Book Review: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

The Conspiracy of Us was much more fun than I ever anticipated. 

I decided to give this book a whirl after seeing my friend Lauren's review on it here. The Conspiracy of Us follows our main character Avery as she is thrust into a world she never knew existed. She goes to her prom only to be taken to Paris and find out that there are 12 families (known as The Circle) that are descendants of Alexander the Great who rule the world. Avery is apparently  a distant relative to the Saxon's, a family that is part of the circle. Things kick off from there and everything is (obviously) not what it seems.

Make Me Read It Readathon!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm having a bit of a crisis: I don't know what to read. I've seen some recent posts for the Make Me Read It Marathon, and I decided to join in! The readathon is hosted by Val @ The Innocent Smiley and Ely @ Tea & Titles. The readathon is from July 9th to 16th.

IT'S MY ONE YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!!

Hey everyone! Today marks my one year anniversary blogging! I can't believe it has already been one full year. I'm so thankful that everyday I have my blog. :D For anyone who has ever visited my blog I just want to say a huge THANK YOU. 

I never expected this blog to be such a big part of my life. My blog is something that I am so proud about and your open arms welcoming me to the community was more than I could ever ask for. I have been able to connect to so many bookish people, which is something I have never been able to do before now!


So all in all, I want to thank you guys for being such great friends! :D My experience blogging wouldn't be the same without you!

 Here are some virtual hugs for all of you. :D Can we also just talk about that first gif? It reminds me of those 80s exercise VHS tapes and I laugh every time I watch it. That is what comes up when you google search party gif! Have a wonderful day!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post! 

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Infinity Dreams Award!

I have been nominated by Lauren @ Always Me for this award! Thank you so much for the nomination. Make sure to check out Lauren's blog! She is one of my favorite bloggers out there!

Top Five Wednesday: My Favorite Posts

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today I am participating in Top Five Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Samantha from Thoughts on Tomes. The topic for this week includes some shameless self promotion. Today I am highlighting my favorite posts I have done so far on my blog!

5.) Adaption Talk: Shadowhunters S1E9- Rise Up
Okay, this might seem out of nowhere, but I adore my Adaption Talk posts. They might not get the most traffic or comments, but I have so much fun doing them. This is my favorite out of all of them just because I feel like my personality really shines through in this one. I'm so glad I started doing these types of posts on my blog and I will for sure continue them!

4.) Liebster Award!
The Liebster Award isn't the first award that I received (that would be the One Lovely Blog Award), but it is one where I feel like my personality shines through the most. I always like it when I can include fun facts about myself with my readers. I hate feeling so disconnected and impersonal, and the Liebster Award did the opposite of that. Plus, being nominated for an award makes me feel so loved by the community, and this was no exception. Thanks again Lauren! <3

3.) Stacking the Shelves #1
While this might seem random, I am so proud of myself for doing this post. It is one of my most recent posts, actually. I wanted to add something new to my blog after doing the same weekly memes over and over again. Stacking the Shelves was a way for me to branch out even more. I also got a ton of traffic on that post for some reason, and I'm not complaining! Well, I know the reason. The day that I did that post my friend Denise from The Bibliolater did a post of her newest favorite blogs and I was listed. Thanks again Denise!!! You rock! :D

2.) Book Review: The Unexpected Everything
I love my review post for The Unexpected Everything for two reasons. Not only do I think it is one of my most well written reviews, but I was able to connect to more people because of the unique experience I took part in. I was part of the Review Train this year, and I absolutely loved the experience. Thanks again to Brittany from Space Between the Spines for hosting such a great and unique event! I got to meet a ton of more bloggers, and it was a great way to start off the summer.

1.) Discussion: Am I Becoming Too Harsh of a Critic?
This is the first discussion post of mine where I felt like I was being coherent in my thoughts. I had done some other discussion posts beforehand, but I am the most proud of this one because I felt as if I were able to get my thoughts across clearly. This is the latest post where I have put the most effort in to, also. I got amazing feedback from it and it was definitely worth the work. :D

So those are my favorite posts! If you did a T5W this week, link it down below!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!   

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite 2016 Releases So Far!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Today's topic are our favorite 2016 releases so far. To be honest, I had a hard time finding a good amount of books for this post. So Top Ten Tuesday is Top Five Tuesday for me. I just read what I want to, so half or more of what I read isn't a book published this year. Needless to say, there are only five books that I have read this year that were published in 2016 and that I would wholeheartedly recommend. 

