hamilton fame, narrated the audiobook of Aristotle and Dante I immediately knew I had to get it. I’d heard about this book before and had heard good things but knowing Lin narrated the audiobook pushed me over the edge. I needed it immediately. So I bought it. Immediately.

It was the best $14.95 I ever spent. I tend to only listen to audiobooks when I’m doing some form of exercise (this happens maybe once a month) or when I’m walking to the train but I couldn’t stop listening to Ari and Dante’s story. It’s told from Ari’s point of view and I loved Ari. He’s sweet but doesn’t want to be. He wants to know about his brother Bernardo, and why his family never talks about him, but Ari doesn’t know how to ask. And Ari also hates that his father doesn’t speak that much but Ari doesn’t say much either.

Then Ari meets Dante. Dante is the antithesis to Ari. Dante is happy, excited, and talks a lot. When Dante first meets Ari the first thing he says is,”I can teach how to swim!” Dante doesn’t ask if Ari wants to learn, he just volunteers himself. Strangely, that’s exactly what Ari needs because Ari would’ve never asked for help himself.

And thus a beautiful friendship was born. What I loved about this novel was how open and honest Dante was about his feelings and thoughts and how that completely contrasted with how Ari kept his feelings and thoughts so closely guarded. These two were so different but also had a lot in common. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters. I loved both Dante and Ari’s parents for different reasons and in different ways. I also really liked Ari’s classmates Gina and Susie who we don’t see that much of but when they’re there they added humor and brought out another side of Ari.

This novel dealt with a lot issues including race, family, friendship, love, and LGBT issues. More than that though it was very relatable. I often forgot this book took place in the late ’80s and kept wondering why people didn’t just text or call someone on their cell. I liked how the author, Benjamin Alire Saenz, built up tension and kept some facts hidden from the reader until the very end. This book was beautifully written and handled so many topics really well. This is definitely a keeper.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“I don’t need the rain. I need you.”

Other Reviews

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Book Review: The Raven Boys

Posted on April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them–until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn’t believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

This book came out almost four years ago and I’m upset it took me this long to finally read it. Seriously, this is why I need more book nerd friends because who let me go this long without reading this series? Then again maybe this is a blessing in disguise because now I get to binge the books instead of having to impatiently wait for the next book (the last one comes out in five days).

Seriously though, this book was amazing. First, the characters are fantastic. I loved Blue and her dry humor as well as all the women who live at 300 Fox Way. They’re all incredibly quirky in the best way. And the Raven Boys! I loved them all, even Ronan. Actually, especially Ronan. Give me a bad boy who has a troubled past and I instantly fall head over heels. Ronan is perfect and I’m excited to see how his character will grow and change through the series. The other boys, Adam, Gansey, and Noah were also awesome although my feelings for Adam definitely changed from the start of the book to the end. I won’t say how because I don’t want to spoil anything.

And not only did Maggie Stiefvater create amazing characters but the plot was so well written. She wrote a twist that actually caught me by surprise. Let me tell you that after reading for so long I am rarely caught by surprise and she got me which I loved. I love the unexpected and this book was definitely unexpected. I also like that I still don’t know everything and that Maggie is slowly giving us answers but there’s still SO much mystery in the series. I have my suspicions and ideas on how everything will play out in the end but the fact that I don’t know makes this so fun.

Lastly, I really like that Blue can’t really be involved with any of the guys. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely romance but nothing crazy because Blue is very limited based on the warning about what will happen to her true love. I’m also pretty sure a love triangle is brewing there but I also like that there’s just a genuine love between the Raven Boys and Blue and this won’t turn into a Peeta/Katniss/Gale (The Hunger Games) situation. If anything there may be a Jem/Tessa/Will (The Infernal Devices) type thing but I don’t even think that would be the case here. I think Maggie has put so much into this series that a love triangle would just feel so inconsequential that it couldn’t be the focus.

