September, October, and November Wrap Up!

Hello everyone! Long time, no see! I'm Genni, and though it's been a hot minute since I've written on this lovely blog of mine, I wanted to say hello and talk about all the books I read in the last three months. . I haven't been doing too great at reading for fun, and most of what I do read isn't on goodreads (articles, chapters, bits and pieces of texts), so I am behind on my goodreads challenge. Here's hoping that I can squeeze my last twenty books in during Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks!

Without further ado, here are all the books I've read these past three months.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton is the fourth novel in Quinn's Bridgerton series, which I've been having so much listening to on audio. Though this one was fun, it was my least favorite so far, and I haven't picked up another in the series yet. However, I hope to begin listening to them again in the new year as I eagerly await Shonda Rhimes Netflix series! 

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell

Anyone who thinks kids books are just for kids needs to read this book. Maybe Tomorrow is such a heartfelt and wonderful take on grief and friendship. And yes, I cried while reading it (are we surprised?). 

Watch Over Me by Mila Gray

The semester is in full swing, which basically means that it takes me a super long time to read books now. But that was not the case for Watch Over Me, which I read in one day. I opened it up on my kindle app, as I received the e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and was immediately drawn in. Once again, Mila Gray delivers a heartfelt, sexy, and tender romance.

August 2017 Wrap Up!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be wrappping up August for you! August has been pretty hectic for me. The first half of the month, I was just hanging out with my family (watching movies, shopping together, etc.) and seeing my friends. On the 19th I moved into college (I'm a first-year at UNC Chapel Hill), and classes started on the 22nd!

As for my classes, they are all very reading heavy. I'm taking three English courses (British Literature, Popular Genres, and Intro to Sexuality Studies), one Women and Gender studies class (Intro 101), one Philosophy/Religion class (aptly named Heaven & Hell), and a Spanish class (203)! So I've been reading a lot of short stories, excerpts, articles...everything! It's been a lot of fun, but also really taxing. But I'm overall loving it here.

This month I read 12 things! Yes, things, because not all of them were novels or full length books. Out of those 12, one was a short story, one a play, and two were manga volumes. I felt as if I was cheating a bit on goodreads when I marked short stories as read, but I did read them! And I also want my goodreads less focused on my challenge and more focused on my reading in general. So I don't feel bad anymore!

ANYWAYS, enough of my rambling and onto my actual wrap up!

Short Stories/Plays/Manga

Dengeki Daisy Volumes 4 and 5 by Kyousuke Motomi
I really liked these two volumes! I can't really differentiate between the two, but I am having a lot of fun with the series. The plot is really picking up, and I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming volumes as well. The only thing is that I feel like these volumes, while fun, feel more like a bridge to the later volumes instead of standing on their own.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by Gilman, and is very well known. Gilman was very much so compared to Poe, and I could see why. This is a great psychological thriller, and is very atmospheric. It also has feminist undertones, which I definitely appreciated. If you are even mildly interested in this, I totally recommend it! I really enjoyed it. :)

July 2017 Wrap Up!

Hey everyone and welcome back (or to!) my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be wrapping up July! July felt SO long for me. On the second I went on a beach trip to Hilton Head with my friend, and then we drove up to Carolina beach on the 5th to meet our mutual friend. I got home on the 9th and then went off to college orientation on the 12th and 13th. If you are wondering, I am going to UNC Chapel Hill. Orientation was long but really fun, and everyone was super nice. There was one girl I met who I really got along with, and we actually got into the same class!

As for the remainder of the month, I got back on track with my workout routine. I am a member of Jazzericise (which I adore!) but I had barely gone in the beginning of the month because of how busy I was and started to feel gross. I also registered for classes, de-cluttered my bookshelves and closet, and other little things.

I think this July was the best reading month for me! It sounds silly because I was pretty busy the first half, but I ended up reading a lot (8 novels, 3 volumes of manga, 1 graphic novel, and 1 audiobook for a total of 13 things!!)

And those are the books I read this month! I only had one book I didn't like, so July was a complete success. 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Mangas I've Read + Give Me Recommendations!! (PLS)

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today we are talking about manga. I've always wanted to talk about manga more on my blog, but I just haven't because I have a dilemma: I can't find manga that I am really interested in! So, I figured all of you could (hopefully) help me out! Give me some recommendations if you have them. Down below are the manga I've read and finished, and what I though about them so you'll get a feel for what I like. At the end I'll mention some manga that I never got around to finishing. I wouldn't be opposed to finishing them, they just don't grab my attention as much as I want them to!

Finished 

Cat Street by Yoko Kamio
This was good, but it wasn't stand otu. I read it, I liked it, and I quickly moved on. Unlike some others in this list, Cat Street didn't really leave me with a lasting impact. every now and again it'll randomly pop in my head, but I didn't LOVE it.

Marmalade Boy
Marmalade Boy is one of my favorite mangas of all time. That's not saying much because I haven't read a ton (as you can see) but I just love this with all my heart. I don't know which one  I like more, Fruits Basket or Marmalade Boy. Both of them are my loves. :D

TTT: Books That Scream Summer

Hey everyone and welcome back! I'm Genni, and today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Today's topic is a summer freebie, so I am going to be doing the top ten books that scream summer.

When I think of books that scream summer, I always think contemporaries. Not just contemporaries, but those that are fun and not too dark! So here are my top ten recommendations for summery contemporaries!

Also, sorry this is coming up a day late! Let's just say that there was a project I was doing for school and it took me way longer than I anticipated. I started at 4pm, ended at 4am. UGH. I decided to prioritize sleep over blogging.

10) Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
Seven Days of You follows Sophia's last week in Japan before she moves to the states. Japan has become Sophia's home, and this book focuses on moving on and trying to deal with change. Someone from Sophia's past comes back the last week as well, and the book is chock full of drama. This book takes place in summer and it super fast paced, which is why it's the perfect book to read this summer!

9) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
If I could only recommend one book, it would be this one! This is my favorite book of the year so far; I absolutely love it! Alex, Approximately is based off of You've Got Mail, and is about Bailey "Mink" Rydell. She moves to California to live with her dad, and she hopes to find the boy that she has been IM'ing that also lives there. She doesn't tell him though, and crazy, funny, and moving antics ensue. I just can't stop raving about this book to anyone who asks me about it. Just....read it!!!


8) The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts
I (think?) talk about about this book a lot on my blog! When I read the Replacement Crush last year, my expectations were blew out of the water, and this book seriously needs more love! Vivian, the main character, essentially tries to plan out her relationships with a list of safe crushes. But there's this annoyingly hot boy that works at the bookstore Vivian also works at...Need I say more? Who doesn't love a good hate to love angsty relationship? I know I do!

7) The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Morgan Matson is known for her summery books! I could put probably any of her books on here, and people would agree. The Unexpected Everything is my favorite of Matson's books, which is why I picked this one out of what she has out right now. Let's just say friendships, dogs, awkwardly cute romance, and a father/daughter relationship are all huge themes in the book that made me love it.

6) One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank
Much like The Replacement Crush, One Paris Summer needs some more love! I read the book mid-May last year and it made me so ready and excited for summer. Sophie Brooks goes to Paris for the summer to hang out with her now estranged dad and his new family. There is obviously  animosity because of the situation. The family tensions were done so well and I love how Denise Grover Swank accurately described family and how convoluted it can become. The only thing I didn't love was the romance, but I know that I am the black sheep when it comes to this!

5) To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Do I need to talk about why you should read this book? If you haven't already. I'm sure that you know what this book is about, because it is pretty popular in the YA world. If you don't To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a book that follows Lara Jean, a sophomore (or junior??) in the first book and the repercussions that follow after the love letters she kept in a hat box are mysteriously sent. This series spawned one of my favorite young adult couples, and I love Lara's voice. The first book was definitely my least favorite, but the second and third were just spectacular!

4) Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
I know that Hoover has faced some controversy recently, but I will not hold back with my love for Maybe Someday. Maybe Someday is a book that was literally made for me. It's perfect for the summer because it flies by and is chock-full of drama. If you want to read a Hoover book but don't know which one to start with, I would suggest this one. I personally think it is her best work though, so don't get your expectations too high when you move on to another book by hers!

3) Royally Lost by Angie Stanton
Royally Lost is one of those books that doesn't have much substance but it super fun to read. There have been times I have just opened this book on my Nook and started to read random passages. It isn't the most memorable or unique plot (a girl goes on a trip to Europe and falls in love with a prince who just wants to live his life) but it is a book that always leaves me happy and content at the end. Royally Lost is a super cutesy romance that warms my heart. And hey, it takes place in summer!

2) Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
I haven't read Meant to Be in two or three years now, so I'm just not going to synopsize this. From what I remember, this book is a hate to love romance (my kryptonite) and takes place over the summer. Need I say more for why this is a perfect summer read. In fact, I might just pick this up again..

1) Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi
So this last one is a manga series! Marmalade Boy is one of my favorite mangas of all time. I've only read about 7 or so mangas (I'm working on it!) but this always stands out. Whenever I just want to read manga but can't find a good series to delve into, I just reread this. There are 8 volumes, so you can get through the series fairly quickly too. Marmalade Boy is essentially a shojo romance between Miki and Yuu, who become step siblings. However, this is totally readable for all you guys out there!

So those are just ten of some great contemporary reads for this summer! What are some that you recommend. Also, sorry to all you fantasy lovers!! I'm a big fantasy reader too, but when I think summer, I immediatley think contemporary!

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

December Wrap Up!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be wrapping up all the books I read in December! I was pretty behind in my reading challenge last year and had to read 18 things in December to complete the goal. I say things because not all of these are novels. Some are graphic novels or manga, etc.

Here we go! The links are to my reviews. :)

18) Truthwtich by Susan Dennard
Truthwitch is the first book in the Witchlands series by Susan Dennard. I enjoyed this book, but I couldn't keep track on the politics that well. The world building was a bit shaky. However, I really liked the characters and I will be continuing on with the series. 3.75 Stars!

17) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
I really enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star! Yoon's debut novel, Everything, Everything, was one of my favorite books of 2015. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy The Sun is Also a Star as much. Sometimes the characters annoyed me and I couldn't relate to them. Nevertheless, the book was a great love story and I would recommend it. I never actually came up with a rating for this. 

16) Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Trial by Fire is another first in a series! This one also deals with witches, but in a completely different way than Truthwitch. The world building worked a bit better for me in this one. Like Truthwitch, I will be continuing on with series as well! 4 Stars!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Enjoyed Under 2000 Ratings

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I will be participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and Bookish. If you haven't checked them out, make sure you do!

So this week's topic is related to an earlier topic of underrated books. However, there are several definitions to an underrated book. So, to clean things up a bit, the prompt is instead our top ten books that have less than 2,000 ratings on goodreads. Looking through this, I found quite a few books on my goodreads that I think deserve more attention!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love But Don't Talk About

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and today I will be participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and Bookish. This week's topic is ten books that we love that we just don't seem to mention.

I have several shelves dedicated to my favorite books, but there are always a couple that I forget to mention. This week, I'll be mentioning books that I have only mentioned ONCE in any post to give me a bit of a challenge. Here we go!

10.) Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi
Marmalade Boy is one of my favorite mangas! It's so cute and fluffy and I absolutely adore it. :) The plot features two step siblings who at first hate each other and fall in love. The series has 8 volumes.
9.) Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Twenty Boy Summer is a YA summer contemporary about a wild summer of two best friends. They make a plan to try and date twenty boys in the summer, and whoever gets the most boys wins. It's kind of lighthearted play, but Frankie,the main character's best friend, doesn't know that Anna, the main character, dated Frankie's brother before his tragic death. Let's just say summer isn't for secrets.
8.) The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
This middle grade mystery series is so fun! I kind of drifted away from the series without meaning to, but the first book in the series is very well loved.
7.) Confess by Colleen Hoover
So I started my blog after I had already read Confess, which is the only reason this hasn't been all over my channel. This is a new adult novel from the queen (Colleen Hoover) about Auburn, and that is all you have to know. Seriously. Jut read it. The art is amazing. <3 
6.) Easy by Tammara Webber
I read Easy last summer right as I was getting into new adult. Maybe it was the right time, but I absolutely adored it. The plot might be a bit predictable, but it sure was fun!
5.) Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
I absolutely adore Chasing Brooklyn! It is the companion novel to I Heart You, You Haunt Me. Both are written in prose, and it is just so beautiful. The plots is pretty complex, but it is basically about Brooklyn, our main character, and her recovery after hearing about a classmates death, only one year after her boyfriend's.
4.) Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Something Like Fate is a staple YA contemporary in my book. It was one of my first young adult contemporary reads, and has a special place in my part. The novel is about Lani, and how she falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend. Drama ensues.  
3.) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars was he book of the summer a couple years back. I wonder what I would think of it now? I can't really tell you the plot without telling you so let's just say this: Cady goes to a family island and everything isn't as it seems.
2.) Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Ignite Me was the final installment in the Shatter Me trilogy and it was basically everything. It did feel rushed and while this series is definitely not underhyped, I don't talk about it a lot.
1.) Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour 
Last but not least is one of my favorite contemporaries. I don't talk about contemporaries a lot, do I? Everything Leads to You is a coming of age story that touched my heart in all the right places. 

So that was my TTT! Have you read any of these? If you did a TTT today, make sure to link it down below. :D

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!