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.

The Great Facebook Cleanse of 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014June 12, 2018 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Out with the old and in with the new. With a new year comes new challenges, new adventures, and probably new friends. Now I know Drake said, “No new friends,” but I believe there’s always room to meet new people. There’s also room to let go of some of those old friends. In this case I mean Facebook friends.

I remember a time when I used to want 1,000 Facebook friends. I thought that would be cool, to say I knew all these people. The thing is you might know 1,000 people but you don’t actually know them. Either you met them that one time at a party or you were once friends but you’re not anymore, or you don’t even remember how you became friends with this person. Either way, there’s a bunch of people that you probably don’t actually need to be friends with on Facebook and although it might be hard to let go it may be for the best. Here’s a list of some of the people you may want to delete before the New Year:

Your ex – Yes, Facebook stalking might be fun and vindicating but it’s probably not healthy
Ex-friends – see previous
Someone you haven’t spoken to in the last six months
Someone who’s name you can’t immediately recognize
Any organizations that you felt obligated to be friends with at some point but now realize you don’t actually have to be friends with someone that’s not even a real person (unless you’re in that organization, in which case you might want to leave it alone for now)
Anyone you’ve only remained friends with to stalk them (#StopFacebookStalking2015)
That one person that you added because they looked cute but then never actually spoke to (or you did and it didn’t work out, see #1)
Anyone that’s still poking you, sending you invites to games (Candy Crush especially), or is just generally annoying you on Facebook

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules. Family members are off limits (even if they’re your third cousin twice removed). Childhood friends that you haven’t seen in a while but you still have fond memories of are totally allowed to stay. And really anyone you just feel wrong parting with, don’t. Obviously these exceptions could make all these rules invalid and that’s fine. Maybe you don’t want to get rid of any of your Facebook friends. No judgment.

Just remember all those people that you’re friends with can also back stalk you. Just a thought. Happy cleansing!

POPSUGAR’s 2015 Reading Challenge

Posted on December 27, 2014November 25, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

I’m super excited to participate in POPSUGAR’s 2015 Reading Challenge next year. To keep track of all the books I have to read I’ve decided to make a list. If you’d like to join me in this challenge please make your own blog post about what books you plan to read and put the link of your post in the comments. There’s a Goodreads group that you can join for the challenge. Check my sidebar for the link. Here’s my list:

A book with more than 500 pages: In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
A classic romance: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A book that became a movie: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
A book published this year: Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A book with a number in the title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
A book written by someone under 30: The Kissing Booth by Beeth Reekles
A book with nonhuman characters: The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead
A funny book: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max
A book by a female author: The Heir by Kiera Cass
A mystery or thriller: Rooms by Lauren Oliver
A book with a one-word title: Angelfall by Susan Ee
A book of short stories: Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
A book set in a different country: PS, I Love You by Ceceila Ahern
A nonfiction book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A popular author’s first book: Where Roses Grow Wild by Patricia Cabot (Meg Cabot)
A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet: All Fall Down by Ally Carter
A book a friend recommended: Lovestruck in London by Rachel Schuring
A Pulitzer Prize-winning book: The Hours by Michael Cunningham
A book based on a true story: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A book at the bottom of your to-read list: YOLO by Lauren Myracle
A book your mom loves: Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
A book that scares you: Revival by Stephen King
A book more than 100 years old: Emma by Jane Austen
A book based entirely on its cover: Top 10 Clues You’re Clueless by Liz Czukas
A book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
A memoir: Travelling to Infinity by Jane Hawking
A book you can finish in a day: Something True by Kieran Scott
A book with antonyms in the title: The Light and Dark by Mikhail Shishkin
A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity
A book that came out the year you were born: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
A book with bad reviews: Uninvited by Amanda Marrone
A trilogy: Legend by Marie Lu
A book from your childhood: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
A book with a love triangle: Down to You by M. Leighton
A book set in the future: California by Edan Lepucki
A book set in high school: Wicked Games by Sean Olin
A book with a color in the title: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
A book that made you cry: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
A book with magic: Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
A graphic novel: Watchmen by Alan Moore
A book by an author you’ve never read before: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
A book you own but have never read: Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
A book that takes place in your hometown: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A book that was originally written in a different language: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A book set during Christmas: Ex-mas by Kate Brian
A book written by an author with your same initials: All Natural by Zack Jones
A play: The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer
A banned book: Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
A book based on or turned into a TV show: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
A book you started but never finished: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Book Review: The Eternity Cure

Posted on December 24, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie’s birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There’s a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

*This review will contain spoilers. You’ve been warned!*

For some reason (probably school) it took me way to long to read this book. I loved The Immortal Rules but somehow I think I loved this sequel even more. There was no annoying Jeb or that girl that was in love with Zeke. It was just Allie, Zeke, and Jackal most of the book. And then Kanin who I love. The most annoying character was Stick and I was not at all upset when he finally died.

