books – Page 4 – Zakiya N. Jamal

I Read 100 Books This Year! (My 2016 Wrap-Up)

Posted on December 31, 2016December 30, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

The amazing Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner made an End of Year Survey for book nerds (her 7th annual one!) and I’ll be using it for my yearly wrap-up. Check it out below and have a happy New Year!

2016 Reading Stats

Number of Books You Read: 100

Number of Re-Reads: 2

Genre You Read the Most From: YA Fantasy

Best In Books

1. Best Book You Read in 2016?

There’s no contest. A Court of Mist and Fury, for sure.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More But Didn’t?

All the Bright Places. It was SO overhyped.

3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read?

November 9 surprised me because I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. This was another overhyped book for me.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People to Read (And They Did)?

I attempted to push a lot of people to read ACOMAF but I don’t think anyone did lol.

5. Best Series You Started In 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

This is tough. Best series I started this year has to be Throne of Glass. I binged all the books this year. The best sequel of 2016 is ACOMAF (duh!). Crooked Kingdom and The Midnight Star tie for best series ender. They were both so well done that I can’t choose.

6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2016?

Kasie West; I’m obsessed with her books now.

7. Best Book From a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/Was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Illuminae and Gemina. I don’t read sci-fi that often but I love this series.

8. Most Action-Packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

Crooked Kingdom, for sure. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, worried about my Dregs.

9. Book You Read in 2016 That You Are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

ACOMAF, lol. Sorry not sorry.

10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2016?

The Raven King cover is GORGEOUS!

11. Most Memorable Character of 2016?

This is a really tough call but I gotta got with the High Lord of the Night Court, Rhysand.

12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2016?

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. Just thinking about it makes me cry.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2016?

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. So beautiful and thought provoking.

14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2016 to Finally Read?

Definitely the last four Harry Potter books. Honestly, I really can’t believe I’d never read them before.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2016?

“In my head I’ve been in love before, but it doesn’t feel like it. Being in love with you is better than the first time. It feels like the first time and the last time and the only time all at once.” — Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2016?

A Gallagher Wedding by Ally Carter was the shortest. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the longest.

17. Book That Shocked You the Most?

Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin definitely shocked me the most. I’m still crying over that ending.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (You Will Go Down With This Ship!)

“Feysand” (Feyre and Rhysand)

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

Emma and Cristina from Lady Midnight.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

21. Best Book You Read in 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. This book was everywhere on bookstagram and once my friend Jess told me she’d read it and liked it that was the final push for me to read it. A slow start but overall an awesome read.

22. Newest Fictional Crush From a Book You Read in 2016?

Magiano from The Young Elites trilogy

23. Best 2016 Debut You Read?

Dreamology by Lucy Keating

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I hate to say ACOMAF again but the worldbuilding in that book is superb. Velaris alone is enough to make ACOMAF my first choice.

25. Book That Put a Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN to Read?

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

27. Hidden Gem of the Year?

You Were Here by Cori McCarthy

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

The end of Empire of Storms definitely crushed my soul.

29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2016?

Definitely Illuminae and Gemina.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (Doesn’t Necessarily Mean You Didn’t Like It)?

Probably It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover just because it was so disappointing.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2016?

Twirling Pages

2. Favorite Review That You Wrote in 2016?

My review for Blood for Blood is pretty great, if I do say so myself.

3. Best Discussion/Non-Review Post You Had on Your Blog?

I really like my post on book hangovers.

4. Best Event That You Participated In (Author Signings, Festivals, Virtual Events, Memes, etc.)?

Definitely Book Con. I can’t wait to do it all again next year.

5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2016?

When I hit 2,000 followers on Instagram. It still doesn’t feel real, tbh.

6. Most Challenging Thing About Blogging or Your Reading Life This Year?

Definitely time management. I’m definitely going to be cutting back next year and reading less so I can focus on my writing more.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My book review of The Crown by Kiera Cass.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

My “9 Ways to Up Your Bookstagram Game” post, although to be fair I didn’t have a lot of followers back then so I can understand why no one trusted my judgement, lol.