In summary, The Raven Boys was great and I’m now Raven Boys trash and proud. Definitely check out this series if you haven’t already. Also if anyone wants to fangirl over this series with me (no spoilers please!) let me know in the comments.

Borrow or Buy: Buy immediately!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“My words are unerring tools of
destruction, and I’ve come unequipped with the ability to disarm them.”

Other Reviews

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Cuddlebuggery

Fantasy Book Critic

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Book Review: Prodigy

Posted on April 19, 2016May 10, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2016 Reading Challenge.*

*SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read Legend yet, there will be minor spoilers from that book in this review. You’ve been warned!*

It’s been a while since I read Legend so I was worried I wouldn’t remember everything. Thankfully, Prodigy picks up right where Legend left off and everything came back to me immediately. June and Day are looking for the Patriots because they need help to save Day’s brother, Eden. In this book we really see the differences between June and Day and I really enjoyed that.

For Day, who’s been poor his whole life, he hates the Elector and everything he stands for. To him it seems highly unlikely that the new Elector, Anden, could be anything but evil. June, however, sees things differently. Although she still hates the Republic for what they did to her family she believes it can be saved and made better with the help of a good Elector. The different ways Day and June see their world leads to them butting heads and this isn’t helped by Tess, who has feelings for Day, and Anden, who has feelings for June.

Jealousy, misunderstandings, and betrayal made this novel fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I expected some of the twists but not all of them and the ending really punched me in the gut. I can’t wait to get Champion so I can know how it all ends.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“The first time I kissed you…Well, that might as well have been my first kiss ever.”

Other Reviews

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Book Review: Too Late

Posted on April 14, 2016June 22, 2017 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books

Synopsis from Wattpad:

Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does, every single day. After finding herself stuck in a relationship with the dangerous and morally corrupt Asa Jackson, Sloan will do whatever it takes to get by until she’s able to get out. Nothing will get in her way. Nothing except Carter.

Sloan is the best thing to ever happen to Asa. And if you ask Asa, he’d say he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Sloan. And he has no plans of letting her go; even if she doesn’t approve of his sinister lifestyle. But despite Sloan’s disapproval, Asa knows what it takes to keep what he wants, and he’ll do it. He knows what he needs to do to remain on top, and he does it. Nothing will get in his way. Nothing except Carter.

As some of you know I’ve recently taken a swan dive into Colleen Hoover’s books. Recently she uploaded a story to Wattpad, a website that offers free books, and thankfully by the time I caught wind of it she was almost done writing it because I don’t think I could’ve waited while she posted chapter by chapter.

Too Late is a bit different than Queen CoHo’s other novels. For one thing it’s told in three alternating POVs instead of her usual two. Additionally, this story is way more explicit and comes with a “Mature Audiences Only” warning. As soon as the novel begins you can see why it’s explicit. There’s sex and a lot of violence, and CoHo just goes full steam ahead with this story.

Right from the beginning I was pulled into the drama that is Sloan’s life. Her boyfriend, Asa, is a hot mess in every sense. He’s abusive, crazy, and a drug dealer. Carter on the other hand, is everything you would expect from a CoHo love interest. He’s protective, caring, and kind of funny. If you’ve read Confess I’d say Too Late is kind of similar but with the volume turned all the way up.

Sloan’s situation is much more dire than Auburn’s in Confess, and what’s cool about Too Late is we do get Asa’s POV, which is enlightening but not enough for me to feel sympathetic towards him. He’s still a total and complete jerk but at least as the novel goes on we kind of understand why. Asa’s actions are still inexcusable but at least they’re explanatory. Honestly, I’m not sure which character I dislike more: Asa or Trey from Confess.

As with most of CoHo’s novels, the love story completely pulled me in. Sloan and Carter have instant chemistry and their conversations and playful manner with each other made me swoon.

Too Late was the perfect combination of suspense, drama, and romance that made me hooked. I think I read this book in about a day and I’m so glad it was my first Wattpad book. Obviously, CoHo is a bestselling author so I know not every Wattpad story will be like this, but at least this has opened me up to giving Wattpad books a chance.