The book began with Allie looking for her sire, Kanin, but instead of finding Kanin she friends her vamp brother Jackal, the jerk face that killed Zeke’s adopted father and most of his friends/family. Despite her better judgment Allie decides to team up with her brother and they go forward to find and save Kanin from the crazy vamp, Sarren.

Allie gets way more than she bargained for, however, when she discovers:

A) She has to go back to her hometown, New Covington.

B) She finds Zeke, the human she’s in love with but knows she can’t be with, also in New Covington.

C) Sarren has unleashed some crazy new virus that makes humans crazy and makes vamps decay.

Yeah, talk about a hot mess. Despite mutual animosity Zeke joins the Allie/Jackal team and they’re off to save the world. There’s of course some tension between Allie and Zeke (both sexual and just the regular kind) but thankfully they push through it and become the cutest vamp/human couple known to man. Although I have no idea how this could possibly work out I ship it.

The trio work together to find Kanin only to discover Prince Salazar’s holding him captive and working with Sarren. Oh, and Stick is working for Salazar. Talk about a hot mess. Thankfully, Sarren quickly shows his true colors when he attempts to kill Salazar and the Prince joins team Allie. Well, sort of. He then agrees to give them Kanin but not before he sticks him with the virus. No better way to make sure he gets the cure than to make Kanin sick, am I right?

With that motivation Allie is more than ready to do whatever it takes to get the cure. Even so, she’s given even more unneeded motivation when a rabid human bites Zeke, giving him the virus. Julie Kagawa, pull my heart out why don’t you?

With all the odds stacked against them Jackal, in typical Jackal fashion, bails, leaving Kanin, Allie, and Zeke on their own. Too bad Allie’s the only left that’s still remotely healthy. Looks like she’s taking Sarren on all on her own.

After having to leave a too sick to fight Zeke behind it’s just Allie and Kanin, who’s in real bad shape, against crazy Sarren. Well until they get to Sarren’s lab and discover … Jackal!

Yep. Classic Jackal. Sarren deciding he’s done with Kanin goes after Allie and just when I think I’m going to have stop reading because things are going to get real gross Jackal steps up and helps Allie. Though he ends up not being that helpful Zeke suddenly appears and saves the day. Turns out he took an experimental cure while at Eden and he’s all good. Hooray! Using Zeke’s blood they’re also able to cure Kanin. And the day is saved. Except not quite.

Although they all give Sarren a good beating he’s still able to escape and of course it’s not the last we see of him. Thanks to Stick, Sarren is able to kidnap Zeke and get the location of Eden out of him. Sarren seemingly kills Zeke but in the epilogue Kagawa saves me from a heart attack by revealing Zeke isn’t dead just yet. But what will happen next?

Kagawa put me on an emotional roller coaster this entire novel. I fell more in love with Zeke and Allie’s relationship in this novel and I was heartbroken when the novel ended with them being separated yet again. If they don’t end up together by the end of this trilogy I will be outraged. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

Favorite Line:

“For the rest of my existence, if I lived to see the end of this world, there would never be another Ezekiel Crosse. There would never be another soul as bright as his. And that both terrified me and made me savagely – and maybe selfishly – determined to keep him. Zeke was mine now. Forever.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I want to reread this book many times. Or just the scenes of Allie and Zeke. Although Jackal’s hilarious so I also want to read those parts. And I love Kanin. Okay so I’m going to need to read this whole book again. Yeah, it’s that good.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! I may have to buy this book just so I can reread it all the time. For reals, you’ll want this on your shelf.

Other Reviews:

Seacoast Reads

I’m Loving Books

Love Is Not A Triangle

How to Get a Man (As Told By Beyonce)

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Cuffing season is in full swing but you might still be looking for cuddle buddy. Well Beyonce is here to help you out. Here’s Beyonce’s 11 step program to get chose.

Step 1: Be flawless.

Step 2: Show him your moves.

#bootylicious

Step 3: And be the best dancer in your crew.

Step 4: Make it clear you’re single.

Step 5: Be fierce.

Step 6: Remind him there’s no time to waste.

#next

Step 7: Make sure your wink game is strong.

Step 8: Make him laugh.

Step 9: Show him a good time.