9. Best Bookish Discovery (Book Related Sites, Book Stores, etc.)?

Definitely Book Outlet. I’ve gotten so many cheap books from that site this year.

10. Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals That You Had Set For Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

Yep! I reached my goal of reading 100 books this year, and just in the nick of time too.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get to in 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2017 (non-debut)?

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

The last Throne of Glass book 😦

5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2017?

Read more diverse books by diverse authors

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend to Everyone:

I haven’t read any yet. I’m so behind on my ARCs 😦

Book Review: On the Fence

Posted on December 30, 2016December 29, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

She’s a tomboy. He’s the boy next door.

With three older brothers, Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, has always been more comfortable calling the shots on a basketball court than flirting with the opposite sex. So when her police officer dad demands she get a summer job to pay for the latest in a long line of speeding tickets, she’s more than a little surprised to find herself working at a chichi boutique and going out with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game. Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with her neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden, sitting back-to-back against the fence that separates them. Braden may know her better than anyone. But there’s a secret Charlie’s keeping that even he hasn’t figured out—she’s fallen for him. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

I’ve been in the mood for romance lately and Kasie West is the perfect author to fill that need. Her books are so fun and cute to read and they’re super quick reads as well. Although I didn’t love On the Fence as much as I loved P.S. I Like You, it was still pretty close.

On the Fence was the perfect “friends turned to something more” romance. I was Team Braden from the moment he showed up. He’s cute, sweet, and a little bashful, which I found adorable. It was so obvious that he liked Charlie but of course Charlie couldn’t see it. That being said I related to Charlie a lot. Her mom died when she was only six years old and this caused her to have nightmares about her mother’s death that kept her up at night. This is how her late night conversations with Braden at the fence began. Although at first it was unintentional, their meetings became more intentional and they were so incredibly cute.

Besides Braden and Charlie, I really liked the other characters in this novel. Charlie’s dad was so adorable as he tried to navigate being a single dad with a daughter. It was hilarious and cute how hard he tried. I also really liked her brothers. Gabe is my favorite but Nathan was also really cute. Charlie’s boss Linda was so funny but also wise and I wish she was my boss. And I really liked Amber and all her friends.

The only complaint I had about this novel was at one point Charlie’s new friend Antonia was referred to as having “mocha skin.” This has always been a pet peeve of mine. If her skin is brown just say brown. No one ever refers to a white person’s skin tone as “vanilla”. Literally right before this is said Charlie refers to Amber’s skin as being “tan.” Why is a POC’s skin tone always compared to food? It’s fine to say their skin is brown or dark brown. Honestly, we’d prefer it.

Besides this, I found everything else about this book to be great. I thought the story about Charlie’s mom was very well done and I was actually kind of surprised by it even though I knew there had to be more to her mother’s death than what Charlie believed. I also liked how Charlie began to allow herself to step out of her comfort zone and wear different clothes and even try make-up. More than that, I liked that this wasn’t something she had to do to get the (right) guy but something she ended up doing for herself.

Overall, this was a cute and fun read and Braden is now on my best book boyfriends list. Seriously, he was so perfect.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Sometimes we expect more than people are capable of giving at that moment.”

Other Reviews

Love, Literature, Art, and Reason

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Nick and Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist

Book Review: P.S. I Like You

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters — sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

I am such a Kasie West fan now. I want to read all her books. They’re so good!

P.S. I Like You was the perfect romance novel and I wish I owned it so I could read it again. The story is told from Lily’s point of view and although I loved her I also liked that she had flaws. She knows how to hold a grudge and sometimes misjudges people but always apologizes when she realizes she’s made a mistake. Besides Lily though, I also really liked her family and her best friend, Isabel.

Although the person who Lily was writing the letters to was pretty obvious to me I was still really happy with the romance of this novel. Lily figures it out about half way through the novel and I like how that wasn’t the end of the story. It was kind of just the beginning actually. Lily was forced to come to terms with the fact that her letter writer wasn’t who she hoped it was but also that there’s more to some people than meets the eye.

I really liked the relationship between Lily and the letter writer and he was absolutely swoon-worthy to me. I also like that just because Lily liked the person in the letter she didn’t just automatically decide she was in love with him when she found out who it was. She had to grapple with her feelings and figure out how she felt about the whole situation. I also liked that there were other small conflicts in the story that didn’t take away from the romance but added to the main plot as well.