Stacking the Shelves #1

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I will be partcipating in Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. We share books that we have added to our shelves, both virtual and physical.

Book Review: Withering Rose by Kaitlyn Davis

 If I had to choose just one word to describe Withering Rose it would be fun. 

I was a bit worried going into Withering Rose because it is the second book to Davis' Once Upon Upon a Curse series. However, I didn't need to worry at all! Each book in the series is a companion novel, and Davis' wonderfully described the plot to new comers like me. Withering Rose is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that is about Omorose, who was once a princess before her world and ours collided into one. She has a beautiful gift, but it comes with the curse of death. After ten years of keeping her magic a secret, Omorose flees the magic-hating compound she lives in to the mountains nearby, which serves as the land of a fearful king. The story takes off from there, and man was it a ride! I was never bored. 

Currently Reading/TBR - Withering Rose, Firstlife, Every Falling Star (June 2016)

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be showing you the books I am currently reading and planning on reading for the remainder of the month!

Just an hour ago, I finished Withering Rose by Kaitlyn Davis. Withering Rose is a Beauty and the Beast retelling and the second book in Davis' Once Upon a Curse series. I never read the first book, but they can be read out of order, so it was fine! I received it via Netgalley and was surprised at how much I liked the novel. It had a perfect mix between the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale and originality. A full review will be up soon! :D

As of now, I don't have a set plan on what I am reading next. I just got Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee on my Kindle app. I haven't read a memoir in a really long time, so I'm hoping that I will like it! The memoir is about Lee's survival and escape from North Korea. There is so much that I don't know about North Korea, and I'm looking forward to having my eyes opened. 

Another book that I'm "currently reading" is Firstlife by Gena Showalter. I put currently reading in quotation marks because even though I did start reading it a week ago, I haven't picked it up since. There are several books that I've picked up and never finished, including And I Darken by Kiersten White. I'm not considering them DNF's because I plan on finishing them, but the books aren't holding my attention enough.

In other news, I'm less behind in my goodreads goal! By the end of my school year I was eight books behind in my goal of 100, and now just a week later I'm only five books behind! I hope I can get back on track or ahead by the end of the summer!

What are you currently reading? 

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts

The Replacement Crush is an amazing young adult contemporary novel!
 
Lisa Brown Roberts is now officially on my radar. The Replacement Crush blew my expectations out of the water. The novel follows Vivian and her mission to logically fall in love after she is broken up with by her long term crush. I knew I was going to have fun with this just based off of the synopsis, but I didn't know I would be so invested with the story. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Antcipated Releases for the Second Half of the Year

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I will be participating in the weekly meme Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the lovely ladies from The Broke and the Bookish.Today's topic is as the title says: our most anticipated releases for the rest of the year! I actually have only nine for us today, because most of my anticipated releases were from the beginning of the year. Here we go! These are in no particular order. :D

9.) Did I Mention I Miss You? by Estelle Maskame
Did I Mention I Miss You? is the final book in Maskame's DIMILY  trilogy. I absolutely adored the first two books, and after the ending of the second, I cannot wait for this! I'm so excited to see how Eden and Tyler's story ends. Hopefully, it's with a happily ever after. :D 

8.) The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
I actually have no idea what this book is about. I haven't read the synopsis, and I don't plan on it. My goal is to be as blind as possible going into the book so I can just enjoy it for what it is. Nicola Yoon made her debut as an author last year with Everything, Everything. Her book was one of my favorites of the year, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll love this one just as much or more.  

7.) Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Gemina is the sequel to Illuminae, the most kick ass and exhilarating novel I read last year. I'm biting my nails waiting for this (not literally, because gross) and seeing how the space adventure unfolds. I'm kind of bummed that the sequel doesn't follow Kady and Ezra, but I still have high hopes. 

6.) Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin
To be honest, I don't know whether or not I'm going to be actually reading this one. I've been wanting to expand my reading to genres that I don't necessarily go for, and this is perfect for that! The more I think about the book, the more I am intrigued by it. The plot kind of reminds me of Eve and Adam, a book published a bit back by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate that I never got around to reading. 

5.) Surge by Melissa West
Surge is a full length prequel novel to Melissa West's published trilogy about aliens "coexisting" with humans. I really liked the trilogy, so I'm highly anticipating this prequel. I'd love to see how the world came to be.

