Showing posts with label collaboration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collaboration. Show all posts

Monday, 21 May 2018

Book Bloggers Recommend Summer Reads | 2018 Edition

Hi everyone! I'm back again with another collaboration post with some lovely bookish friends of mine. Since we are basically nearing summer, I thought it'd be a good idea to do what I did last year and put together a post of recommended reads for the summer/beach reads. If you want to see what was featured last year, take a look here! Those recommendations still stand ;) Let's get started!

Wendy at A Cupcake and a Latte recommends... 
"Rachel Hawkins is the brilliant mind behind one of my favorite paranormal YA series with a school setting. The Hex Hall series had completely blown me away, and it was a series that I, too, binged during the summer holidays. So when I think of summer reading, I definitely think of Rachel Hawkins'  latest, ROYALS. Royals, the first of a new series by Rachel Hawkins, focuses on Daisy Winters, your average 16 year old girl with a sister who's nearly engaged to a crown prince. Daisy immediately finds the new found publicity unwelcome, and is forced to join her sister in seclusion at the castle.  Royals features snarky characters, handsome love interests, and all the teen drama one could possibly ever want. Additionally, it's arrival is perfectly timed with the upcoming royal wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle!  It's the perfect breezy read for a warm day under the sun, and one I can certainly see becoming a much beloved teen series." 

Tiff at Mostly YA Lit recommends...
"This year, my perfect beach read is Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian. It's got everything you would want in a summer read - ice cream, girl friendships, a romance - plus tons of feminist themes! It's the story of Amelia, a girl boss who manages an all-female staffed ice cream stand during the summers, and what happens when the owner dies and leaves the stand to her great nephew. What I love about this book is that it seems fluffy and light, but it's not at all predictable. The ice cream descriptions are delectable, the friendships complicated, and the work ethic inspiring. It's extra in the best possible way - I felt both happy and empowered by the end of the book, and you will, too!"

Jenn at Lost in a Great Book recommends... 
"I loved this book because it immediately brought back all the old feelings and emotions (good, bad and ugly) that I used to have about attending summer camp, but with a much more somber outcome. This book is about five girls who slowly begin to bond at camp, doing all the usual camp things, until the day they set out on their very first overnight kayaking trip. Something goes horribly wrong, and the girls are left without adults to guide them or to help them to survive. Told in alternating PO and in flash forwards and flashbacks, the reader slowly begins to piece together what exactly happened on that fateful night, and just how profoundly one formative memory can affect several people so differently over their life. The combination of the familiar sense memory identifiers of summer, mixed with the suspenseful storyline and alternating POVs may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it will definitely spark discussion around the campfire."

Eden at The Required Reading List recommends...
"The Wedding Date was so incredibly enjoyable & fun. On top of that, the heroine is a badass taking names, but still has those niggling self doubts that even the most confident women can. The Wedding Date shows it’s okay to be both. And the hero is flawed in such an incredibly realistic and lovely way. I laughed, chuckled, sighed, and screamed at the book. Got a beach bag? Put this book in it. Got a backpack? Put this book in it. Got a briefcase? Put this book in it. Got a moderately sized purse? Put this book in it. Got a tiny purse? Get a bigger purse so you can put this book in it." 

Lynne at Words of Mystery recommends... 
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"I rarely get asked to be part of blogger collaborations, so I was happy to join in on to this one, especially since it's for a summer/beach read recommendation. My pick is pretty obvious for anyone who knows me even a bit, and it's Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asian series! The movie of the first book is out on August 17th of year, which makes it an even more perfect read for the summer. For those of you looking for some deeper plot or a thought-provoking story, Crazy Rich Asians may not be for you. Instead Crazy Rich Asians is pure escapism at its best as we follow all the crazy spending, drama and juicy gossip of the some of Singapore's wealthiest (fictional) families. Of course at its heart, Crazy Rich Asians is also a love story and who doesn't love a good rom-com during the summer months?" 

Marina at A Makeshift Library recommends...
"Hello all! This is Marina from A Makeshift Library. I'm excited to recommend you a quick but powerful summer read! Exit West by Mohsin Hamid will be a great companion for an afternoon under the sun. The story follows a young couple displaced from their home country by a senseless civil war as they cope with the loss of family, their sense of identity, and mementos from simpler times. Hamid infuses the story with beautiful love anecdotes and presents this heart-wrenching journey in a world where a simple doorway may transport you across the globe. Great for fans of Khaled Hosseini and Neil Gaiman (this book was a wonderful mix of the two!). A beautiful book if you're in the mood for something a bit more dense but don't want to commit to a door-stopper. An incredibly beautiful, raw, and magical story."

Ambur at Burning Impossibly Bright recommends...
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"I'm terrible at limiting myself when it comes to book recommendations, but I managed to cut my list of summer beach read recs down to two of my favourite romances! These recs aren’t really beachy or super summery, but they do take place (at least partially) in California, and for a Canadian girl that’s usually beachy enough for me. :P 

#1 for romance readers who like lighter rather than steamier reads: #STARSTRUCK by Sariah Wilson — Oh my! I read #Starstruck a couple of months ago and loved it! Zoe and Chase’s Twitter meet-cute was utterly adorable! I loved how their relationship bloomed, and I really loved all of their interactions on Twitter. Soooo cute! :D This book gave me all the feels and had me giggling like crazy! 

#2 for romance readers who like their books racy: VICIOUS by LJ Shen — Vicious is on the darker side romance-wise and it’s super steamy. Sometimes you need a book that’s going to wrench at your heart and tear at your feelings, and sometimes the summer is the best time to read books like that…so if you’re in the mood for a book that’s going to make you super conflicted about your feelings and that’s going to probably make you blush and maybe even make you cry…then it’s time for you to meet Vicious and Emilia. ;) Vicious was my favourite book from 2017, and I’m still absolutely obsessed with it to this day! Read it, read it, read it!

I’m always up for chatting about romance books, so thank you for letting me share some of favourites on your blog, Christine! Happy summer reading everyone! ;)" 

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I just want to take a quite moment and thank all the great bloggers for participating this time around. I've added quite a few of these books to my TBR and I was pleased to see some books I've read in the past and loved as well on the list. Please be sure to jump over to their social media pages and show them so love.

Let me know in the comments below what books are your favorite for this summer time? Or if you are not one for re-reading, what would be your most anticipated read this summer? 

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

Book Bloggers Recommend Summer Reads | 2017 Edition

Hi everyone! I hope that you are all enjoying the beautiful warm weather we are having in Toronto right now. I felt like it was time for another Book Bloggers Recommend post, since the last one was really fun to collaborate on! If you haven't seen the other post, I asked a few of my bookish friends to recommend some good Valentines Read here! This time around we are recommending summer reads/books you'd read by the beach/lake, or simply something you'd read outside (or inside) during the sunshine!

Michele at Just A Lil' Lost recommends...
"When Christine asked me to be part of another blogger collab, this time about beach/summer books, I immediately thought of On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves. It's been 5 years since I first read this novel but the story had stayed with me. On the Island is about Anna, a 30-year-old teacher who gets stranded on an island with T.J., her teenage student. When rescue seems less and less likely as the days, months and years go by, Anna realizes that the boy she first washed ashore with is becoming a man. The pairing may seem a bit shocking or taboo but the way their circumstances form their companionship is a compelling story."

 Michelle at Musing Wallflower recommends.. 
"When I think about summer reading, I think about picking up a book and sitting under my favourite tree at the park and enjoying the fresh air. And the book I'm recommending you bring to the park with you is Lost & Found by Brooke Davis.Very reminiscent of Pixar's Up, Lost & Found follows three protagonists - Millie, Agatha and Karl - who are all coping with a serious loss in their lives. Agatha and Karl, both having lost their spouses, accompany seven-year-old Millie on her adventure to find the mother who abandoned her at a department store, but the three of them end up finding companionship with one another. Despite the dark themes, the book is very funny and quite sweet. A light, uplifting read to bring along on a quiet, breezy day!"
(Michelle has also written a full-review on her blog here!)


Amanda at Brains, Books and Brawn recommends... 
"The honour of my being named my favourite beach/pool/park side summer read is a toss up between Morgan Matson's The Unexpected Everything and Laura Silverman's Girl Out of Water. They're both set in the summer (easy points won here) and capture the vibe of the season so well it almost hurts. I loved the stories and main characters in both as well. Of course there are also adorable summer romances to make you swoon and ship and fail. What's summer without cute stories?! Not to mention that the covers are so beautiful for outdoor bookstagram...if you can stop reading long enough to take a picture!"

Ambur at Burning Impossibly Bright recommends...
"I have a few books summery books that I absolutely adore, but the one that I always turn to is Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Prior to reading it, I mostly read paranormal and fantasy YA, but Amy and Roger opened me up to the wonderful world of contemporary, and I haven’t looked back since! I also just love that it’s the perfect catch-all summer book. You’ve got a road trip, a summer romance, great playlists, camping, and some crazy shenanigans! What’s not to love?! Other honourable mentions include: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt, and because I can’t talk about books lately without bringing up romance, I’d also recommend Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg!"

Sarena & Sasha at The Writing Duo recommends...
"Our summer pick is a new YA by a great Canadian author, SK Ali. Saints and Misfits is both light-hearted and deals with heavy subject matter; but like the author says, it shows the humanity in Muslims, and also shows the woes of romance and being a 15-year-old, something most people can relate to. I loved reading Janna's journey to finding her own kind of empowerment among her family and friends. Seriously, this cover SCREAMS summer--and you want to read this book with a cone of ice cream, enjoying the summer breeze!" 

Jessica at The Paper Trail Diary recommends..
"I am not really a re-reader – my TBR pile is too big, watching over me, and I feel like it would judge me if I went back and spent more time on books. I know this is absolutely silly, but at least the books that I would re-read keep a special shelf of love in my heart. So when I think of a book that I would read outdoors in the summer, I think of The Museum of Heartbreak. It’s an adorable YA novel about a girl who has some growing up to do, and I think back on it fondly. When I think of it, I think of walking around Central Park and taking a moment to lie down in the grass in the shade. And because it is so sweet, it feels like sunshine. I also do like it when I read books in the summer that take place in the summer, for some reason that feels like a tall glass of lemonade (even when YA books that take place in the summer mean the MC is about to go through some life changes). In the past, I’ve recommended it as a great palette-cleanser read, especially after a string of darker books. It’s light, airy, and fun, and sweet like a ginormous ice cream cone. This kind of book is exactly the kind of thing I like to read in the summer."

Tiff at Mostly YA Lit recommends...
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"For me, the perfect beach or summer read has to have that sense of slow, hot days and nights, but also be captivating and sweet enough to hold my interest against the gorgeous outdoors. The two books that always put me in a summer mood are Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (actually read in a cabin by the lake in British Columbia), and Open Road Summer by Emery Lord. While both these authors have written other summery books, the road trippy, swoony feelings that these books embody - along with just the right amount of healing, friendship, and transformation - make them perfect to whip through in a summer afternoon by the beach or lake."

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I want to take a moment and thank all these fantastic bloggers for participating in this collaboration. They've recommended some amazing titles that I haven't read yet and that I'm already adding to my ever-growing TBR pile. I hope that you will find something enjoyable from their recs to pick up during this sunny and warm weather! Please be sure to show them some love on their blogs and check out their other social media links. 

Do you have any summer reads that you simply love and are perfect for a read in the sun?
Let me know in the comments below! 

Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Book Bloggers Recommend Valentines Reads | 2017 Edition

Hi everyone! I wanted to start a new series on my blog where I work with fellow book blogger friends and we put together a list of recommendations. I had a post last year on Valentines about Recommend Valentines Reads and I wanted to do something in the same vein but hearing from all my friends. As I mention in that post, regardless of it being a Hallmark Holiday, it is actually one of my favorite days of the year. I absolutely love all the pink and red and I still write Valentines cards today for my friends. I also love making sure I am reading a ton of good romance reads that month. So leading up to the actual day, I thought I'd get a group of great book bloggers together to recommend some reads to you! :)

 Michelle at Musing Wallflower recommends.. 
"I'm not typically into fluffy romance novels with happy endings, but if I were to recommend a Valentine's Day read, it would definitely be The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher. Ana and Zak follows both protagonists throughout the book. Ana, the girl who strives for perfection for the sake of her family, and Zak, the boy who thrives in mediocrity as long as he gets to attend his favourite nerd convention every year. The two of them meet and end up having to navigate said nerd convention to find Ana's little brother before it's too late. But along the way, they get into a whole bunch of crazy shenanigans and start to see one another in a different light. I totally got on board with this YA romance novel. It perfectly captured my favourite tradition of attending annual conventions, and added a little bit of fluff to the mix, making me immediately fall for the characters and their story. If you're the kind of person who wants to read a fluffy romance tale this Valentine's but would normally rather be reading a science fiction novel, this is the perfect read!"

Jessica at The Paper Trail Diary recommends..
"I've never liked being mopey on Valentine's Day. In or out of a relationship, I've always found something cute about it, trying not to think about the commercialization of the holiday. I read P.S. I Like You in the late fall of 2016, but I feel like if I had saved it until early February, my squees would have been even louder than they were. This is a quick, adorable read and has a great book boyfriend in there waiting for you! I loved the aspect of writing love notes to each other on a classroom desk, not knowing who was writing back, and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this when you're looking for some warm fuzzy feelings." 

Michele at Just A Lil' Lost recommends...
 "My Valentine's book pick would be Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star. When a series of circumstances lead Natasha and Daniel to meet on the streets of NYC, it sets in motion a day that will forever change these two teenagers' lives. I absolutely adored this book, and the fact that it's based on the author's own love story with her husband makes this all the sweeter. I loved the idea of fate vs science that gets worked into the narrative. The additional asides throughout the book about the people that these two encounter throughout the day also provide some interesting insight into that very notion of "coincidence". The Sun Is Also a Star left the biggest grin on my face. The diversity, the setting and the whole story is just a delightful."

Tiff at Mostly YA Lit recommends...
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"This year, my Valentine's Day read is my favorite romance of 2016: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I cannot say enough about this glorious hate-to-love office romance between Lucy and Josh, two rival executive assistances at a merged publishing house. It's completely unputdownable, so sexy, funny, and unique. The writing is impressively symbolic, thoughtful, and memorable. I'll be re-reading this one for the fourth time since December before Valentine's Day!" 

Amanda at Brains, Books and Brawn recommends... 
"My favourite part of watching RomComs is the sassy, often tough-as-nails heroine. Lucky in Luck on the Line is just that. She's stubborn and a bit (a lot) of a commitment-phobe and when she meets hot, famous chef James he brings the tough side out of her in full force. They end up working together to help her mother open The Star and the rest is history! Luck on the Line mixed giving me ALL the feels with making me laugh my way to rock hard abs. I have so many witty one-liners/moments highlighted throughout my Kindle copy. I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of RomComs and are looking to swoon and laugh and be taken over by feels!" 

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I just want to take a moment to thank my fellow book blogger friends who participated in this collaboration. I only read one book out of the five recommended, so I definitely know what I'm going to be doing this week leading up to Valentine's Day! I can't wait to check out all these amazing titles. I hope that you, dear reader, will also check out these fantastic titles and go show some love at their blogs and other social media. 

Do you have any Valentine's reads that make you swoon and bring out all the feels? 
Let me know below in the comments!