Overall, this is definitely a buy and I can’t wait to get it after my book buying ban is lifted. I’m literally counting the days because I plan on rereading it as soon as I get it. Definitely give this book a chance if you haven’t already.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“P.S. I like you. A lot.”

Other Reviews

Addictively Turning Pages

Latte Nights Reviews

Books, Pixs, Coffee Fix

Bookish Sweet 16: My 2017 TBR

Posted on December 23, 2016December 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I checked my shelves and I own 92 books that I haven’t read yet. 92! How sway? With that in mind I have chosen 16 books from my own shelves that I absolutely have to read next year. I’m hoping to read more than just the ones on this list but I figured this would be a good start.

1. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

I loved The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken but I’ve been hesitant to read Passenger since I’ve read mixed reviews. I’m hoping I enjoy it so I can read the sequel, which comes out in January.

2-3. The Wrath & the Dawn Duology by Reneé Ahdieh

My friend told me I need to read this duology so when I saw both books on BookOutlet I quickly purchased them during the site’s Black Friday sale. Then I proceeded not to read them. Oops!

4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

My original plan was to read An Ember in the Ashes so I could read the sequel, which came out this year. Well the sequel has come out and I still haven’t read either of these books. At least now I can read them back to back.

5. Mosquitoland by David Arnold

I fell in love with David Arnold’s writing style when I read Kids of Appetite so I wanted to read his debut novel. Of course once I actually had the novel I somehow forgot to read it.

6. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Honestly, the title of this novel is what really sold me. Rarely do I just pick up a book in the bookstore and buy it without having compared prices online but I did for Simon.

7. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I’ve had an ARC copy Big Little Lies since I interned at People magazine back in 2014. Now that it’s going to be an HBO mini-series I figured it was finally time I gave it a read.

8. Just One Day by Gayle Foreman

I really want to read more contemporary romances in 2017 and Gayle Foreman is the perfect person to start off with. I loved If I Stay and Where She Went and I feel confident I’ll enjoy Just One Day as well.

9. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It’s possible I bought this book just for the cover. Just look at it! Isn’t it gorgeous? Yes, I know, I have a problem. Honestly though, I loved the Lux series so I feel confident I will like this book as well. I just have to read it.

10-11. Second Chance Summer and Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Morgan Matson is an author I just discovered this year. So far I’ve read two of her books and now I own two more. I’m hoping to read them both next year.

12-16. 2017 ARCs

This year was the first year I really started getting a lot of ARCs and while I was good in the beginning I started just letting them fall by the wayside. Next year I plan to read all my ARCs before they’re pubbed so I can post more ARC reviews. Not pictured: As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka.

Do you have a big TBR pile? What books do you plan on tackling next year? Let me know in the comments below!

Bookish Sweet 16: My Favorite Authors

Posted on December 13, 2016December 12, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Thanks to #bookstagram I discovered a lot of new authors this year and I’m so glad I did. Here’s my favorite 16 authors of the year, in no particular order. Check them out if you haven’t read their books yet. They’re all great and I even got to meet some of them!

1. Leigh Bardugo (Crooked Kingdom)

Leigh Bardugo was absolutely hilarious and it was a pleasure to meet her. Besides that, her Six of Crows duology was absolutely amazing and one of my favorite reads of the year.

2. Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us)

This year I read almost every single one of Colleen Hoover’s novels and loved most of them. So when her latest novel, It Ends With Us, was released on my birthday and I saw she was coming to New York I had to go and it was totally worth the insane line.

3. Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven King)

I’d never read a book by Maggie Stiefvater until this year but I fell in love with her Raven Cycle series and read all four books this year. I can’t wait to read her new series about Ronan. I need it yesterday.

4. Alexandra Bracken (Passenger)

Full disclosure, I still haven’t read Passenger because there’s been mixed reviews, but I love The Darkest Minds, which is why I was so excited to meet Alexandra Bracken at BookCon. She was so sweet and it was awesome meeting her.

