Tag: Stargirl

February Reading Wrap Up | Short Books #FTW

After a dreadful reading month in January, I was happy to pick up the pace in February. I wrapped up the month completing five books, which is where I would like to be every month. Once I got over my illness that really cramped my reading style, I finally got back into reading daily during my commute. Something that really helped me was reading short books. If you are ever struggling with your reading, I highly recommend picking up some shorter books. You will feel very accomplished when you complete that book quickly! I’m also really excited that I was able to read three books off my TBR shelf, and I reread two books for the #MyYearofRereading Project as well.

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I began the month by finishing Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. This is a nonfiction book that discusses why our society does not value introverts enough, but why we should listen more to those who may be labeled “quiet.” As an introvert myself, I really enjoyed a lot of the information in this book. Not only did I find it relatable, but it helped me to find more value in who I am as a person even though I do not conform to the Extrovert Ideal. I did find this book to be a bit dry, but I was very sick when trying to get through it. I will be keeping this book in my collection to reference in the future.

Next up, I read The Girls by Emma Cline. This novel is loosely based on the Manson murders, which I did not know much about prior to reading this story. I picked this up at a book sale a few years ago, and I am so glad I finally got to it. The book follows a teenage girl named Evie during the summer she spends with a group of girls living at a ranch on the outskirts of town. The ranch is run by a man named Russell, who will do anything to become a famous musician. I found The Girls to be a fast-paced read with a creepy and fascinating tone. I highly recommend this book, and hope to reread it at some point.

I then decided to reread both Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. These are some of my favorite books of all time, and they did not disappoint. Stargirl is a five-star book for me, and is a book I think everyone should read. Our narrator is a teenage boy named Leo, who finds himself slowly falling for the new girl at school. Stargirl was homeschooled all her life until she shows up at the public high school. It is clear to her new classmates that she is different than everyone else. She has a pet rat named Cinnamon, she sings Happy Birthday songs at lunch on her ukulele, and she cheers for both teams at sporting events. This story is about being true to yourself, even if that means you are not well-liked by others. I love this book and its sequel, and will treasure these stories throughout my life. I also happily discovered that a Stargirl movie releases March 13th on Disney+!

* This section contains Harry Potter spoilers*

Last but not least, I read Harry Potter Should Have Died by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen. I am so proud of myself for finally reading this book! Thanks to Amazon, I know that I purchased it shortly after its release on July 17, 2009. That’s right – I’ve had this book on my TBR list for almost 11 years! This book looks at the Harry Potter series and poses a variety of questions, such as which character death is the saddest, and whether we should pity Severus Snape. Each question is answered in the affirmative or negative with the arguments laid out, and then ends with a verdict made by the authors. I think this book is a fun read for big Harry fans, but it leaves a lot on the table. For instance, how can Hedwig and Fred not be mentioned in the saddest character deaths section?! That being said, I think this book is a great conversation starter, and it got me thinking a lot about one of my favorite series.

That wraps up everything I read in February! I’m glad I am back into the swing of reading. While I am still behind on my Goodreads challenge, I hope to catch up in the next month or so. Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more reading updates throughout the month!

5 Romantic Reads for Valentine’s Day | Blogger Collaboration

Happy Tuesday! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite romantic books with all of you. I’m not a huge romance reader, but I’ve noticed that this past month I’ve picked up more lovey dovey books than normal. This blog post will feature five of my all-time favorite romance books, and you’ll notice I typically go for light-hearted and cutesy stories. I’ve also teamed up with bloggers Kayla, Amélie, and Colleen who are sharing their picks today, too. Their posts will be linked at the end, so please be sure to check them out!

5 Romantic Reads for Valentine's Day | Blogger Collaboration

5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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My first pick is a young adult contemporary, and is more of a coming-of-age story than a romance. I think this is a great book for those who may not like mushy love stories, because this book features friendship more than traditional love. We follow teen boys Aristotle and Dante as they meet one summer. Both are shy and have trouble expressing their emotions. The book follows their journey, and is a beautiful story. I highly recommend this book!

4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

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I read Stargirl years ago and immediately fell in love with it. This young adult novel takes place in high school, and follows Leo Borlock as he begins to notice the ‘weird’ girl in school. She’s named herself Stargirl, and is often bullied because of her uniqueness. I love this book because it shows how appearances aren’t everything, and how it’s important to stay true to yourself. This is also a very quick read if you’re short on time!

3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

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If you like romantic comedies, you need to check out The Rosie Project! This is an adult contemporary novel that follows main character Don Tillman. Don is a scientist, and has similar character traits to Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. One day he decides to begin The Wife Project, because he wants a life partner that meets his very specific criteria. Then he meets Rosie – a woman who doesn’t check any of the boxes on his list. The book follows their journey together to find Rosie’s biological father. It’s cute, funny, and the perfect Valentine’s Day read!

2. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

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Another great adult contemporary is Attachments. This is my favorite book from Rainbow Rowell (so far), and follows Lincoln O’Neill at the turn of the 21st Century. Lincoln works in the IT department of a newspaper office, and his job is to monitor the emails of the workers. He becomes enthralled with the emails of Beth and Jennifer, and soon begins to fall for one of them despite never speaking with her in person. This book is adorable, but also deals with some deep issues, too. I think it’s perfect for millennials!

1. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

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Last but not least, I have to recommend The Geography of You and Me, a young adult contemporary romance. This book is the epitome of cute, but is also extremely well written. It follows two teens in New York City during a blackout. They happen to meet when the power is turned off, but once the city is restored to normal, they aren’t sure how to keep their relationship going. If you’re looking for a quick read with some depth, I highly recommend this one!

That wraps up my top picks for Valentine’s Day! Please make sure to visit my fellow bloggers to see what books they have to recommend for you. You can also leave me a comment with your favorite romantic books! I’d love to know what you recommend, too.

Kayla

Kayla Blogs

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Amélie

A Wanderer’s Adventures

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Colleen

Buckeye Bliss

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