Definitely give Too Late a read if you want to try out some of CoHo’s writing before reading her published work. It’s totally free (Edit: This book is no longer on Wattpad. You can now purchase it on Amazon) and although it’s not exactly like her published works I think it’ll be enough to help you decide if CoHo’s writing is for you. Although, really you should just read her books. They’re amazing!

Borrow or Buy: Since this is a Wattpad book this question actually doesn’t apply. But if you could buy Too Late I would highly recommend doing so. (Edit: Definitely a borrow.)

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“My mouth finds hers again and I kiss her the way she deserves to be kissed. With conviction. With respect. With feeling.”

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Book Review: A Study in Charlotte

Posted on April 12, 2016May 11, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices—and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends.

But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2016 Reading Challenge.*

Honestly, I don’t have a lot of knowledge about Sherlock Holmes. I definitely saw one of the movies with Robert Downey Jr. but that was about it. I’ve never even read the books and I don’t watch Sherlock. Still, when I heard about this book I desperately wanted to read it. I don’t know what but I’ve always liked Sherlock Holmes, just from a distance. Anyway, when I was finally able to grab it from the library I was super excited and immediately dived in. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

The book is told in the point of view of James Watson, who prefers to be referred to as Watson but people keep calling him Jamie. He’s sent to an American boarding school in Connecticut where Charlotte Holmes is currently attending school. Watson has fantasied about meeting Charlotte his whole life and he imagines the great adventures they’ll go on together just like their ancestors did. Of course, things don’t happen exactly like that.

Instead, one of their fellow classmates is found dead and Charlotte and Watson are the primary suspects. But luckily for Watson, Charlotte is a Holmes at heart and she’s got a plan. However, this mystery is not as cut and dry as it first seems.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved Watson’s descriptions and how he interacts with Charlotte. His narration of the books was really fun to read and Charlotte’s character is very interesting. Like I said I don’t have much experience with the original Holmes but I think the author did a great job capturing the characteristics of Charlotte and Watson in comparison to their ancestors.

At one point Watson’s father even gives him a sort of guidebook on how to handle a Holmes and it’s hilarious. Also, the author didn’t make this book too juvenile, which I really liked. The mystery was very real and the villain was diabolical. Plus Charlotte has a lot of issues she has to work through and the author didn’t sugar coat that at all.

Honestly, this book was fantastic and now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book. Oh and the epilogue of this book will give you all the feels. I won’t say why because even though it’s not really a spoiler I still don’t want to spoil it. In summary, definitely read this book.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

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Book Review: The Love That Split The World

Posted on April 7, 2016July 12, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Borrow

Synopsis from Amazon:

Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start…until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

I didn’t love this book like I thought I would. I almost didn’t finish it but after I finished reading Maybe Someday I returned to it at the advise of many people on Instagram. However, it’d be wrong to say this is a bad novel. It’s not. Emily Henry crafted a well-written and thought provoking novel. It just wasn’t the book for me.

Throughout most of her life Natalie has received visits from a mysterious woman she refers to as “Grandmother.” One night during Natalie’s senior years of high school “Grandmother” warns Natalie that she only has three months to save “him” but of course, “Grandmother” doesn’t explain who the “him” she’s referring to is.

Enter Beau, an equally mysterious character that suddenly appears in Natalie’s life. And I mean that literally. He just pops up on the football field and Natalie’s the only one that sees him. Soon Natalie’s life is getting more and more strange. She’s seeing things that aren’t really there and what she thought was there one moment suddenly disappears. Beau seems to be the key to all of Natalie’s problems but she’s not sure exactly how everything’s connected and Natalie believes she must find “Grandmother” to get answers.

Unfortunately, after “Grandmother” gave Natalie the warning she didn’t come back. But with the support of her best friend who believes “Grandmother” is some version of God, and the help of a mysterious woman “Grandmother” tells Natalie to find, Natalie may be able to finally figure out the truth. But will she be too late to save someone’s life?