5. Richelle Mead (The Glittering Court)

Even though I haven’t read The Glittering Court yet I had to go meet Richelle Mead when she came to NYC. I’m obsessed with her Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series and I think she’s amazing.

6. Morgan Matson (The Unexpected Everything)

I had never read any of Morgan Matson’s books when I went to her signing for The Unexpected Everything but after meeting her and seeing how awesome she is in person I had to read her books. So far I’ve only read two but I loved them both.

7. Nicola Yoon (The Sun is Also a Star)

I read Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star this year and they were both amazing in very different ways. It was awesome to hear Nicola Yoon speak about The Sun is Also a Star and read from the book.

8. Marie Lu (The Midnight Star)

Marie Lu is an amazing author but she also just seems like a really chill person. When I went to her signing at Books of Wonder she read a first draft of The Young Elites that was so wildly different from what the series became that it was absolutely hilarious. I’m so glad I got to meet her this year.

9. Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword)

If you’re not following Victoria Aveyard on Twitter do it now! She’s so outspoken and funny and I can now guarantee she’s the same way in person. I’ll admit I didn’t love Red Queen but Glass Sword totally won me over and I can’t wait to get my hands on King’s Cage.

10. Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist of Fury)

I tried so hard to meet Sarah J. Maas at BookCon but had no success. That didn’t make me love her and her writing any less though. I read all her books (excluding The Assassin’s Blade) this year and I loved all of them. So good!

11. Brittany Cavallaro (A Study in Charlotte)

First of all, Brittany Cavallaro follows me on Instagram and that just makes me so happy. Secondly, if you haven’t read A Study in Charlotte yet you’re truly missing out because it’s amazing and I can’t wait to read the sequel.

12. Cassandra Clare (Lady Midnight)

Cassandra Clare is another author I attempted to see at BookCon to no avail. Still, Lady Midnight was so incredible that I let my disappoint of not meeting her go and just enjoyed the book. After all these books she still sucks me into the Shadowhunters’ world again and again.

13. Lauren Blakely (Mister O)

Prior to this year I think the only erotica I’d read was Fifty Shades of Grey, which is not the best. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Lauren Blakely but I’m now obsessed with her writing, which is bad because she publishes at least five books a year. There goes my money.

14. Ryan Graudin (Blood for Blood)

I’d never heard of Ryan Graudin until I went to BookCon and snagged an ARC of Blood for Blood. I’d seen the first book in the duology, Wolf by Wolf, on Instagram and decided to take a chance and of course they were amazing. Definitely a must read and now I need to read her other books.

15. David Arnold (Kids of Appetite)

I fell in love with David Arnold’s writing style when I read Kids of Appetite and have now purchased Mosquitoland, his debut novel, so I can give it try. If you haven’t read either of his books yet definitely check him out.

16. Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Gemina)

These are two more authors that I hadn’t heard of until this year but thanks to an ARC of Gemina that I won I decided to give them a try. To be honest, sci-fi isn’t typically my thing but I was totally sucked into this series and how these books are written. Definitely a must read.

Who are some of your favorite authors of 2016? Let me know in the comments below.

Bookish Sweet 16: My Favorite 2016 YA Releases

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

2016 is quickly coming to an end and while I’m sure many of us are happy to see this year go there were some good things about this year, including some really great reads. For the next few weeks of the year I’ll be doing “Bookish Sweet 16” posts that are lists of 16 of my favorite bookish things. Since YA is what I read the most I’m starting with my favorite YA books that were released this year. Check out my list below and let me know if I missed any of your favorites.

1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

This probably shocks no one but A Court of Mist of Fury was definitely my favorite new release this year. I absolutely loved this book and recommend this series to everyone. Also, it just won the Goodreads Choice Award for YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi so you know it’s good.

2. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

The Midnight Star was the perfect ending to an amazing trilogy. Marie Lu brought Adelina’s story to an epic conclusion that had me in tears but in the best way. If you haven’t read The Young Elites trilogy please do so immediately. It’s amazing!

3. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star is a thought provoking romance that covers racism, immigration, suicide, and so much more. I absolutely loved this book and the way it was written. I don’t read a lot of contemporaries but this is one I highly recommend.

4. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Before this year I didn’t even know who Sarah J. Maas was. Now I’ve read almost every single one of her books and I regret nothing. Empire of Storms left me a crying mess because of the end but the book as a whole was an amazing ride. There were twists, a lot of action, tons of romance, and Aelin was the perfect sass queen as always.

5. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

I still haven’t read Mosquitoland but I heard enough good reviews of it to be excited to read David Arnold’s newest novel and it did not disappoint. This novel had a diverse group of characters that included two Congolese refugees, Vic, who suffers from a rare neurological condition called Moebius syndrome, and many others. It’s funny and insightful and a must read.

6. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Bardugo outdid herself with this novel. I was worried that I’d feel like two books wouldn’t be enough to truly wrap up this duology but it was perfect. I’d still like to see more of my Dregs but I was happy with how this novel ended. Filled with Kaz’s crazy schemes, a touch of romance, and a lot of hilarity I couldn’t put this book down and you won’t either.

7. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

I’m always amazing by how Cassandra Clare continues to expand her Shadowhunters world and Lady Midnight did not let me down. I loved the characters in this book and want to be a part of the Blackthorns family. This novel was filled with mystery, adventure, and a healthy dose of drama.

8. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

When I heard A Study in Charlotte was about the descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson I had to pick it up and I’m glad I did. Centered around a mystery (obviously) this book was the perfect mix of funny and serious moments as well as a bit of romance, which I always love.

9. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Honestly, I didn’t like Red Queen but I try not to quit series so I picked up Glass Sword anyway and that turned out to be a good decision. While I found Red Queen to be predictable, Glass Sword surprised me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens next for Mare.

10. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Although I found the ending of The Raven King to be anticlimactic, overall I loved this book. Blue and her Raven Boys made me laugh, sigh with happiness, and cheer when they were successful. I especially liked the character development I saw in all of the characters and I’m excited to read Maggie Stiefvater’s new trilogy about Ronan.

11. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything is the first book I’ve read by Morgan Matson and I now get the hype for her books. This was a perfect contemporary romance and I couldn’t help but fall for Clark. I thought this book was cute and funny and I highly recommend it.

12. Interference by Kay Honeyman

I’m a sucker for an Emma retelling so when I got an ARC of Interference, which blends Emma with Friday Night Lights I had to read it. The novel is a cute and quick read about a girl named Kate who has to leave her home in D.C. after an unfortunate scandal that affects her father’s campaign and move to Texas.

13. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I’m not a big fan of sci-fi but when it came to Illuminae and Gemina I couldn’t put these books down. Written as if it’s a collection of documents in a file, these are insanely creative and fun books to read. Definitely give this series a try if you haven’t already. They’re worth a read.

14. Dreamology by Lucy Keating

Dreamology is definitely one of the most underrated reads of 2016. The novel follows the story of Alice, who for as long as she can remember, has shared her dreams with a boy named Max that she loves. Therefore she’s ecstatic when she actually meets Max in real life only to become devastated when it turns out he doesn’t know her at all…or does he?

15. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

I loved The Lunar Chronicles so I was excited to read more about my favorite characters. Although all the short stories were great, what truly made this book awesome was the final short story that takes place after Winter. I won’t spoil it but I will say it gave me all the feels.

16. Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

I’m still heartbroken over the end of Blood for Blood but I absolutely loved this novel. It was a roller coaster of emotions, which should be expected since it takes place in an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War II. If you’re into history and/or sci-fi you should definitely give this duology a read.

‘Nevernight,’ ‘The Assassin’s Blade,’ and More Books On My December TBR

Posted on December 2, 2016November 30, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I haven’t made a TBR post since June and that’s so sad. I’m happy to start doing this again and hopefully I’ll be able to stick to my TBR this month but I do have grad school applications to work on so we’ll see. However, most of these are library books so I actually do need to read these soon. Here’s my reading plan for December.

1. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

I’ve never read a Patrick Ness book so I figure it’s time I give his writing a try. So far I’m liking it but I’m only 15 pages in. I plan to finish this book by the end of this month.