Step 10: Don’t be afraid to whip that hair.

Step 11: Lastly, work it.

Source for GIFs: Giphy

Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed

Posted on December 13, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon:

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

After reading Fifty Shades Darker I decided to take a break from the crazy Fifty Shades world and read some lighter fiction. But now I’m back.

The last book left off with Ana and Christian being engaged and celebratory while Ana’s ex-boss, Jack Hyde, was planning how he was going to kill Christian. This book kind of began where they left off but not really. For some reason rather than just continue where she left off, Ms. James decided to start the novel when Ana and Christian are on their honey moon but have flashbacks to the time when they were planning their wedding and got married. That was annoying.

Once we got past the flashbacks phase, however, the book was okay. There was a lot of drama, as to be expected when one marries someone as crazy as Christian and has someone equally as crazy trying to kill you/your husband. Christian and Ana had some cute scenes but Christian’s controlling behavior still bothered me. What bothered me more was Ms. James attempt to make it look like Ana actual had some control over Christian and Christian wasn’t as controlling as he was. Yeah, okay.

That aside I didn’t hate the book. I didn’t like it as much as the second one but it wasn’t completely terrible. There was a small plot twist that I wish was bigger and I think Ms. James could’ve done better. The action in the story though was great and towards the end of the novel Ana and Christian got into this big fight and it was the first time I actually felt Ana had some kind of a back bone and I applauded her for standing up for herself and (SPOILER!!) her future kid.

Ms. James kind of ruined the ending for me however, when she went back to that flashback type of writing. She made up for it, however, by giving us some scenes from the first book in Christian’s point of view, which surprisingly I liked way better than Ana’s. I would be interested to read the whole series in Christian’s point of view. That would be cray.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this series. It’s too crazy for me and it just made me angry most of the time. There were some cute love scenes but they didn’t make up for Christian being way too controlling and Ana being submissive. Glad I finally read it so I can say I did but I’ll never read it again.

Favorite Line:

From: Christian Grey
Subject: My Life’s Mission…
Date: September 5, 2011 09:25
To: Anastasia Grey

Is to spoil you, Mrs. Grey.
And keep you safe because I love you.

Christian Grey
Smitten CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

Stars: 2 out of 5. It had some good scenes but overall I wasn’t a fan.

Borrow or Buy: Definitely borrow.

Other Reviews:

Lara’s Book Club

Maryse’s Book Blog

Books & Cupcakes

Switched at Birth Recap: “Yuletide Fortune Tellers”

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

After a long hiatus we finally got to see our favorite Switched at Birth characters (well most of them) reunite in a Christmas special and it was great.

The show begins with the Kennish’s and Vasquez’s getting ready to celebrate Christmas together for the first time. Regina attempts to get out of it and convince Daphne to continue their annual tradition of ordering Chines food and going to the movies but Daphne’s not having it. Similarly, Kathryn is overjoyed about the holidays and is going all out driving Bay crazy.

The two families then go to their favorite pizza spot, Sal’s, that just reopened and Regina and Kathryn end up in a fight over the plans for Christmas day. Regina storms off in a huff and Daphne and Bay are left asking themselves what could life had been like if they were never switched at birth.

In classic fashion, they get to find out after splitting a garlic knot that takes them to an alternate universe. There Bay wakes up and realizes she’s deaf, living in Daphne’s childhood home with Regina and Angelo Jr. Meanwhile Daphne is living with the Kennish’s where Toby is now a goth musician, John is a stay at home dad and Daphne’s soccer coach, and Kathryn runs her own make-up line.

At first everything seems fine and dandy until, of course, it isn’t. Regina is still an alcoholic and John and Kathryn are on the brink of a divorce. Most importantly, there’s no Bemmett! Emmett only sees Bay (AU Daphne) as a friend.

Of course Daphne and Bay then become determined to mend the situation and return to Sal’s to get the magical garlic knot. Unfortunately for them Sal’s is closed but Sal is able to give them a recipe for the knots. He warns them that won’t solve their problem but of course the girls don’t listen.

In an elaborate scheme Daphne and Bay are able to get their two families together at the Kennish house and make the garlic knots. Of course, as Sal warned, splitting the garlic knot doesn’t fix the problem. However, at the big family reunion both Bay and Daphne realize how important their mother’s Christmas traditions are to them. We also got a nice Bemmett kiss there so that was plus.

After the girls become resigned to their new alternate universe they both decide to visit their “adoptive” mothers. Bay reaches out to Kathryn and brings her the same peanuts that her mother asked her to shell in the real world. Daphne visits Regina and tells her she can overcome her alcoholism and they decide to order Chinese food and watch movies.

