Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'm Thankful I Stumbled Upon!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni and Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish! Make sure to check these ladies out if you haven't already. Today we could choose anything Thanksgiving themed. So today, I'm going to be listing the top ten books I've found this year that I am thankful for! These are in no particular order. Here we go!


10.) Unearthly Trilogy by Cynthia Hand
I read the Unearthly Trilogy way back in January and absolutely loved it! It isn't a stereotypical "angel" book and was actually really moving! I'm pretty sure I cried multiple times each book. I had the amazing opportunity to meet the author as well and got my books signed!

9.) That Boy by Jillian Dodd
That Boy has actually been a book I've been looking at getting ever since I got my Nook about four years ago. I finally bought it and it did not fall short of the hype and anticipation I had! I do want to read the second one, so fingers crossed I'll buy that one sooner than I did the first!


8.) Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
I heard about Between the Lines when its companion novel, Off the Page, was getting so much buzz on booktube. I decided to pick this one up, and I was thrown into an amazing world. The illustrations and story is spot on and intrigued me from the get go! Want to know more of my thoughts? Check out my review here!


7.) Every Last Promise by Kristin Halbrook
Every Last Promise is literally a book that I have heard nothing about on both the blogging and booktube community. I stumbled upon this at my local library, and I got more than I was expecting. It is a hard hitting contemporary novel with dark themes of abuse, and it was really great to see read something so well done.


6.) Angelfall by Susan Ee
Angelfall is a dark young adult paranormal fantasy. Needless to say, I completely loved this book. Back when I read it, I felt like it was near perfect, so I am really hesitant to pick up the sequel. Check out my review where I basically fangirl and freak out over how good this novel is!


5.) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Nicola Yoon debuted her first novel with Everything, Everything and what I got in return was basically everything. The writing and story was just amazing and I'm so happy that I got the chance to read this book. Also, can we talk about this cover? SO. GOOD.

4.) The Pact by Karina Halle
The Pact is one of my favorite New Adult books I have read this year. It follows two best friends for about a nine year period and how they both have had feeling for each other for that time period. Best friends falling in love is one of my favorite things to read about, and this was amazing. Check out my review here!


3.) The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
The Book of Ivy is one of the best dystopians I have read. It is the first in a dystopian duology, and I cannot wait to read the final book, The Revolution of Ivy, which is out now. A good and original dystopian instead of a run of the mill one is definitely something to be thankful for in the book community. Here is my review! It's pretty bad because it was one of my first posts, so oh well! Haha :)


2.) Unethical by Jennifer Blackwood
One of my favorite new adult novels this year as well! The story is centered around future doctor Payton and her ex Blake as they are applying for medical school. There are tons of other big subplots in the book, but I don't want to say too much! The story is best to read without knowing too much.

1.) Cat Street by Yoko Kamio
In all honesty, I'm not just thankful for Cat Street, but actually Yoko Kamio in general. I read Cat Street earlier this year in entirety, and have read a portion of her other well known manga series Boys Over Flowers. I had to take a break because it was taking up all of my reading, but I am so thankful I found Yoko Kamio and her series!


That's it for today! What books are you guys thankful for? Another thing I am thankful for is you guys! I'm so thankful for each and everyone one of you and the fact that you take the time to read my posts. Thank you so much and I'll see you guys soon with another post! To anyone having breaks this week, I hope you guys have fun! Love you all!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Movie Review: Mockingjay Part 2

I literally have nothing bad to say about this film! I absolutely loved it!

Mockingjay Part 2 is everything I wanted in a concluding movie of one of my favorite franchises. I never knew I could be so happy with something. Right once I finished seeing the movie, I wanted to go back and see it again. 

This was such a faithful adaptation and I loved every second of it. They really stuck true to the books and I adored how they translated it into film. The acting is on point throughout the entire movie, and Josh Hutcherson's portrayal of a broken Peeta was excellent. Even though the movie is pretty long, 2 hours and 17 minutes, there was not one time I was bored. Because I knew what was going to happen since I have read the books, I was eagerly anticipating some scenes and anxious at others. I was low-key hoping they didn't kill off a certain character in the sewers, but the scene was so well done and truly paid tribute to the character. 

One thing I love about this book is that there is so much symbolism and " Easter eggs" throughout the film. For instance, at the end of the movie (no major spoiler don't worry!) Peeta is holding a dandelion. If you don't remember, at the end of Mockingjay Katniss explains how Gale is like a fire while Peeta is a dandelion. Already fire-like herself, she needs something to calm herself and Peeta is her perfect match. In another scene, when President Snow coughs up blood, it comes out in the shape of a mockingjay! Now that is just brilliant. Another scene that I felt was really cool was one of the end scenes where Peeta and Katniss are just sitting together looking outside as it rains. They are in the same exact post they are in on top of the roof in The Hunger Games movies, and it made the scene so much more powerful. You can really see their character development from then to now. 

I was also worried about the scene near the end with President Snow, President Cain, and Katniss at the trials. (I'm trying so hard to not give spoilers! Haha!) Because I knew what Katniss was about to do, Cain's speech was so powerful and ironic. Not only is she talking about Snow, an evil dictator, but herself as well as she continues on with her tyranny.  