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I absolutely loved the Illuminae series by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman so when I heard Kristoff was writing an adult novel I was excited. I’m participating in a readalong for this novel in the month of December, which you can get more info about here.

3. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

I actually read this novel a few years ago but I need to reread it so I can finally read the sequel. I remember how Burned ended but not all the details. I do know enough to remember this book will break my heart (again) but I’m ready.

4. Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

This is literally the only book by Ellen Hopkins I’ve never read and it’s killing me so I must read it. I’m hoping for a happy ending but having read almost all of Hopkins novels I know not to get my hopes up.

5. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

After my friend read this duology and told me how much she loved it I requested a copy from the library…and still haven’t read it. I believe I’ve renewed this book at least once already so I need to read it before it’s due again.

6. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

This is another reread for me but it’s honestly the perfect book for the holidays. However, I’m really rereading it because I want to read the sequel and I haven’t read Dash & Lily in years so I need a refresher before I see what they’re up to these days.

7. The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

I’m excited to read this book since I loved Dash & Lily so much. Also, I just love Christmas books in general so this will be a fun read.

8. The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

This is the second time I’ve checked out this book from the library so I absolutely have to finish it this time. I’ve read the first two novellas so I’m hoping this will be the month I finish the rest. Wish me luck!

What are you planning to read this month? Let me know in the comments below!

‘Empire of Storms,’ ‘The Sun is Also a Star,’ and Other Books I Read This Month (November Wrap-Up)

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

I haven’t done a wrap-up post in a while so I figured it was time. November was filled with some let downs but I also read some really great books. Here’s my wrap-up.

Number of Books I Read This Month: 7

Books I Received This Month

Although I was supposed to be on a book buying ban, I ended up purchasing Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon because I needed to purchase a book in order to get my books signed. It was totally worth breaking my ban for though.

Author Spotlight: E. C. Meyers

Posted on November 21, 2016November 20, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

If you’re a fan of Mr. Robot or just love anything tech related you’ll love E. C. Meyers’ YA novel, The Silence of Six, which goes on sale everywhere on December 6. I got the chance to chat with him about the book, his knowledge about hacking, and more! You can read the full interview below and make sure to grab a copy of The Silence of Six when it’s released.

If you had to summarize The Silence of the Six in three words how would you summarize it?

Hacktivists versus government.

The Silence of the Six deals a lot with hacking and computer programming. Did you have any background in computer programming before you wrote this novel?

Aside from a basic class in high school, I have no computer programming experience. I’m not even particularly adept at maintaining or modifying computers, but I’ve always been comfortable with looking up whatever information I need to accomplish something and unafraid to roll up my sleeves and try it for myself. I’m familiar with much of the technology in the book, but not even remotely an expert on any of it!

What made you first start writing?

I’ve been writing since I was very young. I love stories in every form, especially books, and I’ve always enjoyed creating stories of my own and sharing them with others.

What is your writing process like?

My process is always changing, and every project is different. I usually have at least a rough idea of where things are going and I just start typing. I write wherever and whenever I have to, as long as I have a keyboard.

Are you working on any other YA novels for the future?

I have a completed YA novel I would still like to publish, but right now I’m focusing on a few short stories I’ve promised to various YA anthologies. My next long-form project will actually be a middle grade fantasy.

Who are some of your favorite authors right now?

It’s hard not to gush about so many authors! I’m a big fan of Jaclyn Moriarty’s Colors of Madeleine trilogy, though I haven’t had a chance to read the last book yet. I’m always a fan of Philip Reeve, whose fabulous book Mortal Engines is being adapted into a film by Peter Jackson, so I hope more people will discover his work. I am loving Gwenda Bond’s YA Lois Lane series, and Kelly Barnhill’s middle grade novels are enchanting; her book The Girl Who Drank the Moon is also being adapted into an animated feature.

Besides writing, what other hobbies are you interested in?

Besides writing and parenting and work, I don’t have a lot of time for other things, but I enjoy photography and playing video games. I used to collect old 8-bit Nintendo games, and lately I’ve gotten back into retro gaming. I just started streaming live sessions of me playing [Nintendo Entertainment System] games when I can. I am also actively exploring podcasting.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Read a lot, and read everything! When you start writing, don’t get caught up in worrying about whether it’s any good until you finish a draft — you must finish it, and almost everything can be fixed in revision. Set manageable, realistic goals: “I will finish writing a novel in three months” instead of “I will get a publishing deal this year.” Try to have fun and don’t lose sight of why you’re writing in the first place.

