Trying to stay on top of things can prove to be one of the harder things in life. Especially when life is hell bent on being cray and not really giving you a chance to breath. Staying organized is definitely a challenge for me, being a student and blogger. But the thing is the busier you are the more important being organized is. In order to keep up with school and make sure posts go up, schedules and calenders are KEY! I know a lot of these things aren't really new ideas but this is just what I do.

1.  Priorities! It's important to have an idea of what comes first. Like for me school comes first, which often means laboring over homework before even thinking of trying to get a post done. It's important to know what your priorities are before anything else because that way you can build around it. 
2. Have goals. I'm trying to make it a goal to have 4 posts up a week. Every Sunday and Friday while alternating some memes through out the week. That's my goal. While it's important to have these goals, it's also important to know you can't always reach them. Don't beat yourself up if it's 1 in the morning and you are way to tired to blog and you have school/work the next day. These things happen...
3. Be strict but go easy on yourself. Try to stick to a rhythm or schedule but if it's not possible that day. Don't fret. 
4. Creating a Blogging Schedule will save your life. Okay the best way to do this is to do it monthly. That way you have an idea of what and when things need to go up. Its always best to have a consistent blogging days (mine are Sunday and Friday). Try to pick days that are easy for you to work with. (Shout out to my friend who helped me make my new blogging schedule)

• Pick things you'd like to write about that month. Posts ideas are important to have beforehand to avoid the flustered blogging, bad posts, and the "fuck it i'm not going to do it" experiences. Not everyone works this way I know, but it's useful for me.  
• Now you might have a Calender handy and you could use that, or you can make your own. Like I did :) 
• So once you have your days set, try to organize your posts to fit within those days. Like For me, Sundays are Book Talks, Fridays are whatever days. It's nice to have some venting/tutorial/tips posts. 
• Don't be too overzealous and try to bite off more than you can chew. It's important to be be consistent and so it's important to know what you can handle. I know that two solid days are in the realm of possibility for me. I know it's possible to do some memes during the week 
• Now if you have pictures to take for posts, or pictures to edit. It's a good idea to work that into your schedule too. Because that can take a while, trust me. 
• Do your best to stick with the schedule
5. Have a planner. I know it gets tedious but trust me it's helpful! This way you have an idea everyday how busy you are and what you need to get done. I usually write down homework for the day, try to put the approximate time I'll spend on it and schedule time for my blog if there;s a post that day. If not I try to make sure I'm active every day on my social media because I love you guys :)
6. Pick days that you can work ahead. For me I use the weekends as time to work, time to get things done before Monday comes and homework comes piling on. So I'll try to carve some time out for blogging, taking pictures, editing them etc. (end of thinking capacity lol). By working ahead you are able to give yourself an edge for the week/month. 
7. CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOU. If you are stressed, tired, absolutely done with everything,you are NOT going to function correctly. You are NOT going to be organized and probably going to fall behind. It's so important to take care of yourself and get sleep, watch some T.V. Read a book. Whatever is relaxing and fun for you. That way you can stay on task, stay organized and stay on top of things.

Hope I was helpful! Those are my 6 tips. Comment below if you have any strategies or tricks!

Happy Friday!! DFTBA

Back to School: Supplies and Some Tips

     So it's that time of year again. It's time to put away your swimsuits and beach days and trade them in for homework and school days. Sound like fun? Yeah....no!I'm not ready to go back to school, i'm still recovering from my sophomore year of high school! Just thinking about school makes me freak out. School starts for me next Monday...YIKES! I figured that a lot of you guys, my lovely readers, are going back to school and are pretty much in the same boat as me. So I thought it would be fun to do a mini back to school series. I know that today is Book Talk Day, but I that for this week i'd do my book review on Thursday instead of today.
      So I LOVE back to school shopping. It's my thing! I make lists, watch youtube videos, and look for good deals. So to start i'll show you guys my supplies!!
     I went to staples and got almost everything. My backpack though is from Tilly's. They had really good deals that were just impossible to pass up. I defininetly suggest you go there if you still need some stuff. I also recommend anyone do is go to Costco. They have these student pack things that come with EVERYTHING you need, or pretty much everything. They have earsers, pencils pens, colored pens, highlighters, sharpies etc. So give that a shot!

1. I definitely recommend getting folders for back to school, not just dividers. I find that with just dividers papers always seem to rip out of the binder. With folders you don't have to worry about that. In addition it just helps you create more of a division in your binder. Like you can have your homework in the folder and notes and worksheets outside of it. 
2. Keep paperclips handy! I like to paperclip things that have to do with the same thing. For example if we're covering the american revolution and I have some summaries or notes or something on the subject I can just paperclip them together and when I need to study I can just pull out my packet. I put some on my notebooks and folders.
3. Get some colored pens! Not only are they perfect for doodling when you're bored, but you can color code notes (am I the only person who does this). 
4. Invest in a mini stapler. I always hate waiting in line to staple my papers in class. This way you avoid getting up (yes i'm that lazy) and waiting in line. 
5. Keep a little bag within your pencil pouch for lead or erasers. I can never find my little lead containers and I always get sooo frustrating when I dig and dig and can't find it. So to eliminate this I decided to put them in a bright orange bag.

