Goodbye July

July like...didn't happen. Like it did. But also June just happened yesterday. And suddenly tomorrow is August. Like...alrighty then.

Just like 2019, I wanted to make some resolutions and (try to) stick to them. As a reminder, here were my updated resolutions.


2020 Resolutions:

     (1) Write [almost] every day

     (2) Don't stop reading

     (3) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

     (4) Share love of books/writing
     (5) Be kinder to myself

(1) Not every day. But at least half the days. And okay, if we're being honest, more like brainstorming and research for a new (well old but re-working on it--my Captain Hook piece) book. Struggling to actually put the pen to the paper. I'm ready just the whole perfectionist anxiety thing coming into play (yay).

(2) Books read this month: 17. Just like last month. Still on fire. :)

(3) Manuscript chilling, waiting for people to read it, waiting for me to do research to find an agent, waiting in general. TBR pile(S) quickly shortening.

(4) Posts this month (including this one): 22. Yeah, 22, you read that right. Go. Me.

(5) Feeling good about myself most days. Definitely gained more weight. Definitely didn't exercise. Definitely feeling the fact that I can't really go anywhere, even when its all nice and sunny and the weekend (weekends are really hard).


Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?


Any exciting August reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyejuly #helloaugust #hello2020 #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Moment of Truth

Kasie West Book Pile Post 9: "Moment of Truth"

So freaking good! The one sub-plot reminded me of another book or movie, but its escaping me on which one.

And Kasie said (in the acknowledgements)that's this is one of her favorite books, and that she's been working on it for 6 years. You can tell. It's sooooooo good. One of her best.

["At sixteen, Hadley Moore knows exactly who she is—a swimmer who will earn a scholarship to college. Totally worth all the hard work, even if her aching shoulders don’t agree. So when a guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero, Heath Hall, crashes her swim meet, she isn’t amused. Instead, she’s determined to make sure he doesn’t bother her again. Only she’s not sure exactly who he is.

The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley's ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.

As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like."]

#momentoftruth #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Listen to Your Heart

Kasie West Book Pile Post 8: "Listen To Your Heart"

Ms Kasie had me on my toes this time around. Like, I kept expecting A to happen and it just like...never did. Which was really cool. I was like 150-200 pages in until I realized I was wrong and B was about to happen (not A). Really freaking amazing.

["Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder."]
#listentoyourheart #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss

Kasie West Book Pile Post 7: "Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss"

I don't know if i ever said this about Kasie West's books, but I love that many of them exist within the same universe as each other. It's like she fell in love with a certain minor character while writing Book A so she dedicated Book B to said minor character, thus making them a main character. I love it when authors do that. It makes even the most standard contemporary novels seem like magic.

["Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part.

But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined. She’s having trouble bonding with her costars, her father has hired the definition of a choir boy, Donavan Lake, to tutor her, and somewhere along the way she’s lost her acting mojo. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, it looks like someone on set is deliberately trying to sabotage her.

As Lacey’s world spins out of control, it feels like the only person she can count on—whether it’s helping her try to unravel the mystery of who is out to get her or snap her out of her acting funk—is Donavan. But what she doesn’t count on is this straight-laced boy becoming another distraction.

With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by a crush. But for the first time in her life Lacey wonders if it’s true that the best stories really do happen when you go off script."]
#famefateandthefirstkiss #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Love, Life, and the List

Kasie West Book Pile Post 6: "Love, Life, and the List"

Another best friends to lovers trope. Her second (so far). And yet, it was still new and fresh and so freaking good.

["Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems . . . and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself."]

#lovelifeandthelist #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lucky In Love

Kasie West Book Pile Post 5: "Lucky In Love"

Another hit. Honestly, no wonder people (I can't remember who, but I did read it somewhere) call her the new Sarah Dessen.

["Maddie's not impulsive. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment —

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun... until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?"]
Also, the Lucky Penny thing, I totally do that. And in case you didn't know, if you see a penny that's not face up, you flip it, brining someone else a bit of luck. :)

#luckyinlove #kasiewest #luckypennies #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Fill-In Boyfriend

Kasie West Book Pile Post 4: "The Fill-In Boyfriend"

Another amazing Kasie West book. Another amazing trope: fake-dating.

["When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship."]
#thefillinboyfriend #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #Ilovebooks

The Distance Between Us

Kasie West Book Pile Post 3: "The Distance Between Us"

I'm burning through my Kasie West TBR pile.

And some more amazing tropes. An (almost) Romeo and Juliet, separate sides of the track, kind of romance.

["Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about."]

#TheDistanceBetweenUs #KasieWest #books #Bookstagram #Bookphotography #Ilovebooks

On The Fence

Kasie West Book Pile Post 2: "On The Fence"

Honestly, I'm always a sucker for the tropes. And brother's-best-friend + boy-next-door + best-friend triple trope in "On The Fence" really had me holding my breath from page one.

So freaking good! :)

["For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. 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."]

Trigger warnings: blood, car accident, death, suicide

#onthefence #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

PS I Like You

Okay, so I did end up ordering the rest of Kasie West's books. And, well, there are a lot of them.