Book Review: The Sun is Also a Star

Posted on November 15, 2016November 14, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

*I received a free advanced reader’s copy of this book from First in Line and B-Fest. This did not influence my review of this book in anyway. This is an honest review of the novel as I saw it.*

Nicola Yoon knows how to make me feel all the feelings. At first I wasn’t sure I would like this novel because it’s written in an interesting way. Not only do we get the first person perspectives of Daniel and Natasha but we also get the history and future histories of other characters. We learn what’s to come for Daniel’s brother, Charlie, and Natasha’s father’s history of regret. Yoon not only gives us insight into almost every character that Daniel and Natasha come into contact with but she also gives us the history of African-American hair care, the meaning of fate and love, and many other things.

In the beginning I wasn’t a fan of these extra little side stories and histories and just wanted the Natasha and Daniel parts of the novel but then I ended up actually loving those sections that weren’t about Natasha and Daniel. I started worrying about Irene, the security guard, and Jeremy, the lawyer. I wanted to know how their stories would end and what their future histories would look like. Yoon made me become invested in characters that weren’t even main characters and that’s what’s truly remarkable about this book.

Yoon expertly weaves a love story that’s also an exposé on how our actions, whether they’re big or small, can affect the lives of the people around us. How one moment or one day can alter someone’s life forever. The Sun is Also a Star takes place within the span of a day but we see so much more than just what happens in this one day. We see what led to this one day in Natasha and Daniel’s lives and what comes after and it’s beautiful and heartbreaking to read. This novel deals with not only romance but immigration, racial tensions, a lot of science, and poetry.

If you’re looking for a love story that will make you swoon Natasha and Daniel definitely give you that but The Sun is Also a Star isn’t just a romance novel. It’s so much more than that. It’s a story about people, and how despite our differences we’re all connected in some way. Definitely give this book a read if you haven’t yet. It’s worth every penny.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Love always changes everything.”

Other Reviews

Latte Nights Reviews

Forever Bookish

Pure Imagination

2016 Reading Stats

Best In Books

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

Looking Ahead

Synopsis:

Purchase From:

Review

Synopsis:

Purchase From:

Review

1. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

2-3. The Wrath & the Dawn Duology by Reneé Ahdieh

4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

5. Mosquitoland by David Arnold

6. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

7. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

8. Just One Day by Gayle Foreman

9. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

10-11. Second Chance Summer and Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

12-16. 2017 ARCs

1. Leigh Bardugo (Crooked Kingdom)

2. Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us)

3. Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven King)

4. Alexandra Bracken (Passenger)

5. Richelle Mead (The Glittering Court)

6. Morgan Matson (The Unexpected Everything)

7. Nicola Yoon (The Sun is Also a Star)

8. Marie Lu (The Midnight Star)

9. Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword)

10. Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Mist of Fury)

11. Brittany Cavallaro (A Study in Charlotte)

12. Cassandra Clare (Lady Midnight)

13. Lauren Blakely (Mister O)

14. Ryan Graudin (Blood for Blood)

15. David Arnold (Kids of Appetite)

16. Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Gemina)

1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

2. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

3. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

4. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

5. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

6. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

7. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

8. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

9. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

10. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

11. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

12. Interference by Kay Honeyman

13. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

14. Dreamology by Lucy Keating

15. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

16. Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

1. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

3. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

4. Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

5. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

6. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

7. The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

8. The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Top Three Books I Read This Month

Other Books I Read This Month

Books I Received This Month

If you had to summarize The Silence of the Six in three words how would you summarize it?

The Silence of the Six deals a lot with hacking and computer programming. Did you have any background in computer programming before you wrote this novel?

What made you first start writing?

What is your writing process like?

Are you working on any other YA novels for the future?

Who are some of your favorite authors right now?

Besides writing, what other hobbies are you interested in?

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Synopsis:

Purchase From:

Review