The show then ends with the girls waking up and everything goes back to normal. Both girls then appreciate their mothers even more and the Kennish’s and Vasquez’s end by joining in for a Christmas carol.

Overall, the episode was great but there’s one thing I didn’t get. If Daphne was deaf in the AU why did she already know how to sign? Similarly, even Bay did get speech theory there’s no way she would’ve been able to speak that well just like Daphne isn’t able to. Okay, maybe she would be able to. I don’t really know for sure but that seems like a stretch.

More important than the episode itself, however, was the preview for the winter premiere which sadly won’t air until Jan. 6.

Even so, I’m super excited and can’t wait. I just hope they don’t break up Bemmett (again!). I’ll be furious. Check out the preview below and let me know what you think will happen next.

When Will My Life Matter?

Posted on December 3, 2014December 3, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

It took me a while to really pinpoint how I was feeling today. Hearing that the police officer who killed Eric Garner was not indicted just added oil to an already burning fire in my heart. I am heart broken. I am angry. I am saddened. This injustice hurts me but it no longer surprises me. That’s what bothers me the most. That suddenly I’ve become used to hearing news like this.

I didn’t really know where to put all this emotion, so I did what I usually do. I wrote. This is a short poem that I wrote today and it helped me express how I’m feeling. Feel free to leave comments and share how you’re feeling. But also please make sure to take care of yourself. Do not wallow in this pain that you may be feeling. Don’t give up. Keep fighting, stay strong, and remember you do matter.

When Will I Matter?

Sometimes I wish I was white.

Of a fairer skin,

Something lighter, someone different.

Maybe then it would be easier.

Living in this place called America

Where the color of my skin determines if I even matter.

Sometimes I wish I was white because maybe then I wouldn’t feel so worried about what would happen to my brothers, my nephew, my cousins, or even me.

Maybe then I’d be less concerned about a cop getting too trigger happy.

Maybe then I wouldn’t be afraid a cop would use my asthma against me.

But no matter how hard I wish, hope, and pray I know the color of my skin will never change.

The only thing I can really pray for is a new system. One that’s not already set up to fail me.

But until then I’ll keep trying, keep pushing, keep asking.

When will my life matter?

The Friendship Shrinkage Conundrum

Posted on December 2, 2014December 2, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

When I was preparing to go to college I was told that the friends I made there would be the friends I have for the rest of my life. That made me so excited. Who wouldn’t want friends for life? So when I was suddenly part of this awesome group of six girls from my freshman floor I was ecstatic. I couldn’t say how it all happened. I think my roommate was in an OA group with one of the other girls who was neighbors with two of the other girls. Either way a great friend group was formed. We called ourselves the “Sexy Six” and even had our own group message to keep in touch.

It was great. We had dinner together. We hung out together. We celebrated each others birthdays with door decorations and dinners. We would gossip and vent to each other. Some of us even took classes together. We were inseparable. Well, until we weren’t.

I can’t pinpoint the moment when it happened but suddenly we weren’t hanging out as much as we used to. The group message wasn’t in use anymore. We didn’t text each other asking, “What time is dinner?” We’d go with other people. Suddenly, we’d have to schedule our hang out sessions because we were all so busy with our clubs and our classes and our new friends. Eventually, we just stopped having hang out sessions at all.

That’s when I realized we grew apart. There was no fight. No drama. No falling out. We just weren’t really friends anymore. But by the time I realized this I had a new group of friends. We were having dinner all the time and hanging out in each other rooms. We were suddenly inseparable and it was like the whole friend process started all over again.

Over time even that friend group has truncated and I’ve gained new friends since then. Now I’d say I have a solid group of about four friends that I would consider my closest. The ones I run to with good news or bad news. The ones I ask for career advice or boy advice. The ones who know me sometimes even better than I know myself.

It’s this group of friends, the ones that I have inside jokes with. The ones who will travel to New York just celebrate my birthday with me. This smaller group of people are the friends I think everyone was talking about. The one’s that will last forever. The ones who’ll be at my wedding and become godparents to my kids.

But what about that first group? Or even the second? What happened to those friends? As a Resident Assistant to freshman I see this all the time. The group of seven or even eight friends that instantly click during New Student Orientation and become thick as thieves. Taking group photos together, going to party togethers, doing everything together.

Then either the next semester or the following year things have changed. The group has shrunk, either being split down the middle or becoming something totally different entirely. Suddenly that big group has disbanded and they’re not one united front anymore.

So what happens? What changes? Well that’s easy. We do. We realize that although we may have loved the first friends we made when we got here and yes they totally helped us transition into college life there was probably a lot of things we didn’t know about each other before we decided we were going to be the best of friends. College is the time when we probably change the most. It’s the first time (for most of us) that we’re living away from our parents. When we’re on our own, making our own decisions. It’s the time when we get to experiment and try new things and learn what it is we’re really passionate about.

Of course that’s going to change from the time we first get here to the time we leave. And that’s fine. It’s expected even. And just as we change so do our friends. We discover we have different interests, different goals, different ideals, etc. This isn’t bad, it’s just the way it is.

It’s not bad to come to college and have this large group of friends. It’s great even. I wouldn’t change my “Sexy Six” crew for the world. It doesn’t matter if the friends you make here last for a year or last forever. What matters is all the different experiences you make with those people. The memories you forge with the different friends you make here matter and all those group photos you took will still mean something to you when you look back at them years from now, whether you’ve kept in touch with those people or not.

But when you do find that group of people that you know will be around for a while, the one’s you call your “ride or dies”? The ones who have seen you at your best and your worst. Well, those are the friends you know are worth keeping.

Eight Celebs Who Were Once RAs

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Before they were famous these celebs were once Resident Assistants so next time you want to hate on your RA just remember one day they might be famous. Check it out.

1. Kerry Washington, George Washington University

Before playing DC’s most powerful fixer, Washington was stopping football players from making a ruckus on her floor.

2. Adam Sandler, New York University

To help pay his way through college, Sandler acted as a RA at NYU.

3. Hillary Clinton, Wellesley College

Clinton went from Resident Assistant to First Lady to Secretary of State to next president? We shall see.

4. Sheryl Crow, University of Missouri, Columbia

Before writing music Crow was writing up residents (probably).

5. Katie Couric, University of Virginia

Couric may cover major news stories now but back in the day she was responsible for covering her floor.

6. Wesley Snipes, State University of New York at Purchase

Before Snipes started protecting all mortals from vampires he was protecting his residents.

7. Donald Glover, New York University

Glover worked as a staff writer on 30 Rock while being a RA. Talk about multi-tasking.

8. Jerry O’Connell, New York University

Before going into acting O’Connell was responsible for his residents at NYU.

In summary: Being an RA totally has future benefits. #waitonit

Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Besides the crazy long title I absolutely loved this book. I loved the letter form (and sometimes telegraphs and journal entries) and I loved the characters.

The story follows Juliet Ashton, this quirky author who has a love for books and writing (like me!). She’s looking for inspiration for her next book and after writing about World War II throughout the war she’s searching for something different.

Little did she know that what she was looking for was on this little British island that was occupied by the Germans during the war. After she receives a letter from a man named Dawsey who found her copy of a book by Charles Lamb, Juliet is led on this awesome adventure discovering the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and the wonderful people in it.

If you don’t want to get spoiled stop reading here. This is your warning!

After much letter correspondence Juliet finally goes to Guernsey and discovers not only an awesome novel idea about the society now deceased leader, Elizabeth, but she also finds a family in her love with Dawsey and Kit, Elizabeth’s daughter.

The only thing I wanted more of from this novel is Dawsey’s point of view. I could kind of see that he had feelings for Juliet but he’s so quiet and shy that we don’t get to really hear him say anything about it until the very end and then the book’s over.

Otherwise I thought the book was brilliant. Also, I have a theory about the way this book is written. First, the fact that Dawsey’s name sounds very close to Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice leads me to believe the authors did that on purpose. Especially since the book is brought up in the novel and it is Isola who falls in love with it and then it is later Isola who finally leads to Juliet and Dawsey being together. Also, when discussing Pride and Prejudice Juliet says, “[Isola] might actually die of suspense before she finished it” and that’s basically how I felt when I was (impatiently) waiting for Juliet and Dawsey to finally admit their feelings for each other.

That’s just my theory though. I want to ask the authors if I’m right though because I’m pretty confident I am.

Overall, this book was great and I’d definitely recommend it. It’s also not that hard to get through because it is in letter form and the characters are hilarious and will keep you laughing the whole way through even though the tale is kind of sad.

Favorite Line:

Men are more interesting in books than they are in real life.

Stars: 5 out of 5. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book because I’ve never been a big fan of historical fiction but I truly enjoyed it and would read it again (if only to get clues about Dawsey’s feelings for Juliet).

Borrow or Buy: Buy! So good and definitely worth a reread.

Other Reviews:

The Book Smugglers

All About Romance

BlogHer