Waiting on Wednesday

Pub Date: September 16, 2014
A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell 

 Jude and her brother, Noah, are incredibly close twins. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude surfs and cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and divisive ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as an unpredictable new mentor. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

 This radiant, fully alive, sometimes very funny novel from the critically acclaimed author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once

Add it on Goodreads

Why do I want to read it?

I LOVE Jandy Nelson. Her writing style is amazing! One of my favorite books is The Sky Is Everywhere, It left such an imprint on me and this book honestly seems like it would make an impact on me too. The premise of the book is super interesting and it caught my attention as soon as I saw it. I have a feeling it'll make me cry, but that's okay. Anyways i'm super psyched for this book!!

YA Contemporary Novels about Real Life Issues.

11.Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. OMG! AMAZING! Basics: A guy, Logan, just got out of a relationship where he got cheated on. Enter this quirky, cute girl. Sage. Match made in heaven right? If only things were that simple. Sage is a transgender girl who is trying to make the world see her for what she is. Logan is trying to understand his growing feelings as well as what they mean. This book will break your heart, but it's worth having your heart broken over. It's a story that needs to be read.

10. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. If you are just getting into contemporary novels this is a must read. It's short but it's an amazing story you can relate to. It was one of the first contemporary novels I fell in love with.        

 9. Survival Kit by Donna Freitas. It's a gritty book about losing someone you love and yeah it's sad but we read contemporary because it's realistic and sadness it a part of life. Seeing Character's deal with their problems and grief teaches us how to deal with our own or at the very least reminds us we're not alone. That's true of all books but specifically contemporary novels.                                          

8. Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson.This book deals with anorexia and does a good job at depicting what it's like to lose someone to the same disease you have. Again it's sad and probably not the best book to start of with but once you get into the genre it's a good book to read. It's definitely worth reading.

7. Red Glass by Laura Resau. It's essentially about this girl whose family takes in a little boy who crossed the boarder and was left without a family. Her family decide to take him back to his parents. It's got romance as well. It's a really good book!

6. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. It's everything a book should be. It's got suspense, romance, mystery and great characters that will break your heart. The story is amazing and so well told!

5.Breathless by Jessica Warman. After her brother is taken to a mental hospital and being diagnosed with schizophrenia, Katie struggles to make a new life for herself in her new boarding school. It's really well told, i think, and it WILL leave you breathless.

4.Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez. I can't even with this book. It's amazing and raw and just simply can't get out of your head good. It's essentially about a super talented Violinist that has a psychological drug addiction. Enter cute boy who makes her question everything. Like I said it's a great book.

3. The Sky is Everywhere Jandy Nelson. It's one of the best books I've ever read. It's about a girl who loses her sister and deals with romance, grief and being a teenager. It's kind of like that one sad song that you always listen to. Despite all the sad aspects of it it's a well written book that will definitely touch your heart. If it doesn't, you don't have one.

2. Hold Still by Nina LaCour. This is basically about a girl who loses her best friend in the entire world. Her best friend committed suicide. This is about healing and moving on and trying to accept what's happened. Clearly I really like depressing books. But the characters definitely have you rooting for them. Every character in the book is real and you just want to give them a hug. I love feeling connecting to characters and this book is one of those books that has just left such an imprint on me

1. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. This book is one of my all time favorite books. It's gritty and hard and sad but it's got hope somewhere in the mix of things. It's about a girl named Andie who lost her brother and as a result lost her way. She finds her way back with the help of some french friends and an old diary written by a French girl during the revolution. It's a book that is primarily contemporary which is why it's on the list but it does have some fantasy elements for those of you not ready to let go of pure fiction. Honestly, this book left such a mark on me, and left me crying, but it's still full of hope. It was amazing. I've read it 6 times.

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Book Talk Ghosting

Release Date: August 19, 2014
Book: Ghosting
Author: Edith Pattou
Number of Pages: 392
Source: Netgalley (Note I received this book in exchage for an honest review)

The Basics: On a hot summer night in a Midwestern town, a high school teenage prank goes horrifically awry. Alcohol, guns, and a dare. Within minutes, as events collide, innocents becomes victims—with tragic outcomes altering lives forever, a grisly and unfortunate scenario all too familiar from current real-life headlines. But victims can also become survivors, and as we come to know each character through his/her own distinctive voice and their interactions with one another, we see how, despite pain and guilt, they can reach out to one another, find a new equilibrium, and survive. Told through multiple points of view in naturalistic free verse and stream of consciousness, this is an unforgettable, haunting tale.