4.) The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
I just started hearing about this book after so many bloggers and booktubers got back from BEA. I don't know too much about the plot, but the cover is beautiful! I'm really excited to see what I think about this!  

3.) United by Melissa Landers
United is the third and final book in Melissa Landers' Alienated trilogy. This was just supposed to be a duology, so I'm so happy that a third and final book was published. Aelyx and Cara have such a cute relationship, and I'm glad that I will finally have closure to this series.   

2.) Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Once again, I don't know too much about this book except that it is a fairy tale retelling by Marissa Meyer. That is all I need to know. Meyer's Lunar Chronicles is one of (or is) my favorite YA series out there, and I know I won't be passing this up. I might not be the biggest fan of Alice in Wonderland, but I am a huge of Marissa Meyer.  

1.) It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Finally, I have It Ends With Us by CoHo. Hoover really can't do wrong (except Too Late, didn't like that one as much). She's one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes, including this. I might not read it this year, but that's just because my library doesn't stock her books! I've heard nothing but amazing things about this, and I know I'll eat it up when I get my hands on it. 


So those are my top ten nine anticipated reads for the rest of the year! What are some of your picks? If you did a TTT, make sure to link it down below!

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read! 

Book Review: Waterfall by Amber Garr

Unfortunately, I was massively disappointed by this book.

I haven't read a dystopian novel in such a long time, so I was hoping that I would adore this book. Waterfall follows the story of Vivienne and Zach, two teenage best friends who are trying to survive after all the fresh water is depleted.

Mini Review #3 - YA/NA Contemporaries

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be doing some short and sweet reviews on some contemporaries. I've been feeling the contemporary kick recently, and it is probably all because I finished school this Monday!! I'm so excited for the summer and what better way to kick it off then reading some contemporary books?

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

I didn't really know what to expect picking this book up. I ordered it a while back through Book Outlet, and I just randomly picked it up Saturday morning. The Vincent Boys is my first Abbi Glines book and though I didn't love it, it was a quick and fun read. My main issue was with the characters. Their actions were pretty selfish at times and I don't think that something like this would actually happen. I'm interested to see how I will like Glines' other books. 3.25 Stars!

The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Once again, I picked this up on a whim. I was tired of writing essay for my AP US History class, and decided to take a break. The Summer After You and Me was on my local overdrive app, and I downloaded it and just read. What the novel lacked in characters it made up for with the plot. I really liked how Hurricane Sandy was such a big part of the book. Though it is set a year after the hurricane, I appreciated how it showed that it still impacts people today. This YA contemporary was just a lot of fun to read and I'm glad I picked it up. 3.5 Stars!

In The Hope of Memories by Olivia Rivers

*I want to thank NetGalley and Red Sparrow Press for providing this book to me for an honest review!* This novel is a darker than the others by a long shot. It's not a depressing novel, but the plot is about a scavenger hunt four messed up teens go on after their mutual friend passes away. Each of these main characters have severe issues, and therein lies my issue. It's not that I dislike diversity, it's quite the opposite. But I wasn't able to connect to any of the characters because I had nothing in common with any of them. The novel also didn't capture my interest until about 40 percent of the way through. Nevertheless, I commend Olivia Rivers for not only having such a diverse cast of characters, but handling hard topics like OCD and grief really well. The last 25% of the book was amazing and I am looking forward to reading more of  Rivers' novels. 3.25 Stars!


Some other contemporaries that I have recently read and recommend are The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle, The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, and One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank! 

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Discussion: Am I Becoming Too Harsh of a Critic?

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I'll be sharing with you  a dilemma I am having. I've recently noticed that I have become a much harsher critic when rating books that I was just a couple months ago. I used to chalk this up to me just becoming a more versatile reader and knowing what I love, but now I am not so sure. 

Am I just growing as a reader? Or have I suddenly becoming a harsher critic for another reason? Has my rating scale changed?

I think the answer to that last question is yes. I used to give out four stars to any book that I enjoyed but didn't wow me. Now, I give out three stars for that. A four star book for me is now a book that I have not only enjoyed, but stood out from the crowd in certain ways. Maybe the book is more diverse, or it exceeded my expectations by having less YA cliches. A five star book? Well, that's practically impossible now. Not only do I have to thoroughly enjoy myself, I expect some character development and a plot that I have practically no flaws with. 

May 2016 Wrap Up!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I'll be wrapping up May for you guys. This last moth I read a total of 7 books! This is more than my usual because I am finishing up school. That means more reading time for me, and more books in my wrap ups! I'm looking forward to getting back on schedule with my challenge as well.

Well, here are the seven books I read, from worst to best.

7.) Imperfect Love by Isabella White
Unfortunately, I was once again let down. The story was kind of all over the place, and the characters weren't developed enough for me to actually connect with them. I didn't write a full review on this because I just really had nothing to say. The book was just all over the place.

6.) Hell Bent by Karen Crompton
This is another disappointment. I really wanted to like Hell Bent, but the plot and characters both weren't dynamic. It just fell flat for me. The plot was there, it just wasn't executed well enough. However, there were times when real promise showed. You can find my full review of the book here.

5.) Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
I don't really know what to think of Storm. I picked it up on a whim once I saw it on my overdrive app, and just decided to go for it. A lot of my friends on goodreads really enjoyed this series debut, and it just fell flat. I didn't like the main male character, but the protagonist was entertaining. However, I didn't care enough about the characters to enjoy the book as much as I wanted.

4.) One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank
This novel is a breath of fresh air. One Paris Summer is exactly that. The book follows Sophie, who goes to Paris with her brother for a summer to spend time with their estranged father. Though the book does have a cute romance, my favorite thing about the book was the familial relationships. This was such a cute summer read. I had a couple flaws, but it was an enjoyable read.  You can find my review here.

3.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I had to read Of Mice and Men this month for my English class. I would've enjoyed the book a lot more if it wasn't for the fact that i was spoiled about the ending before I even started reading it. This book was so bittersweet and I am happy that I read it.

2.) The Sound of Us by Julia Hammerle
The Sound of Us was such a great read. I had a couple issues here and there, but I had so much fun. Music was a huge aspect of the book, and it made me like it that much more. The ending itself leaves room for interpretation, and I really loved it. If you want to know more about the book and my thoughts, check out my review here.

1.) The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
This novel is by far my favorite of the month. In fact, it is one of my favorites of the whole entire year. Only one other book has gotten five stars from me this year. (Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner)  I was so worried that I wouldn't love this book, and thankfully my worries were put to rest. You can check out my review here!

Posts of the Month!

Triannual Rewind: Most Disappointing Books
April 2016 Wrap Up!
Book Review: Switched (Trylle #1) by Amanda Hocking
Book Review: One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank
Currently Reading/TBR - And I Darken, The Unexpected Everything
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Picked Up on a Whim
Waiting on Wednesday #2
Top 5 Wednesday: Summer Reads
Book Review: Hell Bent by Karen Crompton
My Experience With Netgalley!
Book Review: The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle
Book Review Train! 1st Stop: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
My (Tentative) Summer TBR!

And that is my May wrap up! What did you read this month?

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in the weekly meme Waiting on Wednesday. This meme, which is hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine, showcases an upcoming release that we are excited about. 

My pick for this week is...

The Memory Book by Lara Avery!

Here is the goodreads blurb:

They tell me that my memory will never be the same, that I'll start forgetting things. At first just a little, and then a lot. So I'm writing to remember.

Sammie was always a girl with a plan: graduate at the top of her class and get out of her small town as soon as humanly possible. Nothing will stand in her way--not even a rare genetic disorder the doctors say will slowly start to steal her memories and then her health. What she needs is a new plan.

So the Memory Book is born: Sammie's notes to her future self, a document of moments great and small. It's where she'll record every perfect detail of her first date with longtime crush, Stuart--a brilliant young writer who is home for the summer. And where she'll admit how much she's missed her childhood best friend, Cooper, and even take some of the blame for the fight that ended their friendship.

Through a mix of heartfelt journal entries, mementos, and guest posts from friends and family, readers will fall in love with Sammie, a brave and remarkable girl who learns to live and love life fully, even though it's not the life she planned.

I just started hearing about this book when everyone got back from BEA, or Book Expo America. This book was given out during the expo, and every single time I see it, I get more excited! The Memory Book doesn't seem like a fun read, but it sure sounds engaging and I am looking forward to getting immersed into the series. I love the tagline for the book, and I hope that it will impress me when I get around to reading it. 

I haven't read anything by Lara Avery, but hopefully I will like what I read! I love the tagline for the novel, and fingers crossed I'll like the actual content even more. If you did a Waiting on Wednesday this week, make sure to link it down below.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!