The cloud of mystery surrounding this novel was way too much for me. And I wasn’t at all interested in “Grandmother’s” stories and kept skimming through them even though I knew they were important to the book as a whole. I just couldn’t care enough to read them. I was bored. My favorite scenes were when Natalie was with Beau or talking to her best friends.

I think The Love That Splits The World falls into the magical realism category and I now know I don’t like this type of book. I didn’t like all the theoretical aspects of this book and although I think Henry did a great job of explaining why Natalie and Beau were the way they were in the end, a part of me just wished it wasn’t so complicated.

Like I said, I really wanted to like this book. I just couldn’t get into it. However, I can see why other people loved it. This one just wasn’t for me.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

It’s true that nothing has the potential to hurt so much as loving someone, but nothing heals like it either.

Other Reviews

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Book Review: Maybe Someday

Posted on April 5, 2016July 12, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis from Amazon:

At twenty-two years old, Sydney has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter’s cheating on her–and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by Ridge, her mysterious neighbor. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

Maybe Someday is now my favorite Collen Hoover book, but Confess is a very close second.

This novel follows Sydney, who’s boyfriend Hunter is the jerk to end all jerks, and sleeps with Sydney’s best friend and roommate, Tori. With nowhere to live after this epic betrayal Sydney is taken in by her mysterious (and hot!) neighbor Ridge.

Ridge is now in my top 10 list of book boyfriends. He is cute, sweet, and just such a great listener in a really interesting way. He’s loyal to a fault and loves deeply, which is why it’s super unfortunate for Sydney that Ridge has a girlfriend he’s completely and totally in love with. And Sydney refuses to allow herself to be a “Tori”.

So both Sydney and Ridge try to ignore the strong attraction they have for each other and instead work together to make incredible music. And as with any Colleen Hoover, this comes with a lot of complications and there’s more to the story than there first seems to be. This isn’t your average or typical love triangle. It’s way more complicated than that and it made my heart race and my stomach flip flop all over the place just reading it.

I really loved Ridge and Sydney. I loved how they communicate and how honest they are with each other. Their chemistry was undeniable and there were so many times I laughed and probably looked liked a crazy person on the train. But I couldn’t help but smile while reading this book. And cry. There was also some crying.

More than that I also really liked the side characters. Warren was hilarious and such a great friend. And Bridgette, although we don’t see a lot of her, she really added to the story. There’s a novella about Warren and Brdigette that I really want to read now because I need more of these characters. They’re just so well written and I loved how everything came together in this book.

I was so sad to return this book to the library today and I already plan on doing a Colleen Hoover book buy soon because I need to reread this book. So good!

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“My heart made it’s choice, and it chose you.”

Other Reviews

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'A Study In Charlotte,' 'Fairest,' And More Books To Read This Month

‘A Study In Charlotte,’ ‘Fairest,’ And More Books On My April TBR

Posted on April 1, 2016March 31, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Unfortunately I didn’t do so well with my March TBR list so I’m hoping to play catch up this month. My goal is to read at least eight books and hopefully catch up on my Goodreads challenge for the year. Here’s my April TBR.

1. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Ever since I joined “bookstagram” I’ve seen Colleen Hoover books everywhere. So far I’ve read two and Confess is my absolute favorite. I’m interested to see if Maybe Someday will top it.

2. You Know Me Well by David Levithan and Nina LaCour

When I saw this ARC in a NetGalley email I immediately requested it. I’ve honestly never read a book by just David Levithan but I’ve read two books he co-wrote (Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares) and I loved both of them. I’m excited to dive into another one of his stories.

3. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

I tried to request an ARC copy of this book to no avail so I’m excited to finally have the chance to read it. Full disclosure I’m not obsessed with Sherlock Holmes but I really like the concept of this novel. And I’m a sucker for retellings.

4. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Now that I’ve officially read every other book in The Lunar Chronicles, I think it’s finally time I learned Queen Levana’s backstory. Some of it’s already been spoiled for me but I’m still excited to read it for myself.

5. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

This was on my TBR last month but I am absolutely determined to finally read it. It’s been on my shelf for months now and I take pictures of it all the time but I haven’t actually read it yet. It’s time.

6. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Honestly, I don’t really know what this book is about but the cover is really pretty and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Plus it’s already on my shelf so I feel like I should read it.

7. Vanished by E. E. Cooper

This is another book that’s been on my shelf for a really long time and I’m super excited to read it this month. The protagonist is a person of color and queer, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen in a YA novel before. Plus, it’s been compared to Pretty Little Liars and I loved those books (at least books 1-8 anyway).

8. Remember to Forget by Ashley Royer

I’ve never really read books on Wattpad but I know a lot of people do and I’ve considered publishing stuff on there myself. So when I see a Wattpad story is being published I’m always interested and I was excited to get a digital ARC of this YA novel that did really well on Wattpad.

What books do you plan on reading this month? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow To Borrow or Buy on Instagram!

‘Lady Midnight,’ ‘The Haters,’ And Other Books I Read This Month (March Wrap-Up)

Posted on March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Unfortunately I did not read as much as I wanted to this month and now I’m behind on my Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge. However, all the books I read this month I loved so this will be a pretty tough wrap-up because it’ll be hard to choose a favorite. But I’ll try!

Number Of Books I Read This Month: 4

1. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I was so excited to get back into the Shadowhunters world and I loved the new characters. Emma and Julian were great and I’m a sucker for forbidden love. I also really liked all the Blackthorns and Mark was really funny. The plot was perfectly paced and I couldn’t put this book down. I can’t wait until I buy my own copy so I can reread it again and again.

2. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

I wasn’t a big fan of Red Queen but I really loved Glass Sword. I know a lot of people didn’t like how much Mare changed but I loved it. She was fierce, ruthless, and a little scary. I was 100 percent in support of the new Mare. And the ending? Crazy! I can’t wait until the next book. I need to know what happens!

3. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

It was great to jump back into The Lunar Chronicles world again. I missed all these characters and I really enjoyed learning more about Winter and Jacin since we don’t get to see a lot of them in the first four books. I like Jacin way more now than I did by the end of Winter. And of course that second epilogue with the wedding was everything I wanted and more. I can’t wait until Iko’s graphic novel comes out. I need more!

BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS MONTH

Unfortunately I didn’t receive any books this month but I did buy some books for the first time in a while. I ordered eight books from Book Outlet that I’ll hopefully get this weekend and I also won a giveaway so I should be getting Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell soon. I hope! I can’t wait to finally get some new books to add to my shelf.

Are you following my #bookstagram account? Make sure to check it out here or on my sidebar. Thanks!

Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: Maybe Not

Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

ARE YOU ON INSTAGRAM? MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THE TO BORROW OR BUY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT TODAY!

Book Review: The Raven Boys

Are you on Instagram? Make sure to follow the To Borrow or Buy Instagram account today!

Book Review: Prodigy

Are you on Instagram? Make sure to check out the To Borrow or Buy Instagram account!

Book Review: Too Late

Book Review: A Study in Charlotte

Book Review: The Love That Split The World

Book Review: Maybe Someday

‘A Study In Charlotte,’ ‘Fairest,’ And More Books On My April TBR

1. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

2. You Know Me Well by David Levithan and Nina LaCour

3. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

4. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

5. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

6. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

7. Vanished by E. E. Cooper

8. Remember to Forget by Ashley Royer

‘Lady Midnight,’ ‘The Haters,’ And Other Books I Read This Month (March Wrap-Up)

TOP THREE BOOKS I READ THIS MONTH

1. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

2. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

3. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

OTHER BOOKS I READ THIS MONTH

BOOKS I RECEIVED THIS MONTH