My Musings:

      Ghosting. The first few things that comes to mind is of course ghosts and ghost hunting. Maybe even Sam and Dean. But I guess ghost can mean different things, not just some remnant spirit, but a night stuck on replay, memories hanging around you 24/7. And I guess you can say there are a lot of different ghosts in this book.
     Now, I love Edith Pattou, I have ever since I read East, so I was super psyched to read this book. Also it's told in verse, which is pretty freakin' awesome. While the cover isn't anything special, it does tie in to the story, which I like.
     If you know me, or read any of my reviews you will know that characterization is a big deal for me. I think the author did great in this department. I loved how each and every character's story line entwined and meld in with each others. The fact that it was told in verse made me like it even more. Right from the get go I was hooked. That first page instantly made me want to keep reading and reading and reading until I finished the whole thing. As I learned more and more about each of the characters the more i cared for them and felt they were real I could relate to all of them on different levels, which I loved. Characterization, I feel was a strong point for this book because even though there were a lot less words on the page, each character felt as real to me as my friends and family. Sometimes, I think it's the way things are said and described that make it pop. Edith Pattou did a fabulous job of making the characters three dimensional. In real life there are no black and white. There's this fuzzy gray thing. And even the "bad"characters had these different sides and back stories that make the reader understand it all.
      Truth be told once I finally started reading this, I had completely forgotten what it was going to be about. Has that ever happened to you? So the plot line was a really nice surprise for me. And may I just say it was pretty awesome! It left me speechless and crying on several occasions. Like no joke I had to stop reading and just cry for a little then continue. Damn those fangirl emotions! Everything was nicely paced making the climax even more dramatic. What I liked a lot about this book was how the story line played out. A lot of it was character driven, which I liked and enjoyed. There were all these politics between this group of friends and everything they said and did all played a role. I liked watching how each character grieved and dealt with their problems and instabilities. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how realistic it was. There was no real "happy ending". Nothing was sugar coated or avoided. You saw the raw emotions and reckless actions that people sometimes do.
      Let me tell you now, romance definitely takes a backseat to all the drama and tears and trauma, but it is cute and I ship it so hard. It's nice to see it unfold. There aren't any passionate kisses or hot and steamy moments, but what makes this pairing special is that it's so innocent and nice and cute. Sometimes all it really takes is a smile and a story to like someone.
     If you can't tell by now that I LOVE this book, well then I'll tell you now I LOVE this book. It's a raw and gritty story about a traumatic event and the way it can linger and affect pretty much everything. I definitely recommend you read it!!!

Coffee for this book: This book is sad but hopeful so I think a nice Cuban coffee suits it. It's intense because of the espresso but it's also sweet because of the sugar in it. It's the best of both worlds I think. 

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Pub Date: October 14, 2014
Princess Snow is missing.

 Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

 Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

 When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

Add it on goodreads

Why do I want to read it?

I love fairy-tales. And I love reading and watching fairy-tales with a twist. For example I love Once Upon a Time. Its one of my favorite shows, I also love Beastly by Alex Finn. The idea of futuristic Snow white intrigues me, I can't wait for this to come out!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking The Spine

Top Ten Tuesday

This week's Theme is Top Ten Authors We Own The Most Books From. So here we go!

1. Melissa De La Cruz. I have all of the Blue Bloods Books except Lost in Time. I freakin' love those books. 

2. J.K Rowling. Because I own everything she's ever written. 

3. Alyson Noel. I have the majority of The Immortals series. 

4. Melissa Marr. She's one of my favorite authors ever. She's just amazing! And her books are so addicting! I love me some paranormal stuff :)

5.P.C Cast and Kristen Cast. House of Night is one loooonnnnggg Series. I own some of the first books. But not all of them or anywhere near all of them. There's 13 books so far not including the little mini stories and companions. 

6. Sarah Dessen, because how could i not own like a bunch of her books?
7. John Green. the only John Green Book I don't own is Will Grayson, Will Grayson
8. Kelley Armstrong. I love her darkest Powers series and just bought the first book of Darkness Rising.
9. Collen Houck. I love the Tiger's Curse!!!
10. Cassandra Clare. Granted i only own a few and only in e-book form, but i'm working on owning all of the Infernal Devices.