I literally have no complaints. Not only was this movie faithful to the book, but was extremely well written, directed, and acted. If you haven't heard already, there was this scene between a couple that never happened in the book that became canon in the movies. I loved that change! I've been shipping this couple ever since I first read the books and I was fangirling and my friend and I freaked the crap out when they kissed! SO. GOOD. 

Another aspect that I wanted to talk about was the music and score throughout the trilogy of movies. I just realized this when watching this final movie, but they always use this same music phrase in key moments, and it made the scenes even more powerful! Hearing that progression actually pushed me into crying in one scene. Talking about crying, I did that. Multiple times. How could you not? The movie is so bittersweet and touching, and my heart felt like it was breaking and rejoicing at the same time. As you can tell, the movie gave me all the feels.

Does anyone else want prequels of these movies? Ever since I heard the news that The Hunger Games was adapted into film, I have been thinking of all the other movies they can make. For instance, they could do a prequel on the revolution that would start the Hunger Games and the first game to happen. I would also love to see Finnick's game and Annie's as well. To be quite honest, I want to see their love story enfold. But the one prequel I want to happen the most is Haymitch's! If you don't know, Haymitch was victor of the 50th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell where instead of 24 participants there were 48! Haymitch used the game boundaries as a weapon, and in turn the Capitol killed his family. Talk about brutal! But also, it would give more insight and depth to Haymitch as a character. 

To just recap everything I just said up in those billions of paragraphs, I pretty much said that I loved everything about the movie. This was such a perfect adaptation and I couldn't have asked for a better movie for a better series. In ranking the movies, this was my favorite followed by Catching Fire, and Mockingay Pt. 1 and Hunger Games tied. 

I couldn't recommend this movie more! It was such a great conclusion and though it is bittersweet the series came to an end, I could not be happier. 

With that, I give this book

5 out of 5 Stars!

What's your favorite of the Hunger Games movies? The books? What did you think of the movie? I'm definitley going to watch this again - proabably during Thanksgiving break!

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

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Discussion: What Classifies Sci-Fi?

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! This month I have been participating in Sci Fi Month, an event hosted by Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow!It's been really fun so far and you should definitely participate with us next year! Today I'm talking about something that has always been a bit confusing to me. What makes a book science fiction?

The definition of science fiction is "fiction based on imagined futuristic scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel  and life on other planets." But what is the major difference between genres such as science fiction and dystopians. For me, I have been wondering this for a while and determined that while not all science fiction works are dystopian, but all or most dystopians are science fiction.

Take Delirium by Lauren Oliver, for instance. No one really thinks of the series where love is a disease as science fiction, but it fits the parameters. Not only does the world in the novel has extreme technological advances, but both the social and environmental aspects of the society has vastly changed. The book is set in the future and fits the definition, but I have never really thought about the series as a science fiction one.

Throughout Sci-Fi Month, I've been asking myself if the books I've been reading are science fiction or not. Another question that I have is if fantasy novels could also be considered science fiction as well. In most fantasy, there are creatures that defy our natural world, but does that make it science fiction? Yes, society in a fantasy novel is vastly different than our world, but the story is set in another universe. I still haven't made my mind up yet on this one!

What are your thoughts? I never really thought about it up until now, but it is an interesting concept that I have read more science fiction books than I think I have. What are some of your favorite science fiction books that you have read?

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

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

The Friday 56 (#1)

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'm going to be participating in the Friday 56, a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice! The rules for this meme is to grab any book and turn to either page 56 or 56% on your ereader and give a nippet of the page without spoiling it!

Today I'm going to be featuring my current read,
Dawn of the Dreamer by L.J. Higgins. I have been reading this as my e-reader. I'm already 50 percent of the way through, so I'll probably know what's up while you guys will be confused. ;)






















This is making me even more conflicted. There is a love triangle that is in play right now, but I'm pretty sure I know who she is going to be ending up with.



What teasers did you have this week? What are you currently reading?

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post! It's going to be about my experience meeting Marissa Meyer and getting all my books signed! *squee*

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Traveling Thursdays: Book That Deals With War

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'm going to be joining in on the weekly meme hosted by Danielle at Shelfies Above Selfies and Catia at The Girl Who Read Too Much.

The idea of this meme is to choose a book that has the characteristic the mods choose and show the original cover and the book from your country. Next, you show your favorite edition of the book, excluding the original one. After all that, you show your least favorite edition.

Today's theme is a book that deals with war because peace day was two days ago!

I picked Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi! I chose this book because while it is not necessarily war ridden, the book definitely is not peaceful! There are several tense relationships in this and battles do occur throughout the series.

                  English Covers

I don't necessarily like this cover on the left, but it is the most well known. Some people really love it, but I just don't like people on the covers that much. The second one is a whole other story! It's absolutely love this cover and the color scheme. I like the person on this cover because the person isn't completely exposed so it leaves an aura of mystery. 

Favorite

My favorite is for sure this one! It is absolutely stunning and I just love it. I don't really know why I like it so much, I just do! The typography is really nice and so is the catch line to draw people in. The people aren't real, so I don't mind it. Bonus points that it is an accurate representation of the characters and how they look also!

Least Favorite

Russian                                                     Hungarian                                                   Dutch

Okay, people on covers rarely work but when they do, the outcome is amazing. All three of these are failed attempts. I think my least favorite of these three is the Russian one. While it shows a dome, which is correct to the books, it just looks really cheesy. The girl on the cover looks really strange and it doesn't really give off the feeling of the novel. The Hungarian edition is also pretty bad. I hate the whole entire pose Aria is doing here. Like who actually stands like that? It looks so forced. As for the Dutch cover, it doesn't accurately represent the book at all. If I were to see this cover, I would have thought that the book is sci fi. 

Those are my choices for the day! I had a lot of fun doing this post and was surprised at the variations of covers! Did you guys like this and should I do more?

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

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Temptation was such a fun read!

Sweet Temptation is the fourth and final novel in Wendy Higgins's Sweet series. This novel is actually a recap of the first three books in a different perspective. If you don't know what the first three books are about, they follow Nephilim and demons. Sweet Evil, the first book, is about Anna's journey when she learns she is a Nephilim and daughter of the Duke of Substance Abuse. She has a love story with Kai, who is the son of the Duke of Lust. The story and series evolves from there while Anna discovers more about the world and her destiny. The three books have a complete story arc and conclusion. Sweet Temptation just recalls these events in one novel in Kai's perspective instead of Anna's.I can't give out too much more of the plot because I'd spoil the whole entire series for you, and no one wants that! I would recommend reading the first three books first instead of just reading this novel because as a reader you wouldn't grasp and understand the book as easily in my opinion.

I really loved reading in Kai's perspective. There were so many times throughout the series where I was so frustrated with Kai's actions, especially in Sweet Evil. When I first read Sweet Evil, I gave the book 2 stars. However, the series in my mind is a solid four star read. I think I disliked the first one so much because not only did Anna come off as too juvenile and saintly for me, but Kai seemed like a major jerk. What I didn't realize was that there were so many pivotal scenes in all three books that I was excited to read in Kai's POV. There were a couple right off the bat that I knew I wanted to read, but while I was reading the book, I kept on remembering different scenes that I was so eagerly anticipating.

The pacing was really well done and I liked how Wendy Higgins didn't include all the scenes from all the books, because than this novel would have been so, so long. Instead, she chose some really key moments and introduced scenes we haven't seen before because Anna wasn't there. What we got in return was a 485 page book of pure fun.

Reading in Kai's POV was really refreshing. I understood Kai more as a character, and his motivations were clearer throughout the novel. I really disliked Kai in the first novel and half of the second, and this gave me a whole entire different view of him. In book three, Sweet Reckoning, I absolutely loved Kai and liked him just as much in Sweet Temptation. Because the first three books were in Anna's perspective, a lot of Kai as a character was lost in translation in the first novel and I didn't completely understand him. With Sweet Temptation, I completely connected and understood him.

This novel was amazingly fun to read. Kai was such a fun character to read; he was sassy and sarcastic and overall just really funny. This book really improved the series in my mind. I do recommend this series as a whole. Though I didn't necessarily like the first book, the series improved with every single progression. Sweet Temptation was more fun than I anticipated and I really loved it.

With that, I give this book

4.25 Stars!

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Quotes I ADORE

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today is another Top Ten Tuesday post, hosted by the girls over at Broke and Bookish. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already!

Today's topic features the recent quotes we've found over the years that we love. I decided to keep this to just books, or else the list could go forever! None of these are in any particular order. I couldn't whittle down all of them to just ten, so I have one extra!

11.) "Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures. No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh." Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

10.) "He didn't give me flowers or candy. He gave me the moon and the stars. Infinity." We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

9.) "But just because you bury something, that doesn't mean it stops existing." We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

8.) "I wanted to be his life preserver, the thing that would keep him afloat. Instead, he became my anchor. And I'm tired of drowning." But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

7.) "I want to be someone strong and brave enough to make hard choices. But I want to be fair and loving enough to make the right ones." The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

6.) "I will show her that loving her is my greatest truth, and the most beautiful thing I have ever known." Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

5.)  "Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you." If I Stay by Gayle Forman

4.) "Envy hurt exponentially more than heartbreak because your soul was torn in two, half soaring with happiness for the other person, half mired in a well of self pity and pain." For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Petefreund

3.) "And we are quotation marks, inverted and upside down, clinging to one another at the end of this life sentence. Trapped by lives we did not choose." Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

2.) "We can't help who we love. Love isn't logical, or even our choice. Love chooses us." Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

1.) "Each piece of glass is another piece of myself I gave to him. It's too bad I didn't give any pieces to myself." But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Hope you guys liked the quotes I picked out! If you want to see more of my quotes, there's a featured box at the bottom of my blog! You can also visit here at my quotes page from goodreads! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!