I started off with "PS I Like You". Because who doesn't love letters (especially love letters). I mean, my experiences with Chemistry Class were great, but I had an amazing teacher. :)

["Signed, sealed, delivered…

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…"

Okay, gotta run, gotta start another Kasie West book!

#psilikeyou #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lab Partners

"Lab Partners" by Mora Montgomery was yet another excellent book.

["When Jordan Hughes arrives at Pinecrest High School, Elliot Goldman’s graduating year suddenly gets a lot more interesting. Smart, good looking and charming, Jordan isn’t exactly the kind of person Elliot’s used to having as a lab partner. But when they start acing their assignments, life is suddenly about more than boring lectures, bad cafeteria nachos, or relentless bullying, and for the first time ever, Elliot can’t wait to get to chemistry class.

As they start spending more time together outside of school, Elliot realizes he’s never met anyone quite like Jordan. And then everything changes one night when Jordan kisses him, making Elliot question everything about their relationship and about himself. The butterflies start to make sense—the trouble is, right now, nothing else does.

Love was the last thing on Elliot’s mind. But as he begins to figure out how he really feels about Jordan, he realizes that sometimes the last thing you are looking for is the one thing you need the most."]

Trigger warnings: bully, violence, homophobia
#labpartners #moramontgomery #books #LGBT #LGBTbooks #wattpadbooks #wattpad #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Boyfriend Material

Alexis Hall's "Boyfriend Material" was so fucking fantastic. Like seriously, so fucking good.

Fake-dating trope but times a thousand.
Then all of the feelings.
And some super realistic first-times.
Plus some serious descriptions of inadequacy and anxiety.

Wow.
Just really freaking wow.

["Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way

Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go."]
Just seriously, I don't have any words right now. Just holy shit. Read this. Now.

#boyfriendmaterial #alexishall #books #LGBT #LGBTbooks #dungbeetles #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Recent Book Haul

My recent book haul. 

+/- $200. No big deal. 

I mean, sort of a big deal. 

But I deserved it. 

I haven't gone book shopping in months and months and months. And I finished an almost finalized draft of my one book. And started seriously writing/editing/re-working another book. And raced through so much of my TBR pile(s).

So many books. So many characters. So many points of inspiration. So many opportunities to leave this COVID/political hell we live in right now.

Now to pick a starting off point.

#bookhaul #bookbuyingspree #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Virginia Wolf

This book was...fabulous. Magnificent. Beautiful. Deep. Not what I thought I was buying to be honest.

I saw this book on my Instagram feed a few weeks ago. I thought it was an illustrated version of a few of Virginia Woolf's pieces.

Of course, I forgot that her name has two O's, and this book's title only has one.

And of course, I didn't read the description before I bought it (why would I?).

And of course, I loved it. It was amazing. Colorful. Meaningful.

A children's book about depression? Wow. I mean, children suffer from depression as well. So like duh, we need books for them too, books that represent them and their mental/emotional struggles.

If I ever get around to getting my PhD, I know it would be able mental health representation in children's literature (and YA lit). And this book would be very, very near the top of the list.

Wow. Just wow.

Go read it. I mean, the message is breath-taking. Let alone the illustrations. Go. Read it.

#virginiawolf #virginiawoolf #kyomaclear #isabellearsenault #childrensbook #mentalhealth #representation #bloomsberry #turquoisebirds #purplebutterflies #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Maybe This Time

Second Kasie West book in less than 30 hours.

Even though I spend $200 on a book buying spree earlier, I might have to go on another...to buy the rest of Kasie's books. Because holy hell, she's great.

["One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love?

Weddings. Funerals. Barbecues. New Year's Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.

Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn't so bad after all . . .

Told over the course of one year and following Sophie from event to event, this delightful novel from master of romantic comedy Kasie West shows how love can blossom in unexpected places."]
So freaking good! Like god!

Now what... do I pick another book from my TBR? Do I wait for my 1 of 15+ books to arrive and read one of those? Or should I buy the rest of Kasie's books, wait for them to arrive, and then read one of hers? SO MANY CHOICES! D:

#maybethistime #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

By Your Side

"By Your Side" by Kasie West  was so cute and so heartwarming.
An easy contemporary read with the perfect balance of angst and fluff. Just what I needed this weekend.

["When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn't think things could get any worse. But that's before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her.

Autumn doesn't know much about Dax except that he's trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he's not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn't come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye.

As he and Autumn at first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn's old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax's side?"]

Small trigger warning for: drug addiction (mentioned) and anxiety attacks (not super descriptive but still there).
#byyourside #kasiewest #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Forest Queen

"The Forest Queen" by Betsy Cornwell...was so freaking empowering.

I read this is like (with a few short breaks) like three hours?

I mean like almost any Robin Hood story/retelling would be empowering (especially in today's climate--in any climate really). But a female Robin? A female Little John? A female Friar Tuck? Like fuck YES!