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Mixtape Monday: Looking For Alaska

Looking For Alaska Playlist

Before: 

1.Fluorescent Adolescent By The Arctic Monkys

2.Harlem by New Politics

3.Hannah Hunt by Vampire Weekend

4.Say Anything by Tristan Prettyman

5. Sex by The 1975

6.Please Don't Say You Love Me by Gabrielle Aplin

7.Shiver by Coldplay

8. Strong by London Grammer

After:

1.Breath Me by Sia

2..Slow It Down by The Lumineers

3.Breath (2 am) by Anna Nalick

3.Slow and Steady by Of Monsters and Men

4This Must Be The Place by The Lumineers

5. Say Something  by A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
6.Are You What You Want To Be by Foster The People

                                                                          7.Oblivion by Bastille

                                                                          8.Flowers In Your Hair by The Lumineers

                                                                          9.Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

Book Talk: Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly

Release Date:October 21, 2014 in paperback (May 27, 2014 e-book)
Number of Pages: 250
Book: Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly
Author: P.T Jones
Source: Netgalley (Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics: Things Mary doesn’t want to fall into: the river, high school, her mother’s life. Things Mary does kind of want to fall into: love, the sky. This is the story of a girl who sees a boy float away one fine day. This is the story of the girl who reaches up for that boy with her hand and with her heart. This is the story of a girl who takes on the army to save a town, who goes toe-to-toe with a mad scientist, who has to fight a plague to save her family. This is the story of a girl who would give anything to get to babysit her baby brother one more time. If she could just find him. It’s all up in the air for now, though, and falling fast. . . . Fun, breathlessly exciting, and full of heart, Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn’t Fly is an unforgettable ride.

My Musings:

     Just by the summary I could instantly relate to the main character,Mary. So that was a great start right off the bat. The whole idea if it seemed new and original and I was psyched to read it!
     Right away I liked the author's writing style. It was quirky and cute with a touch of sarcasm which made me a very happy reader. I always tend to love books that make me legit LOL than books that layer poetic sentence after poetic sentence. Don't get me wrong I love poetic books and all that jazz but it's nice to have that and laugh every once in a while. Anyways, I personally LOVE the writing style and the way the author presented each character ans weird and different and just plain ol' quirky.( I like the word quirky).
     Okay as for characterization, the author did a pretty good job. P.T Jones definitely made the characters easy to relate to but I honestly didn't really connect with them that much. I loved Mary and her friends but I felt like the other characters needed something else to make them feel real to me. I did love the characters, they just didn't feel real to me. The whole evil  scientist guy was drawn exactly as that and while there was light shed on his character i really wish we could have learned more about him sooner. However, that being said, I loved how the authors portrayed Mary. She's a smart girl, who is sweet and kind. I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks, and let me tell you they suck. Mary has these same problems but not once did the author make her a victim or write her out  as this" poor girl with anxiety". They instead treated it like a part of her life and the way she reacts to things. It just is. It is a problem but they don't overuse it or anything. They give a realistic approach with that and I appreciate it.
     The plot was interesting and intricate. Honestly, while I liked the plot and story line I wasn't in love with it. Some parts felt overdone or just a tad cheesy, but the high action scenes and funny moments made up for that. I felt like the beginning was a little slow moving but it did pick up a little ways in. After the first initial chapters there are so many things going on and clues being found out all at once, which I love. At this point I just needed to know how the book ended. So I read and read, I was pretty into the book. Then once we got the climax of the book, I didn't like how the epic battle went. I felt like it was just too stretched out. Like I didn't understand why it was that long. Despite that, it was an okay epic battle, complete with some nail biting and suspense.
      I don't like insta-lovey type of relationships. I also don't like it when the romance, or the stuff building up to the romance seems overdone/forced. The romance for this book was somewhere between these two zones. I felt like it was sort of realistic in terms of her not coming to grips with her feelings. But it was a little inta-lovey because she instantly liked him and there was nothing really building up to that. It just kind of appeared. It was because of that lack of foundation that  made me feel like it was a little forced. I wasn't a big fan of the romance. The only good part that came from that was that it allowed the plot and the plot twists to shine a little more.


Coffee for this book: Overall the book was an easy read that's pretty cutey with a happy ending. So I recommend a hazelnut latte with extra pumps of syrup to complement this book

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Pub date: September 23, 2014

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…

 Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most

Add it on goodreads

Why do I want to read it? 

I love Scott Westerfeild and his writing. I really enjoyed the Uglies Series. When I saw this book goodreads I immediately wanted to read it. The premise really intrigues me. 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine

Top Ten Characters I Would Want With Me On A Deserted Island

Hello people of Earth!! It's Tuesday which means it's Top Ten Tuesday time! Okay so this week's theme in case you didn't notice the title of this post is top ten book people we would love to be on a deserted island with. I'm so psyched for this week's theme.

1. Meggie from Inkheart. Worst comes to worst she can read us into different worlds. Its a pretty powerful talent that can turn this problem into an adventure!
2. Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices. Will is honestly one of my favorite characters of all time. He's my top choice because a)he would most definitely keep us both alive. b) He would make things interesting and keep us on our toes. 3) He's super cute! Definitely my book crush ;)
3. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. She is the smartest witch of her age and there is no doubt in my mind that she could both keep us both alive as well as figure a way off the Island. Also she's totally kick-ass and she's one of the best characters ever, I mean come on.
4. Rose Hathaway from Vampire Acadamy. If there's one thing that describes Rose perfectly is totally kick-ass. She can handle anything that comes her way. She can survive and work her way through anything, those qualities make her perfect to be my deserted island buddy!(p.s I really hated the movie for the book, but I like this poster i found, save for the pink tinge)
5. Dimitri from Vampire academy.*swoons* He is a surviver. He's been through everything and made it through somewhat intact. A person like Dimitri is definitely someone you want by your side when on an uninhabited island. 
   
6. Katsa from Gracling. I love this series so much! Kasta is one of those characters you just love, yeah she might get annoying but she's still awesome. Her "grace" will come in handy. She's someone i want with me if this ever happens. Because to be honest, me alone on a deserted island....that wouldn't end well. 
7. Four from Divergent. He's in freakin' dauntless there's no way we wouldn't survive. In fact one could say that his faction choice makes him a great option in terms of survival. Also he's extremely swoon worthy!
8. Kishan from the Tiger's Curse series. I love Kishan to death! He's got a bad boy thing going on, but he's super sweet. As for being on a desserted Island, he would be perfect because he can turn into a tiger and protect the both of us as well as hunt. Also he's fun to be around. I don't want to be moping all the time!
9. Niall from the Wicked Lovely Series. Niall is kind, sweet, protective and able to take care of people. He does what needs to be done to survive but doesn't bend his morals just so that he can profit. (I couldn't find a picture of him sorry! so i used the book cover)
10. Noah Shaw from The Mara Dyer Series. I love Noah, he's just so awesome and cute and sweet and bad boy-y and he's got a British accent. As for how long we would survive on the island, i'm not sure. He is a pampered, rich boy and i'm a lazy suburbs girl so probably not long. Good thing he's cute!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish 

Mixtape Monday

Time for another Mixtape Monday y'all!. Ever feel like some songs just belong with certain books? The way peanut butter and jelly belong together? I do. So this week I stumbled across Hate List by Jennifer Brown, which i read a few years ago, in the library and as I recalled the book, I thought of songs that I felt went along with it!

So without here it is!!!!!!!!

     Hate List: Playlist

1.  Pumped up Kicks by Foster the people
2.  Snap Out of It by Arctic Monkeys
3.  Wings by Birdy
4.  Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars
5.  Ghost by Ella Henderson
6. Be My Escape by Relient K
7.  Car Radio by Twenty One Pilots
8. Messed Up World by The Pretty Reckless
9.  White Teeth Teens by Lorde
10.  Dust to Dust by The Civil Wars
11.  Paradise by Coldplay

Book Talk: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenburg

Release date: February 21, 2012
Book: The Catastrophic History of You and Me
Author: Jess Rothenberg
Source: The library :)

The Basics:Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever. BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

My Musings:

     When I first picked up this book I have to admit I was hesitant to read it. The idea of a girl dying of a broken heart seemed really whiny to me. I thought i wouldn't like the main character because just the idea of dying of a broken heart made her seem really weak and desperate to give up.And if I don't like the main character I won't like the book. Granted I thought all of this BEFORE I read the book, but now that I have read it I have a different opinion of the book. So if any of you were like me and thought this book was whiny give it a shot, because trust me it’s so much more than just about a girl who died of a broken heart.

    Character wise the book was pretty good. I like how the characters all had secrets and "dark sides". The were real, or at least felt real to me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong about Brie being a weak person, although I will admit she did get annoying sometimes. I found that throughout the book Brie matured a lot. I loved watching her grow from a very spiteful girl, to a person who had learned to accept the cards she was dealt and made the most of it.

     I liked the plot for the most part. Part of the story line is moving through the phases of grief, and i felt that in some stages the plot lacked momentum. However, I have to say one of my favorite components of the book were all the plot twists. I have to say this book left me shocked during multiple occasions. I had several inklings as to what the plot twists were, but I still felt shocked. Which of course lead to the reason of why she died of a broken heart.Trust me there are cheesy moments in the book and plot, but it doesn't overwhelm the book and is done tastefully. Also i loved how the beginning of every chapter started with different song lyrics. 

     I think my favorite character by far in this book was Patrick. I loved his budding romance with Brie. It was just TOO CUTE!! I shipped them right from the start. I thought it was cute the way they acted around each other and the fact that Patrick was there for her almost the whole time. Throughout the novel we find out a lot about Patrick’s past and about his life. I thought that the way he died and why he died was extremely sad, and I couldn't help but want to give Patrick a hug after what he had been through.

     Overall the story line was good and the characters felt real, two components that are mandatory in making a good book. I loved the humor and the over all feel of the story. I definitely recommend this if you like romantic, cute reads, or just contemporary novels with some fiction. 

The Reading Habits Tag

Hi y'all! So I recently got tagged by the lovely Holly, Quills and Ivy. So here I am listening to The 1975 doing this tag. And while i'm here talking about being tagged, i'm going to tag people. I tag Erin at Serenity Books  Jayne at Fiction The New Reality  Krystianna at Downright Dystopian. So without further ado, here are my reading habits :)





1.Do you have a certain place for reading at home?
My room for the most part, but every once in a while when I want to feel more active i'll read outside. 
2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Neither. I like to bookmark my favorite lines or scenes as I read with random scraps of paper, so book marking doesn't really help. I usually just remember the page number. 
3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?
I can usually just stop reading. I don't like telling myself how much i have to read because then it just feels like homework, and pretty much sucks the fun out of it. If i'm really invested in a book then i probably won't put it down unless I absolutely have to. Another fun fact is  that if there's a particularly suspenseful or frustrating or a combination of the two i have to stop reading do something else because my fangirl emotions need a break. 
4. Do you eat or drink when reading?
 NEVER. I Actually i usually forget to eat or drink or really do anything if i'm REALLY into a book. Chances are i won't leave my room at all. Plus i hate getting greasy finger prints on my books, and being the klutz I am I would be waaayyy to scared I would drop stuff on my books.
5. Do you watch TV or listen to music whilst reading?
Somtimes music. You ever find a song(s) that goes perfectly with a book? Sometimes I do and it'll just play in the background. I like doing that for no other reason than I like combing my two favorite things, books and music. Plus i feel like if the music captures the book, it just heightens all the emotions. I won't watch T.V because I either get to invested in the book and ignore the T.V or get to invested in the show i'm watching and forget about my book. 
6. One book at a time or several at once?
One book at a time. I like dedicating myself to one book at a time because it allows me to appreciate it more. If i'm reading more than one I find myself comparing all the books to one another and I don't really enjoy what i'm reading. 
7. Reading at home or everywhere?
If possible, home, on my bed . But honestly i can read pretty much everywhere. A park bench, a store, in the car, at lunch, school, coffee shops (love this), upholstery stores (i've actually done this). 
8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?I 
In my head. Unless its a text book in which case i like reading that in my head sometimes and other times out loud in a British accent. 
9. Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?
I have skipped pages before, but I don't do it often. I usually do it if there's like pages long descriptions of things i don't feel are necessary. 
Ex) New Moon. I skipped a lot of pages because a lot of the pages and chapters where simply "I miss Edward" and i didn't need more than one page to understand that Bella missed Edward
10. Breaking the spine or keeping it new?
I don't like breaking the spine, but I kinda like having my books a little worn because you can tell they've been read. 
11. Do you write in your books?
No, but I sometimes write on random pieces of paper when I bookmark my favorite quotes. 
12. What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly by Stephen Graham Jones.
Imma start reading Broken by Tanille Edwards.

Also check out my interview with the lovely Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian: My Interview

Waiting on Wednesday

Pub Date: July 28th, 2014

 Five strangers. Countless adventures.One epic way to get lost.

 Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

 There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

 Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Add it on goodreads 

Why do I want to read it?

I love road trip books. Plus it seems like a cute summer read. I love stories that intertwine and this one seems to do just that. Also I absolutely adore the cover!


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine

Top Ten T.V Shows

Now I love books, I do, but I love T.V too. As a teenager I find myself fangirling over more than just my favorite characters and book ships. I fangril over t.v characters and ship a lot of them. My world of fangirling has expanded into the world of media. So today, Tuesday, I will share my top ten favorite t.v  shows that I fangirl over the most.


1. Falling Skies. I love me some alien apocalypses. I look forward to this show every summer. Its one of the shows I tend to fangirl over a lot, and not many of my friends watch it so I have no one to vent to but twitter. Its a great show that is filled with dynamic relationships, and colorful vibrant characters you can't help but grow to care for.

2. Sherlock. I started watching this on Netflix over the summer an devoured the first two series in two day. I'm in love with this show. Like I can't even deal with the craziness of the series finale right now. The show is filled with suspense and the characters make me laugh and cry and gasp. Its an amazing show.

