TTT: Best Contemporary Books of 2016!

Hey everyone and welcome back to blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in Top Ten Tuesday. This weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. This week our topic is " Top Ten Best Books Of 2016." 

Since I am going to be doing a later post about my all around favorites of 2016, I am going to be showing all of you my favorite contemporary books I read this year! Throughout 2016, I got a lot more into fantasy, but I still love some good old contemporary!

None of these are in particular order, and not all of these are young adult! The books with links to them are links to my reviews.

10) The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Morgan Matson has not once disappointed me with her contemporary novels. I know that this book was most people's least favorite of hers, but this is actually my favorite! The relationships were so well done and I loved how raw everything felt. This book cemented Matson as one of my favorite YA contemporary authors. 

  9) The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle
If I had two words to describe Hammerle's debut novel they would be quirky and fun. Kiki, the main character, was so hilarious. I really loved reading from her POV, which made up for the romance, which was just a tad lackluster. The ending was so well done, and I'm Hammerle is on my radar!

Series I Finished in 2016!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be talking about the series I finished this year! I started plenty of series this year, but I'm happy to say that I finished quite a few as well.

None of these are in particular order. Any of the links are links to my latest review of the series. :)

The Selection by Kiera Cass
I'm just going to say it: I don't really like this series. They are easy to read, but I don't feel connected to the characters. I can only tell you four of the characters names in the Selection, and that isn't saying much because there is a huge cast! My ship did sail, so I guess I'm happy with that. This series was fun to read, but in the end it was forgettable.

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!

Book Review: The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

*I recieved The Sound of Us via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own!*

The Sound of Us was such a blast. 

Julie Hammerle's debut novel exceeded my expectations. My recent reads have been disappointing me, and The Sound of Us was a breath of fresh air. Our protagonist, Kiki, is the most genuine main character I have read from in quite a while. I appreciated how she wasn't this perfect person, inside and out. Her summer journey was so much fun to read. 

The Sound of Us is about the quirky and hilarious main character Kiki and her summer experience at Kraus, a presitigous university. She is there for the summer, learning the in and outs of becoming an opera singer all the while fighting for one of the seven scholarships to attend the university free of charge. 

My favorite aspect of this whole entire book was Kiki. She was such a relatable and likable character. Hammerle perfectly captured the confidence issues of a teenage girl. Kiki started as a girl unsure of who she is and who she is meant to be. By the end of the novel, she is not only sure of herself, but of her future as well. It was great to see her transition into a more confident young adult. 

Another aspect I appreciated was the music. Music is a part of me, and I loved how it was so accurately depicted in the novel. I loved how Hammerle showed every side of music. Not only did she show that music can be fun, but she also showed how much pressure it can put on a person as well. 

However, I did have some minor complaints. One  thing that I didn't like that much from the book was how repetitive it became sometimes. After a while, Kiki's narrative didn't differ ever. Though I liked her as a character, Kiki's witty remarks seemed to be overdone. The romance wasn't the best either. Though I really loved Kiki and her love interest, it didn't leave me with a lasting impression. It was cute, but it wasn't awe-inspiring. The focus of the book was not on the romance though, so it did not affect my reading experience that much. Besides that, I don't have that many complaints. I actually loved the ending, even though it was vague. It gave promise to a happy future, but didn't set anything in stone. 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun YA contemporary read! The Sound of Us is perfect for the summer and I am looking forward to its release. Also, can we talk about the cover? Because it is beautiful. It's one of my favorite covers of this year so far!

With that, I give this book 
4 out of 5 Stars!

 

What are some books that you've recently read that are perfect for the summer?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: Hell Bent by Karen Crompton

Hell Bent didn't meet my expectations. 

Unfortunately, I didn't like Hell Bent as much as I wanted to. If I had to put my thoughts in simplest form, I would say that it was just okay. I didn't necessarily like it, but I didn't dislike it either. The characters and plot just didn't speak to me. 

The characters of Hell Bent besides Beau weren't as fleshed as I wanted them to be. There's a sizable cast of characters that are always present in the book, and I would've liked to have seen more of them. Rake really intrigued me and there was only one part of the book where I felt as if  he wasn't one dimensional. The non-complexity of the characters was my main problem. They didn't feel as if they were real people.

However, there were moments where I was really enjoying myself reading Hell Bent. The rising actions were really fun to read and I loved seeing Corrie and Beau's relationship develop. My favorite scene of the whole book is when the couple goes to an art class. It was light and funny. My issue with the plot is that there wasn't enough balance between light and dark. I understand that heavy topics are at play in the novel, but the book was consistently dark for a good 30 percent and it started to drag on. My least favorite part has to be right after the climax of the novel. Beau has some real problems, but his narration became repetitive to the point of annoying. 

Just because I had a lot of issues does not mean that this is a BAD book. Hell Bent just wasn't for me and I wish it was. Crompton has a lot of promise as an author. There were times where she handled plot points really well, like the grief and alcoholism. The characters were the real problem for me. I just couldn't like Beau, no matter how hard I tried.  I'll probably be reading more of her in the future, but it just won't be part of this series. 

Those are my thoughts on Hell Bent. Just because I didn't love the book doesn't mean that you won't! Crompton holds a lot of promise as an author and I'm looking forward to what is in store in the future. 

With that, I give this book 

2 out of 5 Stars!

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank

*I recieved One Paris Summer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own and have not been altered.*

One Paris Summer was pure fun.

The novel centers around Sophie Brooks and her summer abroad when visiting her dad that left her and her brother the year before without warning. She's not that excited to go, as she hasn't spoken to her dad since she left and she doesn't get along that well with her brother. Sophie has to live with her brother, her dad, his new wife, and her daughter. The set up for this book was pretty simple. Sophie travels internationally and eventually falls in love with the city even when her step-sister Camille does everything she can to make Sophie miserable. 

There are two main reason why I liked this book: the music and the character development.

Music is portrayed so well throughout the novel. Sophie is a pianist, and even though she is on vacation, she still has to practice in order to maintain her skills. I loved how her passion didn't go on the back-burner just because she was meeting all these cute boys. Music is a part of her, and I really appreciated how much of an aspect it was in the book. I was able to connect with Sophie more because I am a musician myself (I play clarinet!)

The other reason this book was enjoyable was the character development. Not only does Sophie develop throughout the course of the novel, but so do the secondary characters and the relationships. However, Sophie's character development really stood out. In the first scene of the novel, she comes off as naive and somewhat weak. By the end of the story, she is sure in herself and what she wants. She grows into a character that I could not only relate to, but see myself being friends with. Her character development was paced so well and it wasn't just a big jump from her insecure self to her confident one. 

The only thing I didn't really like was the romance. I know, I know! Maybe I'm just picky, but I didn't like Matthieu that much. Sure, he was charismatic, but what sets him apart from the another standard love interest? Nothing, really. He has a bad ex, made a mistake in the past, jokes around, and has a great smile. Their relationship also progressed way too quickly for me. Sophie is just starting a relationship with him, and by the next month they love each other? It just wasn't believable to me. 

Besides that, I don't have any faults with the book. I liked the characters enough, but I didn't love them either. My favorite part was the growth of the cast of characters in the novel and the musical aspect. The familial tensions were also very well done. 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants an easy and fun contemporary novel. One Paris Summer isn't perfect, but it sure is fun. To put it simply, it's perfect for the summer. :D

With that, I give this book
3.5 out of 5 Stars!

 

What are some fun YA contemporaries that you have read recently?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Triannual Rewind: Most Disappointing Books

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I am doing another post that is part of my Triannual Rewind! The following are the books that have disappointed me the most in the first four months of the year.

Once again, I just want to remind everyone that all these opinions are my own and I'm not trying to offend anyone! If you liked a book that I absolutely hated, then more power to you! These will be listed from worst to best. 

Also, I won't be mentioning Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater except for right now. I would pick it on the list, but to be quite frank, I don't want to talk about the book anymore. :D




1.) Together With You by Victoria Bylin
I wanted to branch out this year from my usual genres, but I was so disappointed with this adult romance. I had no idea that this was a Christian romance, and it threw me off. The characters fell flat for me and I just didn't care for their story at all. However, it did shine light on a problem that I was ignorant to, which did make it (almost) worth the read. 

2.) Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is the first book by Armentrout that I didn't like that much. I couldn't connect with the characters that much and I found the plot twists and points cliche and overused. To be honest, I would have rather not read this at all. I just want to read an Armentrout book that actually grabs me and doesn't let me go. 

3.) First by M.A. Grant
First never captured my attention. It was actually two stories in one, and both of them didn't have real substance. This is the first NA book that I didn't like. It is one of my least favorite books of the year, but it's not because its a horrible story. I'm just indifferent towards the whole thing.   


4.) Switched by Amanda Hocking 
Switched is the first book in Hocking's Trylle trilogy. This series is so popular, but I was so let down. I've had my eye on this for years and I was just disappointed. I would have loved this if I read it two years ago, but as I've grown so have my reading tastes. Nothing really happened throughout the book and though I will be continuing on with the story, I'm not expecting as much anymore. 

So those are my most disappointing books that I read in the first third of the year. Even though I was let down by these, it doesn't mean that you will be!

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Triannual 2016 Rewind: Favorite Books

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I will be showing you guys my favorite books of these past four months! So far, I've read a lot of great books, but there's only been one that has actually gotten five stars.You can head on over here if you want to know what series I have finished this year!

1.) Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
This is by far my favorite book of the year. I have no faults with this book at all. The writing in these novels just draw me in, and I love every single character. This concluding novel is my favorite out of the space trilogy, and the five stars are very well deserved. I  had such high expectations coming into this book, and they were met and surpassed! Here is my review!

2.) Endure by Sara B Larson
Endure is the third and final book of Larson's fantasy trilogy. I started this trilogy this year on a whim, and wasn't too impressed with the first book. However, I am so glad I continued on with the series. Every book got better as it progressed and by the time I finished Endure, I was in love with the series. I am so pleasantly surprised by Endure. Here is my series review!

3.) DIMILY Books 1 & 2 by Estelle Maskame
Estelle Maskame shocked me with her relatively new series. Did I Mention I Love You, or DIMILY for short, is a new contemporary trilogy written by Maskame, who is just a teenager! This series was actually a wattpad sensation, and I can see why! The first two books pulled me into the story and didn't let go. Eden and Tyler's relationship is so addicting, and I cannot wait to read their third and final book and get some closure! I would completely recommend this if you are in a reading slump. I have a mini review of the first book here.

4.) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I was so surprised that I liked The Great Gatsby as much as I do. While this is a rare instance, I am actually glad I read this for school and not just on my free time. I was able to dissect the book at a deeper level than I think I would've on my own time. Though I don't love it, I am so happy that I read it. 

And those are my favorite books so far of 2016! What are some of your favorite books of this year?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

March 2016 Wrap Up!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! In March, I read 6 books. I was in a reading slump from the second half of February to the first half of March, but now I am a reading machine! I'll be listing my March reads from worst to best.

6.) Sinner (Wolves of Mercy Falls #4) by Maggie Steifvater
 I'm sad to say that I didn't like the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It just fell short for me, as I was getting higher and higher expectations the more I thought about it. Cole and Isabel, the two main characters, didn't intrigue me as much as the previous books, so I started to find them annoying and their drama petty. However, I am glad I finally finished the series! 2.75 Stars!

5.) Mailboy by Jasmine Rose
Mailboy was such a fun read, but it wasn't anything special to me. The whole novel is featured on the wattpad app, so if you want to read it, go ahead! The book is completely fun and I would recommend it for anyone who wants to read just one more book this month, as it is so fast paced. 3 Stars!

4.) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The only reason I didn't love this book is because I read it for school and I had required pacing. I loved the story of Huck, but the slow pacing really took away from my enjoyment. There were times where I forgot what had specifically happened, and having to constantly rush or slow down my pace hurt my overall experience. 3.75 Stars!

3.) Half Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Half Blood was fun and entertaining, but it didn't hold me as well as some of Armentrout's other works. The book reminded me of Vampire Academy the whole entire time and I just couldn't get past it. I guessed all the plot twists as well, so I wasn't every taken aback. I will be continuing on with the series, but it's not on the forefront with me.  4 Stars!

2.) Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame
Did I Mention I Love You?, or DIMILY, is the first book in Maskame's contemporary trilogy about a girl, Eden,  who falls in love with her new stepbrother, Alex. This book got my attention within the first chapter and I couldn't stop after. DIMILY was such a whirlwind of a ride and I really enjoyed it. 4.25 Stars!


1.) Did I Mention I Need You? by Estelle Maskame
Even better than DIMILY was its sequel. I loved where the plot was taken in this, and though I do have a few faults with the novel, the characters were much more appealing because they were more mature. The ending was amazingly done, and I cannot wait until the third book releases later this year in the US! 4.25 Stars!

Other Posts from the Month!

February 2016 Wrap Up!
Totally Should've Book Tag!
Top Ten Tuesday: Characters People Love That I Just Don't Get
Adaption Talk: Shadowhunters S1E9 - Rise Up
Liebster Award!
EXCITING NEWS!
Anticipated Spring 2016 Releases!
Cover Talk: Vampire Academy Series
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love But Don't Talk About
Top Five Wednesday: Books I DNF
Currently Reading: Feuds, Rebel of the Sands (March 2016)
"This or That?" Book Tag
Cover Talk: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Top Ten Tuesday: My Latest Five Star Reads
Top Five Wednesday: Least Favorite Books in Finished Series 
Mini Review #2

And those were the books I read this month! What did you read?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Currently Reading: Feuds, Rebel of the Sands (March 2016)

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'm doing my monthly currently reading post! I was supposed to do this earlier this month, but I forgot... Everyone makes mistakes!

So right now I have just picked up Feuds by Avery Hastings. I mean that in the most literal sense; I'm only on page 15! Because of this, I don't really have any grasp or feeling about the book. It did get a bit info-dumpy, but the world is simple enough that I don't think I'd mind it. The novel is pretty small (261 pages), so I'm thinking I'll be done with this by the end of the week, or possibly sooner if I get really into it!

After that, I am going to be picking up Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I've been dying to pick this up and considering that my spring break starts on Friday, (YAY!) I know I'll be reading this one. In fact, I actually just met Alwyn this past Sunday, and it pushed me to read the book even more. I'll be making a post about that and putting it out there soon!


After those two, I don't really know what will happen. I'm looking for a light, easy read that would be perfect for spring break. Clockwork Prince definitely isn't that, but I did pick it up a couple days ago and haven't opened it since, so I might be revisiting that. There's also a good possibility of me reading the last book in The 100 trilogy, because I have that on my phone.

Besides that, I don't have much going on! I'm planning on doing a whole lot of reading, sleeping, and Netflix-ing this spring break. I haven't had a solid amount of relaxation for a while, so that's what I am really looking forward to.

What books are you currently reading?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

TBR Jar for 2016!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be showing you my TBR jar for 2016! This is going to be a fun, no pressure challenge for myself that will hopefully cut down on the amount of unread books I have on my shelves!

If you don't know what a TBR jar is, it is basically a jar filled with the names of the book you own but still not have read. TBR stands for to be read. I have never done a TBR jar, but decided it might be a fun challenge for me this upcoming year. I definitely have more books on my shelf I haven't read than I'd like to admit. Granted, I have a lot more read books than unread, so I am happy about that!

In total, there are 46 books I have not read on the shelves in my room. This isn't counting the books I will be receiving around Christmas. If I were to finish the jar, I would have to read about 4 books a month from it. Though I always read more than four books a month, I don't want to force myself into reading something I don't feel like reading at the time. That's why I'll be picking out four, and reading at least one and up to all of them per month. This way, I'm not feeling any sort of pressure!

The way I'm doing this means that I probably won't be reading every single book in this jar, and I'm fine with that. I frankly don't mind having unread books on my shelf as long as I know that I will read them. However, there are a lot of books that are sequels, so I know that if I don't like the first or second book once I read it, then I'll be taking out the names of all the books in the series. My goal is to at least have 25 or less names in the jar by the end of the year. All around are pictures of my jar. Then again, it isn't really a jar and more like an elephant shaped cup. :D Elephants are one of my favorite animals and nothing was in this cup, so I couldn't resist!

Have you guys done a TBR jar before or a planning to do one this upcoming year? If so, what's been your experience?

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

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!