Female power? Check. Rising from the ashes? Check. Going against oppressors (white male supremacists who treat any person of lesser power--and any female--as less then, as something fun to destroy, as playthings to torture--aka people who really deserve to be kicked, violently, from power)? Check.

["When sixteen-year-old Sylvie’s brother takes over management of their family’s vast estates, Sylvie feels powerless to stop his abuse of the local commoners. Her dearest friend asks her to run away to the woods with him, and soon a host of other villagers join them. Together, they form their own community and fight to right the wrongs perpetrated by the king and his noblemen."]

Lastly...a few trigger warnings: rape, attempted rape, attempted suicide, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, torture

GO READ THIS NOW!

And if you have any books similar to this one that you want to (need to) suggest to me at this time, please do so quickly. ;)

#theforestqueen #betsycornwell #robinhood #robinhoodretelling #femalerobinhood #stealfromtherich #givetothepoor #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hot Dog Girl

A perfectly cute summer reading book. Really made me want to go watch fireworks and visit an amusement park. Not to mention bake a thousand cupcakes.

["Elouise (Lou) Parker is determined to have the absolute best, most impossibly epic summer of her life. There are just a few things standing in her way:

* She's landed a job at Magic Castle Playland . . . as a giant dancing hot dog.
* Her crush, the dreamy Diving Pirate Nick, already has a girlfriend, who is literally the Princess of the park. But Lou's never liked anyone, guy or otherwise, this much before, and now she wants a chance at her own happily ever after.
* Her best friend, Seeley, the carousel operator, who's always been up for anything, suddenly isn't when it comes to Lou's quest to set her up with the perfect girl or Lou's scheme to get close to Nick.
* And it turns out that this will be their last summer at Magic Castle Playland--ever--unless she can find a way to stop it from closing.

Jennifer Dugan's sparkling debut coming-of-age queer romance stars a princess, a pirate, a hot dog, and a carousel operator who find love--and themselves--in unexpected people and unforgettable places. "]
Pretending that this covid thing isn't real for a hot moment, anyway want to hit up a rollercoaster and fall in love?

#hotdoggirl #jenniferdugan #amusementparks #LGBT #LGBTbooks #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Fence: Volume 4 (Rivals)

The fabulous fourth installment of "Fence", the graphic novel (by CS Pacat and illustrated by Johanna The Mad).

I freaking love these books. I just wish they came out more often. :( 

But there is the Fence inspired novel coming out, "Fence: Striking Distance" by Sarah Rees Brennan, later this fall. So we have that to look forward to as well. :)

["The team at King’s Row must face the school that defeated them in the fencing state championships last year, but first Nicholas and Seiji must learn to work together as a team...and maybe something more!

FOILED AGAIN?

Just as Nicholas, Seiji and the fencing team at the prodigious Kings Row private school seem to be coming together, a deadly rival from their past stands in their way once more. MacRobertson is the school that knocked Kings Row out of the State Championships last year - but unless Nicholas and Seiji can learn to work together as a team, their school is doomed once again! And maybe those two can learn to be something more than teammates too… "]

#fence #fencevolumefour #fencerivals #fencestrikingdistance #cspacat #johannathemad #sarahreesbrennan #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #graphicnovels #ilovebooks

History, huh?

History, huh?

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! 

Please celebrate our liberation from oppression safely and as history-making as you can. ;)

[Insert Hamilton quote here]

#redwhiteandroyalblue #caseymcquiston #LGBT #LGBTbooks #historyhuh #makinghistory #hamilton #fourthofjuly #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hooked: Character/Setting Reference Pictures

Alright y'all, I'm pretty sure I told you about my undergrad thesis (#tutorial #ChathamCollegeForWomen) before. But we're doing it again.
Because I recently picked it back up again and starting tinkering (#tinkerbell) with plot, characters, magic.

Back it up a bit... Hooked is a story about how Captain Hook became Captain Hook. A bit of a redemption story. A bit of how the villain became the #villain. A bit of of villain-izing the #hero (#psychopathicpeterpan).

I still have no clue what's happening with it. It needs a lot of work to be where *I* want it to be. The timeline needs work. The sequence needs work. The one love interest needs works.

But as for right now, I'm going to let my fingers just go with it. Do what they want. Let the characters take over. Let the magic/inspiration flow. And go from there. Yeah...

And I made a Pinterest page for my characters and setting references. Like before, I wanted to share some of the amazingness that I found. Mostly for my own ego.

#hooked #peterpan #jmbarrie #captainhook #todiewouldbeanawfullybigadventure #childrensbooks #pinterest #characterreferences #settingreferences #writerboards #editingproblems #reading #writing #writerproblems #books #bookstagam #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Peter Pan

Have I ever told anyone how much I love Peter Pan? I have? Oh. Well, okay then...

I mean, at the childcare center where I work, when the kids make me pick the movie they watch before nap, I always pick Peter Pan. Yeah, take that preschoolers. ;)

Anyone want to come over for a Peter Pan marathon? Doing (redoing--again) research for my Hooked manuscript...

#peterpan #jmbarrie #todiewouldbeanawfullybigadventure #childrensbooks #captainhook #hooked #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks