christmas – Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily

Posted on December 27, 2016December 24, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

Dash and Lily have had a tough year since readers first watched the couple fall in love. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition.

With only twelve days left until Christmas—Lily’s favorite time of the year—Dash, Lily’s brother Langston, and their closest friends take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the holiday magic of New York City in December.

Told in alternating chapters, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily reunites two beloved characters and is bound to be a Christmas favorite, season after season.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

I was nervous to pick up The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily because I read some bad reviews. However, it was just as funny and amazing as I thought it would be, and perfect for the holiday season.

The story picks up a year after Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares and it’s been a rough year for Lily. Her beloved grandpa had a heart attack, which led to a nasty fall and health complications. Lily being the kind person she is took it on herself to be her grandpa’s caregiver and that took a toll on her relationship with Dash. Of course, Dash being the best book boyfriend that he knows how to be, tried his best to be supportive but Lily, who handled her feelings in the worst way, kept pushing him away.

It broke my heart to see Lily and Dash going through a rough time and Lily drove me absolutely crazy. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to just tell Dash how she felt. However, I’m only 23 and still have a firm grasp on how it feels to be a teen and feel so much for a person and feel like they don’t feel the same way (even when they obviously do). So I found it in my heart to be sympathetic towards Lily and I had to give her points for when she really did try with Dash.

Besides, Dash and Lily, this novel also contained all my favorite characters from the first book, including Sofia, Boomer, Langston, and Mrs. Basil E. It was so great seeing these characters again and what was going on in their lives. I was even a little glad to see Edgar again. He’s still trouble, by the way.

Overall, I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this novel and Dash made me utterly swoon (I’m currently searching for my own Dash in The Strand). If you’re looking for a funny, romantic holiday read The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily is the perfect book.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Sometimes you make plans. Sometimes plans make themselves.”

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‘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!

Book Review: Let It Snow

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

Synopsis from Amazon:

A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

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

Although the holiday season is now over I couldn’t let that stop me from finally reading this book. Therefore, when I got the email from the library saying I got it I couldn’t wait to read it so I just did.

Although each short story is it’s own story they are all interconnected and take place in the town of Gracetown. Due to a massive snow storm Jubilee, the protagonist of the first story by Maureen Johnson, gets stuck in Gracetown, on her way to Florida to be with her grandparents since her parents are in jail. Yeah, it’s a long story.

Jubilee, who had big plans of spending Christmas with her always busy boyfriend, is devastated that she not only won’t be with her boyfriend but she won’t be with her family either. Thankfully, there’s a nice guy from Target with an overbearing mother there to help get her in the holiday spirit.

The next story is by John Green and although I loved each of these stories, I have to say Green wins it for me. This story follows Tobin and his best friends, the Duke and JP, as they try to make it the Wafflehouse in an effort to spend the night with some cheerleaders. However, due to the massive snow storm this is easier said than done and these three quickly realize sometimes the journey is way more fun than the destination (although the destination is definitely much warmer). Oh, and of course there’s a cute little romance going on as well.

Lastly, is Lauren Myracle’s story, which is the perfect conclusion to the book. Addie is devastated that she’s spending her Christmas alone because she thinks her boyfriend, Jeb, hasn’t forgiven her for the terrible mistake she made. But Addie soon realizes that maybe she hasn’t really been looking at the big picture of what went wrong in their relationship. In an effort to change, Addie tries to step outside herself and care more about the people around her than just her own issues. Also, both couples from the first two stories make an appearance, which is amazingly cute.

Overall, this is the perfect holiday novel to read. Each story is cute, funny, and heartwarming and I’d definitely read it again during the next holiday season.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Christmas is never over,unless you want it to be…Christmas is a state of mind.”

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Book Review: Christmas Cravings

Posted on November 24, 2015March 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in ARC Reviews, Books to Borrow

*I received a free digital advanced reader’s copy of this book from Bastei Entertainment via NetGalley. This did not influence my review of this book in anyway. This is an honest review of the novel as I saw it. This novel is now on sale.*

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

How could everything that seemed so right suddenly have gone so wrong for Mia? Snow is on the ground and Christmas lights twinkle in the German Christmas market. The warm, spiced wine is just right, but there’s still one key ingredient missing from her romantic dream. Will Mia’s Christmas turn out to be sugar and spice and all things nice – or a deflated soufflé of loneliness and regret?

Christmas Cravings is a festive romance standalone episode from the Greedily Yours series.

Even though this book is part of a series it’s supposed to be a standalone novel, however, it did not feel that way at all. I couldn’t really get into the story because I felt like I was starting in the middle of a story.

For example, I had no idea who the character Holly was until much later in the novel. I assume she appears in the other books in the novel but because I was under the impression that I could read this as a stand alone I didn’t know that.

I think if you read the other books in the series first you’ll like this book a lot more than I did but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t understand why Mia loved Tom so much or why Tom pulled away the way he did. I didn’t get Mia’s connection to Tom’s father. There were just so many plot holes that I don’t think this novel should be promoted as a stand alone when it obviously is not.

Additionally, I personally didn’t care for Mia’s obsession with food. It’s one thing for the plot to center around one’s love for food in terms of it tastes good and you like to eat it. It’s totally different when there were huge chunks of this book where the narrator just described in detail what kind of food Mia was making and how she was making it.

Honestly, this novel just wasn’t for me. I think it was fine writing and the romance could’ve been cute if I knew Mia’s and Tom’s background together so I’d have a reason to actually root for them. But in the end I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Borrow or Buy: Unless you’re going to buy all the books in this series, it doesn’t make sense to purchase it.

Stars:

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