3. Once Upon a Time. This show is amazing and makes me love Sunday's. I love all the twists in the fairy tales and the way the molded all the characters. My favorite character is of course Ms. Regina. I love the character development and do not get me started on my ships for this show. There is of course the cutest couple ever: Snowing (Snow white and Prince Charming). The couple with an amazing love story: Rumbelle (Rumpelstiltskin and Belle). My hardcore ship: Captin Swan. The ship I desperately want to work out and get married and live happily ever after: Outlaw Queen (Regina and Robin Hood). Let me tell you, I am constantly in a fangirl state when this show is on, i mean how can I not be with four ships.

4. Pretty Little liars. I love all the suspense this show has. I never know what's going to happen next or what or who is lurking around the corner. This season has already been explosive and i'm always on the edge of my seat when I watch this show. Plus I have my share of ships on this show.

5. Skins. I have never watched a show that has made me cry more than this one. Its about a group of teenager muddling around their last few years of high school. Its a gritty, raw show that shows everything that could happen in a teens life. I love how I can relate to all the characters and how they devolve throughout the show. This show is definitely worth getting your heart broken over.

6.  My Mad Fat Diary. I ABSOLTLEY LOVE THIS SHOW WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL. The only reason it's not at the top of my list, is because it's not airing right now so my fangirl emotions have calmed down a bit. This show is funny and heartfelt. It, much like Skins, is gritty, raw, and realistic. For those of you who haven't heard of this show its about a girl who just came out of a mental ward and is trying to move on with her life, make friends, get a boyfriend, all while staying sane. And may I say Finn is so amazing I just can't deal.  This show has a lot of dark, gory bits but as much as I cry over the show, I love it even more.

7.The Vampire Diaries. I have a thing for vampires. Specifically a blue eyed, mischievous vampire. Damon. Possible my favorite character in the whole show. While many people might say the plot lines are terrible and the characters aren't very well developed, I think they're wrong. Sure there might by a level of cheesiness to the show, but all shows are like that. I love how the characters a realistic and come alive. And i tend to never see the twists coming in the plot. It's insane. This show has made me laugh, cry, gasp, yell, i love every moment of it.

8..Teen Wolf. This show is awesome. Its action filled, with lots of drama, great characters, and an awesome storyline. Plus there are hot werewolves. Then there's Stiles, the reason we all stay and watch the show. He's my favorite character on the show. He's funny, sarcastic, cute and smart. Now if only he were real *sigh*. I honestly think this show is amazing.

9. Doctor Who. How can this not be on the list. Doctor who is an iconic t.v show that everyone should watch. I didn't start getting into it until recently but trust me this show goes above all expectations. The first episode got me hooked instantly and from that moment on I entered the fandom and never looked back. If you like sci-fi, mystery, romance, time travel and all that jazz, you really should give this show shot if you haven't already.

10 The Fosters. One word: Drama. Lot's and lot's of drama. But hey makes for a good show right? the whole idea of the show seemed interesting and I was worried it wasn't going to be done right. Thankfully my worries were for not because the show is completely incredible and all the actors do a great job. That being said I love the story lines and plot twists. While some people might hate all the drama on the show, I like it. I love this show and definitely recommend this to y'all.



Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and Bookish

Waiting on Wednesday

Pub Date: August 5, 2014

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

 In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

 Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Add it on goodreads

Why do I want to read it? 

The cover caught my eye when I was scrolling on good reads. I clicked on it and the summer instantly drew me in. I love paranormal books especially ones with mystery in them. This book is definitely up my alley!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine 

Top Ten Blogging Confessions

It's Tuesday, you know what that means. Its Top Ten Time :). This is a meme hosted by the lovely and amazing  The Broke and Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten Blogging Confession. So here it is!

1. I don't like planning out what I'm reading and when I'm reading it. Its one thing if i decide what book I'm reading first from my stack of library book, its completely different than saying this week it's book A and next week book B. For some reason I just hate doing that. I like reading books that catch my attention and seem interesting and sometimes that means not reading that book i said i was going to read. Part of the fun of reading is finding books that you like and reading what you want when you want to. 

2. I like going to the library and checking out books more than buying my own. I love going through the passageways looking for books. And a lot of the times I find things that i wouldn't normally find at a Barnes and Noble because it's not as popular, or it older. I love the surprises the library holds. Plus it's free books. Who can say no to that?

3. I like book marking pages in my books that have cool quotes that I like. I love quotes. I'm obsessed with them. And the thing about books is that it offers a lot of thoughts and saying from different points of view.Thus the perfect place for quote hunting. 

4. I judge books by their cover. If the cover is ugly and terrible, its a pretty good assumption that i'm not going to read it. I know i shouldn't but it's pretty hard not to. If a book has a pretty cover and has a good summary chances are I will read it. Not that I Only read books with pretty covers but i do use covers as deal breakers when choosing between books. 

5. I love working on things in Barnes and Noble. I legit just bring my laptop, a book and buy a coffee and sit down and leave hours later. For some reason I work better that way. 

6. I don't really know anything about HTML or programming or whatever. I feel like a should, it helps make my blog better if I know a few tricks about HTML, like making banners, or buttons etc. Thankfully i won a contest over at Pure Imagination and i picked a design and she put it on my blog. However, I still want to learn things to help me be a better blogger

. 

7.I'm a hypocrite. I'm super OCD when people borrow my books, but i'm usually not as careful with them. I think it's okay if a book get's a little scratch or maybe had a dog eared page because it looks more worn, more read, which is what books are meant for. But if another person does that to my book, that's where I draw the line. I'm not entirely sure why I'm like this but for some reason I am. 

8. I read Maximum Ride when I was younger. I loved the series but after reading Fang, I just stopped. I never finished the series. Part of it was the frustration with the characters, and the part was learning that James Patterson doesn't really write his own stuff, which made me sad, and the other part was the wait was too long and I just never picked up Angel. 

9. You know how some books have novellas in between the books? You know how sometimes they put said novellas at the back of some books? Well before I had an e-reader I would go to Barnes and Noble carefully pick up the copy that had the novella and read it in store then return the book to it's shelf.

10. I love re-reading books. Like a lot. If a really love a book, i'll probably end up re-reading it. For example I've re-read Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly at least 6 times

Another Playlist :)

Drum roll please!Please welcome the talented, kind, amazing, Marianne from the super rad blog, Marianne Says! Marianne runs a beauty blog (a pretty fab one, if i do say so myself). So go one check out her blog! She's my best friend and has taught me pretty much everything I know about make up. So without further ado this is her blogging playlist :)

Blogging Playlist 

1. Hey Now - London Grammar

2. Sarah Sings - Panic! at the Disco

3. If You Say So - Lea Michele

4. If You Wait - London Grammar

5. The Love Club - Lorde

6. Camera - Young the Giant

7. Am I Wrong - Nico Vinz

8. Maybe - London Grammar

9. Always - Panic! at the Disco

10. Cancer - My Chemical Romance

11. Cannonball - Lea Michele

12. Strong - London Grammar

13. Turn Off the Lights - Panic! at the Disco

Book Talk: The Artful

Release date: May 27, 2014
Book: The Artful
Author: Wilbert Stanton
Source: Netgalley 

The Basics:New York City, 2025: Everything is changed. The city that never sleeps is now a land of death and decay. A rampant virus has taken over and the survivors have become carriers, quarantined from the rest of the world. Twist and Dodger grew up in the streets, the sewers and underground tunnels - their playground. They aren't heroes. They just like attention; and stealing meds from the rich and giving them to the poor is their golden ticket. On their latest raid, they unknowingly steal a cure that puts them square between the ailing Emperor of Manhattan and the war hungry Governor of Brooklyn and forces them on a quest into the darkest shadows of their putrefying world

My Musings:
     Okay so when I first read the summery I immediately thought that this book was going to be really interesting and an overall great read. As soon as I read the first few sentences of the book I began to like it. I loved the high energy and the suspense and the intensity of the first few chapters. The beginning of the novel, I thought, was spot on in terms of it's ability to hook it's reader. The beginning set up the book nicely and introduced the characters in a great way.
     However, as the book went on it lacked the strength and intensity that the initial chapters had. As I continued reading I found myself not really connecting to the character because of the slow moving pace of the novel. I didn't mind the slowness so much as the lack of dialogue and the long internal monologues and descriptions. Because I saw too much over analyzed thoughts and descriptions I lost the initial connection I had with Twist. Furthermore I felt that the dialogue it did have was stiff and awkward at times.
     Despite all that I felt like the plot itself was really well thought out, but it did affect the story negatively. The very idea the novel presents intrigued me and I love how the author spun it into in intricate story. I loved the twins and turns the novel took. I really didn't know what to expect half the time. There's a lot of shocking moments in the book and I loved every singe second of it.
       Romance wise I didn't think the coupling was all that special. They're cute don't get me wrong, I just don't feel passionate about the romance. This is kind of a good thing because this way the story line takes the front seat and is not over shadowed by an overbearing romance.
      I have a confession to make. My favorite character is Dodger. I love his story line and the way he grew as a character. In terms of character development the author did a good job. He presented more than one side of his characters which adds depth to these people we're reading about. That being said, I still didn't feel like these characters were real because I feel they lacked a little bit more depth and more exploration of the different sides of Twist and Dodger etc. But overall I feel like he did a good job making his characters good solid characters.
     I honestly enjoyed the book and thought it was a nice summer read for those of us looking to stay away from contemporary novels. If you like cool, dystopian, books with lots of action this is the book you should check out :)

Note: The fact that I received this book for free did not in anyway alter my thought on the book.

                           My Rating: